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3.1

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
44,860 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2001 Chevrolet Malibu electrical problems

electrical problem

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2001 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 2 of 4)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #54

Nov 102007

Malibu

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I went outside to start my 2001 Chevy Malibu and it wouldn't start. So I had it towed to mechanics they kept my car for a week. They could find a trouble code to find out what cased the problem of the anti theft system to go on. I use the same key everyday no one there to steal the car. So now my light stay on all the time an I learned how to program the code myself this way I don't have to pay every time it don't start. All so my turn signals stop working sometimes I never took it to get fix because I learned that if you push the hazard lights they will work again.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #53

Nov 182007

Malibu 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 68,000 miles
Car initially failed to start. Towed vehicle to shop. Shop couldn't find any thing wrong. Kept on happening. After multiple tows it was determined that it was the anti-theft system. System replaced-was ok for 3 months now happening again. Should not have to put $400 into same problem every 3-4 months.

- Port Clinton, OH, USA

problem #52

Aug 112006

Malibu

  • miles
My car will not start. The anti-theft system thinks I am stealing my own car. I have to leave the key in the ignition for 10 minutes to reset the anti-theft system so it will allow my car to start.

- Hamilton Square, NJ, USA

problem #51

Oct 172007

Malibu 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 49,300 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2001 Malibu with 50,525 miles with first occurrence 12/07/06. Passlock system failure and car will not start (new fuel pump). Anti theft light keeps blinking and car won't start continues almost monthly. Malibu has been towed to dealer 7 times since Dec 06. Fuel pump replaced Dec 06 not the problem. Iginition cylinder not the problem. Towed again 10/17/07 same problem. Dealer clipped 3 wires to passlock sytem said they were crimped. (that might be the problem according to tech) however, probably been that way since car purchased in 2001 new. Wait and see. Called GM at one point and they covered half of a $800 repair bill. So far over $1500 in repairs and $400 plus in towing plus rental car fees. GM why not recall? too many complaints on same problem.

- Panama City, FL, USA

problem #50

Sep 272007

Malibu

  • miles
Car fails to start due to passlock system. Manufacture defect.

- Ukiah, CA, USA

problem #49

Oct 092007

Malibu 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 85,236 miles
This 2001 Chevy Malibu is junk the anti-theft light keeps coming on the car starts only half the time. The sad thing is my wife and 4 month old baby rides in this car with me when it dies out on the high way here in town and it does it on busy streets here in town. My wife used to love GM products but now after this car and Pontiac Grand Am we had she hates GM. It disappointing they have all bad consumer rating and no recall to fix this.

- Coucil Bluffs, IA, USA

problem #48

Oct 092007

Malibu 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 85,236 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2001 Chevy Malibu.

- Coucil Bluffs, IA, USA

problem #47

Sep 212007

Malibu 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 146,000 miles
The passlock system on my 2001 Chevy Malibu (the absolute worst car I have ever owned) is bad. Took it to the dealership several times under warranty and was told that they fixed it. Now it's way off of warranty and the system is failing on a weekly basis. $500 to fix, Chevy won't issue a recall or (as usual) offer to fix the problem which there are literally thousands of complaints on.

- New Era, MI, USA

problem #46

Aug 302007

Malibu 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40,000 miles
I have a 2001 Chevy Malibu and I have had to many hard times trying to start it due to the theft system in the car. And GM don't make a recall for this problem.

- Barceloneta , PR, USA

problem #45

Aug 112007

Malibu 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles
Constant problems with the passlock system on my 2001 Chevrolet Malibu. Passlock engages constantly, causing me to wait 10 minutes for reset every time this occurs. This is a safety issue for my wife and daughter who must wait, in sometimes dark areas of town for passlock to reset before they can start the car and get safely on their way. Have had ignition replaced once but issue has not corrected.

- Seabeck, WA, USA

problem #44

Jun 162007

Malibu 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 185,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I purchased a used 2001 Malibu and have experienced problems with the anti-theft system, and learned of it being a common problem from a number of sources, and would like to support any efforts to get GM to fix what was clear to me a system design defect. The intent of the system may be well meaning and may work well, however, when it causes the owners of the vehicle such inconvenience, and who knows how much money. In 3 weeks of ownership of this car this has occurred twice. The first time it cost me over $200 and over 12 hours of trouble shooting to discover way to get the car running. The second time it was just the annoyance of having to wait for the system to reset.

- Urbandale, IA, USA

problem #43

Jul 142005

Malibu 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 125,000 miles
I have a 2001 Malibu. The theft system keeps kicking on, and won't let it start. I have to wait 10 minutes before it will allow itself to start.

- Rensselaer, IN, USA

problem #42

Jun 202007

Malibu

  • miles
The car would turn on but would not start. I tried jumping but it still wouldn't work. I had it towed to a mechanic and spent $200 for them to tell me the anti-theft system needed to be reset. A few weeks later the car did the same thing. I did some research, and found out it could be reset by leaving the car on for 10 to 20 minutes then start it. Also, I read this was a common problem with Malibu owners and GM was doing nothing to remedy the problem.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #41

Jun 182007

Malibu 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
I own a 2001 Chevrolet Malibu, for the last 3 1/2 years I have had to replace the ignition cylinder 3 times. The theft light will come on and the car will shut down. The dealer told me that this was a common problem and GM won't do anything about it. So here I am again having to replace the part again.

- St Michaels, MD, USA

problem #40

Jun 062007

Malibu

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
About 1 year ago I purchased a 2001 Chevy Malibu. I loved my car! that summer my sister and I went to the beach and spent the whole day there. When we got into my car to crank it up the theft light was on and it would not crank. I had to wait for 3 hours for a tow truck to come all the way out to the beach. I was told that the computer chip in my key was wrong and I needed another key. Well I got a key made and it worked fine. Today I got off of work and was on my way to taco bell and my theft light came on, my car started but what is this problem. I do not want to stop anywhere just in case my car wont start. I am pregnant now and it is 95 degrees outside, am I expected to wait" what happens when I have my child and this happens? I did an internet search and this seems to be a big problem. Does someone have to get hurt or even die from this in order for a recall" I think it is crazy that I spent money on a car with defects and no one will fix this. Believe me I will not stop with this complaint..

- Monticello, FL, USA

problem #39

Apr 112007

Malibu

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The anti-theft on the car has caused me to be late to work many time since I bought it in January 2001. Also, it has caused me to be stranded alone in shopping centers until I could get a tow truck to come. Many times! incident date was the last date it happened.

- Greenville, SC, USA

problem #38

Mar 262007

Malibu 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 71,000 miles
Chevrolet Malibu, year 2001. Repeated problems with pass lock / anti-theft system malfunctioning. Two separate conditions occurred 1. system will malfunction so that vehicle cannot be started, cannot bypass/reset the anti-theft system. 2. system will not arm itself, and theft system does not provide intended purpose. Addressed this with Chevrolet, and they refused to acknowledge any service bulletin related to this problem. They could only recommend that I contact my dealer. My concern is with the possibility of the theft system malfunctioning and causing the vehicle to stall while in motion. This problem has reoccurred seven times since October, 2006. So far, it has been possible to reset problem (1) by keeping the key in the accessory position for 10 minutes, and "problem ; (2) by turning the driver door lock 3 times to the right, then once to the left, then starting the vehicle. (these measures were obtained from an internet search which revealed widespread problems of this nature with this vehicle type.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #37

Mar 252007

Malibu 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
I have had several instances were the 2001 Chevrolet Malibu won't start after the theft system light came on. I have replaced the ignition cylinder once, and I refused to pay to get the same item fixed within a year. GM needed to do a recall and have this fixed. There were hundreds of people with the same problem and something needs to be done.

- Fort Walton Beach, FL, USA

problem #36

Mar 112007

Malibu 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 106,902 miles
My wife went shopping after a long trip, so the car should have been fairly warm. After she finished her shopping, the vehicle wouldn't start and the theft light was on. Because she has seen me fix the problem several times, she knew to turn the key to the on position, wait 10 minutes for the theft light to go out, turn the key to the off position, wait a few seconds, and restart the car. No one was injured.

- Saint Louis, MO, USA

problem #35

Mar 032007

Malibu 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 104,954 miles
Loaded up the family for a trip and the car won't start. Theft light is on and I've had the problem too many times before, so I knew what to do. Turn the key into the on position, wait ten minutes for the theft light to turn off, turn the key to the off position for a few seconds and restart. No one was injured this time.

- Saint Louis, MO, USA

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