10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
36,000 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2002 Chevrolet Malibu:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #5

Apr 212016

Malibu

  • miles
The driver's side seatbelt does not lock when stressed. The passenger one does. Chevrolet will not fix it for free. A friend has the same vehicle and it didn't lock in an accident. She smashed her face off the steering wheel. We don't want to happen to our daughter.

- Beaver Falls, PA, USA

Add Complaint
problem #4

May 052015

Malibu

  • miles
My mom and sister was recently involved in a auto accident which caused critical injuries. My mom rear ended a semi truck and the air bags did not deploy nor did the seat belts lock causing my mom to crush her face. My sister recieved 2 vertebra fractures and 3 rib fractures. The cause of this accident caused my mom to have to have surgery on her face and is still in the ut hospital. If the air bags had deployed then it could have saved her face more than it did.

- Barbourville, KY, USA

Add Complaint
problem #3

Apr 022012

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 110,000 miles
The seat belt locks up and cannot be released so the belt cant be used to secure passenger. This has been going on and off for over a year. Normally after jiggling and tugging and twisting it will finally release so it can be used. However today February 7, 2013 the seatbelt is locked tightly and cannot be released. There is an $85 fine in my state of Rhode Island for not wearing a seat belt this is a big problem. Can you offer me a solution. I have spoken to several people with this make and model they are having the same problem.

- Warwick, RI, USA

Add Complaint
problem #2

Feb 172008

Malibu

  • 0 miles
My grandson was critically inured while front seat passenger in 2002 Chevy Malibu, this vehicle cannot sustain impact of 30 mph or less to front passenger side without causing fatal if not critical injuries to passenger. No side airbag, no protection whatsoever. Rated with three stars...... ridiculous. My grandson lost one lung and part of his bronchial tube because there is no safety measurements on this vehicle to protect front passenger.

- Sykesville, MD, USA

Add Complaint
problem #1

Feb 052003

Malibu

  • 70,000 miles
While driving at 40 mph a motorist failed to yield and crashed into the front end of consumer's vehicle. Upon impact, air bags failed to deploy, and the seat belts failed to retract. Driver hit head on the roof, and sustained head and neck injuries.

- Ruskin, FL, USA

Add Complaint