Great anti-theft system... it locks the owner out every time your car doesn't start immediately! I had to pay to learn the fix, as well as pay for a tow to a garage to learn the fix. Now I always make sure all accessories are turned off, keep my foot on the gas so I can gun the engine and possibly avoid the engine not turning over. Worst part of it was people thought I'd made this up until they saw me sitting in the parking lot with my door ajar for 10 minutes. Isn't that a nice feature? You need to place the ignition switch to "on" and make sure your door is open so that it will reset the system after 10 minutes.

It doesn't matter where you are, when you least expect it, the car won't start. I have spent my 10 minutes waiting for the reset in the middle of winter in a dark parking lot. What kind of a safety feature is this when it puts the owner in jeopardy because you have to sit there with your door ajar until the anti-theft system resets!

Ok.. I've been reading a lot about everyone's chevy having a problem with the anti-theft system. Is GM for real? They won't fix this problem for free? So far it cost me $170.00 because the first time my car wouldn't start I had to have it towed and fixed. The tow and the resetting cost me $170.00. Less than a week later, my car wouldn't start again! My husband did some research and figured out that we had to do the ten minute wait with key in 'on' position for it to start again. Since it happened for the first time a few months ago.. it has been getting worse. The last three days in a row! We were at a funeral.. trying to follow the funeral procession and had to have them all leave without us!!

I'm sick of this happening and I cannot understand why GM won't take responsibility for this! I've read complaint after complaint about the same issue from all years and even different models! My son takes the car and I'm worried for his safety. Others have complained that their car stops while driving on the highway! How can a company get away with not taking responsibility for this? I'm one consumer who will not quit until something is done about this!

I hate this effing car. Ever since I bought the stupid thing it's been one problem after another. The first few were just annoying...Blinkers worked when they wanted, but then stopped altogether. Wipers worked MOST of the time. Tail light seal went bad, so when it rains, the tail light and brake light burn out. Then the problems starting getting worse. First, when I would try to start it, none of the lights or gauges would come on, and the car wouldn't turn over. It would take about 15-30 minutes on average to get the car to start. Then, the car died 4 times while I was DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. Seriously...Going 75mph, and the car just turns off. Now, on a daily basis, my anti-theft system prevents me from starting the car every single time I try to turn it on. Some times are worse than others. When I turn the key, the engine cranks very slowly. When it finally turns over, it immediately dies. It generally takes about 7-8 tries to get it to turn on. But other times, it won't turn over at all. The theft light just blinks and blinks, and there is a weird dinging noise. The original Chevy key is the worst at triggering the anti-theft system. I tried 3 different keys today, and my car is currently sitting in my work parking lot...And I am at home, after having to have my mother pick me up. I've put too much money into trying to fix this POS, and it's not worth it. I just paid my college tuition yesterday (which I pay by myself), and I have books to pay for too. My savings are completely wiped out. I have no idea how long that car will have to sit at my work before I can afford to attempt to fix it. Maybe if I get lucky, someone will steal it and I can collect insurance money. Let's keep our fingers crossed!

I wake up to find that my car won't start. I Google 'problems with 2002 Malibu not starting' (since I've had lots of separate issues with the car) and find these complaints. My husband didn't believe me and made me get a new $80 battery that I didn't need. I finally was able to reset the passlock system by turning the ignition on for 10 minutes (until the flashing Anti-theft light went off) then turning it off and then cranking. It worked. Of all the things to prevent my car from starting...it was the one thing that has constantly NOT worked since I got the car...the anti-theft system. However, at the end of the day, I still love my husband and my car and new battery can get me to where I need to go. Thanks for the previous complaints!

I've had ignition switch repaired twice by dealership while under warranty in 2003. Now in 2010 it is starting to do it again. My mechanic won't touch it. He said it was integrated into the computer system. I like my car, but this is ruining the relationship. I may have to bite the bullet and go to dealership and have it replaced again but at my expense. I'm ready to chuck it and buy a new car but my husband wants to wait awhile longer. Can it be replaced with a non anti-theft ignition switch?

Update from Apr 26, 2010: Thanks for the help and flagging of the post for bypassing the anti-theft module. However, I bite the bullet and took it into dealership to have it replaced to the tune of $569. Something inside the ignition cylinder had shorted out. So the replaced the module reset the computer and gave me 1-yr warranty and if it fails next week, I'm taking it back, if it fails again, it will be taken right back to the dealership again.

Like everyone, I've had a problem with my girlfriend's stupid Passlock. We replaced the fuel pump, we replaced the battery, and it was STILL acting up. I spent hours researching what to do - including how to splice it and bypass. But, when I replaced the battery I'm pretty sure I found the solution. PLEASE, ANYONE WHO HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRY WHAT I DID. IT REALLY WORKS.

The problem is that the Passlock system seems to have problems registering the key in the slot. Most people turn the car on as soon as they get in. In this case, the system fails to read its a key, but knows the car is being attempted to be turned on, so it goes into "Theft" mode. The solution? Keep the door OPEN and put the key in the "ON" position until the WARNING CHIME comes on. This guarantees the car "knows" there is a key in the position. After this, turn on the car as normal. So far this has solved my problem... for free! I'd like others to try this - it really worked for me!

My problems started with the auto theft light coming on, some times it would come on and other times it wouldn't. As time passed my auto theft light stayed on continuously. One morning I went to start my car and it wouldn't start , I read online that if you put your car on accessories and leave it on until the light goes off & then try restarting it , it should work. I tried and it worked. A few days later I took my husband to Oklahoma to work, on the way there I heard a clicking sound coming from the dash that sounded like the blinker lights. When I went to leave , my car would not start & ended up staying in Oklahoma until we had it towed back to town ( 20 miles away ) . We took the car to a mechanic shop and it ended up costing me $347.00 to have the ignition switch & harness replaced. ( Not including towing fees ). Now we're hearing the clicking sound again and we took it back to the mechanic and he's saying it's a problem with the hazard switch. I''m FED UP with the problems. We also had to dish out $ 800.00 to have the Cadillac Converter & valve springs replaced. We are also constantly having problems with tires going flat , heck I had a blow out going 80 mph. Plus we're always having problems with the brakes. I checked the Car Fax on the car before we got it and it was never in any kind of accident , so I don't know why it's acting up so bad but it's VERY FRUSTRATING !!!!!!

I'm sure there are many ticked off people who haven't even reported this issue. I was almost among them. My wife and daughter were stranded in downtown Des Moines, after dark, mid-week causing me to have to drive 30 miles one way to get to them.

Now trying to find someone who can get the car out to be fixed.

Wasn't even familiar with this issue and 10 minute fix doesn't work. I accepted that the engine can make extra noise and worked with the AC being crap on hot days, but when it comes to the safety of my family it comes to a time to change. I've been heavy GM owner most all of my life, but this is the first time I have been so disappointed with the treatment of so many people with the same problem.

Replac'd pass lock once plus new battery plus tow $750.00. Won't start again 6 months later. The ignition switch, plus 2 keys cut, plus tow = $400.00. The light is on on again - won't start - do the 10 minute thing & starts 2 times. In the next 2.5 months the light came on again...piss'n me off... got another key cut. The light goes off for a wopp'n 30 minutes, a new chevy record. This is a problem Mr. chevy guy the maker of this lemon, damn it you putz's fix the problem will yah and stop piss'n me off with respect K. Graham,

london, Ontario

Two weeks ago this problem occurred when I was in Grand Rapids visiting friends. Turned key over, lots of chugging yet no engine firing. Took it to a local shop (Community Automotive Repair), and the problem was revealed - anti-theft system. They reset the system (for around $250), and I thought all was fine...until about ten minutes ago when it happened again! I'm going to try the manual reset to see if it'll work, but I'm afraid to drive it to tonight's intended destination, lest I'm stuck an hour away from home!

the same as prementioned 47 times. lemon law? does this apply here?

should i purchase Japanese cars from now on? should I purchase cars built in early 1970's? or 1960's? this an all american car with repair prices into luxury import level?

thousand dollars??? absurd and ridiculous! this is a v6 front drive ho hum every day grocery getter car w/ a little powder like exhaust tone saluting the performance malibu of the 1960's early 70's. family cheap car. what is the deal w/ thousand dollar repairs? damn it!! makes no sense> no sense!!

I am the original owner of this vehicle since November 2001.

I had the ignition cylinder replaced two or three years ago because I couldn't turn the key at all. It worked fine after that... until....

After returning from a two week vacation I tried to start the car and went through the "Theft System" stuff. I had to spend $35 for a tow and $25 for a "repair" at a local mechanic. Thankfully he reminded me of the "10-minutes-with-the-key-in-run" proceedure in the owners manual.

The problem has repeated almost daily since then. Sometimes it will start and run, only to have the "theft system" light come on and stay on half an hour into a drive. Sometimes it works fine after the reset.

A "security system" shouldn't lock out the legitimate user. A poorly designed system such as this really should have a factory recall. It is more than just a pain in the neck (or a little lower) it is a security and safety risk since my wife has to drive with our 2 year-old son. I shudder what may happen if she has an emergency and this fickle "security system" decides to play it's stupid games again.

About to go to the airport to go on a family vacation when the car wont start had it towed to fountain tire in St.Albert, at the place they checked all spark plugs at $10 a plug looked at all computer systems and replaced the ignition cylinder car started after this next day car does same thing this time take it to the crooks at stedelbauer Chevy Oldsmobile in Edmonton to fix the problem they replaced two computer moduals wrecked the power door locks on the car (the door remote will no longer open or close doors or trunk) and charged $3000 to do all the work on top of all this they used my car to pick up gas for the shop in jerry cans which were left in the back of my car. and to top off my lovely experience the car starts randomly unlocking all the doors when parked near a gas station. Because of this experience I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CHEVY i have had 6 chevs from brand new to older one's THANK GOD THEY ARE GOING BANKRUPT

WELCOME ME TO THE CLUB OF GM PRODUCTS.BACK STABBERS,THIS CAR IS A TOTALLY NIGHTMARE. MY WIFE IS ABOUT TO LOSE HER JOB , WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SAME BULL LIKE TWICE A MONTH. ALARM LIGHT BLINKING,,,,WAIT THE 10 MINUTES CRAP,,,IT DOES TURN ON SO FAR,,,BUT MY CONCERN IS THAT I GOT A FAMILY AND IN CASE OF A EMERGENCY.IS NOT LIKE THE DEALER GIVE ME SOME KIND OF DISCOUNT EVERY TIME THIS CAR WONT START AS FAR AS A I CONCERNED, Y PAY YOU A MONTHLY AMOUNT FOR A 24/7 AVAILABILITY..I,LL BUY A JAPANESE CAR NEXT TIME. NO WONDER WHY GM IS STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW,,WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND,,,

Purchased the car almost a year ago with 1 original key, went to highlands chev-olds and got 2 more keys cut (by the pro's).. our key's were always cool cause we could take it out while driving or sitting there with the car running warming up, now I know this was the first sign of trouble! We sometimes had a hard time getting the key to turn but it never gave us more then a few moments of grief. Then one day the car wouldn't start, I though maybe something got wet cause it would start for a second but shut right off. I researched the internet a bit and found out how to reset the passlock system (10 minute wait with the key on).. When I tried to turn the ignition the key wouldn't budge, now comes the $80 tow to the dealership. They say this happens often and were fast to fix the problem. Cylinder and case/switch assembly were replaced, 4.5 hours labor. Thanks for our $1070 out of the blue repair cost GM, I always thought the keys should turn well past the wheels do.. I was wrong, I hear Honda's are like that...