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2002 Chevrolet Malibu Airbags Problems

16 owner-reported airbags complaints from NHTSA data

16
Complaints
12
Crashes
Feb 2003Nov 2008
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (16)

mediumAIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS
CrashFiled: May 2015

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.

NHTSA #: 10717225
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Feb 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK, BACK AND ARM INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

NHTSA #: 10682984
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Oct 2014

RAN OVER A MANHOLE THAT WAS COVERED ALL THE SUDDEN AIRBAGS WENT OFF DRIVER AND PASSENGER SMASHED WINDSHIELD .AND SENT DAUGHTER TO HOSPITAL 27 WEEKS PREGNANT THIS VEHICLE HAS LOTS OF PROBLEMS ITS DANGEROUS! WE HAVE DROVE OVER THAT SAME SECTION OF ROAD IN OTHER VEHICLES MANY OF TIMES NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE! THEY SHOULD RECALL THESE AIRBAGS! *TR

NHTSA #: 10649382
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Sep 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE EXITING THE HIGHWAY AND TRAVELING LESS THAN 20 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO SCHEDULED AN INSPECTOR TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE INSPECTOR COULD NOT CONFIRM IF THERE WAS A DEFECT WITH THE AIR BAGS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000.

NHTSA #: 10638994
mediumAIR BAGS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CrashFiled: Sep 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A SECOND VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CUT TO THE LIP, BRUISING ON THE FOREHEAD, NECK INJURY, AND HER FRONT TEETH WERE LOOSENED. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE CONTACT RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V1400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

NHTSA #: 10633344
mediumAIR BAGS,SERVICE BRAKES
CrashFiled: Jul 2014

IN A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE, BRAKES FAILED TO WORK, AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. TOTALED MY VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA #: 10615395
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Sep 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT TIGHTEN. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED HIP AND A PASSENGER SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA #: 10544946
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Apr 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 25 MPH HER DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE DRIVERS FRONT AND PASSENGER SIDE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. NOW THE CONTACTS DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG COMPARTMENT IS CRACKED AND THE AIR BAG SEEMED AS IF IT WOULD DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP BUT THE MANUFACTURER SENT AN INVESTIGATOR TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE; THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS APPROXIMATELY 90,094. UPDATED 10/14/10*JB

NHTSA #: 10325522
mediumAIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS,STRUCTURE
CrashFiled: May 2009

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. *TR

NHTSA #: 10268828
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Nov 2008

AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY ON MY 2002 CHEVY MALIBU 4D SEDAN DURING A COLLISION BETWEEN THE MALIBU FRONT-END DIRECTLY WITH A SATURN 4D SEDAN IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR AT A SPEED OF 50-55 MPH. *TR

NHTSA #: 10247450
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Apr 2006

AIR BAG NON-DEPLOYMENT. *JB

NHTSA #: 10154792
mediumAIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS
CrashFiled: May 2004

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. *AK

NHTSA #: 10074094
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Oct 2003

FRONT AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT IMPACT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. *AK

NHTSA #: 10042866
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Feb 2003

VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, BUT NONE OF THE AIR DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. DRIVER SUSTAIN SERIOUS BODILY INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. PLEASE PUT THE CORRECT MODEL. PH

NHTSA #: 10006774
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Aug 2002

AUTO WAS RENTED FROM AVIS AT THE AIRPORT IN ORLANDO. WHILE PROCEEDING NORTH ON ROUTE 436 FROM THE AIRPORT AND SLOWING FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT HANGING MOSS DR., THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG PREMATURELY DEPLOYED AFTER THE DRIVER HEARD A BRIEF SOUND LIKE A "HSST". THE DEPLOYMENT STARTLED MY WIFE, THE DRIVER AND WAS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG, OBSCURING HER VISION. BEFORE SHE COULD BRAKE TO A STOP SHE IMPACTED AN OLD PICKUP TRUCK IN FRONT OF HER WHO WAS ALSO SLOWING FOR THE TRAFFIC LIGHT. DAMAGE WAS SUSTAINED BY THE MALIBU BUT NO SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE WAS SUSTAINED BY THE PICKUP TRUCK. MY WIFE CALLED FOR THE POLICE AFTER BOTH THE PICKUP AND SHE MOVED THE VEHICLES TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO AVOID IMPEDING TRAFFIC. THE DRIVER OF THE PICKUP PROCEEDED TO LEAVE THE SCENE WHILE MY WIFE WAITED FOR OVER 2 HOURS FOR THE POLICE TO ARRIVE. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE POLICE AND WITH AVIS ABOUT THE PREMATURE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS BUT WITH NO "OTHER VEHICLE PRESENT" THE POLICE COULD DO NOTHING BUT FILE A REPORT ON THE INCIDENT. MY WIFE WAS NOT CITED. AVIS IGNORED THE PREMATURE DEPLOYMENT ISSUE AND CHARGED OUR INSURANCE COMPANY THE $2,600. FOR REPAIRS AS IF A COLLISION CAUSED THE PROBLEM. MY WIFE SUSTAINED A MINOR BURN MARK ON HER ARM FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG.*AK

NHTSA #: 765543
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Jul 2002

IN A FRONTAL COLLISON NONE OF AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON IMPACT.*AK

NHTSA #: 8013757

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