2002 Chevrolet Malibu Transmission Problems
7 owner-reported transmission complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Owner Complaints (7)
TRANSMISSION STICKS WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE IN GEAR CAUSING IT TO STALL AND JERK. BACK DOOR LOCK CONSTANTLY LOCKS AND UNLOCKS EVEN WHEN NOT IN USE. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY IRRITATING. THE GLASS HATCH UNLOCKS AND OPENS WITHOUT WARNING. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD EXPLORERS. THE GLASS HATCH GOES UP WITHOUT WARNING AND SOMETIMES ENDS UP SLAMMING DOWN WHEN DRIVER HITS THEIR BRAKES OR SOMETHING, CAUSING THE GLASS TO SCATTER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM, TRANSMISSION, COOLING SYSTEM AND POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED. THE SPARK PLUGS, FUEL FILTERS, AND HUB KIT WERE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 01/06/15
I WALKED OUT THE DOOR READY TO GO TO WORK GOT IN THE CAR TURNED THE KEY IT WOULD NOT START. SO FIRST I HAD TO WAKE SOMEONE UP WITH A PHONE CALL BECAUSE THIS IS OUR ONLY CAR. GOT A RIDE TO WORK LATE AND CALLED THE PLACE WHERE I AM BUYING THIS CAR FOR THEM TO TOW IT TWO MILES TO THERE SHOP AND CHARGE ME SEVENTY EIGHT DOLLARS. I GET THE CALL FROM THEM SAYING ITS THE FUEL PUMP(ANOTHER COMMON UNNECESSARY FIX THAT YOU HERE REPEAT OVER AND OVER. HE ALSO SAID THE ANTITHEFT LIGHT WAS ON AND THAT I SOMEHOW DEMAGNITIZED THE KEY(WASN'T POSSIBLE BECAUSE I WAS GIVEN A ALL SILVER KEY NO CHIP IN IT) SO THAT COST ALMOST A EXTRA HUNDRED FOR THE KEY.SO AFTER IM RIDING ALMOST FINE TORQUE COULD BE MORE V6ISH BUT I DIGRESS TUESDAY SEP 4 2012 NOT A MONTH LATER IT DOESN'T START AGAIN, AND AGAIN ON MY WAY TO WORK. THIS TIME I HAD IT TOWED AND BY THE TIME IT MADE IT TO THE MECHANIC ITS WAS STARTING FINE. I DON'T MAKE ENOUGH MONEY TO CONTINUOUSLY WORRY ABOUT THIS OBVIOUS WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH GM VEHICLES MADE FROM 99-05. IF WHOEVER READS THIS TYPES IN MY CAR WONT START 2002 CHEVY MALIBU, AND JUST READ THE DIFFERENT PEOPLES STORY'S AND SEE VIDEOS. IN CONCLUSION GM MUST RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND FIX THESE PROBLEMS. IM A LONG TIME GM SUPPORTER OF THERE AMERICAN MADE CARS AND TRUCKS. I'VE OWNED A 1989 CADILLAC BIARITZ, 1999 CHEVY SURBURBAN,AND NOW THIS 2002 CHEVEY MALIBU.IVE BEEN LUCKY I READ ABOUT A GUY WHOSE ANTITHEFT ACTED UP WHILE HE WAS DRIVING WITH HIS CHILD. RECALL AND SAVE LIVES AND HEADACHES. *TR
I PURCHASED MY 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA LS IN DECEMBER, 2004. GREAT LOOKING VEHICLE WITH NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. THE MOST RECENT AND SEVERE HAS COME OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS. WHILE ACCELERATING ON AN ENTRANCE RAMP, THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT PROPERLY; VERY ROUGH AND THE RPM'S GO TO 4000 OR ABOVE BEFORE SHIFTING OR IF I LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR. I AM TERRIFIED THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO COME OUT COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY IN THE VEHICLE; I AM TAKING THE CAR TO A MECHANIC TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. I HAVE ALSO BEEN RESEARCHING OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE CAR, AND TO MY HORROR, I AM EXPERIENCING MUCH OF THE SAME AS OTHER CONSUMERS. HOW CAN SO MANY COMPLAINTS BE ISSUED ABOUT THE SAME VEHICLE AND GENERAL MOTORS NOT FIXING THE PROBLEMS?? *TR
RE 2002 CHEVY TAHOE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS: UP UNTIL THE 34,000 MILE RANGE THE VEHICLE DID JUST THAT, RUN FLAWLESSLY. HOWEVER, AT 34,000 MILES (NOVEMBER OF 2004) THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND NEEDED TO ACCELERATE TO MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY AND INSTANTLY THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO WHINE AND STOPPED OPERATING WHICH PLACED HER INTO THE PATH OF A LARGE TRUCK BEARING DOWN ON HER RATHER QUICKLY. THANKFULLY SHE WAS ABLE TO GLIDE OUT OF THE PATH OF THE TRUCK TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WE HAD THE TAHOE TOWED BACK TO OUR DEALERSHIP AND WE DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION "SUN SHELL" HAD FAILED AND WOULD BE REPLACED. OUR DEALER ASSURED US THAT THIS WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM, BECAUSE THE NEW PARTS WERE DESIGNED TO PREVENT THIS FROM OCCURRING IN THE FUTURE. OUR DEALER FURTHER STATED THAT THEY HAVE BEEN REPAIRING A LARGE NUMBER OF VEHICLES WITH THESE FAILURES. OUR TAHOE WENT OFF OF IT'S NEW CAR WARRANTY ON MILEAGE NOT NUMBER OF MONTHS SOMETIME IN APRIL OF 2005 (36 MONTHS WOULD HAVE ENDED THIS AUGUST). JUST THIS PAST MONDAY (SEPTEMBER 19, 2005) MY WIFE WAS AGAIN ON HER WAY TO WORK WHEN AGAIN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED IN OUR 2002 TAHOE. THE MILEAGE WAS APPROX: 41,000 ( TOTAL PERIOD OF MILES AND THE LENGTH OF TIME FROM THE PREVIOUS FAILURE WAS APPROX: 7 MONTHS). THE CIRCUMSTANCES WERE THE SAME, SHE WAS ACCELERATING TO MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY AND AGAIN THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO WHINE AND SLIP. THIS TIME SHE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RELATIVE SAFETY. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO OUR DEALERSHIP AND AGAIN THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE "SUN SHELL" HAD FAILED. I WENT TO PICK UP THE CAR ON FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 23, 2005 AND WHILE I WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME THE DAMAGED PART AND A BENCH THAT CONTAINED SEVERAL DAMAGED "SUN SHELL". IT OBVIOUSLY DOES NOT TAKE MUCH EFFORT TO REALIZE THAT THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THIS PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION AND SPECIFICALLY THIS PART. *JB
WHILE DECREASING THE SPEED VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE NUMEROUS TIME BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING RPMS WOULD IDLE HIGH, RESULTING IN VEHICLE NOT TO GAINING SPEED OR CHANGING INTO PASSING GEAR. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED SIX TIMES FOR PROBLEM. *AK