RecallMyCar

2002 Chevrolet Malibu Recalls, Complaints & Specs

2 safety recalls list the 2002 Chevrolet Malibu, and owners have filed 567 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

2
safety recalls
567
owner complaints to NHTSA
18 / 1
complaints citing a crash / fire
21
MPG combined (EPA)

2 safety recalls for the 2002 Chevrolet Malibu

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Ignition (electrical system)

    NHTSA 14V400000 Reported 5,877,718 vehicles potentially affected General Motors LLC

    This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling…

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this…

  2. Headlights (exterior lighting)

    NHTSA 02V107000 Reported 10,168 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Certain passenger vehicles fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." some of these vehicles were produced with a left low-beam headlamp that does not meet the photometric performance requirements of the standard.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the left low-beam headlamp and replace it if it does not meet requirements. Owner notification began may 23, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service…

567 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2002 Chevrolet Malibu have filed 567 complaints with NHTSA; 18 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 19 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 75,542 miles. Complaints peaked in 2014 with 70 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2002 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic, who reported t”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 15, 2026 · Electrical system

“The anti-theft/ passlock system fault in this generation of GM vehicles is very widespread and effects a large percentage of vehicles in this generation. I am sure there have been hundreds if not thou”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 18, 2021 · Electrical system

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2002 Chevrolet Malibu. Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined21 mpg
City / Highway18 / 26
FuelRegular
EPA classMidsize Cars
Engine6 cyl, 3.1 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Compare Chevrolet Malibu model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Chevrolet Malibu model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1964 Chevrolet Malibu01
1973 Chevrolet Malibu10
1974 Chevrolet Malibu01
1975 Chevrolet Malibu02
1977 Chevrolet Malibu10
1978 Chevrolet Malibu72
1979 Chevrolet Malibu54
1980 Chevrolet Malibu55
1981 Chevrolet Malibu23
1982 Chevrolet Malibu22
1983 Chevrolet Malibu21
1986 Chevrolet Malibu01
1989 Chevrolet Malibu03
1997 Chevrolet Malibu4443
1998 Chevrolet Malibu3976
1999 Chevrolet Malibu1789
2000 Chevrolet Malibu3922
2001 Chevrolet Malibu2721
2002 Chevrolet Malibu2567
2003 Chevrolet Malibu2569
2004 Chevrolet Malibu61,147
2005 Chevrolet Malibu3975
2006 Chevrolet Malibu61,116
2007 Chevrolet Malibu3977
2008 Chevrolet Malibu4988
2009 Chevrolet Malibu51,509
2010 Chevrolet Malibu31,361
2011 Chevrolet Malibu3978
2012 Chevrolet Malibu2907
2013 Chevrolet Malibu10836
2014 Chevrolet Malibu6351
2015 Chevrolet Malibu3270
2016 Chevrolet Malibu9837
2017 Chevrolet Malibu4702
2018 Chevrolet Malibu6699
2019 Chevrolet Malibu1191
2020 Chevrolet Malibu1198
2021 Chevrolet Malibu289
2022 Chevrolet Malibu198
2023 Chevrolet Malibu270
2024 Chevrolet Malibu242
2025 Chevrolet Malibu111

Checking a specific 2002 Chevrolet Malibu

How do I know if my 2002 Chevrolet Malibu has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 2002 Chevrolet Malibu; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Chevrolet dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 02V107000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Chevrolet models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.