2002 Chevrolet Malibu reliability record
NHTSA consumer complaints and recall campaigns for the 2002 Chevrolet Malibu from the dataset labeled 2026. The source file does not provide an exact snapshot date. Use the reported issues to guide further checks; these counts do not establish failure rates or repair costs.
- NHTSA complaints
- 754
- Dataset year: 2026; snapshot day not provided
- Top problem area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- 182 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 1
- see below
- Reported harm
- 28 reported crashes · 32 injuries · 1 fire
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesCounts are not adjusted for vehicles sold, time in service or reporting frequency. A larger count does not establish a higher chance of failure, and these comparisons do not set the maintenance budget in our calculator.
Complaint rank
#620
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Chevrolet median
+446
median 308 across 473 Chevrolet records
Vs 2000-2004
+501
median 253 complaints in 771 records
Top component share
32%
Electrical System: 244 complaints
What owners report fails — 2002 Chevrolet Malibu
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 182
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE 62
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING 49
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL 40
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH 36
1 recall on record for the 2002 Chevrolet Malibu
- NHTSA 14V400000 · 2014 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2002 Chevrolet Malibu
Build a separate budget with your purchase price, insurance quote, mileage and maintenance estimate. Complaint counts do not enter that calculation. Unknown local taxes and fees stay listed as costs to confirm.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2002 Chevrolet Malibu units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Dataset year: 2026; exact snapshot day not supplied. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
NHTSA has 754 consumer complaints on record for the 2002 Chevrolet Malibu and 1 recall. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (182 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2002 Chevrolet Malibu units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Chevrolet Malibu?
Owners most often report problems with: electrical system (182), electrical system:ignition:anti-theft:control module (62), exterior lighting (49), exterior lighting:turn signal (40). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2002 Chevrolet Malibu?
This complaint dataset does not measure repair prices or predict a maintenance budget for the 2002 Chevrolet Malibu. Use your purchase price, insurance quotes, fuel use and a maintenance estimate in the separate five-year cost calculator. It does not convert complaint counts into repair costs, and any unknown taxes remain excluded and clearly listed.