Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2002 Chevrolet Malibu
NHTSA data on file today
The 2002 Chevrolet Malibu has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 567 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #14V400000 Ignition Switch may Turn Off NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E012000 FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07E021000 AFTERMARKET FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #02V107000 GM/FMVSS 108/LOW BEAM HEADLAMP NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Electrical System 258 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 143 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 63 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 42 complaints
- Engine 22 complaints
- Fuel System, Gasoline 22 complaints
Of the 567 complaints on file, 18 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 567 complaints, owners report 19 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,500–$7,800AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
With 568 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns, the 2002 Chevrolet Malibu shows significant reliability issues, particularly with the electrical system. Common problems reported involve electrical and lighting systems, suggesting potential repair challenges. Limited data on other components makes these general trends uncertain.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | Unknown | $200–$800 | very common |
| Exterior lighting | Unknown | $100–$300 | common |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake inspections
- Fluid level checks
- Tire rotations
- Battery inspections
- Coolant system maintenance
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Ignition switch issues
- Frequent headlight outages
- Erratic dashboard warnings
- Airbag system malfunctions
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2002 Chevrolet Malibu at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.