Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Chevrolet Malibu owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 03V327000 (Exterior Lighting) and 14V400000 (Electrical System) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact shifted the vehicle into park and reinserted the key into the ignition in order to restart the vehicle. Also, the contact mentioned that while driving at 30 MPH, the turn signal lights and hazard lights failed to work intermittently and the ABS warning light illuminated. A day later, while driving 20 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to stop. The contact had to apply excessive force to the brake pedal in order to stop the vehicle. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that the master brake cylinder and turn signal relay switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. …
At approximately 30000 miles my car started hesitating when starting. The dealer could find no fault and I kept driving with only periodic problems. Then my gas gauge, radio, engine check light and passive alarm system kept coming on. At, 43,000 miles the car would not start. The dealer said the key had lost its memory but I still kept having the same problems. At, 48,354 miles the car totally went out. After having the car for several days the dealer said it was the ignition switch. Under california law the ignition system is covered to 50,000 miles but the dealer stated teh ignition switch is not part of the ignition system. After writting Chevy complaint dept many times I got no where because all they do is calll the dealer, they do not go with an independent body just the dealer that gave me the advice in the first place. …
We are paying on a 2001 Malibu. The fuel sensor went out showing gasoline when there wasn't. The car stalled in rush hour traffic. The sensor was replaced but I had to pay for the fuel filter plus a deductible on my extended warranty. Next the blinkers decided to only work occassionally same week the starter started dragging then the car started to run hot. Took it to the dealer, replaced blinker switch (no mention made of the recall) replaced the starter and replaced the gasket that was leaking. When I had added coolant to get myself home the coolant that was n the car was green, the coolant I put in the car green..was supposed to be orange when I told the dealer there was green coolant in the car he said oh someones booboo unfortunately you have to pay for it...almost 300.00. …
Safety recall #03043a (03/08/2004) - turn signals/hazard warning flashers inoperative * the turn signals work intermittently: you have to push the hazard switch off and on to get the turn signals to work. In order to make the turn signals work, the driver must take one hand off the steering wheel to push the hazard switch on and off and this defect also forces the driver to take their eyes from the road and to the dashboard of the vehicle in an effort to make the turn signals work properly, which is a major safety hazard. I brought the vehicle to classic Chevrolet in altamonte springs, fl on 9/10/07 per this safety recall. Although the recall covers VIN #'s from 1m500024 to 1m669822 (the vehicle clearly falls within this range VIN# 1m551207), the dealer refused to replace this part under that recall. …
The turning signal on my 2001 Chevy Malibu works when it wants to and when it doesn't it's very dangerous. This past halloween I was riding up the main st. And could not signal to cars behind me (it was dark) that I was turning. This is very scary since it happens unexpectedly when you push the arm down. Nothing. There's no lights on the car or flasher on my dash. I had to pass my turn & keep going out of my direction so I could send a signal through braking and used my hazard light to let them know I was turning. I live in south carolina where I can't just hop on a bus or train if my car malfunctions. I'm a single mother of two girls and our car ride ended up scarier than the halloween masks. I'm writing before an accident happens. On the roads down here if you put on your hazards and slow down, people generally go around you. …
I own a 2001 Chevy Malibu ls 6 cyl. This year has 670,000+ cars recalled for the exact same problem I am having and the exact same year. Yet because my VIN isnt included or enough people with my VIN have not reported the problem..I am excluded from having them fix this for me. My turn signals are not working, they will not flash, click or go on as of recently. This is a safety hazard that GM did recall for my car year and type, yet I am excluded because of my VIN, so my life..does not matter? Because...maybe only a few hundred have had the same problem? This is a known recall with my type of car, and I am in danger here...I called GM 2 times 8/8/2011 I was told there was nothing they could do for me, simply because of my VIN...ummmmm how about include my VIN!!! …
I was having intermittent trouble with the turn signals and hazard lamps. They will stop working when you most needed them. My mechanic changed the turn signal switch but that didn't fix the problem. At that point I saw that there was a recall on hazard switch pertaining to same type of problems. I contacted GM, they told me my car is not part of the recall, and referred me to a dealer. I went back to my mechanic, and he figured out that the hazard switch was the problem. As that is where all the power is distributed to rest of the exterior lighting, and it will fail particularly on a hot day when it was hot, and the air condition was turned on. He replaced the hazard switch, and the car has not have that trouble for last one month. Can somebody tell me, how is this problem different that the problem explained in the recall? Also, having trouble with starting of the car. …
I have had the brakes and rotors replaced twice since buying the car in April of 2001. I took the car to jim butler Chevrolet for the turn signal/flasher problem which was later recalled and I was reimbursed. I took it to don darr Chevy which fixed a faulty switch operating the air conditioner/switching to outside air. I had the car towed to dobbs when it would not start, they said it was the fuel pump and assembly module. Today,jim butler Chevrolet replaced the lock cylinder and ignition switch because of the theft system light and the car not starting.but was unable to find the cause of the daytime running lights not working. Oh! But they noticed a recall on the hazard lights and replaced it. They were the one who replaced it the first time. I also told them of the over crank/grinding noise after the car is started, happens occasionally. They could not duplicate, so no repair. …
GM is refusing to replace the switch per the recall. Even thought the vehicle is made between the recall dates February 1, 2000 through May 31, 2001 (Malibu). Summary: by letter dated August 27, 2003, GM notified the agency that it is conducting a voluntary safety recall (NHTSA recall no. 03V327) involving certain model year (my) 2000-2001 Chevrolet Malibu, Oldsmobile alero, and Pontiac grand am. GM's recall covers 670,740 vehicles manufactured beginning February 1, 2000 through May 1, 2001 (alero and grand am) and February 1, 2000 through May 31, 2001 (Malibu). GM reports that turn signal failure is due to solder joint cracking in the hazard switch, and has identified rapid temperature transitions of the hazard switch and the soldering process as the cause of cracking. …
Related recalls
Exterior lighting › Hazard flashing warning lights › Switch
Certain passenger vehicles have hazard warning switches that May experience solder joint cracking caused by rapid temperature transitions and the soldering process. If solder joint cracking occurs and results in an open circuit, the turn signals/hazard lamps become intermittent or inoperative.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the hazard warning switch. Owner notification began on February 5, 2004. Owners should contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, Pontiac at 1-800-620-7668, or Oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537.
NHTSA investigations
Turn signal failure
Odi opened the investigation based on 9 complaints of turn signals operating sporadically on the 2000-2001 Chevrolet malibu.the turn signals quit working without warning and May occur while the vehicle is in motion or standing still.GM identified the hazard switch as the root cause of this problem.electrical current to the turn signal passes through the hazard switch.failure of the hazard switchresults in loss of…
Turn signal failures
By letter dated August 27, 2003, GM notified the agency that it is conducting a voluntary safety recall (NHTSA recall no. 03V327) involving certain model year (my) 2000-2001 Chevrolet malibu, Oldsmobile alero, and Pontiac grand am.GM's recall covers 670,740 vehicles manufactured beginning February 1, 2000 through May 1, 2001 (alero and grand am) and February 1, 2000 through May 31, 2001 (malibu).GM reports that turn…
Headlight complaints in other Malibu years
Frequently asked questions
How common are headlight problems on the 2001 Chevrolet Malibu?
NHTSA has 109 complaints about the lights of the 2001 Chevrolet Malibu, 15% of the model year's 721 complaints. The component named most often is turn signal (28 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Chevrolet Malibu headlight problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 03V-327 (switch, Aug 28, 2003). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2001 Chevrolet Malibu headlight problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 64,000 miles, and 8% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.