2001 Chevrolet Malibu Airbags Problems
16 owner-reported airbags complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Owner Complaints (16)
Your car is shutting off unexpectedly, and you're seeing the battery warning light along with electrical issues like the stereo cutting out. When you press the gas pedal, the engine hesitates as if it's running out of fuel even when the tank shows half full, and the ABS brake warning light stays on constantly. The RPMs only increase properly when you're not driving or idling. These problems suggest an electrical system or charging issue that's affecting multiple systems in your car. A mechanic will need to test your battery, alternator, and electrical connections to identify what's causing these failures.
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A CHURCH VAN WAS PULLING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AND FAILED TO YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY. WE T-BONED THEM GOING 35MPH. WE HIT THEM INCREDIBLY HARD AND YET THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY! FOUR OF THEIR PASSENGERS WERE SENT TO THE HOSPITAL IN THE AMBULANCE AND THE TWO OF US IN THE MALIBU WENT LATER. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND THE CHURCH VAN HAD SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE AS WELL. *TR
MY DAUGHTER BROADSIDED AN SUV AT ABOUT 45 MPH AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE SUV'S SIDE AIRBAGS DID DEPLOY!! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AROUND A CURVE, THE CONTACT WAS BLINDED BY THE HEADLIGHTS OF AN ONCOMING VEHICLE AND VEERED OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER AND LANDED INTO A DITCH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT KNEE, BUT NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND BELIEVED THE CRASH WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
WHILE WAITING IN THE TURNING LANE AT A STOP LIGHT, I SUFFERED MULTIPLE INJURIES WHEN I WAS REAR-ENDED BY AN SUV TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. I HIT MY THROAT AND CHEST ON THE STEERING WHEEL TWICE DUE TO THE IMPACT. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, NOR WAS I RESTRAINED BY THE SEATBELT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR END OF A VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY; HOWEVER, THE AIR BAG COVER OPENED AND REMAINED FOLDED WITHIN THE AIR BAG AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE DRIVER RECEIVED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK. THE PASSENGER RECEIVED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND WAS ALSO TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE SEAT BELTS WERE WORN AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
MY BOYFRIEND WAS KILLED IN A CAR ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE. THE CAR FLIPPED AND HIT A TREE. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *TR
HORN DOES NOT WORK. PROBLEM STARTED OUT INTERMITTENTLY. NOW IT SEEMS TO BE PERMANENT. VERY INCONVENIENT. IT MAKES ME WONDER IF THE AIR BAGS EVEN WORK.*AK
AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ON WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AT THIS TIME. *AK *SC *JB
WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. THE DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOYED. NO INJURIES REPORTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *MR
AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN A MULTI-CAR ACCIDENT.*MR *CB *JB
CONSUMER STATES OF BEEN ON A COLLISION AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOYED. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. MR
THE ABOVE INFORMATION IS FOR A SECOND AND MORE SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON THE SAME TYPE AND MODEL OF VEHICLE IN MY FLEET. I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS VEHICLE'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY DEALER DIDN'T INDICATE ANY KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL AND YEAR. THIS NEEDS FURTHER ATTENTION BY SOMEONE THAT KNOWS MORE ABOUT THIS TYPE OF ISSUE AND THAT IS HONEST ABOUT WHAT IS ACTUALLY GOING ON. I'M NOT SURE WHAT I CAN DO TO AID IN THIS BUT MY OBLIGATION IS TO MY DRIVERS AND MY COMPANY TO PROVIDE SAFE TRANSPORTATION. THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR ANY HELP YOU MAY GIVE ME IN MEETING THIS OBLIGATION.*AK
CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND ONE PERSON INJURED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK *YD
THE MALIBU WAS STRUCK IN THE REAR AT APPROXIMATELY 40MPH CAUSING A FRONT COLLISION AS WELL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK