2001 Chevrolet Malibu Fuel System Problems

Your car smells like gasoline every day, especially when you start it in the morning or turn on the heat or air conditioning. You're concerned about a potential fire risk. The issue likely involves a fuel system leak or evaporative emissions problem that will need to be inspected and sealed.

Your car's anti-theft system (PassLock) is randomly activating and cutting off fuel to the engine, causing the vehicle to stall or fail to start. This is a known issue affecting many owners of this model year, and dealers typically fix it by replacing the ignition module.

TAKATA RECALL. WHEN STARTING THE 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU SOMETIMES THE ANTITHEFT SYSTEM PREVENTS IT FROM STARTING AND YOU HAVE TO TURN THE THE KEY OFF AND ON A FEW TIMES TO GET IT TO START. ALSO WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WILL TURN ITSELF OFF. THE CAR HAS TURNED ITSELF OF WHILE CROSSING A FOUR LANE SEVERAL TIMES AND JUST GOING DOWN THE ROAD. ONCE IT IS COASTED OFF THE ROAD IF ITS PUT IN PARK AND RESTARTED IT USUALLY STARTS BACK UP.

DEAR NHTSA REPRESENTATIVE, I WANT TO RAISE A CONCERN ABOUT GM'S PASSLOCK SYSTEM THAT TURNS OFF FUEL INJECTORS TO PREVENT CAR THEFT. MY 2001 CHEVY MALIBU'S ENGINE TURNED OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING ON FRIDAY, SEPT 18TH. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS. I AM VERY SURE THE CAUSE IS THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM BECAUSE THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD TO RESET THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM BY KEEPING THE KEY IN THE "ON" POSITION FOR 10 MINUTES. READING ONLINE AUTOMOTIVE BLOGS, IT APPEARS THAT MANY PEOPLE FACE THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE HOLD GM RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS VERY DANGEROUS FAULT IN THEIR VEHICLES. HELP REPAIR DAMAGES AND PREVENT NEW ACCIDENTS BY GRANTING A RECALL OR OTHERWISE FORCING GM TO COMPENSATE DRIVERS OF GM VEHICLES WITH THIS PASSLOCK ISSUE. BEST REGARDS, -ANDREW

2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER STATES TWO KEYS ARE BEING USED. ONE FOR THE DOORS AND TRUNK, AND ANOTHER FOR THE IGNITION AFTER IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER AND SENSOR WERE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. ALSO, THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL FILTER WERE REPLACED. *JB

I WAS TRAVELING AT 60 AND TOOK MY FOOT OFF GAS TO DECELERATE AND CAR WOULDN'T GO LESS THAN 50. ENGINE RPM'S WOULDN'T GO BELOW 2500. I COULD STILL STOP CAR WITH BRAKES BUT THIS APPEARS TO BE A CONSTANT PROBLEM AND NOT INTERMITTENT LIKE THE PERSON REPORTED A FEW DAYS AGO. I CHECKED THE THROTTLE LINKAGE BECAUSE I THOUGHT THE NON FUNCTIONING CRUISE CONTROL COULD BE AFFECTING ENGINE SPEED BUT NEITHER CABLE KEPT THE FLAP FROM BOTTOMING OUT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT SMELLED GASOLINE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. HE ALSO HEARD A POPPING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO HEAR THE POPPING NOISE HOWEVER, WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FUEL REGULATOR WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,455. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

THIS COMPLAINT RELATES TO THE POORLY DESIGNED GM PASSLOCK ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM THAT ERRONEOUSLY ENTERS ANTI-THEFT MODE AND DISABLES THE FUEL INJECTORS. GM SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL THIS PASSLOCK SYSTEM '' IT IS SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE TO STRAND MOTORISTS BECAUSE OF AN INCOMPETENTLY DESIGNED ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH THE IN-TANK FUEL PUMP AND TWO IGNITION MODULES (AT AN EXPENSE OF THREE TOWING BILL PLUS $1000+ IN REPAIR COSTS), ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WAS MISREADING MY IGNITION KEY AND DISABLING THE INJECTORS. SEVERAL INTERNET FORUMS THAT I FOUND AFTER THE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS DESCRIBE HOW TO RESET THIS ERRONEOUS SIGNAL AFTER HAVING TO WAIT 10 MINUTES FOR THE SYSTEM TO CLEAR. I HAVE PERSONALLY READ HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR HORROR STORIES IN ONLINE FORUMS, AND THIS IS A WIDELY KNOWN ISSUE. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS DEFECTIVE SYSTEM, AND THAT DEALERSHIPS AND MECHANICS MAKE HUGE PROFITS REPLACING FUEL PUMPS AND IGNITION MODULES UNNECESSARILY. BY THE WAY, AFTER EACH OF THE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS I MENTIONED WERE DONE, THE CAR EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUES WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE REPAIRS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHEN ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE HAS SINCE RECURRED 4 TIMES. EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE FUEL PUMP WOULD BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 150,000 WAS AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 177,000.

THERE HAS BEEN A FAILURE TO THE FUEL SYSTEM SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. FUEL REGULATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 DIFFERENT TIMES. A FUEL PUMP WAS PURCHASED 300$ TO REPLACE OLD ONE. THE RIGHT TAIL LIGHT HAS BEEN BOGGING ON AND OFF ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL DIFFERENT ACCIDENTS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF I CAN SELL THIS VEHICLE OR GET WHAT I PAID FOR IT ATLEAST? I SHALL TAKE FURTHER LEGAL ACTION UNTIL SOMETHING IS DONE. *TR

THE CAR WILL START FINE, BUT ONCE YOU TURN IT OFF AND GO TO START AGAIN IT WILL JUST CRANK. THE FIRST TIME I REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. THE SECOND TIME I REPACED SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES. THE THIRD TIME I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO CHANGE AND A FRIEND SAID TO TRY PUTTING THE KEY IN THE ON POSITION FOR 10 MINS. I DID AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. IT TURNS OUT THE ANT-THEFT SYSTEM KEEPS LOCKING ME OUT ABOUT EVERY MONTH. IT IS A MAJOR PAIN TO HAVE TO BE SOMEWHERE AND NOT KNOW WHEN THE CAR WILL START OR NOT, AND THEN SIT THERE FOR TEN MINS TO RESET IT. *TR

2001 MALIBU WITH 50,525 MILES WITH FIRST OCCURRENCE 12/07/06. PASSLOCK SYSTEM FAILURE AND CAR WILL NOT START (NEW FUEL PUMP). ANTI THEFT LIGHT KEEPS BLINKING AND CAR WON'T START CONTINUES ALMOST MONTHLY. MALIBU HAS BEEN TOWED TO DEALER 7 TIMES SINCE DEC 06. FUEL PUMP REPLACED DEC 06 NOT THE PROBLEM. IGINITION CYLINDER NOT THE PROBLEM. TOWED AGAIN 10/17/07 SAME PROBLEM. DEALER CLIPPED 3 WIRES TO PASSLOCK SYTEM SAID THEY WERE CRIMPED. (THAT MIGHT BE THE PROBLEM ACCORDING TO TECH) HOWEVER, PROBABLY BEEN THAT WAY SINCE CAR PURCHASED IN 2001 NEW. WAIT AND SEE. CALLED GM AT ONE POINT AND THEY COVERED HALF OF A $800 REPAIR BILL. SO FAR OVER $1500.00 IN REPAIRS AND $400.00 PLUS IN TOWING PLUS RENTAL CAR FEES. GM WHY NOT RECALL? TOO MANY COMPLAINTS ON SAME PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. SHE ALSO STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM ENGAGED AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS ELECTRICAL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND DISCOVERED A LEAK IN THE INTAKE GASKET. THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07E021000 (FUEL SYSTEM TANK ASSEMBLY: PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES). AS OF SEPTEMBER 12, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

DT: THE VEHICLE HAS COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN FIVE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN APRIL OF 2003. THE CONTACT HAD IT TOWED ITO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD HER THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION CYLINDER. THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER. THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON BEFORE THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN. THE SECOND WAS IN JUNE 2004. THE CONTACT HAD JUST PULLED OUT OF DRIVEWAY WHEN IT SHUT DOWN. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, WHICH DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE THIRD TIME WAS IN JULY, 2004 AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED. THE FOURTH OCCASION HAPPENED ON OCTOBER 25, 2004. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER. IN MARCH OF 2005 THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON, AND SHE TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD HER THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. THE MOST RECENT TIME WAS OCTOBER 4, 2005. SHE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER AGAIN. THE SERVICE DEALER SAID THAT THE PART WAS KNOWN TO GO OUT BUT, NOT AS OFTEN AS ON CONTACT'S VEHICLE. *AK.

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP ON MY 2001 CHEVY MALIBU TWICE. I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL FILTER TWICE AFTER THAT. I KEEP GETTING BLACK RESIDUE IN THE FILTER THAT PLUGS IT UP. I HAVE TRIED TO GET GAS AT DIFFERENT STATIONS BUT THAT HAS NOT HELPED. THE CAR HAS LEFT ME STRANDED 4 TIMES NOW. THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALER HAS NO EXPLANATION ON WHAT THE BLACK RESIDUE IS. *AK *SC

AFTER TURN SIGNAL RECALL WAS PERFORMED, CONSUMER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THEM WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. *PH AFTER THE DEALER PERFORMED RECALL 03043 THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT SINCE THEY REPLACED THE RECALL COMPONENT THAT THE PROBLEM HAD TO BE WITH ANOTHER PART. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY ADDITIONAL REPAIR. THE EVAPORATOR VENT SOLENOID AND GAS CAP WERE NOT HOLDING PRESSURE, AS A RESULT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *NM

THE FUEL GUAGE REPORTS INCORRECT FUEL LEVEL. YOU CAN GO THE THE GAS STATION AND FILL THE CAR UP AND THE GAS HAND WILL SHOW IT AS BEING EMPTY AND BEFORE YOU PUT FUEL IN THE TANK THE GUAGE WAS AT A 1/4 TANK. YOU MAY HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND ON SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT WILL SHOW THAT IT IS FULL. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR WILL CUT OFF IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. ONE TIME THE CAR SHOWED 3/4 TANK OF FUEL WHILE IT WAS EMPTY. LUCKLY, I WAS ON A DOWNGRADE AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE ON THE INTERSTATE. THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM. FURTHERMORE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON BECAUSE THE OXYGEN SENSOR HAS BEEN DAMAGED BY THE CAR RUNNING OUT OF GAS.*AK

SUDDEN FUEL PUMP FAILURE AND CONSEQUENT VEHICLE STOPPAGE LED TO HAZARDOUS ROADWAY SITUATION. *JB

IN A TWO WEEK PERIOD, MY 2001 CHEV. MALIBU HAS LEFT ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE WITH MY TWO CHILDREN. I HAD TO HAVE A WRECKER PICK IT UP BOTH TIMES, AND BOTH TIMES I HAVE HAD TO RENT A CAR. BOTH TIMES I WAS TOLD IT IS OUT OF GAS. IT WAS SHOWING HAVING PLENTY OF GAS. THE MECHANIC AT THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP SAID THIS IS THE 15TH ONE IN TWO WEEKS TIME. HE STATED THAT IT IS THE FUEL SENSOR MODULE.!!!!! *JB

DEFECTIVE"O" RING AT FUEL LINE/INJECTOR PUMP CAUSED GASOLINE TO SPILL ON ENGINE BLOCK. THE CAR WOULD STILL RUN BUT STEADY STREAM OF GAS POURING ONTO THE ENGINE BLOCK. GAS FUMES WERE PICKED UP BY AIR/HEATER INTAKE FILLING CABIN WITH GAS VAPOR. ENGINE FIRE OR CABIN FLASH FIRE PROBABLE UNDER THE RIGHT CONDITIONS. HOPEFULLY, THIS WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT WITH CHEVROLET MALIBU. I REQUESTED THE "O" RING FROM DEALER, AND WAS TOLD IT HAD TO BE SENT BACK TO GMC. ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME. THANKS A MAURO LANZISEVE. ********DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****770797. *AK *JB

VEHICLE WAS GOING 60MPH AS THROTTLE LOST PRESSURE AND ENGINE WAS HESITATING. PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT, AND ALREADY BEEN IN TO DEALER 6 TIMES. FUEL PUMP/ GROUND WIRES, AND FUEL FILTER WERE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM THAT WAS STILL PROGRESSING. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK