2002 Chevrolet Malibu Exterior Lighting Problems
Owners have filed 143 complaints with NHTSA about exterior lighting problems on the 2002 Chevrolet Malibu, 25% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 61,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “turn signals” (46% of reports).
- 143exterior lighting complaints
- 61,000median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 17%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Turn signals: mentioned in 66 of 143 complaints (46%)
- Hazard switch: mentioned in 19 of 143 complaints (13%)
- Work intermittently: mentioned in 12 of 143 complaints (8%)
At what mileage do exterior lighting problems happen?
Based on 103 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 143 complaints, 2 mention a crash.
Chevrolet Malibu exterior lighting complaints by model year
| Model year | Exterior Lighting complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Malibu | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2022 Malibu | 2 | 2% | 1,900 |
| 2020 Malibu | 1 | 1% | 61,000 |
| 2019 Malibu | 4 | 2% | 16,180 |
| 2018 Malibu | 9 | 1% | 800 |
| 2017 Malibu | 21 | 3% | 51,888 |
| 2016 Malibu | 19 | 2% | 41,500 |
| 2015 Malibu | 4 | 1% | 39,346 |
| 2014 Malibu | 5 | 1% | 35,000 |
| 2013 Malibu | 28 | 3% | 70,000 |
| 2012 Malibu | 202 | 22% | 99,750 |
| 2011 Malibu | 130 | 13% | 103,000 |
| 2010 Malibu | 194 | 14% | 96,573 |
| 2009 Malibu | 172 | 11% | 94,236 |
| 2008 Malibu | 106 | 11% | 90,000 |
| 2007 Malibu | 29 | 3% | 105,000 |
| 2006 Malibu | 63 | 6% | 72,759 |
| 2005 Malibu | 153 | 16% | 76,500 |
| 2004 Malibu | 84 | 7% | 66,000 |
| 2003 Malibu | 28 | 5% | 80,000 |
| 2002 Malibu | 143 | 25% | 61,000 |
| 2001 Malibu | 108 | 15% | 63,600 |
| 2000 Malibu | 241 | 26% | 67,000 |
| 1999 Malibu | 58 | 7% | 60,000 |
| 1998 Malibu | 79 | 8% | 45,000 |
| 1997 Malibu | 40 | 9% | 74,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Exterior lighting:headlights
Problem: Certain passenger vehicles fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." some of these vehicles were produced with a left low-beam headlamp that does not meet the photometric performance requirements of the standard.
Risk: Light intensities below the minimum intensity requirements cause reduction in visibility down the road for the driver of the vehicle and intensities above the maximum intensity requirements cause increase in glare for drivers ahead of, or approaching, the vehicle.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the left low-beam headlamp and replace it if it does not meet requirements. Owner notification began may 23, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The turn signals work sometimes and sometimes they don't work. I researched this on the internet and it seams to be a serious problem with this car make. If there are no recalls on this there should be. This is a major safety hazard. I just bought this car for my teenage son.
Headlights dim when brakes are applied such as coming to a stop or slowing down to negotiate turns. This creates a dangerous situation where visibility is compromised during night driving. It is very easy to miss turns, exit ramps, and road signs. Vehicle has been to gm service center, and was told…
Turn signals work on occasion this car only has 42,000 original miles on it and turn signal problem began at 36,000
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2002 Chevrolet Malibus have exterior lighting problems?
No. NHTSA has 143 owner complaints about exterior lighting for the 2002 Chevrolet Malibu (25% of the 567 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2002 Chevrolet Malibu exterior lighting?
Yes: 1 safety recall list exterior lighting. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do exterior lighting problems start?
The median reported mileage is 61,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about exterior lighting problems on the 2002 Chevrolet Malibu?
The most frequent phrase is “turn signals”, in 66 of 143 complaints, followed by “hazard switch” (19).
Other 2002 Chevrolet Malibu problems
See all 2002 Chevrolet Malibu problems or exterior lighting problems across all Malibu years.