2001 Chevrolet Malibu Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 21about this part
- Share
- 3%of 721 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 116,750miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 21 complaints about the air bags of the 2001 Chevrolet Malibu, 3% of the 721 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 116,750 miles. 16 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10681623, filed 2015-02, 208,000 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10621725, filed 2014-08, 89,000 miles“I saw a recall on airbag deployment and a recall on something about the key in the ignition causing the cars engine to shut off. My car has been shutting off and shorting showing the battery light and them when I tap the gas pedal thr gas gage is a half tank but it goes as if its out of gas and the rpms only go up when I am not driving or idling and my ABS light for brakes keeps turning on but now doesnt turn off and this has just started happening oh and thr battery light now has shorted the stalk stereo and it only turns on every so often.”
NHTSA complaint #11048780, filed 2017-11, 139,000 miles“I was driving down a road with the speed limit being 55 MPH which I was doing and hit the edge of the road on the right side and when I turned the wheel slightly to the left the entire car went to the left and the car hit a tree head on at 55 MPH and the neither of the air bags deployed. The car totaled.”
NHTSA complaint #10088102, filed 2004-08, 103,500 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10065563, filed 2004-04, 31,370 milesAir bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 8 | 11% |
| 2022 | 4 | 4% |
| 2021 | 6 | 7% |
| 2020 | 4 | 2% |
| 2019 | 6 | 3% |
| 2018 | 14 | 2% |
| 2017 | 14 | 2% |
| 2016 | 18 | 2% |
| 2015 | 49 | 18% |
| 2014 | 16 | 5% |
| 2013 | 59 | 7% |
| 2012 | 101 | 11% |
| 2011 | 93 | 10% |
| 2010 | 144 | 11% |
| 2009 | 63 | 4% |
| 2008 | 64 | 6% |
| 2007 | 75 | 8% |
| 2006 | 34 | 3% |
| 2005 | 25 | 3% |
| 2004 | 26 | 2% |
| 2003 | 27 | 5% |
| 2002 | 18 | 3% |
| 2001 | 21 | 3% |
| 2000 | 31 | 3% |
| 1999 | 40 | 5% |
| 1998 | 40 | 4% |
| 1997 | 25 | 6% |
Other parts of the 2001 Chevrolet Malibu
285 complaintsEngine cooling
149 complaintsExterior lighting
108 complaintsBrakes
89 complaintsSteering
41 complaintsFuel system
40 complaintsEngine
26 complaintsVehicle speed control
25 complaintsEquipment
21 complaintsOther or unknown
20 complaintsSuspension
20 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
18 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2001 Chevrolet Malibu
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology