2002 Chevrolet Malibu Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 18about this part
- Share
- 3%of 567 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 103,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 18 complaints about the air bags of the 2002 Chevrolet Malibu, 3% of the 567 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 103,000 miles. 11 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.
“Airbag failed to deploy on my 2002 chevy Malibu 4d sedan during a collision between the Malibu front-end directly with a saturn 4d sedan in the driver's door at a speed of 50-55 MPH.”
NHTSA complaint #10247450, filed 2008-11, 118,000 miles“While driving at 40 MPH a motorist failed to yield and crashed into the front end of consumer's vehicle. Upon impact, air bags failed to deploy, and the seat belts failed to retract. Driver hit head on the roof, and sustained head and neck injuries.”
NHTSA complaint #10074094, filed 2004-05, 70,000 miles“My mom and sister was recently involved in a auto accident which caused critical injuries. My mom rear ended a semi truck and the air bags did not deploy nor did the seat belts lock causing my mom to crush her face. My sister recieved 2 vertebra fractures and 3 rib fractures. The cause of this accident caused my mom to have to have surgery on her face and is still in the ut hospital. If the air bags had deployed then it could have saved her face more than it did.”
NHTSA complaint #10717225, filed 2015-05“My grandson was critically inured while front seat passenger in 2002 chevy Malibu, this vehicle cannot sustain impact of 30 MPH or less to front passenger side without causing fatal if not critical injuries to passenger. No side airbag, no protection whatsoever. Rated with three stars...... Ridiculous. My grandson lost one lung and part of his bronchial tube because there is no safety measurements on this vehicle to protect front passenger.”
NHTSA complaint #10268828, filed 2009-05“In 2002, I bought a 2002 chevy Malibu. Since then it's been giving me a lot of problems. The first problem was the water found in both tail lights; this was under warranty. Then there was water coming in the driver side window, the brakes, and the torque needing to be reprogrammed. Then it was the headlights going out and I got them replaced at a walmart; mind you, since the 1st problem, none of this has been under warranty. Now it's the airbag gone bad, cooling system gone bad, and the brakes again, along with a fuel pump. …”
NHTSA complaint #10130008, filed 2005-07Air 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 2002 Chevrolet Malibu
259 complaintsExterior lighting
143 complaintsEngine cooling
63 complaintsBrakes
55 complaintsFuel system
29 complaintsEngine
22 complaintsOther or unknown
21 complaintsSuspension
14 complaintsEquipment
13 complaintsSteering
13 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
13 complaintsBody and structure
12 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 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