Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
20 City / 29 HWY
Horsepower
170
Seats
5
Front angle view.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Angelina R
That it still runs great even after more then 10 years old.
I like that I can have a dependable car that allows for me to get to where I need to go each day. Although it is 17 years old, it runs great!.
accountCircle Patricia T
Good thing about owning a Chevrolet Malibu.
Runs good it gets very good gas mileage. For being as old as it is. I do not have any problems with it. Just the occasional maintenance of the car. I love that it has am/FM CD. Because I love listening to music when I am driving. It must be a reliable car, because I see a lot of the Malibu's on the road.
accountCircle Chas R
The car is really good and reliable for it is age.
Really reliable for it is age it is 18 years old so has a few mechanical problems, blinkers have went out it is like $100 part to fix, rotors are going bad, as are the calipers, have never had any problems with performance, it is comfortable, just wish it had heated seats. Has all normal features and is a automatic.
accountCircle Lori F
That it is a safe car to ride in.
I love my car, it looks classy, runs great, love the four doors, love the color which is silver, it is good on gas, I get 30 miles per gallon, easy to drive, love my car..
accountCircle Patricia W
Malibu: smooth riding, few repairs, leather seats, sunroof.
I bought my car in 2012 and I have not had any serious problems out of it. I had to get a new battery last year in 2017. I have not had to get any major repairs done at all. It is reliable, runs good. I wish I could afford to get the new Malibu's. It has a sunroof and leather seats. It is also good on gas. The labor is also reasonable. Friends always tell me cold the air-conditioner is in the summer and the heat is really hot in the winter. You cannot beat that. If you want your money worth in a car get yourself a Malibu.
accountCircle Mathew R
One of the most reliable, easy to keep up on vehicles I've ever owned!!
The car has been extremely well kept and runs solid as can be. Aside from routine maintenance with oil changes, fluids, and tires, there have been no issues whatsoever with the car.
accountCircle Peter C
The Malibu's si a boat of a car, in a good way.
Easy to repair. Quick. Reliable. Sturdy. Has a lot of trunk space. Has a lot of cab/ back seat space. Good work car. Good for camping and travelling. Has had some factory issues that we're manufacturer repaired free such as the ignition. Has minor electrical glitches; ie it honks to set the alarm when put into park, even though my model never had an alarm, occasionally does a theft system lock out; again, has no theft system to speak of. Am 3rd owner and it is still rolling on. Gaskets around back window between trunk have brittle and leak, but that is another user serviceable issue. I use this car to move tools, painters equipment, computers and music equipment (amplifier,, instruments, speakers, pa, monitor stands, instrument stands) paintings, easels. I can fit a painters ladder in it. I am constantly surprised at the amount of stow this little sedan is capable of transporting.
accountCircle Vicki P
Chevy Malibu all the way !
Love this car. It has given me no problems. Just routine maintenance and it still runs like a charm.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Kim K
For an 18 yr old car, it has held up, run reliably. I will trade it in soon.
I purchased this used car two years ago. It has been reliable up until recently. About two months ago, the AC started going, blowing warm air. The car is running hot even though we are adding coolant. The interior ceiling material is deteriorating.
accountCircle Sharon B
It was bought 2nd hand so make sure you get a tune up and have it checked out.
There are problems with it. I feel like the transmission is slipping. It's not big enough. It's just old and I need a new car.
accountCircle Amanda B
There are better vehicles out there.
I purchased it used in 2012 and have had to replace the idle air control valve, fuel pump, water pump, starter, and temperature sensor, most of that within a two year period. Now the heating and cooling and the abs is out. The original parts were not built to last. But I'll keep replacing what I can and drive it until it cannot drive anymore. It is not the best for those taller than average, but I make it work. Nobody's sitting behind me in the backseat, though.
accountCircle Tia S
2001 Chevrolet Malibu 4 Door
Car will start fine when "cold" but won't start after driving for a while or if temperature outside/ sun heats the vehicle. Not sure why. Before this problem began it was a decent, comfortable ride
accountCircle Jennifer J
2001 Chevy Malibu nightmares.
I have had many issues with the cooling system in my car. It is also not an easy vehicle to do repairs on. I also have been having problems with the door locks. They lock and unlock spontaneously. I believe there are problems with the electrical system in general.
accountCircle Jason R
Gas friendly roomy car with a decent size trunk
Rusting away bad muffler bad coolant system handles poorly does have a nice size trunk and fairly roomy probably was a nice car brand new.
accountCircle Jesse S
The car is not very comfortable for people who over 5'10" because their heads will hit the roof in the back seats and come close to it in the front seats.
It's a nice car, gets good gas mileage, but it's not meant for people that are above average height.
accountCircle Rhonda S
It works and I feel blessed I have it.
It is a 2001 Chevy Malibu salvage title. It gets me from place to place. It is old and I do not know how long it will work.

Chevrolet Malibu Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
Base
170 HP 25-25 MPG 5 Seats
car
LS
170 HP 25-25 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2001 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Reviews

4.00
85 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 36%
4 stars 36%
3 stars 21%
2 stars 2%
1 star 4%
accountCircle Melissa J on March 28, 2021
My o1 is a good trusting running car.
My car is old. It needs a front wheel alignment and the front tire shakes. Around the car has a lot of rust. The windshield wipers are broke. With all the above my car has me and my family to and from every place we go. The car is very good on gas with the gas light on you still travel for a good 15 minutes or so.
accountCircle Douglas B on March 24, 2021
Old red piece of garbage.
It's falling apart but it runs. List of mechanical problems but it is easy to fix. Have owned for over 2 years. Placed over sixty thousand miles on the engine. Has good acceleration but breaking needs repairs. Has great storage space for items. Transmission is going out. I can't repair it myself because it's a closed system so I must take it directly to a dealership.

Ranks #5 Midsize Cars by Owners

The 2001 Chevrolet Malibu has an average owner rating of 4.00 out of 5 which ranks it #5 of 15 other Midsize Cars.

1
car
4.35
2
car
4.26
5
Tie
car
4

Ranks #3 Midsize Cars by Fuel Economy

The 2001 Chevrolet Malibu has a combined MPG of 30 which ranks it #3 of 15 other Midsize Cars.

1
car
32 MPG
2
Tie
car
30 MPG
3
Tie
car
29 MPG

Is The 2001 Chevrolet Malibu A Good Car?

Yes, the Chevy Malibu is extremely reliable. As long as you take care of it's basic needs and always keep your tank half way full, then it should last you a very long time.
Vicki D.
Yes it is good on gas and drives well and gets good mileage. It's a good size car for our family of three and easily fits my child's car seat.
Hassan R.

How Reliable Is The 2001 Chevrolet Malibu?

It only would have problems if you don't keep up with it. The head gasket can blow as well as the gas gauge being a pain in the butt. The head gasket is a very expensive fix but the gas gauge isn't... Read More
Scott H.
Very reliable. I've had to have new tires, brakes and a new air compressor because air conditioner went out.
Jane H.

Is The 2001 Chevrolet Malibu A Good Value?

I bought it used, which was at the cost of $1000. My mother originally bought it at the price of $2000 used, then sold it to me.
Erica C.

Related Articles for 2001 Chevrolet Malibu

From the Vehicle History blog

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2004 Chevrolet Malibu Review: A Pretty Good Mid-Size Car Plagued by Electrical Problems
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2003 Chevrolet Malibu Review: A Decent Mid-Size Car Outclassed by a Whole Bunch of Great Ones
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2018 Chevrolet Malibu Review: Spacious Midsize Sedan With Decent Reliability As It Ages

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 2001 Chevy Malibu fuel pump relay location?

Answer: The 2001 Chevy Malibu's fuel pump relay can be found in the under hood fuse box on the left or passenger side of the engine bay. It should be labeled #39 and is responsible for controlling the electrical power...

2001 Chevrolet Malibu: What is the oil type and capacity?

Answer: The 2001 Chevrolet Malibu has a 3.1 L V6 engine that needS4.5 quarts of motor oil and the preferred viscosity to use for this vehicle is SAE 5W-30. This is a good option because it works well in cold climates...

How much oil does the 2001 Chevy Malibu take?

Answer: The 2001 Chevy Malibu uses SAE 5w-30 viscosity, fully synthetic motor oil in its engine. The vehicle has an oil capacity of 4.5 US quarts. You can find these oils at any maSSRetail location. You can also find...

Does the 2001 Chevy Malibu have a cabin air filter?

Answer: If You want to know if Your 2001 Chevy Malibu has a cabin air filter, then I've got some news for You. Your Chevy Malibu actually does not have a cabin air filter. Even though it doesn't have one, do not worry...

Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Not Rated

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Not Rated

Roof Strength

Not Rated

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety