Equal-exposure complaint evidence and changes in the reported problem mix

2002 vs 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Share shifts show how a vehicle's problem mix changed. They do not measure reliability, and complaint counts are not normalized for sales volume.

First 287 months on market for each model year

Exposure window calculated through Aug 22, 2026

Age-matched reports

▲ 1.4% more reports in the equal exposure window

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Component share shift

Bars start at the neutral midpoint. Left means a smaller share; right means a larger share.

View component share data as a table
Component 2002 share 2003 share Share change
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 23.0% 3.9% ▼ 19.1 pts smaller share
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 0.7% 12.1% ▲ 11.4 pts larger share
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 38.0% 41.0% ▲ 3.1 pts larger share
FUEL SYSTEM 2.9% 5.5% ▲ 2.6 pts larger share
AIR BAGS 2.0% 3.7% ▲ 1.8 pts larger share
SERVICE BRAKES 7.2% 8.9% ▲ 1.7 pts larger share
STEERING 1.3% 2.7% ▲ 1.4 pts larger share
STRUCTURE 2.0% 0.7% ▼ 1.3 pts smaller share
VISIBILITY 1.6% 0.4% ▼ 1.3 pts smaller share
SUSPENSION 2.0% 3.2% ▲ 1.2 pts larger share
POWER TRAIN 0.4% 1.4% ▲ 1.1 pts larger share
ENGINE 11.7% 10.7% ▼ 1.0 pts smaller share
SEAT BELTS 1.4% 0.5% ▼ 0.9 pts smaller share
TIRES 0.7% 0.4% ▼ 0.4 pts smaller share
WHEELS 0.4% 0.4% ◆ 0.0 pts unchanged
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 53.1% 40.0% ▼ 13.1 pts smaller share

NHTSA Safety Recalls recalls · snapshot 2026-08-22

Recall campaigns

2002 4

Campaign components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, and FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

2003 3

Campaign components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER, and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Safety signals

◆ Fires
1 → 4
◆ Injuries
19 → 23