Three problems related to cruise control have been reported for the 2001 Chevrolet Malibu. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2001 Chevrolet Malibu based on all problems reported for the 2001 Malibu.
Brake lights and cruise control failed to work causing a safety issue. This problem still exist as of this date. Problem has not been found. A recall problem. Has been in dealers serv. Dept for repairs about 4 times this year of 2015. This actually started in 2011. In dealers for repair right now same issue.
Was driving car just pulled off from a red light making a left turn and car started to pull forward then could not steer myself went off road almost into trees then jerked itself left pulling back to road and onto oncoming traffic then stopped was able to drive home slowly w/ hazards on. 2nd incident was driving and car started to pull /jerk forward fast tried to put on brakes and was very difficult to bring car to a stop almost felt like was not going to stop w/all my pressure applying to brakes was still hard to stop car. All 4 incidents were similar in that car kind of took off on it's own and was not controllable as far as steering or braking. This car is in local Chevrolet dealership for last few days for them to find/correct this problem our daughter is driving this car and it's not safe right now for her to drive. The dealership can not find the problem. First they thought anti lock brakes had a glitch, or the transmission,but car is not doing this when they take for short drives and they can not pin point this problem. ,but there is most certainly a problem. I do not want my child to get hurt or worse driving this vehicle b/c no one can detect the problem. Also car had a burning rubbery/like a belt smell before at least 2 of these incidents. All belts check out ok. No problems. I have a relative that had a chev van that in last year or so car basically took off on it's own at a speed of 50mph. Could not stop vehicle was putting all weight pressure on brake car finally came to a stop. Prob wound up being a computer chip in transmission triggered the cruise control computer chip transmission had to be changed . Please check into this to see if related to our issue. Thank you.
Car repeatedly fails to maintain set speed and accelerates rapidly without warning which almost caused several accidents. I had dealer look at the cruise control and they said this is normal on this model. I contacted Chevrolet directly (case: c04708022) and they agreed saying it was something I would just have to live with.