NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
59 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Apr 9, 2012
Electrical System
THE AUTO THEFT LIGHT COMES ON WHEN I UNLOCK MY DOORS AND HEADLIGHTS FLASHES AND THE RADIO CLOCK LIGHT FLASH UNTIL I START THE CAR, SOMETIME I HAVE TO SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT TO GET IT TO STOP. THEN THE CAR DOORS UNLOCK AND LOCK WHEN I AM DRIVING DOWN THE STREET. WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN DRIVE THERE IS A HORN SOUND. WHAT I…
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THE AUTO THEFT LIGHT COMES ON WHEN I UNLOCK MY DOORS AND HEADLIGHTS FLASHES AND THE RADIO CLOCK LIGHT FLASH UNTIL I START THE CAR, SOMETIME I HAVE TO SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT TO GET IT TO STOP. THEN THE CAR DOORS UNLOCK AND LOCK WHEN I AM DRIVING DOWN THE STREET. WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN DRIVE THERE IS A HORN SOUND. WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY CAR? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10454603
128,000 miles · Mar 26, 2011
Electrical System
THE THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM ON MY 2004 MALIBU CLASSIC MALFUNCTIONS REPEATEDLY IT DOES THIS APPROXIMATELY ONCE A WEEK RESET THE THEFT SYSTEM USING THE KEY ON ENGINE OFF LET THE CAR SET LIKE THIS FOR 10 MIN. THE CAR THEN STARTS IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10392951
38,000 miles · Jan 25, 2011
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTAC STATED THAT THE WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION AND WAIT APPROXIMATELY 5-10 MINUTES BEFORE BEING ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTAC STATED THAT THE WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION AND WAIT APPROXIMATELY 5-10 MINUTES BEFORE BEING ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR AT LEAST ONCE DAILY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUSE, IGNITION SWITCH AND THE COMPUTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT HE COULD NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE REPAIR WOULD REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,000.
NHTSA ODI #10378659
70,000 miles · Dec 8, 2010
Electrical System
SOMETIMES MY 2004 CHEVY MALIBU CLASSIC WILL NOT START, DUE TO THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM, I THINK IT'S NOT RECONIZING MY KEY. IT OCCURS LIKE 4 TIMES IN A WEEK IF I'M LUCKY, I FEEL LIKE IM PLAYING A GAME OF CHANCE EVERYTIME I START MY CAR. SO NOW I PRAY TO THE CAR GODS EVERYTIME I GET IN MY CAR, RIGHT BEFORE I START MY CAR, IT SEEMS T…
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SOMETIMES MY 2004 CHEVY MALIBU CLASSIC WILL NOT START, DUE TO THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM, I THINK IT'S NOT RECONIZING MY KEY. IT OCCURS LIKE 4 TIMES IN A WEEK IF I'M LUCKY, I FEEL LIKE IM PLAYING A GAME OF CHANCE EVERYTIME I START MY CAR. SO NOW I PRAY TO THE CAR GODS EVERYTIME I GET IN MY CAR, RIGHT BEFORE I START MY CAR, IT SEEMS TO WORK MOST OF THE TIME(PRAYING MAY NOT WORK FOR MOST PEOPLE). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10369693
41,000 miles · Dec 4, 2010
Electrical System
PROBLEMS STARTED OVER 3 YEARS AGO. ELECTRICAL PROBLEM INVOLVING INTERIOR ELECTRONICS, SOMETIMES RADIO AND CLIMATE ELECTRONICS WILL TURN OFF AND AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHT WILL TURN OFF, USUALLY RIGHT AFTER STARTING, BUT SOMETIMES IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. RECENTLY THE CAR ENGINE STALLED ON THE INTERSTATE IN ADDITION T…
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PROBLEMS STARTED OVER 3 YEARS AGO. ELECTRICAL PROBLEM INVOLVING INTERIOR ELECTRONICS, SOMETIMES RADIO AND CLIMATE ELECTRONICS WILL TURN OFF AND AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHT WILL TURN OFF, USUALLY RIGHT AFTER STARTING, BUT SOMETIMES IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. RECENTLY THE CAR ENGINE STALLED ON THE INTERSTATE IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE ISSUES AND THE SECURITY LIGHT CAME ON. THEN THE NEXT WEEK THE CAR STALLED ON A STREET WITHOUT LIGHTING THE SECURITY LIGHT AND WOULDN'T RESTART, AFTER BEING TOWED THE CAR DID RESTART. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10369163
50,000 miles · Sep 18, 2010
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
INTERMITTENT TURN SIGNAL FAILURE. THERE IS NO CAUSE OR EFFECT. SOME DAYS THEY WORK SOME DAYS NOT. SOMETIMES THEY WORK OR NOT IN THE SAME DAY. WE HAVE FOUND NO SHORTS IN THE SYSTEM AND EVERYTHING ELSE WORKS FINE ON THE SELECTOR SWITCH WITHOUT FAIL. WE TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC TWICE WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE HAD SE…
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INTERMITTENT TURN SIGNAL FAILURE. THERE IS NO CAUSE OR EFFECT. SOME DAYS THEY WORK SOME DAYS NOT. SOMETIMES THEY WORK OR NOT IN THE SAME DAY. WE HAVE FOUND NO SHORTS IN THE SYSTEM AND EVERYTHING ELSE WORKS FINE ON THE SELECTOR SWITCH WITHOUT FAIL. WE TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC TWICE WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS MALFUNCTION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10356285
Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 2010
Electrical System
I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY MALIBU & IM HAVING PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM. THIS CAUSES MY CAR NOT TO START & TO SHUT OFF ON ME WHILE DRIVING. I HAD THIS HAPPEN WHILE GOING DOWN A MOUNTAIN WITH MY 7 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN THE BACKSEAT!!! I CAN NOT BELIEVE CHEVY HAS NOT DONE A RECALL ON THIS YET!!! EVERYDAY MY CAR DOESN'T WANT TO S…
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I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY MALIBU & IM HAVING PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM. THIS CAUSES MY CAR NOT TO START & TO SHUT OFF ON ME WHILE DRIVING. I HAD THIS HAPPEN WHILE GOING DOWN A MOUNTAIN WITH MY 7 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN THE BACKSEAT!!! I CAN NOT BELIEVE CHEVY HAS NOT DONE A RECALL ON THIS YET!!! EVERYDAY MY CAR DOESN'T WANT TO START & I HAVE TO TURN THE IGNITION ON & SIT AND WAIT FOR THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM TO RESET! BY THE WAY ITS ALMOST 100 DEGREES THIS SUMMER!!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10344562
38,600 miles · Jul 2, 2010
Electrical System
THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON FOR 2004 CHEVY MALIBU FOR ONE DAY. CAR WOULD NOT START THE NEXT DAY. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. GOOGLE SEARCH REVEALED OVER 33,000 COMPLAINTS FOR THEFT SEARCH. ON CHEVY CARS. FOR $616 PLUS TAX, TIM LALLY CHEVROLET IS CHARGING ME FOR: IGNITION CYLINDER, WIRING AND CONNECTOR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10341285
109,540 miles · May 18, 2010
Electrical System
2004 CHEVY MALIBU THEFT SYSTEM FAILURE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10331104
110,000 miles · May 1, 2010
Electrical System
MY CAR SUDDENLY WOULDN'T START THIS MORNING WHILE TRYING TO GET TO WORK. AFTER RESEARCHING A LITTLE BIT ON THE INTERNET I CAME TO REALIZE THAT THIS HAS TO DO WITH THAT ANNOYING ANTI-THEFT LIGHT THAT IS ALWAYS LIT UP IN THE CORNER. SO I GO BACK OUT TO MY CAR, HOPING THAT THE 10 MINUTE PROCEDURE WILL WORK FOR ME AS WELL. BUT AS…
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MY CAR SUDDENLY WOULDN'T START THIS MORNING WHILE TRYING TO GET TO WORK. AFTER RESEARCHING A LITTLE BIT ON THE INTERNET I CAME TO REALIZE THAT THIS HAS TO DO WITH THAT ANNOYING ANTI-THEFT LIGHT THAT IS ALWAYS LIT UP IN THE CORNER. SO I GO BACK OUT TO MY CAR, HOPING THAT THE 10 MINUTE PROCEDURE WILL WORK FOR ME AS WELL. BUT AS I AM SITTING THERE WITH MY CAR IN THE "ON" POSITION MY BATTERY DIES ON ME. SO NOW I AM STUCK HERE WITH A CAR THAT WONT TURN ON, AND NO WAY TO GET TO WORK! I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS AS WELL RELATED BUT ABOUT 2 MONTHS PRIOR MY POWER STEERING HAD GONE OUT. MECHANICS THOUGHT IT WAS A BAD FUEL PUMP AND HAD TO HAVE THAT FIXED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10328366
Official recalls
1Jul 3, 2014
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗