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2005 Chevrolet Malibu Classic

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

68 reports with mileage · 24 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

5 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 2023
Air BagsEngineSteering

driving the car it just shuts off which results in no power no steering and no brakes possibly an ignition switch problem.

NHTSA ODI #11542461

124,356 miles · Nov 26, 2017
Air BagsCrashInjury

TAKATA RECALL ON 01/10/2012 , I WAS IN A CRASH ,, INVOLVING A AIR BAG DEPOLYMENT IN WHICH , THE AIR BAR DEPLOYED DURRING A CRASH , , I REAR ENDED A CAR AFTER IT HAD STOPPED SUDDENDLY AFTER A PEDIESTRAIN HAD CROSSED THE STREET , UNEXPECTALLY , ,, AFTER THE SUDDEN DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG , SO MUCH MATERAIL HAD BLOWEN OUT OF TH…

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TAKATA RECALL ON 01/10/2012 , I WAS IN A CRASH ,, INVOLVING A AIR BAG DEPOLYMENT IN WHICH , THE AIR BAR DEPLOYED DURRING A CRASH , , I REAR ENDED A CAR AFTER IT HAD STOPPED SUDDENDLY AFTER A PEDIESTRAIN HAD CROSSED THE STREET , UNEXPECTALLY , ,, AFTER THE SUDDEN DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG , SO MUCH MATERAIL HAD BLOWEN OUT OF THE AIR BAG , HITTING MY HAND , MOST OF THE INJURY WAS ON MY FACE AREA MOUTH WAS BLEEDING AS THE MATERAIL HAD STRUCK MY MOUTH AREA , ,, I THOUGHT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE , FROM THE SMOKE AND MATERAIL EXPLOIDED OUT OF IT , I HAD A HARD TIME SLEEPING AND WAS VERY DISTRUBED BY IT , THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE JUNK YARD , AS THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOOK THE CAR , AS IT WAS JUNKED , CAN PROVIDE POLICE REPORT AND INSURANCE DOCUMENTS , JUST NEED SOME TIME TO RETRIVE THEM ,

NHTSA ODI #11048537

150,000 miles · May 9, 2016
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH OVER A BUMP, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG RELEASED INTO THE CONTACT'S FACE AND CAUSED HIM TO CRASH INTO A PARKED, UNOCCUPIED VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUFFERED FROM SWELLING TO …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH OVER A BUMP, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG RELEASED INTO THE CONTACT'S FACE AND CAUSED HIM TO CRASH INTO A PARKED, UNOCCUPIED VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUFFERED FROM SWELLING TO THE FACE AND MOUTH AREA THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A SALVAGE FACILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10863919

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2015
Air BagsElectrical System

2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAG RECALL PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. ALSO, THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE KEY, WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY RECALLED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10690409

100,000 miles · Sep 22, 2014
Air BagsEngineCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHICH ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND TWO PASSENGERS SUSTAINED …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHICH ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND TWO PASSENGERS SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 12/9/14*CN THE CONSUMER DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL NOTIFICATION. UPDATED 06/1/2015 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10638036

Official recalls

1

14V400000 · Electrical System:ignition

Jul 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 ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.