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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

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

4 reports
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36,000 miles · Aug 14, 2019
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR FLASHED AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR FLASHED AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

NHTSA ODI #11243945

Mileage unknown · Dec 6, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel System, GasolineFuel/propulsion System

THE POWER STEERING KEEPS GOING OUT WHILE I'M DRIVING. THE BRAKES FELL WHEN ALL OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON.. WHEN I TRY TO PUMP GAS THE GAS COMES BACK OUT AT ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10930106

Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 2011
Electrical SystemExterior LightingFuel System, Gasoline

ALL THE DOOR LOCKS UNLOCK AND LOCK WITH IN DRIVING POSITION FOLLOWED BY A BEEP IT DOES THIS CONSTANTLY. I BELIEVE IS VERY UNSAFE WITH CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT. ISSUE WITH THE GAS GAUGE GOING CRAZY, GOES FROM FULL TO EMPTY SO YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE GAS IS GOING TO RUN OUT. ALSO ISSUES WITH THE HEADLIGHTS AND OTHER BULBS BEING B…

Read full complaint

ALL THE DOOR LOCKS UNLOCK AND LOCK WITH IN DRIVING POSITION FOLLOWED BY A BEEP IT DOES THIS CONSTANTLY. I BELIEVE IS VERY UNSAFE WITH CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT. ISSUE WITH THE GAS GAUGE GOING CRAZY, GOES FROM FULL TO EMPTY SO YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE GAS IS GOING TO RUN OUT. ALSO ISSUES WITH THE HEADLIGHTS AND OTHER BULBS BEING BLOWN. ALL SEEMS LIKE SOME ELECTRICAL ISSUES BUT NOT SURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10437996

Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline

DRIVING ALONG, ALL OF A SUDDEN NO POWER. THEN I HAD POWER AND THEN I DIDN'T. THE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT. THIS CAR HAS ONLY 58,000 MILES ON IT. THE FUEL PUMP IS IN THE GAS TANK. THERE IS TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF FUEL PUMPS. ONE COST $263. AND THE OTHER $448. MINE WAS THE $263, BUT I ALL SO HAD TO PAY $200. FOR INSTALLATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10251781

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.