← New search

2003 Chevrolet Malibu

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Chevrolet Malibu do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 310.5.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

429 reports with mileage · 140 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 289 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 85 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 47 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

35 crash reports4 fire reports17 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

289 reports
Clear category filter
62,500 miles · Apr 7, 2008
Electrical System

I HAVE A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU THE PASSLOCK ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM MESSES UP IT EITHER WONT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO START OR IT STOPS THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OR ROAD AND WONT START THIS IS PROBLEMATIC FOR CHEVY OWNERS AND COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS IF ON A BUSY HIGHWAY COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE CONTACTED…

Read full complaint

I HAVE A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU THE PASSLOCK ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM MESSES UP IT EITHER WONT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO START OR IT STOPS THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OR ROAD AND WONT START THIS IS PROBLEMATIC FOR CHEVY OWNERS AND COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS IF ON A BUSY HIGHWAY COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE CONTACTED GM ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THEY REFUSE TO RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10223622

45,000 miles · Mar 2, 2008
Electrical System

PASSLOCK SYSTEM ACTIVATES UNPREDICTABLY ON A 2003 CHEVY MALIBU. THE ONLY REMEDY IS TO WAIT 10 MINUTES FOR IT TO RESET AND THEN THE CAR WILL START. THIS CAUSED MY SON TO BE LATE IN GETTING TO HIS JOB THAT DAY. CAR WAS BROUGHT TO A MECHANIC ABOUT A YEAR AGO FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM, AND IT WAS TEMPORARILY FIXED BY REPROGRAMMING AN…

Read full complaint

PASSLOCK SYSTEM ACTIVATES UNPREDICTABLY ON A 2003 CHEVY MALIBU. THE ONLY REMEDY IS TO WAIT 10 MINUTES FOR IT TO RESET AND THEN THE CAR WILL START. THIS CAUSED MY SON TO BE LATE IN GETTING TO HIS JOB THAT DAY. CAR WAS BROUGHT TO A MECHANIC ABOUT A YEAR AGO FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM, AND IT WAS TEMPORARILY FIXED BY REPROGRAMMING AND REPLACING THE PASSLOCK SENSOR. THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED UNTIL NOW. IT IS A RECURRING ISSUE, AND IS UNPREDICTABLE IN ITS OCCURRENCE. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN IN THE WRONG PLACE, LIKE A DARKENED PARKING GARAGE, SOMEONE COULD BE MUGGED OR ATTACKED, OR IT HAPPENED IN THE WINTER, THEY COULD FREEZE OR SUFFER HYPOTHERMIA WAITING 10 MINUTES FOR THE CAR TO START. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10219818

Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 2008
Electrical System

I HAVE 2003 CHEVY MALIBU, I HAVE PROBLEM WITH MY THEFT SYSTEM, EVERY TIME IT TURNS ON I HAVE TO WAIT FOR 10 MIN, PLEASE ADVISE...THANKS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10218753

Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 2008
Electrical System

THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM IN MY VEHICLE CONTINUALLY MALFUNCTIONS, AND CAUSES ME TO WAIT 10 MINUTES IN ORDER TO START MY CAR. I AM AWARE THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING AND VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM VEHICLES WITH THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM. IT IS INEXCUSABLE THAT GM ALLOWS THIS PROBLEM TO GO ON UNACKNOWLEDGED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10217581

Mileage unknown · Jan 10, 2008
Electrical System

I WENT OUT TO START MY CAR AND IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. AFTER WAITING AND TRYING SEVERAL TIMES, STILL NOTHING. I HAD THE CARD TOWED AND LEARNED THAT IT WAS THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE WHICH MEANT THAT THE IGNITION WOULD ALSO NEED TO BE REPLACED. I HAD IT REPAIRED FOR $650. THIRTY DAYS LATER, SAME PROBLEM. ANOTHER 30 DAYS, IT WOULD…

Read full complaint

I WENT OUT TO START MY CAR AND IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. AFTER WAITING AND TRYING SEVERAL TIMES, STILL NOTHING. I HAD THE CARD TOWED AND LEARNED THAT IT WAS THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE WHICH MEANT THAT THE IGNITION WOULD ALSO NEED TO BE REPLACED. I HAD IT REPAIRED FOR $650. THIRTY DAYS LATER, SAME PROBLEM. ANOTHER 30 DAYS, IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. IT HAS BEEN OVER 6 MONTHS NOW AND NOT PROBLEMS STARTING; HOWEVER THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT HAS COME ON ONCE WHILE DRIVING AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE CAR CAN CUT OFF IMMEDIATELY WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT WAS A BAD TIME WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED IN APRIL. I HAD MY GRANDCHILDREN AT MY HOUSE FOR EASTER BREAK AND WE HAD GREAT PLANS...NEVER MIND! I DID CONTACT GM AND THEY ASSURED ME IF THERE WAS A RECALL THAT I COULD CLAIM MY EXPENSES FOR REIMBURSEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10214393

Mileage unknown · Dec 20, 2007
Electrical System

ANTI-THEFT LIGHT FLASHING ON MY 2003 CHEVY MALIBU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10212386

50,000 miles · Nov 6, 2007
Electrical System

THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM DISABLED MY CAR, AND I WAS UNABLE TO START IT. THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THIS, AND MY CAR IS ONLY 4 YRS OLD WITH 50,000 MILES ON IT, SO I DON'T BELIEVE THIS AMOUNTS TO A WEAR-AND-TEAR RELATED PROBLEM. REPAIR COST WAS $200; NO PARTS WERE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10208082

Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 2007
Air BagsElectrical SystemExterior Lighting

I HAVE A 2003 MALIBU SEDAN, AND THE ALARM/HORN HAS A DEFECT. LAST YEAR WE HAD A HIGH POWER WIND STORM AND MY ALARM BLEW FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES (2 HORNS). THEY FINALLY DIED DOWN BY THEMSELVES. MY CAR WAS NOT HIT BY ANYTHING EXCEPT FOR THE HIGH WINDS. I HAD TO TAKE FUSE #43 OUT TO MAKE THE HORN STOP BLOWING EVERY TIME I STARTED M…

Read full complaint

I HAVE A 2003 MALIBU SEDAN, AND THE ALARM/HORN HAS A DEFECT. LAST YEAR WE HAD A HIGH POWER WIND STORM AND MY ALARM BLEW FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES (2 HORNS). THEY FINALLY DIED DOWN BY THEMSELVES. MY CAR WAS NOT HIT BY ANYTHING EXCEPT FOR THE HIGH WINDS. I HAD TO TAKE FUSE #43 OUT TO MAKE THE HORN STOP BLOWING EVERY TIME I STARTED MY CAR. MY CAR NEED TO PASS INSPECTION, BUT THE DEALERSHIP WANT TO CHARGE ME $95.00 AN HOUR, TO DO AN EXPLORATORY DEAL ON THE CAR, TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. ANOTHER CAR REPAIR COMPANY TOLD ME THE COST WOULD BE $900.00, BUT COULD NOT JUSTIFY, WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO. THEY STATED IT COULD BE THE TURN SIGNAL OR IT COULD BE THE FUSE UNDER MY AIR BAG ON THE STEERING WHEEL. NO ONE CAN ACTUALLY EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT'S WRONG, BUT THEY WANT TO CHARGE THE HECK OUT OF ME. I DO NOT HAVE THAT TYPE OF MONEY FOR EXPLORATORY EXAMINATIONS ON MY CAR. I AM QUITE SURE THE MANUFACTURER KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THIS MALIBU, AND CAN FIX IT WITHOUT A PROBLEM. I CAN NOT AFFORD THIS, I WAS NOT TOLD THE CAR HAD TWO RECALLS ON IT WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR. I FEEL THIS IS VERY WRONG, I WOULD HAVE NEVER PURCHASE THE CAR, IF I KNEW OF RECALL PROBLEMS. NOW I AM STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITHOUT A HORN/ALARM SYSTEM. SINCE THE DEALERSHIP WANTED TO GO INTO MY STEERING WHEEL TO CHECK THE FUSE FOR $95.00 AN HOUR, MY AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10205296

50,200 miles · Sep 21, 2007
Electrical System

PASSLOCK ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM ENGAGED WITH NO IDENTIFIABLE CAUSE. USING ORIGINAL KEY AND NO TAMPERING OCCURRED PRIOR TO PROBLEM. THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT WENT ON RANDOMLY 3 WEEKS AGO, BUT WAS ON ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES AND NEVER ON AGAIN PRIOR TO THIS NO-START. ABLE TO RE-SET THE SYSTEM, ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL, BY WAITING 10 MINUTES F…

Read full complaint

PASSLOCK ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM ENGAGED WITH NO IDENTIFIABLE CAUSE. USING ORIGINAL KEY AND NO TAMPERING OCCURRED PRIOR TO PROBLEM. THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT WENT ON RANDOMLY 3 WEEKS AGO, BUT WAS ON ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES AND NEVER ON AGAIN PRIOR TO THIS NO-START. ABLE TO RE-SET THE SYSTEM, ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL, BY WAITING 10 MINUTES FOR THE COMPUTER TO RE-SET, BUT THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE WHEN PARKED IN CERTAIN AREAS (MALLS DURING THE EVENING, ETC). HAPPENS FREQUENTLY ENOUGH THAT IT GETS TO BE VERY INCONVENIENT, AND IN NEED OF REPAIR. REPAIR CAN ONLY BE DONE AT A GM DEALER - WHICH IS VERY PROFITABLE FOR THE DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10203644

80,000 miles · Sep 13, 2007
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

CAR WOULD NOT START SO HAD IT TOWED TO THE SHOP THEY SAID COMPUTER SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG AND IT STARTED FOR THEM. THEY SAID MAYBE A WEAK FUEL PUMP. DROVE IT FOR A WEEK AND SAME THING HAPPENED. HAD IT TOWED TO THE SHOP AGAIN AND THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. DROVE IT FOR 2 DAYS AND SAME THING. NOW THEY SAID IT WAS THE ANTITHEFT T…

Read full complaint

CAR WOULD NOT START SO HAD IT TOWED TO THE SHOP THEY SAID COMPUTER SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG AND IT STARTED FOR THEM. THEY SAID MAYBE A WEAK FUEL PUMP. DROVE IT FOR A WEEK AND SAME THING HAPPENED. HAD IT TOWED TO THE SHOP AGAIN AND THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. DROVE IT FOR 2 DAYS AND SAME THING. NOW THEY SAID IT WAS THE ANTITHEFT THE WHOLE TIME. OUT OF POCKET TOTAL EXPENSE WAS $1300.00. THERE SHOULD BE RECALLS ON THIS STUPID THING I WENT TO START MY CAR AND IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER SO I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE $650 TO FIX THE IGNITION SWITCH. IN THE MEAN TIME THE CAR IS NOW RUNNING BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THEY "RESET" THE COMPUTER. I TOLD THEM I WOULD TAKE MY CHANCES WITH IT AND DROVE OFF AFTER PAYING THE $85 DIAGNOSTIC CHARGE. WELL 2 WEEKS LATER IT DOES NOT START AGAIN. I CALL AAA AND THE TOW COMES OUT AND THE DRIVER TELLS ME IT'S THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE, WAIT 10 MINUTES AND THE CAR WILL START. LOW IN BEHOLD IT WORKED. SO WHY DIDN'T THE DEALERSHIP TELL ME THIS IS THE PROBLEM. FUNNY THEY TOLD ME THE "RESET" COULD LAST 3 WEEKS, A YEAR, OR FOREVER... BUT THEY STILL WANTED TO MILK ME FOR $650. SO I DO A GOOGLE ON THIS AND FIND I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THE PROBLEM. WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH GM IF THEY KNOW THIS PROBLEM EXIST AND DON'T FIX THE PROBLEM WITH A RECALL OR A FIX! I WILL NEVER BUY A GM CAR AGAIN!!!

NHTSA ODI #10202933

Official recalls

2

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.

04V528000 · Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal

Nov 1, 2004

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 124, 'ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEMS.' IN HOT AMBIENT CONDITIONS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM MAY STICK AT THE ATTACHMENT TO THE BRACKET AND NOT RETURN TO THE ENGINE IDLE POSITION WHEN THE OPERATOR LIFTS HIS FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FAILURE TO RETURN TO IDLE COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM AND REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW ASSEMBLY, IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 20, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537.

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.