← 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
Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2005
Electrical System

TWICE NOW, MY CAR HAS NOT STARTED DUE TO THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR A YEAR AND HALF AND IT IS ABOUT TO DO IT A THIRD TIME. I KNOW THIS BECAUSE EACH TIME THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS BEFORE THE CAR WON'T START. I CANNOT GET THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP RIGHT AWAY, I HAVE TO REMED…

Read full complaint

TWICE NOW, MY CAR HAS NOT STARTED DUE TO THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR A YEAR AND HALF AND IT IS ABOUT TO DO IT A THIRD TIME. I KNOW THIS BECAUSE EACH TIME THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS BEFORE THE CAR WON'T START. I CANNOT GET THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP RIGHT AWAY, I HAVE TO REMEDY THE SITUATION MYSELF BY RESETTING THE COMPUTER WHICH ERASES ANY CODE THAT WAS STORED, AND THEREFORE THE CAR CANNOT GET FIXED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10134430

Mileage unknown · May 19, 2005
Electrical System

THE CHEROLET MALIBU WE OWN THINKS IT IS BEING STOLEN AS THE KEY HAS A COMPUTER CHIP IN IT AND AT TIMES WON'T COMMUNICATE WITH THE COMPUTER IN THE CAR.TODAY I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED FOR THE THIRD TIME BECAUSE THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OTHER THAN GETTING IT TO THE DEALER.MY HUSBAND AND I ARE IN POOR HEALTH AND NEE…

Read full complaint

THE CHEROLET MALIBU WE OWN THINKS IT IS BEING STOLEN AS THE KEY HAS A COMPUTER CHIP IN IT AND AT TIMES WON'T COMMUNICATE WITH THE COMPUTER IN THE CAR.TODAY I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED FOR THE THIRD TIME BECAUSE THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OTHER THAN GETTING IT TO THE DEALER.MY HUSBAND AND I ARE IN POOR HEALTH AND NEED A RELIABLE CAR.IT HAS ONLY 49000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI #10121400

Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 2005
Electrical System

THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM CHECK LIGHT HAS TURNED ON A TOTAL OF FOUR TIMES AND HAS CAUSED THE FUEL SUPPLY TO CUT OFF AND NOT START THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED BY CONSUMER. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10112930

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 2005
Electrical System

CD PLAYER INOPERATIVE - DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED AS MANUFACTURER DEFECT- INTERNAL RADIO/CD FAILURE. DEALERSHIP SERVICE REMOVED RADIO/CD AND SENT OUT FOR AN EXCHANGE UNIT. DEALERSHIP SERVICE REINSTALLED RADIO NEW CD PLAYER AND, AGAIN, INOPERATIVE. EQUIPMENT-ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE/INOPERABLE. DEALERSHIP STILL TRYING TO REORDER EXC…

Read full complaint

CD PLAYER INOPERATIVE - DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED AS MANUFACTURER DEFECT- INTERNAL RADIO/CD FAILURE. DEALERSHIP SERVICE REMOVED RADIO/CD AND SENT OUT FOR AN EXCHANGE UNIT. DEALERSHIP SERVICE REINSTALLED RADIO NEW CD PLAYER AND, AGAIN, INOPERATIVE. EQUIPMENT-ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE/INOPERABLE. DEALERSHIP STILL TRYING TO REORDER EXCHANGE UNITS THAT WOULD WORK WITHOUT SUCCESS AND GREAT INCONVENIENCE TO OWNER. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10110395

41,000 miles · Jul 2, 2004
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

JUST LOOKING FOR PLACE TO ENTER VIN # NO SAFETY DEFECT LIDTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10079182

41,000 miles · Jul 2, 2004
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

REGARDING MY PREVIOUS COMPLAINT ABOUT MY 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU THAT WOULDN'T START, DOORS WERE LOCKING THEMSELVES,AND WARRANTY WAS UP... I CARRIED THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT NEW AND UPON CHECKING THE CAR AND FINDING A CODE FOR A PROBLEM THAT SHOWED UP WITH MY BODY CONTROL MODULE WHILE THEY HAD IT ON THIER COM…

Read full complaint

REGARDING MY PREVIOUS COMPLAINT ABOUT MY 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU THAT WOULDN'T START, DOORS WERE LOCKING THEMSELVES,AND WARRANTY WAS UP... I CARRIED THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT NEW AND UPON CHECKING THE CAR AND FINDING A CODE FOR A PROBLEM THAT SHOWED UP WITH MY BODY CONTROL MODULE WHILE THEY HAD IT ON THIER COMPUTER, THE SERVICE MAN INFORMED ME THAT HE WAS ORDERING A NEW BODY CONTROL MODULE AND WAS GOING TO COVER IT FOR ME UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10079177

41,000 miles · Jul 1, 2004
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

I DROVE MY 2003 MALIBU TO A FRIENDS HOUSE AND PARKED IT FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. COULD NOT RESTART THE CAR. IT WOULD TURN OVER AND SOUND LIKE IT WANTED TO CRANK, BUT WOULDN'T START. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. MECHANIC SAID THAT IT WAS SOME SORT OF BODY COMPUTER PROBLEM AND THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM WASN'T LETTING THE CAR START. SAID THAT I…

Read full complaint

I DROVE MY 2003 MALIBU TO A FRIENDS HOUSE AND PARKED IT FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. COULD NOT RESTART THE CAR. IT WOULD TURN OVER AND SOUND LIKE IT WANTED TO CRANK, BUT WOULDN'T START. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. MECHANIC SAID THAT IT WAS SOME SORT OF BODY COMPUTER PROBLEM AND THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM WASN'T LETTING THE CAR START. SAID THAT IT HAD SHORTED OUT INTERNALLY. THE MECHANIC RESET THE THING BUT AFTER CRANKING THE CAR 4 TIMES, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. MECHANIC SAID COMPUTER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF ABOUT $500. AT JUST OVER 41,000 MILES, THE WARRANTY IS NO GOOD ON MY CAR ANYMORE. HOWEVER, I TOLD THE SERVICE MEN AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED MY CAR MONTHS AGO THAT THE DOORS WERE LOCKING BY THEMSELVES AFTER I'D EXITED THE CAR AND WALKED ABOUT 12 FEET AWAY. TOLD THEM THAT IT HAD HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND ASKED IF THEY'D HAD ANY OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. HE JUST LOOKED AT ME, LAUGHED AND SAID THAT HE'D NOT HEARD ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE. IF A SHORT IN THE BODY COMPUTER IS CAUSING THE ANTI THEFT TO ACTIVATE SO THE CAR WON'T START, THEN IT SEEMS LIKELY TO ME THAT THE SAME SHORT COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSING MY DOORS TO LOCK. INSTEAD OF CHECKING THAT PROBLEM OUT AT THE DEALER WHEN I FIRST TOLD THEM ABOUT IT,AND MY WARRANTY WAS STILL GOOD, THE SERVICE MAN JUST TOLD ME THAT I WAS PROBABLY HITTING THE BUTTON ON MY REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY. I DON'T EVEN HAVE KEYLESS ENTRY ON MY CAR AND I TOLD HIM THAT. STILL ALL I GOT THEN WAS A LAUGH AND A SHOULDER SHRUG. IF THE PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR LOCKS HAD OF BEEN CHECKED OUT, THEN THE PROBLEM THAT I'M HAVING NOW MAY HAVE ALREADY BEEN DETECTED WHILE MY WARRANTY WAS STILL GOOD. BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW AND FEEL LIKE THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD COVER COSTS OF PARTS AND REPAIR. WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE ARE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND HOW THEY'VE BEEN HANDLED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10079154

Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2004
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

CAR HAS STALLED NUMORUS TIMES IN TRAFFIC. AT CITY SPEEDS AND HIGHWAY SPEEDS, EVEN IN THE FAST LANE AT RUSH HOUR.HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A SEMI THAT IS TAILGATING TRY TO STOP AT SIXTY-FIVE IN YOUR REARVIEW MIRROR BECAUSE YOUR ENGINE JUST STALLED? I FEAR FOR MY LIFE EVERY TIME THE DEALER CALLS AND SAY'S COME PICK IT UP I THINK WE GOT I…

Read full complaint

CAR HAS STALLED NUMORUS TIMES IN TRAFFIC. AT CITY SPEEDS AND HIGHWAY SPEEDS, EVEN IN THE FAST LANE AT RUSH HOUR.HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A SEMI THAT IS TAILGATING TRY TO STOP AT SIXTY-FIVE IN YOUR REARVIEW MIRROR BECAUSE YOUR ENGINE JUST STALLED? I FEAR FOR MY LIFE EVERY TIME THE DEALER CALLS AND SAY'S COME PICK IT UP I THINK WE GOT IT FIXED? HOW CAN THEY SEND ME OUT WITH A VEHICLE THAT THEY DONT EVEN KNOW IF ITS FIXED? WHEN THEY CAN'T EVEN FIND OUT WHAT IS CAUSING IT TO HAPPEN? IT'S BEEN IN THE SHOP EIGHT TIMES FOR STALLING. THEY REPLACE A PART AND SEND ME OUT ON THE ROAD LIKE A TEST RAT HOPING THE BRAND NEW CAR I BOUGHT KEEPS RUNNING SO I DON'T DIE OR WORSE CAUSE SOMEONE ELSE TO. THEY HAVE CHECKED THE WIRING,COMPUTERS, ENGINE, EVEN DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM.HOW DO I EVER FEEL LIKE I CAN DRIVE THIS CAR SAFLEY. I HAVE NO CHOICE BECAUSE THE BIG CAR COMPANY DONT CARE FOR ME. IT'S SALES THEY CARE ABOUT. IT'S BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR SIX DAYS NOW, NO PROBLEM I'LL SEND MY PAYMENT IN EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR ABOUT THIRTY DAYS THE LAST FOUR MONTHS.

NHTSA ODI #10071202

2,000 miles · Dec 25, 2003
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

HEADLIGHTS, DASHLIGHTS, GO DIM, FLICKER WHEN STEP ON BRAKES. ALSO HEATER FAN SLOWS DOWN WHEN STEP ON BRAKES. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10051085

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.