2003 Chevrolet Malibu

THE CAR IS A 2003 CHEVY MALIBU. OCCASIONALLY, THE "THEFT SYSTEM" LIGHT WILL TURN ON FOR NO REASON, AND THE CAR WILL NOT START. THE MANUAL RESET IS TO WAIT 10 MINUTES AND TRY TO RESTART THE CAR. THIS WAS DISCOVERED AFTER SEVERAL EXPENSIVE REPAIRS, INCLUDING FUEL PUMP AND IGNITION, WERE DONE. IT HAS BEEN INCONVENIENT AND SOMETIMES DANGEROUS TO WAIT AROUND FOR 10-30 MINUTES TO RESTART THE CAR. THE THEFT SYSTEM IS FLAWED AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL TO HELP OWNERS FIX THIS WITHOUT HAVING TO PUT HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS INTO FIXING THINGS THAT WILL NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO A FAULTY TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM, IN WHICH THE TECHNICIAN RESET. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR MOST RECENT MALFUNCTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000. .. UPDATED 02-07-13 *BF UPDATED 2/13/13 *CN UPDATED 02/14/2013 *JS

I'M VERY UNHAPPY AS A CHEVROLET CLIENT. MY CAR HAS COMPLETELY LOCKED UP AND WILL NOT START DUE TO THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM. UPON A DIAGNOSIS, THE CHEVY MECHANIC TOLD ME IT ITS MY DUTY TO GET IT TOWED TO A SHOP ONLY TO HAVE IT HOOKED TO A MACHINE FOR $110 AN HOUR ONLY TO GET THE CAR TURNED BACK ON. I HAVE SEEN THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL OF CAR AND I'M VERY MAD THAT IT COSTS ME AND NOT CHEVY FOR THIS AVOIDABLE, TEDIOUS PROBLEM. I THOUGHT THEIR CARS WERE SUPPOSE TO BE RELIABLE. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CHEVY AGAIN! -VERY DISAPPOINTED CHEVY OWNER *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD BECOME STUCK AND THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V528000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 33,000.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY I WAS REAR ENDED AND PUSHED INTO THE CENTER DIVIDER AND BOUNCED OFF ONLY TO BE STRUCK AGAIN FROM THE REAR. THE FRONT AND REAR QUARTER PANELS WERE DAMAGED THE FRAME WAS COMPROMISED. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. I SUFFERED BACK, ARM, LEG & KNEE INJURIES IN THE COLLISION. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOTALED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY BUT I AM STILL CURIOUS AS TO WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SAFETY AIR BAGS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, SHE ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE CAR OFF THE ROAD WHEN SHE HEARD THE ENGINE ROARING ABNORMALLY LOUD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND A SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE EXACT SENSOR THAT WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED OF A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V528000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED HER THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 160,000.

THE IGNITION/PASSLOCK SYSTEM PROBLEM OF INTERMITTENT NO START THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE WITH THE 2003 MALIBU LEFT ME STALLED IN TRAFFIC. LUCKY FOR ME THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT (NOT YET ANYWAY). I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS BY DOING THE 10 MINUTE RESET AS DESCRIBED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED CONTROL & CABLE BINDING. REPLACED FLOOR SHIFT CONTROL. REPLACED SHIFTER CABLE & IGNITION SWITCH CABLE. THE PROBLEM REMAINS. I BASICALLY GAVE UP COMPLAINING TO THE DEALER AND WENT BACK TO THE 10 MINUTE RESET PROCEDURE. A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS DOWN THE DRAIN. MY SON ASKED WHY THE CAR WAS NEVER FIXED. HE FOUND THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN DESCRIBING THE EXACT PROBLEM AS I AND MANY OTHERS HAVE WITH THE 2003 MALIBU: IT STATES THAT "ENGINEERING WOULD LIKE TO INSPECT ANY VEHICLE BEFORE THE ACTUAL REPAIR HAS BEEN PERFORMED WHERE THE REPAIR DIAGNOSIS LEADS TO REPLACING THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER FOR AN INTERMITTENT OR HARD NO START TYPE OF CONDITION OR CUSTOMER COMPLAINT." (NHTSA ITEM NUMBER 10002562) (SERVICE BULLETIN #022003). MY SON COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY FIXED THE STALLING PROBLEM. THEY SAID I DIDN'T MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER. MY STATEMENT IN THE SERVICE ORDER READS AS FOLLOWS: OWNER STATES CAN'T TURN IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER AT TIMES. FROM WHAT I HAVE LEARNED, THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE IGNITION/PASSLOCK SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN INSTALLED IN THE 2003 MALIBU. GM KNEW THIS BUT INSTALLED IT ANYWAYS. THEY EVEN HAVE A REMEDY IN THEIR OWNERS MANUAL DESCRIBING THE 10 MINUTE RESET SOLUTION. GM CREATES THE PROBLEM AND THEN HAVE UNSUSPECTING CUSTOMERS PAY $$$$$ TO FIX SOMETHING ELSE INSTEAD OF FIXING THE REAL PROBLEM. THIS DEFECT IS AN UNSAFE AND AN UNETHICAL SCAM!!!!!!!!!! *TR