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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

What owners actually said

569 reports
43,627 miles · Jul 7, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT, , THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MANUALLY RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WITH HIS FOOT AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE FAILURE OCCURRED DURING EXTREMELY HO…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT, , THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MANUALLY RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WITH HIS FOOT AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE FAILURE OCCURRED DURING EXTREMELY HOT WEATHER TEMPERATURES AND WHEN THE CONTACT COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT REVIEWED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V528000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: ACCELERATOR PEDAL). AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL ON JANUARY 14, 2005. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD NO PRIOR RECALL REMEDY REPAIR PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,627.

NHTSA ODI #10341745

70,000 miles · Jun 30, 2010
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM HAS FAILED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE HE HAD TO TURN THE IGNITION ON AND WAIT AT LEAST TEN MINUTES BEFORE IT WOULD START. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. WHEN HE CALLED THE DEALER, THEY WOU…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM HAS FAILED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE HE HAD TO TURN THE IGNITION ON AND WAIT AT LEAST TEN MINUTES BEFORE IT WOULD START. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. WHEN HE CALLED THE DEALER, THEY WOULD ADVISE HIM TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE COST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #10340761

15,000 miles · Jun 24, 2010
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

PASSLOCK SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE DUE TO NICKEL PLATING ON STARTER TUMBLER CAUSING OXIDATION. DEALERS ARE ABLE TO MAKE A KILLING ON THIS DEFECTIVE CONNECTOR BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO TROUBLESHOOT A FULL FUEL PUMP SYSTEM AND WIRING HARNESS BEFORE THEY WILL REPLACE THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM. OCCURS ONCE EVERY FEW MONTHS INTERMITTENTLY AND BECOMES…

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PASSLOCK SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE DUE TO NICKEL PLATING ON STARTER TUMBLER CAUSING OXIDATION. DEALERS ARE ABLE TO MAKE A KILLING ON THIS DEFECTIVE CONNECTOR BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO TROUBLESHOOT A FULL FUEL PUMP SYSTEM AND WIRING HARNESS BEFORE THEY WILL REPLACE THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM. OCCURS ONCE EVERY FEW MONTHS INTERMITTENTLY AND BECOMES MORE SERIOUS AS THE OXIDATION WORSENS. POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS OCCUR WHEN VEHICLE WOULD STALL IN AN UNSAFE LOCATION (IE: RAILROAD TRACKS OR HIGHWAY) AND VEHICLE WILL NOT RESTART. COUPLED WITH THE RECALL THESE VEHICLES HAD WITH THE ACCELERATOR STICKING (WHICH MINE DID ON A HIGHWAY) THIS COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ONLINE (ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GOOGLE "PASSLOCK PROBLEM" AND YOU WILL GET THOUSANDS OF RESULTS AND CONSUMER FIXES COMPLAINING ABOUT HOW GM IGNORES EVERY SERVICE REQUEST FOR A SOLUTION THAT DOESN'T GOUGE CUSTOMERS. THERE IS PRACTICALLY AN UNDERGROUND CLUB DESIGNED TO HANDLE THIS PROBLEM.) ACCORDING TO THE SHOP FOREMAN AT COLONIAL CHEVROLET IN NORFOLK, VA, AFTER HIS 14 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WITH SERVICE THIS IS A PROBLEM HE IS INTIMATELY ACQUAINTED WITH AND RECOMMENDS REPLACING THE KEY TUMBLER (PASSLOCK CHIP INTEGRATED INSIDE) AND THE CONNECTOR THAT LEADS TO THE BODY CONTROL MODULE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10339820

68,300 miles · Jun 21, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

ACCELERATOR DOES NOT RESPOND WHEN YOU REMOVE YOUR FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL. THIS SITUATION OCCURS AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN SETTING IN THE SUN. IT HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES DURING THE PAST WEEK. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED FOR THIS CONDITION IN 2005 AS PART OF THE RECALL PROGRAM. IT EVIDENTLY DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10339376

Mileage unknown · Jun 16, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. SHE STATED SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AND WHEN SHE REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ABNORMALLY ACCELERATE. SHE PUT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR. THE VEHICLE STOPPED REVVING AND SHE USED EXTREME FORCE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES UNTIL THE VEHICLE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. SHE STATED SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AND WHEN SHE REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ABNORMALLY ACCELERATE. SHE PUT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR. THE VEHICLE STOPPED REVVING AND SHE USED EXTREME FORCE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES UNTIL THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECREASE IN SPEED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,739.

NHTSA ODI #10336597

133,000 miles · Jun 14, 2010
Electrical System

THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON AND OFF FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS - AND WHEN IT FLASHES I NEED TO RESET BY TURNING IGNITION TO ON AND WAIT TEN MIN. - NOW THE LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME AND I'M CONCERNED THAT AT SOME POINT THE CAR WILL NOT START AND I WILL BE STRANDED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10336126

100,785 miles · Jun 11, 2010
Electrical System

03 MALIBU WITH ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS.... THE CAR SHUTS ITSELF OFF WHILE IN MOTION... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10335757

47,000 miles · May 28, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AT LEAST FIVE TO SIX TIMES A DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, FUEL MODULATOR AND COIL SPRINGS. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MA…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AT LEAST FIVE TO SIX TIMES A DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, FUEL MODULATOR AND COIL SPRINGS. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 47,000.

NHTSA ODI #10332613

9,000 miles · May 27, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH, THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. SECONDS LATER, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 9,000

NHTSA ODI #10332498

Mileage unknown · May 22, 2010
Electrical System

HAVE A 2003 CHEVY MALIBU WITH AN "PASSLOCK" ANTI THEFT SYSTEM IN IT. THIS SYSTEM IS ACTING UP CONSIDERABLY AND WHEN I BRING IT TO THE GM DEALER I GET CHARGED MORE AND MORE MONEY BUT NO SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM, BECAUSE THEIR COMPUTERS DO NOT DETECT THE PROBLEM. AS I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE, THERE ARE MANY MANY PEOPLE H…

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HAVE A 2003 CHEVY MALIBU WITH AN "PASSLOCK" ANTI THEFT SYSTEM IN IT. THIS SYSTEM IS ACTING UP CONSIDERABLY AND WHEN I BRING IT TO THE GM DEALER I GET CHARGED MORE AND MORE MONEY BUT NO SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM, BECAUSE THEIR COMPUTERS DO NOT DETECT THE PROBLEM. AS I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE, THERE ARE MANY MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE ARE ALSO MANY INSTANCES WHERE THIS SYSTEM HAS CAUSED CARS TO STALL WHILE BEING DRIVEN DOWN THE HIGHWAY, AND THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10331792

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.