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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.

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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
139,000 miles · May 12, 2010
Electrical System

I HAVE A 2003 MALIBU THE ANTI THEFT COMES ON ALOT TO FIX THIS U HAVE TO HAVE THE KEY IN THE ON FOR ABOUT 10 MIN,THEN TURN THE KEY IN THE OFF AND TURN THE CAR ON, AND IT STARTS, BUT THAT TRICK IS TAKING LONGER AND LONGER EACH TIME ONE DAY IT WILL LEAVE ME THERE, I THINK CHEVY SHOULD RECALL THIS AND FIX IT... THERE IS NO WAY OF KN…

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I HAVE A 2003 MALIBU THE ANTI THEFT COMES ON ALOT TO FIX THIS U HAVE TO HAVE THE KEY IN THE ON FOR ABOUT 10 MIN,THEN TURN THE KEY IN THE OFF AND TURN THE CAR ON, AND IT STARTS, BUT THAT TRICK IS TAKING LONGER AND LONGER EACH TIME ONE DAY IT WILL LEAVE ME THERE, I THINK CHEVY SHOULD RECALL THIS AND FIX IT... THERE IS NO WAY OF KNOWING WHEN AND WHY THIS HAPPENS. CHEVY SAYS THEY NEED MORE PEOPLE TO CAMPAIGN ABOUT THIS BEFORE THEY WILL DO ANYTHING SO HERE IT IS... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10330102

Mileage unknown · May 7, 2010
Unknown Or Other

2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WANTS TO KNOW IF HIS VEHICLE IS UNDER A RECALL. *GR

NHTSA ODI #10329593

121,405 miles · May 7, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

MY 2003 CHEVY MALIBU BEGAN IDLING VERY HIGH WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING IT TO BE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. IT WAS A HOT DAY WHEN IT HAPPENED AND I ALMOST WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. I FOUND A RECALL ON LINE NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 04V528000 WHICH WAS EXACTLY THE PROBLEM I WAS HAVING WITH MY VEHICLE. MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST ACCORDING T…

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MY 2003 CHEVY MALIBU BEGAN IDLING VERY HIGH WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING IT TO BE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. IT WAS A HOT DAY WHEN IT HAPPENED AND I ALMOST WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. I FOUND A RECALL ON LINE NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 04V528000 WHICH WAS EXACTLY THE PROBLEM I WAS HAVING WITH MY VEHICLE. MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST ACCORDING TO GM. MY MECHANIC PERFORMED THE TEST ON THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE ASSEMBLY AND IT FAILED. THE ACCELERATOR WOULD NOT RETURN TO THE ENGINE IDLE POSITION WHEN MY FOOT WAS OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL- IT WOULD GO 35 MILES PER HOUR WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR- VERY DANGEROUS. MY MECHANIC REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE ASSEMBLY, AND GAVE ME THE PART. THEY SUGGESTED I PURSUE THROUGH GM. I DID SO, CASE #71-827370783. I RECEIVED A CALL TODAY FROM GM STATING THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR SINCE IT WASN'T PART OF THE RECALL, REGARDLESS OF THE FACT THAT IT WAS A DEFECTIVE ITEM, NOT A WEAR AND TEAR ITEM, AND FURTHER, VERY DANGEROUS. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A NEW RECALL FOR THE REST OF THE 2003 CHEVY MALIBUS THAT WERE NOT ON THE ORIGINAL LIST- THEY OBVIOUSLY MISSED SOME VEHICLES THAT WERE AFFECTED. THIS HAPPENED VERY SUDDENLY AND I WAS LUCKY I DIDN'T KILL SOMEONE OR GET KILLED MYSELF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10329286

Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlVisibility

2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HIS PRIMARILY DROVE THE VEHICLE. IN JUNE 2007, THE CONSUMERS WIFE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND CONTINUED UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED IN JULY 2008 VIA A RECALL OVER A ONE YEAR LATER. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS CHARGED $189.05 I…

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2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HIS PRIMARILY DROVE THE VEHICLE. IN JUNE 2007, THE CONSUMERS WIFE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND CONTINUED UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED IN JULY 2008 VIA A RECALL OVER A ONE YEAR LATER. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS CHARGED $189.05 IN JUNE 2007 FOR WHAT TURNED OUT TO BE A RECALL ISSUE. AGAIN IN AUGUST 2008 THE CONSUMER REPORTED THE PROBLEM AND WAS CHARGED AGAIN. SO, FOR OVER A YEAR, THE VEHICLE WOULD RACE AND SAFETY WAS A HAZARD. ALSO, THE POWER WINDOWS WOULD NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. THE CONSUMER STATED THE POWER WINDOWS HAVE FAILED TWICE. EVEN THOUGH THE CONSUMER WAS CHARGED TWICE FOR DIFFERENT PART REPLACEMENTS, HE CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER WINDOWS AT TIMES. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10325321

52,145 miles · Apr 29, 2010
Electrical System

CAR WOULD NOT START , THEFT LAMP FLASHING, WENT ONLINE AND FOUND ISSUES WITH GM THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM[PASS KEY] MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING SAME ISSUES, ALSO SOME CLAIM THE CAR QUITS ON THEM AND THEY HAVE TO WAIT 10 MIN. TO RESTART CAR. EVEN IN MY OWNERS MANUAL IT STATES THAT THIS SYSTEM MAY FAIL. AND IT GIVES A PROCEDURE TO…

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CAR WOULD NOT START , THEFT LAMP FLASHING, WENT ONLINE AND FOUND ISSUES WITH GM THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM[PASS KEY] MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING SAME ISSUES, ALSO SOME CLAIM THE CAR QUITS ON THEM AND THEY HAVE TO WAIT 10 MIN. TO RESTART CAR. EVEN IN MY OWNERS MANUAL IT STATES THAT THIS SYSTEM MAY FAIL. AND IT GIVES A PROCEDURE TO FOLLOW. CAR MAY OR MAY NOT START//RECOMMEND FIX IS A NEW IGNITION SWITCH/PASSLOCK SENSOR AT A COST OF 500.00 TO 800.00 DOLLARS TO THE CONSUMER I FEEL THAT GM SHOULD REPLACE THESE ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS UNDER WARRANTY FOR ANY ONE WHO ENCOUNTERS THIS QUITTING//NO START CONDITION MAY CAUSE ACCIDENT IF CAR JUST SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING???? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10328150

101,000 miles · Apr 13, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU ACCELERATES WITHOUT ASSISTANCE ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO (MARCH 2010). TAKEN TO MECHANIC AND WHEN TESTED THERE WEREN'T ANY CODES. ALSO THE ENGINE LIGHT DIDN'T COME ON. SO A ROAD TEST WAS DONE AND THE IAC SENSOR WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE PROBLEM. THE IAC SENSOR WAS REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM HASN'T STOPPED. SO THE TPS …

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2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU ACCELERATES WITHOUT ASSISTANCE ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO (MARCH 2010). TAKEN TO MECHANIC AND WHEN TESTED THERE WEREN'T ANY CODES. ALSO THE ENGINE LIGHT DIDN'T COME ON. SO A ROAD TEST WAS DONE AND THE IAC SENSOR WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE PROBLEM. THE IAC SENSOR WAS REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM HASN'T STOPPED. SO THE TPS (THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR) TESTED OVER 2 VOLTS AND WHEN TESTED GOING THE OTHER WAY IT TESTED AT .63 VOLTS. SO THE MECHANIC ALSO REPLACED THE TPS BUT THE CAR IS STILL IDLING HIGH WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. UNABLE TO FIX SO I TOOK MY CAR TO A LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER AND THEY TOO WERE UNABLE DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THEY CHECKED THE VACUUM HOSES, THE PARTS PUT IN BY MY MECHANIC, AND OTHER DIAGNOSTIC TEST (NOT SURE WHAT) AND STILL NO RESOLUTION. NOW THE CAR SPEEDS DOWN THE STREET, WHEN STOPPED IN PARK, NEUTRAL, & DRIVE IDLES AT 3000 AND HARD FOR THE BRAKES TO HOLD, AND WHEN THE GAS IS PUSHED THE CAR ACTS AS IF IT WANTS TO CUT OFF. NOT SURE IF THE OLD PART ARE AVAILABLE CAN CONTACT MECHANIC TO VERIFY. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN BUT IS WORSE WHEN THE CAR IS HOT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ESPECIALLY SINCE THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10325542

Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 2010
Electrical System

I OWN A 2003 CHEVY MALIBU. IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS, THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT POPS ON AND DOESN'T ALLOW ME TO DRIVE MY CAR. I FOUND OUT IF I TURN THE KEY IN THE ON POSITION FOR 10 MINUTES, THE LIGHT WILL STOP FLASHING AND WILL ALLOW ME TO START MY CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES NOW WHERE MY CAR WILL NOT START AND I HAVE TO DO THE 1…

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I OWN A 2003 CHEVY MALIBU. IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS, THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT POPS ON AND DOESN'T ALLOW ME TO DRIVE MY CAR. I FOUND OUT IF I TURN THE KEY IN THE ON POSITION FOR 10 MINUTES, THE LIGHT WILL STOP FLASHING AND WILL ALLOW ME TO START MY CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES NOW WHERE MY CAR WILL NOT START AND I HAVE TO DO THE 10 MINUTE WAIT FOR IT TO RESTART. MY CAR IS THE ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION FOR ME AND MY HUSBAND WHO IS SEVERELY DISABLED. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS OCCURRED TO HUNDREDS OF CHEVY MALIBU OWNERS. I NEED MY CAR TO FUNCTION CORRECTLY. WHAT IF I HAVE TO TAKE MY HUSBAND TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM OR DOCTOR AND MY CAR STOPS RUNNING? I BELIEVE CHEVY KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AS THEY LISTED THE 10 MINUTE REMEDY IN THEIR OWNERS MANUAL. I WOULD LIKE CHEVY TO FIX THIS AS IT APPEARS TO BE A ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE CHEVY MALIBU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10324795

146,000 miles · Apr 7, 2010
Electrical System

2003 MALIBU THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT. THIS LIGHT WAS ON ALL THE TIME AND FINALLY JUST STOPPED WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. I LOOKED ONLINE AND IT SAYS TO TURN THE KEY TO ON FOR 10 MINS THEN RE START BUT THIS AS WELL DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!!!! SOMEONE COULD GET SERIOUSLY HURT IN THIS MATTER. *T…

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2003 MALIBU THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT. THIS LIGHT WAS ON ALL THE TIME AND FINALLY JUST STOPPED WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. I LOOKED ONLINE AND IT SAYS TO TURN THE KEY TO ON FOR 10 MINS THEN RE START BUT THIS AS WELL DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!!!! SOMEONE COULD GET SERIOUSLY HURT IN THIS MATTER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10324347

80,000 miles · Mar 25, 2010
Seat Belts

THE REAR SHOULDER BELTS DO NOT HOLD TIGHT. A PASTIC PIECE BROKE OF THE BUCKEL. IT NO LONGER HOLD TIGHT CAUSING CHILD SEATS TO MOVE WHEN BUCKLED IN.

NHTSA ODI #10321908

63,000 miles · Mar 19, 2010
Electrical System

NOVEMBER 2009 MY THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE WITH A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $500.00. MARCH 15 2010 THE CAR DOORS UNLOCKED AND THE CAR DIED IN TRAFFIC. REPLACED FAULTY BODY CONTROL MODULE. MARCH 17 2010 THEFT LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR DOESN'T WANT TO START. REPLACED RCDLR (I' DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS IS …

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NOVEMBER 2009 MY THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE WITH A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $500.00. MARCH 15 2010 THE CAR DOORS UNLOCKED AND THE CAR DIED IN TRAFFIC. REPLACED FAULTY BODY CONTROL MODULE. MARCH 17 2010 THEFT LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR DOESN'T WANT TO START. REPLACED RCDLR (I' DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS IS AN ABBREVIATION FOR BUT IT COST ANOTHER $67.44 FOR THE PART. THEFT LIGHT STILL COMES ON AND THE CAR DOESN'T WANT TO START. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10321103

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.