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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
68,904 miles · Oct 20, 2017
Electrical System

ODI NUMBER 10593580 WAS FILED IN MAY 2014. THIS HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED AS THIS DATE 10/20/17. THE CAR WILL NOT SHUT OFF AND THE KEY WILL NOT COME OUT AS STATED IN THE COMPLAINT OF MAY 2014. I KEEP SPENDING $$ ON THIS AND NO ACTION. SURLY ALL THESE CARS DO THE SAME THING.

NHTSA ODI #11034769

132 miles · Sep 29, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineFuel/propulsion System

TOOK CAR TO WALMART ONE NIGHT AND BEGINS TO OVERHEAT AFTER NAPA TOLD ME IT HAD NO LEAKS. CAR OVERHEATS I PULL ASIDE AND TURN IT OFF FOR A BIT I NOTICED THE CAR WOULD CRANK BUT HESITATE TO START. ONCE GOT IT TO START IT WOULD ACCELERATE BUT AT LOW RPMS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND I NOTICED CAR SHAKING AND WEIRD NOISE COMING F…

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TOOK CAR TO WALMART ONE NIGHT AND BEGINS TO OVERHEAT AFTER NAPA TOLD ME IT HAD NO LEAKS. CAR OVERHEATS I PULL ASIDE AND TURN IT OFF FOR A BIT I NOTICED THE CAR WOULD CRANK BUT HESITATE TO START. ONCE GOT IT TO START IT WOULD ACCELERATE BUT AT LOW RPMS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND I NOTICED CAR SHAKING AND WEIRD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. ONCE STARTED CAR SQUEAKED AND MAD TERRIBLE NOISE. CAR DID NOT TURN BACK ON AND DID NOT MAKE IT HOME. CRANKS AND RARE WHEN STARTS, CHARGED BATTERY BUT DRAINS, DOESN'T MAINTAIN CHARGE. WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF EXHAUST AND WHEN CAR WOULD STALL IT WOULD TURN OFF, NOW THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT IS ON. NOW CAR WONT EVEN CRANK OR TURN ON. ONCE I GOT IT TO TURN ON WITH TROUBLE IT WOULD TURN OFF ONCE PUT INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE. TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING IT ONE NIGHT AND BRAKES DID NOT WORK. ALMOST CRASHED INTO HOME, MY CAR WAS IN MOTION AND WOULD TURN OFF AMD STEERING WHEEL GOT HARD AND BRAKES DIDN'T WORK, SCARED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ENGINE MAKES WIERD BOGGING SOUND AMD SQUEAKING SOUND, SMELL OF GAS. EXHAUST HAS WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF IT. HAS TROUBLE IDLING AT TIMES AND LOW RPMS.

NHTSA ODI #11030501

37,000 miles · Aug 24, 2017
Electrical SystemService Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED. WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED TO ENGAGE AND THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE KEY HAD TO BE RELEASED F…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED. WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED TO ENGAGE AND THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE KEY HAD TO BE RELEASED FROM THE IGNITION WITH FORCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.

NHTSA ODI #11019279

136,000 miles · Jul 27, 2017
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE O…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

NHTSA ODI #11010957

150,000 miles · Jul 14, 2017
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT FUNCTION AFTER THE KEY WAS SHIFTED INTO THE ON POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN CHEVROLET DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALARM SYSTEM INDEPENDENTLY SHUT DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT FUNCTION AFTER THE KEY WAS SHIFTED INTO THE ON POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN CHEVROLET DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALARM SYSTEM INDEPENDENTLY SHUT DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.

NHTSA ODI #11005253

96,517 miles · Jun 23, 2017
Electrical System

PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED COMPLAINT ON 5-23-2017 NHTSA #10991171. TOOK CAR IN FOR RECALL REPAIR ON MAY 11, 2017. RANDOM SHUT DOWN ON THE ROAD CONTINUED. TOOK CAR BACK IN FOR "DIAGNOSTIC" ON JUNE 15, 2017. DAVID MAUS CHEVY HAD CAR FOR OVER 4 HOURS AND COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. I RECEIVED NEW KEYS ON THE OFF-CHANCE THAT THE 14-YEAR…

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PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED COMPLAINT ON 5-23-2017 NHTSA #10991171. TOOK CAR IN FOR RECALL REPAIR ON MAY 11, 2017. RANDOM SHUT DOWN ON THE ROAD CONTINUED. TOOK CAR BACK IN FOR "DIAGNOSTIC" ON JUNE 15, 2017. DAVID MAUS CHEVY HAD CAR FOR OVER 4 HOURS AND COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. I RECEIVED NEW KEYS ON THE OFF-CHANCE THAT THE 14-YEAR-OLD ORIGINAL KEYS COULD BE THE ISSUE. TODAY, 6-23-2017, THE CAR AGAIN TURNED OFF ON THE HIGHWAY. PHOTO ATTACHED - CLEARLY THE KEY IS STILL IN THE "ON" POSITION. WHILE AT THE DEALERSHIP ON JUNE 15TH, ANOTHER MAN WITH THE SAME MODEL CAR WAS THERE FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. HIS NAME IS [XXX], ALSO FROM DELTONA, AND I ENCOURAGED HIM TO FILE AN INCIDENT REPORT WITH NHTSA. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #11000860

Mileage unknown · May 31, 2017
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

YESTERDAY I WAS DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT ROAD WITH A FEW TURNS IN A RURAL COMMUNITY. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT STARTS FLASHING, MY SPEED DROPS BY FORCE, MY STEERING WHEEL TIGHTENS, AND THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF. THANKFULLY THE DRIVER BEHIND ME WAS NOT UP TO SPEED AS HE HAD JUST TURNED ONTO THE STREET AFTER ME. OTHERWISE, HE…

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YESTERDAY I WAS DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT ROAD WITH A FEW TURNS IN A RURAL COMMUNITY. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT STARTS FLASHING, MY SPEED DROPS BY FORCE, MY STEERING WHEEL TIGHTENS, AND THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF. THANKFULLY THE DRIVER BEHIND ME WAS NOT UP TO SPEED AS HE HAD JUST TURNED ONTO THE STREET AFTER ME. OTHERWISE, HE WOULD HAVE SLAMMED INTO THE BACK OF MY CAR. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND STARTED MY ROUTINE OF TRYING TO GET THE IGNITION TO TURN OVER. THIS PROCESS CALLS FOR ME TO PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNTION, TURN IT TO THE RIGHT, AND WAIT FOR THE BOARD TO LIGHT UP. ONCE IT IS LIT, THE CAR USUALLY STARTS AGAIN. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE ENGINE WAS SHUT DOWN WHEN THE THEFT LIGHT STARTS TO BLINK. IN THE PAST I HAVE HAD TROUBLE GETTING THE CAR TO START WHEN THE LIGHT COMES ON. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL IGNITION SWITCHES REPLACED AT THE SUGGESTION OF THEIR CHEVY TECHNICIANS BUT EACH SPRING/SUMMER I CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS COSTLY PROBLEM. THE MANAGERS AND TECHNICIANS SEEM TO THINK THAT THIS IS NOT A BIG ISSUE AND THAT I WILL NEED TO CONTINUE TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCHES BECAUSE THE CAR THINKS THAT I AM STEALING MY OWN CAR. THE ONLY WAY FOR ME TO GET THE CAR TO START UP AGAIN IS TO PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND TURN IT TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT ACTUALLY STARTING THE CAR. AFTER 5-10 MINUTES THE ELECTRICAL BOARD LIGHTS UP AND THEN I AM ABLE TO START THE CAR. WHILE THIS CAR IS A 2003 MODEL, I HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW BUT GM REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE ONLY THING THEY HAVE DONE IS TO REPLACE THE KEY FOBS BUT THAT OBVIOUSLY IS NOT THE ISSUE FOR MANY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS.

NHTSA ODI #10992429

94,652 miles · May 23, 2017
Electrical SystemSteering

VIN: [XXX] I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE INVOLVING "POSSIBLE UNINTENDED KEY ROTATION" AND ON MAY 11, 2017 I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CHEVY DEALER IN SANFORD, FL. BOTH OF THE KEYS WERE FITTED WITH A "PLUG" AND TWO RINGS WERE ADDED,. ON MY WAY HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP, ON I-4 AT ALMOST 70 MPH, I HAD TO BRAKE WHEN DEBRIS BEGAN FLYIN…

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VIN: [XXX] I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE INVOLVING "POSSIBLE UNINTENDED KEY ROTATION" AND ON MAY 11, 2017 I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CHEVY DEALER IN SANFORD, FL. BOTH OF THE KEYS WERE FITTED WITH A "PLUG" AND TWO RINGS WERE ADDED,. ON MY WAY HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP, ON I-4 AT ALMOST 70 MPH, I HAD TO BRAKE WHEN DEBRIS BEGAN FLYING UP AHEAD. THE BATTERY AND OIL LIGHTS CAME ON AND I FELT THE CAR LOSE POWER AND THE STEERING BEGAN TO LOCK. THE OTHER CARS BRAKED & I COASTED TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND STARTED IT UP AGAIN. APPROXIMATELY 4 MILES LATER, AS I EXITED THE RAMP IN DELTONA, THE CAR DID EXACTLY THE SAME THING. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP FROM THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ASKED WHY THE CAR HAD NEVER DONE THIS UNTIL THE RECALL FOR THE KEY ISSUE HAD BEEN COMPLETED AND I WAS TOLD TO COME BACK AND THEY WOULD DO A DIAGNOSTIC. I DROVE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC & BASED ON THE SYMPTOMS DETERMINED IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THEY ALSO PURGED THE SOLENOID, COSTING $366. TODAY, MAY 23, 2017, I WAS TRAVELING ON I-4 AT ABOUT 65MPH WHEN IT BECAME NECESSARY TO BRAKE. THE STRETCH OF ROAD IS ROUGH, AND WHILE BRAKING I SAW THE TWO LIGHTS COME ON AND FELT THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. I WAS IN THE PASSING LANE WITH EASY ACCESS TO THE EMERGENCY LANE, AND ONCE AGAIN THE CAR STARTED UP AND I CONTINUED ON MY WAY AND BACK HOME. I DROVE IN THE RIGHT LANE THE REMAINDER OF THE TRIP DOWN AND BACK SO I COULD BAIL OUT IF NEEDED. ON THE DAY OF THE ORIGINAL REPAIR, AFTER THE CAR SHUT DOWN TWICE ON THE WAY HOME, I CHECKED THE GOVERNMENT RECALL PAGE TO SEE IF THERE WERE OTHER RECALL ISSUES AND I LEARNED THAT THE FOB IS NOT RECOMMENDED TO BE ATTACHED TO THE KEY. I REMOVED THE FOB FROM THE KEY AND ATTACHED IT TO A LANYARD, BUT APPARENTLY THAT DOES NOT HELP THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP RETURNED BOTH "CORRECTED" KEYS TO ME ON THE FOB, WITH A SECOND RING ON EACH. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10991171

27,000 miles · Apr 27, 2017
Electrical System

MALIBU ANTI-THEFT? DEVICE KEEPS STALLING MY CAR AND SHUTTING IT OFF WHILE IT IS IN MOTION. I AM GOING TO THE NEWS ON THIS AS THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE THAT IS AFFECTING MILLIONS OF CUSTOMERS AND IS VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ODI #10981102

143,000 miles · Mar 21, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT STAYS ON AND AFFECTED DRIVING MY VEHICLE. I WOULD GO TO LEAVE FOR WORK OR GO TO THE STORE OR GET GAS, ETC AND WHEN I WOULD GO TO START MY CAR WITH THE NEW REPAIRED KEY BY MAKING THE HOLE SMALLER IN THE PLASTIC TOP OF THE KEY THAT WAS DONE WHEN I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR THE IGNITION SYSTEM RECALL THE THEFT SY…

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THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT STAYS ON AND AFFECTED DRIVING MY VEHICLE. I WOULD GO TO LEAVE FOR WORK OR GO TO THE STORE OR GET GAS, ETC AND WHEN I WOULD GO TO START MY CAR WITH THE NEW REPAIRED KEY BY MAKING THE HOLE SMALLER IN THE PLASTIC TOP OF THE KEY THAT WAS DONE WHEN I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR THE IGNITION SYSTEM RECALL THE THEFT SYSTEM ACTIVATED AND I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK WHO SHOWED ME HOW TO "RESET" THE THEFT SYSTEM. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES AND I HAD TO TAKE MY CAR IN AND HAVE THE IGNITION REPLACED WHICH COSTS ME APPROX $200!!! OBVIOUSLY THE IGNITION RECALL DID NOT FIX MY CAR PROPERLY. I WANT REIMBURSEMENT FOR HAVING TO REPLACE THE IGNITION

NHTSA ODI #10967463

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.