RoadVitals

2003 Chevrolet Malibu Classic Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Nov 30, 2018
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
69%
of 16 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Chevrolet Malibu Classic submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Electrical
Filed Nov 30, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE WITH THE TWO VEHICLE KEYS UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) BY AUTONATION CHEVROLET LAUREL (500 WASHINGTON BLVD, SUITE A, LAUREL, MD 20707, 301-725-2700). THE DEALER WAS INFORMED NUMEROUS TIMES THAT THE REPLACEMENT KEYS FROM THE RECALL FAILED TO REMEDY THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED NUMEROUS TIMES. FOR OVER FOUR YEARS, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ORIGINAL OEM KEYS FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. IN ADDITION, THE ANTI-THEFT FUNCTION FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. THE CONTACT REFERENCED THE OWNER'S MANUAL TO REPROGRAM THE FUNCTION AND TURNED THE VEHICLE ON AND OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT FEATURE DID NOT WORK FOR THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE, THE ANTI-THEFT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN THE KEY WAS INSERTED IN THE IGNITION. THE DEALER KEPT THE TWO OEM KEYS AND STATED THAT THE PLASTIC INSERT PIECE THAT WAS TO BE PROVIDED AS A KEY INSERT FAILED AS A REMEDY FOR THE RECALL. THE TWO KEYS DID NOT WORK FOR THE CONTACT'S MODEL VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE PLASTIC COVER AND THE KEY MODIFICATION FAILED TO FUNCTION MANUALLY AND ELECTRONICALLY. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11154914
Incident
Feb 1, 2015
Electrical
Filed Nov 21, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT START AND THE ANTI-THEFT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES. ALL OF THE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED BECAUSE THE KEY WAS IN THE ON POSITION, BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (ART MOEHN CHEVROLET IN JACKSON, MICHIGAN) AND HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED IN AUGUST OF 2017. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED THIS TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

NHTSA ID
11047770
Incident
Nov 21, 2017
Mileage
136,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 4, 2017

THE DRIVERS SIDE BRAKE LIGHT DOESN'T WORK.I HAVE TRIED CHANGING THE BULB SEVERAL TIMES, BUT IT WILL NOT WORK.A FEW YRS BACK I SAW A RECALL ON THIS BUT I DIDN'T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT AND NOW I CANNOT FIND IT ANYMORE I WOULD LIKE INFO ON WHAT I SHOULD DO NOW AS I GOT A WARNING TICKET !! THANKS

NHTSA ID
11012732
Incident
Dec 20, 2016
Mileage
143,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 28, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE PAD LOCK SENSOR BECAME ACTIVATED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED ON ONE OCCASION. THE WINS CHEVROLET DEALER IN CARSON, CALIFORNIA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE A NEW IGNITION SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.

NHTSA ID
11011258
Incident
Jan 7, 2016
Mileage
130,000 mi
Electrical
Filed May 10, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.

NHTSA ID
10864200
Incident
Apr 15, 2014
Mileage
144,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 24, 2015

FIRST TIME INCIDENT OCCURRED WAS 6/18/15, TWICE ON 6/23/2015 AND ONCE ON 6/24/15. THEFT SYSTEM CAUSED CAR NOT TO START; PERFORMED TROUBLE SHOOTING METHOD ACCORDING TO OWNER'S MANUAL (LEAVING KEY IN IGNITION ON POSITION WAIT 10 MINUTES FOR THE THEFT SYSTEM TO STOP BLINKING, TURN KEY IN IGNITION TO OFF THEN RESTART) WHICH DOESN'T INDICATE FURTHER ACTION TO TAKE IF PROBLEM PERSISTS. TOOK IT TO RYAN CHEVROLET DEALER IN MONROE, LA ON 6/24/15 WHERE SERVICE ADVISOR TRAVIS STUART SAID 125.00 DIAGNOSTIC CHARGE HAS TO BE PAID TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM WHICH I'VE ALREADY INDICATED WHAT IT WAS AND WAS UNABLE TO FIX THE ISSUE WHICH IS AN URGENT SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE ACCORDING TO HIM THE DEALERSHIP WAS BEHIND AND BACKUP IN REPAIRS. HE SCHEDULED FOR ME TO COME IN FOR 6/26/15 AT 8AM WHICH TRAVIS STATED WAS THE EARLIEST APPOINTMENT AVAILABILITY HE HAD. SPOKE TO CHEVROLET.COM LIVE CHAT CUSTOMER CARE REPRESENTATIVE ALEXANDRIA ON 6/24/15 SHORTLY AFTER 9PM AND STATED TO HER THE PROBLEM ALONG WITH WHAT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME. ALEXANDRIA TOLD ME THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THIS TYPE OF ISSUE REGARDING 2003 CHEVY MALIBU, OWNER'S MANUAL IS JUST A STEPPING STONE AS A GUIDELINE, VEHICLE IS OVER 10 YRS OLD SO IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND REPAIRS HAVE TO MADE AT MY OWN EXPENSE WITH NO TYPE OF REIMBURSEMENT TO THE CUSTOMER. I WAS NOT AWARE THIS VEHICLE WAS A RECALL UNTIL I WENT TO THE DMV TO GET IT REGISTERED IS WHERE I WAS INFORMED REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR MAKE/MODEL OF THIS VEHICLE. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT IS AN MANUFACTURER DEFECT GM IS KNOWINGLY AWARE OF INDICATED IN THEIR OWNER'S MANUAL NOR I SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR SOMETHING THROUGH NO FAULT OF MY OWN. I AM FEARFUL OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE TO WORK OR SCHOOL PUTTING MY LIFE AT RISK EVERYDAY.

NHTSA ID
10730257
Incident
Jun 23, 2015
Mileage
147,777 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 9, 2015

2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. CONSUMER GOT CAR FIXED DUE TO RECALL OF IGNITION PROBLEMS. REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *TA THE CONSUMER WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT, BECAUSE THE REPAIR WAS NOT DONE BY A GM DEALER. THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE NEAREST DEALER WAS 40 MILES AWAY. *JB

NHTSA ID
10663891
Incident
Aug 11, 2014
Electrical
Filed Oct 2, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH KEY WOULD TURN AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000. UPDATED 11/20/14*LJ THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. UPDATED 01/08/15

NHTSA ID
10640768
Incident
Sep 27, 2014
Mileage
118,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 19, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. THE CONTACT WAITED TEN MINUTES AND THE VEHICLE STARTED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID
10637642
Incident
Oct 10, 2012
Mileage
100,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 19, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS, THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO TURN IN ANY POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE IGNITION SWITCH TUMBLER WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ID
10637523
Incident
Jul 16, 2014
Mileage
160,000 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 20, 2014

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, MY CAR JUST SHUT OFF. I MANAGED TO PUT IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART THE CAR AFTER A LONG ATTEMPT TO DO SO. I ENDED UP REPEATING THE PROCESS AGAIN WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, BUT SINCE WE WERE SO FAR FROM AN EXIT WE CONTINUED TO DRIVE SLOWLY IN THE RIGHT LANE UNTIL WE REACHED AN EXIT WHILE LEAVING OUR HAZARD LIGHTS ON. THE CAR HAS NOW CONTINUED TO SEEMINGLY RANDOMLY REPEAT THE PROCESS AT ODD TIMES WITH SIGNIFICANT INTERVALS BETWEEN EACH EPISODE. I HAVE ALSO HAD A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TROUBLE WITH THE VEHICLES ANTI THEFT SYSTEM PROHIBITING THE CAR FROM STARTING. NOW THE CAR HAS ALSO BEGUN TO STRUGGLE TO START AT RANDOM TIMES. SOMETIMES THE CAR STARTS JUST FINE, AT OTHERS, IT STRUGGLES OR TAKES SEVERAL LONG ATTEMPTS TO START, IF IT EVEN WILL. THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, AND FUSES ARE ALL GOOD. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON SOMETIMES AND WHEN IT IS THE CODE JUST READS A COMMUNICATION ERROR WHICH SEEMS USELESS TO THE GARAGE. I AM NOT COMFORTABLE WITH MY PREGNANT WIFE DRIVING THE CAR. I AM CONCERNED THAT IT WILL BREAKDOWN, NOT START, OR WORSE, SHUT OFF WHILE SHE IS ON THE FREEWAY AND THEN NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR WITHOUT POWER STEERING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10614842
Incident
Jun 1, 2014

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .