2003 Chevrolet Malibu Classic Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2003 Chevrolet Malibu Classic, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical1168.8%
- Driver assistance212.5%
- Engine16.3%
- Powertrain (other)16.3%
- Steering16.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
ACCERLATION ALL OF SUDDEN WITHOUT STOPPING VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT THE TIME
ONE OF THE TIRES SLID ON A PUDDLE OF WATER AND STALLED OR VICE OR VISA AND HYDROPLANED OFF THE HIGHWAY ROLLING OVER SEVERAL TIMES AND LANDING UPSIDE DOWN IN A DITCH TOTALING THE CAR. I WAS GRATEFUL TO HAVE SURVIVED THE CRASH. I HAD JUST GOTTEN THE CAR OUT OF THE SHOP THAT SAME DAY. AND THE MONTH BEFORE. THE CAR REPAIRS AND THE CAR NOTES AND INSURANCE PAYMENTS WERE COLLIDING. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN DRIVING MY CAR THE THE ENGINE SHUTOFF AND THE BRAKES FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
UPON ACCELERATING AND WITH A SLIGHT TURN OF THE STEERING WHEEL, THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT AND ACTUALLY THE STEERING WHEEL PULLS BACK THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THIS HAPPENS DAILY AND OCCURS MOST FREQUENTLY UPON TURNING WHILE ACCELERATING. WE HAVE HAD SOME VERY SCARY SITUATIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN PULLING ONTO A ROAD AND THE STEERING DOES NOT GO THE DIRECTION INTENDED. I BELIEVE THIS IS PART OF THE RECALL FOR THE POWER STEERING, BUT EVIDENTLY PARTS ARE NOT READY FOR THE RECALL. ?? *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .