RoadVitals

2003 Chevrolet Malibu Classic Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
16
Latest Apr 17, 2019
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
5
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

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.

11
reports

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.

NHTSA ID 11154914 · filed Nov 30, 2018

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 · filed Nov 21, 2017
All 11 reports naming electrical

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

ACCERLATION ALL OF SUDDEN WITHOUT STOPPING VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT THE TIME

NHTSA ID 11197030 · filed Apr 17, 2019

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

NHTSA ID 10643600 · filed Oct 9, 2014

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WHEN DRIVING MY CAR THE THE ENGINE SHUTOFF AND THE BRAKES FAILED.

NHTSA ID 10721141 · filed May 23, 2015

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.

1
report

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

NHTSA ID 10614842 · filed Jul 20, 2014

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.

1
report

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

NHTSA ID 10615082 · filed Jul 21, 2014

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

Data on this page last refreshed .