RoadVitals

2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx Engine Problems

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

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
9
Latest Apr 15, 2021
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.
3%
of 326 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 engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 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 engine

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

Engine
Filed Apr 15, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO JOHN ELWAY CHEVROLET LOCATED AT 5200 S. BROADWAY, ENGLEWOOD, CO 80113, TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD FAILED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

NHTSA ID
11408263
Incident
Apr 10, 2021
Mileage
47,000 mi
EngineSteering
Filed May 24, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE SERVICE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING LOCKED FOR FEW SECONDS. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONE OTHER TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000.

NHTSA ID
10991404
Incident
May 23, 2017
Mileage
139,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 1, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN PROMPTED. THE CONTACT CHANGED THE BATTERY AND THE STARTER, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

NHTSA ID
10981735
Incident
May 1, 2017
Mileage
136,000 mi
EngineSteering
Filed Aug 11, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE REPAIRS THAT WERE MADE WERE UNKNOWN, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
10621508
Incident
Jul 14, 2006
Engine
Filed Aug 1, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AS THE POWER DIMINISHING AND ENGINE DISABLED WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SHOULDER WHERE IT WAS RESTARTED AND OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 125,000.

NHTSA ID
10533041
Incident
Aug 1, 2012
Mileage
125,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistanceElectrical+4 more
Filed Jun 8, 2011

COMPLETE AND TOTAL LOCK UP OF POWER STEERING; BATTERY LIGHT FLICKS ON AND THEN EVERYTHING LOCKS UP UNTIL YOU REPLACE THE GAS PEDDLE FOR ABOUT 3 SECONDS. MY LIGHTS RANDOMLY FLASH AND REAR BULBS ON THE DRIVER SIDE BLOW EVERY 3 DAYS. MY TURN SIGNALS WILL SPORADICALLY BLINK AND THE WIPER BLADES GO OFF WITH OUT WARNING OR BEING PROMPTED. EVEN WITH NO KEYS NEAR OR IN THE CAR IT WILL NOT TURN OVER TO START THE CAR UNTIL YOU FLOOR THE GAS PEDDLE AND HOLD IT THERE FOR 3-5 SECONDS. MY RADIO READS AT -19* ALL THE TIME AND THE CD PLAYER HAS NEVER WORKED CORRECTLY. WHEN GOING FROM 0 TO 50 GETTING ON THE PARKWAY (HIGHWAY) THE WHOLE CAR LOCKS UP AND LOSES POWER INCLUDING THE STEERING RADIO AND LIGHTS UNLESS YOU COMPLETELY RELEASE THE GAS THEN START TO GO AGAIN. IM SO HIGHLY FRUSTRATED AND CHEVY REFUSES TO FIX IT EVEN THOUGH THESE ARE ALL RECALLED PROBLEMS BUT MY VIN DOESN'T FALL IN THERE "BRACKET". *TR

NHTSA ID
10405535
Incident
Jun 2, 2011
Mileage
142,225 mi
BrakesEngineExterior lighting+1 more
Filed Feb 25, 2010

2005 MALIBU MAXX LS- TICKING NOISE SHAFT WENT ROD TIRE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ENGINE ON BUT NOTHING IS REGISTERING CAR SEEM TO LOCK UP, SAME BRAKE LIGHT GOES OUT, CAR HESITATES,REPLACED BRAKES AFTER ONLY 2YR, NEW TIRE. I FILED A COMPLAIN WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL BILL MCCOLLUM. I HAVE INVOICES OF HOW MANY TIME MY CAR HAS GONE IN TO THE SHOP FOR MAJOR PROBLEMS AND EVER SINCE IT LOCK UP AND HESITATE I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT. I DID FOUND OTHER CONSUMER WITH THE SAME COMPLAINS THAT I HAVE. THEY HAVE HAD TO REPAIR TIRE RODS, SHAFT AND MOST DANGEROUS IS THE STEERING COLUMN IS LOCKING UP. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING LONG DISTANCE OR ON THE HIGHWAY. PLEASE HELP ME. I WROTE TO GMAC VP TIMOTHY LEE WITH OUT NO RESPOND. MR. LEE PASSED MY COMPLAINT TO A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP THAT REPEATS HIMSELF AND WONT LET YOU SPEAK. PLEASE IF YOU WANT CONTACT ATTORNEY OFFICE THEY HAVE MY COMPLAINT ON FILE. I DON'T WANT TO HURT MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE SHOULD MY CAR LOCK UP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10314257
Incident
Dec 25, 2006
Engine
Filed Jan 8, 2010

THE CAR WILL SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS WHEN ACCELERATING, BRAKING, AND WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH NEITHER ACCELERATION OR BRAKING. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ON LINE AND IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THIS WITH NO KNOWN RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. EVERY INCIDENT WHERE I SEE IT REPORTED, THE INDIVIDUAL HAS NOT HAD A FIX. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS 3 WEEKS AGO, THEN LAST NIGHT, AND AGAIN THIS MORNING. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION PEOPLE WOULD GET HURT. PERSONALLY I PLAN TO BUY A NEW CAR BECAUSE I DO NOT FEEL THAT CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP WILL PROVIDE A FIX. *TR

NHTSA ID
10298798
Incident
Dec 26, 2009
Engine
Filed Jan 13, 2005

CAR IS LESS THAN TWO WEEKS OLD AND UNDER 400 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. CONSTANT STALLING AND EVENTUALLY DIFFICULT TO START. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALER SERVICE DEPT HAS DETERMINED THAT THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. AWAITING DELIVERY OF REPLACEMENT PART. *NM

NHTSA ID
10106259
Incident
Jan 10, 2005
Mileage
350 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .