2003 Chevrolet Malibu Electrical Problems

The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact discovered that while driving at various speeds, the key could be removed from the ignition while the engine was still running. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). The vehicle was taken to the dealer for service, and the vehicle was returned in less than 30 minutes. The contact was suspicious about the work that was performed on the vehicle. The contact stated that soon after the recall repair, the key remained stuck in accessory mode while attempting to turn off the vehicle. Due to the failure, the contact was forced to remove the key from the ignition while the engine was running and used pliers to unhook the battery to turn off the vehicle. Additionally, while driving 20 MPH over a bump in the road, the key was knocked out of the ignition, causing the vehicle to abruptly shut off. The contact lost control of the vehicle, and the vehicle veered off into the grass before coming to a complete stop. Despite the failure, the contact was able to restart the vehicle and drove to the residence and parked the vehicle. The contact alerted the dealer of the failure and that the recall was not properly serviced. The contact was given an estimate for a diagnostic test, and the contact refused to pay for the diagnostic test. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was informed that a representative would give a follow-up call. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 220,000.

NHTSA ID

11744126

Incident

Jun 1, 2025

Mileage

220,000 mi

Multiple times, the vehicle, while driving, electrically shuts down. security light comes on, sometimes, many attempts to restart will work. These shutdowns cause me to revet to manual bakes and steering.

NHTSA ID

11544842

Incident

Aug 1, 2023

The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the ignition switch was inoperable and had been replaced three times by the dealer; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with ignition switch failure. The contact was informed that the ignition switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.

NHTSA ID

11538492

Incident

Aug 10, 2023

Mileage

170,000 mi

EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF PASSCODE SYSTEM, SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT. VEHICLE REPEATEDLY WILL NOT START DUE TO ACTIVATION OF PASSCODE SYSTEM. WARNING LIGHT WILL COME ON WHILE DRIVING, BUT GOES AWAY UPON RESTART. EXPERIENCING LOSS OF DASH CONTROLS WHILE DRIVING, BUT RETURN WITHIN A FEW MINUTES VEHICLE MILEAGE IS 205000

NHTSA ID

11407385

Incident

Sep 15, 2020

Mileage

198,000 mi

CAR WON'T START KEY SWITCH SETS OFF ANTI THEFT ALWAYS LEAVING US STRANDED

NHTSA ID

11388482

Incident

Oct 11, 2020

Mileage

241,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHEN THE KEY WAS INSERTED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO ANTI-THEFT MODE AND FAILED TO START. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED HOSELTON AUTO MALL (909 FAIRPORT RD, EAST ROCHESTER, NY 14445, (585) 586-7373), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ID

11246741

Incident

Mar 14, 2017

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM ERRONEOUSLY ACTIVATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11195773

Incident

Apr 12, 2019

Mileage

45,000 mi

WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE STREET MY MALIBU JUST SHUTS DOWN ..I BOUGHT A BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR AND SENSORS TO FIX MY CAR .PUT IN SHOP TO FIND OUT IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH. I'M SACRED TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY IT MIGHT STOP AND CAUSE AN FATAL ACCIDENT . THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED..THANK YOU

NHTSA ID

11190598

Incident

Mar 19, 2019

Mileage

179,456 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO START THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH DOUG HENRY CHEVROLET TARBORO (809 WEST WILSON STREET, TARBORO, NC 27886, (252) 823-3145). THE DEALER DID NOT PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, BUT ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE SECURITY SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.

NHTSA ID

11150046

Incident

Apr 1, 2018

Mileage

145,000 mi

TAMARA RECALL . IGNITION GETS STUCK IN THE ACC POSITION WHEN SHUTTING CAR OFF AFTER PLACING VEHICLE IN PARK. KEY CAN BE REMOVED IN ACC POSITION AND ALLOWS CAR TO BE STARTED WITHOUT THE KEY AND ALLOWS VEHICLE THE BE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK AND INTO GEAR.

NHTSA ID

11081413

Incident

Mar 26, 2018

Mileage

185,400 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE, BUT THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN TO THE OFF POSITION. THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED IN ORDER TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED BEFORE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,000.

NHTSA ID

11074313

Incident

Feb 19, 2018

Mileage

169,000 mi

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 ID

11034769

Incident

Oct 19, 2017

Mileage

68,904 mi

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 ID

11019279

Incident

Aug 22, 2017

Mileage

37,000 mi

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 ID

11005253

Incident

Jul 11, 2017

Mileage

150,000 mi

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 ID

11000860

Incident

Jun 23, 2017

Mileage

96,517 mi

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 ID

10992429

Incident

May 30, 2017

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 ID

10991171

Incident

May 11, 2017

Mileage

94,652 mi

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 ID

10981102

Incident

Feb 7, 2017

Mileage

27,000 mi

BOTH HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY WON'T WORK, BULBS FINE, CHECKED RELAYS TOO, FUSES FINE.

NHTSA ID

10938611

Incident

Dec 1, 2016

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. AFTER THE KEY WAS ENTERED INTO THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO OPERATE. IN ADDITION, THE ANTI THEFT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASS LOCK SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED AND THE IGNITION SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ID

10882014

Incident

Jul 15, 2005

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE THEFT SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,476.

NHTSA ID

10865749

Incident

May 18, 2016

Mileage

59,476 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AFTER THE IGNITION KEY WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION KEY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10852389

Incident

Mar 19, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT OPERATE AND THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. UPDATED 05/03/16*LJ *TR

NHTSA ID

10840210

Incident

Mar 7, 2014

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MERGE INTO ANOTHER LANE, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO TWO BARRELS. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE STALLED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A JUNK YARD. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A LEFT KNEE, LEFT ANKLE, AND WHIPLASH INJURIES THAT NEEDED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V40000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,200. UPDATED 04/20/16*LJ CONSUMER STATED THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED AND GM SAYS DUE TO AIR BAGS IMPLODING CONSUMER HAD POWER. CONSUMER WAS BEHIND THE STEERING AND IT LOCKED NO BRAKES. UPDATED 06/05/18*JB

NHTSA ID

10837823

Incident

Feb 15, 2014

Mileage

133,200 mi

I'VE BEEN HAVING SERIOUS ISSUES WITH MY 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. FOR THE PAST 2 DAYS I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET IT STARTED, THEFT LIGHT STARTS FLASHING EVERY TIME I GET BACK INTO MY CAR TO TRY AND START IT UP. I'VE DONE THE 10 MINUTE WAITING GAME OVER AND OVER. MY CAR IS DOING THIS EVERY TIME I GET INTO IT NOW. ALSO, THE DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THE BODY CONTROL MODULE IS NOT COMMUNICATING WITH THE VEHICLE. NOW, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE BCM, IGNITION SWITCH, WIRING OR SOMETHING ELSE THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED AS THERE ARE HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS. I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO SEEMS TO BE HAVING THIS ISSUE. GET IT TOGETHER GENERAL MOTORS, YOU'RE LOOSING BUSINESS EACH AND EVERYDAY BECAUSE OF YOUR AT FAULT FAILING PARTS!

NHTSA ID

10836314

Incident

Feb 15, 2016

Mileage

155,500 mi