2003 Chevrolet Malibu Suspension Problems

2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH VEHICLE SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. *MW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME WAS SEPTEMBER 28, 2006 AND THE SECOND TIME WAS JUNE 3, 3014. AFTER THE SECOND SWITCH WAS INSTALLED, THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED OTHER PROBLEMS. SHE WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A BODY CONTROL MODULE AND LOCK SWITCHES. THE DEALER INSTALLED A CHIP IN THE KEYS, WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE IGNITION PROBLEM. THE FRONT STRUTS WERE REPLACED AND THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10663875

Incident

Sep 28, 2006

WE HAD TO HAVE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACED, AT 55,000 MILES, WHICH DIDN'T OCCUR UNTIL 2012, BECAUSE I DON'T PUT A LARGE AMOUNT OF MILES ON MY CAR ANNUALLY. I COULD NOT GET ANY MONEY FROM THE RECALL, BECAUSE THE CLASS ACTION SUIT PAYOUT ENDED IN 2008, AND I WAS NEVER MADE AWARE. BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR STRUTS ARE LEAKING FLUID. I WAS TOLD ALL FOUR NEED, REPLACEMENT, AND THE MOUNTS AS WELL. . THE MECHANICS SAID NORMALLY THESE SHOULDN'T NEED REPLACEMENT UNTIL 75,000-80,000 MILES MINIMUM, AND SHOULD HAVE LASTED UNTIL 100,000 WHICH IS NORMAL. I'M A GENTLE DRIVER WHO DOESN'T LEND MY CAR OUT. I DRIVE OVER SPEED BUMPS VERY SLOWLY IN OUR TOWN, BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT SUSPENSION ISSUES. OUR TOWN'S SPEED LIMIT IS 15 MPH OVER THE SPEED BUMPS, AND I DO 7MPH OVER THEN. OTHERS WITH A 1999-2003 MALIBU, HAVE TOLD ME THEIR STRUTS HAVE WORN OUT JUST AS FAST ALSO.(AT 50,000 MILES OR SO). *TR

NHTSA ID

10669902

Incident

Sep 2, 2014

Mileage

57,500 mi

CONTANCT DEALER COMPANY WILL NOT RETURN CALLS ASK FOR ASSISTANCE IN RESOLVING ISSUES CAR NEEDS BRAKE ALL THE WAY AROUND ROTORS DAMAGEDED NEEDS TYROD END HAS WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM EXAUST DEALER WILL NOT CHECK CAR THEY HAVE THEIR OWN MECHANIC TELL YOU TO CONTACT AND YOU GET NO RESPONSE VEHICLE SOLD TO 76 YEAR OLD LADY AND IS UNSAFE I ASKE IF THEY WOULD TRADE UP IT IS HALF PAID FOR I WAS TOLD NO IT HAS TO BE COMPLETELY PAID OFF. *JS

NHTSA ID

10668932

Incident

Dec 17, 2014

I TELL DEALER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON "HE SAYS NOT TO BE CONCERNED THERE IS WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM TAILPIPE IGNITION CAN TAKE UP TO 5 MIN TO GET ON CODE SAYS CAR NEEDS EGR VALVE CAR NEEDED BRAKES AND ROTORS ALL THE WAY AROUND AND TYROD DEALER WILL NOT RESPOND TO CALLS CAR WAS RECALLED FOR IGNITION SWITCH NEVER REPAIRED I NEED TO KNOW IF I CAN TAKE IT IN TO CHEVY DEALER ONY HAD 1 MONTH VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE AND I AM 76 THERE IS A WARANTY ON ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10664000

Incident

Nov 4, 2014

Mileage

264,000 mi

2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE STALLS. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE FUEL PUMP, BATTERY AND REMOTE CONTROL WERE ALL REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE STALLING CONTINUED. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS EVENTUALLY REPLACED. ALSO, T HE BRAKES AND STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10648098

Incident

Apr 1, 2014

WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE, RELATIVELY NEW FIRESTONE AFFINITY TIRE ON THE DRIVER SIDE REAR DEVELOPED A LARGE BUMP AND BEGIN FRAYING. RECOGNIZED PROBLEM QUICKLY AND PULLED OVER BUT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE SHOWS VERY LITTLE WEAR AND NO SUCH ISSUES, INDICATING THAT IT WAS NOT WORN OUT, JUST A BAD QUALITY TIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10524588

Incident

Jul 11, 2013

Mileage

70,000 mi

I AM CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING LOSS OF STEERING AND SUSPENSION PERFORMANCE WITH MY VEHICLE INCLUDING SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF TIRE TREAD FOR MY VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE BOUNCES AND MAKES SCREECHING SOUNDS WHILE STEERING A CURVE ON THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED IN EARLY MARCH AND NO MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS OBSERVED OR DETECTED. A 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS ALSO DONE AT A CHEVROLET DEALER A FEW MONTHS BACK AND NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND OR DETECTED THEN. I HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE MECHANICAL OPERATION OF EITHER THE STEERING OR SUSPENSION COMPONENT OF THE VEHICLE. KINDLY INVESTIGATE AND LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ID

10451945

Incident

Mar 5, 2012

Mileage

44,370 mi

MY 2003 CHEVY MALIBU HAS NOISE DUE TO THE FRONT STRUT MOUNTS BEING BROKE, NOTICED ON WEB SITE 7 OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. SOME OF THEM HAVE REPLACED AND HAPPENED AGAIN WITHIN 17,000 MILES. ALL CARS ARE BETWEEN 50,000 TO 69,000 MILES. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A FACTORY RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10314933

Incident

Feb 2, 2010

Mileage

66,000 mi

A FEW MONTHS AGO MY 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU TURN SIGNALS STOPPED WORKING FOR NO REASON. SOME DAYS THEY WORK AND SOME THEY DON'T. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IF YOU HAVE TO MAKE A TURN AND ANOTHER VEHICLE IS BEHIND YOU. ALSO THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE MAKES A CREAKING RUBBING NOISE AND A CLUNKING NOISE. IT'S VERY IRRITATING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10222603

Incident

Oct 1, 2007

Mileage

95,000 mi

2003 CHEVY MALIBU ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN. CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE CAR WOULD DRIVE ON ITS OWN WITHOUT PUTTING HER FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. **NAR**KB THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL WHICH STATED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD BE INSPECTED ONLY. AFTER HAVING CONTINUAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATING ON IT S OWN, THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD AN INTERNAL MALFUNCTION. THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT. THE CONSUMER ALSO COMPLAINED OF A RATTLE NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THE LEFT FRONT STRUT AND MOUNT WERE WORN. THE LEFT SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS NOISY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10203756

Incident

Sep 1, 2007

Mileage

60,923 mi

WHEEL HUB BEARINGS - SINCE I BOUGHT THE 2003 MALIBU NEW IN JANUARY 203 I HAD TO REPLACE THE WHEEL HUB BEARING 4 TIMES, ONCE UNDER WARRANTY WITH GM PARTS AT 27,918 ON 4/20/04 RIGHT SIDE), AGAIN RIGHT SIDE WITH AFTER MARKET PARTS AT 47,876, LEFT SIDE WITH AFTER MARKET PARTS AT 48,769 ON 5/3/05, AND RIGHT SIDE WITH AFTER MARKET PARTS AT 83,197 ON 4/17/07. WITH SO MANY FAILURES I BELIEVED THEREWAS EITHER AN INHERIT DESIGN FLAW OR POSSIBLE LATENT DEFECT OF THE FRONT END.*AK

NHTSA ID

10193283

Incident

Apr 17, 2007

Mileage

83,197 mi

VEHICLE MADE METAL AGAINST METAL RUBBING NOISE. CALLED FOR APPOINTMENT BEFORE 45,000 MILES. APPOINTMENT OCCURRED AT 45,100 MILES. WAS ADVISED THAT HUB ASSEMBLY AND WHEEL BEARINGS NEED REPLACED ON BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT. CAR IS PRIMARILY DRIVEN ON HIGHWAY/EXPRESSWAY 52 MILES PER DAY. *NM

NHTSA ID

10106527

Incident

Jan 18, 2005

Mileage

44,900 mi

I HAVE PUT 3 SETS OF BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS ON MY MALIBU. I HAD THE RIGHT FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY CHANGED TWICE. MY CARS BRAKES THROW OFF ALOT OF BRAKE DUST AND MUST BE PUSHED WAY DOWN BEFORE STOPPING.*AK

NHTSA ID

10096435

Incident

Oct 26, 2004

Mileage

11,000 mi

I HAVE HAD MY 2003 MAILBU FOR 1 YEAR AND I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES FOR THE SAME ISSUE.THE FRONT OF THE CAR WOBBLES AND SHAKES AT LOW SPEEDS AND HIGH,THEYHAVE REPLACED THE TIRES 2 TIMES AND IT HAS NOT CORRECTED THE ISSUE.THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED AND ARE WEARING AND THE CAR ONLY HAS 9000 MILES ON IT.I AM RETURNING TOT HE DEALER AGAIN 9/23 AND AFTRE THAT IF NO RESOLUTION WILL BE SEEKING LEMON LAW. I FEEL THIS IS NOT JUST AN INCONVIENENCE TO ME BUT A POSSABLE SAFTETY HAZARD AS WELL .*AK

NHTSA ID

10092996

Incident

Sep 21, 2004

Mileage

100 mi

THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. IT HAS BEEN TO 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE NOISE STILL EXISTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10086782

Incident

May 1, 2004

WHEN DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY, WHEN EVER I BRAKE THE FRONT END SHOOK REALLY HARD, TOOK THE CAR IN, ROTORS WHERE WARPED, SO THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THEM. BACK ON THE ROAD THE CAR SHOOK EVEN HARD IN THE FRONT END TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM AND REPLACED THE PADS AND NOW I HAVE REALLY LOUD SOUND WHEN I STOP AND WHEN I AM ON THE EXPRESS WAY THERE IS A VIBRATION WHEN I GO OVER 70MPH. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR A YEAR AND IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE THAN 7 TIMES FOR FRONT END WORK FROM THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS BEING REPLACED TO THE STRUTS BEING DEFECTIVE AND THE GM REP I CONSAULT WITH TRIES TO BE HELPFUL BUT THE CAR IS UNSAFE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10079203

Incident

Apr 27, 2004

Mileage

11,434 mi

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD NOISES COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT SUSPENSION MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10071988

Incident

Apr 11, 2004

Mileage

18,515 mi

CAR HAS STALLED NUMORUS TIMES IN TRAFFIC. AT CITY SPEEDS AND HIGHWAY SPEEDS, EVEN IN THE FAST LANE AT RUSH HOUR.HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A SEMI THAT IS TAILGATING TRY TO STOP AT SIXTY-FIVE IN YOUR REARVIEW MIRROR BECAUSE YOUR ENGINE JUST STALLED? I FEAR FOR MY LIFE EVERY TIME THE DEALER CALLS AND SAY'S COME PICK IT UP I THINK WE GOT IT FIXED? HOW CAN THEY SEND ME OUT WITH A VEHICLE THAT THEY DONT EVEN KNOW IF ITS FIXED? WHEN THEY CAN'T EVEN FIND OUT WHAT IS CAUSING IT TO HAPPEN? IT'S BEEN IN THE SHOP EIGHT TIMES FOR STALLING. THEY REPLACE A PART AND SEND ME OUT ON THE ROAD LIKE A TEST RAT HOPING THE BRAND NEW CAR I BOUGHT KEEPS RUNNING SO I DON'T DIE OR WORSE CAUSE SOMEONE ELSE TO. THEY HAVE CHECKED THE WIRING,COMPUTERS, ENGINE, EVEN DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM.HOW DO I EVER FEEL LIKE I CAN DRIVE THIS CAR SAFLEY. I HAVE NO CHOICE BECAUSE THE BIG CAR COMPANY DONT CARE FOR ME. IT'S SALES THEY CARE ABOUT. IT'S BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR SIX DAYS NOW, NO PROBLEM I'LL SEND MY PAYMENT IN EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR ABOUT THIRTY DAYS THE LAST FOUR MONTHS.

NHTSA ID

10071202

Incident

Aug 15, 2003

MANUFACTURING SAFETY ISSUE - CHEVROLET MALIBU 2003 FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY HUBS ROTORS, AND BRAKES. CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS. DEALER AND GENERAL MOTORS REFUSES TO CORRECT. ROTORS WARPED, CAUSING BRAKE PADS TO WEAR OUT. TURNED TWICE ALREADY. LEFT HUB REPLACED. NOW EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN WITH BRAKING. DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR DURING NOVEMBER 28, 2003 VISIT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10047712

Incident

Nov 28, 2003

BRAKES STARTED TO MAKE A RUBBING NOISE WHICH PROGRESSED TO A SQUEAKING NOISE. ALSO, BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO DOWN TO THE FLOOR TO STOP THE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS REPLACED BRAKE PADS/FRONT ROTORS/ BRAKE BOOSTER/CALIPERS, AND BRAKE LINES, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK THE FRONT DRIVER WINDOW FAILED TO ROLL UP, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE A/C CONTROL WAS INOPERATIVE AND COOLING PROPERLY, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. *JB *NLM

NHTSA ID

10042674

Mileage

1,368 mi

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 40 MPH, A CREAKING NOISE WAS HEARD UNDER VEHICLE. UPON TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER IT WAS FOUND THAT FRONT STRUT WAS DEFECTIVE. FRONT STRUT HAD TOO MUCH SPACE BETWEEN THE STRUT AND THE WHEEL. DEALER WAS REPAIRING THE PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10031935

Incident

Jul 29, 2003

Mileage

57 mi

WHILE DRIVING BALL JOINT BROKE AND THE DRIVER SIDE TIRE SPUN . THIS RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL .*AK

NHTSA ID

10029448

Mileage

31,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT WHEN TURNING. THE CONSUMER HAD THE TIRES ROTATED BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. *MR *SCC *NLM

NHTSA ID

10016038