Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 25 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON A SIDE STREET I SMELLED A BURNING SMELL AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF MY STEERING WHEEL. THE SENSOR LIGHT FOR MY AIR BAG THEN CAME ON AND HAS BEEN ON EVER SINCE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. IF THE VEHICLE WAS TOO HOT, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START AND THE GEAR SHIFT DID NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE ALSO LEAKED ANTI-FREEZE. THE CONTACT HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THE LEVER TO OPERATE. ALSO, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO EAST PAT O'BRIEN CHEVROLET (2810 BISHOP RD, WILLOUGHBY HILLS, OH 44092, (440) 348-0553) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HOOD RELEASE WAS FRACTURED AND THE EGL SENSOR WAS SEPARATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS INVALID.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME INOPERABLE. ALSO, THE AIR BAG AND CHECK ENGINE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 175,000.
MY VEHICLE STALLED ON RAIROAD TRACK-WHEN IT HIT THE JARRING --BETWEEN THE PAVEMENT AND THE TRACKS---THE TRAIN WAS AT A GREAT DISTANCE---SO THE ENGINEER STATED---WHEN THEY WERE 2078 FEET FROM MY CHEVROLET MALIBU -2005---THEY STARTED TO BLOW WHISTLE----WHEN I SAW TGHE TRAIN AT A GREAT DISTANCE -AND YES I DID HAVE HEAVY THINGS ON MY KEYCHAIN--BUT GM FAILED TO NOTIFY -I HAVE A MAILBOX AND A TELEPHONE--I WAS HITTING THE GAS PEDAL OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND WHEN I WAS DOING THAT I REMEMBER HITTING THE IGNITION SWITCH BUT THE CAR WAS ALREADY DEAD-I WAS IMPACTED AND ALMOST LOST MY LIFE---IT TOOK ME 3 YEARS TO RECOPERATE----I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE RECALL--AND THEY STARTED THE RECALL IN 2014--COVER UP GM--YOU SHOULD HAVE STARTEDIT IN 2010!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THERE ARE 26 PHOTOS -BUT NOT IN MY POSESSION I WILL ATTEMPT TO OBTAIN THEM----
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ONE MORNING 8/10/17 7:30AM . I STARTED TO SMELL SMOKE FROM THE STEERING WHEEL THEN I SEEN ON THE RADIO SERVICE AIR BAG I RUSHED HOME BUT BEFORE I GOT HOME MY AIR BAG DEPLOYED INCHES AWAY FROM MY CHEST . I MADE IT HOME SAFE I AM JUST AM STILL DAZED AT THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED IN THE CONTACT'S FACE WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THE CONTACT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE CONTACT'S HOME AWAITING INSPECTION BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000. UPDATED 10/13/16*LJ *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON AN INCLINE IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPIN AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL MULTIPLE TIMES. THE STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR NECK AND LEFT ARM INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED THIGH INJURIES AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE PASSENGER DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. BOTH PASSENGERS DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE CRASH SCENE TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V153000 (STEERING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 223,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG, CHECK ENGINE, AND TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE, CAUSING IT TO SPIN AND CRASH INTO A FENCE, A BRICK WALL AND THE SIDE OF A HOUSE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 02/24/15*LJ UPDATED 9/15/2017*CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN AND SIGNAL LIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A WALL AND THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL , EXTERIOR LIGHTING , SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC , VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) AND BELIEVED THAT THE RECALL WAS RELATED TO THE CRASH. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY MALIBU IT HAS ALL OF THE SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT WHEN IT WANTS TO, IT SHUTS OFF SOMETIMES WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON, IT HAS NOT OCCURRED SINCE WE PUT THE KEY ON A RING BY ITSELF, BUT THEY WON"T HONOR IT SAYS IT'S NOT ON THE LIST BUT THE 2005 MALIBU MAXX IS ON THE LIST! THE MAXX IS THE SAME CAR BUT WITH A HATCHBACK INSTEAD OF A TRUNK, CAN U PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND TELL ME WHAT IF ANYTHING CAN I DO? *TR
2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER RECALL. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED, AS SHE WAS ARRIVING AT A BUSY INTERSECTION. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED, BECAUSE THE SHE WAS UNABLE TO RE-START THE VEHICLE. ACCORDING TO THE INVOICE, THE IGNITION CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WITHIN A COUPLE OF MINUTES, THE AIR BAG ERRONEOUSLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 158,000.
AIR BAG READINESS LIGHT IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL COMES ON AND OFF. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO BE SERVICED. AUTHORIZED DEALER INFORMED ME THAT PARTS WERE MODIFIED SINCE THE ORIGINAL PARTS WERE UNSERVICEABLE. AIRBAG COIL BRACKET AND SWITCH WERE MODIFIED AND INSTALLED. *TR
WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 MALIBU LS 3.5 V6 THE AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON AND STAYED ON CHEVROLET SAYS IT IS THE RT FRT SIDE DEPLOYMENT MODULE PN 25921017 THIS SAME CAR HAD 4 BODY CONTROL MODULES CHANGED. *TR
I PURCHASED TWO 2005 CHEVY MALIBUS - ONE LT AND ONE LS. IN FEBRUARY 2008 MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE LS AND REARENDED ME INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS AT A DEAD STOP AND IT PROPELLED ME 4 FEET BEFORE I SLAMMED INTO THE CAR INFRONT OF ME. SHE WENT UP MY BUMPER AND INTO MY TRUNK AND NO AIRBAGS IN HER MALIBU OR MINE WERE DEPLOYED. IN JULY 2008 SHE WAS DRIVING THE LT AND ROLLED THE CAR TWO TIMES AT 55 MPH AND NONE OF THE 6 AIRBAGS DEPLOYED THAT TIME EITHER. THE FIRST ACCIDENT CAUSED $8,000 DAMAGE TO HER CAR AND $ 10,000 TO MINE YET NO AIRBAGS. THE SECOND ACCIDENT THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND NO AIRBAGS. *TR
WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, I LOST CONTROL OF MY COMPANY-FURNISHED 2005 CHEVY MALIBU AND CRASHED HEAD-ON INTO A TREE AT 55 MPH. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND I WAS HOSPITALIZED WITH EXTENSIVE HEAD INJURY (TRAUMA, CRANIAL BLEEDING, ETC...) AND A BROKEN CLAVICAL. I CONTINUE TO SUFFER FROM THESE INJURIES WITH NO NEUROLOGICAL RELIEF IN SIGHT. MY EMPLOYER'S AUTO INSURANCE COMPANY INVESTIGATED THE EQUIPMENT SIDE OF THE ACCIDENT AND DETERMINED THAT THE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY BY DESIGN (SOMETHING ABOUT A SENSOR BAR NOT BEING IMPACTED - I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THEY SAID). HECK, I CAN'T REMEMBER MUCH THESE DAYS IT SEEMS. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE AS THE FRONT END OF THE CAR WAS DEMOLISHED AND THE VEHICLE WRITTEN OFF AS A TOTAL LOSS. SEEMS TO ME THAT IF THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY BY DESIGN THEN THERE'S A DESIGN DEFECT THAT GM NEEDS TO CORRECT. *NM UPDATED 03/23/09. *JB
TODAY MY HUSBAND HAD AN ACCIDENT. SOMEONE RAN A RED LIGHT AND HIT HIM SO HARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THAT OUR CAR ENDED UP ON THE NEXT BLOCK. OUR CAR HAS CURTAIN AIR BAGS AND THEY FAILED TO DEPLOY. AT PRESENT TIME I NOTIFIED OUR INSURANCE, WHO WAS SURPRISED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND I HAVE REQUESTED THAT IT BE LOOKED INTO. AT THIS POINT WE WANT TO KNOW IF THE AIR BAGS ARE EVEN IN THE VEHICLE. I ALSO CALLED THE DEALER WHO SOLD US THE CAR AND I AM STILL WAITING FOR A RESPONSE TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTION, HOW HARD DOES A VEHICLE HAVE TO BE HIT FOR THE SIDE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY? MY HUSBAND SUSTAINED INJURIES ON HIS KNEES AND BRUISES ON THE CHEST. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THESE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BECAUSE HAD I OR ANYONE ELSE BEEN IN THE CAR THEY WOULD HAVE HAD SERIOUS INJURY. NOTE OUR CAR DOES NOT HAVE AN ON AND OFF SWITCH FOR THE AIRBAGS.
DT: WHILE DRIVING THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER RAN UPON THE CURBING ALONG THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHE THEN OVER CORRECTED AND RAN INTO AN EMBANKMENT HEAD ON, AND THE VEHICLE FLIPPED TWICE. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED I SHOULDER INJURIES , BUT THE PASSENGER WAS FINE. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE NORMAL AND NOT CONSIDERED AS A CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE . THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE NOT REPAIRABLE. *AK
DT: THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE SWERVED ACROSS THE ROAD AND THEN ACCELERATED DOWN THE HIGHWAY, HITTING A TREE. THE CONTACT COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE WITH THE BRAKES. UPON IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE ACCIDENT OR WHY THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK
CONSUMER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AT SPEED OF 5 MPH SEAT BELTS ALSO MALFUNCTIONED. *TS AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE POLICE OFFICER NOTICED THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK WHEN PULLED QUICKLY. THE POLICE OFFICER STATED HE COULD SEE NO REASON WHY THE AIR BAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED DUE TO THE DAMAGE BEING MINOR. *JB
DT : THE AIR BAGS ON DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDES DEPLOYED DURING A REAR END COLLISION UNDER 10 MPH. THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK. THIS HAPPENED ON AUGUST 24, 2005. THE CASE # WAS 055947.*AK
MY SON USED MY NEW CHEV 2005 MALIBU LS AND WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT. THIS ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY HE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND HIT THE GUARD RAIL AND THE FRONT END CRASHED INTO THE GROUND SMASHING THE WHOLE FRONT END AND THE AIR BAGS NEVER WENT OFF. THANK GOD HE AND HIS COUSIN WERE NOT KILLED. I THOUGHT THE AIR BAGS WERE TO WORK WHEN YOU HIT THE FRONT END OF YOUR CAR?*JB
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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