RoadVitals

2005 Chevrolet Malibu Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure 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.
12
Latest Oct 5, 2020
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.
1%
of 975 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.
3

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. 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. 12 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 body or structure

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

Body & structureFuel system
Filed Oct 5, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE WORKING ON THE VEHICLE IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK STRAP RUSTED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,709.

NHTSA ID
11362743
Incident
Sep 24, 2020
Mileage
123,709 mi
AirbagsBody & structureEngine+1 more
Filed Mar 19, 2019

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.

NHTSA ID
11189938
Incident
Mar 11, 2018
Body & structure
Filed Apr 7, 2017

VIN# 4TH DIGIT Z, CLOTH, 6-WAY, W/AIR BAG, DRIVER-SIDE, BUCKET SEAT BEGAN TO ROCK WHILE MAKING CORNERS AND STOP/STARTS, AND SANK TO MY RIGHT. DEALER'S NEW REP SAYS BROKEN FRAME. I SAY I'VE NEVER WEIGHED OVER 140 LBS, WHAT ABOUT THAT? SAYS, WELDS FAIL. DEALER QUOTES $1300 TO FIX "SUPPORT BAR BROKEN IN HALF. DEALTER WILL NOT INSTALL 2ND HAND BUCKET SEAT, BECAUSE WILL NOT/CAN NOT GUARANTEE. BUCKET IS NOT CURRENTLY FIXED. I AM RESEARCHING OPTIONS.

NHTSA ID
10971214
Incident
Mar 10, 2017
Mileage
189,250 mi
Body & structure
Filed Nov 10, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR BECAME INOPERABLE AND FAILED TO OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,500.

NHTSA ID
10653984
Incident
Oct 6, 2014
Mileage
72,500 mi
Body & structureBrakesExterior lighting
Filed Sep 22, 2014

I GOT AN IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL MESSAGE IN THE MAIL. SO I NEED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AND I WANT TO DO IT ONLINE. THE REASON FOR BEING RECALLED SHOULD BE IN YOUR RECORDS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10638177
Incident
Sep 22, 2014
Body & structureElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Jul 15, 2014

A BOLT FELL OUT OF THE LEFT FRONT FENDER. THE FRONT RIGHT TURN SIGNAL DOES NOT WORK AS THE HOLDER DOES NOT MAKE ELECTRICAL CONTACT WITH THE BULB.A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE REMOTE KEYS NO LONGER WORK. THE ELECTRICAL SEAT CONTROL DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. THIS CAR HAS SO MANY PROBLEMS THAT I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER GM PRODUCT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10610752
Incident
Jan 1, 2009
Body & structure
Filed Mar 13, 2014
1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REMOVING SOMETHING FROM THE TRUNK, THE TRUCK DOOR FELL DOWN AND STRUCK HIM IN THE HEAD. THE CONTACT SUFFERED A CONCUSSION AS A RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,366.

NHTSA ID
10569163
Incident
Nov 22, 2010
Mileage
4,366 mi
Body & structureSteering
Filed Nov 13, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT WAS WORN AND THE JOINTS WERE CORRODED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT WHEN MAKING TURNS AT LOW SPEEDS, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

NHTSA ID
10552107
Incident
Sep 20, 2013
Mileage
49,000 mi
Body & structureElectricalFuel system+1 more
Filed Aug 13, 2012

WE BOUGHT THIS CAR 4 YRS AGO IN AUG 2008 AT ONLY A FEW YRS OLD WE WERE VERY OPTIMISTIC THAT THE $ WE WERE SPENDING ON IT WOULD BE WORTH THE LESS UPKEEP THAN THAT OF THE 1994 CROWN VIC THAT WE TRADED IN (& MY HUSBANDS 78 OLDS THAT HAS ALWAYS REQUIRED MORE WORK THAN IT PUT OUT SINCE HE PURCHASED IT WHEN WE MET BACK IN 06). SINCE IT WAS A FEW YRS OLD WE THOUGHT THAT EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO WARRANTY ON OUR NEW "USED" CAR, WE WOULD BE OK. WE WERE WRONG. THE FIRST PROBLEM WE NOTICED WAS THE ALIGNMENT WHICH MAKES THE CAR SHAKE/VIBRATE AT SPEEDS 60+ & OUR FIRST VACATION WE TOOK IT ON WHICH WE ONLY DROVE 4-5 HRS THERE & WE ENDED UP WITH 2 FLAT TIRES ON THE WAY. THEN THE HEADLIGHTS & BLINKERS HAD TO BE REPLACED (FULL UNITS) BC BOTH OF THEM KEPT GIVING OUT & THE BULBS WEREN'T THE PROBLEMS & I KEPT GETTING TRAFFIC TICKETS BC I WASN'T ALWAYS AWARE WHEN ONE WOULD GO OUT. OUR 2 BIGGEST PROBLEMS TO DATE HAVE BEEN OUR FUEL SENSOR/ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHICH QUIT WORKING AFTER 1 YR & I HAVE RUN OUT OF GAS 10 TIMES BC IT ISN'T EASY TO KEEP UP WITH MILES/DATES & I HAVE KIDS SO FILLING UP EVERY DAY ISN'T EASY EITHER AS WELL AS THE LOCKS/BUTTONS ON THE DRIVERS DOOR THAT DO NOT WORK & I HAVE TO OPEN MY TRUNK WITH A KEY & HAD TO PAY $ TO GET AUTO LOCK SO THAT I DON'T HAVE TO MANUALLY LOCK THE DOORS W/ THE KEYS & THE TRANSMISSION/MOTOR WE HAD TO PAY $2750 TO REPLACE BC THE LAST ONE COMPLETELY GAVE OUT RESULTING IN THE CAR NOT BEING ABLE TO RUN WHATSOEVER & MY HUSBAND HAVING TO LITERALLY PUSH MY NEUTRAL CAR WITH HIS BC WE DIDN'T HAVE THE $ AT THE TIME TO FIX IT.. BESIDES THESE PROBLEMS THERE ARE THE SEATS (PLASTIC PANELS) FALLING/CRACKING APART, WE HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD BC ANYTIME IT RAINED OUR SEATS WOULD BE COMPLETELY SOAKED.. & MANY OTHER PROBLEMS I STILL DEAL WITH. KEEP IN MIND FOR THE 4 YRS I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR I HAVEN'T WRECKED IT & MY HUSBAND KEEPS IT UP (CHANGES OIL, BRAKES,ETC). *TR

NHTSA ID
10470431
Incident
Aug 29, 2008
Body & structureDriver assistance
Filed Mar 23, 2011

THE CAR HAS A CONSOLE. THERE ARE ACCESS PANELS ON EITHER SIDE. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, I HAT A POT HOLE, AND THE DRIVERS SIDE PANEL CAME OFF AND DROPPED BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDLE, AND THE SIDE OF THE HUMP HOLDING THE ACCELERATOR DOWN. I WAS FORCED TO PUT THE CAR IN NUTERAL AND GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE I WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE PANEL. WHEN I INSPECTED THE PANEL, I FOUND IT IS HELD IN PLACE BY A 1" SQUARE OF VELCROW. I WILL BE REINSTALLING THE PANEL, AND INSERTING A SCREW THROUGH THE VELCROW MOUNT. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIEOUS INCEIDENT!

NHTSA ID
10393241
Incident
Mar 22, 2011
Mileage
70,123 mi
Body & structure
Filed Feb 10, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE HOOD ON THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE FLEW UP UNEXPECTEDLY. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND COULD NOT CLOSE THE HOOD BECAUSE IT WAS DENTED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY SENT HIM TO A BODY SHOP. THE HOOD WOULD COST $1,600 TO REPLACE. THE HOOD HAD NOT BEEN OPENED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,600.

NHTSA ID
10258242
Incident
Feb 10, 2009
Mileage
59,600 mi
Body & structureInterior & seats
Filed Aug 3, 2006
2 injuries reported

2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. DOOR STOP MECHANISM DOES NOT WORK. DOORS SWING CLOSED WITH LITTLE OR NO RESISTANCE CAUSING LEG INJURIES AND FALL RISK. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NO SOLUTIONS. PROBLEM IS CONTINUOUS SINCE WE HAVE HAD THE CAR. *JB

NHTSA ID
10164276
Incident
Jul 30, 2005
Mileage
200 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 .