2005 Chevrolet Malibu Electrical Problems

The EPS began sporadically and severely jerking the steering very powerfully while driving and stationary and draining the battery at an accelerated rate necessitating multiple replacements of and charging 2 batteries to get to and from my job and anywhere else making everyday life very difficult beginning in early 2024. A couple months before this issue became a daily and constant occurrence in in February 2024 between the 6th and 13th I had a stabilizer link and control arm on the right side replaced and an alignment done at Firestone, on the document for the alignment it states no manufacturers recommended services necessary on suspension. The mechanic who replaced the parts told me that the EPS issue is a likely cause for the steering system damage as a vehicle is not meant to remain stationary while the wheels are forcibly turned as is the case when the EPS takes over and jerks the wheel often to the extremes of its function. I have video of this on multiple occasions and it can be inspected still occuring. I took it to Hendrick Chevrolet Shawnee Mission in April 2024 and explained the services done recently and the mechanics opinion on the EPS. They held my vehicle for 3 days not saying it would take so long, during which I had to use a truck I had just bought and was not ready to be driven to get to work, it's transmission blew and has sat since. They called me to come pick it up and only once there told me they had refused to replace the recalled EPS unit "due to loose steering" as quoted from the document Given to me. I asked them to reconsider since this was the only vehicle I had running and charging batteries and being nearly forced off of the road or into other cars daily was very concerning, they simply told me to take it to another dealership for "a second opinion" I stated I didn't have time for another dealer to hold my car for days because my truck had just gone OOC, they held their position and I drove it until forced to buy a new car in 03/2025

NHTSA ID

11678257

Incident

Jan 1, 2024

The brake light stays on the whole time.

NHTSA ID

11593799

Incident

Jun 10, 2024

STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED. AFTER AWHILE IT GOES OUT COMPLETELY MAKING IT EXTREMEMLY DANGEROUS TO STEER OR TURN WHILE DRIVING. TOOK IT TO A DEALER IN NORFOLK, NE, NORFOLK GM SERVICE CENTER, AND THEY SAID RECALL WAS FIXED BACK IN 2014 AT A SHOP IN HARTINGTON, NE. SAME ISSUE IMMEDIAITLY HAPPENED AGAIN. ISSUE IS NOT FIXED AND CAR REMAINS UNSAFE FOR TRAVEL.

NHTSA ID

11584209

Incident

Apr 19, 2024

No accedents. Trying to be a head of it!

NHTSA ID

11558334

Incident

Nov 22, 2023

This problem has occurred many times and I have taken to the internet to find out what I could to try to remedy it myself as I don't have endless disposable income to have someone else fix it. I have not had it seen by a professional, only consulted with a manager of a gm dealership repairs department over the phone as well as various mechanics and locksmiths. As I said I don't have endless disposable money to throw at this. The car will completely shut off in the middle of driving, I lose all power. The antitheft system engages in the middle of driving. Then I get no crank no start. I get stuck in the middle of the road. In the past I was able to just turn the key off and remove it and let it sit for a while and then it would let me start it again, this began a year ago and has gotten progressively worse and more frequent since it first occurred and I am now at the point where the car is completely no crank no start and anti theft system will not disengage. From my own research online I've found many others complaining of similar problems and they say it's related to gm passlock system.

NHTSA ID

11531451

Incident

Jul 1, 2022

The car's anti-theft system (indicated on the dashboard lights) will randomly lock up the engine. Following a massive list of online suggestions from other Chevy owners who had the same problem, I learned to wait for 10-15 minutes with the key in the ignition (lights/radio on, no engine) before the anti-theft indicator disappears and the car can start again. Sometimes, I will have to repeat the process 2-3 times. This has been happening randomly for over 2 years despite taking it into a Chevy dealer for repairs twice. They claimed it was a battery issue and charged me over $500 to fix nothing; The engine would lock up again within a month. A cursory Google search shows that this has affected hundreds if not thousands of GM vehicles, some even claiming the anti-theft lock engaged while they were driving. Please put some serious investigation into the matter so people like me can stop getting price gouged and stuck in freezing weather for GM's incompetence.

NHTSA ID

11498382

Incident

Dec 21, 2022

I was making a right turn onto a busy highway when my front end made a loud thunk, as if something had broken, then my steering wheel threw itself and locked up on me.

NHTSA ID

11450346

Incident

Jan 28, 2022

1st when got car from local dealer cruise control worked next day still hasn't, interior lights not working with new bulb, brake light on, leaking oil from pan, front end drifting, than at station no power steering, didn't know wtf, wheels didn't turn, shut off he later was there ignition switch will keep turning. Rins battery dead. I'm scared power steering will go out while driving. It's a scary thought, think I will sell .It's the worse recall I've heard of can they be fixed. Consumer has all 7 recalls.

NHTSA ID

11442888

Incident

Dec 6, 2021

Driving at any speed the car will randomly brake on its own.

NHTSA ID

11421999

Incident

Jun 23, 2020

WHEN I'M DRIVING OFTEN..I TURN THE WHEEL AS NORMAL. INTERMITTENTLY I HEAR A DING NOISE COMING FROM MY CONSOLE, AND MY STEERING WHEEL STIFFENS AND I HAVE TO USE A LARGE AMOUNT OF FORCE TO STRAIGHTEN OUT. I HAVE CALLED GM MANY TIMES AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THERE ARE NO RECALLS WITH THIS ISSUE. I BELIEVE THAT THEY SHOULD BE A CLASS ACTION. OVER 500 OR OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. WHAT GIVES GM?

NHTSA ID

11407476

Incident

Apr 10, 2021

Mileage

144,000 mi

I LOST ALL POWER ASSIST IN MY STEERING WHEEL ON THE INTERSTATE. IT WAS SHOWING A RECALL FOR THE ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING BUT WHEN I CALLED CHEVROLET, THEY DIDN'T SEE IT.

NHTSA ID

11388707

Incident

Dec 23, 2020

Mileage

200,000 mi

BODY CONTOL MODULE MALFUNCTIONING CAUSING SENSORS TO MALFUNCTION AND READ ISSUES OR CONDITIONS SUCH AS TIRE SLIPPAGE, OVERHEATING, POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION, ETC WHERE THERE IS NO ISSUE OR WET ROAD CONDITION.

NHTSA ID

11341314

Incident

Jul 15, 2020

Mileage

245,000 mi

STEERING IS NOT WORKING, MAKING IT TOO HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN IT HAPPENED, WHILE IN A HIGHWAY; HAS SOME ELECTRICAL ISSUES LIKE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND SPEED CONTROL IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY

NHTSA ID

11338815

Incident

Jul 5, 2020

Mileage

225,000 mi

WIRING ISSUES REPLACED EVERYTHING NEW IT THE CHARGING DEPARTMENT 2 TIMES AND THE PROBLEMS KEPT ARISING THUS THE COMPUTER THE PCM FIRED SO IDK WHAT WENT WRONG BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER CHEVROLET CAR

NHTSA ID

11331416

Incident

Jun 29, 2020

Mileage

210,000 mi

MY PASSENGER SIDE HEADLAMP LIGHT (TURN SIGNAL) ASSEMBLY KEEPS BURNING OUT AND MELTING THE BULB HOUSING AND ORANGE LENS. IT BURNED A HOLE IN THE ORANGE TURN SIGNAL LENS. I REPLACE BULB AFTER BULB BUT IT KEEPS FAILING. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL BECAUSE NO CAR OWNER SHOULD HAVE TO KEEP REPLACING BULBS CONSTANTLY ONLY FOR THEM TO FAIL OVER AND OVER AGAIN! THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS STATIONARY, MOVING, ETC..

NHTSA ID

11254046

Incident

Jul 17, 2019

Mileage

104,000 mi

CAR BATTERY KEEPS DYING EVEN THOUGH IT'S NEW AND WE HAVE CHANGED FUSES. WE TOOK THE CAR TO MECHANIC THEY CAN FIND WHY LOSING CHARGE ON BATTERY. KEEP JUMPING OF WON'T STAY CHARGED BIT 1 DAY .

NHTSA ID

11242103

Incident

Jun 20, 2019

WHEN I AM DRIVING, HIGHWAY OR LOCAL, MY ENGINE WILL STUTTER AND SHUT DOWN, OR JUST QUIETLY SHUT DOWN RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. IT IS HAPPENING A LOT. I HAVE FOUND MYSELF FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC DURING SOME OF THESE STALLS. SOMETIMES I CAN GET IT TO RESTART SND OTHER TIMES I CANNOT. ALSO. I AM HAVING TROUBLE GET GAS INTO THE TANK WHEN FUELING. I HEAR AIR ESCAPING AND THE PUMP WILL SHUT OFF. LOCAL MECHANICS DO NOT WANT TO TACKLE THAT ISSUE. THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM SAYS SINCE I BOUGHT IT USED, AS-IS, THAT THE PROBLEM IS ON ME. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. I DON'T WANT ME IRE ANYONE TO BECOME A FATALITY BECAUSE OF THIS. WHAT CAN BE DONE?

NHTSA ID

11164688

Incident

Jan 2, 2019

Mileage

223,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V153000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FELIX CHEVROLET (3330 S FIGUEROA ST, LOS ANGELES, CA 90007) FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AFTERWARDS, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED MULTIPLE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BACK AND FORTH TO THE DEALER AT LEAST FIVE TIMES FOR MULTIPLE FAILURES, INCLUDING THE DOOR LOCKS NOT WORKING, THE BATTERY, THE ODOMETER NUMBERS BEING ERASED, AND THE VEHICLE NOT STARTING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURES WERE DUE TO THE CONTROL MODULE THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

NHTSA ID

11154825

Incident

Nov 13, 2018

Mileage

49,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. ALSO, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW FAILED TO OPERATE AND WOULD NOT ROLL DOWN AND THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR COULD NOT BE UNLOCKED FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. FURTHERMORE, THE IGNITION KEY COULD BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND, AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND SHUT OFF. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID

11133439

Incident

Jul 1, 2018

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE KEY SEIZED IN THE IGNITION AND WAS UNABLE TO BE REMOVED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.

NHTSA ID

11132937

Incident

Sep 27, 2018

Mileage

145,000 mi

WELL AFTER A DAY OF NO ISSUES I WAS DRIVING WENT TO PARK AND I PUT MY CAR INTO PARK THE CAR DIED AND REVERSED A LITTLE BIT. IT NOW WON'T TURN OVER AND WON'T MAKE ANY NOISE UNDER THE HOOD. I TRIED JUMPING IT BUT THAT DIDN'T WORK AND I TRIED TO SEE IF MAYBE THE ANTI LOCK SYSTEM SHUT IT OFF BUT IT'S NOT THAT EITHER. WHEN I TURN THE KEY TO THE ON POSITION IT SAYS IT'S STILL IN REVERSE AND WHEN I MOVE THE SHIFTER IT DOESN'T REGISTER ON THE DASHBOARD. SO MY CAR STILL THINKS I'M IN REVERSE.

NHTSA ID

11124087

Incident

Sep 2, 2018

Mileage

115,795 mi

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT CONTINUES TO SHORT OUT EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THE SOCKET ASSEMBLY.

NHTSA ID

11124073

Incident

Aug 8, 2018

Mileage

158,331 mi

THE FRONT TURNING SIGNALS HAVE NOT WORKED FOR 2 YEARS I HAVE HAD THE HEAD LIGHTS COMPLETELY REPLACE TWICE. THE SECOND TIME I HAD THEM REPLACED WHEN THE LIGHT HOUSING OF THE TURN SIGNALS WERE OPENED THE LIGHT BULB AND HOOK UPS WERE MELTED TOGETHER.

NHTSA ID

11102393

Incident

Jun 8, 2015

Mileage

106,038 mi

HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING THEY GO OUT ONCE A MONTH AND NOW THEY JUST OUT AND THIS CAR IS DEFIANTLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE LOCKS GO UP AND DOWN WHILE DRIVING, AND AUTO LOCK IF LEFT RUNNING. GAS FUMES THROUGH OUT THE CAR. THESE ARE VERY SERIOUS PROBLEMS, ALSO I HAVE TWO TODDLERS THAT ARE FORCED TO RIDE IN THIS DEATH TRAP!!

NHTSA ID

11083148

Incident

Apr 1, 2017

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WENT TO STOP AND AIRBAG LIGHT COME ON. AND THE STEERING STARTED GETTING JAM FELT LIKE IT WAS GONNA BREAK AND BRAKES STARTED PUMPING ON THEIR OWN AND BRAKES DIDN'T WORK RIGHT .OR STEERING. THIS IS UNSAFE WHEN STEERING AND BRAKES ARE MESSING UP AT THE SAME TIME. AND STEERING WHEEL FILL LIKE IT GONNA BREAK .

NHTSA ID

11081886

Incident

Mar 25, 2018

Mileage

132,000 mi