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2005 Chevrolet Malibu Classic

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

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There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

68 reports with mileage · 24 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

41 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 24, 2020
Electrical System

IGNITION SWITCH PROOBLEMS

NHTSA ODI #11351037

190,000 miles · Sep 18, 2019
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE ANTI-THEFT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. MIDWAY CHEVROLET(381 12TH ST, PLAINWELL, MI) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS NOT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE ANTI-THEFT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. MIDWAY CHEVROLET(381 12TH ST, PLAINWELL, MI) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

NHTSA ODI #11256454

36,000 miles · Aug 14, 2019
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR FLASHED AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR FLASHED AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

NHTSA ODI #11243945

223,000 miles · May 20, 2019
Electrical SystemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 223,000.

NHTSA ODI #11208666

179,000 miles · Jan 27, 2019
Electrical System

I HAVE A 2005 MALIBU - THAT IS A MONEY PIT- THIER IS A WIRING IGNITION PROBLEM - MY CAR IS AN INTERMITTENT STARTER - I'VE CHANGED FUSES- ALTERNATOR - FUEL PUMP- BEEN TOLD THIS AND THAT - I'M A SINGLE FEMALE - AND CAN'T DRIVE THIS CAR ANYWHERE - IT STOPS WHEN EVER IT WANTS TO - IN ORDER HE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD - OR GOING TO …

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I HAVE A 2005 MALIBU - THAT IS A MONEY PIT- THIER IS A WIRING IGNITION PROBLEM - MY CAR IS AN INTERMITTENT STARTER - I'VE CHANGED FUSES- ALTERNATOR - FUEL PUMP- BEEN TOLD THIS AND THAT - I'M A SINGLE FEMALE - AND CAN'T DRIVE THIS CAR ANYWHERE - IT STOPS WHEN EVER IT WANTS TO - IN ORDER HE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD - OR GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE AAA HAS RETIRED MY TOWING - I'M ONLINE READING AND EVERYBODY HAS WENT THROUGH MY HE SAME - I CALLED LAST WEEK BEFORE HAVING MY CAR TOWED AGAIN - TO SEE IF THIER HAS BEEN A RECALL AND I HEARD NO- I HAD IT TOWED - SPENT 320 DOLLARS BEING TOLD IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR AFTER GOING THROUGH 2 BATTERIES - FOR THE SAME THING - I JUST GOT MY CAR BACK - WENT OUT TO GET SOME COFFEE - COME OUT AND THE CAR WON'T START AGAIN - WOULD SOMEONE CALL ME ABOUT THIS - 214 755 -3606

NHTSA ODI #11172396

98,000 miles · Jul 1, 2016
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM STARTING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON A REGULAR BASIS AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO RESET THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM STARTING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON A REGULAR BASIS AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO RESET THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND STATED THAT IT HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO START SINCE THE LAST FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AND NO FURTHER REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ODI #10882182

150,700 miles · Nov 25, 2015
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO START AND THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM PREVENTED THE VEH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO START AND THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM STARTING AND NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,700.

NHTSA ODI #10806806

150,000 miles · Oct 21, 2015
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

THE IGNITION CYLINDER ON MY 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC FAILED, AND THE KEY COMES OUT OF THE IGNITION IN THE ACCESSORY POSITION. THE GENERAL MOTORS RECALL TO MAKE THE KEY HOLE SMALLER ON THE KEY ITSELF TO FIX IGNITION PROBLEMS IS AN INCOMPLETE REPAIR. UPON CONTACTING GM ABOUT THE IGNITION PROBLEM, THEY IMMEDIATELY TOLD ME NOT …

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THE IGNITION CYLINDER ON MY 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC FAILED, AND THE KEY COMES OUT OF THE IGNITION IN THE ACCESSORY POSITION. THE GENERAL MOTORS RECALL TO MAKE THE KEY HOLE SMALLER ON THE KEY ITSELF TO FIX IGNITION PROBLEMS IS AN INCOMPLETE REPAIR. UPON CONTACTING GM ABOUT THE IGNITION PROBLEM, THEY IMMEDIATELY TOLD ME NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, AND THEY HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO GILLMAN CHEVROLET HARLINGEN AT THEIR EXPENSE, BUT SO FAR GM HAS REFUSED TO MAKE A COMPLETE REPAIR TO THE IGNITION. GM MAINTAINS THAT THE RECALL TO THE IGNITION PROBLEM IS ONLY TO FIX THE KEY HOLE, AND DOES NOT WANT TO AUTHORIZE A COMPLETE REPAIR FOR THE IGNITION FAILURE. ALSO, THE SHIFTER SELENOID HAS FAILED, AND THE KEY WON'T RETURN TO THE OFF POSITION. THE THEFT SYSTEM ALSO FAILED ON THIS VEHICLE AND WON'T ALLOW THE CAR TO TURN ON. WHEN THE THEFT SYSTEM FAILS, THE ONLY WAY TO TURN ON THE VEHICLE IS TO LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION FOR 10 MINUTES WHICH THEN RESETS THE THEFT SYSTEM. GM IS BUILDING SUBSTANDARD VEHICLES AND WON'T MAKE COMPLETE REPAIRS ON THE FAULTY IGNITIONS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR GM CUSTOMERS AND AFTER A WEEK OF TRYING TO GET GM ASSISTANCE TO REPAIR MY IGNITION PROBLEM, THE GM CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE HAS NOT RETURNED MY CALLS.

NHTSA ODI #10785003

1,230,000 miles · Sep 20, 2015
Electrical System

MY CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC 2005 RANDOMLY DOES NOT START. IN MOST VEHICLES WHEN YOU START A VEHICLE ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS TURN THE KEY, THAT IS NOT THE CASE WITH THIS CAR, YOU FIRST HAVE TO TURN THE KEY AND LISTEN FOR THE FUEL PUMP TO ENGAGE THEN AND ONLY IF YOU HEAR THAT CAN YOU TURN THE KEY THE REST OF THE WAY TO START YOUR V…

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MY CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC 2005 RANDOMLY DOES NOT START. IN MOST VEHICLES WHEN YOU START A VEHICLE ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS TURN THE KEY, THAT IS NOT THE CASE WITH THIS CAR, YOU FIRST HAVE TO TURN THE KEY AND LISTEN FOR THE FUEL PUMP TO ENGAGE THEN AND ONLY IF YOU HEAR THAT CAN YOU TURN THE KEY THE REST OF THE WAY TO START YOUR VEHICLE. IF YOU DO NOT HEAR THE FUEL PUMP AND GO AHEAD AND TRY TO START THE VEHICLE YOU TRIGGER THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WHICH DOES NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO START FOR ANOTHER 15 MINUTES. WHILE THIS IS NOT MUCH OF A SAFETY ISSUE IT IS STILL A HUGE ISSUE, LEAVING ME STRANDED, SOMETIMES STUCK IN A HOT CAR JUST TRYING TO GET IT TO START, MADE ME LATE FOR WORK AND OTHER FUNCTIONS NUMEROUS TIMES. AFTER WAITING YOUR 15 MINUTES YOUR VEHICLE STILL MAY NOT START. IF YOU HAVE ENOUGH PATIENTS YOU CAN SET THERE AND TURN THE KEY OFF AND ON UNTIL YOU HEAR THE FUEL PUMP ENGAGE. EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE VEHICLE WORKS RADIO, LIGHTS ETC. IT JUST DOES NOT START. LEAVING ME TO BELIEVE THE IGNITION IS TO BLAME, AND HERE RECENTLY I WILL TURN THE KEY AND ABSOLUTELY NOTHING HAPPENS. I THEN TRY AGAIN AND IT STARTS LIKE A CHARM UNTIL ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO AND I COULD NOT GET IT TO DO ANYTHING, MY BOYFRIEND INFORMED ME TO TURN THE KEY AND PUT THE CAR IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION AND TRY TO START IT AGAIN THIS WORKED. ALL I KNOW IS THIS CAR HAS GIVEN ME MANY PROBLEMS THAT MY GM CERTIFIED MECHANIC FATHER IS SHORT OF FIGURING OUT. I BELIEVE IT IS DUE TO FAULTY PARTS OR JUST A BAD MAKE OF CAR. THE ONLY THING I COULD DISPUTE THAT IS WHEN IT IS ACTUALLY STARTING, NOT SHUTTING DOWN ON ME IT IS A REASONABLY GOOD VEHICLE. IT GETS ME FROM POINT A TO POINT B NOT ALWAYS SAFELY OR RELIABLY BUT AT LEAST I HAVE A VEHICLE I JUST WHICH GM WOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR PART IN THIS CARS ISSUES. OR AT LEAST INFORM THE PUBLIC IN HOW TO FIX THEM.

NHTSA ODI #10765979

122,000 miles · Sep 20, 2015
Electrical System

AFTER TAKING MY CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC 2005 INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE RECALL IN WHICH THEY PUT INSERTS ON MY KEY AND A KING RING, RIDICULOUS IF YOU ASK ME, MY CAR HAS NOW DONE THE SAME THING THREE MORE TIMES I THOUGHT THE RECALL WAS SUPPOSE TO FIX. WHILE DRIVING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS ( 60 MPH., 45 MPH., 20 MPH) MY CARS SHUTS O…

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AFTER TAKING MY CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC 2005 INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE RECALL IN WHICH THEY PUT INSERTS ON MY KEY AND A KING RING, RIDICULOUS IF YOU ASK ME, MY CAR HAS NOW DONE THE SAME THING THREE MORE TIMES I THOUGHT THE RECALL WAS SUPPOSE TO FIX. WHILE DRIVING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS ( 60 MPH., 45 MPH., 20 MPH) MY CARS SHUTS OFF AS IF I TURNED THE KEY OFF. MY POWER STEERING, BRAKES ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ARE EFFECTED. I HAVE TO THEN TURN MY KEY TO THE OFF POSITION AND AGAIN START MY CAR TO CONTINUE DRIVING. IT DOES THIS WITH NO WARNING, WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY, WHILE TURNING, WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL WHICH ARE ALL VERY MUCH SAFETY ISSUES. DRIVING 60 ON A HIGHWAY AND THE CAR SHUTS DOWN LEAVING YOU WITH NO POWER STEERING NO POWER BRAKES NO WARNING LIGHTS ETC. VERY SCARY. WHILE TURNING A CORNER ALL OF A SUDDEN NO POWER STEERING SEEMS TO ME COULD CAUSE A MAJOR WRECK, AND WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL LOOSING YOUR POWER BRAKES COULD ALSO. THIS HAPPEN TO ME NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE THE RECALL ALSO. I DO BELIEVE IT WAS A CHEAP WAY OF CHEVY TO TRY TO GET OUT OF THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM. WHEN I EXPLAINED TO THE DEALER MECHANIC WHAT WAS HAPPENING HE INFORMED ME THAT THE RECALL THAT FIXED THE KEY WOULD NOT HELP THE PROBLEM OF MY CAR RANDOMLY SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING IT SO WHAT WAS IT FOR THEN?

NHTSA ODI #10765796

Official recalls

1

14V400000 · Electrical System:ignition

Jul 3, 2014

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.