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2005 Chevrolet Malibu Classic

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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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90,000 miles · Aug 6, 2014
Electrical System

CAR WONT START AT TIMES BECAUSE OF IGNITION SWITCH A REAL PROBLEM GETTING TO WORK BEEN WAITING FOR MY RECALL HAVEN'T RECEIVED YET ITS NOT JUST A PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING ITS A PROBLEM GETTING THE CAR TO START ALSO PLEASE LET GM KNOW THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10619179

90,000 miles · Jul 31, 2014
Electrical System

THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM L WILL NOT ALWAYS WORK CORRECTLY SOMETIMES A WIDOW WILL NOT ROLL UP OR THE AUTOMATIC LOCK WILL NOT WORK ON ONE OR TWO DOORS. THE ANTI-THEFT SENSOR HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED AND RE-PROGRAMMED 3 TIMES SINCE JUNE OF 2010. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS RE PROGRAMMED AND THE SENOR MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN AND THE SENSOR WAS R…

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THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM L WILL NOT ALWAYS WORK CORRECTLY SOMETIMES A WIDOW WILL NOT ROLL UP OR THE AUTOMATIC LOCK WILL NOT WORK ON ONE OR TWO DOORS. THE ANTI-THEFT SENSOR HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED AND RE-PROGRAMMED 3 TIMES SINCE JUNE OF 2010. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS RE PROGRAMMED AND THE SENOR MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN AND THE SENSOR WAS REPLACED AND NOW ON JULY 30 THE SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN AND NEEDED RE PROGRAMMING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10618023

88,000 miles · Jun 20, 2014
Electrical SystemService BrakesSteering

WHILE CHECKING OUT MY DAUGHTERS 2005 MALIBU CLASSIC FOR COMPLAINTS ABOUT INTERMITTENT AIRBAG LIGHT I HAPPENED TO SLIGHTLY TUG ON HER KEYCHAIN WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. I LOST POWER STEERING. I LOST POWER BRAKES. I COULD NOT RESTART THE CAR WHILE IT WAS MOVING. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL IT O…

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WHILE CHECKING OUT MY DAUGHTERS 2005 MALIBU CLASSIC FOR COMPLAINTS ABOUT INTERMITTENT AIRBAG LIGHT I HAPPENED TO SLIGHTLY TUG ON HER KEYCHAIN WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. I LOST POWER STEERING. I LOST POWER BRAKES. I COULD NOT RESTART THE CAR WHILE IT WAS MOVING. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL IT OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT WOULD NOT RESTART UNTIL I PUT THE SHIFT LEVER INTO PARK. I INVESTIGATED THIS ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND OTHER GM VEHICLES BEING RECALLED BUT NOT THIS ONE. I CALLED GM'S RECALL LINE. THEY SAID TO CONTACT MY DEALER. I ASKED THE DEALER TO MAKE SOME KEYS WITH A CENTER HOLE RATHER THAN A SLOT (AT MY EXPENSE) TO PREVENT THE IGNITION SWITCH FROM ROTATING TO ENGINE OFF WHEN A KEYCHAIN IS ATTACHED. THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DO IT WITHOUT GM AUTHORIZATION. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY FAMILY MEMBERS USING THIS VEHICLE. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10604868

128,000 miles · May 23, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE IGNITION KEY WAS ABLE TO MOVE OUT OF POSITION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE IGNITION KEY WAS ABLE TO MOVE OUT OF POSITION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 128,000. RK

NHTSA ODI #10593635

117,792 miles · Apr 22, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting

WE BOUGHT A 2005 CHEVY MALIBU CLASSIC BASE MODEL FROM A REPUTABLE DEALER. EVERYTHING WAS WORKING FINE UNTIL MY SON FLIPPED THE SWITCH ON THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR FOR THE LIGHTS FROM "AUTO" TO FULL LIGHTS AT NIGHT. THE DASH CLUSTER ILLUMINATION WENT OUT ALONG WITH THE RADIO BACK LIGHTING, HVAC BACK LIGHTING, DOOR LOCK AND WINDOW…

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WE BOUGHT A 2005 CHEVY MALIBU CLASSIC BASE MODEL FROM A REPUTABLE DEALER. EVERYTHING WAS WORKING FINE UNTIL MY SON FLIPPED THE SWITCH ON THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR FOR THE LIGHTS FROM "AUTO" TO FULL LIGHTS AT NIGHT. THE DASH CLUSTER ILLUMINATION WENT OUT ALONG WITH THE RADIO BACK LIGHTING, HVAC BACK LIGHTING, DOOR LOCK AND WINDOW SWITCH LIGHTING. THE DOME LIGHT STOPPED WORKING. THE DOME LIGHT HAD BURNED WIRES AND THE PLASTIC FIXTURE WAS BURNED. REPLACED IT BACK TO THE HARNESS. FUSES KEPT BLOWING. HAVE SINCE TRIED REPLACING THE TURN INDICATOR/LIGHTS/WIPER MODULE, THE DIMMER SWITCH, AND DASH CLUSTER, UPON INSPECTING THE BODY CONTROL MODULE I FOUND CORRODED MODULE CONNECTORS THAT WERE CORRODED AND BURNED. NOW THE CAR WON'T START AND THE SUSPECT IS THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. THIS IS CLEARLY AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION FROM THE ASSEMBLY LINE AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN WASTE BY MYSELF MY SON AND OTHERS REPORTING ACROSS THE INTERNET WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS AS OURSELVES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10584103

146,000 miles · Nov 19, 2012
Electrical SystemExterior LightingFuel/propulsion System

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE VERY USED AT 143XXX MILES, FROM A "REPUTABLE" DEALER. I GOT A TUNE UP AS WELL AS AN OIL CHANGE, STANDARD USED CAR PURCHASE PROCEDURE. MY DAD INITIALLY BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT WHILE DRIVING MY FUEL GAUGE DROPPED DOWN TO E, THE LOW GAS LIGHT LIT UP AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. A LOCAL AUTO PART…

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I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE VERY USED AT 143XXX MILES, FROM A "REPUTABLE" DEALER. I GOT A TUNE UP AS WELL AS AN OIL CHANGE, STANDARD USED CAR PURCHASE PROCEDURE. MY DAD INITIALLY BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT WHILE DRIVING MY FUEL GAUGE DROPPED DOWN TO E, THE LOW GAS LIGHT LIT UP AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. A LOCAL AUTO PARTS STORE SAID I SHOULD USE A FUEL INJECTION KIT FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. NOW I HAVE 146XXX MILES AND IT HAPPENS EVERY SINGLE TIME I GET GAS. IT'S NERVE RACKING BECAUSE I DO DRIVE FREQUENTLY AND MY MAIN CONCERN IS HOW MUCH GAS DO I HAVE? I CAME ACROSS A GUY THAT WORKS AT A DIFFERENT AUTO STORE AND HE SAID IT'S PROBABLY MY SENDER UNIT FOR MY GAS TANK, WHICH SHOULD COST ABOUT $300 TO FIX DEPENDING ON WHERE I TAKE IT. MY NEXT SET OF ISSUES IS MY HORN, I WAS UNAWARE THAT IT DIDN'T WORK UPON PURCHASING UNTIL I WENT TO HONK IT AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I TOOK IT TO MIDAS AND THEY REPLACED THE FUSE. AFTER DRIVING IT HOME THE HORN STOPPED WORKING AGAIN. I HEARD IT'S JUST SOME WIRES TOUCHING BUT NOBODY DOES ELECTRICAL WORK. TODAY, A FRIEND ASKED IF MY TURN SIGNALS WERE WORKING. I SAID THEY DID AND HE SAID THEY WERE BURNT UP, PLASTIC AND ALL. I LOOKED AND SURE ENOUGH THEY WERE MELTED AND THE LIGHT ITSELF WAS BLACK ON THE INSIDE AND IT LOOKED LIKE IT'S ON THE VERGE OF SHATTERING. HE ASKED IF THERE WERE RECALLS ON ANYTHING WITH THIS CAR, I TOLD HIM I CALLED A LOCAL CHEVY DEALER AND THE GUY INSISTED OTHERWISE. NOW, I CHECKED THIS WEBSITE AND BOTH THE GAS AND LIGHTS ARE ON A LIST OF RECALLS. APPARENTLY, NOT ALL DEALERS KNOW HALF THE INFORMATION THEY SHOULD FOR CONCERNED DRIVERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10485089

194,000 miles · Aug 15, 2012
Electrical SystemFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER USING THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER, SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE HOLDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE LIGHTER HE NOTICED MORE SMOKE COMING FROM THE WIRES THAT WERE ATTACHED TO THE RADIO, AIR CONDITIONER, HEATER, WHICH WERE ALSO BURNED.…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER USING THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER, SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE HOLDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE LIGHTER HE NOTICED MORE SMOKE COMING FROM THE WIRES THAT WERE ATTACHED TO THE RADIO, AIR CONDITIONER, HEATER, WHICH WERE ALSO BURNED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 194,000.

NHTSA ODI #10470729

Mileage unknown · Feb 15, 2012
Electrical System

UPON ATTEMPTING TO START MY VEHICLE AS ALWAYS I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. I HAD AN ANTI THEFT LIGHT COME ON AS WELL. I WAITED, TRIED AGAIN NO LUCK. TO HELP THINGS OUT MY CELL PHONE WAS DEAD AND I COULD NOT CALL ANYONE. I WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO GET BACK INTO MY WORK WHICH HAS HIGH SECURITY, AND I WAS ABLE …

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UPON ATTEMPTING TO START MY VEHICLE AS ALWAYS I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. I HAD AN ANTI THEFT LIGHT COME ON AS WELL. I WAITED, TRIED AGAIN NO LUCK. TO HELP THINGS OUT MY CELL PHONE WAS DEAD AND I COULD NOT CALL ANYONE. I WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO GET BACK INTO MY WORK WHICH HAS HIGH SECURITY, AND I WAS ABLE TO CONTACT MY HUSBAND WHO EVENTUALLY WAS ABLE TO TELL ME HOW TO BYPASS THIS ISSUE. SO I WENT BACK OUT AND TRIED IT AND AFTER 10 MIN OF SITTING IN MY COLD CAR IN A DARK PARKING LOT ALONE I WAS ABLE TO START MY VEHICLE. THIS REALLY NEEDS TO BE FIXED. I FINALLY MADE IT HOME AN HOUR AND A HALF AFTER I WAS OFF WORK BUT WHAT A SCARY AND COULD HAVE BEEN EXPENSIVE ISSUE TO HAVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10448007

Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 2011
Electrical SystemExterior LightingFuel System, Gasoline

ALL THE DOOR LOCKS UNLOCK AND LOCK WITH IN DRIVING POSITION FOLLOWED BY A BEEP IT DOES THIS CONSTANTLY. I BELIEVE IS VERY UNSAFE WITH CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT. ISSUE WITH THE GAS GAUGE GOING CRAZY, GOES FROM FULL TO EMPTY SO YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE GAS IS GOING TO RUN OUT. ALSO ISSUES WITH THE HEADLIGHTS AND OTHER BULBS BEING B…

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ALL THE DOOR LOCKS UNLOCK AND LOCK WITH IN DRIVING POSITION FOLLOWED BY A BEEP IT DOES THIS CONSTANTLY. I BELIEVE IS VERY UNSAFE WITH CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT. ISSUE WITH THE GAS GAUGE GOING CRAZY, GOES FROM FULL TO EMPTY SO YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE GAS IS GOING TO RUN OUT. ALSO ISSUES WITH THE HEADLIGHTS AND OTHER BULBS BEING BLOWN. ALL SEEMS LIKE SOME ELECTRICAL ISSUES BUT NOT SURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10437996

75,000 miles · Aug 21, 2011
Electrical System

WIRING HARNESS UNDER CARPET CORRODED AND BURNING. ONE WIRE BURNED ALL THE WAY BACK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10420857

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.