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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.

About this comparison →
92Owner complaints

Model-year median: 14

1Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
16
200216
2003116
200492
200515
200721
2008
Compare all Malibu Classic years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
41Steering
20Engine
8Exterior Lighting
6Fuel/propulsion System
6
All reported categories
Air Bags
5Electronic Stability Control (esc)
5Engine And Engine Cooling
4Fuel System, Gasoline
4Service Brakes, Hydraulic
4Vehicle Speed Control
3Equipment
2Power Train
2Service Brakes
2Suspension
2Unknown Or Other
2Visibility
2Seats
1Structure
1Wheels
1

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

Power Train complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
123,596 miles · Aug 17, 2018
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION DUE TO THE GEAR SHIFTER NOT BEING IN THE PARK POSITION, ALTHOUGH THE SHIFT INDICATOR DISPLAYED PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. MAGEE AUTOPLEX CHEVROLET (2127 WASHINGTON S…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION DUE TO THE GEAR SHIFTER NOT BEING IN THE PARK POSITION, ALTHOUGH THE SHIFT INDICATOR DISPLAYED PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. MAGEE AUTOPLEX CHEVROLET (2127 WASHINGTON ST, FRANKLINTON, LA 70438, (866) 551-5128) WAS CONTACTED AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,596.

NHTSA ODI #11120609

85,903 miles · Oct 11, 2014
Power Train

THE KNOB YOU CHANGE GEARS WITH HAS A PIN IT AND THE PIN HAS BROKEN. IT GOT TO BE A PROBLEM WHEN I WHEN TO THE JUNK YARD TO BUY A KNOB ALL OF THEM WAS BROKEN IT IS VERY HARD TO FIND IN THE JUNK YARD . WILL YOU PLEASE HELP ME FIND ONE I AM 75 YEARS OLD AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO SOME TIME WHEN I TRY TO PUT THE CAR IN GEAR IT …

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THE KNOB YOU CHANGE GEARS WITH HAS A PIN IT AND THE PIN HAS BROKEN. IT GOT TO BE A PROBLEM WHEN I WHEN TO THE JUNK YARD TO BUY A KNOB ALL OF THEM WAS BROKEN IT IS VERY HARD TO FIND IN THE JUNK YARD . WILL YOU PLEASE HELP ME FIND ONE I AM 75 YEARS OLD AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO SOME TIME WHEN I TRY TO PUT THE CAR IN GEAR IT WILL NOT MOVE. ONE AUTO REPAIRMAN SAY I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE DRIVE CONSOLE. PLEASE HELP ME!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10644114

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.