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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

Steering complaints

20 reports
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145,000 miles · Apr 29, 2014
Steering

THE PROBLEM STARTED WITH THE POWER STEERING NOTE IN THE DASHBOARD (RADIO DISPLAY) Y WENT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID ME, THE POWER STEERING IS OK, I KEEP DRIVING THE CAR AND THE SIGN FOR POWER STEERING CONTINUED ON THE DASHBOARD AND I WENT TO ANOTHER EXPERT MECHANIC AND HE SAIDTO ME IF IT CONTINUE AND THE DRIVING AND CONTROL THE…

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THE PROBLEM STARTED WITH THE POWER STEERING NOTE IN THE DASHBOARD (RADIO DISPLAY) Y WENT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID ME, THE POWER STEERING IS OK, I KEEP DRIVING THE CAR AND THE SIGN FOR POWER STEERING CONTINUED ON THE DASHBOARD AND I WENT TO ANOTHER EXPERT MECHANIC AND HE SAIDTO ME IF IT CONTINUE AND THE DRIVING AND CONTROL THE CAR BECAME SO HARD, THE PROCEDURE TO FIX IS JUST STOP THE ENGINE FOR A WHILE AND START AGAIN, THIS CONDUCT I FOLLOWED FOR A LONG TIME BUT RECIENTLY BECAME SO HARD AND VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE PROBLEM NOW IS RANDOM, SOME TIME EVERY FEW SECONDS OR EVERY HOUR OR A FEW TIME, SOME TIME AT THE MOMENT I TURNED VERY I WAS VERY CLOSE TO CRASH AGAINST OTHER VEHICLES AND DRIVING IN THE EXPRESS WAY I-95 FOR FORT LAUDERDALE HEADING SOUTH, I NEEDED TO BRAKE ABRUPTLY BECAUSE A LANDSCAPING TRAILER LEAVE GARDEN TOOL AND TRESS, MY VEHICLE TURNED WILD AND OUT CONTROL BETWEEN THE OTHER VEHICULE, ONLY GOD SAVED ME. I WENT TO THE OTHER MECHANIC AND SAID ME THAT IS A RECALL FOR GM AND I WENT TO LOCAL ROGER DEAN GM IN WEST PALM BEACH AND THEY SAID ME THAT FIX IT MATTER I NEED TO PAY, AFTER A FRIEND OF MINE SENT TO ME A WEBSITE WHERE I FOUND THE RECALL FOR POWER STEERING IN MY CHEVY MALIBU 2005. REALLY I APRECIATE IF YOU HELP BECAUSE ROGER DEAN THE LOCAL GM DEALER IN WEST PALM BEACH REJECTED MY CASE. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10585492

20,000 miles · Mar 17, 2014
Steering

I BOUGHT A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU NEW IN 2005. SINCE THEN, WE REPEATEDLY LOST STEERING WITH THE CAR. I WAS ONLY RECENTLY MADE AWARE THAT THERE WERE ISSUES WITH THE POWER STEERING MOTOR ON THESE VEHICLES. THEY DO NOT HAVE THE CONVENTIONAL POWER STEERING PUMP, BUT HAVE AN ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING MOTOR. NO RECALL WAS ISSUED. GM KN…

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I BOUGHT A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU NEW IN 2005. SINCE THEN, WE REPEATEDLY LOST STEERING WITH THE CAR. I WAS ONLY RECENTLY MADE AWARE THAT THERE WERE ISSUES WITH THE POWER STEERING MOTOR ON THESE VEHICLES. THEY DO NOT HAVE THE CONVENTIONAL POWER STEERING PUMP, BUT HAVE AN ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING MOTOR. NO RECALL WAS ISSUED. GM KNEW. I VISITED MY LOCAL JUNKYARD THE OTHER DAY. THERE ARE MANY OF THESE CARS WITH FRONT END DAMAGE. I CAN ONLY SURMISE HOW MANY ACCIDENTS/INJURIES/FATALITIES WERE THE RESULT OF THIS STEERING FLAW. GM NEVER INFORMED ME OF THE POTENTIAL RISKS. (I DID NOT MOVE OR CHANGE ADDRESS.) I FOUND OUT VIA THE INTERNET. I NOW SEE WHERE GM IS INVOLVED IN YET ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE, IGNITION SWITCHES. IS THERE AN INVESTIGATION ONGOING ON THESE STEERING ISSUES? SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10572753

150,000 miles · Dec 12, 2013
Steering

STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10555804

150,000 miles · Aug 18, 2012
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemSteering

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER CAR AND FOR NO REASON THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST WEEKS. THE CAR ALSO ON 6 OCCASIONS WOULD NOT START(HAS BRAND NEW BATTERY) WON'T TURN OVER, MY DAUGHTER HAS BEEN STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES. AFTER A $400. 00 FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT , WHICH AFTER IT WAS REPLACED THE CAR , OT…

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MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER CAR AND FOR NO REASON THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST WEEKS. THE CAR ALSO ON 6 OCCASIONS WOULD NOT START(HAS BRAND NEW BATTERY) WON'T TURN OVER, MY DAUGHTER HAS BEEN STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES. AFTER A $400. 00 FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT , WHICH AFTER IT WAS REPLACED THE CAR , OTHER CARS WHICH ARE JUST SHUTTING OFF WHILE THEY ARE BEING DRIVEN.THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS TO LOSE ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING!. AND AS WELL THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS CAR OWNERS WHO HAVE REPLACED FUEL PUMPS, WHICH DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CAR NOW HAS HAD THE IGNITION REPLACE AS THE MECHANICS "THINK:"ITS THE SECURITY SYSTEM!. TO DATE THE REPAIRS ARE HITTING $1,000. ALSO THE TURNING SIGNALS, RADIO AND A/C ALL WORK INTERMITTENTLY. I AM NO MECHANIC BUT SEEMS THERE IS ELECTRICAL/SECURITY SYSTEMS ISSUES WITH THESE CARS. THE FORUMS ARE LOADED WITH CAR OWNERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES! BUT OF COURSE THEY ARE SO VARIED THAT MOST NOT REPORTED TO YOU!AND WE ALL KNOW THE GARAGES DON'T REPORT ALL ISSUES! THANKS FOR YOUR HELP! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10471360

47,000 miles · Jan 28, 2011
Steering

2005 CHEVY MALIBU STEERING IS A PROBLEM AFTER 47,000 MILES TRAVEL. STEERING WHEEL MAKES NOISE AS IT TURNS TO RIGHT OR LEFT. MAYBE STEERING MECHANISM PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10379455

63,000 miles · Aug 18, 2010
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING AT LEAST 60-70 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY. THE FAILURE DID NOT OCCUR WHEN DRIVING LESS THAN 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING AT LEAST 60-70 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY. THE FAILURE DID NOT OCCUR WHEN DRIVING LESS THAN 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

NHTSA ODI #10350239

92,000 miles · Jun 10, 2010
Steering

POWER STEERING PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10335719

45,000 miles · Mar 2, 2010
Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHENEVER HE MADE A TURN WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEEL LOCKED COMPLETELY AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE TURNED IN ANY DIRECTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #10315841

76,784 miles · Sep 24, 2009
Steering

LOST POWER STEERING WITHOUT ANY NOTICE OR INDICATOR ERROR LIGHTS. PREVIOUSLY WHEN TURNING WOULD MAKE SOME SQUEALING NOISE LIKE LOW ON POWER STEERING FLUID, BUT IS ELECTRONIC POWER ASSISTED TURNING. CAR IS CHEVY MALIBU CLASSIC 2005 WITH 76,000 MILES ON IT. SAFETY ISSUE AS I COULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING 55 - 65 MPH ON HIGHWAY WHEN T…

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LOST POWER STEERING WITHOUT ANY NOTICE OR INDICATOR ERROR LIGHTS. PREVIOUSLY WHEN TURNING WOULD MAKE SOME SQUEALING NOISE LIKE LOW ON POWER STEERING FLUID, BUT IS ELECTRONIC POWER ASSISTED TURNING. CAR IS CHEVY MALIBU CLASSIC 2005 WITH 76,000 MILES ON IT. SAFETY ISSUE AS I COULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING 55 - 65 MPH ON HIGHWAY WHEN THE POWER STEERING QUIT! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10285095

70,000 miles · Jun 26, 2009
SteeringCrash

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO WORK AT ABOUT 8:00 IN THE MORNING WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL "STIFFENED" UP ON A TURNAROUND BY OUR HOUSE. THEN SHE MADE THE FIRST LEFT TURN AT A STOP SIGN IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD..THAT'S WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY LOCKED UP AND SHE CRASHED INTO A PARKED CAR. THE POLICE ARRIVED AND FILED A REPORT. SHE H…

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MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO WORK AT ABOUT 8:00 IN THE MORNING WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL "STIFFENED" UP ON A TURNAROUND BY OUR HOUSE. THEN SHE MADE THE FIRST LEFT TURN AT A STOP SIGN IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD..THAT'S WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY LOCKED UP AND SHE CRASHED INTO A PARKED CAR. THE POLICE ARRIVED AND FILED A REPORT. SHE HIT A BIG TRUCK THAT FORTUNATELY WASN'T DAMAGED BUT OUR CAR WAS LEFT UNDRIVABLE AND COMPLETELY TOTALED IN THE FRONT!! WE WERE GOING TO JUST PAY TO GET THE CAR FIXED BUT I LOOKED INTO IT FURTHER AND FOUND A LARGE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP ON PEOPLE WHO OWNED A CHEVY MALIBU EACH WITH VARIOUS TYPES OF CONSEQUENCES. MY WIFE COULD HAVE BEEN EASILY KILLED OR KILLED SOMEONE ELSE!!! THIS ISSUE REALLY NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH BEFORE ANY FURTHER HARM IS DONE TO MORE INNOCENT VICTIMS!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10275007

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.