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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.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
92Owner complaints

Model-year median: 14

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

2005 Chevrolet Malibu Classic

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 92 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Electrical System: 41 reports
  • Steering: 20 reports
  • Engine: 8 reports
  • Exterior Lighting: 6 reports
  • Fuel/propulsion System: 6 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

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, mileage exposure 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

Suspension complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 2009
Suspension

METAL ON METAL RATTLING SOUNDS COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. THE NOISE IS LOUD. SOUNDS UNSAFE LIKE SOMETHING IS GOING TO FALL OFF OR FREEZE UP. TOOK THE CAR TO MY REPAIR GUY AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. WE THE(REPAIR) GUY AND I TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE. THEY SAID IT'S SOUNDS BAD BUT, DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRON…

Read full complaint

METAL ON METAL RATTLING SOUNDS COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. THE NOISE IS LOUD. SOUNDS UNSAFE LIKE SOMETHING IS GOING TO FALL OFF OR FREEZE UP. TOOK THE CAR TO MY REPAIR GUY AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. WE THE(REPAIR) GUY AND I TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE. THEY SAID IT'S SOUNDS BAD BUT, DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. HE SAID THEY COULD START REPLACING PARTS BUT WILL NOT GUARANTEE UNTIL THE ACTUAL PART (S) ARE FOUND IF ANY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10257585

12,500 miles · Jun 24, 2006
Suspension

ON 4-28-06 I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY AND TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL AND HEARD A CLICKING AND A POPPING NOISE. AS I PROCEEDED TO DRIVE GETTING UP SPEED TO ABOUT 45 MPH, OUR ROAD HAS SLIGHT BUMPS IN IT, I HEARD THE SAME NOISE. THIS PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED BUT IS NOW LOUDER, IT IS IN THE FRONT END. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR T…

Read full complaint

ON 4-28-06 I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY AND TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL AND HEARD A CLICKING AND A POPPING NOISE. AS I PROCEEDED TO DRIVE GETTING UP SPEED TO ABOUT 45 MPH, OUR ROAD HAS SLIGHT BUMPS IN IT, I HEARD THE SAME NOISE. THIS PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED BUT IS NOW LOUDER, IT IS IN THE FRONT END. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR THREE MONTHS AS OF TODAY 6-24-06. SO THE FIRST WEEK OF MAY '06 I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I GOT IT THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR THREE DAYS AND SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG I DROVE THE MECHANIC IN MY CAR AND HE HEARD THE SAME NOISE SAID KEEP DRIVING IT. I AM A MECHANIC MYSELF AND KNOW SOMETHING IS WRONG I THOUGHT CV JOINTS SO I LEFT. SO I CALLED THE CHEVROLET DEALER IN MY TOWN AND ASK IF THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT AND THEY HAVE AND SAID THEY DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING MAJOR WAS GOING ON AND ONE MECHANIC SAID HE THOUGHT IT WAS A STEERING PROBLEM AND HE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE STEERING WHEEL OUT AND GREASE SOMETHING, BUT THEY WILL LOOK TO EASE MY MIND. NOW YESTERDAY I RAN INTO A MAN WHO BOUGHT A '05 FOR HIS WIFE AND I ASK IF HE HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH HIS CAR CLICKING AND POPPING IN THE FRONT END AND HE SAID YES AND TOOK HIS TO THE SAME PLACES I HAVE AND TOLD HIM THE SAME THING AND IF I FIND ANY THING WRONG OUT TO LET HIM KNOW AND HE WILL ALSO COMPLAIN. I DON'T FEEL SAFE AT ALL AND ESPECIALLY WITH MY FAMILY IN THERE ALSO. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10160675

Recall campaigns

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 ↗

Defect investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.