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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

View recall details →

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

What owners actually said

92 reports
35,042 miles · Jan 17, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingStructureCrash

DT*: THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THERE WAS A LOSS OF ALL POWER AND NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AROUND A SHARP CURVE WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A CRASH, THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE TO THE VEHIC…

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DT*: THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THERE WAS A LOSS OF ALL POWER AND NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AROUND A SHARP CURVE WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A CRASH, THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE POLICE WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER, BUT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. IN ADDITION TO THE STALLING PROBLEM, THE TRUNK LID LEAKED ALLOWING RAIN TO ENTER THE TRUNK COMPARTMENT. THE TRUNK CARPETING WAS REPLACED, BUT THE TRUNK LID CONTINUES TO LEAK. PRIOR TO THE PROBLEMS, THE VEHICLE WAS EXPOSED TO A HURRICANE BUT DID NOT HAVE ANY FLOOD DAMAGE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10147938

Mileage unknown · Nov 16, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control

DT: THE CONTACT STATES NEXT TO THE ACCELERATOR THERE IS NO PROTECTION BETWEEN FOOT AND A CABLE. HE IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE CONTACT'S FOOT IS ON THE PEDAL OR ON THE CABLE. THIS COULD CAUSE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. HE FEELS THERE SHOULD BE A SHIELD TO KEEP FOOT FROM HANGING. THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THAT ALL OF THE MALI…

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DT: THE CONTACT STATES NEXT TO THE ACCELERATOR THERE IS NO PROTECTION BETWEEN FOOT AND A CABLE. HE IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE CONTACT'S FOOT IS ON THE PEDAL OR ON THE CABLE. THIS COULD CAUSE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. HE FEELS THERE SHOULD BE A SHIELD TO KEEP FOOT FROM HANGING. THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THAT ALL OF THE MALIBUS WERE LIKE THIS, AND WERE NOT ABLE TO OFFER A REMEDY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10142863

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.