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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

What owners actually said

92 reports
90,000 miles · Jul 26, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE BRACKET HOLDING THE BRAKE MANIFOLD TO THE FRAME LOST ITS BOLTS CAUSING THE FRONT RIGHT BRAKE LINE TO RUB THE ENGINE AND CAUSE A HOLE IN THE LINE. MY WIFE LOST ALL HER BRAKE FLUID AND ALSO HER BRAKES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10235841

73,000 miles · May 22, 2008
Electrical System

1)IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. I WAS TOLD BY A SERVICE EMPLOYEE AT THE CHEVY DEALER TO MAKE SURE MY EXTENDED SERVICE CONTRACT COVERED ELECTRICAL PARTS BECAUSE THE SWITCH WOULD FAIL AND IT WOULD COST 500.00 TO FIX. SURE ENOUGH, 6 MONTHS LATER, IT DID. WARRANTY COVERED PART REPLACEMENT. 2) TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY HARD. THIS HAPPENE…

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1)IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. I WAS TOLD BY A SERVICE EMPLOYEE AT THE CHEVY DEALER TO MAKE SURE MY EXTENDED SERVICE CONTRACT COVERED ELECTRICAL PARTS BECAUSE THE SWITCH WOULD FAIL AND IT WOULD COST 500.00 TO FIX. SURE ENOUGH, 6 MONTHS LATER, IT DID. WARRANTY COVERED PART REPLACEMENT. 2) TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY HARD. THIS HAPPENED 4 DAYS IN A ROW. AFTER DRIVING FOR APPROX 2 HOURS, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING EXTREMELY HARD. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT AND THE PROBLEM WAS GONE. AFTER THE 4TH DAY, IT HAS NOT HAPPENED AGAIN FOR APPROX 5 MONTHS NOW. 3) ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. WINDOW MOTOR WENT OUT. REPLACED PART. HIGH/LOW BEAM (COMBINATION SWITCH) WENT OUT, REPLACED PART. NOW HORN HONKS AT WILL. HAD TO PULL THE RELAY TO STOP IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10228671

39,000 miles · Jul 29, 2007
Electrical System

IN THE PAST WEEK, BOTH OF MY SONS' CARS DEVELOPED THE SAME PROBLEM. THE THEFT SECURITY SYSTEM (GM PASSLOCK SYSTEM) FAILED WITH A RESULTING COST OF $500.00 EACH TO REPAIR. ON E WAS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO AND THE OTHER A 2005 CHEVROLET CLASSIC. THIS IS A BIT TOOOOO COINCIDENTAL FOR ME. I LOOKED AT FORUMS ONLINE AND HAVE FOUN…

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IN THE PAST WEEK, BOTH OF MY SONS' CARS DEVELOPED THE SAME PROBLEM. THE THEFT SECURITY SYSTEM (GM PASSLOCK SYSTEM) FAILED WITH A RESULTING COST OF $500.00 EACH TO REPAIR. ON E WAS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO AND THE OTHER A 2005 CHEVROLET CLASSIC. THIS IS A BIT TOOOOO COINCIDENTAL FOR ME. I LOOKED AT FORUMS ONLINE AND HAVE FOUND THAT MANY PEOPLE WITH GM VEHICLES HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME PART NUMBER.... THIS IS A RECALL ITEM, AND GM NEEDS TO MAKE IT RIGHT IF THEY WANT TO SELL CARS TO AMERICANS. THE CARS JUST REFUSE TO RECOGNIZE THE IGNITION KEY. THIS GOES FOR BACKUP IGNITION KEYS TOO. HELP US. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10197755

35,849 miles · Apr 10, 2007
Electrical System

THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK BROKE THAT IN TURN MADE THE IGNITION SWITCH GO OUT AND NOT RECOGNIZE THAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO TURN, CAUSING THE LOCK AND TUMBLER TO NEED TO BE REPLACED. THEN, AFTER BEING REPLACED IT NEEDED TO BE TAKEN TO A DEALER TO HAVE A FLASH DONE TO IT, FOR THE CAR TO RECOGNIZE THE NEW IGNITION. YOU CAN'T GET OLD PAR…

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THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK BROKE THAT IN TURN MADE THE IGNITION SWITCH GO OUT AND NOT RECOGNIZE THAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO TURN, CAUSING THE LOCK AND TUMBLER TO NEED TO BE REPLACED. THEN, AFTER BEING REPLACED IT NEEDED TO BE TAKEN TO A DEALER TO HAVE A FLASH DONE TO IT, FOR THE CAR TO RECOGNIZE THE NEW IGNITION. YOU CAN'T GET OLD PARTS FOR THIS, AND THE PARTS HAVE TO BE PURCHASED FROM THE DEALER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10187484

Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I PURCHASED THE 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC FROM A NEARBY TOWN DEALERSHIP AND WAS PLEASED UNTIL ABOUT 1 MONTH LATER WHEN I KEPT HEARING A LOUD SCREECHING SOUNDS COMING FROM THE FRONT END. THINKING IT WAS THE BRAKES GOING BAD, I HAD A FRIEND WHO WORKED ON CARS, CHECK IT OUT AND HE FOUND THE BRAKE CALIPER HAD GONE BAD. THE CAR…

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I PURCHASED THE 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC FROM A NEARBY TOWN DEALERSHIP AND WAS PLEASED UNTIL ABOUT 1 MONTH LATER WHEN I KEPT HEARING A LOUD SCREECHING SOUNDS COMING FROM THE FRONT END. THINKING IT WAS THE BRAKES GOING BAD, I HAD A FRIEND WHO WORKED ON CARS, CHECK IT OUT AND HE FOUND THE BRAKE CALIPER HAD GONE BAD. THE CAR HAD ONLY 32,000 MILES ON IT, AND IT WAS FAIRLY NEW HE COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS NEW CAR WOULD HAVE A CALIPER GOING BAD THAT FAST. IT WAS PRIOR OWNED AS A COMPANY PROGRAM CAR. HE REPLACED THE BRAKES AND CALIPER AND NOW EVERYTHING WAS FINE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10187467

27,000 miles · Jan 22, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POPPING SOUND IN THE STEERING WHEEL HAS OCCURRED SINCE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS A PROBLEM WITH HIS BRAKES. THE CALIPERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES SINCE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY WORKED FOR A F…

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TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POPPING SOUND IN THE STEERING WHEEL HAS OCCURRED SINCE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS A PROBLEM WITH HIS BRAKES. THE CALIPERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES SINCE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY WORKED FOR A FEW DAYS AND BEGAN TO SQUEAK EXCESSIVELY AGAIN. ALSO, THERE WAS AN EGG SMELL IN HIS CAR AND BEGAN A FEW MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT COULD BE DONE TO CORRECT THE ONGOING VEHICLE INCIDENTS/FAILURES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10179342

25,168 miles · Jul 5, 2006
Electrical System

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE ENTIRE LIGHTING SYSTEM FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE MANUALLY SWITCHED ON AND THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER. THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED. ON THE FIRST AND SECOND OCCASIONS THE ELECTRICAL COM…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE ENTIRE LIGHTING SYSTEM FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE MANUALLY SWITCHED ON AND THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER. THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED. ON THE FIRST AND SECOND OCCASIONS THE ELECTRICAL COMPUTER SYSTEM WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.

NHTSA ODI #10161506

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…

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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

Mileage unknown · Jun 2, 2006
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

PURCHASED CAR 12/26/05- IN FEBRUARY, HEARD A STRANGE RATTLING SOUND IN CAR ON RIGHT HAND (PASSENGER) SIDE OF CAR. SPOKE TO DEALERSHIP ONCE ABOUT IT, MY HUSBAND TOOK REP ON DRIVE SO HE COULD HEAR IT. HE SAID HE COULD HEAR IT... TAKE IT TO SERVICE. HUSBAND TOOK THE CAR INTO SERVICE. THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE SOUND, COULD …

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PURCHASED CAR 12/26/05- IN FEBRUARY, HEARD A STRANGE RATTLING SOUND IN CAR ON RIGHT HAND (PASSENGER) SIDE OF CAR. SPOKE TO DEALERSHIP ONCE ABOUT IT, MY HUSBAND TOOK REP ON DRIVE SO HE COULD HEAR IT. HE SAID HE COULD HEAR IT... TAKE IT TO SERVICE. HUSBAND TOOK THE CAR INTO SERVICE. THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE SOUND, COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. MAY 26, 2006 - DRIVING ALONG AT 8:00 A.M. ON A FRIDAY MORNING - WHILE DRIVING ALONG CURVE, CAR LOST CONTROL, ABOUT TO GO INTO DITCH ON RIGHT HAND SIDE, SWERVED TO THE LEFT TO AVOID. FELT LIKE CAR WAS OUT OF CONTROL, ALMOST HIT ONCOMING TRAFFIC, SWERVED TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID, CONSEQUENTLY RAN INTO DITCH. COULD NOT SLOW CAR DOWN. HIT DRIVEWAY AHEAD OF ME AND CAR WENT AIRBORNE LANDING IN DITCH ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY. I SURVIVED, NO INJURIES. CAR TOTALED. PURCHASED ANOTHER CHEVY MALIBU LT BUT NEW YEAR 2006. FIGURED ANY KINKS WOULD BE WORKED OUT IN THE NEW MODEL. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10158849

55 miles · May 11, 2006
Vehicle Speed Control

I'D JUST ENTERED ONTO THE FREEWAY AND WAS GOING ABOUT 55 MPH WHEN MY CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AT WHICH TIME I ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT MOVE. I THOUGHT THAT MAYBE THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SO I TURNED IT ON THEN OFF AGAIN SEVERAL TIMES AND EACH TIME ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE BUT THE PEDAL ST…

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I'D JUST ENTERED ONTO THE FREEWAY AND WAS GOING ABOUT 55 MPH WHEN MY CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AT WHICH TIME I ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT MOVE. I THOUGHT THAT MAYBE THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SO I TURNED IT ON THEN OFF AGAIN SEVERAL TIMES AND EACH TIME ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE BUT THE PEDAL STILL WOULD NOT MOVE AND WHILE AT THE SAME MANEUVER WITH CARS ON THE FREEWAY. I ENDED UP EXITING ABOUT 4 MILES DOWN THE ROAD USING AN EXIT WITH A LONG EXIT RAMP. AS SOON AS I EXITED I PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND IT BEGAN TO JERK BUT SLOW DOWN SOME BUT NOT FAST ENOUGH AS THERE WERE CARS STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT AT THE END OF THE RAMP AND THERE WAS NOT MUCH TIME LEFT, SO AT THAT POINT I PUT THE CAR INTO PARK WHICH CAUSED MY PASSENGER AND I TO BE THROWN FORWARD AND THE SEAT BELTS TIGHTENED AROUND US. AFTER A FEW MINUTES I RESTARTED THE CAR AND IT BEGAN TO REV UP FASTER AND FASTER SO I IMMEDIATELY CALLED FOR CHEVY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A NEARBY DEALERSHIP. THIS OCCURRED ON YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AND I AM AWAITING A CALL FROM THE DEALERSHIP TO INFORM ME OF WHY THIS HAPPENED AND TO REPAIR MY CAR. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10157282

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.