Car shuts off while driving.Will start up when fuel gauge gets power also windows ,radio,lightening work airbag light&service engine soon light on
2003 Chevrolet Malibu
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2003 Chevrolet Malibu do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 310.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Malibu years →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
429 reports with mileage · 140 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 289 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 85 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 47 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Air Bags complaints
27 reportsMY DAUGHTER GOT A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FOR HER 2003 CHEVY MALIBU. SHE TOOK THE CAR TO MAGUIRE CHEVROLET 2073 ROUTE 96 IN TRUMANSBURG, NY 14886 (607)-387-6111 (THIS DEALER WAS PRINTED ON THE RECALL CARD) IN AUGUST TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIRED. SOMEONE AT THAT DEALERSHIP TOLD HER THAT THERE IS NO SUCH RECALL. I FOUND IT FISHY AT TH…
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MY DAUGHTER GOT A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FOR HER 2003 CHEVY MALIBU. SHE TOOK THE CAR TO MAGUIRE CHEVROLET 2073 ROUTE 96 IN TRUMANSBURG, NY 14886 (607)-387-6111 (THIS DEALER WAS PRINTED ON THE RECALL CARD) IN AUGUST TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIRED. SOMEONE AT THAT DEALERSHIP TOLD HER THAT THERE IS NO SUCH RECALL. I FOUND IT FISHY AT THE TIME. WE HAVE RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL NOTICE EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE OTHER ONE. SO, I HAVE RESEARCHED IT ONLINE. THERE IS INDEED A RECALL, AND IT CAN BE SERIOUS. IT CLEARLY STATES THAT THERE COULD BE A POSSIBILITY OF THE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING. WHAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO MY DAUGHTER OR MY GRANDSON, IN THE MEANTIME, BECAUSE MAGUIRE CHEVROLET WERE TOO LAZY TO MAKE THE REPAIRS? I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS IS ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR BY A DEALERSHIP? THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER.
MY DAUGHTER WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT SHE WAS GOING 25 TO 30 MPH ON A SURFACE STREET AND REAR ENDED A CAR IN TRAFFIC THE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. SHE HIT HER HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL.
AIRBAG RED WARNING LIGHT IS FLASHING ON DASHBOARD WHEN TURNING THE IGNITION. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. I AM AFRAID THE AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY AT ANY TIME EVEN IF THERE IS NO CAR CRASH. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 2 TIMES. ONCE WHEN THE CAR WAS SLUGGISH AND I HAD TO TURN IT OFF AT ATOP LIGHT BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER …
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AIRBAG RED WARNING LIGHT IS FLASHING ON DASHBOARD WHEN TURNING THE IGNITION. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. I AM AFRAID THE AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY AT ANY TIME EVEN IF THERE IS NO CAR CRASH. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 2 TIMES. ONCE WHEN THE CAR WAS SLUGGISH AND I HAD TO TURN IT OFF AT ATOP LIGHT BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 40 MILES AND HOUR. THE OTHER TIME IT HAPPENED JUST WHEN I WAS STARTING THE CAR. I
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MERGE INTO ANOTHER LANE, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO TWO BARRELS. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE STALLED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A JUNK YARD. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A LEFT KNEE, LEFT ANKLE, …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MERGE INTO ANOTHER LANE, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO TWO BARRELS. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE STALLED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A JUNK YARD. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A LEFT KNEE, LEFT ANKLE, AND WHIPLASH INJURIES THAT NEEDED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V40000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,200. UPDATED 04/20/16*LJ CONSUMER STATED THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED AND GM SAYS DUE TO AIR BAGS IMPLODING CONSUMER HAD POWER. CONSUMER WAS BEHIND THE STEERING AND IT LOCKED NO BRAKES. UPDATED 06/05/18*JB
2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION SWITCH RECALL, STEERING AND AIRBAG MALFUNCTIONS. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON MAY 19, 2011. SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHICH SENT THE VEHICLE IN THE OPPOSITE LANE HITTING ANOTHER CAR. HER VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND ENDED UP GOING BACK…
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2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION SWITCH RECALL, STEERING AND AIRBAG MALFUNCTIONS. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON MAY 19, 2011. SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHICH SENT THE VEHICLE IN THE OPPOSITE LANE HITTING ANOTHER CAR. HER VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND ENDED UP GOING BACKWARDS INTO A SIGN AND THEN HITTING TWO PARKED VEHICLES IN A PARKING LOT. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY UNTIL AFTER SHE HIT THE SIGN. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS UNAWARE THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH IGNITION SWITCH. SHE STATED SHE HAD SEVERAL KEYS ON HER RING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED ANOTHER VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE I…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED ANOTHER VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE REMEDY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS IN THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DEPLOY AFTER A HEAD ON COLLISION. AN INJURY WAS SUSTAINED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.
I WAS TRAVELING WITH THE RIGHT OF WAY AT THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT WHEN SOMEONE PULLED INTO MY PATH CAUSING ME TO HIT THEM. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND I TOOK THE FULL FORCE OF THE COLLISION INTO MY CHEST. *TR
MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON AND GIVING ME PROBLEMS. JUST TOOK IT IN TO MY CAR REPAIR THEY SAID NOW ITS SHOWS AIR BAG ERROR ALSO. THEY WANT TO CHANGE OUT THE IGNITION SWITCH. THIS CAR HAS HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH ONLY 66 THOUSAND MILES! NOW THE AIR BAGS PROBABLY WONT WORK WHEN NEEDED. I WANT THIS FIXED ON THE IGN…
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MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON AND GIVING ME PROBLEMS. JUST TOOK IT IN TO MY CAR REPAIR THEY SAID NOW ITS SHOWS AIR BAG ERROR ALSO. THEY WANT TO CHANGE OUT THE IGNITION SWITCH. THIS CAR HAS HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH ONLY 66 THOUSAND MILES! NOW THE AIR BAGS PROBABLY WONT WORK WHEN NEEDED. I WANT THIS FIXED ON THE IGNITION RECALL. EVERY TIME I PULL UP TO MY HOME AFTER DRIVING THIS CAR I AM JUST WAITING FOR IT TO START ON FIRE AS NOTHING SEEMS TO WORK LIKE IT SHOULD. *JS
Official recalls
214V400000 · 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.
04V528000 · Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal
Nov 1, 2004
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 124, 'ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEMS.' IN HOT AMBIENT CONDITIONS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM MAY STICK AT THE ATTACHMENT TO THE BRACKET AND NOT RETURN TO THE ENGINE IDLE POSITION WHEN THE OPERATOR LIFTS HIS FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FAILURE TO RETURN TO IDLE COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM AND REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW ASSEMBLY, IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 20, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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