NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
289 reportsClear category filter40,000 miles · Jul 24, 2014
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WHEN THE KEY WAS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SEVERAL ATTEMPTS HAD TO BE MADE BEFORE THE VEHICLE STARTED AND THE THEFT SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE PROBLEM RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WHEN THE KEY WAS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SEVERAL ATTEMPTS HAD TO BE MADE BEFORE THE VEHICLE STARTED AND THE THEFT SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE PROBLEM RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE ELECTRONIC CHIP IN KEY LOST COMMUNICATION WITH THE ELECTRONIC MODULE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURE INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10616093
240,000 miles · Jul 18, 2014
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWN A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE REPAIR FAILED TO REMEDY THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS R…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWN A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE REPAIR FAILED TO REMEDY THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V171000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 240,000.
NHTSA ODI #10614464
140,000 miles · Jul 17, 2014
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline
THIS ANTI THEFT LAMP IS ON IN MY CAR AND I CANNOT DRIVE. HAVE A HUSBAND WHO HAD A STROKE AND I NEED TO BE AT THE HOSPITAL THIS IS HORRIBLE. DRIVING DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF THE MONTH IN A 40MPH ZONE THE CAR TURNED OFF AND THAT ANTI THEFT LAMP WAS ON, I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND AVOID AN ACCIDENT VERY SCARY SITUAT…
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THIS ANTI THEFT LAMP IS ON IN MY CAR AND I CANNOT DRIVE. HAVE A HUSBAND WHO HAD A STROKE AND I NEED TO BE AT THE HOSPITAL THIS IS HORRIBLE. DRIVING DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF THE MONTH IN A 40MPH ZONE THE CAR TURNED OFF AND THAT ANTI THEFT LAMP WAS ON, I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND AVOID AN ACCIDENT VERY SCARY SITUATION. LAST NIGHT I COULD NOT GET HOME AND WAS STRANDED AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT START. CAR TOWED HOME TODAY AND THIS LAMP IS STILL ON. I AM BEING TOLD THAT IT IS PROBABLY THE KEYS, THERE ARE 3 KEYS ALL OF WHICH ARE NO LONGER WORKING. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE UTILIZING PUTTING THE KEY TO THE ON POSITION WAITING 10 MINUTES AND THE CAR WILL START WELL THIS TIME IT IS NOT WORKING. REALIZED A FEW WEEKS AGO AFTER LOCKING THE DOORS ON THE CAR YOU WOULD HEAR A BEEP LIKE I HAD A KEYLESS ENTRY WHICH I DO NOT HAVE. HELP THIS IS EXTREMLY SERIOUS I CANNOT DRIVE MY VEHICLE AND I NEED TO WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO ISSUE REMEDIES FOR THESE HORRIBLE PROBLEMS WE ARE HAVING WITH THESE VEHICLES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10611360
40,054 miles · Jul 11, 2014
Electrical System
LOUD NOISE. REPLACED STARTER ASSEMBLY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10609822
63,000 miles · Jul 9, 2014
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ANTI-THEFT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER ACTIVATED THE AIR FLOW DID NOT PROPERLY CIRCULATE THROUGH THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTU…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ANTI-THEFT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER ACTIVATED THE AIR FLOW DID NOT PROPERLY CIRCULATE THROUGH THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.
NHTSA ODI #10609261
66,237 miles · Jul 8, 2014
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine
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
NHTSA ODI #10608864
95,000 miles · Jun 28, 2014
Electrical System
WHEN TRYING TO START CAR, OFTEN THE THEFT KILL ENGAGES. I HAVE TO WAIT 10 MINUTES WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION START POSITION BEFORE IT WILL START. CAN THIS BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE CARS THAT TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10606609
58,800 miles · Jun 24, 2014
Electrical System
THERE ARE MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VEHICLE. SO MUCH SO THAT THE FACT THAT GM HAS NOT INSTITUTED A RECALL IS BEYOND MY BELIEF. IT MUST BE BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY ISSUES TO RECTIFY, IT IS NOT COST EFFECTIVE FOR THEM TO DO SO. SO PUT EVERYDAY LIVES AT RISK INSTEAD.THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN INTERMITTENTLY ONGOI…
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THERE ARE MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VEHICLE. SO MUCH SO THAT THE FACT THAT GM HAS NOT INSTITUTED A RECALL IS BEYOND MY BELIEF. IT MUST BE BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY ISSUES TO RECTIFY, IT IS NOT COST EFFECTIVE FOR THEM TO DO SO. SO PUT EVERYDAY LIVES AT RISK INSTEAD.THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN INTERMITTENTLY ONGOING JUST BEFORE THE CAR HIT 50,000 MILES OR SO. IT STARTED WITH THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES I'VE HAD TO RESET THE CAR ALARM IN ORDER FOR IT TO START, DURING THE WARM SUMMER WEATHER IT'S AN ABOMINATION. SOMETIMES I MUST RESET IT 2-3 TIMES A DAY. NEXT IS THE HAZARD LIGHT IT INTERMITTENTLY CLICKS INCESSANTLY. DURING THIS TIME IT'S A CRAPSHOOT IF YOUR TURN SIGNALS WORK. I'VE HAD TO REMOVE THE HAZARD LIGHT FROM ITS HOUSING IN ORDER TO MANIPULATE IT TO GET TURN SIGNALS TO WORK WHEN IT'S CLICKING. ALSO THE VEHICLE CHIMES AT TIMES WHEN I'M DRIVING. IT'S THE TYPE OF CHIME YOU HEAR WHEN YOU LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND HAVE THE DOOR OPEN.THIS IS LESS FREQUENT THEN THE HAZARD LIGHT CLICKING BUT AN ANNOYANCE JUST THE SAME. I'VE ALSO HAVE HAD A SITUATION ON WAY TO EMPLOYMENT AND THE CAR LOST POWER. LUCKILY NO ACCIDENT RESULTED. WHETHER THIS WAS DUE TO SIMILAR ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH RECENT THE GM RECALLS PRESENTLY OR ASSOCIATED WITH MY CURRENT ISSUES, I DO NOT KNOW. I DO NOT LET ANYONE ELSE USE CAR AND MINIMIZE MY USE OF IT AS WELL. LUCKILY MY JOB IS LOCAL BUT I DO WONDER IF MY SAFETY'S COMPROMISED EVERY TIME I GET INTO THIS VEHICLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10605644
78,000 miles · Jun 23, 2014
Electrical SystemEngine
6-10-14 NO CRANK START ,HAD TO RESET SECURITY SYSTEMS CODE B2960 AND P1626C FIRESTONE 312-787-8828 STORE#026514 CHICAGO,IL 60610 6-19-14 WAS DIVING ON LAKE SHORE DR GOT ON OFF RAMP AND THE CAR JUST CUT OFF NO POWER IT DID START BACK UP BUT LUCKY IT DIDN'T HAPPEN WENT I WAS GOING FAST. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10605109
105,000 miles · Jun 19, 2014
Electrical System
SUBJECT VEHICLE HIT A LARGE POTHOLE ON US INTERSTATE; THEFT DETERRENT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. STOPPED VEHICLE, TURNED OFF CAR. RESTARTED CAR, THEFT LIGHT OFF, RESUMED COURSE/SPEED TO FINAL DESTINATION. APPROXIMATELY 5 DAYS LATER, AFTER ONLY LOCAL CITY DRIVING DURING THESE 5 DAYS, CAR WOULD NOT START WHILE PARKED IN HOME GARAG…
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SUBJECT VEHICLE HIT A LARGE POTHOLE ON US INTERSTATE; THEFT DETERRENT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. STOPPED VEHICLE, TURNED OFF CAR. RESTARTED CAR, THEFT LIGHT OFF, RESUMED COURSE/SPEED TO FINAL DESTINATION. APPROXIMATELY 5 DAYS LATER, AFTER ONLY LOCAL CITY DRIVING DURING THESE 5 DAYS, CAR WOULD NOT START WHILE PARKED IN HOME GARAGE. AFTER ATTEMPT AT JUMP START, HAD CAR TOWED TO LOCAL GARAGE WHERE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED ISSUE AS "CAR WENT INTO THEFT MODE." TECHNICIAN RESET AND CAUTIONED THAT SUBJECT VEHICLE MAY NEED NEW IGNITION CONTROL. THIS IS THIRD OR FOURTH TIME THEFT DETERRENT WARNING LIGHT HAS ENGAGED OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS, BUT ONLY TIME CAR HAS SHUT DOWN AND NOT STARTED. STILL USING ORIGINAL KEY, ALTHOUGH I HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY REMOVED IT FROM KEY CHAIN TO AVOID RECURRENCE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10604482
Official recalls
2Jul 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.
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 ↗