NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
289 reportsClear category filter92,400 miles · Nov 14, 2011
Electrical System
AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR I AM UNABLE TO START IT BECAUSE THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WILL BLOCK THE CAR FROM STARTING. I WILL PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE SENSOR LIGHT WILL FLASH. I HAVE TO WAIT EXACTLY 10 MINUTES WITH THE KEY TURNED TO "ON" BEFORE THE LIGHT STOPS FLASHING AND I CAN TURN THE CAR OFF AND B…
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AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR I AM UNABLE TO START IT BECAUSE THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WILL BLOCK THE CAR FROM STARTING. I WILL PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE SENSOR LIGHT WILL FLASH. I HAVE TO WAIT EXACTLY 10 MINUTES WITH THE KEY TURNED TO "ON" BEFORE THE LIGHT STOPS FLASHING AND I CAN TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. ON A FEW OCCASIONS THIS HAS OCCURRED BACK TO BACK RESULTING IN HAVING TO WAIT AT LEAST 20 MINUTES TO START MY CAR. I HAVE SEEN THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS CAR, WHICH SEEMS TO DEFEAT THE PURPOSE OF A SAFETY FEATURE IF YOU HAVE TO WAIT IN A DARK PARKING LOT ALONE FOR 10 MINUTES BECAUSE OF FAULTY CONSTRUCTION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10435437
116,000 miles · Oct 28, 2011
Electrical System
PARKED THE CAR, CAME BACK OUT AND IT WOULDN'T START, THOUGH THERE WAS POWER FROM THE BATTERY AND THE ENGINE ACTED LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO TURN OVER (INDICATING THAT IT WASN'T THE ALTERNATOR). HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED. TURNED OUT THAT THE "THEFT SYSTEM" (PASSLOCK) LOCKED ME OUT. MECHANICS "RESET" IT. IT HAPPENED AGAIN ABOUT 10 DAY…
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PARKED THE CAR, CAME BACK OUT AND IT WOULDN'T START, THOUGH THERE WAS POWER FROM THE BATTERY AND THE ENGINE ACTED LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO TURN OVER (INDICATING THAT IT WASN'T THE ALTERNATOR). HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED. TURNED OUT THAT THE "THEFT SYSTEM" (PASSLOCK) LOCKED ME OUT. MECHANICS "RESET" IT. IT HAPPENED AGAIN ABOUT 10 DAYS LATER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10433123
Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 2011
Electrical System
NHTSA ACTION NUMBER (PE05055) WAS INITIALLY ISSUED IN 2004 FOR A DEFECTIVE TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHERS THAT BECOME INOPERATIVE ON MODEL YEAR 1999-2000 MALIBU, ALERO, GRAND AM, AND 1999 CUTLASS. THIS ACTION NUMBER WAS LATER REVISED IN 2005 TO INCLUDE MODEL YEAR 2001-2002 MALIBU, ALERO, AND GRAND AM VEHICLES. THE RESULTING DOCU…
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NHTSA ACTION NUMBER (PE05055) WAS INITIALLY ISSUED IN 2004 FOR A DEFECTIVE TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHERS THAT BECOME INOPERATIVE ON MODEL YEAR 1999-2000 MALIBU, ALERO, GRAND AM, AND 1999 CUTLASS. THIS ACTION NUMBER WAS LATER REVISED IN 2005 TO INCLUDE MODEL YEAR 2001-2002 MALIBU, ALERO, AND GRAND AM VEHICLES. THE RESULTING DOCUMENT FROM GM FOR THE INITIAL MODEL YEAR RANGE WAS: SPECIAL POLICY ADJUSTMENT - TURN SIGNALS/HAZARD WARNING FLASHERS #04098 - (DEC 16, 2004) GM DOCUMENT ID# 1578551 AND WHEN THE MODEL YEAR RANGE WAS EXTENDED: SPECIAL POLICY ADJUSTMENT-TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD WARNING FLASHERS #04098A - (JAN 11, 2006) GM DOCUMENT ID# 1750030 - I OWN (BOUGHT IT NEW) A 2003 CHEVY MALIBU THAT HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME SYMPTOM OF INTERMITTENT TURN SIGNAL FAILURE. BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT TURN SIGNALS SOMETIME WORK AND SOMETIME DO NOT. YOU CAN NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL OR WILL NOT WORK. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY RISK. THE SWITCH TYPE IN THE 2003 MALIBU APPEARS TO BE THE SAME AS IN THE PREVIOUS YEARS FOR WHICH GM ISSUED THE SPECIAL POLICIES (NOTED ABOVE). ON OCTOBER 8TH 2011, I REPLACED THE TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD WARNING FLASHER SWITCH THAT WAS IDENTIFIED IN THE GM DOCUMENT. (REPLACED WITH DORMAN PART 924-601). IT HAS BEEN ALMOST 3 WEEKS SINCE THE REPLACEMENT AND I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM. I WOULD HAVE SEEN THE PROBLEM OCCUR DURING THIS 3 WEEK PERIOD. IN CASE IT HELPS IN YOUR INVESTIGATION, THE NUMBER ON THE DEFECTIVE SWITCH I REMOVED FROM MY 2003 MALIBU IS : 22594146 0843 F I WANTED TO REPORT THIS FAILURE AS THERE IS A POSSIBLY THAT THERE WILL BE OTHERS WITH THE MODEL YEAR 2003 MALIBU''S THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AND WILL ALSO FILE A CLAIM WITH NHTSA. IF THIS IS THE CASE, GM WILL NEED TO ONCE AGAIN EXTEND THE RANGE OF VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THE DEFECTIVE SWITCH/HAZARD FLASHERS AND INCLUDE THIS EXTENDED RANGE IN THEIR SPECIAL POLICY ADJUSTMENT. *TT
NHTSA ODI #10432976
62,300 miles · Oct 18, 2011
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline
CAR WILL NOT START FUEL PUMP SHUTS DOWN, CAR THINKS IT IS BEING BROKEN INTO. HAVE TO SIT IN CAR FOR 10 MINUTES WITH KEY IN IGNITION TO OVERRIDE SYSTEM. HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES IN LAST MONTH. ALSO, FUEL PUMP SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON PARKWAY- LUCKY TO GET TO SIDE OF ROAD WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. BY THE WAY, NEW FUEL PUMP AND…
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CAR WILL NOT START FUEL PUMP SHUTS DOWN, CAR THINKS IT IS BEING BROKEN INTO. HAVE TO SIT IN CAR FOR 10 MINUTES WITH KEY IN IGNITION TO OVERRIDE SYSTEM. HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES IN LAST MONTH. ALSO, FUEL PUMP SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON PARKWAY- LUCKY TO GET TO SIDE OF ROAD WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. BY THE WAY, NEW FUEL PUMP AND MODULE REPLACED AT 60,000 SO THAT IS NOT THE ISSUE.. HOW MANY PEOPLE NEED TO GET INTO ACCIDENTS OR DIE BEFORE THE NHTSA GETS INVOLVED AND MAKES CHEVY DO THE RIGHT THING AND REPLACE THIS IGNITIONS AND PASSLOCK PARTS THAT ARE DEFECTIVE!!!! OH, AND THEY GOT A BAIL OUT- BUT THE CONSUMERS DON'T GET ANY AND HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PAY THEM FOR REPAIRS THAT THEY CAUSED IN THE FIRST PLACE GM MAKES AN ASTRONOMICAL AMOUNT OF MONEY ON THESE REPAIRS. I HOPE THE NHTSA GETS A SHARE OF THAT MONEY BECAUSE YOU CERTAINLY AREN'T INTERESTED IN CORRECTING THE SITUATION. HOW MANY YEARS AND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS DOES IT TAKE??????? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10430664
80,000 miles · Oct 16, 2011
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline
MY 2003 CHEVY MALIBU WOULD NOT START. I LEARNED THAT THE REASON IT WOULD NOT START WAS DUE TO THE THEFT SYSTEM PASS LOCK. SOMEHOW THE THEFT SYSTEM WAS TRIGGERED AND CUT THE FUEL SUPPLY TO THE ENGINE. I DID WHAT THE MANUAL SAID AND WAITED 10 MINUTES WITH THE KEY IN THE ON POSITION. THE CAR STARTED AFTER THAT; HOWEVER TWO WEEKS LA…
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MY 2003 CHEVY MALIBU WOULD NOT START. I LEARNED THAT THE REASON IT WOULD NOT START WAS DUE TO THE THEFT SYSTEM PASS LOCK. SOMEHOW THE THEFT SYSTEM WAS TRIGGERED AND CUT THE FUEL SUPPLY TO THE ENGINE. I DID WHAT THE MANUAL SAID AND WAITED 10 MINUTES WITH THE KEY IN THE ON POSITION. THE CAR STARTED AFTER THAT; HOWEVER TWO WEEKS LATER, THE CAR DOES THE SAME THING. THE PROCESS IS REPEATED TO RESET THE THEFT SYSTEM. BUT NOW I WONDER HOW MANY MORE TIMES THIS PROBLEM WILL OCCUR AND WHY HASN'T ANYTHING BEEN DONE ABOUT A RECALL. OVER 30 INCIDENTS HAVE REPORTED ONLINE AT HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/CHEVROLET/MALIBU/2003/ SO WHY HASN'T THERE BE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I AM SURE THAT MORE PEOPLE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS THEY JUST HAVE NOT REPORTED IT. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY INCONVENIENT AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOUR CAR IS ACTUALLY GOING TO START. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10430396
17,000 miles · Oct 4, 2011
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO PLACE THE GEAR IN PARK IN ORDER TO RELEASE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE M…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO PLACE THE GEAR IN PARK IN ORDER TO RELEASE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,100.
NHTSA ODI #10428696
93,000 miles · Sep 20, 2011
Electrical System
THE VEHICLE WILL NOT TURN ON EVERY FEW TIMES WHEN TRYING TO TURN IT ON. THE THEFT LIGHT BEGINS TO BLINK. I HAVE TO TURN IT TO THE "ON" POSITION FOR 10 MINUTES FOR IT TO RESTART, THEN IT WILL WORK. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10426493
Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 2011
Electrical System
PASSLOCK ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM ENGAGING AND NOT ALLOWING CAR TO START. STARTED HAPPENING ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND ASKED PROFESSIONAL ASE MECHANICS. NO WARRANTY OR TSB AVAILABLE TO FIX PROBLEM, BUT PLENTY OF COMPLAINTS. CAR HAS NOT SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10422960
Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 2011
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline
AFTER A YEAR THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOAD/RADIO AND WINDOW WOULDN'T COME ON RIGHT AWAY. THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON BUT THERE'S WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THEN THE SERVICE LIGHT WOULD COME ON MONTH AFTER I HAD A OIL CHANGE DONE. WHILE I WAS DRIVING, THE CAR JUST SLOWED UP AND STOP. TOLD BY MY MECHANIC IT WAS THE FUEL PU…
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AFTER A YEAR THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOAD/RADIO AND WINDOW WOULDN'T COME ON RIGHT AWAY. THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON BUT THERE'S WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THEN THE SERVICE LIGHT WOULD COME ON MONTH AFTER I HAD A OIL CHANGE DONE. WHILE I WAS DRIVING, THE CAR JUST SLOWED UP AND STOP. TOLD BY MY MECHANIC IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP BUT WHILE HE HAD IT FOR HALF THE DAY; THE CAR STARTED RIGHT UP WITH NO PROBLEM. ALSO SOMETIMES THERE'S A CLICKING NOISE LIKE MY SIGNAL IS ON BUT ITS NOT. I WAS TOLD IT WAS MY ALARM KEY. EVERY TIME THERE IS A INCIDENT COMPUTER SHOWS IT BUT CAN'T EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM AND IT STOP FOR AWHILE BUT COMES BACK. BEEN LIKE THIS SINCE I HAD IT AND I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER THEY KEEP IT OVER NIGHT SAME THING.
NHTSA ODI #10418809
68,000 miles · Jul 18, 2011
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM WOULD ENGAGE, INVOLUNTARILY, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. ON A FEW OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WOULD START, BUT THE WARNING THEFT LIGHT WOULD CONTINUE TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THEY COULD NOT DUPLI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM WOULD ENGAGE, INVOLUNTARILY, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. ON A FEW OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WOULD START, BUT THE WARNING THEFT LIGHT WOULD CONTINUE TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
NHTSA ODI #10413308
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 ↗