NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
289 reportsClear category filter140,000 miles · Feb 26, 2015
Electrical SystemPower Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHIFT LEVER FAILED TO SHIFT INTO PARK LEAVING THE VEHICLE IN THE ACCESSORY MODE, WHICH WOULD DRAIN THE BATTERY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFTER LINKAGE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE RE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHIFT LEVER FAILED TO SHIFT INTO PARK LEAVING THE VEHICLE IN THE ACCESSORY MODE, WHICH WOULD DRAIN THE BATTERY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFTER LINKAGE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
NHTSA ODI #10690791
56,040 miles · Feb 25, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering
WAS NOT ABLE TO GET KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE KEYS WOULD STICK, AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEYS. TOOK IT TO A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP, AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE SHIFTER AND KNOB ASSEMBLY. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND USED THE ORIGINAL KEYS. FURTHERMORE, THIS CAR HAD LOW MILEAGE, 56,040 MILES, FOR A …
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WAS NOT ABLE TO GET KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE KEYS WOULD STICK, AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEYS. TOOK IT TO A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP, AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE SHIFTER AND KNOB ASSEMBLY. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND USED THE ORIGINAL KEYS. FURTHERMORE, THIS CAR HAD LOW MILEAGE, 56,040 MILES, FOR A SEVEN YEAR OLD CAR, AND WAS BARELY DRIVEN TO HAVE TO HAVE SUCH A SERIOUS REPAIR. I SEE THAT THERE IS SOME KIND OF TECHNICAL BULLETIN FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT CHEVROLET SHOULD HAVE PAID FOR THE REPAIR INSTEAD OF CHARGING ME THE $346.56 TO REPAIR A KNOWN ISSUE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. I HAVE HAD SO MUCH TROUBLE WITH MY 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU THAT I WOULD NEVER PURCHASE A CHEVROLET OR GM PRODUCT EVER AGAIN. MOST OF THE ISSUES THAT I SEE IN THE SERVICE BULLETINS ARE ISSUES THAT I HAVE ALSO HAD. AFTER FINDING THIS WEBSITE, I HOPE TO LET OTHER CHEVROLET MALIBU OWNERS KNOW OF THE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS THAT CAN OCCUR WITH THEIR VEHICLES, AND ALSO HOPE THAT ONE DAY, SOMETHING CAN BE DONE TO MAKE CHEVROLET LIABLE FOR ALL THESE ISSUES. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10690718
65,200 miles · Feb 23, 2015
Electrical System
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE F…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,200.
NHTSA ODI #10690062
147,727 miles · Feb 18, 2015
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM STARTING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILU…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM STARTING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,727.
NHTSA ODI #10683990
Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 2015
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineSuspension
2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH VEHICLE SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. *MW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME WAS SEPTEMBER 28, 2006 AND THE SECOND TIME WAS JUNE 3, 3014. AFTER THE SECOND SWITCH WAS INSTALLED, THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED OTHER PR…
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2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH VEHICLE SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. *MW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME WAS SEPTEMBER 28, 2006 AND THE SECOND TIME WAS JUNE 3, 3014. AFTER THE SECOND SWITCH WAS INSTALLED, THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED OTHER PROBLEMS. SHE WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A BODY CONTROL MODULE AND LOCK SWITCHES. THE DEALER INSTALLED A CHIP IN THE KEYS, WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE IGNITION PROBLEM. THE FRONT STRUTS WERE REPLACED AND THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10663875
Mileage unknown · Feb 6, 2015
Electrical System
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
NHTSA ODI #10681751
79,000 miles · Feb 6, 2015
Electrical SystemEngine
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTIONED INTERMITTENTLY AS THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES AND SENSORS FLASHED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V4…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTIONED INTERMITTENTLY AS THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES AND SENSORS FLASHED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.
NHTSA ODI #10681731
103,000 miles · Jan 30, 2015
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A PIECE OF CLOTHING BECAME CAUGHT IN THE IGNITION KEY WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE IGNITION KEY THEN HAPHAZARDLY RELEASED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO DRIVE NORMALLY WITHOUT THE KEY BEING IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT REINSERTED THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A PIECE OF CLOTHING BECAME CAUGHT IN THE IGNITION KEY WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE IGNITION KEY THEN HAPHAZARDLY RELEASED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO DRIVE NORMALLY WITHOUT THE KEY BEING IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT REINSERTED THE KEY WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL POWERED ON AND RUNNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. UPDATED 04/13/15*LJ UPDATED 9/20/2017*CN
NHTSA ODI #10679914
500 miles · Jan 29, 2015
Electrical System
THE KEY WILL SHIFT FROM THE 'ON' POSITION TO THE 'ACCESSORY' OR 'OFF' POSITION BY ITSELF AND WITHOUT WARNING. THIS SHUTS DOWN THE ENGINE, PS, PB, AIRBAGS.... I FIRST COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS BACK IN 2003/2004 TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD TO REMOVE THE KEYS FORM THE KEY RING. NOW THIS CAR IS UNDER A RECALL (GM RECALL #N14350, NHTSA…
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THE KEY WILL SHIFT FROM THE 'ON' POSITION TO THE 'ACCESSORY' OR 'OFF' POSITION BY ITSELF AND WITHOUT WARNING. THIS SHUTS DOWN THE ENGINE, PS, PB, AIRBAGS.... I FIRST COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS BACK IN 2003/2004 TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD TO REMOVE THE KEYS FORM THE KEY RING. NOW THIS CAR IS UNDER A RECALL (GM RECALL #N14350, NHTSA RECALL #14V400) AND ALL GM AND THE DEALER SAY THEY WILL DO IS SHAVE OFF SOME OF THE PLASTIC FROM THE GM EMBLEM ON THE ORIGINAL KEYS TO MAKE THEM LIGHTER. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY DO NOT EVEN HAVE TO HAVE THE CAR IN THE SHOP - ALL THEY DO IS MODIFY THE PLASTIC EMBLEM ON THE ORIGINAL KEYS. THIS WON'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM AS I DON'T USE THE ORIGINAL GM KEYS AND THERE IS NO PLASTIC TO SHAVE OFF AND I DON'T HAVE A HUGE KEY RING FULL OF KEYS. THIS IS AN IGNITION PROBLEM, NOT A KEY PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10679749
Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2015
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline
2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU CUSTOMER REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPLACEMENT OF IGNITION SWITCH. *MW ALSO, THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10661699
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 ↗