NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
45 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Apr 21, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
CONSUMER HAD TO CHANGE BRAKES 3 TIMES. WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE IN THE FRONT OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THE FIRST TIME, AND THEY REPLACED THE BRAKES. THEN, BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN, AND CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THIS TIME THEY TURNED THE ROTORS, AND PUT ON N…
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CONSUMER HAD TO CHANGE BRAKES 3 TIMES. WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE IN THE FRONT OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THE FIRST TIME, AND THEY REPLACED THE BRAKES. THEN, BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN, AND CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THIS TIME THEY TURNED THE ROTORS, AND PUT ON NEW BRAKES. THE SAME TYPE OF NOISE WAS HEARD AGAIN. THIS TIME, WHEN SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR CHECKING AND REPAIR, THEY REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER/CALIPERS/ ROTORS, AND PUT ON ANOTHER SET OF BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE. AFTER CONSUMER PICKED UP THE VEHICLE FROM DEALER BRAKES STILL WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER, BUT WAS TOLD BY DEALER IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF TIGHTENING UP SOME SCREWS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10068659
Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE INSPECTED, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT FRONT ROTORS WORE OUT. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ROTORS HAD BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES WITHIN ONE YEAR. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10067387
17,950 miles · Apr 11, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2003 CHEVY MALIBU. 18,000 MILES, HAD TO REPLACE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND HAVE ROTORS TURNED. I WAS CHARGED $200 FOR 2 HRS LABOR THROUGH A CHEVY DEALER, BUT I FEEL THE BRAKE PADS SHOULD HAVE LASTED LONGER. WHEN I QUESTIONED THE DEALER, THEY SAID THAT MOST OF THE MALIBU'S AND SEVERAL OTHER CARS HAD SOFT BRAKE PADS AND HAD TO BE REPL…
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2003 CHEVY MALIBU. 18,000 MILES, HAD TO REPLACE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND HAVE ROTORS TURNED. I WAS CHARGED $200 FOR 2 HRS LABOR THROUGH A CHEVY DEALER, BUT I FEEL THE BRAKE PADS SHOULD HAVE LASTED LONGER. WHEN I QUESTIONED THE DEALER, THEY SAID THAT MOST OF THE MALIBU'S AND SEVERAL OTHER CARS HAD SOFT BRAKE PADS AND HAD TO BE REPLACED EARLY. THEY WERE REPLACED WITH A THICKER BRAKE PAD. HOW COME THEY DIDN'T USE THESE TO START WITH? *JB
NHTSA ODI #10065938
Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKES WERE REPLACED AT 13,700 MILES. NOW CONSUMER THINK SHE NEED TO REPLACE THE BRAKES AGAIN. *PH *LA
NHTSA ODI #10066952
23,000 miles · Apr 2, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH AND WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES VEHICLE SHUDDERED VIOLENTLY AND THE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED ON MANY OCCASIONS, AND THE CONSUMER FELT THAT LOST OF CONTROL WAS IMMINENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS. AFTERWARDS THE VEHICLE PERFORMED WORSE THAN…
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WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH AND WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES VEHICLE SHUDDERED VIOLENTLY AND THE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED ON MANY OCCASIONS, AND THE CONSUMER FELT THAT LOST OF CONTROL WAS IMMINENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS. AFTERWARDS THE VEHICLE PERFORMED WORSE THAN PRIOR TO REPAIRS. *AK THE ROTORS WERE WARPED. *SC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10061086
Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE WHICH CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE INSPECTED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE FRONT ROTORS WORE OUT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10050338
Mileage unknown · Nov 28, 2003
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspension
MANUFACTURING SAFETY ISSUE - CHEVROLET MALIBU 2003 FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY HUBS ROTORS, AND BRAKES. CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS. DEALER AND GENERAL MOTORS REFUSES TO CORRECT. ROTORS WARPED, CAUSING BRAKE PADS TO WEAR OUT. TURNED TWICE ALREADY. LEFT HUB REPLACED. NOW EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN WITH BRAKING. DEALER REFUSES TO R…
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MANUFACTURING SAFETY ISSUE - CHEVROLET MALIBU 2003 FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY HUBS ROTORS, AND BRAKES. CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS. DEALER AND GENERAL MOTORS REFUSES TO CORRECT. ROTORS WARPED, CAUSING BRAKE PADS TO WEAR OUT. TURNED TWICE ALREADY. LEFT HUB REPLACED. NOW EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN WITH BRAKING. DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR DURING NOVEMBER 28, 2003 VISIT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10047712
Mileage unknown · Nov 19, 2003
Exterior LightingService Brakes, Hydraulic
2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH ROTORS.*MR THE CONSUMER WAS ALSO TOLD THE VEHICLE HAD A DEFECTIVE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH WHICH CAUSED PARTS TO ACTUALLY MELT BECAUSE THE BRAKES STAYED ENGAGED WHILE DRIVING. ONE MONTH LATER THE VEHICLE WAS BACK TO EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM, THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A…
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2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH ROTORS.*MR THE CONSUMER WAS ALSO TOLD THE VEHICLE HAD A DEFECTIVE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH WHICH CAUSED PARTS TO ACTUALLY MELT BECAUSE THE BRAKES STAYED ENGAGED WHILE DRIVING. ONE MONTH LATER THE VEHICLE WAS BACK TO EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM, THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A U-TURN, THE TIRE DID NOT TURN THEY GRABBED THE ROAD AND SAT THERE JUST BENDING THE PRESSURE OF THE TURN AND THE VEHICLE BUCKED. *JB *NM
NHTSA ODI #10048567
1,368 miles · Nov 5, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentService Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKES STARTED TO MAKE A RUBBING NOISE WHICH PROGRESSED TO A SQUEAKING NOISE. ALSO, BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO DOWN TO THE FLOOR TO STOP THE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS REPLACED BRAKE PADS/FRONT ROTORS/ BRAKE BOOSTER/CALIPERS, AND BRAKE LINES, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK THE FRONT DRIVER WINDOW FAILED TO ROLL UP, THE ENGINE LIGHT …
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BRAKES STARTED TO MAKE A RUBBING NOISE WHICH PROGRESSED TO A SQUEAKING NOISE. ALSO, BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO DOWN TO THE FLOOR TO STOP THE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS REPLACED BRAKE PADS/FRONT ROTORS/ BRAKE BOOSTER/CALIPERS, AND BRAKE LINES, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK THE FRONT DRIVER WINDOW FAILED TO ROLL UP, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE A/C CONTROL WAS INOPERATIVE AND COOLING PROPERLY, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. *JB *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10042674
16,375 miles · Oct 27, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEED REPLACEMENT AFTER 8,000-25,000 MILES DUE TO RUST AND WEAR. BRAKES WERE "EXCELLENT" AT 10,871 MILES, THEN NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT 16,350 ALONG WITH NEW ROTORS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10043690
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 ↗