IllustrationWHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THERE WAS A DELAY BEFORE VEHICLE WOULD STOP. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE 22 TIMES, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. *AK
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
610–25K
6625–50K
9850–75K
7175–100K
97100–150K
36150K+
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.
35 crash reports4 fire reports17 injury reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
45 reportsCOMPLETE FRONT BRAKE FAILURE WITH NO WARNING. *LA
CHEVROLET 2003 MALIBU - THE CAR WAS LEASED IN MARCH 2003. THE BRAKES WERE FAILING AND THE CAR WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY COULD NOT DETECT ANY PROBLEMS SINCE NO LIGHTS CAME ON IN THE CAR. THE PROBLEM OCCURRENCE IS UNPREDICTABLE. BRAKES BECOME VERY HARD AND CAR DOESN'T STOP, STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES, CAR DOES NOT ACCELER…
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CHEVROLET 2003 MALIBU - THE CAR WAS LEASED IN MARCH 2003. THE BRAKES WERE FAILING AND THE CAR WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY COULD NOT DETECT ANY PROBLEMS SINCE NO LIGHTS CAME ON IN THE CAR. THE PROBLEM OCCURRENCE IS UNPREDICTABLE. BRAKES BECOME VERY HARD AND CAR DOESN'T STOP, STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES, CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE, CONSUMES A LOT OF GAS. PROBLEM DETECTED WAS BRAKE PEDAL REMAINED DOWN EVEN WHEN IT WASN'T BEING USED. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT BACK TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES BEFORE THE DEFECT WAS DETECTED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER. THE CAR WAS REPORTEDLY REPAIRED (READJUSTED SWITCH FOR PROPER RELEASE OF BRAKE, REPLACED FT PADS AND ROTORS DUE TO EXCESS HEAT ON FT BRAKES), BUT AFTER A WEEK, THE PROBLEM REPRESENTED ITSELF. THE CAR IS NOW (8/21/03) AT THE DEALER FOR REPAIR (4TH TIME IT GOES IN). THE MANUFACTURER CUSTOMER SERVICE IS GIVING ME A DIFFICULT TIME ADMITTING THAT THE CAR HAS A SERIOUS DEFECT. THEY ARE TRYING TO CONVINCE ME THAT THE SYMPTOMS THE CAR PRESENTS MAY NOT SIGNIFY THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME. I TOTALLY DISAGREE BECAUSE, IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM. MY HUSBAND AND I WERE ALMOST KILLED ON THE NJ TURNPIKE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE ASKED THEM TO TAKE BACK THE CAR BUT I HAVE HAD LITTLE SUCCESS. I AM HOPING THAT THIS COMPLAINT WILL SPARK AN INVESTIGATION. THE DEALER MENTIONED THAT THIS EXACT PROBLEM WAS FOUND ON THE AVALANCHE MODELS.*AK
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR. *AK *SCC THE BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE LOCKED UP WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO MAKE AND TURN, AND THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER MOTORIST. *JB
I HAVE HAD SERIOUS BRAKE WEARING ISSUE, IN ONE YEARS TIME A TOTAL OF 40,000 MI I USED 3 SETS OF BRAKES PADS FOR THIS CAR.I HAD HAVE BRAKE CALIPERS CHANGES, IN FRONT (LOADED) AND REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS, (2), AND NEW DRUMS FOR REAR BRAKES. *AK BRAKE CONTINUED TO BE A PROBLEM AND HAVE HAD COMPLETELY BLEED THE SYSTEM AT CHEVROLET …
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I HAVE HAD SERIOUS BRAKE WEARING ISSUE, IN ONE YEARS TIME A TOTAL OF 40,000 MI I USED 3 SETS OF BRAKES PADS FOR THIS CAR.I HAD HAVE BRAKE CALIPERS CHANGES, IN FRONT (LOADED) AND REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS, (2), AND NEW DRUMS FOR REAR BRAKES. *AK BRAKE CONTINUED TO BE A PROBLEM AND HAVE HAD COMPLETELY BLEED THE SYSTEM AT CHEVROLET DEALER. NOW I HAVE TURN SIGNAL PROBLEMS. THEY WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO. DUE TO MY BUSY WORK SCHEDULE I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO HAVE REPAIR DONE. CHEVROLET REPAIR HOURS ARE LIMITED. MY COMMUTE IS LONG OVER 60 MILES ONE WAY. IT IS OFTEN VERY DIFFICULT DUE TO TURN SIGNAL FAILURE AT CRITICAL MOMENTS.
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.