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

Unknown Or Other complaints

15 reports

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Mileage unknown · May 7, 2010

Unknown Or Other

2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WANTS TO KNOW IF HIS VEHICLE IS UNDER A RECALL. *GR

NHTSA ODI #10329593

61,000 miles · Jun 29, 2008

Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineUnknown Or Other

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THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM IN MY 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU IS DEFECTIVE, APPARENTLY THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR JUST ABOUT EVERY OWNER OF A CHEVY MALIBU. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BY GM!!!! ABOUT ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK WHEN I ATTEMPT TO START MY CAR I PRAY THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM DOES NOT BLINK, BECAUSE WHEN IT BLINKS THAT MEANS THE CAR ISN'T GOING TO START. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES THAT IF THIS OCCURS THEN TURN THE KEY TO THE "ON" POSITION AND LET IT SIT FOR 10 MINUTES AND THEN TURN THE KEY TO "OFF" AND START THE CAR AS NORMAL. WELL FOR ABOUT 1 YEAR THIS WORKED, IT WAS A HASSLE, BUT IT WORKED. NOW AFTER ABOUT A YEAR OF THIS PAIN IN THE BUTT ROUTINE TWICE A WEEK TO START MY CAR, FINALLY IT DIED ON ME WHILE DRIVING AND WILL NO LONGER START. GM IS OBVIOUSLY AWARE OF THIS MALFUNCTION BECAUSE THEY HAVE GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO DEAL WITH IT IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL, THE PROBLEM IS THEY HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, AFTER THEIR SUGGESTION FAILS TO START THE CAR. THIS MALFUNCTION NEEDS TO BE RECALLED!!!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10232634

60,000 miles · May 30, 2008

Unknown Or Other

THIS 2003 CHEVY MALIBU HAS A BAD REPUTATION ON ITS PASSLOCK SYSTEM. THE CAR COULDN'T BE STARTED WHEN I TURNED THE KEY. THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHTS WAS ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10229344

78,300 miles · May 16, 2008

Unknown Or Other

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INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START BECAUSE THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM KEPT LOCKING THE VEHICLE. IT TAKES SEVERAL MINUTES (TEN MIN OR SO) FOR THE SYSTEM TO RE-SET AND ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO START. DEALERSHIPS ARE NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. COM- PLAINTS REGISTERED ON WWW.MYSTATS.COM/SAFETY STATION ARE NUMEROUS (AT LEAST 40) CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY STOP RUNNING WHILE DRIVING IN MOTION. GM SHOULD RECALL AND CORRECT THIS IMMEDIATELY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10227983

111 miles · Jan 15, 2004

Unknown Or Other

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I HAVE OWN THREE CHEVY MALIBU A 1998, 2002 AND I JUST GOT A 2003. HOWEVER, I NOTICED THAT GM HAS REMOVED THERE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT OFF OF THE DASH BOARD WHEN YOU TURN IT ON. THE OTHER TWO MALIBU'S I OWN HAD A DASH LIGHT COME ON TO LET YOU KNOW THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ON. BUT THE 2003 DOES NOT IT ONLY HAS A LITTLE LIGHT ON THE CRUISE BUTTON ON THE STEERING COLUMN AND ITS HARD TO SEE DURING DAY LIGHT. I THINK THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS AS YOU MAY NOT KNOW IF YOUR CRUISE IS ON WHICH COULD CAUSE A ACCIDENT. COULD YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS FOR ME.

NHTSA ODI #10070237

Official recalls

14V400000 · 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

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.