IllustrationVEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS ON 6 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. HOWEVER, THIS PROBLEM RECURRED. *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
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
85 reportsFOR SEVERAL DAYS THE THROTTLE HAS BEEN STICKING DURING ACCELERATION. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE OCCURRENCE NOR FIND ANY PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS.*AK
VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD TWICE WHILE CAR WAS COASTING TOWARDS A RED LIGHT.*MR THE CONSUMER WAS SLOWING THE VEHICLE FOR A STOP LIGHT. WHEN THE CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS TAKEN OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 40 MPH WHILE THE CONSUMER PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE…
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VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD TWICE WHILE CAR WAS COASTING TOWARDS A RED LIGHT.*MR THE CONSUMER WAS SLOWING THE VEHICLE FOR A STOP LIGHT. WHEN THE CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS TAKEN OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 40 MPH WHILE THE CONSUMER PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *NM
CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT IN THE LAST THREE DAYS WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*AK FIRST EPISODE OF VEHICLE ACCELERATING SUDDENLY, VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 70 MPH, AND CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES TO THE FLOO…
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CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT IN THE LAST THREE DAYS WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*AK FIRST EPISODE OF VEHICLE ACCELERATING SUDDENLY, VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 70 MPH, AND CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES TO THE FLOOR TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, DUE TO ITS SUDDEN ACCELERATION, BRAKE ROTORS HAD WARPED. IN ADDITION, THERE'S AN INTERMITTENT STICKING OF THE THROTTLE. *LA
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC REPLACED THE SPEED SENSOR. THEN, DRIVER DROVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER, AND THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. *AK *LA
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.