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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 →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

What owners actually said

569 reports
118,285 miles · Apr 29, 2015
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO TURN INTO ANY POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN 2013, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE REMEDY WAS INSUFFICIENT. THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO TURN INTO ANY POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN 2013, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE REMEDY WAS INSUFFICIENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,285.

NHTSA ODI #10713506

119,000 miles · Apr 13, 2015
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, POWER STEERING, TRACTION CONTROL, AND AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PRECIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V40000 (ELECTRICAL SYST…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, POWER STEERING, TRACTION CONTROL, AND AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PRECIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V40000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE RECALL REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.

NHTSA ODI #10705370

Mileage unknown · Mar 17, 2015
Electrical System

2003 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO UNSATISFACTORY RECALL REPAIR WORK AT DEALERSHIP. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE IGNITION DEFECT STILL EXISTS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10691434

16,800 miles · Mar 13, 2015
Electrical System

FIRST OF ALL THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN A WRECK.THE IGNITION SWITCH AND ELECTRICAL SWITCH WAS REPLACED BY OWNERS AT THEIR EXPENSE .THE IGNITION STARTED TO NOT WORK.WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED ALL GAUGES WOULD FALL AND WOULD NOT CRANK.WHILE ON ROAD THE CAR WOULD SHUT OFF AS IF TURNED OFF BY KEY..THE OWNER DECIDED TO HAVE CAR REPAIRED …

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FIRST OF ALL THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN A WRECK.THE IGNITION SWITCH AND ELECTRICAL SWITCH WAS REPLACED BY OWNERS AT THEIR EXPENSE .THE IGNITION STARTED TO NOT WORK.WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED ALL GAUGES WOULD FALL AND WOULD NOT CRANK.WHILE ON ROAD THE CAR WOULD SHUT OFF AS IF TURNED OFF BY KEY..THE OWNER DECIDED TO HAVE CAR REPAIRED BEFORE THE RECALL ,,IN 2012 AND 2013.OWNER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS OR CAN BE A REFUND OF A PORTION OF COSTS TO HIM,HE HAS THE INVOICES OF WORK ON DONE CAR.THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10694059

257,000 miles · Mar 9, 2015
Electrical System

THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR SAFETY RECALL 14350 UNINTENDED IGNITION KEY ROTATION. THE SWITCH IS STILL EXACTLY AS IT WAS BEFORE, NO RESISTANCE BETWEEN KEY POSITION 1(OFF) AND KEY POSITION 2(RUN). THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE IN THE FEEL OF THE SWITCH KEY ROTATION. DON'T FEEL RECALL PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED. THOUGHT THIS WAS …

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THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR SAFETY RECALL 14350 UNINTENDED IGNITION KEY ROTATION. THE SWITCH IS STILL EXACTLY AS IT WAS BEFORE, NO RESISTANCE BETWEEN KEY POSITION 1(OFF) AND KEY POSITION 2(RUN). THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE IN THE FEEL OF THE SWITCH KEY ROTATION. DON'T FEEL RECALL PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED. THOUGHT THIS WAS WORTH A NOTE TO NHTSA SINCE GM IS SAYING RECALLS COST 4.1B. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10692941

Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 2015
Electrical SystemEngine

THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN AND THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. FORTUNATELY THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN THROUGH A PARKING LOT AT THE TIME RATHER THAN ON A ROADWAY. THIS EVENING THE CAR WOULDN'T START AT ALL. MY PERSONAL MECHANIC HAS ALREADY ADVISED THAT THERE IS AN IGNITION PROBLEM. HOWEVER NEITHER GM OR THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP WILL FIX T…

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THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN AND THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. FORTUNATELY THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN THROUGH A PARKING LOT AT THE TIME RATHER THAN ON A ROADWAY. THIS EVENING THE CAR WOULDN'T START AT ALL. MY PERSONAL MECHANIC HAS ALREADY ADVISED THAT THERE IS AN IGNITION PROBLEM. HOWEVER NEITHER GM OR THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP WILL FIX THE ISSUE. THEY INSIST ON CHARGING FOR A SECOND DIAGNOSTIC EVEN THOUGH WE'VE ALREADY PD SOMEONE ELSE FOR A DIAGNOSIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10692180

104,364 miles · Mar 3, 2015
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL STAYED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BCM MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIR…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL STAYED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BCM MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,364. UPDATED 04/07/15*LJ UPDATED 11/4/2015*JS

NHTSA ODI #10691818

140,000 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

76,300 miles · Feb 25, 2015
EngineService BrakesSteering

CAR WILL NOT START. SOLID "THEFT" LIGHT COMES ON DASHBOARD AND CAR WILL NOT TURN OVER, OR IF IT TURNS OVER, WILL CUT OUT SHORTLY AFTER. THIS ANTI-THEFT ISSUE CAUSES THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES TO DISABLE, AND AM NOT ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. HAVE ALSO HAD CAR STALL OUT IN TRAFFIC AND LOSE ALL POWER. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWE…

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CAR WILL NOT START. SOLID "THEFT" LIGHT COMES ON DASHBOARD AND CAR WILL NOT TURN OVER, OR IF IT TURNS OVER, WILL CUT OUT SHORTLY AFTER. THIS ANTI-THEFT ISSUE CAUSES THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES TO DISABLE, AND AM NOT ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. HAVE ALSO HAD CAR STALL OUT IN TRAFFIC AND LOSE ALL POWER. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THE ISSUE. I HAVE TRIED SEVERAL FIXES AND MECHANICAL REPAIRS, BUT THIS ISSUE CONTINUES TO GET WORSE. NO MATTER WHAT I TRY AND DO, AT RANDOM TIMES, MY CAR WILL NOT START, WHILE THE "THEFT" LIGHT COMES ON AND COMPLETELY DISABLES MY VEHICLE. AND SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE, AND AM USING AN ORIGINAL KEY TO START THE CAR. I DO NOT HAVE ANY TYPE OF SECURITY SYSTEM INSTALLED IN MY CAR. THERE IS NO REASON FOR THE "THEFT" LIGHT TO COME ON WHEN I AM JUST TRYING TO START MY VEHICLE, NOT STEAL IT. THE IGNITION RECALL FOR MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE ONLY INVOLVES REPLACING THE KEYS, BUT THIS ANTI-THEFT ISSUE, WHICH I AND OTHER CHEVROLET MALIBU OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING, IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD CAUSE A CRASH OR OTHER ACCIDENT TO OCCUR IF IT CAUSES THE CAR TO CUT OUT (LOSE POWER) FOR NO REASON WHILE DRIVING, AND AT THE SAME TIME DISABLING THE STEERING AND BRAKING SYSTEMS. THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A SAFETY RECALL. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10690707

Official recalls

2

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.