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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
6,750 miles · Jul 11, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

THEFT SYSTEM, REPLACED IGNITION CYLINDER AND SWITCH REPLACED BCM. REPROGRAMMED THEFT SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10609812

63,000 miles · Jul 9, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ANTI-THEFT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER ACTIVATED THE AIR FLOW DID NOT PROPERLY CIRCULATE THROUGH THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ANTI-THEFT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER ACTIVATED THE AIR FLOW DID NOT PROPERLY CIRCULATE THROUGH THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

NHTSA ODI #10609261

66,237 miles · Jul 8, 2014
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON AND GIVING ME PROBLEMS. JUST TOOK IT IN TO MY CAR REPAIR THEY SAID NOW ITS SHOWS AIR BAG ERROR ALSO. THEY WANT TO CHANGE OUT THE IGNITION SWITCH. THIS CAR HAS HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH ONLY 66 THOUSAND MILES! NOW THE AIR BAGS PROBABLY WONT WORK WHEN NEEDED. I WANT THIS FIXED ON THE IGN…

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MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON AND GIVING ME PROBLEMS. JUST TOOK IT IN TO MY CAR REPAIR THEY SAID NOW ITS SHOWS AIR BAG ERROR ALSO. THEY WANT TO CHANGE OUT THE IGNITION SWITCH. THIS CAR HAS HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH ONLY 66 THOUSAND MILES! NOW THE AIR BAGS PROBABLY WONT WORK WHEN NEEDED. I WANT THIS FIXED ON THE IGNITION RECALL. EVERY TIME I PULL UP TO MY HOME AFTER DRIVING THIS CAR I AM JUST WAITING FOR IT TO START ON FIRE AS NOTHING SEEMS TO WORK LIKE IT SHOULD. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10608864

140,000 miles · Jun 30, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD BECOME STUCK AND NOT RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS WARMER. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V528000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD BECOME STUCK AND NOT RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS WARMER. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V528000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ODI #10607066

95,000 miles · Jun 28, 2014
Electrical System

WHEN TRYING TO START CAR, OFTEN THE THEFT KILL ENGAGES. I HAVE TO WAIT 10 MINUTES WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION START POSITION BEFORE IT WILL START. CAN THIS BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE CARS THAT TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10606609

48,000 miles · Jun 24, 2014
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING WARMER TEMPERATURES, THE THROTTLE BECAME STUCK AND THERE WAS A SUDDEN INCREASE OF UP TO 150 ENGINE RPMS. THE CONTACT HAD TO IMMEDIATELY ENGAGE THE BRAKES AND SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE.…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING WARMER TEMPERATURES, THE THROTTLE BECAME STUCK AND THERE WAS A SUDDEN INCREASE OF UP TO 150 ENGINE RPMS. THE CONTACT HAD TO IMMEDIATELY ENGAGE THE BRAKES AND SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFERED ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V528000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

NHTSA ODI #10605745

58,800 miles · Jun 24, 2014
Electrical System

THERE ARE MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VEHICLE. SO MUCH SO THAT THE FACT THAT GM HAS NOT INSTITUTED A RECALL IS BEYOND MY BELIEF. IT MUST BE BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY ISSUES TO RECTIFY, IT IS NOT COST EFFECTIVE FOR THEM TO DO SO. SO PUT EVERYDAY LIVES AT RISK INSTEAD.THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN INTERMITTENTLY ONGOI…

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THERE ARE MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VEHICLE. SO MUCH SO THAT THE FACT THAT GM HAS NOT INSTITUTED A RECALL IS BEYOND MY BELIEF. IT MUST BE BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY ISSUES TO RECTIFY, IT IS NOT COST EFFECTIVE FOR THEM TO DO SO. SO PUT EVERYDAY LIVES AT RISK INSTEAD.THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN INTERMITTENTLY ONGOING JUST BEFORE THE CAR HIT 50,000 MILES OR SO. IT STARTED WITH THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES I'VE HAD TO RESET THE CAR ALARM IN ORDER FOR IT TO START, DURING THE WARM SUMMER WEATHER IT'S AN ABOMINATION. SOMETIMES I MUST RESET IT 2-3 TIMES A DAY. NEXT IS THE HAZARD LIGHT IT INTERMITTENTLY CLICKS INCESSANTLY. DURING THIS TIME IT'S A CRAPSHOOT IF YOUR TURN SIGNALS WORK. I'VE HAD TO REMOVE THE HAZARD LIGHT FROM ITS HOUSING IN ORDER TO MANIPULATE IT TO GET TURN SIGNALS TO WORK WHEN IT'S CLICKING. ALSO THE VEHICLE CHIMES AT TIMES WHEN I'M DRIVING. IT'S THE TYPE OF CHIME YOU HEAR WHEN YOU LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND HAVE THE DOOR OPEN.THIS IS LESS FREQUENT THEN THE HAZARD LIGHT CLICKING BUT AN ANNOYANCE JUST THE SAME. I'VE ALSO HAVE HAD A SITUATION ON WAY TO EMPLOYMENT AND THE CAR LOST POWER. LUCKILY NO ACCIDENT RESULTED. WHETHER THIS WAS DUE TO SIMILAR ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH RECENT THE GM RECALLS PRESENTLY OR ASSOCIATED WITH MY CURRENT ISSUES, I DO NOT KNOW. I DO NOT LET ANYONE ELSE USE CAR AND MINIMIZE MY USE OF IT AS WELL. LUCKILY MY JOB IS LOCAL BUT I DO WONDER IF MY SAFETY'S COMPROMISED EVERY TIME I GET INTO THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10605644

160,000 miles · Jun 23, 2014
Air BagsCrashInjury

CAR VEERED OFF THE ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. CRASHED INTO A STRAWBERRY FIELD AND ROLLED MULTIPLE TIME EJECTING DRIVER FROM THE CAR. CAR SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE. AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. PASSENGER MAY HAVE GRABBED AT STEERING WHEEL CAUSING THE CAR TO VEER OFF THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10605231

78,000 miles · Jun 23, 2014
Electrical SystemEngine

6-10-14 NO CRANK START ,HAD TO RESET SECURITY SYSTEMS CODE B2960 AND P1626C FIRESTONE 312-787-8828 STORE#026514 CHICAGO,IL 60610 6-19-14 WAS DIVING ON LAKE SHORE DR GOT ON OFF RAMP AND THE CAR JUST CUT OFF NO POWER IT DID START BACK UP BUT LUCKY IT DIDN'T HAPPEN WENT I WAS GOING FAST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10605109

105,000 miles · Jun 19, 2014
Electrical System

SUBJECT VEHICLE HIT A LARGE POTHOLE ON US INTERSTATE; THEFT DETERRENT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. STOPPED VEHICLE, TURNED OFF CAR. RESTARTED CAR, THEFT LIGHT OFF, RESUMED COURSE/SPEED TO FINAL DESTINATION. APPROXIMATELY 5 DAYS LATER, AFTER ONLY LOCAL CITY DRIVING DURING THESE 5 DAYS, CAR WOULD NOT START WHILE PARKED IN HOME GARAG…

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SUBJECT VEHICLE HIT A LARGE POTHOLE ON US INTERSTATE; THEFT DETERRENT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. STOPPED VEHICLE, TURNED OFF CAR. RESTARTED CAR, THEFT LIGHT OFF, RESUMED COURSE/SPEED TO FINAL DESTINATION. APPROXIMATELY 5 DAYS LATER, AFTER ONLY LOCAL CITY DRIVING DURING THESE 5 DAYS, CAR WOULD NOT START WHILE PARKED IN HOME GARAGE. AFTER ATTEMPT AT JUMP START, HAD CAR TOWED TO LOCAL GARAGE WHERE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED ISSUE AS "CAR WENT INTO THEFT MODE." TECHNICIAN RESET AND CAUTIONED THAT SUBJECT VEHICLE MAY NEED NEW IGNITION CONTROL. THIS IS THIRD OR FOURTH TIME THEFT DETERRENT WARNING LIGHT HAS ENGAGED OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS, BUT ONLY TIME CAR HAS SHUT DOWN AND NOT STARTED. STILL USING ORIGINAL KEY, ALTHOUGH I HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY REMOVED IT FROM KEY CHAIN TO AVOID RECURRENCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10604482

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.