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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
49,882 miles · Feb 13, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. ADDITIONALLY, THE DOOR CHIMES WOULD SOUND SPORADICALLY AND THE TURN SIGNALS WOULD ENGAGE INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. ADDITIONALLY, THE DOOR CHIMES WOULD SOUND SPORADICALLY AND THE TURN SIGNALS WOULD ENGAGE INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,882. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10564221

138,388 miles · Feb 3, 2014
Electrical System

VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AFTER I CAME OUT FROM GROCERY STORE. COULD SEE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT ON DASHBOARD BUT I HAD NO IDEA WHAT THAT MEANT THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. I WOULD LAUGH WHEN YOU LOCK THE CAR USING THE LOCK ON THE DOOR WHEN YOU GET OUT TO LOCK ALL THE DOORS THEN YOU HEAR A BEEP LIKE OTHER PEOPLES VEHICLES WHO…

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VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AFTER I CAME OUT FROM GROCERY STORE. COULD SEE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT ON DASHBOARD BUT I HAD NO IDEA WHAT THAT MEANT THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. I WOULD LAUGH WHEN YOU LOCK THE CAR USING THE LOCK ON THE DOOR WHEN YOU GET OUT TO LOCK ALL THE DOORS THEN YOU HEAR A BEEP LIKE OTHER PEOPLES VEHICLES WHO HAVE ALARM SYSTEMS WHICH THIS CAR DOESN'T HAVE. I MEAN I DON'T HAVE A KEY LOCK FOR MY VEHICLE. ONE REPAIR PERSON TOLD ME IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP ESTIMATED $800, I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A SHOP AND FOUND OUT ON SUNDAY THAT IT WAS THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM, THEY HAD TO REPROGRAM MY KEYS AND I HAD MORE THAN ONE IGNITION KEY ON MY RING WAS TOLD NOT TO DO THAT ANYMORE AND COST ME HUNDRED DOLLARS, THIS IS A PROBLEM THOUGH AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I HAVE GONE ON LINE AND FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS AND PEOPLE HAVE SPENT A LOT MORE MONEY THAN I HAD TO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10562621

104,000 miles · Feb 1, 2014
Electrical System

THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM KICKED IN APPROXIMATELY AFTER 35 MINUTES OF DRIVING WHILE AT 65 MILES AN HOUR. IT CUT POWER TO THE FUEL PUMP WHICH TURNED OFF THE CAR AND WE HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF A HIGHWAY. WE WERE VERY NEARLY IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS DEVICE MALFUNCTIONING AND COULD HAVE KILLED ME, MY HUSBAND, AND OUR UNBORN CHIL…

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THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM KICKED IN APPROXIMATELY AFTER 35 MINUTES OF DRIVING WHILE AT 65 MILES AN HOUR. IT CUT POWER TO THE FUEL PUMP WHICH TURNED OFF THE CAR AND WE HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF A HIGHWAY. WE WERE VERY NEARLY IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS DEVICE MALFUNCTIONING AND COULD HAVE KILLED ME, MY HUSBAND, AND OUR UNBORN CHILD. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED ALL OVER THE WEB AND CURRENT FIXES ARE NOT WORKING. THIS CAR HAS NEVER KNOWN ANOTHER OWNER AND I HAVE TRIED TO RESET THE DEVICE WITH THE KEY FOBS THAT WERE ISSUED WITH THE VEHICLE BACK IN 2003. I PERFORMED THE RESET PROCEDURE PROPERLY AND IT DID NOT WORK. THESE SECURITY DEVICES NEED TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR WORSE KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10562524

125,000 miles · Jan 15, 2014
Electrical SystemPower TrainCrash

I PARKED THE CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY WHICH IS SLOPED DOWNWARDS, AND THOUGHT I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND TOOK OUT THE KEYS. AFTER I GOT OUT OF THE CAR, IT STARTED ROLLING FORWARD INTO THE GARAGE DOOR. I QUICKLY JUMPED INTO THE SEAT AND SLAMMED ON THE BRAKE. THANK G-D, NO REAL DAMAGE WAS DONE, BUT I AM PREGNA…

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I PARKED THE CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY WHICH IS SLOPED DOWNWARDS, AND THOUGHT I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND TOOK OUT THE KEYS. AFTER I GOT OUT OF THE CAR, IT STARTED ROLLING FORWARD INTO THE GARAGE DOOR. I QUICKLY JUMPED INTO THE SEAT AND SLAMMED ON THE BRAKE. THANK G-D, NO REAL DAMAGE WAS DONE, BUT I AM PREGNANT AND GOT REALLY SHOCKED. I REALIZED THE EXTENT OF THIS SAFETY ISSUE WHICH I PREVIOUSLY DISREGARDED. THE ISSUE IS THAT THE KEYS CAN COME OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE IT IS IN THE ON POSITION. THEREFORE IF I FORGET TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TAKE THE KEYS OUT THEY COME OUT. MOST CARS HAVE A SAFETY FEATURE WHICH PREVENTS REMOVING THE KEYS UNTIL THE IGNITION IS OFF, WHICH CANNOT BE DONE UNLESS THE CAR IS IN PARK. IN MY CAR HOWEVER THIS IS NOT THE CASE AS THE KEYS COME OUT IN THE ON POSITION AND I AM THEREFORE LACKING THE FEATURE TO REMIND ME TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK. THIS CAN G-D FORBID CAUSE A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. I SUBSEQUENTLY CHECKED MY BROTHER IN LAW'S CAR WHICH IS ALSO AN 03 MALIBU AND IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10560082

130,000 miles · Jan 2, 2014
Air BagsStructureCrashInjury

I WAS TRAVELING ON A SNOWY/ICY ROAD WHEN I LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AT ABOUT 50 MPH. MY VEHICLE WENT SIDEWAYS UNTIL TRAVELING INTO A DITCH AT WHICH POINT THE VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH A TREE. THE FRONT END WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND PUSHED THE MOTOR BACK A GOOD 2 FEET. MY HEAD SLAMMED INTO THE WINDSHIELD AND AIRBAGS WERE NOT DEP…

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I WAS TRAVELING ON A SNOWY/ICY ROAD WHEN I LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AT ABOUT 50 MPH. MY VEHICLE WENT SIDEWAYS UNTIL TRAVELING INTO A DITCH AT WHICH POINT THE VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH A TREE. THE FRONT END WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND PUSHED THE MOTOR BACK A GOOD 2 FEET. MY HEAD SLAMMED INTO THE WINDSHIELD AND AIRBAGS WERE NOT DEPLOYED. THE IMPACT OF THE FRONT END WAS JUST A LITTLE OFF CENTER TO THE PASSENGER SIDE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10558124

139,126 miles · Oct 23, 2013
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INSPECTION, THE ENGINE COOLANT WAS FOUND TO HAVE MIXED WITH THE ENGINE OIL WHEN THE DIP STICK WAS PULLED TO CHECK THE ENGINE OIL. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHIC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INSPECTION, THE ENGINE COOLANT WAS FOUND TO HAVE MIXED WITH THE ENGINE OIL WHEN THE DIP STICK WAS PULLED TO CHECK THE ENGINE OIL. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 139,126. UPDATED 01/28/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS DEFECTIVE. UPDATED 04/21/14 UPDATED 06/30/14

NHTSA ODI #10549240

63,500 miles · Sep 18, 2013
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED AND FAILED TO STOP DOWN DESPITE CONSTANT FORCE BEING APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL BUT THE ENGINE RPMS BEGAN TO INCREASE RAPIDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED AND FAILED TO STOP DOWN DESPITE CONSTANT FORCE BEING APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL BUT THE ENGINE RPMS BEGAN TO INCREASE RAPIDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE CONTACT THEN SHIFTED INTO PARK TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING ANY FARTHER. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED ONE HOUR LATER, AS IT RESUMED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,500.

NHTSA ODI #10544253

98,000 miles · Aug 24, 2013
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS STARTING MY CAR, THEFT LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND I WOULD HAVE TO SIT AND WAIT TO GET THE CAR STARTED, VERY ANNOYING PROBLEM HAVING TO PLAY A WAITING CAME TO START YOUR CAR. THEN ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGH WAY, I HAD NO IDEA THE CAR WAS EVEN OFF UNTIL I TRIED T…

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STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS STARTING MY CAR, THEFT LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND I WOULD HAVE TO SIT AND WAIT TO GET THE CAR STARTED, VERY ANNOYING PROBLEM HAVING TO PLAY A WAITING CAME TO START YOUR CAR. THEN ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGH WAY, I HAD NO IDEA THE CAR WAS EVEN OFF UNTIL I TRIED TO ACCLERATE OR TURN BECAUSE THE RADIO REMAINS ON. HAVE TO STOP AND PUT MY HAZZARDS ON AND START THE CAR AGAIN, SOME DAYS IT DOES REPEAT STALLS WHICH CAUSES ME TO ALMOST GET HIT BY CARS BEHIND ME (VERY VERY DANGEROUS), SOME DAYS IT DRIVES FINE. THEN ONE DAY WHILE SHUTTING MY CAR OFF AND RETURNING HOME THE HORN STARTED HONKING AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF FOR ABOUT A 1/2 HOUR, AND AFTER THAT IT HASNT WORKED AGAIN. TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE SHOP BECAUSE IM FED UP AND THEY SAID IT IS ALL LINKED TO A FAULTY PASS KEY/ANTI THEFT SYSTEM THAT CAUSES THESE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. DID SOME RESEARCH AND NOTICED THIS IS AND HAS BEEN A REACCURING PROBLEM IN THE MALIBU'S. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10537097

59,071 miles · Aug 16, 2013
Engine

OVER THE LAST YEAR, 2003 CHEVY MALIBU HAS NOT STARTED ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. IT WAS STARTED AND DRIVEN TO ANOTHER LOCATION (IE WORK, SHOPPING, CLASS, ETC) AND THEN UPON RETURNING TO THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT START. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AND ESPECIALLY SO IF ONE OF THE CHILDREN IS USING THE CAR. AS I HAVE READ, OTHE…

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OVER THE LAST YEAR, 2003 CHEVY MALIBU HAS NOT STARTED ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. IT WAS STARTED AND DRIVEN TO ANOTHER LOCATION (IE WORK, SHOPPING, CLASS, ETC) AND THEN UPON RETURNING TO THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT START. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AND ESPECIALLY SO IF ONE OF THE CHILDREN IS USING THE CAR. AS I HAVE READ, OTHERS ARE HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES - THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND WARRANTS ATTENTION BY THE MANUFACTURER! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10535739

65,000 miles · Jul 30, 2013
Fuel/propulsion System

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A MAIN HIGHWAY IN OUR TOWN WHEN MY CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE GETTING HIT, IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THE CAR ACTED LIKE IT WASN'T GETTING ANY FUEL, IT WOULD TURN OVER, BUT NOT START. MY HUSBAND THOUGHT IT WAS THE FUEL FILTER, SO WE CHANGED IT I…

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I WAS DRIVING DOWN A MAIN HIGHWAY IN OUR TOWN WHEN MY CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE GETTING HIT, IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THE CAR ACTED LIKE IT WASN'T GETTING ANY FUEL, IT WOULD TURN OVER, BUT NOT START. MY HUSBAND THOUGHT IT WAS THE FUEL FILTER, SO WE CHANGED IT IN THE PARKING LOT. IT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. WE ENDED UP TOWING THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND HAD THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED. COME TO FIND OUT, THE DEALER THEFT SYSTEM HAD TURNED ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. IT HAPPENED AGAIN THIS MORNING. AFTER SITTING FOR 10 MINUTES WITH MY 3 YEAR OLD IN THE CAR, I TRIED TO START THE CAR, TO FIND OUT MY BATTERY WAS NOW DEAD FROM SITTING WITH THE KEY IN THE ON POSITION TO RESET THE THEFT SYSTEM. THIS IS BECOMING A MAJOR INCONVENIENCE AND LIABILITY WHILE DRIVING DOWN BUSY HIGHWAYS WITH MY CHILD IN THE CAR. IF THIS HAPPENED ON A MAJOR FREEWAY IT COULD BE FATAL. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO FIX IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10532657

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.