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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.

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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
100,000 miles · Sep 15, 2011
SteeringStructure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THERE WAS A LOSS OF CONTROL IN THE STEERING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN FULL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE WITH CAUTION. THERE WAS A NEARBY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THE SUB FRAME WAS FRACTURED DU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THERE WAS A LOSS OF CONTROL IN THE STEERING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN FULL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE WITH CAUTION. THERE WAS A NEARBY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THE SUB FRAME WAS FRACTURED DUE TO CORROSION. IN ADDITION, BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10425608

Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 2011
Electrical System

PASSLOCK ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM ENGAGING AND NOT ALLOWING CAR TO START. STARTED HAPPENING ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND ASKED PROFESSIONAL ASE MECHANICS. NO WARRANTY OR TSB AVAILABLE TO FIX PROBLEM, BUT PLENTY OF COMPLAINTS. CAR HAS NOT SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10422960

110,000 miles · Aug 29, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK WHILE DEPRESSED. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RELEASED AND FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THEY I…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK WHILE DEPRESSED. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RELEASED AND FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT OF THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V528000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: ACCELERATOR PEDAL). THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR FAILURE AS MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 09/27/11 *BF UPDATED 10/11/11

NHTSA ODI #10422472

113,000 miles · Aug 16, 2011
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS WOULD STOP ILLUMINATING ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHIC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS WOULD STOP ILLUMINATING ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 113,000. HAZARD SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED AND SEEMS TO HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 11/16/2011 *LN *TR

NHTSA ODI #10419719

93,000 miles · Aug 9, 2011
Air BagsInjury

TL* THE OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SUFFERED MINOR CUTS AND BURNS AS A RESULT AND HAD TO SEEK MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

NHTSA ODI #10418167

Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 2011
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

AFTER A YEAR THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOAD/RADIO AND WINDOW WOULDN'T COME ON RIGHT AWAY. THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON BUT THERE'S WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THEN THE SERVICE LIGHT WOULD COME ON MONTH AFTER I HAD A OIL CHANGE DONE. WHILE I WAS DRIVING, THE CAR JUST SLOWED UP AND STOP. TOLD BY MY MECHANIC IT WAS THE FUEL PU…

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AFTER A YEAR THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOAD/RADIO AND WINDOW WOULDN'T COME ON RIGHT AWAY. THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON BUT THERE'S WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THEN THE SERVICE LIGHT WOULD COME ON MONTH AFTER I HAD A OIL CHANGE DONE. WHILE I WAS DRIVING, THE CAR JUST SLOWED UP AND STOP. TOLD BY MY MECHANIC IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP BUT WHILE HE HAD IT FOR HALF THE DAY; THE CAR STARTED RIGHT UP WITH NO PROBLEM. ALSO SOMETIMES THERE'S A CLICKING NOISE LIKE MY SIGNAL IS ON BUT ITS NOT. I WAS TOLD IT WAS MY ALARM KEY. EVERY TIME THERE IS A INCIDENT COMPUTER SHOWS IT BUT CAN'T EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM AND IT STOP FOR AWHILE BUT COMES BACK. BEEN LIKE THIS SINCE I HAD IT AND I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER THEY KEEP IT OVER NIGHT SAME THING.

NHTSA ODI #10418809

118,000 miles · Aug 3, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 65, WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RPMS WOULD RAISE AND THE ENGINE WOULD INCREASE. IN 2006, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED FOR RECALL NUMBER: 04V528000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: ACCELERATOR PEDAL); HOWEVER, THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 65, WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RPMS WOULD RAISE AND THE ENGINE WOULD INCREASE. IN 2006, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED FOR RECALL NUMBER: 04V528000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: ACCELERATOR PEDAL); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. NO FURTHER INSPECTION OR REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

NHTSA ODI #10416895

12,165 miles · Jul 20, 2011
Equipment

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON; HOWEVER THE AIR CONDITIONER WOULD ONLY FUNCTION WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER AND THE RECIRCULATION CONTROL DEVICES WERE MANUALLY HAND HELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE FAILURE COULD…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON; HOWEVER THE AIR CONDITIONER WOULD ONLY FUNCTION WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER AND THE RECIRCULATION CONTROL DEVICES WERE MANUALLY HAND HELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE FAILURE COULD POSSIBLY BE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE OR FAULTY WIRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,165.

NHTSA ODI #10413800

68,000 miles · Jul 18, 2011
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM WOULD ENGAGE, INVOLUNTARILY, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. ON A FEW OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WOULD START, BUT THE WARNING THEFT LIGHT WOULD CONTINUE TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THEY COULD NOT DUPLI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM WOULD ENGAGE, INVOLUNTARILY, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. ON A FEW OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WOULD START, BUT THE WARNING THEFT LIGHT WOULD CONTINUE TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

NHTSA ODI #10413308

77,000 miles · Jul 17, 2011
Electrical SystemEquipment

I HAD TROUBLE WITH THE CAR STARTING/STOPPING IN TRAFFIC. REPLACED THE KEY SWITCH WHICH SOLVED THE PROBLEM. ALSO HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE HEATING/AIR-CONDITIONING FAN SYSTEM. THE SYSTEM WILL LOSE THE ABILITY TO RUN EXCEPT ON SETTING 4 OR 5. ALSO THE SWITCH THAT PUTS THE SYSTEM ON RECYCLED AIR HAS STOPPED WORKING. THIS IS THE S…

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I HAD TROUBLE WITH THE CAR STARTING/STOPPING IN TRAFFIC. REPLACED THE KEY SWITCH WHICH SOLVED THE PROBLEM. ALSO HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE HEATING/AIR-CONDITIONING FAN SYSTEM. THE SYSTEM WILL LOSE THE ABILITY TO RUN EXCEPT ON SETTING 4 OR 5. ALSO THE SWITCH THAT PUTS THE SYSTEM ON RECYCLED AIR HAS STOPPED WORKING. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN 5 YEARS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10413229

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.