Illustration'RECALL CAMPAIGN' FOR CHEVROLET MALIBU 2003, VEHICLE ALSO INVOLVED IN 2 ACCIDENTS. *BF THE CONSUMER HUSBAND BELIEVED BOTH ACCIDENTS WERE THE RESULT OF A RECALL GM HAD ISSUED REGARDING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. (HUSBAND ON BEHALF OF WIFE DORIS NELL DECEASED) *JB
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
What owners actually said
569 reportsDRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 60 MPH THE CAR WON'T GET ANY GAS AND STALLS THEN DIES. IT WON'T RESTART. TOWED BACK TO DEALERSHIP. THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPEN 6 TIMES SINCE THE ORIGINAL INCIDENT DATE LISTED HERE.*AK
THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM CHECK LIGHT HAS TURNED ON A TOTAL OF FOUR TIMES AND HAS CAUSED THE FUEL SUPPLY TO CUT OFF AND NOT START THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED BY CONSUMER. *JB
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IS INCLUDED IN A MANUFACTURED RECALL 04V092000 CONCERNING ACCELERATION CONTROL SYSTEM. HOWEVER, REPAIR WERE NOT PERFORMED AS OF YET. *AK
CD PLAYER INOPERATIVE - DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED AS MANUFACTURER DEFECT- INTERNAL RADIO/CD FAILURE. DEALERSHIP SERVICE REMOVED RADIO/CD AND SENT OUT FOR AN EXCHANGE UNIT. DEALERSHIP SERVICE REINSTALLED RADIO NEW CD PLAYER AND, AGAIN, INOPERATIVE. EQUIPMENT-ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE/INOPERABLE. DEALERSHIP STILL TRYING TO REORDER EXC…
Read full complaint
CD PLAYER INOPERATIVE - DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED AS MANUFACTURER DEFECT- INTERNAL RADIO/CD FAILURE. DEALERSHIP SERVICE REMOVED RADIO/CD AND SENT OUT FOR AN EXCHANGE UNIT. DEALERSHIP SERVICE REINSTALLED RADIO NEW CD PLAYER AND, AGAIN, INOPERATIVE. EQUIPMENT-ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE/INOPERABLE. DEALERSHIP STILL TRYING TO REORDER EXCHANGE UNITS THAT WOULD WORK WITHOUT SUCCESS AND GREAT INCONVENIENCE TO OWNER. *JB
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN STALLING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR CHECKUP, BUT THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED AT THIS TIME.*AK
VEHICLE MADE METAL AGAINST METAL RUBBING NOISE. CALLED FOR APPOINTMENT BEFORE 45,000 MILES. APPOINTMENT OCCURRED AT 45,100 MILES. WAS ADVISED THAT HUB ASSEMBLY AND WHEEL BEARINGS NEED REPLACED ON BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT. CAR IS PRIMARILY DRIVEN ON HIGHWAY/EXPRESSWAY 52 MILES PER DAY. *NM
THE VEHICLE'S ROTORS WARPED AND THE BRAKE PADS WORE OUT WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKES TO PULSATE. *NM THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. THIS WAS A RECURRENT PROBLEM. *SC
SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. *NM THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CHEVROLET WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT SOMEONE PIT PARTS IN THE VEHICLE THAT WERE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE AIR BAG. *JB
I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN MY 2003 CHEVROLET, MALIBU ON DEC.26, 2004 AND MY FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF.*AK
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.