IllustrationDEALER REPLACED AT 12,000 MILES THE FRONTS ROTORS AND PADS, AT 23,000 MILES FRONTS ROTORS AND PADS WERE REPLACED, AT 25,000 MILES ROTORS WERE RESURFACED AND REPLACED THE PADS, AND AT 27, 000 MILES DEALERSHIP INDICATED THE NEEDED RESURFACE THE FRONT ROTORS AND REPLACED THE PADS ONCE AGAIN. *AK
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 reportsI HAVE HAD TO REPLACE NOT ONLY THE BRAKE PADS BUT THE ROTORS AS WELL, EVERY 20,000 MILES DEALER TELLS ME IT'S THE WAY I DRIVE. IT JUST SO HAPPENS THAT I DRIVE FOR A LIVING AND I'M SORRY IT'S THE PRODUCT! *LA
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC REPLACED THE SPEED SENSOR. THEN, DRIVER DROVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER, AND THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. *AK *LA
CONSUMER HAD TO CHANGE BRAKES 3 TIMES. WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE IN THE FRONT OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THE FIRST TIME, AND THEY REPLACED THE BRAKES. THEN, BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN, AND CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THIS TIME THEY TURNED THE ROTORS, AND PUT ON N…
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CONSUMER HAD TO CHANGE BRAKES 3 TIMES. WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE IN THE FRONT OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THE FIRST TIME, AND THEY REPLACED THE BRAKES. THEN, BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN, AND CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THIS TIME THEY TURNED THE ROTORS, AND PUT ON NEW BRAKES. THE SAME TYPE OF NOISE WAS HEARD AGAIN. THIS TIME, WHEN SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR CHECKING AND REPAIR, THEY REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER/CALIPERS/ ROTORS, AND PUT ON ANOTHER SET OF BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE. AFTER CONSUMER PICKED UP THE VEHICLE FROM DEALER BRAKES STILL WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER, BUT WAS TOLD BY DEALER IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF TIGHTENING UP SOME SCREWS. *AK
WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE INSPECTED, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT FRONT ROTORS WORE OUT. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ROTORS HAD BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES WITHIN ONE YEAR. *AK
DRIVER SIDE ARM REST CRACKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE PART HAD BEEN REPLACED ONCE BEFORE. *AK PLASTIC THAT HELD THE ARM REST WAS DEFORMED AND WEAK INSIDE THE ARM REST. DEALER REPLACED DRIVER'S DOOR ARM REST ASSEMBLY. *LA
WHILE EXITING AN INTERSECTION CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER, AND NOTICED THAT FRONT RIGHT AXLE CAME OFF. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
2003 CHEVY MALIBU. 18,000 MILES, HAD TO REPLACE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND HAVE ROTORS TURNED. I WAS CHARGED $200 FOR 2 HRS LABOR THROUGH A CHEVY DEALER, BUT I FEEL THE BRAKE PADS SHOULD HAVE LASTED LONGER. WHEN I QUESTIONED THE DEALER, THEY SAID THAT MOST OF THE MALIBU'S AND SEVERAL OTHER CARS HAD SOFT BRAKE PADS AND HAD TO BE REPL…
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2003 CHEVY MALIBU. 18,000 MILES, HAD TO REPLACE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND HAVE ROTORS TURNED. I WAS CHARGED $200 FOR 2 HRS LABOR THROUGH A CHEVY DEALER, BUT I FEEL THE BRAKE PADS SHOULD HAVE LASTED LONGER. WHEN I QUESTIONED THE DEALER, THEY SAID THAT MOST OF THE MALIBU'S AND SEVERAL OTHER CARS HAD SOFT BRAKE PADS AND HAD TO BE REPLACED EARLY. THEY WERE REPLACED WITH A THICKER BRAKE PAD. HOW COME THEY DIDN'T USE THESE TO START WITH? *JB
BRAKES WERE REPLACED AT 13,700 MILES. NOW CONSUMER THINK SHE NEED TO REPLACE THE BRAKES AGAIN. *PH *LA
WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH AND WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES VEHICLE SHUDDERED VIOLENTLY AND THE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED ON MANY OCCASIONS, AND THE CONSUMER FELT THAT LOST OF CONTROL WAS IMMINENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS. AFTERWARDS THE VEHICLE PERFORMED WORSE THAN…
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WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH AND WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES VEHICLE SHUDDERED VIOLENTLY AND THE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED ON MANY OCCASIONS, AND THE CONSUMER FELT THAT LOST OF CONTROL WAS IMMINENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS. AFTERWARDS THE VEHICLE PERFORMED WORSE THAN PRIOR TO REPAIRS. *AK THE ROTORS WERE WARPED. *SC *JB
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.