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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
82,611 miles · Sep 15, 2015
Electrical System

CAR TRIES TO START, STALLS AND WILL NOT START. SECURITY SYSTEM LIGHT FLASHES. HAVE TO LEAVE KEY IN RUN POSITION FOR 15 MINUTES UNTIL SECURITY SYSTEM LIGHT QUITS FLASHING, TURN KEY OFF AND THEN START THE ENGINE. HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES PER WEEK AND IS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY NOW. WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY AN AFTER MARKE…

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CAR TRIES TO START, STALLS AND WILL NOT START. SECURITY SYSTEM LIGHT FLASHES. HAVE TO LEAVE KEY IN RUN POSITION FOR 15 MINUTES UNTIL SECURITY SYSTEM LIGHT QUITS FLASHING, TURN KEY OFF AND THEN START THE ENGINE. HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES PER WEEK AND IS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY NOW. WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY AN AFTER MARKET REMOTE STARTER, HAD IT REMOVED AND AM STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10763913

148,092 miles · Sep 14, 2015
Electrical SystemEngine

ON JULY 20, 2015 COULD NOT ADJUST THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT. ALSO POWER WINDOWS IN THE BACK DRIVER WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL DOWN OR UP. JULY 23, 2015 WHEN TO GET AN OIL CHANGE AT SEARS WHICH THEY DIDN'T PEFORM DUE TO THEY NEEDED DRIVE TIME TO APPROVE. CHECKED THE OIL IT WAS VERY LOW ADDED 1 QUART ON AUGUST 10 I WAS ON THE FREEWAY GOIN…

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ON JULY 20, 2015 COULD NOT ADJUST THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT. ALSO POWER WINDOWS IN THE BACK DRIVER WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL DOWN OR UP. JULY 23, 2015 WHEN TO GET AN OIL CHANGE AT SEARS WHICH THEY DIDN'T PEFORM DUE TO THEY NEEDED DRIVE TIME TO APPROVE. CHECKED THE OIL IT WAS VERY LOW ADDED 1 QUART ON AUGUST 10 I WAS ON THE FREEWAY GOING SPEED LIMIT CAR STARTED REDUCING ITS SPEED HEARD A LOUD NOISE PULLED OVER COULDNOT DRIVE IT SO I HAD IT TOWED HOME NEXT DAY AIN HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE SHOP WHERE DRIVETIME TOLD ME TO TAKE IT THEY HAD IT FROM 8/11/2015-8/25/2015 ON AUG 26 THEY SO CALLED PUT A NEW ENGINE IT WAS ONLY 1 DAY LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT OVERHEATED TOOK IT BACK TO THE SHOP AND THEY SAID IT NEEDED THE CAT CONVERTER REPLACED IN WHICH IT WAS NOT COVERED AT THAT TIME ON THE 28 IT WAS APPROVED BY THE TIME I WAS INFORMED DRIVE TIME HAD MY CAR REPO DUE TO NONPAYMENT I FEEL THAT I SHOULD NOT MAKE A PAYMENT UNTIL MY CAR WAS FIXED THE RIGHT WAY.

NHTSA ODI #10763748

125,000 miles · Sep 9, 2015
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS RECOMMENDED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHIC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS RECOMMENDED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

NHTSA ODI #10762483

61,450 miles · Aug 31, 2015
Vehicle Speed Control

DRIVING CAR AT ABOUT 30MPH, TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. BROUGHT TO CHEVROLET SERVICE,, AND THEY REPLACED ACCELERATOR CABLE. I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE, AND THERE WAS A CAMPAIGN ID 04V528000. TO REPLACE SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE. SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT WAS DONE 1-10-05 ON THI…

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DRIVING CAR AT ABOUT 30MPH, TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. BROUGHT TO CHEVROLET SERVICE,, AND THEY REPLACED ACCELERATOR CABLE. I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE, AND THERE WAS A CAMPAIGN ID 04V528000. TO REPLACE SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE. SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT WAS DONE 1-10-05 ON THIS CAR. IF THIS IS NOT THAT ISSUE, THEN THIS IS A NEW SAFETY ISSUE WITH A DIFFERENT PART FAILING THAT COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

NHTSA ODI #10760355

59,480 miles · Aug 12, 2015
EngineService BrakesSteering

THIS HAS HAPPENED FIVE TIMES NOW, I AM DRIVING AND THE ENGINE JUST SHUTS OFF, I CAN NOT BRAKE I CAN NOT STEER, I STILL HAVE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD. IT HAPPENS WHEN I AM GONG ABOUT 20 TO ABOUT 35 MILES PER HOUR. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY. I DO NOT KNOW IF IT WILL HAPPEN AT A HIGHER SPEED! IT DID IT THE FIRST TIME BACK …

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THIS HAS HAPPENED FIVE TIMES NOW, I AM DRIVING AND THE ENGINE JUST SHUTS OFF, I CAN NOT BRAKE I CAN NOT STEER, I STILL HAVE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD. IT HAPPENS WHEN I AM GONG ABOUT 20 TO ABOUT 35 MILES PER HOUR. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY. I DO NOT KNOW IF IT WILL HAPPEN AT A HIGHER SPEED! IT DID IT THE FIRST TIME BACK IN JUNE 2015 MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING, THEN AGAIN LAST FRIDAY AUGUST 7TH FOUR MORE TIMES WITH IN 10MINUTES AND A FEW MILES APART. IT IS LIKE SOMEONE JUST TURNED THE CAR OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING?

NHTSA ODI #10748075

104,000 miles · Jul 31, 2015
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT FAILED TO START UNTIL AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT IT TOOK MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT FAILED TO START UNTIL AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT IT TOOK MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

NHTSA ODI #10745355

110,000 miles · Jul 22, 2015
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND BECAME STUCK. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE AND LIFT THE PEDAL UP WITH HER HAND, IN ORDER TO RELEASE THE PEDAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PRE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND BECAME STUCK. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE AND LIFT THE PEDAL UP WITH HER HAND, IN ORDER TO RELEASE THE PEDAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V528000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ODI #10735811

40,000 miles · Jul 17, 2015
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE ANTI- THEFT LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE ANTI- THEFT LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.

NHTSA ODI #10734815

33,345 miles · Jul 13, 2015
Electrical SystemEquipmentExterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE KEY WOULD NOT EJECT FROM THE IGNITION. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE ACCORDING TO A RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AND THE AIR C…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE KEY WOULD NOT EJECT FROM THE IGNITION. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE ACCORDING TO A RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AND THE AIR CONDITIONER DID NOT FUNCTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,345.

NHTSA ODI #10733789

47,000 miles · Jul 8, 2015
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN THE IGNITION KEY WAS TURNED TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO TURN AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BUT THE FAILURE W…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN THE IGNITION KEY WAS TURNED TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO TURN AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

NHTSA ODI #10732687

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.