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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
79,651 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2003 Chevrolet Malibu electrical problems

electrical problem

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2003 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 1 of 11)

problem #214

Aug 012023

Malibu

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Multiple times, the vehicle, while driving, electrically shuts down. security light comes on, sometimes, many attempts to restart will work. These shutdowns cause me to revet to manual bakes and steering.

- Overland Park, KS, USA

problem #213

Sep 152020

Malibu

  • 198,000 miles
Experiencing intermittent failure of passcode system, service engine soon light. Vehicle repeatedly will not start due to activation of passcode system. Warning light will come on while driving, but goes away upon restart. Experiencing loss of dash controls while driving, but return within a few minutes vehicle mileage is 205000

- Monticello, IN, USA

problem #212

Oct 112020

Malibu

  • 241,000 miles
Car won't start key switch sets off anti theft always leaving us stranded

- Wayne, WV, USA

problem #211

Mar 192019

Malibu

  • 179,456 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When driving down the street my Malibu just shuts down..I bought a battery and alternator and sensors to fix my car.put in shop to find out it was the ignition switch. I'm sacred to drive on the highway it might stop and cause an fatal accident. This is a real safety issue that need to be addressed..thank you

- Cleveland, OH, USA

problem #210

Mar 262018

Malibu

  • 185,400 miles
Tamara recall. Ignition gets stuck in the acc position when shutting car off after placing vehicle in park. Key can be removed in acc position and allows car to be started without the key and allows vehicle the be shifted out of park and into gear.

- Gladstone, MO, USA

problem #209

Feb 192018

Malibu

  • 169,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact attempted to turn off the vehicle, but the ignition would not turn to the off position. The vehicle's battery had to be disconnected in order to turn off the vehicle. There were no warning indicators illuminated before the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the ignition switch failed. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 169,000.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #208

Oct 192017

Malibu

  • 68,904 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

ODI number 10593580 was filed in May 2014. This has not been corrected as this date 10/20/17. The car will not shut off and the key will not come out as stated in the complaint of May 2014. I keep spending $$ on this and no action. Surly all these cars do the same thing.

- Middleburg, FL, USA

problem #207

Aug 222017

Malibu

  • 37,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the brake system failed. While the brake pedal was depressed, the brake system failed to engage and the vehicle vibrated. The contact had to engage the emergency brake to bring the vehicle to a stop. The contact also mentioned that the key had to be released from the ignition with force. The manufacturer was notified of the failures and stated that there were no open recalls. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 37,000.

- Piscataway, NJ, USA

problem #206

Jul 112017

Malibu

  • 150,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the vehicle would not function after the key was shifted into the on position. The vehicle was towed to an unknown Chevrolet dealer where it was diagnosed that the alarm system independently shut down the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

- Mobile, AL, USA

problem #205

Jun 232017

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 96,517 miles
Previously submitted complaint on 5-23-2017 NHTSA #10991171. Took car in for recall repair on May 11, 2017. Random shut down on the road continued. Took car back in for "diagnostic" on June 15, 2017. David maus Chevy had car for over 4 hours and could not find a problem. I received new keys on the off-chance that the 14-year-old original keys could be the issue. Today, 6-23-2017, the car again turned off on the highway. Photo attached - clearly the key is still in the "on" position. While at the dealership on June 15th, another man with the same model car was there for the exact same problem. His name is [xxx], also from deltona, and I encouraged him to file an incident report with NHTSA. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Deltona, FL, USA

problem #204

May 302017

Malibu

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Yesterday I was driving on a straight road with a few turns in a rural community. All of a sudden the theft system light starts flashing, my speed drops by force, my steering wheel tightens, and the engine shuts off. Thankfully the driver behind me was not up to speed as he had just turned onto the street after me. Otherwise, he would have slammed into the back of my car. I put the car in park and started my routine of trying to get the ignition to turn over. This process calls for me to put the key in the igntion, turn it to the right, and wait for the board to light up. Once it is lit, the car usually starts again. This is the first time the engine was shut down when the theft light starts to blink. In the past I have had trouble getting the car to start when the light comes on. I have had several ignition switches replaced at the suggestion of their Chevy technicians but each spring/summer I continue to have this costly problem. The managers and technicians seem to think that this is not a big issue and that I will need to continue to replace the ignition switches because the car thinks that I am stealing my own car. The only way for me to get the car to start up again is to put the key in the ignition and turn it to the right without actually starting the car. After 5-10 minutes the electrical board lights up and then I am able to start the car. While this car is a 2003 model, I have had this issue since the car was new but GM refuses to do anything about it. The only thing they have done is to replace the key fobs but that obviously is not the issue for many of their customers.

- Red Lion, PA, USA

problem #203

May 112017

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 94,652 miles
VIN: [xxx] I received a recall notice involving "possible unintended key rotation" and on May 11, 2017 I took the vehicle to a Chevy dealer in sanford, fl. Both of the keys were fitted with a "plug" and two rings were added, . on my way home from the dealership, on I-4 at almost 70 mph, I had to brake when debris began flying up ahead. The battery and oil lights came on and I felt the car lose power and the steering began to lock. The other cars braked & I coasted to the emergency lane. I put the car in park and started it up again. Approximately 4 miles later, as I exited the ramp in deltona, the car did exactly the same thing. I called the dealership from the side of the road and asked why the car had never done this until the recall for the key issue had been completed and I was told to come back and they would do a diagnostic. I drove to a local mechanic & based on the symptoms determined it was the ignition switch and they also purged the solenoid, costing $366. Today, May 23, 2017, I was traveling on I-4 at about 65mph when it became necessary to brake. The stretch of road is rough, and while braking I saw the two lights come on and felt the engine shut off. I was in the passing lane with easy access to the emergency lane, and once again the car started up and I continued on my way and back home. I drove in the right lane the remainder of the trip down and back so I could bail out if needed. On the day of the original repair, after the car shut down twice on the way home, I checked the government recall page to see if there were other recall issues and I learned that the fob is not recommended to be attached to the key. I removed the fob from the key and attached it to a lanyard, but apparently that does not help the problem. The dealership returned both "corrected" keys to me on the fob, with a second ring on each. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Deltona, FL, USA

problem #202

Feb 072017

Malibu

  • 27,000 miles
Malibu anti-theft? device keeps stalling my car and shutting it off while it is in motion. I am going to the news on this as this is an ongoing issue that is affecting millions of customers and is very dangerous.

- Clermont, FL, USA

problem #201

Dec 012016

Malibu

  • 70,000 miles
Both headlights suddenly won't work, bulbs fine, checked relays too, fuses fine.

- Renton, WA, USA

problem #200

Jul 152005

Malibu

  • 75,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Malibu. After the key was entered into the ignition, the vehicle failed to operate. In addition, the anti theft warning light illuminated continuously. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the pass lock sensor needed to be repaired and the ignition system needed to be reprogrammed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.

- Brownsburg, IN, USA

problem #199

May 182016

Malibu

  • 59,476 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start without any warnings. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the theft system needed to be replaced. The manufacturer not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 59,476.

- Memphis, TN, USA

problem #198

Mar 192016

Malibu

  • miles
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the after the ignition key was turned to the on position, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the ignition key failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure and it was unknown if the VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V400000 (electrical system). The failure mileage was unknown.

- Smithfield, VA, USA

problem #197

Feb 152014

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 133,200 miles
The contact owned a 2003 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving at approximately 55 mph and attempting to merge into another lane, the vehicle crashed into two barrels. The air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle stalled. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a junk yard. The contact sustained a left knee, left ankle, and whiplash injuries that needed medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V40000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 133,200. Updated 04/20/16 consumer stated the ignition switch locked and GM says due to air bags imploding consumer had power. Consumer was behind the steering and it locked no brakes. Updated 06/05/18

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #196

Feb 152016

Malibu

  • 155,500 miles
I've been having serious issues with my 2003 Chevrolet Malibu. For the past 2 days I haven't been able to get it started, theft light starts flashing every time I get back into my car to try and start it up. I've done the 10 minute waiting game over and over. My car is doing this every time I get into it now. Also, the dealership confirmed the body control module is not communicating with the vehicle. Now, I don't know if this is the BCM, ignition switch, wiring or something else that should be recalled as there are hundreds and thousands of complaints. I'm not the only one who seems to be having this issue. Get it together General Motors, you're loosing business each and everyday because of your at fault failing parts!

- Akron, OH, USA

problem #195

Feb 142016

Malibu

  • 161,032 miles
Ehgine dies while driving on the streets many times. Horn honks after turning on engine and not drive for about 1 minute. A/C automatically switched from fresh to recycle air buttons

- Pomona, CA, USA

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