Chevrolet Malibu Complaints (2003)

569 consumer complaints on file.

#10255197January 15, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
AFTER ENGINE COOLANT LIGHT COMING ON AND RESERVOIR BEING ALMOST EMPTY SERVICE STATION ADDED COOLANT. SAME THING HAPPENED APPROX 2 MONTHS LATER SAME ACTION TAKEN. WENT TO GET OIL CHANGED AND PERSON SAID DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY BECAUSE YOU HAVE OIL MIXED WITH YOUR RADIATOR FLUID, YOU HAVE SOME MAJOR ENGINE PROBLEMS. TOOK CAR TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE SAID THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE 2003 MALIBU AND THAT THE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS THE PROBLEM AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE REPLACED IT AT GREAT EXPENSE TO MYSELF,AND HE DID MAKE THE COMMENT THAT THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THIS PARTICULAR PART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254352January 9, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE ANTI-FREEZE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE CONTACT PULLED BACK INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED THAT THE RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY. HE HAD TO REFILL THE VEHICLE WITH ANTI-FREEZE. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH LATER, THE RESERVOIR WAS ALMOST EMPTY AGAIN AND HE HAD TO REFILL THE VEHICLE WITH ANTI-FREEZE. IN JANUARY OF 2009, THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS SOME ANTI-FREEZE ON THE ENGINE DUE TO THE MANIFOLD GASKET BEING DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,500. UPDATED 2/5/09 *CN THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE GASKET WAS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC THAT WAS THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE. UPDATED 02/10/09. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253874January 5, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SHUTTING OFF INTERMITTENTLY FOR THE PAST EIGHT MONTHS. THE DEALER KEEPS RESETTING THE COMPUTER, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR. THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES FAIL WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURS WHILE ACCELERATING OR CRUISING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000. UPDATED 2/5/09 *CN UPDATED 02/10/09. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250158November 29, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
2003 CHEVY MALIBU WITH 88K. DURING ROUTINE OIL CHANGE WAS ADVISED OF OIL IN COOLANT. UPON TAKING TO MECHANIC WAS TOLD I HAD BAD HEAD/INTAKE GASKET AND NEEDED REPLACED , ESTIMATE COST $2400. UPON RESEARCHING FARTHER I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS COMMON ON SOME GM VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ENGINE AND THAT IN FACT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT HAD BEEN SETTLED IN CALIFORNIA EARLIER THIS YEAR. IN ANY CASE, I'M STUCK WITH THE BILL ON A REPAIR THAT WAS CAUSED BY THE COOLANT THAT THE GM USED AND REQUIRED AS APART OF THE WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246050October 19, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ON MY 2003 CHEVY MALIBU HAD TO BE REPLACED SINCE IT WAS PLASTIC. HAS THEIR BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PART? IF SO, WHAT FORMS NEED TO BE FILLED OUT TO GET PROPER REFUNDING? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10243775September 27, 2008
STEERING
STEERING COLUMN STARTED SMOKING, THEN BURST INTO FLAMES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10241150September 6, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
I OWN A 2003 CHEVY MAILBU. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE ANITFREEZE DRAINING OUT. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP A COUPLE TIMES AND HAVE HAD THE MANIFOLD INTAKE GASKET REPLACED. THIS WAS VERY EXPENSIVE FOR A SINGLE MOM ON A BUDGET. THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. I HAVE ALSO STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT COMING ON AND PREVENTING THE CAR FROM STARTING. I CAN TURN IT TO "ON" AND GET IT STARTED AFTER 10 MINUTES, BUT THIS IS BOTHERSOME WHEN I AM IN A HURRY. I THINK THAT GM SHOULD HAVE THESE PROBLEMS UNDER RECALL AND PAY TO HAVE THEM FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10239668August 25, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
MY MALIBU 2003 ALSO HAS AN ACCELERATOR PEDAL THAT STICKS IN THE HOT WEATHER. IT STARTED HAPPENING INTERMITTENTLY ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. IF I CAN GET MY FOOT UNDER THE PEDAL TO SLOW IT UP THAT WORKS. OF COURSE IT NEVER HAPPENS AT THE DEALERSHIP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238633August 18, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
BOUGHT A 2003 CHEVY MALIBU 1 1/2 YEARS AGO (USED). SINCE THAT TIME THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE HAS FAILED TWICE. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS AT HOME, THE 2ND TIME LEFT ME STRANDED AN HOUR AWAY FROM HOME. I HAVE SPENT OVER $300.00 FOR TOWING, PLUS THE COST OF REPAIRS ON THE VEHICLE. I AM A COLLEGE STUDENT WHO AS LIMITED FUNDS. GM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR FIX THE PROBLEM. IT WILL TAKE GM SEVERAL DEATHS WHEN THESE CARS SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD BEFORE THEY GET OFF THEIR "BUTTS" TO FIX THE PROBLEM. GM DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO KEEP THEIR CUSTOMERS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238692August 18, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. DURING WARM WEATHER OR WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED OUTSIDE IN THE HEAT, THE ACCELERATOR WOULD STICK. THE CONTACT MUST USE HER OTHER FOOT TO RELEASE THE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V528000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236978August 5, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TURN SIGNAL FAILS TO OPERATE UNLESS I PRESS LIGHTLY ON THE HAZARD SWITCH. OCCURS VERY FREQUENTLY ON WARM TO HOT WEATHER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10235063July 20, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TOOK THE CAR TO THE SERVICE STATION FOR MAINTENANCE. WHEN I PULL INTO THE DRIVE WAY OF THE SERVICE STATION THE CAR ACCELERATED BY ITSELF. I RAN INTO THE DOOR AND THE BUILDING. I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND INSPECTED THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR AND THE BUILDING. THE CAR HAD SOME SCRATCHES AND DAMAGE TO THE FRONT BUMPER. THE BUILDING DAMAGE WAS SUPERFICIAL. THE SERVICE STATION DID THE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRED THE FAULTY ACCELERATION CABLE. I REMEMBERED LATER THAT THERE WAS A RECALL SERVICE THAT WAS DONE IN 2005 ON THIS VEHICLE. THIS ALSO HAPPEN AGAIN, I HAD IT REPAIRED AGAIN. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE CAR IS UNSAFE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234284July 14, 2008
SEATS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SEAT CUSHION SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. HE WAS ABLE TO RE-ATTACH THE SEAT BY SNAPPING THE CLIPS BACK INTO PLACE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 56,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233814July 10, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
THIS MORNING WHEN GETTING GAS, I GOT BACK IN THE CAR, STARTED IT UP AND THE HORN RANDOMLY BEEPED. ONCE I GOT TO WORK, AND LOCKED THE CAR THE HORN BEEPED AGAIN, KEEP IN MIND THE REMOTE LOCKS DON'T SOUND THE HORN. WHEN I GOT HOME LATER WHEN LOCKING THE CAR THE HORN DIDN'T SOUND. WHEN SOMEONE ELSE USED THE CAR LATER TONIGHT, WHEN STARTING THE CAR THE HORN SOUNDED AGAIN. I ASKED HER TO TURN IT OFF AND TRY AGAIN, AND ONCE AGAIN IT SOUNDED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233086July 2, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WENT TO THE DOCTOR TODAY. MY CAR WAS FINE. ON RETURNING TO MY CAR, IT WOULD NOT START. I CALLED AAA. THEY SHOWED ME THE PASSLOCK ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WAS ENGAGED -- WITH NO IDENTIFIABLE CAUSE. THE GENTLEMAN WHO HELPED ME, TOLD ME HE HAS SEEN THIS OFTEN. I AM USING THE ORIGINAL KEY, AND I AM SURE THE CAR WAS NOT TAMPERED WITH. READING ONLINE, I GET A SENSE THAT THIS WILL PROBABLY START HAPPENING MORE. ALTHOUGH THIS IS THE FIRST FAILURE, I READ THAT THE CAR CAN SWITCH OFF WHILE DRIVING. I AM CONCERNED AS MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER ALSO DRIVES THIS CAR, AND THAT SHE MAY BE ENDANGERED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232634June 29, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM IN MY 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU IS DEFECTIVE, APPARENTLY THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR JUST ABOUT EVERY OWNER OF A CHEVY MALIBU. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BY GM!!!! ABOUT ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK WHEN I ATTEMPT TO START MY CAR I PRAY THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM DOES NOT BLINK, BECAUSE WHEN IT BLINKS THAT MEANS THE CAR ISN'T GOING TO START. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES THAT IF THIS OCCURS THEN TURN THE KEY TO THE "ON" POSITION AND LET IT SIT FOR 10 MINUTES AND THEN TURN THE KEY TO "OFF" AND START THE CAR AS NORMAL. WELL FOR ABOUT 1 YEAR THIS WORKED, IT WAS A HASSLE, BUT IT WORKED. NOW AFTER ABOUT A YEAR OF THIS PAIN IN THE BUTT ROUTINE TWICE A WEEK TO START MY CAR, FINALLY IT DIED ON ME WHILE DRIVING AND WILL NO LONGER START. GM IS OBVIOUSLY AWARE OF THIS MALFUNCTION BECAUSE THEY HAVE GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO DEAL WITH IT IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL, THE PROBLEM IS THEY HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, AFTER THEIR SUGGESTION FAILS TO START THE CAR. THIS MALFUNCTION NEEDS TO BE RECALLED!!!!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232283June 25, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
TL*THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING, FAILED TO RESTART, AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT SUSPECTED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED. THERE IS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION (PE07033) REGARDING THE FUEL PUMP. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 117,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231404June 17, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2003 MAILBU 6 CY. I JUST HAD $1,300.00 CAR REPAIR THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF GMC WOULD HAVE RECALLED ALL CARS THAT HAVE THE ANTIFREEZE WITH ACID IN IT. THIS IS A REPAIR THAT THEY ARE FIGHTING IN A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT BLAMING THE DRIVERS WHEN OUR BOOKS STATE NO CHANGING ANTIFREEZE FOR 150,000 MILES. IN STEAD THEY ARE PUTTING PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT AMERICAN MADE CARS HAVE THIS UNNECESSARY EXPENSE. THIS IS MONEY THAT I HAD TO BORROW AND NOW FIND SOME WAY TO PAY BACK SO THAT I MAY CONTINUE TO WORK. THIS SHOULDN'T EVEN BE A LAW SUIT. THEY SHOULD OWN TO THEIR MISTAKE AND MAKE GOOD THE ERROR THAT THEY MADE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230863June 12, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. ON MAY 25, 2008, WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN ACCELERATING FASTER THAN NORMAL. THE CONTACT HAD TO MERGE OUT OF TRAFFIC. SHE COULD NOT FEEL THE BRAKES WORKING AND SPED THROUGH A STOP SIGN. SHE DROVE INTO A PARKING LOT TO AVOID CRASHING INTO OTHER VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED WHEN IT CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE BODY SHOP TO REPLACE THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND HEADLAMP. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT AN INVESTIGATOR WOULD INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE. THEY ARE CURRENTLY STATING THAT DUE TO THE BODY WORK THAT WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, THEY WILL NOT INVESTIGATE THE ACCELERATION FAILURE, ONLY THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAS A BACK INJURY THAT WAS AGGRAVATED DUE TO THE CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 24,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230542June 11, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWN A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU, I HAVE EXPERIENCED ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS A NO START INCIDENT, TWICE THE CAR WAS TOWED TO REPAIR FACILITIES WHERE VARIOUS COMPONENTS WERE CHANGED AFTER THE CAR STARTED RIGHT UP. THIS MOST RECENT INCIDENT HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY AT HOME AND, I DECIDED TO THOROUGHLY CHECK OUT THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE REPLACE VARIOUS COMPONENTS ON THE CAR AND SPENT UPWARDS OF 250.00 IN PARTS AND EVEN AFTER THAT, ONCE I GOT THE CAR RUNNING AGAIN I HAD A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND A VERY ROUGH IDLE. SO, I TOOK THE CAR TO A GARAGE TO HAVE IT SCANNED FOR FAULT CODES. NOW, I HAVE DISCOVERED A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH (FAULT CODE U1000) HAS BEEN BEHIND THESE INCIDENTS. AND, IN READING VARIOUS INTERNET FORUMS/DISCUSSION BOARDS, I AM NOT ALONE!! (CHEVROLET IS WELL AWARE OF THIS DEFECT !!) THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN THE PASSIVE THEFT SYSTEM ON GENERAL MOTORS CARS. THERE SHOULD BE A NATIONAL INVESTIGATION AND SUBSEQUENT RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM REMEDIED. THE DEALERS ARE GETTING 300-350.00 PER REPAIR AND MOST TIMES THIS PROBLEM RE-OCCURS. I WANTED TO BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION AS I AM ABOUT TO SPEND 300.00 PLUS AT MY LOCAL CHEVROLET SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE MY FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. THE NEW ONE MUST BE "PROGRAMMED" TO YOUR VEHICLE AND ONLY A CHEVROLET DEALER CAN DO THIS. PLEASE RENDER ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN IN THIS MATTER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. .....................................CHRIS MERCKX *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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