Chevrolet Malibu Complaints (2003)

569 consumer complaints on file.

#10440582December 20, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I BOUGHT A CHEVY MALIBU NEW IN 2003. I NEVER KNEW IT HAD ANY ANTI THEFT DEVICE. THREE WEEKS AGO THE ANTI THEFT LIGHT CAME ON. I IGNORED IT. AFTER A FEW DAYS THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE ENGINE STARTED TO RUN BUT SPUTTERED OUT. I LOOKED IN THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL THAT CAME WITH THE CAR. IT SAYS IF THE ANTI THEFT LIGHT COMES ON (FOR NO REASON) TURN IGNITION TO ON POSITION WAIT TEN MINUTES TURN CAR OFF AND THE CAR WILL START. I FOLLOWED INSTRUCTIONS AND CAR STARTED. SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN YESTERDAY. I FOLLOWED INSTRUCTIONS AND CAR RUNS AGAIN. PROBLEM I HAVE IS WHY WOULD THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM BE ACTIVATED FOR NO REASON? CHEVY KNEW THIS HAPPENS AND THIS IS WHY THEY HAVE IT WRITTEN UP IN THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL. IF THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM IS FAULTY IE COMES ON FOR NO REASON AND PROHIBITS THE CAR FROM STARTING, CHEVY SHOULD NOT HAVE INSTALLED IT IN THE FIRST PLACE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10439077December 8, 2011
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED 5 TIMES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. EACH TIME,MY DAUGHTER HAS PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE, AND THE POWER STEERING OPERATED CORRECTLY AGAIN. I HAVE HAD THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM CHECKED BY CERTIFIED GM MECHANICS AT THE LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP; THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS COMMON PROBLEM BUT THEY DID KNOW OF A REMEDY. THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED THE STEERING SYSTEM EACH TIME, AND DID NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. I AM SELLING THIS VEHICLE...IT IS NOT SAFE ENOUGH FOR MY DAUGHTER TO DRIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10436385November 18, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE IGNITION BUT THE ENGINE FAILED TO OPERATE WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE ANTI-THEFT SECURITY SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR. THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED AFTER TEN TO FIFTEEN MINUTES. IN ADDITION, THE SAME FAILURE WOULD OCCUR WHILE DRIVING AND RESULT IN THE VEHICLE STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE IGNITION SYSTEM AND COMPUTER MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000. UPDATED 01/03/12*LJ UPDATED 01/04/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435437November 14, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR I AM UNABLE TO START IT BECAUSE THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WILL BLOCK THE CAR FROM STARTING. I WILL PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE SENSOR LIGHT WILL FLASH. I HAVE TO WAIT EXACTLY 10 MINUTES WITH THE KEY TURNED TO "ON" BEFORE THE LIGHT STOPS FLASHING AND I CAN TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. ON A FEW OCCASIONS THIS HAS OCCURRED BACK TO BACK RESULTING IN HAVING TO WAIT AT LEAST 20 MINUTES TO START MY CAR. I HAVE SEEN THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS CAR, WHICH SEEMS TO DEFEAT THE PURPOSE OF A SAFETY FEATURE IF YOU HAVE TO WAIT IN A DARK PARKING LOT ALONE FOR 10 MINUTES BECAUSE OF FAULTY CONSTRUCTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10433123October 28, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PARKED THE CAR, CAME BACK OUT AND IT WOULDN'T START, THOUGH THERE WAS POWER FROM THE BATTERY AND THE ENGINE ACTED LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO TURN OVER (INDICATING THAT IT WASN'T THE ALTERNATOR). HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED. TURNED OUT THAT THE "THEFT SYSTEM" (PASSLOCK) LOCKED ME OUT. MECHANICS "RESET" IT. IT HAPPENED AGAIN ABOUT 10 DAYS LATER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10432976October 27, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
NHTSA ACTION NUMBER (PE05055) WAS INITIALLY ISSUED IN 2004 FOR A DEFECTIVE TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHERS THAT BECOME INOPERATIVE ON MODEL YEAR 1999-2000 MALIBU, ALERO, GRAND AM, AND 1999 CUTLASS. THIS ACTION NUMBER WAS LATER REVISED IN 2005 TO INCLUDE MODEL YEAR 2001-2002 MALIBU, ALERO, AND GRAND AM VEHICLES. THE RESULTING DOCUMENT FROM GM FOR THE INITIAL MODEL YEAR RANGE WAS: SPECIAL POLICY ADJUSTMENT - TURN SIGNALS/HAZARD WARNING FLASHERS #04098 - (DEC 16, 2004) GM DOCUMENT ID# 1578551 AND WHEN THE MODEL YEAR RANGE WAS EXTENDED: SPECIAL POLICY ADJUSTMENT-TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD WARNING FLASHERS #04098A - (JAN 11, 2006) GM DOCUMENT ID# 1750030 - I OWN (BOUGHT IT NEW) A 2003 CHEVY MALIBU THAT HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME SYMPTOM OF INTERMITTENT TURN SIGNAL FAILURE. BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT TURN SIGNALS SOMETIME WORK AND SOMETIME DO NOT. YOU CAN NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL OR WILL NOT WORK. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY RISK. THE SWITCH TYPE IN THE 2003 MALIBU APPEARS TO BE THE SAME AS IN THE PREVIOUS YEARS FOR WHICH GM ISSUED THE SPECIAL POLICIES (NOTED ABOVE). ON OCTOBER 8TH 2011, I REPLACED THE TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD WARNING FLASHER SWITCH THAT WAS IDENTIFIED IN THE GM DOCUMENT. (REPLACED WITH DORMAN PART 924-601). IT HAS BEEN ALMOST 3 WEEKS SINCE THE REPLACEMENT AND I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM. I WOULD HAVE SEEN THE PROBLEM OCCUR DURING THIS 3 WEEK PERIOD. IN CASE IT HELPS IN YOUR INVESTIGATION, THE NUMBER ON THE DEFECTIVE SWITCH I REMOVED FROM MY 2003 MALIBU IS : 22594146 0843 F I WANTED TO REPORT THIS FAILURE AS THERE IS A POSSIBLY THAT THERE WILL BE OTHERS WITH THE MODEL YEAR 2003 MALIBU''S THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AND WILL ALSO FILE A CLAIM WITH NHTSA. IF THIS IS THE CASE, GM WILL NEED TO ONCE AGAIN EXTEND THE RANGE OF VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THE DEFECTIVE SWITCH/HAZARD FLASHERS AND INCLUDE THIS EXTENDED RANGE IN THEIR SPECIAL POLICY ADJUSTMENT. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430664October 18, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR WILL NOT START FUEL PUMP SHUTS DOWN, CAR THINKS IT IS BEING BROKEN INTO. HAVE TO SIT IN CAR FOR 10 MINUTES WITH KEY IN IGNITION TO OVERRIDE SYSTEM. HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES IN LAST MONTH. ALSO, FUEL PUMP SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON PARKWAY- LUCKY TO GET TO SIDE OF ROAD WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. BY THE WAY, NEW FUEL PUMP AND MODULE REPLACED AT 60,000 SO THAT IS NOT THE ISSUE.. HOW MANY PEOPLE NEED TO GET INTO ACCIDENTS OR DIE BEFORE THE NHTSA GETS INVOLVED AND MAKES CHEVY DO THE RIGHT THING AND REPLACE THIS IGNITIONS AND PASSLOCK PARTS THAT ARE DEFECTIVE!!!! OH, AND THEY GOT A BAIL OUT- BUT THE CONSUMERS DON'T GET ANY AND HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PAY THEM FOR REPAIRS THAT THEY CAUSED IN THE FIRST PLACE GM MAKES AN ASTRONOMICAL AMOUNT OF MONEY ON THESE REPAIRS. I HOPE THE NHTSA GETS A SHARE OF THAT MONEY BECAUSE YOU CERTAINLY AREN'T INTERESTED IN CORRECTING THE SITUATION. HOW MANY YEARS AND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS DOES IT TAKE??????? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430396October 16, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
MY 2003 CHEVY MALIBU WOULD NOT START. I LEARNED THAT THE REASON IT WOULD NOT START WAS DUE TO THE THEFT SYSTEM PASS LOCK. SOMEHOW THE THEFT SYSTEM WAS TRIGGERED AND CUT THE FUEL SUPPLY TO THE ENGINE. I DID WHAT THE MANUAL SAID AND WAITED 10 MINUTES WITH THE KEY IN THE ON POSITION. THE CAR STARTED AFTER THAT; HOWEVER TWO WEEKS LATER, THE CAR DOES THE SAME THING. THE PROCESS IS REPEATED TO RESET THE THEFT SYSTEM. BUT NOW I WONDER HOW MANY MORE TIMES THIS PROBLEM WILL OCCUR AND WHY HASN'T ANYTHING BEEN DONE ABOUT A RECALL. OVER 30 INCIDENTS HAVE REPORTED ONLINE AT HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/CHEVROLET/MALIBU/2003/ SO WHY HASN'T THERE BE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I AM SURE THAT MORE PEOPLE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS THEY JUST HAVE NOT REPORTED IT. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY INCONVENIENT AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOUR CAR IS ACTUALLY GOING TO START. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428696October 4, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO PLACE THE GEAR IN PARK IN ORDER TO RELEASE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,100.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10426493September 20, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE VEHICLE WILL NOT TURN ON EVERY FEW TIMES WHEN TRYING TO TURN IT ON. THE THEFT LIGHT BEGINS TO BLINK. I HAVE TO TURN IT TO THE "ON" POSITION FOR 10 MINUTES FOR IT TO RESTART, THEN IT WILL WORK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10425608September 15, 2011
STEERING, STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THERE WAS A LOSS OF CONTROL IN THE STEERING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN FULL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE WITH CAUTION. THERE WAS A NEARBY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THE SUB FRAME WAS FRACTURED DUE TO CORROSION. IN ADDITION, BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10422960September 1, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PASSLOCK ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM ENGAGING AND NOT ALLOWING CAR TO START. STARTED HAPPENING ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND ASKED PROFESSIONAL ASE MECHANICS. NO WARRANTY OR TSB AVAILABLE TO FIX PROBLEM, BUT PLENTY OF COMPLAINTS. CAR HAS NOT SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10422472August 29, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK WHILE DEPRESSED. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RELEASED AND FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT OF THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V528000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: ACCELERATOR PEDAL). THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR FAILURE AS MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 09/27/11 *BF UPDATED 10/11/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10419719August 16, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS WOULD STOP ILLUMINATING ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 113,000. HAZARD SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED AND SEEMS TO HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 11/16/2011 *LN *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10418167August 9, 2011
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL* THE OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SUFFERED MINOR CUTS AND BURNS AS A RESULT AND HAD TO SEEK MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10418809August 8, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
AFTER A YEAR THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOAD/RADIO AND WINDOW WOULDN'T COME ON RIGHT AWAY. THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON BUT THERE'S WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THEN THE SERVICE LIGHT WOULD COME ON MONTH AFTER I HAD A OIL CHANGE DONE. WHILE I WAS DRIVING, THE CAR JUST SLOWED UP AND STOP. TOLD BY MY MECHANIC IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP BUT WHILE HE HAD IT FOR HALF THE DAY; THE CAR STARTED RIGHT UP WITH NO PROBLEM. ALSO SOMETIMES THERE'S A CLICKING NOISE LIKE MY SIGNAL IS ON BUT ITS NOT. I WAS TOLD IT WAS MY ALARM KEY. EVERY TIME THERE IS A INCIDENT COMPUTER SHOWS IT BUT CAN'T EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM AND IT STOP FOR AWHILE BUT COMES BACK. BEEN LIKE THIS SINCE I HAD IT AND I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER THEY KEEP IT OVER NIGHT SAME THING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10416895August 3, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 65, WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RPMS WOULD RAISE AND THE ENGINE WOULD INCREASE. IN 2006, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED FOR RECALL NUMBER: 04V528000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: ACCELERATOR PEDAL); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. NO FURTHER INSPECTION OR REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10413800July 20, 2011
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON; HOWEVER THE AIR CONDITIONER WOULD ONLY FUNCTION WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER AND THE RECIRCULATION CONTROL DEVICES WERE MANUALLY HAND HELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE FAILURE COULD POSSIBLY BE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE OR FAULTY WIRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,165.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10413308July 18, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM WOULD ENGAGE, INVOLUNTARILY, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. ON A FEW OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WOULD START, BUT THE WARNING THEFT LIGHT WOULD CONTINUE TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10413229July 17, 2011
EQUIPMENT, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAD TROUBLE WITH THE CAR STARTING/STOPPING IN TRAFFIC. REPLACED THE KEY SWITCH WHICH SOLVED THE PROBLEM. ALSO HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE HEATING/AIR-CONDITIONING FAN SYSTEM. THE SYSTEM WILL LOSE THE ABILITY TO RUN EXCEPT ON SETTING 4 OR 5. ALSO THE SWITCH THAT PUTS THE SYSTEM ON RECYCLED AIR HAS STOPPED WORKING. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN 5 YEARS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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