Chevrolet Malibu Complaints (2003)

569 consumer complaints on file.

#10351725August 25, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
OWN 2003 CHEVY MALIBU THAT WILL JUST SHUT OFF. THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM BUILT IN THE VEHICLE WILL DO THIS. HAVE TO WAIT 10 MIN BEFORE IT RESETS ITSELF THEN IT WILL START. CHEVY DEALERSHIP THAT I WENT TO IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM IN THIS MODEL AND OFFERED TO FIX IT FOR $400. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS FAIRLY COMMON. SOUNDS LIKE A DEFECT TO ME AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED FOR FREE BY GM. BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW. THIS STARTED IN 2006 AND HAS CONTINUED TO DO THIS 1 OR 2 TIMES A MONTH SINCE THEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10351512August 24, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE IGNITION LOCK HOUSING ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START BECAUSE THE COMPUTER ASSUMED THE VEHICLE WAS BEING STOLEN DUE TO THE IGNITION SECURITY SWITCH FEATURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION LOCK HOUSING ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED JUST RECENTLY PRIOR TO THE MOST CURRENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,760. STATUS UPDATE 11/15/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10351537August 24, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, STRUCTURE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START INTERMITTENTLY. IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO TURN THE KEY TO THE ON POSITION AND ALLOW IT TO SIT IN THE IGNITION FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES WHILE THE VEHICLE WOULD RESET ITSELF. IN ADDITION, THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS WOULD BECOME FILLED WITH WATER WHENEVER IT WOULD RAIN, CAUSING THE BULBS TO BLOW. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10350297August 18, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
FOR YEARS, CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING AND CAN NOT BE RE-STARTED, OR MORE FREQUENTLY, JUST WON'T START. NO WARNING EXCEPT A FINE, DIM RED ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT WHICH IS UNLIKELY TO BE NOTICED AT ALL, AND CERTAINLY NOT IMMEDIATELY. CAN HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES PER DAY, OR CAN GO TWO WEEKS WITHOUT A PROBLEM. SHORT TERM REMEDY IS RELIABLE IF INCONVENIENT AND IN SOME SITUATION, DANGEROUS; WITH CAR IN "PARK," TURN OFF ALL SYSTEM, TURN ON IGNITION SWITCH BUT DO NOT START, DO NOT DISTURB FOR AT LEAST EN MINUTES. SYSTEM WILL THEN BE RESET. THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT THIS PROBLEM HAD MULTIPLE CAUSES. GOT PARTIAL, TEMPORARY IMPROVEMENT (LESS FREQUENT FAILURE) BY REPLACING DEFECTIVE DS LOCK SWITCH, WHICH IS ALSO USED TO PROGRAM THAT LOCKING SYSTEM FEATURES. BECAUSE THE USERS IS SUPPOSED TO INITIATE LOCKING SYSTEM PROGRAMMING BY HOLDING THE SWITCH CLOSED, AND THE LOCK WAS STICKING CLOSED AND OPENING UNPREDICTABLY, IT WAS SURELY CREATING INPUTS NOT ANTICIPATED BY THE SYSTEM'S PROGRAMMERS. I BELIEVE THE IGNITION SWITCH SYSTEM, INCLUDING THE INTERFACE WITH THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR SYSTEM, IS STILL CAUSING THIS PROBLEM, AND FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE INCREASES. HAVE NOT FOUND SATISFACTORY SOLUTION. CAN'T AFFORD THE $400 DEALER SAYS IT WILL COST FOR (POSSIBLE) FIX, AMBIGUOUS EXPLANATIONS MAKE ME DOUBT THE DEALER REALLY UNDERSTANDS THE CAUSE. NO ACTUAL PROPERTY DAMAGE OR CRASH YET, BUT OBVIOUSLY RISK IS HIGH WHEN CAR SUDDENLY STALL IN TRAFFIC. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10349515August 16, 2010
SEAT BELTS
NEITHER OF THE LAP/SHOULDER BELTS HOLD TIGHT. THE PLASTIC THAT SURROUNDS THE METAL BUCKLE HAS CRACKED AND THE BELTS WILL NO LONGER KEEP A TIGHT FIT. CHILD SAFETY SEATS CANNOT BE INSTALLED BECAUSE THE BELTS WILL NOT HOLD THEM IN PLACE. I CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE SEAT BELTS ARE NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10349517August 16, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHTS DO NOT ALWAYS WORK. SOMETIMES THEY DON'T WORK AT ALL AND OTHER TIMES THEY BLINK A FEW TIMES AND THEN STOP. I DRIVE ON MAJOR INTERSTATES AND I'M ALWAYS AFRAID THAT THIS WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I CANNOT PREDICT IF OR WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN. WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN, IF I TAP OR LIGHTLY PRESS THE FLASHER BUTTON ON THE DASH IT SEEMS TO HELP. I'VE SEEN OTHER REPORTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY FLAW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10348978August 12, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2003 CHEVY MALIBU: THE THEFT LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR WILL NOT START FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. THIS HAPPENS JUST ABOUT EVERY DAY, AND WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE CAR TO START. THE CAR ALSO DIES ON US WHILE WE ARE DRIVING, PUTTING US IN A VERY SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS SITUATION. WITHOUT WARNING IT JUST SHUTS OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10348874August 11, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE GAS PEDAL IS STICK. IT ACCELERATES THE CAR BY ITSELF. I HAVE TO USE MY FOOT TO GET IT OUT TO AVOID ACCELERATION. I CALLED GM AND THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY TOYOTA'S STICKY PEDAL IS A BIG DEAL, WHILE GM DOES NOTHING FOR IT. I SAW POSTINGS OF THE SAME PROBLEM FOR A LONG TIME. I HOPE GM TAKE ACTION BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10342666July 12, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
IN FEB 2009 I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND MY CAR ACCELERATED BUT I WAS ABLE TO STOP BEFORE HITTING THE CAR NEXT TO ME. THE SAME THING HAPPENED A FEW DAYS LATER. THEN AGAIN, ON FEBRUARY 17, 2009, PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE THE CAR ACCELERATED AND I COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO STOP. I JUMPED A CURB AND WENT INTO A GRASSY AREA AND FINALLY GOT THE CAR STOPPED. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANICS COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS PROBABLY THE FLOOR MAT UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. HOWEVER, ON JULY 7, 2010, PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE THE CAR ACCELERATED AND I JUMPED A CURB. AFTER JUMPING THE CURB, I NARROWLY MISSED AN ELECTRICAL BOX AND UTILITY POLE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER AGAIN. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A WORN CABLE WHICH THEY TOLD ME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM SINCE OTHER MALIBU OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM YET THERE IS NO RECALL FOR OUR PARTICULAR MODEL NUMBER REGARDING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I CALLED THE CHEVROLET CONSUMER NUMBER, BUT WAS TOLD THAT UNTIL THERE ARE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS TO WARRANT A RECALL FOR MY MODEL "THEY" ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY REPAIRS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10342197July 9, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, SHE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STOP. THE RPMS INCREASED EXCESSIVELY TO 2000 WHEN SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, AS SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, SHE NOTICED AN ODOR IN THE BRAKES WHICH WAS HEAT ACCUMULATED AFTER SHE TRIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. SHE ALSO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FLOOR MAT WAS NOT UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND WAS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR ASSEMBLY SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. WHEN THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 04V528000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL ACCELERATOR PEDAL) AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 101,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10341745July 7, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT, , THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MANUALLY RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WITH HIS FOOT AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE FAILURE OCCURRED DURING EXTREMELY HOT WEATHER TEMPERATURES AND WHEN THE CONTACT COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT REVIEWED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V528000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: ACCELERATOR PEDAL). AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL ON JANUARY 14, 2005. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD NO PRIOR RECALL REMEDY REPAIR PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,627.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10340761June 30, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM HAS FAILED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE HE HAD TO TURN THE IGNITION ON AND WAIT AT LEAST TEN MINUTES BEFORE IT WOULD START. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. WHEN HE CALLED THE DEALER, THEY WOULD ADVISE HIM TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE COST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10339820June 24, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
PASSLOCK SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE DUE TO NICKEL PLATING ON STARTER TUMBLER CAUSING OXIDATION. DEALERS ARE ABLE TO MAKE A KILLING ON THIS DEFECTIVE CONNECTOR BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO TROUBLESHOOT A FULL FUEL PUMP SYSTEM AND WIRING HARNESS BEFORE THEY WILL REPLACE THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM. OCCURS ONCE EVERY FEW MONTHS INTERMITTENTLY AND BECOMES MORE SERIOUS AS THE OXIDATION WORSENS. POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS OCCUR WHEN VEHICLE WOULD STALL IN AN UNSAFE LOCATION (IE: RAILROAD TRACKS OR HIGHWAY) AND VEHICLE WILL NOT RESTART. COUPLED WITH THE RECALL THESE VEHICLES HAD WITH THE ACCELERATOR STICKING (WHICH MINE DID ON A HIGHWAY) THIS COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ONLINE (ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GOOGLE "PASSLOCK PROBLEM" AND YOU WILL GET THOUSANDS OF RESULTS AND CONSUMER FIXES COMPLAINING ABOUT HOW GM IGNORES EVERY SERVICE REQUEST FOR A SOLUTION THAT DOESN'T GOUGE CUSTOMERS. THERE IS PRACTICALLY AN UNDERGROUND CLUB DESIGNED TO HANDLE THIS PROBLEM.) ACCORDING TO THE SHOP FOREMAN AT COLONIAL CHEVROLET IN NORFOLK, VA, AFTER HIS 14 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WITH SERVICE THIS IS A PROBLEM HE IS INTIMATELY ACQUAINTED WITH AND RECOMMENDS REPLACING THE KEY TUMBLER (PASSLOCK CHIP INTEGRATED INSIDE) AND THE CONNECTOR THAT LEADS TO THE BODY CONTROL MODULE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10339376June 21, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ACCELERATOR DOES NOT RESPOND WHEN YOU REMOVE YOUR FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL. THIS SITUATION OCCURS AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN SETTING IN THE SUN. IT HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES DURING THE PAST WEEK. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED FOR THIS CONDITION IN 2005 AS PART OF THE RECALL PROGRAM. IT EVIDENTLY DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10336597June 16, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. SHE STATED SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AND WHEN SHE REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ABNORMALLY ACCELERATE. SHE PUT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR. THE VEHICLE STOPPED REVVING AND SHE USED EXTREME FORCE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES UNTIL THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECREASE IN SPEED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,739.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10336126June 14, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON AND OFF FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS - AND WHEN IT FLASHES I NEED TO RESET BY TURNING IGNITION TO ON AND WAIT TEN MIN. - NOW THE LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME AND I'M CONCERNED THAT AT SOME POINT THE CAR WILL NOT START AND I WILL BE STRANDED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10335757June 11, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
03 MALIBU WITH ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS.... THE CAR SHUTS ITSELF OFF WHILE IN MOTION... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10332613May 28, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AT LEAST FIVE TO SIX TIMES A DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, FUEL MODULATOR AND COIL SPRINGS. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 47,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10332498May 27, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH, THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. SECONDS LATER, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 9,000
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10331792May 22, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
HAVE A 2003 CHEVY MALIBU WITH AN "PASSLOCK" ANTI THEFT SYSTEM IN IT. THIS SYSTEM IS ACTING UP CONSIDERABLY AND WHEN I BRING IT TO THE GM DEALER I GET CHARGED MORE AND MORE MONEY BUT NO SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM, BECAUSE THEIR COMPUTERS DO NOT DETECT THE PROBLEM. AS I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE, THERE ARE MANY MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE ARE ALSO MANY INSTANCES WHERE THIS SYSTEM HAS CAUSED CARS TO STALL WHILE BEING DRIVEN DOWN THE HIGHWAY, AND THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME AS WELL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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