Chevrolet Malibu Complaints (2003)

569 consumer complaints on file.

#10230469June 10, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65-70 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. HE COASTED SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD UNTIL THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS OFF, HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND IT RELEASED. AFTER RESEARCHING RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT REALIZED THAT HIS FAILURE WAS IDENTICAL TO THAT DESCRIBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V528000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND, SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. AS OF JUNE 10, 2008, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,000. UPDATED 07/08/08. *BF UPDATED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229988June 4, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO WHEN IT STARTED GETTING HUMID, I WOULD BE DRIVING AT A CONSTANT SPEED, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I WOULD BEGIN TO SPEED UP. I WOULD LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR, AND THE CAR WOULD CONTINUE TO GAIN SPEED. WHEN I TRIED TO COME TO A STOP, THE CAR STILL WANTED TO GO FORWARD, AND THE RPM WAS STUCK AT 1.5. I NEED TO STICK MY FOOT UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO LIFT IT UP, AS IF IT GETS STUCK. IT TYPICALLY DOESN'T DO IT IN THE WINTER MONTHS, BUT DOES IT ALL SUMMER LONG, ESPECIALLY ON HOT, HUMID DAYS. I'VE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH BLINKER NOISE: I WILL BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, AND FOR NO PARTICULAR REASON, I WILL HEAR THE NOISE IT MAKES WHEN SIGNALING. MY TURNING LIGHTS DON'T COME ON, BUT IT DOES MAKE THE NOISE AND HAS CONTINUED TO DO IT EXCESSIVELY FOR PERIODS OF 10 MINUTES OR LONGER. MY CAR HAS ALSO STARTED TO MAKE A DINGING NOISE, AS IF A DOOR WERE OPEN, AS I'M DRIVING ALONG....EXTREMELY ANNOYING!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229680June 2, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR, WHEELS
I HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES ON THIS CAR AT 6,000 MILES. SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THEM ON A YEARLY OCCURRENCE, AS WELL AS ROTORS AND WHEEL BEARINGS. THE BREAKS ALWAYS SOUND LIKE THEY ARE GRINDING AND VIBRATING. I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE ABS LIGHT COMING ON. IT HAS BEEN 7 MONTHS SINCE I HAD THE ROTORS REPLACED, AND I NEED NEW BREAKS AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229344May 30, 2008
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THIS 2003 CHEVY MALIBU HAS A BAD REPUTATION ON ITS PASSLOCK SYSTEM. THE CAR COULDN'T BE STARTED WHEN I TURNED THE KEY. THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHTS WAS ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10228900May 26, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU AND THE THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM KEEPS ACTIVATING FOR NO REASON. THE VEHICLE USE TO HAVE A PROBLEM STARTING AND NOW HAS STARTED DYING ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM BUT CHEVROLET REFUSES TO DO A RECALL. IT IS GOING TO CAUSE SOMEONE TO CRASH. IT COSTS ANYWHERE FROM $700.00 - $1,300.00 TO DO THE REPAIRS AND MOST PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD IT. CHEVROLET IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227983May 16, 2008
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START BECAUSE THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM KEPT LOCKING THE VEHICLE. IT TAKES SEVERAL MINUTES (TEN MIN OR SO) FOR THE SYSTEM TO RE-SET AND ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO START. DEALERSHIPS ARE NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. COM- PLAINTS REGISTERED ON WWW.MYSTATS.COM/SAFETY STATION ARE NUMEROUS (AT LEAST 40) CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY STOP RUNNING WHILE DRIVING IN MOTION. GM SHOULD RECALL AND CORRECT THIS IMMEDIATELY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227594May 13, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PASSIVE ANTI-THEFT WOULD NOT ALLOW US TO START THE CAR. WE SAT THERE FOR OVER 15 MINUTES. NO OTHER ODD HAD OCCURRED BEFORE THAT BUT SUDDENLY IT WOULD NOT ALLOW US TO START. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227243May 11, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
YOU CAN ADD MY NAME TO THE LIST OF INDIVIDUALS SHELLING OUT AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO REPLACE WHAT APPEAR TO BE DEFECTIVE PARTS AND/OR MANUFACTURING DESIGNS IN THE 2003 CHEVY MALIBU. WE PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN FEB 2003 AND REPAIR COSTS TO DATE ARE IN EXCESS OF $2,000 AND THE CAR ONLY HAS 52,000 MILES ON IT. FIRST, THE BRAKES AND ROTORS NEEDED PLACED AFTER ABOUT 40,000 MILES (MOST OF WHICH WERE INTERSTATE DRIVING)...COST WAS OVER $300. NEXT, WE WERE GETTING THE CAR REPAIRED AFTER AN INCIDENT WITH A DEER AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED US THAT COOLANT WAS STARTING TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE BECAUSE OF A FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET...REPAIR COST ALMOST $1,000. FINALLY, MY WIFE WAS RECENTLY STRANDED BECAUSE THE FUEL PUMP FAILED...REPAIR COST $1,000. ALL OF THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED WITHIN THE PAST 6 MONTHS. BY FAR THE MOST FRUSTRATION THING IS THAT ALL THESE ITEMS APPEAR TO BE VERY COMMON FAILURES WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL MADE BY CHEVROLET AND THERE HAS YET TO BE ANY RECALLS...VERY DISAPPOINTING. MY ENTIRE EXPERIENCE HAS CONTINUED TO SNOWBALL EVER SINCE WE HAD ISSUES WITH GETTING THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX ITEMS THAT WERE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. GENERAL MOTORS SEEMS TO BE MORE FOCUSED ON EARNING PROFITS THAT COMPETE WITH THE FOREIGN PRODUCERS RATHER THAN TAKING CARE OF THEIR CURRENT CUSTOMERS. IF THINGS DON'T CHANGE, THE COMPANY WILL HAVE VERY LIMITED REPEAT CUSTOMERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10226701May 5, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
LUCKILY I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY ON MY WAY TO WORK WHEN THIS OCCURRED OR A CRASH WOULD HAVE BEEN UNAVOIDABLE. ENGINE SHUTS OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND THEN DOES NOT RESTART FOR 10 TO 15 MINUTES. DASHBOARD LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON DURING THIS TIME. YOU CAN TELL WHEN IT WILL RESTART AS THE LIGHTS FINALLY COME BACK ON. GM DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM BUT IS UNABLE TO FIX - THEY KEEP REPLACING PARTS AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. (CARCOMPLAINT.COM HAS SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THIS EXACT NATURE LISTED ONLINE.) *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10226743May 5, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
STUCK ACCELERATOR: ON 4/22/08, TOOK FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL -- CAR DID NOT DECELERATE AND MAINTAINED 47 MILES PER HOUR FOR 0.86 MILES. MADE SURE CRUISE CONTROL WAS TURNED OFF. RPM'S STILL STUCK AT 1.5. PROCEEDED THROUGH A GREEN LIGHT AND CAR CONTINUED AT 1.5 RPM'S FOR THE NEXT 2 MILES. APPROACHING A 2ND INTERSECTION, I DECIDED TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO BE ABLE TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE, BUT THERE WASN'T A SHOULDER; SO APPLIED BRAKES TO TURN ON TO QUIETER SIDE ROAD. BARELY MADE TURN. HAD BRAKES DOWN HARD AND CAR STILL TRAVELED AT 20 MILES PER HOUR. HIT EMERGENCY BRAKE AND CAR SLOWED TO 5 MPH. I THEN PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. TOOK IT TO SPUR CHEVY FOR REPAIR. THEY FOUND THE PRIOR OWNER HAD WORK DONE PER RECALL CAMPAIGN # 04V528000. NOTHING CAME UP ON THEIR SCAN TEST, NO FAULT CODES. CRUISE CONTROL CHECKED OUT OK. THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS THE TOP OF THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDING CLEANING. THIS IS THE 4TH TIME THE THROTTLE HAS BEEN CLEANED IN THE 1 1/2 YEARS I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE. PRIOR 3 SERVICES PERFORMED BY THE SELLER (BARRY DODGE) ON 8/7/07, 6/5/07 AND 4/5/07 WERE REQUESTED AS THE ENGINE ROUTINELY IDLED AT 1500 RPMS. THE 4/22/08 INCIDENT WAS THE FIRST TIME THE BRAKES WEREN'T ABLE TO STOP THE CAR. THE ENGINE WAS ACTING SLUGGISH IN THE WEEKS PRIOR TO 4/22. THE OIL CHANGE WASN'T DUE FOR ANOTHER 1000 MILES (BARRY DODGE OR VALVOLINE). I DON'T USE SYNTHETIC OIL. I ALWAYS ADD FUEL INJECTOR CLEANER AFTER AN OIL CHANGE. I PREFER SUNOCO GAS AND USE THEIR LEAST EXPENSIVE GRADE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10226366May 1, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT I NEED A NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. I WAS TOLD THAT GM WENT TO A CHEAP CAM SHAFT AND INTAKE GASKET ON MOST OF THE 3.1 TO 3.8 LITRE V6 ENGINES ABOUT 7 YEARS AGO AND THAT OVER 90% OF THESE ENGINES HAVE A LEAKING INTAKE GASKET WHICH CAUSES THE CHEAP CAM SHAFT TO RUST AND THEN BREAK DESTROYING THE ENGINE. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS HAPPENS BETWEEN 50,000 AND 90,000 MILES ON THESE ENGINES, THAT THERE ARE NO REPLACEMENT ENGINES AVAILABLE IN THE SALVAGE YARDS AND THAT GM CONTINUES TO PRODUCE THIS DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. NOW IM LOOKING AT APPROX. $600.00 TO REPLACE JUST THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. I DON'T THINK THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO FOOT THIS BILL TO REPLACE A PROBLEM THAT GM HAS KNOWN ABOUT FOR A LONG TIME AND REFUSES TO CORRECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10226126April 30, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE CAR HAS DIED AT NIGHT IN NOT A VERY GOOD SIDE OF TOWN AND WOULD NOT START ON 10/07. HAD IT TOWED AND THEY FOUND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET DAMAGED $1,000.00. FEB 08 CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER WORK. 10 MILES AWAY FROM HOME. HAD THE CAR TOWED BACK TO FIRESTONE THINKING IT WAS THE SAME THING INSTEAD THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM HAD CAUSED THE CAR NOT TO START. 4/08 CAR AGAIN WOULD NOT START AFTER WORK. PLEASE FORCE GM TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR VEHICLES MALFUNCTIONS BEFORE SOME ONE GETS HURT BECAUSE OF THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225205April 21, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM: CAUSES THE CAR NOT TO START ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. TAKES SEVERAL MINUTES FOR SYSTEM TO RESET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225251April 21, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. INTERMITTENTLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START BECAUSE THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM KEPT LOCKING THE VEHICLE. IT TAKES 10-15 ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS OCCURS. THE FAILURE HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER TIME. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 05/05/08. *LJ THE DEALER WOULD NOT DISCONNECT THE THEFT SYSTEM. UPDATED 05/05/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10224078April 10, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
PASS LOCK SYSTEM FAILURE ON A 2003 CHEVY MALIBU. OR THE THEFT SYSTEM WILL ACTIVATE AND NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO BE STARTED. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10223622April 7, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
I HAVE A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU THE PASSLOCK ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM MESSES UP IT EITHER WONT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO START OR IT STOPS THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OR ROAD AND WONT START THIS IS PROBLEMATIC FOR CHEVY OWNERS AND COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS IF ON A BUSY HIGHWAY COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE CONTACTED GM ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THEY REFUSE TO RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222603March 28, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL, SUSPENSION
A FEW MONTHS AGO MY 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU TURN SIGNALS STOPPED WORKING FOR NO REASON. SOME DAYS THEY WORK AND SOME THEY DON'T. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IF YOU HAVE TO MAKE A TURN AND ANOTHER VEHICLE IS BEHIND YOU. ALSO THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE MAKES A CREAKING RUBBING NOISE AND A CLUNKING NOISE. IT'S VERY IRRITATING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222205March 24, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
INTAKE MANIFOLD IS LEAKING COOLANT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219818March 2, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
PASSLOCK SYSTEM ACTIVATES UNPREDICTABLY ON A 2003 CHEVY MALIBU. THE ONLY REMEDY IS TO WAIT 10 MINUTES FOR IT TO RESET AND THEN THE CAR WILL START. THIS CAUSED MY SON TO BE LATE IN GETTING TO HIS JOB THAT DAY. CAR WAS BROUGHT TO A MECHANIC ABOUT A YEAR AGO FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM, AND IT WAS TEMPORARILY FIXED BY REPROGRAMMING AND REPLACING THE PASSLOCK SENSOR. THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED UNTIL NOW. IT IS A RECURRING ISSUE, AND IS UNPREDICTABLE IN ITS OCCURRENCE. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN IN THE WRONG PLACE, LIKE A DARKENED PARKING GARAGE, SOMEONE COULD BE MUGGED OR ATTACKED, OR IT HAPPENED IN THE WINTER, THEY COULD FREEZE OR SUFFER HYPOTHERMIA WAITING 10 MINUTES FOR THE CAR TO START. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218753February 21, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
I HAVE 2003 CHEVY MALIBU, I HAVE PROBLEM WITH MY THEFT SYSTEM, EVERY TIME IT TURNS ON I HAVE TO WAIT FOR 10 MIN, PLEASE ADVISE...THANKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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