Chevrolet Malibu Complaints (2003)
569 consumer complaints on file.
- #10639892September 29, 2014SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS DRIVING NEAR MY HOME WHEN A TURKEY RAN OUT IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE FROM THE LEFT. I WAS LOOKING TO THE RIGHT AS I APPROACHED MY DRIVEWAY. I SAW THE TURKEY OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYE AND I STEPPED HARD ON MY BRAKES BECAUSE I WAS UNABLE TO IMMEDIATELY IDENTIFY THE ANIMAL. MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR AND, AFTER STOPPING COMPLETELY, I DISCOVERED THAT MY DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LINE HAD RUPTURED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT ALL OF MY BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS BRAKE LINE FAILURE OCCURRED BECAUSE THE LINES WERE SUSCEPTIBLE TO CORROSION CAUSED BY ROAD SALT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10639291September 26, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED TO SHUT OFF WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION, THE LIGHTS AND RADIO REMAINED ACTIVATED, WHICH CAUSED THE BATTERY TO DRAIN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10639330September 26, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION SWITCH. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY GM, WHILE KNOWING SINCE 2001 THAT THE IGNITIONS SWITCHES THEY WERE USING IN THEIR VEHICLES SINCE 1997 WERE DEFECTIVE BUT WERE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE TO USE THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS PUTTING THE LIVES OF THE DRIVERS, THEIR PASSENGERS AND THE EVERY PERSON ON THE ROAD AT THE SAME TIME SOMEONE WAS DRIVING ONE OF THESE DEFECTIVE VEHICLES IN DANGER? *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10638912September 25, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I TURNED MY LEFT TURN SIGNAL ON, AND IT WOULDN'T WORK. SINCE THIS THE TURN SIGNALS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO.I TOOK IT TO HAVE IT TESTED AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE CONTROL BOARD AND I REPLACED THAT. BUT STILL THE SIGNALS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO. I WAS TOLD ABOUT ANOTHER MALIBU THAT WAS A YEAR OLDER THAT DONE THE SAME THING. BUT I HAVE A YOUNG SON AND A BABY ON THE WAY, I DON'T WANT TO BE REAR-ENDED BECAUSE I HAVE NO TURN SIGNALS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10638775September 24, 2014ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED, THE INSPECTOR STATED THAT THE FUEL WAS NOT TRAVELING THROUGH THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10638445September 23, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE ENGINE REMAINED ON WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10638138September 22, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
ON 9/4/2012 BROUGHT MY CAR INTO KING CHEVROLET, IN LONGMONT, COLORADO, BECAUSE MY 'CHECK ENGINE LIGHT' KEPT COMING ON. ALSO I LOST MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, NOTHING ELECTRICAL WORKED!! I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL SHORT IN THE BCM, AND WAS CHARGED $639.99 AFTER MY SENIOR DISCOUNT OF $71.28. FINE! TWO DAYS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON!!! KING CHEVROLET TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. FINALLY, ON MAY 16, 2013 MY VEHICLE WAS SCANNED WITH A TECH TOOL SCANNER AND THE STORED BCM CODES INDICATED THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS BAD. THIS WAS DONE BY A KING MECHANIC!!! IT WAS MISDIAGNOSED CAUSING THIS OUTRAGEOUS CHARGE OF $639.99!! THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS FIXED (NOT BY KING), FOR $100.00, AND I HAVE NOT HAD A PROBLEM SINCE. I REPEATEDLY EMAILED KING ABOUT THIS, WITH NO RESPONSE. I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE BEEN CHARGED $639.99 FOE A MISDIAGNOSED.ERROR BY KING CHEVROLET. I ALWAYS LIKED CHEVYS, BUT I WILL NOT EVER GO TO KING CHEVROLET AGAIN. IT MAY NOT SEEM LIKE A LOT OF MONEY TO YOU, BUT I AM ON A FIXED INCOME AND HAD TO PUT THIS ON A CREDIT CARD AND PAY INTEREST. NOT VERY GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE. I PUT MY COMPLAINT ON FACEBOOK SO ALL MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY WOULD KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. I STILL WOULD LIKE MY CHARGE OF $639.99 RETURNED TO ME. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO FOR ME??? *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10638184September 22, 2014STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT AND THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO STRAIGHTEN. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO AN UNKNOWN OBJECT AND FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISING FROM THE GLASS WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNAWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10637574September 19, 2014ENGINE, SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE RPMS SUDDENLY INCREASED AND THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO APPLY THE BRAKES. THE DRIVER HAD TO CRASH INTO A CURB IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10637178September 18, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE ANTITHEFT LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND VEHICLE WILL NOT START(WHICH IS A PROBLEM GM IS AWARE OF BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN REPORTED FOR YEARS AND IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET). IT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AND AFTER A FEW MILES SHUT THE CAR DOWN. NO BRAKES, NO STEERING. ALMOST HAD A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10637228September 18, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SENSOR ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE ANTI-THEFT SENSOR FLASHED, THE CONTACT HAD TO WAIT BEFORE MAKING SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR PARTS AND WAS INFORMED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10637300September 18, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY COULD BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN THE SHIFT LEVER WAS POSITIONED IN ANY GEAR. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10633268September 15, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS ABLE TO TURN TO THE ON POSITION IN THE IGNITION, BUT WOULD NOT TURN COMPLETELY TO START THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT WAS LATER INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), BUT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER DID NOT PROVIDE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE REMEDY WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000. UPDATED 11/05/14*LJ *JS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10632695September 12, 2014ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S RPMS DECREASED AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10632854September 11, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SAFETY ISSUE. THE CAR WENT DEAD SEVERAL INSTANCES AT STOP SIGN, WHEN MAKING A TURN, AND WHILE DRIVING. ON JULY 2, 2014, I DID CONTACTED GM AT 800-222-1020 ABOUT THE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL FOR MALIBU 2003 AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I WOULD RECEIVE A LETTER TO TAKE TO A GM DEALER BUT I NEVER RECEIVED IT. I DID CALL THEN AGAIN AND NOW I WAS TOLD THAT THE VIN WAS NOT BEING RECALLED. YESTERDAY, I DID REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH AS I CAN NOT RISK A MAJOR ACCIDENT OR LOSS OF LIFE. IF YOU SEND TO MY ADDRESS A SELF-STAMPED ENVELOPE I WILL SEND YOU THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT WAS REPLACED SO YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN OPINION. I AM VERY UPSET OF THIS GAME WITH THE LIFE OF THE CONSUMERS, I READ NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 14V400, BUT I SUGGEST THAT YOU GOOGLE: THEFT SYSTEM CHEVY MALIBU 2003 AND SEE THE TRUTH, SO HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN AFTER THE FORD EXPLORER? WHO REGULATES THIS MESS WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH?
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10630784September 4, 2014ENGINE
AS I WAS TURNING ON A STREET THE CAR SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT CRANK BACK UP. WHEN IT SHUT OFF IT LOCKED UP AND I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL. I WAS GOING ABOUT 30MPH THE NEXT TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS GOING OVER A BRIDGE AND THE CAR SHUT OFF. IT WOULD NOT CRANK BACK UP IMMEDIATELY AND I HAD TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SO THAT THE CAR DID NOT DRIFT BACKWARD. THE NEXT TIME THAT IT HAPPENED I WAS ON A MAIN HIGHWAY AND THE CAR SHUT OFF IT WOULD NOT CRANK BACK UP IMMEDIATELY. MY LIGHTS DID NOT WORK SO I WAS UNABLE TO ENGAGE MY HAZARDS THE CAR LOCKED AND I WAS UNABLE TO LET THE WINDOWS UP OR DOWN NOW WAS THE LOCKS WORKING. I HAD TO SIT THERE FOR 15 MIN BEFORE THE CAR CRANK BACK UP. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THE CAR WILL NOT CRANK UP AND YOU HAVE TO LET IT SIT FOR A WHILE WITH THE KEY TURNED TO THE ON POSITION. EACH TIME THAT THE CAR HAS SHUT OFF I HAVE BEEN IN TRAFFIC HELPLESS. IT HAS SHUT OFF ON ME WHILE I HAVE HAD MY INFANT CHILD AT THE TIME IN THE CAR AS WELL. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10629995September 2, 2014VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN THE PARK POSITION IN ORDER TO MANEUVER AND STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10630031September 2, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
DRIVING CAR ON HIGHWAY WHEN IT POWERED DOWN, TURNED OFF, LOST POWER STEERING, ETC. HAD TO PULL OVER, STOP CAR, AND RESTART IT. PRIOR TO THIS, HAD BEEN DRIVING IT IN TOWN ON SIDE STREET AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10627928August 24, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR WOULDN'T START AT SHOPPING CENTER, HAD IT TOWED 50.00. MECHANIC SAID IT STARED RIGHT UP, NOTHING WRONG. 6 MONTHS LATER, AFTER WORK, CAR WOULDN'T START AGAIN 50.00 TOW. MECHANIC SAID CAR COMPUTER ISSUE 1,000 FIX! 2 MONTHS LATER SAME ISSUE WHEN LEAVING FOR WORK, TOWED AGAIN 50.00! 500.00 LATER I FIGURE MAYBE MORE PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM SO I GOT ONLINE AND FOUND OUT IT'S AN ANTI THEFT/NOT RECOGNIZING KEY ISSUE. WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY THAT MUCH MONEY TO TRY TO FIX AN ISSUE THAT IS KNOWN ABOUT AND NOT RECALLED BECAUSE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE HAVE DIED! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10627770August 23, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I HAVE HAD THREE INCIDENTS RELATED TO THE IGNITION SYSTEM. THE FIRST TIME ,THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT CAME ON AND AFTER DRIVING AND THEN PARKING THE CAR, I COULD NOT START IT. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THE IGNITION MAY HAVE BEEN WORN. HE REPLACED THE KEY CYLINDER AND OF COURSE THE KEYS. THE CAR WAS FINE FOR ALMOST A YEAR WHEN THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I TRIED A DIFFERENT MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD HE COULD RESET THE COMPUTER SO AS TO CHANGE THE ANTI-THEFT ALERT. I WAS TOLD THAT IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN BUT HE FELT IF I REPLACED THE IGNITION SYSTEM($300) THAT IT WOULD SOLVE THIS. I DECIDED TO WAIT. NOW THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND WITHIN A DAY OR TWO THE CAR WOULD NOT START.I HAD HIM RESET THE COMPUTER AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SOMEONE WITH GM THAT THIS IS NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL. BOTH MYSELF AND THE MECHANIC BELIEVE IT IS RELATED. I WOULD LIKE GM TO COVER THIS REPAIR AND ALL THE TOWING AND OTHER FEES FOR HAVING MY CAR BACK ON THE ROAD. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0