2003 Chevrolet Malibu problems
Owners have filed 773 complaints about the 2003 Chevrolet Malibu with NHTSA. Electrical system accounts for 38.9% of them — far more than any other system, ahead of vehicle speed control at 11.1%.
Complaints773
Crashes52
Fires5
Injuries32
Deaths1
What owners report breaking
Electrical system 38.9% · 301
Vehicle speed control 11.1% · 86
Service brakes, hydraulic 8.3% · 64
Engine 6.1% · 47
Engine and engine cooling 5.7% · 44
Exterior lighting 3.9% · 30
Air bags 3.5% · 27
Suspension 3.2% · 25
Severity
Of those complaints, 52 describe a crash, 5 describe a fire, 32 report an injury and 1 report a death.
Reading the numbers
Across the 27 model years of the Chevrolet Malibu in this data, 2003 sits 18th by complaint volume. 2009 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 10 in the last three years against 19 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 70,000 miles.
In owners' own words
Car stalled while driving. Everything quit, even power steering and power brakes. This has happened twice. Both times, I took the vehicle to the chevy dealership and they said the ignition was faulty. I've replaced the ignition both times. I'm afraid this will happen when we are driving it and we will get into an accident because the power steering and power brakes quit when all the electrical components quit. Electrical system · reported at 66,000 miles
For the second time in two years, as I started my car the theft system light came on and the car would not start. The dealer says that the ignition has to be replaced due to the pass key theft system not recognizing my key (the original key) and breaking the ignition. This has left me with a dead car alone as a woman at night. This is the second time this has happened and I have had to replace the ignition. Electrical system · reported at 41,500 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact received a recall notification for nhtsa campaign number: 14v400000 (electrical system); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. The vin was not available. Electrical system
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…