Problems · NHTSA complaints

2003 Chevrolet Malibu problems

Owners filed 611 complaints about the 2003 Chevrolet Malibu with NHTSA between Mar 2003 and Jun 2026. The most-cited component is electrical system (309).

Complaints
611
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
37
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
26
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system309
  2. Vehicle speed control86
  3. Engine48
  4. Service brakes, hydraulic45
  5. Engine and engine cooling43
  6. Exterior lighting31
  7. Air bags29
  8. Fuel system, gasoline27
  9. Steering24
  10. Suspension24
  11. Power train15
  12. Service brakes14
  13. Fuel/propulsion system13
  14. Equipment13

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200328
200448
200534
200617
200740
200842
200928
201042
201136
201224
201321
2014119
201559
201625
201715
20189
201910
20204
20215
20220
20233
20241
20250
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

309 reports6 crashes1 fire1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact discovered that while driving at various speeds, the key could be removed from the ignition while the engine was still running. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). The vehicle was taken to the dealer for service, and the vehicle was returned in less than 30 minutes. The contact was suspicious about the work that was performed on the vehicle. The contact stated that soon after the recall repair, the key remained stuck in accessory mode while attempting to turn off the vehicle. Due to the failure, the contact was forced to remove the key from the ignition while the engine was running and used pliers to unhook the battery to turn off the vehicle. Additionally, while driving 20 MPH over a bump in the road, the key was knocked out of the ignition, causing the vehicle to abruptly shut off. The contact lost control of the vehicle, and the vehicle veered off into the grass before coming to a complete stop. Despite the failure, the contact was able to restart the vehicle and drove to the residence and parked the vehicle. The contact alerted the dealer of…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 15, 2026Electrical systemODI 11744126

Vehicle speed control

86 reports11 crashes1 fire1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while stopped at a red light, the vehicle occasionally accelerated independently. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer nor an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was relating the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 04V528000 (Vehicle speed control). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 8, 2021Vehicle speed controlODI 11420099

Engine

48 reports2 crashes
“Multiple times, the vehicle, while driving, electrically shuts down. security light comes on, sometimes, many attempts to restart will work. These shutdowns cause me to revet to manual bakes and steering.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 15, 2023Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11544842

Service brakes, hydraulic

45 reports5 crashes
“2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE STALLS. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE FUEL PUMP, BATTERY AND REMOTE CONTROL WERE ALL REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE STALLING CONTINUED. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS EVENTUALLY REPLACED. ALSO, T HE BRAKES AND STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 23, 2014Suspension, Service brakes, hydraulic, Electrical systemODI 10648098

Engine and engine cooling

43 reports1 crash
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 24, 2014Engine and engine cooling, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 10638775

Exterior lighting

31 reports1 crash1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 27, 2017Exterior lightingODI 11010957
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.