Problems · by component

2003 Chevrolet Malibu fuel system, gasoline problems

27 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Chevrolet Malibu cite fuel system, gasoline, 4% of all 611 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
27
4% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the fuel system, gasoline

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH VEHICLE SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. *MW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME WAS SEPTEMBER 28, 2006 AND THE SECOND TIME WAS JUNE 3, 3014. AFTER THE SECOND SWITCH WAS INSTALLED, THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED OTHER PROBLEMS. SHE WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A BODY CONTROL MODULE AND LOCK SWITCHES. THE DEALER INSTALLED A CHIP IN THE KEYS, WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE IGNITION PROBLEM. THE FRONT STRUTS WERE REPLACED AND THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 9, 2015Suspension, Fuel system, gasoline, Electrical systemODI 10663875
“I TELL DEALER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON "HE SAYS NOT TO BE CONCERNED THERE IS WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM TAILPIPE IGNITION CAN TAKE UP TO 5 MIN TO GET ON CODE SAYS CAR NEEDS EGR VALVE CAR NEEDED BRAKES AND ROTORS ALL THE WAY AROUND AND TYROD DEALER WILL NOT RESPOND TO CALLS CAR WAS RECALLED FOR IGNITION SWITCH NEVER REPAIRED I NEED TO KNOW IF I CAN TAKE IT IN TO CHEVY DEALER ONY HAD 1 MONTH VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE AND I AM 76 THERE IS A WARANTY ON ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 12, 2014Suspension, Fuel system, gasoline, Electrical system, Service brakesODI 10664000
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 15, 2014Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline, Electrical system, StructureODI 10633268
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 23, 2014Fuel system, gasoline, Electrical systemODI 10627770
“THIS ANTI THEFT LAMP IS ON IN MY CAR AND I CANNOT DRIVE. HAVE A HUSBAND WHO HAD A STROKE AND I NEED TO BE AT THE HOSPITAL THIS IS HORRIBLE. DRIVING DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF THE MONTH IN A 40MPH ZONE THE CAR TURNED OFF AND THAT ANTI THEFT LAMP WAS ON, I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND AVOID AN ACCIDENT VERY SCARY SITUATION. LAST NIGHT I COULD NOT GET HOME AND WAS STRANDED AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT START. CAR TOWED HOME TODAY AND THIS LAMP IS STILL ON. I AM BEING TOLD THAT IT IS PROBABLY THE KEYS, THERE ARE 3 KEYS ALL OF WHICH ARE NO LONGER WORKING. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE UTILIZING PUTTING THE KEY TO THE ON POSITION WAITING 10 MINUTES AND THE CAR WILL START WELL THIS TIME IT IS NOT WORKING. REALIZED A FEW WEEKS AGO AFTER LOCKING THE DOORS ON THE CAR YOU WOULD HEAR A BEEP LIKE I HAD A KEYLESS ENTRY WHICH I DO NOT HAVE. HELP THIS IS EXTREMLY SERIOUS I CANNOT DRIVE MY VEHICLE AND I NEED TO WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO ISSUE REMEDIES FOR THESE HORRIBLE PROBLEMS WE ARE HAVING WITH THESE VEHICLES. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 17, 2014Fuel system, gasoline, Electrical systemODI 10611360
“2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION SWITCH AND FUEL PUMP REPAIRS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE PASSLOCK SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. ALSO, THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED, BECAUSE GAS WAS NOT GOING FROM THE TANK INTO THE ENGINE, THE CRUISE CONTROL OCCASIONALLY WOULD NOT WORK, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, AND ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS, SUCH AS THE RADIO AND WINDOWS STOPPED WORKING. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 9, 2014Fuel system, gasoline, Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 10596124

Showing 6 of 27 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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