Problems · by component
2005 Chevrolet Malibu air bags problems
39 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu cite air bags, 3% of all 1,393 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
39
3% of all complaints
Crashes
18
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
28
Reported by owners
What owners say about the air bags
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON A SIDE STREET I SMELLED A BURNING SMELL AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF MY STEERING WHEEL. THE SENSOR LIGHT FOR MY AIR BAG THEN CAME ON AND HAS BEEN ON EVER SINCE.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. IF THE VEHICLE WAS TOO HOT, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START AND THE GEAR SHIFT DID NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE ALSO LEAKED ANTI-FREEZE. THE CONTACT HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THE LEVER TO OPERATE. ALSO, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO EAST PAT O'BRIEN CHEVROLET (2810 BISHOP RD, WILLOUGHBY HILLS, OH 44092, (440) 348-0553) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HOOD RELEASE WAS FRACTURED AND THE EGL SENSOR WAS SEPARATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS INVALID.”
“TAKATA RECALL I WAS DRIVING ON ROUTE 19 JUST BEFORE THE MAPLE FORK EXIT THE LIGHT WAS RED AND I BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BRAKES AND STEERING WOULD NOT WORK AND THE CAR HIT THE REAR END OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGES TO THE FRONT OF MY CAR. THE OTHER CAR WAS NOT AFFECTED NEARLY AS MUCH. IT WAS LIKE THE CAR JUST STOPPED. NO AIRBAGS WAS DEPLOYED.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME INOPERABLE. ALSO, THE AIR BAG AND CHECK ENGINE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 175,000.”
“TAKATA RECALL ON 01/10/2012 , I WAS IN A CRASH ,, INVOLVING A AIR BAG DEPOLYMENT IN WHICH , THE AIR BAR DEPLOYED DURRING A CRASH , , I REAR ENDED A CAR AFTER IT HAD STOPPED SUDDENDLY AFTER A PEDIESTRAIN HAD CROSSED THE STREET , UNEXPECTALLY , ,, AFTER THE SUDDEN DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG , SO MUCH MATERAIL HAD BLOWEN OUT OF THE AIR BAG , HITTING MY HAND , MOST OF THE INJURY WAS ON MY FACE AREA MOUTH WAS BLEEDING AS THE MATERAIL HAD STRUCK MY MOUTH AREA , ,, I THOUGHT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE , FROM THE SMOKE AND MATERAIL EXPLOIDED OUT OF IT , I HAD A HARD TIME SLEEPING AND WAS VERY DISTRUBED BY IT , THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE JUNK YARD , AS THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOOK THE CAR , AS IT WAS JUNKED , CAN PROVIDE POLICE REPORT AND INSURANCE DOCUMENTS , JUST NEED SOME TIME TO RETRIVE THEM ,”
“IGNITION STAYING STUCK ALOWING STARTER TO CONTINUE TO TURN, DAY TIME NO BREAK LIGHTS , NIGHT TIME BREAK LIGHTS STAY LIT UP OR FLASH ON AND OFF , FUEL GAUGE DROPS TO EMPTY EVEN WHEN FULL BOUNCES BACK AND FORTH EMPTY FULL , SERVICE AIR BAG AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON EVEN AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN RESET, CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT ENGAGE , HARD TIME TO TAKE CAR OUT OF PARK EVEN WITH BRAKE DEPRESSED, LOWER GEARS ON TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ENGAGE INTO 3,2,1 SPEED, DRIVER SEAT BRACKET BROKE IN WELD CAUSING SEAT TO BE UNSTABLE, FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH AND MORE THIS CAR HAS LESS THAN 150 K ON IT 148 AND SOME CHANGE,,, AIR BAG SERVICE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AS WELL AS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, THIS CAR WILL NOT PASS ANY STATE INSPECTION , AND EVEN STATES WITH OUT INSPECTION WOULD ADVISE THAT THE CAR BE RECALLED”
Showing 6 of 39 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.