2003 Chevrolet Malibu
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 611 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 16th highest complaint count among 26 Malibu model years with reports.
Of the 2003 reports, 37 involved a crash and 4 involved a fire. 26 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Electrical system, ignitionJul 3, 2014
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.
Campaign 14V400000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, other, storage, tank assembly, pressure relief devicesMar 12, 2007
CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
Campaign 07E021000 on NHTSA.gov
Vehicle speed control, accelerator pedalNov 1, 2004
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 124, 'ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEMS.' IN HOT AMBIENT CONDITIONS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM MAY STICK AT THE ATTACHMENT TO THE BRACKET AND NOT RETURN TO THE ENGINE IDLE POSITION WHEN THE OPERATOR LIFTS HIS FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.
FAILURE TO RETURN TO IDLE COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM AND REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW ASSEMBLY, IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 20, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537.
Campaign 04V528000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
309 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, May 5, 2005
I PURCHASE A USED 2003 CHEV CAVALIER ON APRIL 20, 2005 AND THE ODOMETER DOESN'T LIGHT UP PROPERLY I AM UNABLE TO SEE THE MILAGE ON THIS VEHCILE
Electrical system, Feb 23, 2005
THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM CHECK LIGHT HAS TURNED ON A TOTAL OF FOUR TIMES AND HAS CAUSED THE FUEL SUPPLY TO CUT OFF AND NOT START THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED BY CONSUMER. *JB
Electrical system, Feb 12, 2005
CD PLAYER INOPERATIVE - DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED AS MANUFACTURER DEFECT- INTERNAL RADIO/CD FAILURE. DEALERSHIP SERVICE REMOVED RADIO/CD AND SENT OUT FOR AN EXCHANGE UNIT. DEALERSHIP SERVICE REINSTALLED RADIO NEW CD PLAYER AND, AGAIN, INOPERATIVE. EQUIPMENT-ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE/INOPERABLE. DEALERSHIP STILL TRYING TO REORDER EXCHANGE UNITS THAT WOULD WORK WITHOUT SUCCESS AND GREAT INCONVENIENCE TO OWNER. *JB
Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkages, Jul 2, 2004
JUST LOOKING FOR PLACE TO ENTER VIN # NO SAFETY DEFECT LIDTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkages, Jul 2, 2004
REGARDING MY PREVIOUS COMPLAINT ABOUT MY 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU THAT WOULDN'T START, DOORS WERE LOCKING THEMSELVES,AND WARRANTY WAS UP... I CARRIED THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT NEW AND UPON CHECKING THE CAR AND FINDING A CODE FOR A PROBLEM THAT SHOWED UP WITH MY BODY CONTROL MODULE WHILE THEY HAD IT ON THIER COMPUTER, THE SERVICE MAN INFORMED ME THAT HE WAS ORDERING A NEW BODY CONTROL MODULE AND WAS GOING TO COVER IT FOR ME UNDER WARRANTY. *AK
Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkages, Jul 1, 2004
I DROVE MY 2003 MALIBU TO A FRIENDS HOUSE AND PARKED IT FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. COULD NOT RESTART THE CAR. IT WOULD TURN OVER AND SOUND LIKE IT WANTED TO CRANK, BUT WOULDN'T START. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. MECHANIC SAID THAT IT WAS SOME SORT OF BODY COMPUTER PROBLEM AND THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM WASN'T LETTING THE CAR START. SAID THAT IT HAD SHORTED OUT INTERNALLY. THE MECHANIC RESET THE THING BUT AFTER CRANKING THE CAR 4 TIMES, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. MECHANIC SAID COMPUTER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF ABOUT $500. AT JUST OVER 41,000 MILES, THE WARRANTY IS NO GOOD ON MY CAR ANYMORE. HOWEVER, I TOLD THE SERVICE MEN AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED MY CAR MONTHS AGO THAT THE DOORS WERE LOCKING BY THEMSELVES AFTER I'D EXITED THE CAR AND WALKED ABOUT 12 FEET AWAY. TOLD THEM THAT IT HAD HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND ASKED IF THEY'D HAD ANY OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. HE JUST LOOKED AT ME, LAUGHED AND SAID THAT HE'D NOT HEARD ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE. IF A SHORT IN THE BODY COMPUTER IS CAUSING THE ANTI THEFT TO ACTIVATE SO THE CAR WON'T START, THEN IT SEEMS LIKELY TO ME THAT THE SAME SHORT COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSING MY DOORS TO LOCK. INSTEAD OF CHECKING THAT PROBLEM OUT AT THE DEALER WHEN I FIRST TOLD THEM ABOUT IT,AND MY WARRANTY WAS STILL GOOD, THE SERVICE MAN JUST TOLD ME THAT I WAS PROBABLY HITTING THE BUTTON ON MY REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY. I DON'T EVEN HAVE KEYLESS ENTRY ON MY CAR AND I TOLD HIM THAT. STILL ALL I GOT THEN WAS A LAUGH AND A SHOULDER SHRUG. IF THE PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR LOCKS HAD OF BEEN CHECKED OUT, THEN THE PROBLEM THAT I'M HAVING NOW MAY HAVE ALREADY BEEN DETECTED WHILE MY WARRANTY WAS STILL GOOD. BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW AND FEEL LIKE THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD COVER COSTS OF PARTS AND REPAIR. WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE ARE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND HOW THEY'VE BEEN HANDLED. *NM
Suspension, Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Equipment, Jan 15, 2004
CAR HAS STALLED NUMORUS TIMES IN TRAFFIC. AT CITY SPEEDS AND HIGHWAY SPEEDS, EVEN IN THE FAST LANE AT RUSH HOUR.HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A SEMI THAT IS TAILGATING TRY TO STOP AT SIXTY-FIVE IN YOUR REARVIEW MIRROR BECAUSE YOUR ENGINE JUST STALLED? I FEAR FOR MY LIFE EVERY TIME THE DEALER CALLS AND SAY'S COME PICK IT UP I THINK WE GOT IT FIXED? HOW CAN THEY SEND ME OUT WITH A VEHICLE THAT THEY DONT EVEN KNOW IF ITS FIXED? WHEN THEY CAN'T EVEN FIND OUT WHAT IS CAUSING IT TO HAPPEN? IT'S BEEN IN THE SHOP EIGHT TIMES FOR STALLING. THEY REPLACE A PART AND SEND ME OUT ON THE ROAD LIKE A TEST RAT HOPING THE BRAND NEW CAR I BOUGHT KEEPS RUNNING SO I DON'T DIE OR WORSE CAUSE SOMEONE ELSE TO. THEY HAVE CHECKED THE WIRING,COMPUTERS, ENGINE, EVEN DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM.HOW DO I EVER FEEL LIKE I CAN DRIVE THIS CAR SAFLEY. I HAVE NO CHOICE BECAUSE THE BIG CAR COMPANY DONT CARE FOR ME. IT'S SALES THEY CARE ABOUT. IT'S BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR SIX DAYS NOW, NO PROBLEM I'LL SEND MY PAYMENT IN EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR ABOUT THIRTY DAYS THE LAST FOUR MONTHS.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Dec 25, 2003
HEADLIGHTS, DASHLIGHTS, GO DIM, FLICKER WHEN STEP ON BRAKES. ALSO HEATER FAN SLOWS DOWN WHEN STEP ON BRAKES. *LA
Electrical system, Jun 28, 2003
THE FOLLOWING HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR YEARS AND IS REACHING EPIDEMIC PROPORTIONS NATIONWIDE CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD FOR DRIVERS OF AMERICAN MADE AUTOMOBILES -- ALL MAKES, MODELS, AND YEARS. THERE IS AN EPIDEMIC RISE IN THE NUMBER OF CARS DRIVING WITH ONLY ONE HEADLIGHT BECAUSE OF POOR ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING/MANUFACTURING OF THAT SYSTEM IN AMERICAN MADE CARS. I DO NOT SEE THAT PROBLEM WITH FOREIGN MADE CARS. IT IS DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT IN 2003 AMERICAN CAR MANUFACTURERS CANNOT BUILD A CAR WHERE HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT FAIL -- AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT FAILURES CAUSED BY ACCIDENTS OR IMPACTS. IN OHIO IT WAS REALLY BAD, AND AS I MOVE AROUND THE COUNTRY IT IS NOT ISOLATED AT ALL, THERE ARE MILLIONS OF HEADLIGHT FAILURES IN AMERICAN CARS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR AGE OR YEAR. THIS IS A WIDE-SPREAD PROBLEM THAT CAN BE TRACED TO AMERICAN CAR MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING PROBLEMS. HEADLIGHTS ARE A MAJOR SAFETY ITEM IN A CAR, AND THEY SHOULD NOT BE FAILING AT SUCH AN ALARMING RATE. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT NO-ONE HAS TAKEN ACTION TO DATE REGARDING THIS OBVIOUS ISSUE. *NLM