2003 Chevrolet Malibu

What owners report most often

1. Electrical system309
2. Vehicle speed control86
3. Service brakes63
4. Engine48
5. Hydraulic45
6. Engine and engine cooling43
7. Fuel system34
8. Exterior lighting31

Recalls and investigations

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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: vehicle speed control

86 reports, newest first. Show all

1. Vehicle speed control, Dec 27, 2004, crash

   WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IT STUCK TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. NO INJURIES REPORTED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED, AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK

2. Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Dec 7, 2004, crash

   WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER WAS ENTERING A PARKING SPACE AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT A VERY HIGH SPEED, LEAVING SKID MARKS IN THE PARKING SPACE WHERE SHE WAS TRYING TO PARK. THEN, VEHICLE JUMPED THE CURB AND HIT A TREE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED. *AK *TC

3. Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Aug 12, 2004, crash

   WHILE PULLING INSIDE OF A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONSUMER PUT BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STUCK TO THE FLOOR. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS. THIS PROBLEM REMAINED THE SAME. GM WOULD NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. *SC *JB

4. Vehicle speed control, Aug 5, 2004, crash

   WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, AND CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKES VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. VEHICLE'S FRONT END COLLIDED WITH A CEMENT POLE, DIVIDING THE PARKING LOT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES INVOLVED NOR DID THE POLICE ARRIVE. THE NEXT DAY THE SAME THING OCCURRED, BUT APPLYING THE BRAKES PREVENTED ANOTHER COLLISION. *AK *NM

5. Vehicle speed control, Jul 26, 2004

   WHILE DRIVING AND AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. *AK

6. Vehicle speed control, Jul 15, 2004

   WHILE EXITING THE FREEWAY THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. FROM 50 TO 90 MPH. THE DRIVER TAPPED THE BRAKE AND THE ENGINE SPEED INCREASED EVEN MORE. AS A RESULT DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. *JB

7. Vehicle speed control, Jul 8, 2004

   VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS ON 6 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. HOWEVER, THIS PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

8. Vehicle speed control, Jun 4, 2004

   FOR SEVERAL DAYS THE THROTTLE HAS BEEN STICKING DURING ACCELERATION. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE OCCURRENCE NOR FIND ANY PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS.*AK

9. Vehicle speed control, Jun 2, 2004

   VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD TWICE WHILE CAR WAS COASTING TOWARDS A RED LIGHT.*MR THE CONSUMER WAS SLOWING THE VEHICLE FOR A STOP LIGHT. WHEN THE CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS TAKEN OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 40 MPH WHILE THE CONSUMER PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *NM

10. Vehicle speed control, May 20, 2004

    CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT IN THE LAST THREE DAYS WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*AK FIRST EPISODE OF VEHICLE ACCELERATING SUDDENLY, VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 70 MPH, AND CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES TO THE FLOOR TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, DUE TO ITS SUDDEN ACCELERATION, BRAKE ROTORS HAD WARPED. IN ADDITION, THERE'S AN INTERMITTENT STICKING OF THE THROTTLE. *LA

11. Vehicle speed control, Apr 29, 2004

    WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC REPLACED THE SPEED SENSOR. THEN, DRIVER DROVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER, AND THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. *AK *LA