CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC · model year

2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC

18 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2003CHEVROLETMALIBU CLASSIC carries 18 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2003 MALIBU CLASSIC is electrical system with 9 filings, followed by electrical system:ignition:switch (2) and power train (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 2003 MALIBU CLASSIC, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

18
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

18 filings

Crashes Reported

1 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM9
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH2
POWER TRAIN1
STEERING1
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)1
ENGINE1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1

Recent Complaints

20190417VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

ACCERLATION ALL OF SUDDEN WITHOUT STOPPING VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT THE TIME

Mileage: 5

20181130ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE WITH THE TWO VEHICLE KEYS UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) BY AUTONATION CHEVROLET LAUREL (500 WASHINGTON BLVD, SUITE A, LAUREL, MD 20707, 301-725-2700). THE DEALER WAS INFORMED NUMEROUS TIMES THAT THE REPLACEMENT KEYS FROM THE RECALL FAILED TO REMEDY THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED NUMEROUS TIMES. FOR OVER FOUR YEARS, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ORIGINAL OEM KEYS FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. IN ADDITION, THE ANTI-THEFT FUNCTION FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. THE CONTACT REFERENCED THE OWNER'S MANUAL TO REPROGRAM THE FUNCTION AND TURNED THE VEHICLE ON AND OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT FEATURE DID NOT WORK FOR THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE, THE ANTI-THEFT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN THE KEY WAS INSERTED IN THE IGNITION. THE DEALER KEPT THE TWO OEM KE

20181130ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE WITH THE TWO VEHICLE KEYS UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) BY AUTONATION CHEVROLET LAUREL (500 WASHINGTON BLVD, SUITE A, LAUREL, MD 20707, 301-725-2700). THE DEALER WAS INFORMED NUMEROUS TIMES THAT THE REPLACEMENT KEYS FROM THE RECALL FAILED TO REMEDY THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED NUMEROUS TIMES. FOR OVER FOUR YEARS, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ORIGINAL OEM KEYS FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. IN ADDITION, THE ANTI-THEFT FUNCTION FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. THE CONTACT REFERENCED THE OWNER'S MANUAL TO REPROGRAM THE FUNCTION AND TURNED THE VEHICLE ON AND OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT FEATURE DID NOT WORK FOR THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE, THE ANTI-THEFT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN THE KEY WAS INSERTED IN THE IGNITION. THE DEALER KEPT THE TWO OEM KE

20180118UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. MY CAR CONTINUES TO NOT START UNTIL I COMPLETE A 10 MINUTE PROCEDURE EACH TIME. THIS IS VERY ANNOYING AND HAVE LEFT ME STRANDED MANY TIMES. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A RECALL THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE.

Mileage: 170,000

20171121ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT START AND THE ANTI-THEFT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES. ALL OF THE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED BECAUSE THE KEY WAS IN THE ON POSITION, BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (ART MOEHN CHEVROLET IN JACKSON, MICHIGAN) AND HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED IN AUGUST OF 2017. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED THIS TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

Mileage: 136,000

20170804ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE DRIVERS SIDE BRAKE LIGHT DOESN'T WORK.I HAVE TRIED CHANGING THE BULB SEVERAL TIMES, BUT IT WILL NOT WORK.A FEW YRS BACK I SAW A RECALL ON THIS BUT I DIDN'T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT AND NOW I CANNOT FIND IT ANYMORE I WOULD LIKE INFO ON WHAT I SHOULD DO NOW AS I GOT A WARNING TICKET !! THANKS

Mileage: 143,000

20170728ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE PAD LOCK SENSOR BECAME ACTIVATED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED ON ONE OCCASION. THE WINS CHEVROLET DEALER IN CARSON, CALIFORNIA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE A NEW IGNITION SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.

Mileage: 130,000

20160510ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.

Mileage: 144,000

20150624ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

FIRST TIME INCIDENT OCCURRED WAS 6/18/15, TWICE ON 6/23/2015 AND ONCE ON 6/24/15. THEFT SYSTEM CAUSED CAR NOT TO START; PERFORMED TROUBLE SHOOTING METHOD ACCORDING TO OWNER'S MANUAL (LEAVING KEY IN IGNITION ON POSITION WAIT 10 MINUTES FOR THE THEFT SYSTEM TO STOP BLINKING, TURN KEY IN IGNITION TO OFF THEN RESTART) WHICH DOESN'T INDICATE FURTHER ACTION TO TAKE IF PROBLEM PERSISTS. TOOK IT TO RYAN CHEVROLET DEALER IN MONROE, LA ON 6/24/15 WHERE SERVICE ADVISOR TRAVIS STUART SAID 125.00 DIAGNOSTIC CHARGE HAS TO BE PAID TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM WHICH I'VE ALREADY INDICATED WHAT IT WAS AND WAS UNABLE TO FIX THE ISSUE WHICH IS AN URGENT SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE ACCORDING TO HIM THE DEALERSHIP WAS BEHIND AND BACKUP IN REPAIRS. HE SCHEDULED FOR ME TO COME IN FOR 6/26/15 AT 8AM WHICH TRAVIS STATED WAS THE EARLIEST APPOINTMENT AVAILABILITY HE HAD. SPOKE TO CHEVROLET.COM LIVE CHAT CUSTOMER CARE REPRESENTATIVE ALEXANDRIA ON 6/24/15 SHORTLY AFTER 9PM AND STATED TO HER THE PROBLEM ALONG WITH WHAT

Mileage: 147,777

20150523ENGINE

WHEN DRIVING MY CAR THE THE ENGINE SHUTOFF AND THE BRAKES FAILED.

Mileage: 130,000

20150209ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. CONSUMER GOT CAR FIXED DUE TO RECALL OF IGNITION PROBLEMS. REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *TA THE CONSUMER WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT, BECAUSE THE REPAIR WAS NOT DONE BY A GM DEALER. THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE NEAREST DEALER WAS 40 MILES AWAY. *JB

20141009CrashELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

ONE OF THE TIRES SLID ON A PUDDLE OF WATER AND STALLED OR VICE OR VISA AND HYDROPLANED OFF THE HIGHWAY ROLLING OVER SEVERAL TIMES AND LANDING UPSIDE DOWN IN A DITCH TOTALING THE CAR. I WAS GRATEFUL TO HAVE SURVIVED THE CRASH. I HAD JUST GOTTEN THE CAR OUT OF THE SHOP THAT SAME DAY. AND THE MONTH BEFORE. THE CAR REPAIRS AND THE CAR NOTES AND INSURANCE PAYMENTS WERE COLLIDING. *TR

Mileage: 70

20141002ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH KEY WOULD TURN AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000. UPDATED 11/20/14*LJ THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. UPDATED 01/08/15

Mileage: 118,000

20140919ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS, THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO TURN IN ANY POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE IGNITION SWITCH TUMBLER WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

Mileage: 160,000

20140919ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. THE CONTACT WAITED TEN MINUTES AND THE VEHICLE STARTED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Mileage: 100,000

20140721STEERING

UPON ACCELERATING AND WITH A SLIGHT TURN OF THE STEERING WHEEL, THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT AND ACTUALLY THE STEERING WHEEL PULLS BACK THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THIS HAPPENS DAILY AND OCCURS MOST FREQUENTLY UPON TURNING WHILE ACCELERATING. WE HAVE HAD SOME VERY SCARY SITUATIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN PULLING ONTO A ROAD AND THE STEERING DOES NOT GO THE DIRECTION INTENDED. I BELIEVE THIS IS PART OF THE RECALL FOR THE POWER STEERING, BUT EVIDENTLY PARTS ARE NOT READY FOR THE RECALL. ?? *TR

Mileage: 130,000

20140720POWER TRAIN

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, MY CAR JUST SHUT OFF. I MANAGED TO PUT IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART THE CAR AFTER A LONG ATTEMPT TO DO SO. I ENDED UP REPEATING THE PROCESS AGAIN WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, BUT SINCE WE WERE SO FAR FROM AN EXIT WE CONTINUED TO DRIVE SLOWLY IN THE RIGHT LANE UNTIL WE REACHED AN EXIT WHILE LEAVING OUR HAZARD LIGHTS ON. THE CAR HAS NOW CONTINUED TO SEEMINGLY RANDOMLY REPEAT THE PROCESS AT ODD TIMES WITH SIGNIFICANT INTERVALS BETWEEN EACH EPISODE. I HAVE ALSO HAD A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TROUBLE WITH THE VEHICLES ANTI THEFT SYSTEM PROHIBITING THE CAR FROM STARTING. NOW THE CAR HAS ALSO BEGUN TO STRUGGLE TO START AT RANDOM TIMES. SOMETIMES THE CAR STARTS JUST FINE, AT OTHERS, IT STRUGGLES OR TAKES SEVERAL LONG ATTEMPTS TO START, IF IT EVEN WILL. THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, AND FUSES ARE ALL GOOD. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON SOMETIMES AND WHEN IT IS THE CODE JUST READS A COMMUNICATION ERROR WHICH SEEMS USELESS TO THE GARAGE. I AM NOT COMFORTABLE WITH MY PREGNANT WIFE DRIVI

20140720ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, MY CAR JUST SHUT OFF. I MANAGED TO PUT IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART THE CAR AFTER A LONG ATTEMPT TO DO SO. I ENDED UP REPEATING THE PROCESS AGAIN WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, BUT SINCE WE WERE SO FAR FROM AN EXIT WE CONTINUED TO DRIVE SLOWLY IN THE RIGHT LANE UNTIL WE REACHED AN EXIT WHILE LEAVING OUR HAZARD LIGHTS ON. THE CAR HAS NOW CONTINUED TO SEEMINGLY RANDOMLY REPEAT THE PROCESS AT ODD TIMES WITH SIGNIFICANT INTERVALS BETWEEN EACH EPISODE. I HAVE ALSO HAD A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TROUBLE WITH THE VEHICLES ANTI THEFT SYSTEM PROHIBITING THE CAR FROM STARTING. NOW THE CAR HAS ALSO BEGUN TO STRUGGLE TO START AT RANDOM TIMES. SOMETIMES THE CAR STARTS JUST FINE, AT OTHERS, IT STRUGGLES OR TAKES SEVERAL LONG ATTEMPTS TO START, IF IT EVEN WILL. THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, AND FUSES ARE ALL GOOD. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON SOMETIMES AND WHEN IT IS THE CODE JUST READS A COMMUNICATION ERROR WHICH SEEMS USELESS TO THE GARAGE. I AM NOT COMFORTABLE WITH MY PREGNANT WIFE DRIVI

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NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC have?
The 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC has 18 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC?
The most-complained component for the 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 9 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH and POWER TRAIN.
Is the 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.