TroubleCAR
59
Trouble

2003 Chevrolet Malibu

Complaints: 568Avg mileage: 77,797 miSince: Mar 2003
1 deathCrashFire23 injured

Problem Areas

Electrical System
214
Vehicle Speed Control
59
Anti-Theft: Control Module
55
Engine
47
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
25
Engine and Engine Cooling
24
Disc: Rotor
21
Steering
21
Air Bags
19
Fuel System, Gasoline
17

Complaints Over Time

Recent Complaints

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
133,200 miFeb 23, 2016SAN ANTONIO, TX
CrashFire1 injured

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MERGE INTO ANOTHER LANE, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO TWO BARRELS. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE STALLED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A JUNK YARD. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A LEFT KNEE, LEFT ANKLE, AND WHIPLASH INJURIES THAT NEEDED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V40000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,200. UPDATED 04/20/16*LJ CONSUMER STATED THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED AND GM SAYS DUE TO AIR BAGS IMPLODING CONSUMER HAD POWER. CONSUMER WAS BEHIND THE STEERING AND IT LOCKED NO BRAKES. UPDATED 06/05/18*JB

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
Mar 8, 2005VISALIA, CA
1 deathCrash

'RECALL CAMPAIGN' FOR CHEVROLET MALIBU 2003, VEHICLE ALSO INVOLVED IN 2 ACCIDENTS. *BF THE CONSUMER HUSBAND BELIEVED BOTH ACCIDENTS WERE THE RESULT OF A RECALL GM HAD ISSUED REGARDING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. (HUSBAND ON BEHALF OF WIFE DORIS NELL DECEASED) *JB

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Oct 20, 2014CHICAGO, IL
Crash1 injured

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. THE CONTACT SUFFERED HEAD AND NECK INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED DURING THE INCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Oct 6, 2014EUCLID, OH
Crash1 injured

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED ANOTHER VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE REMEDY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

STEERING
100,000 miSep 22, 2014STRATFORD, CT
Crash1 injured

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT AND THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO STRAIGHTEN. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO AN UNKNOWN OBJECT AND FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISING FROM THE GLASS WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNAWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

AIR BAGS
145,000 miJul 14, 2014NEW RICHMONDO, OH
Crash1 injured

I WAS TRAVELING WITH THE RIGHT OF WAY AT THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT WHEN SOMEONE PULLED INTO MY PATH CAUSING ME TO HIT THEM. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND I TOOK THE FULL FORCE OF THE COLLISION INTO MY CHEST. *TR

AIR BAGS
111,000 miJul 14, 2014TUCSON, AZ
Crash1 injured

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS IN THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DEPLOY AFTER A HEAD ON COLLISION. AN INJURY WAS SUSTAINED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

AIR BAGS
160,000 miJun 23, 2014OXNARD, CA
Crash1 injured

CAR VEERED OFF THE ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. CRASHED INTO A STRAWBERRY FIELD AND ROLLED MULTIPLE TIME EJECTING DRIVER FROM THE CAR. CAR SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE. AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. PASSENGER MAY HAVE GRABBED AT STEERING WHEEL CAUSING THE CAR TO VEER OFF THE ROAD. *TR

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
230,000 miMay 29, 2014TUCSON, AZ
Crash1 injured

PREVIOUS WEEKS BEFORE CAR WAS INDICATING ANTI THEFT AFTER RESETTING THE DAYS TO FOLLOW CAR SHUT OF WHILE DRIVING. ON MAY 25TH 2014 WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD CAR SUDDENLY PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JUMP THE CURB AND STRIKE A FIRE HYDRANT. SOME CONCERN ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF IT BEING THE IGNITION SWITCH AND WAS SEARCHING FOR OTHER INSTANCE OF THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO SHIFTER APPEARED TO BE GETTING STUCK AND YOU HAD TO MANEUVER THE KEY AND THE SHIFTER TO RELEASE THE KEY. *TR

STRUCTURE:BODY
130,000 miJan 2, 2014SPARTA, MI
Crash1 injured

I WAS TRAVELING ON A SNOWY/ICY ROAD WHEN I LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AT ABOUT 50 MPH. MY VEHICLE WENT SIDEWAYS UNTIL TRAVELING INTO A DITCH AT WHICH POINT THE VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH A TREE. THE FRONT END WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND PUSHED THE MOTOR BACK A GOOD 2 FEET. MY HEAD SLAMMED INTO THE WINDSHIELD AND AIRBAGS WERE NOT DEPLOYED. THE IMPACT OF THE FRONT END WAS JUST A LITTLE OFF CENTER TO THE PASSENGER SIDE. *TR

STRUCTURE:BODY
123,000 miNov 24, 2012BURBANK, CA
Crash1 injured

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY I WAS REAR ENDED AND PUSHED INTO THE CENTER DIVIDER AND BOUNCED OFF ONLY TO BE STRUCK AGAIN FROM THE REAR. THE FRONT AND REAR QUARTER PANELS WERE DAMAGED THE FRAME WAS COMPROMISED. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. I SUFFERED BACK, ARM, LEG & KNEE INJURIES IN THE COLLISION. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOTALED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY BUT I AM STILL CURIOUS AS TO WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SAFETY AIR BAGS. *TR

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
104,000 miJan 31, 2012WINSTON SALEM, NC
Crash1 injured

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK TO THE FLOOR AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE CONTACT PLACED THE GEAR IN REVERSE; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND CRASHED INTO SEVERAL PARKED VEHICLES, BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. THE CONTACTS SHOULDER WAS BRUISED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
Mar 20, 2007HOUSTON, TX
Crash5 injured

BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. *AK

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Dec 31, 2004SAN BERNARDINO, CA
Crash2 injured

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN MY 2003 CHEVROLET, MALIBU ON DEC.26, 2004 AND MY FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF.*AK

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
4,000 miDec 7, 2004WINDSOR, VT
Crash1 injured

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

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
Oct 22, 2004MIAMI, FL
Crash2 injured

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A CONCRETE BARRIER. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED HEAD AND NECK INJURIES, AND WERE AIR LIFTED BY A HELICOPTER TO THE HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED, AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
31,000 miJul 16, 2003WHITE LAKE, MI
Crash1 injured

WHILE DRIVING BALL JOINT BROKE AND THE DRIVER SIDE TIRE SPUN . THIS RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL .*AK

AIR BAGS
95,000 miAug 12, 2020SALINE, MI
Crash

MY DAUGHTER WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT SHE WAS GOING 25 TO 30 MPH ON A SURFACE STREET AND REAR ENDED A CAR IN TRAFFIC THE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. SHE HIT HER HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Jun 3, 2015TANNERSVILLE, PA
Crash

2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION SWITCH RECALL, STEERING AND AIRBAG MALFUNCTIONS. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON MAY 19, 2011. SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHICH SENT THE VEHICLE IN THE OPPOSITE LANE HITTING ANOTHER CAR. HER VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND ENDED UP GOING BACKWARDS INTO A SIGN AND THEN HITTING TWO PARKED VEHICLES IN A PARKING LOT. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY UNTIL AFTER SHE HIT THE SIGN. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS UNAWARE THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH IGNITION SWITCH. SHE STATED SHE HAD SEVERAL KEYS ON HER RING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. *JB

ENGINE
Sep 19, 2014AUGUSTA, GA
Crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE RPMS SUDDENLY INCREASED AND THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO APPLY THE BRAKES. THE DRIVER HAD TO CRASH INTO A CURB IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

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