2003 Chevrolet Malibu Electrical System Problems
- 211
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 211 stored complaint records:
- 6 indicate a crash
- 3 indicate injury
- 1 indicate fire
What owners report
- ignition switch · 46 records
- failure mileage · 27 records
- anti theft · 20 records
- electrical system · 20 records
- notified failure · 15 records
- needed replaced · 15 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 57 |
| 100–150k mi | 41 |
| 30–60k mi | 34 |
| 150–400k mi | 23 |
| 1–30k mi | 11 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Electrical System
Car stalled while driving. Everything quit, even power steering and power brakes. This has happened twice. Both times, i took the vehicle to the chevy dealership and they said the ignition was faulty. I've replaced the ignition both times. I'm afraid this will happen when we are driving it and we will get into an accident because the power steering and power brakes quit when all the electrical components quit. *tr
ODI 10566624
Electrical System
Two weeks ago, my car wouldn't start, but everything inside was working. We thought it was a fuel pump issue, but later found out that it was the anti-theft system. It turns out that the theft system light comes on, and my car won't start. Thank goodness i have a smart mechanic who realized the issue before replacing any unnecessary parts! He was able to reset the system, but it happened again this weekend. I read…
ODI 10513352
Electrical System · Engine · Unknown Or Other
Started having problems starting my car, theft light would come on and i would have to sit and wait to get the car started, very annoying problem having to play a waiting came to start your car. Then one day i was driving and the car just shut off in the middle of the high way, i had no idea the car was even off until i tried to acclerate or turn because the radio remains on. Have to stop and put my hazzards on and…
ODI 10537097
Electrical System
Car powered off multiple times without warning while driving, triggering the doors to lock and unlock on their own. Luckily i was able to maneuver the car to the safe location quickly out of traffic, before the steering power was lost. There were many close calls! After powering off, had to pray it would start again because sometimes it would not. Took to firestone, they could not diagnose it. So i took to the chevy…
ODI 10594113
Electrical System
When trying to start car, often the theft kill engages. I have to wait 10 minutes with the key in the ignition start position before it will start. Can this be associated with the cars that turn off while driving? *tr
ODI 10606609
Electrical System · Seats
Heating element of the heated seat feature burned a hole completely through the front of the driver's seat back. *tr
ODI 10501016
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Service Brakes
When it rains the tail lights fill up with water and the lights do not work correctly. And sometimes they do not work at all. It holds water and the lights flash in a christmas tree light manner. Also when the breaks are stepped on the blinkers do not work. Also when you step on the break the blinker indicators on the instrument panel remain lit up green. I have replace bulbs as well as the whole light housing. Even…
ODI 10532045
Electrical System · Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the vehicle would only start when in neutral. In addition, the key was able to eject from the ignition while the vehicle was in operation. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to diagnose the failure. No repairs were made to the vehicle. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 22,000.
ODI 10722079
Electrical System
I'm very unhappy as a chevrolet client. My car has completely locked up and will not start due to the anti theft system. Upon a diagnosis, the chevy mechanic told me it its my duty to get it towed to a shop only to have it hooked to a machine for $110 an hour only to get the car turned back on. I have seen that this is a common problem with this model of car and i'm very mad that it costs me and not chevy for this…
ODI 10492394
Electrical System
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that when the vehicle was turned off and parked, moments later she discovered that the entire instrument panel was illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that when the ignition key was turned to the on position, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle…
ODI 10822561
Electrical System · Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet malibu. The contact was driving approximately 75 mph when the steering wheel shook violently. The failure also occurred when the brakes were applied. Additionally, the door chimes would sound sporadically and the turn signals would engage independently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the problem. The approximate failure mileage…
ODI 10564221
Electrical System · Engine And Engine Cooling
The car was purchased in november of 2012 in washington. On the drive from washington to missouri, the car would not start after the engine was off. After waiting three days for the mechanic in a small south dakota town, he "fixed" it in ten minutes. The "solution" of keeping the engine on for ten minutes, turning to off, and then starting it again is only a temporary fix to a very real problem. This problem is so…
ODI 10598858
Electrical System
First of all the car has never been in a wreck.the ignition switch and electrical switch was replaced by owners at their expense .the ignition started to not work.when the key was turned all gauges would fall and would not crank.while on road the car would shut off as if turned off by key..the owner decided to have car repaired before the recall ,,in 2012 and 2013.owner would like to know if there is or can be a…
ODI 10694059
Electrical System · Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning more than one time. The check engine light illuminated intermittently. The key made a clicking noise when attempting to start the vehicle. The vehicle continued to make a ticking noise at random once the vehicle was driven. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who was unable to replicate nor diagnose…
ODI 10578495
Electrical System · Fuel/Propulsion System
Car failed to start, only cranked. Had spark plugs,wires,ignition switch,fuel pump, fuel filter,relays,coil packs,etc... Replaced. Got it running drove about 40 miles, now it just dies while driving... No warning just cuts off. I have taken it to various mechanics and have spent alot of $$. I even had new gm motor installed. I am afraid to drive it as several time i was on highway. This is a serious safety issue.…
ODI 10531828
Electrical System · Fuel/Propulsion System
The anti theft system activated about 4 times for no reason in the past 3 months. Each time i followed the instructions in the owners manual and re booted the system. Then while i was driving the car sputtered and stalled. The car won't start. The fuel pump is broken. Why you ask did the fuel pump break. Because each time the anti theft system activated itself for no reason it shut off the fuel pump. This repeatedly…
ODI 10462048
Electrical System · Fuel/Propulsion System
My 2003 chevy malibu wouldn't turn over noticed the anti theft light was blinking had to reset the system with the key because it wasn't getting gas. Before my vehicle would start read online about other people having the same problem this isn't safe gm needs to recall and fix this problem. With the passlock 2 system they have installed in these vehicles i have kids and am glad it didn't happen on the freeway with…
ODI 10458327
Electrical System
2003 chevrolet malibu. The consumer stated the ignition lock cylinder, was replaced two years ago. *mw the consumer is seeking reimbursement. *jb
ODI 10653328
Electrical System · Engine · Fuel System, Gasoline
The car has cut off while i was driving on at least 10 occasions since 2012. Usually, if driving at normal speed it would happen as i slowed down to turn a corner, although it has also happened once or twice while i was driving on the highway. Each time, i was fortunate enough to either drift over onto the shoulder or complete the turn without getting hit. When the car cuts off i lose the ability to steer. During…
ODI 10569446
Electrical System
My 17 year old daughter has a 2003 chevy malibu and she was stranded the other day because her car shut off and would not start back up....my husband changed the fuel filter thinking that might be what it was with no success. I found on the internet today about the way to reset the anti theft system and it worked, but people have been saying that once this problem starts it doesn't stop happening. I feel that this…
ODI 10457692
Electrical System
When i am driving the key will just fall out of the ignition while running for no reason,especially while going over bumps. The car recently has also started to continue running while the key is turned into. The off position! *tr
ODI 10579029
Electrical System
The car would randomly stop running. This could happen while on the highway or when the car was in motion. Daughter was caught a couple of time in the situation. No power steering of brakes. Could have had a fatal accident. If you look at this car and other gm cars, there have been a lot of complaints, the problem lies with the pass lock system (anti theft). The car thinks that its the wrong key and kills the…
ODI 10575928
Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System · Electrical System
The heating/cooling blower does not operate at low speed setting (1-3). Works only at high (4) speed setting. At times some smoke is observed coming out of air vents. I had spoken to a mechanic during routine oil change at a dealership and he told me that this is corrosion problem causing due to condensation and eroding the contacts resulting in non operation of blower motor at low setting. *tr
ODI 10451941
Electrical System · Engine
The first time this happened i tried to start my car and it would not start and ended up having it towed to a garage hundreds of dollars later to find out it was an theft system part that needed to be replaced. So we did that then the same thing started happening again. I got out the owners manual and was reading about turn the key for 10 minutes. Well this has been a on going problem for some time now. It was not…
ODI 10595406
Electrical System
The car fails to start due to the passlock ii system failure. It will not engage the fuel pump and/or ignition system. The theft lockout system light stays on or flashes all other dash warning lights do not light up. The car will start randomly when attempting to start the car. The passlock ii relearning method has to be used to start the car as instructed by gm in the owners manual section 2 page 17 when the theft…
ODI 10448091
Catalog parts for this system
Catalog year/make/model rows for 2003 Chevrolet Malibu.
Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.