2005 Chevrolet Malibu Electrical System Problems
- 144
- 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 144 stored complaint records:
- 5 indicate a crash
- 5 indicate injury
- 9 indicate fire
- 1 indicate a death
What owners report
- failure mileage · 21 records
- electrical system · 19 records
- power steering · 18 records
- brake lights · 16 records
- notified failure · 16 records
- ignition switch · 15 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 100–150k mi | 33 |
| 60–100k mi | 22 |
| 150–400k mi | 19 |
| 30–60k mi | 15 |
| 1–30k mi | 12 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Electrical System · Steering
2005 chevy malibu. Have told the dealership many times about the "bumping/thumbing" while the car is turning. And found out that there is no place for powering steering fluid...thank god for purchasing extended warranties!!!!!!!!!!! *tr
ODI 10298515
Electrical System · Engine And Engine Cooling
My friend, mrs. X., a widow and mother of two children attending college, has been plagued by a recurring problem with repairs performed by johnny londoff chevrolet. Her car, a 2005 chevy malibu with 68,000 miles, has been in for repairs four times. . . Londoff has extracted over $1400.00 from this widow woman, continuing to replace part after part which has done nothing to alleviate the complaint. They do not know…
ODI 10346680
Electrical System · Fuel System, Other · Steering
I have a 2005 malibu,and have had a clunking noise in the steering since approx. 40,000miles. I have taken it to the garage several times and they have told me that chevrolet did not make a place to lubricate the joints inside the column so that they dry out quickly,and are banging together and it is nothing to worry abouti do not agree,anything constantly clanging against another object is eventually going to wear…
ODI 10292451
Electrical System
I stopped to air up a tire and wash my car. I noticed smoke in the back portion of my car. I looked in the trunk but couldn't tell the origin of the smoke. Smoke continued to fill my car from the back and i opened the trunk again. I placed my hand on the left fender and immediately noticed how hot it was. Another costumer came over and jerked the trunk liner back to reveal that the fuse panel was on fire. *tr
Fire reported
ODI 10275879
Electrical System
Tl*the contact owns as 2005 chevrolet malibu. While driving approximately 5 mph; proceeding to make a right turn, the right turn signal switch began blinking at a rapid pace. An authorized technician stated that the failure was due to the turn signal bulb socket overheating which caused the plastic to melt. The vehicle was repaired; however, the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer on four separate occasions…
Fire reported
ODI 10282833
Body · Electrical System · Seats
A bolt fell out of the left front fender. The front right turn signal does not work as the holder does not make electrical contact with the bulb.a dangerous situation. The remote keys no longer work. The electrical seat control does not operate properly. This car has so many problems that i will never buy another gm product. *tr
ODI 10610752
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet malibu. While driving approximately 35 mph, all four doors on the vehicle locked and unlocked independently. The vehicle was turned off and restarted, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was repaired, but the details of the repair were unavailable. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate…
ODI 10644637
Electrical System
The anti-theft system in my 2005 chevy malibu ls keeps coming on while i'm driving. When that happens everything on the dash stops working. Mph, fuel engine light comes on . When anti-theft light comes on the car will not start. So that leaves me and my daughters stuck. Now when i stop and park the car for any length of time the anti-theft system activates. I am so scared to drive this car because i never know if…
ODI 10241710
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Front left turn signal repeatedly burns out, amber casing has melted hole, changing bulbs does not fix problem. *tt
Fire reported
ODI 10427770
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Fuel/Propulsion System · Structure
We bought this car 4 yrs ago in aug 2008 at only a few yrs old we were very optimistic that the $ we were spending on it would be worth the less upkeep than that of the 1994 crown vic that we traded in (& my husbands 78 olds that has always required more work than it put out since he purchased it when we met back in 06). Since it was a few yrs old we thought that even though there was no warranty on our new "used"…
ODI 10470431
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages · Power Window Devices And Controls
Tl*the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the power windows, locks, linkages, and ignition switch sporadically become inoperative. She took the vehicle to the dealer and they replaced the ignition switch at the cost of $495. The manufacturer stated that they would not assume responsibility for any repairs because the vehicle exceeded its mileage. All remedies as of march 31, 2009 have been…
ODI 10263716
Brake Lights · Cruise Control · Electrical System
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet malibu. While driving at low speeds and depressing the brake pedal, the brake lights would not illuminate and the cruise control seized without warning. The vehicle was repaired under nhtsa campaign number: 14v252000 (electrical system, service brakes, vehicle speed control), but the repair did not remedy the failures. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was…
ODI 10818721
Electrical System
Tl*the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet malibu. While driving 65 mph, the power steering warning light illuminated. The contact had to use both hands to steer the vehicle with excessive force. The vehicle was shut off for approximately sixteen hours to reset the steering. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and they performed a diagnostic test. The dealer stated that there was a short in the electrical system.…
ODI 10204676
Electrical System · Turn Signal
I owned the 2005 chevrolet malibu for almost 2 years. During that time i had to replace the rear turn signal once, and the front turn signals about 3 times each. Somethingwas definitely wrong with the electrical part of this vehicle. The warranty has now expired, so i can get nothing done about it from gm or chevrolet. *ak a second complaint concerns the fan for the airconditioner/heater. It rattles constantly.…
ODI 10193552
Electrical System · Service Brakes · Steering
The brakes lights on my vehicle come on without pressure applied to the brakes resulting in the cruise control to kick off. The brake lights will go off once the brakes are pressed. This presents an unsafe situation as it is never known when it will happen. This resulted in my vehicle being rear ended while at a stop sign coming off the off ramp from the highway. I have had to have this issue fixed several times and…
ODI 10593312
Electrical System · Visibility/Wiper
My husband was killed in an accident involving this vehicle. It says in the accident report that the bcm was unresponsive as well as another computer system and the wipers were on in dry weather. I believe a defect contributed to the accident. My husband was traveling with the right of way on a motorcycle when the sedan left turned in front of him. I will give you more information when i receive some documents from…
Crash reported · 2 injuries · 1 death
ODI 10661239
Electrical System · Engine · Equipment · Interior Lighting · Steering · Suspension · Switch
Tl*the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet malibu. Since purchasing the vehicle, the anti theft device has failed repeatedly, the engine makes a ticking sound, the steering wheel is slipping or loose, and oil leaks from the engine. While driving 45 mph, the dashboard . Vibrates. The contact hears a noise in the radio when the vehicle is turned on, the engine service light is illuminated on the instrument panel, the…
ODI 10239211
Electrical System
My 2005 chevrolet malibu, sometimes when trying to start the vehicle, it fails to start until attempting 2 to 3 times before vehicle engine starts, this is a continual problem. Turn signal today did not work, until after i had to shut engine off and restart it before turn signals would work. Vehicle has a tendency to pull to the left. Starter doesn't engage properly. *nm
ODI 10133385
Electrical System
I first purchased the vehicle in march 2005. After a month i started having difficulties with starting it. I would turn the key in the ignition and nothing would happen there would be no power, i would turn the key again and there would be power but the info station would reset. I have a friend who drove it sometimes and the same thing would occur for him. We took it back to the dealership it was purchased from…
ODI 10245285
Catalog parts for this system
Catalog year/make/model rows for 2005 Chevrolet Malibu.
Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.