9.0
pretty badTypical Repair Cost:
$628.00
Average Mileage:
65,414 miles
Total Complaints:
23 complaints
Most common solutions:
- replace fuel pump (21 reports)
- not sure (2 reports)
fuel delivery system problem
This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Chevrolet dealer.
Helpful Websites About 2003 Chevrolet Malibu fuel pump failed
2009Oct 30
Malibu 4DR SDN V6
- Automatic transmission
- 62,821 miles
I am a student and I was driving home around 12:30am from campus and noticed the car began to struggle. So I turned to a side road, turned off the engine and tried to start it again to see if everything was normal. It would not start. It seemed to turnover but just wouldn't go. I had to call CAA to tow the car ( the tow man and I tried a few things, even added fuel in an attempt to get things going (we spent over an hour.)) I had the car towed to the dealership garage where I bought the car used at 68 000km. They looked at the car the next day and told me the fuel pump would need to be replaced and it would be $1100 for repair and $150 for the inspection. I thought that was ridiculous and told them I would not repair it at that price. They called back a day later and priced the repair at $750. I still think this is ridiculous for something that happened so suddenly. On the same day of the car failing I had taken my car to the same dealer and had winter tires put on the car because my brother was going out of town and was going to borrow the car for a month and a half (makes me wonder what the dealers played with, its certainly not past them).
This car has been nothing but problems! I cannot afford to pay such prices for this malfunction. If they offer repair at $500 I may have no choice, but otherwise I will get rid of this once for all. It has been nothing but problems. Right when I bought the car in the first week the window wipers (one literally flew off during a rain storm as I drove to work-WTF!) and the battery failed and had to be replaced. Next the muffler had to be replaced, then the front turn signal lights,then the brake pads, then the head gasket was leaking, the catalytic converter became loose, and now besides the fuel pump the turn signal lights are not working. I am sure now that this car is NOT SAFE. I live in Ottawa, Canada and the winters are dangerous, icy and frigid cold. I had the car for about two years and its been a major pain, and a financial stress. I missed a chance earlier to get rid of it and buy something new while I was working a lot. As a full time student I feel my hands are tied but this piece of **** might motivate me to work more again and replace it forever and never buy GM again!!! I hate GM!!! F*ck you ChevyWest in Ottawa!!!! F*CK YOU! I placed trust in buying this car as a young adult and you took me for the inexperienced fool I was!!!! All I can do is vent! Thanks for the internet, once mid-terms are through trust me, my next hobby will be a blog dedicated to the bashing of your dealership and your cars and your sales men and care replacement parts! Hopefully a google search of your dealership will have my blog high up there!!! F*CK you GM!!! Anyone got any name suggestions for a blog?
2009Aug 24
Malibu 3.1L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 75,000 miles
I hate this car. The fuel pump died after I loaded up the car at the grocery store. I was going to have it towed to my house and fix it myself, but I said screw it. I'm tired of working on this car. It was going to cost me $290 for the fuel pump assembly, a siphoning tool to get the gas out of the tank, and all the aggravation of dropping the fuel tank. So I sucked it up and paid the mechanic $550 to do it. So far I've replaced the fuel pump, a front wheel bearing, both outer tie rod ends, the rack/pinion, and an early tune up. The steering column is bad. I talked to the mechanic and he said it's safe to drive, but it handles like crap. This car is junk. GM is junk.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2009Aug 07
Malibu V6
- Automatic transmission
- 51,585 miles
After already having a WATER PUMP replaced and a crack in the MANIFOLD repair 2 months ago, now I find the damn FUEL PUMP has died and I have to pay for that also. The freaking engine just DIED on the very day we were to go on vacation. So I end up spending more money to rent a car (otherwise forfeit the hotel charges. What a waste! I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER GM VEHICLE AS LONG AS I LIVE!!!!! AND WILL WARN EVERYONE ELSE TO STAY AWAY!!!!!
2009Mar 28
Malibu LX 3.2L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 68,000 miles
2003 Malibu
We were on vacation in Mesa, AZ and 2 days before we were to come home all of a sudden the car wouldn't start. It would crank, but not start. Of course it happened at 4:00 p.m. on a Saturday afternoon. Had to have it towed to some schlock outfit that said it was the fuel pump and it had to be replaced. We had no choice as we were leaving for home on Tuesday. Towing cost us $80.00 and the useless fuel pump they say they replaced cost $758.00. We picked it up Monday late afternoon, drove it home, got up the next morning to leave for home and it wouldn't start. Just like before it would crank, but wouldn't start. My husband tried and tried and tried and finally it started so we left, but we were scared to death it wouldn't start if we turned it off so we had to leave it running for 3 days straight while we returning home. We left one set of keys in the vehicle at all times(motor running) and locked the car. When we arrived home we took it to a auto diagnostic company who kept the car for 3 days and couldn't find anything wrong with it. They said it started most of time and they weren't all too sure that the fuel pump was replaced or not. He said it didn't sound quite right. That cost us another $150.00. We then took it to a friend of a friend who has his own auto repair small company and he kept it for a couple of days and said it started most of the time, but didn't want to tear the thing apart because it would cost too much and we already spent enough on this piece of **** and he didn't want to put us through any more with this car.
He didn't charge us a dime!! There is a god!!!!! We want to trade this car in, but are afraid that if we shut if off at a dealership it won't start again. Other than this 1 pain in the a** problem, the car has been perfect for us. I don't know who to contact at GM to try to get this problem resolved for us and all of you too.
2008Feb 25
Malibu V6
- Automatic transmission
- 59,000 miles
Worst car ever for repairs and would recommend getting rid of this vehicle fast because of other issues with head gaskets, etc.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2009Mar 24
Malibu
- Automatic transmission
- 110,000 miles
Just a few weeks ago, we had to replace the head gasket for the second time in 12 months. Now the fuel pump has gone out. What is next?
The government shouldn't waste the time bailing out GM so they can keep on manufacturing piles of junk and marketing them as automobiles... they should be bailing out the people who are stuck driving GM's pathetic vehicles.
2008Nov 15
Malibu 3.1L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 63,000 miles
The lemon of a malibu's fuel pump failed. After just having the ignition replace 6 months prior due to the theft switch shutting the pump off, I didn't know what to think the problem was. I did a lot more trouble shooting than normal to verify it was the pump.
2009Jan 19
Malibu LS 3100ls V6
- Automatic transmission
- 97,000 miles
Since we know that we are not the only ones to experience this (untimely & post-warranty coincidental) malfunction of our car that has been running perfectly (up until now), I am only going to vent a little. According to what I have read of similar complaints so far, we were blessed to have it stop running in our own driveway! I thank God for that because I had just run to the store to get cigarettes. It could have happened at any time en-route to or from the store!! I am an out of work truck driver with a bad heart and bum left arm trying to get back to work to take the financial and emotional load off of my wife. Now, I am going to need an absolute miracle to get to my doctor's appointment that hopefully will get me my release to go back to work. It is 60 miles away!! Thank you GM. I pray that you do what is right and just for us unsuspecting victims of what by ALL APPEARANCES is a scam on your part. GOD WILL JUDGE AND FIND YOU WANTING! I'M THROWING YOU ON THE MERCY OF HIS COURT AS HE REPRESENTS THE UNDERDOG WITH ALL GOOD GRACE! If you are even reading these complaints, know this--- WORSE COULD HAPPEN TO YOU!! WHERE WILL GOD'S MERCY BE THEN FOR YOU IF YOU DON'T SHOW ANY??? THINK ABOUT IT... Your fuel pump and delivery system for this make, model and year of car SERIOUSLY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED POST HASTE!!
2008Oct 21
Malibu LS 3.1L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 48,156 miles
Seems like GM has found a new profit center - the dealer charged $672Cdn for a new pump.... Total repair costs were $962Cdn (roughly $850 US)).
LIke other reports, the car simply quit while going down the street, requiring a tow to the dealer.
My extended warranty was up exactly 2 months ago.
Front brakes have worn out for the second time, and, No, I don't drive with my foot on the brake.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2008Jul 11
Malibu
- Automatic transmission
- 87,000 miles
Bought my piece of sh*t Malibu used in March. Drove great for 3 months, then while on a two lane busy bridge during rush hour, the car dies. Seemed like the battery. We got it off the road and were able to avoid an accident. Unfortunately, this was not a great part of town to break down in. We decided to run to Wal-mart and get a battery and come back for the car. This did not work, so I decided to call for a tow.
Happened on a Friday night, so it could not even be looked at until Monday.
874.00 later and a new fuel pump, relay, and fuel filter installed, I was back on the road.
Exactly 11 days later, It does the exact same thing. I was driving along, and just lost power. RPM's drop and car dies, leaving me stranded again in 110 degree weather. I call same repair shop because fuel pump was under warranty for 12 months, and since it was the exact same thing again, I really had no option. They come get it, and tow truck driver cannot start it either. Again it is Friday at 2pm, so I would have to wait til Monday for them to look at it. Monday rolls around and they cannot find anything wrong with it. It starts up and they say fuel pump is working.
Ok.
I go get said piece of sh*t, and drive it 12 miles and It wont start when I come out of store. Now, there is no way the shop drove the damn thing without it quitting on them. I call them and asked them why they charged me fot 158.00 for labor if nothing was done and after almost 1000 bucks, I still have no diagnosis for the problem!!! Shop told me I was S.O.L. and no refund, so I stopped pmt on check to them.
Now...
Just got car back from dealership yesterday morning. They replaced the ignition switch and rewired the ground wire on my fuel pump, which cost me another 500 bucks. It ran fine all day, I drove around 60 miles and it died going home, doing the exact same thing again. I am F**KING FED UP!!!!!!
I am almost 1500 bucks in the hole over this piece of sh*t CHEVY!!!!!
I am still paying on this car and have a loan through my bank. I have put bills off to pay repairs, but have managed to stay caught up on my payment to avoid hurting my credit. I do not know what to do. This is my only car and my only means of transportation to get to and from work, in which I have a job that requires me to drive out of town once a week.
If ANYONE has any idea what the problem could be, please e-mail me at mnmgck@yahoo.com..I just want a solution to this problem. This is ONLY ONE problem I have had with this car.
2008Jul 29
Malibu LS V6
- Automatic transmission
- 74,000 miles
Well, I didn't know about the lovely fuel pump bullshit until the little f*cker went out on Tues, the 29th. I was driving along, fine, when I lose acceleration and the gas pedal feels loose and basically stuck to the floor (which wasn't accelerating like it's suppose to in that position!). I pull over, shut the car off, move the mat, shake the gas pedal, try to turn the car back on, and nothing. Had to have my father push my car to his house (thanks for the scratches on the bumper now, by the way), got it towed to a repair shop and now it's costing me $500 that I don't have!!!!
So help me GM, will you be getting a letter. You need to recall this piece of junk car when there's that many damn problems with it!!!!!!!!!
2008Oct 22
Malibu V6
- Automatic transmission
- 80,000 miles
I was on my way to pick up my daughter from daycare, was driving towards a ramp and noticed I was losing speed so I kicked my floor mat from under the pedal thinking it was stuck under there causing my pedal to stick. As I was coming of the ramp I was really losing power and pushing the pedal to the metal wasn't helping so I pulled over in a turning lane trying to get out of the traffic and then the car died!!
Cars were blowing b/c I was stuck in the turning lane on a busy street, I sat there for a minute in disbelief b/c just two week earlier my car wouldn't even start. My husband put gas in it since I was almost on empty it started then the next wouldn't start. We got a new battery it drove for 2 weeks then it died.
So we get it towed and was told the fuel pump needed to be replaced. $864.00
My car will be paid off next year, I love the look of the 2009 Malibu BUT!! I will NEVER buy another Chevy Ever!! I have a list of things wrong with my car!
2005Jul 15
Malibu
- Automatic transmission
- 60,000 miles
Pain in the butt. Not just a fuel pump -- an entire ASSEMBLY!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2007Oct 17
Malibu LS 3.2L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 50,000 miles
I have had multiple problems with my 2003 Malibu. Last fall, my car failed to start and had to be towed to the dealership. It was the fuel pump...cost me over $700. Then my coolant light came on. They told me I would need to replace some sort of main gasket which costs about $700. It's a slow leak at the moment, so I haven't had it fixed yet. Yesterday, my "Check Oil" light came on. I was over as quart low, got the oil changed and they told me both gaskets, front and rear, would need to be replaced, because I have oil leaks. I have a little over 50,000 miles on the car. It seems too soon to have this many problems. I've also had to replace the battery.
2008Jan 17
Malibu V6
- Automatic transmission
- 59,000 miles
For the past 2 years maybe 20-30 times total, the car would randomly act like it's not getting gas when starting. Always cranked fine, let sit a few seconds or maybe a minute and would start fine. Then one dark and cooooold night below zero, The car quit late Saturday night, and left me stranded. No fuel pump whine when cranking. $30 taxi ride and $700 bucks later, a new fuel pump solved the problem.
2007May 13
(reported on)Malibu 3.1
- Automatic transmission
- 50,952 miles
I also was entering the passing lane on the highway when my car started to sputter out and hesitate. RPM not moving and not going anywhere. After spending the day at a theme park with my 7 year old we just wanted to go home. I finally made it over to the slow lane and still not getting anywhere. I pulled over onto the shoulder and it died. I was able to start it but it would die seconds later. Finally after getting a hold of towing they were able to get us off the highway. Now remember, this is a Saturday night and there is jack open at this time. I was still 180 KM from home and needed to get the car back. So I had to tow the car home for $250 CAD. I had to rent a car today to get my life duties done. And the car should be done tomorrow. SO... all in all my total expense for this is around $1000.
Why hasn't this been recalled yet when there has been so may problems? I will contact GM regarding this. Come on, it's a four year old car !! This is why I purchased a new car, to avoid this crap with the older ones !! This is the second time we have owned a GM product, last one was a Jimmy (years ago) and had a hell of a time with the electrical system on that. Really, I think I will have to go back to Ford or what the hell, might as well go foreign. It's can't get much worst than this !
So now I am getting it fixed and plan on selling it before it gets too old and lose any more money.
All and all we had a great time at the amusement park, just a hell of a time after !
2007Apr 17
(reported on)Malibu V6
- Automatic transmission
- 52,000 miles
Car has struggled with power issues for years, and wouldn't accelerate properly. Dealership originally diagnosed as having a clogged fuel filter and they also ran some fuel injector cleaner. A year later, the car died on the highway exit ramp, nearly getting us hit by dozens of cars slamming on their brakes going around the corner. Had the car towed to a nearby mechanic and they diagnosed the fuel pump failed. Since we had the car in the dealership before about the acceleration struggle, they covered everything except a $100 deductible. The cost without warranty would've been about $500 for the part and $100 for labor.
2007Sep 05
Malibu LS
- Automatic transmission
- 52,000 miles
I was on my way to work when my car sputtered and died. I had to have it towed to the Chevy dealer. I was told the fuel pump modulator had failed and needed to be replaced. My extended warranty had expired only 2000 miles earlier. This was the first of 3 major failures on this car in the next three months.
2007Jun 14
(reported on)Malibu LS
- Automatic transmission
- 40,000 miles
Fuel pump went out right after warranty expired, what a coincidence!!!! i had to replace personally because dealer was charging $400.00.
2007Feb 02
(reported on)Malibu
- Automatic transmission
- 71,000 miles
I was on the interstate trying to accelerate and get in the fast lane, when the car started to hesitate and sputter. I tried pumping the gas a couple of times, but to no avail... I was losing speed quickly during rush hour traffic, so I made my way to the emergency lane and just in the nick of time. No sooner did I get to the side of the road, did the car sputter one last time and died. I tried several times, unsuccessfully to restart the car. It would turn over, but it would not crank. I called a few people I know and they all suggested the same thing, push the gas pedal to the floor and crank... NO LUCK!! A tow truck pulled over and towed my car to my dad's house, approximately 18 miles from where I was, for a mere $102.50!!!! I was told that it is probably the fuel pump, but I have no idea. Can anyone tell me what to try first, that doesn't cost $265?? What really gripes my butt about this is, just 2 weeks ago I was telling my dad I thought it was time to trade this car in before it started giving me problems. Dad, being the very opinionated man that he is, said that there was nothing wrong with the car and all I'd be doing is giving myself 5 more years of payments when I only have 1 year left on this one. So, for a change, I took his advice... and NOW LOOK WHERE I AM! Stranded without a vehicle!!! I finally got to say I TOLD YOU SO to him, but at what expense??? If you have any ideas or suggestions, please let me know!! I need my car fixed, so I can trade it in!!!
2007Jan 31
(reported on)Malibu LS V6
- Automatic transmission
- 49,000 miles
Both of our 2003 Malibus at around the same mileage the fuel pump went bad. The cars would not start and they were towed to a shop. I contacted BP about their bad gasoline, which was incorrect. I want GM to recall this car and re-reimburse our money for both cars. I also wrote a letter of complaint about my faulty brake system at less than 20,000 miles three times.
2006Nov 29
(reported on)Malibu 3.4L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 40,000 miles
Started having an intermittent problem with the fuel pump not working. Eventually it just completely failed. This was an expensive part and expensive repair.
We have partnered with JustAnswer to offer online auto repair help and advice from expert professional automotive technicians. You describe your fuel delivery system problem or ask your question and they try to help you figure it out. The fee is typically $9 to $15, but you can offer to pay more for really tough questions. You will usually receive an answer in 10 minutes or less, and you do not have to pay anything unless you accept the answer.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2009Nov 02
Malibu V6
I just recently purchased this car from hell on September 12, 2009 with no warranty. When I bought the car, both wheel bearings had to be replaced and that was done one week later. The dealership fortunately paid to have this done. Then 10 days later my car would just stall on me and one day, at work, I drove my car to work, parked it, and when I went to leave for lunch, my car would not start. I had to have it towed to a nearby garage and was told that the fuel pump had to be fixed. Now I had only had this car since the 12th of September so even without a warranty I still had a 30-day warranty to be honored. I called the dealer where I got this car and they told me that they would have my car towed to their shop and that they would have it fixed. Ten days later again they finally had it towed from the garage I had it towed to their garage. Why they didn't just fix it there I have no clue. It would have saved them plenty of money but now I understand why they did what they did. They had my car for another three days before they called to tell me what was the problem and that it was fixed. (Mind you I had been calling daily to prod their asses to get this done.) So when I got a call I was told that my fuel pump relay was bad and when I questioned about what the garage had told me about the fuel pump being bad, the dealer told me that it wasn't bad and that the relay was the only thing wrong. I have come to believe that they knew the fuel pump was bad all along and chose not to fix it but tell me that they fixed the relay. I did get my car back and it did run great for about two weeks. Then, one day on my way home, I was stopped getting ready to turn off of the exit ramp, and when I went to go it just stalled on me. So I had to get out and push it off the exit ramp and onto the shoulder of the road. Thank goodness for little hills because this worked in my favor for pushing the car by myself. So I call the dealer and tell them about this problem and I also tell them that I am not going to pay anymore for this damn piece of sh*t and for them to come and get it. I did some calling around and it would cost me about $250 for a new fuel pump in which my boyfriend could install and a used one would cost me $125. So we are going to replace the relay again to see if that is the problem. If it isn't, then I am going to have them come and get it becuase I don't have the money to repair it and I refuse to pay for a car that does not run and that I haven't had over two months. This car is a huge POS and do not ever buy one!
Update from Nov 9, 2009: Well I went out and purchased a new fuel pump relay to see if that was indeed the problem. To our luck, it wasn't. So I called the dealer and told them that it was indeed the fuel pump and I questioned them as to why this wasn't fixed in the first place. They told me that they didn't know and would have to call their mechanic, they don't have one on duty. So when I called them back once again, I was told that the fuel pump indeed needs to be repaired. When I told them that was what I said in the first place they came back with, well the relay was bad. I told them that I had replaced the relay and that it was now their turn to fix my car or take it back. I also told them that if they buy the fuel pump from a parts store, we would go and pick it up and my boyfriend would then put it in my car. This would save them money on a tow charge and getting it fixed, plus I will know that it was fixed the right way. They have not gotten back with me yet on this idea and if they don't fix it or buy the part that I need, then they can come and get it and put me into a different car.
bcgothar
Luther, MI, USA
SEND A COMMENT »