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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 9
Injuries / Deaths:
10 / 1
Average Mileage:
78,328 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2005 Chevrolet Malibu electrical problems

electrical problem

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2005 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 1 of 8)

problem #158

Jun 102024

Malibu

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The brake light stays on the whole time.

- Oakland, CA, USA

problem #157

Apr 192024

Malibu

  • miles
Steering wheel shakes violently when the car is started. After awhile it goes out completely making it extrememly dangerous to steer or turn while driving. Took it to a dealer in Norfolk, ne, Norfolk GM service center, and they said recall was fixed back in 2014 at a shop in hartington, ne. Same issue immediaitly happened again. Issue is not fixed and car remains unsafe for travel.

- Norfolk, NE, USA

problem #156

Nov 222023

Malibu

  • miles
No accedents. Trying to be a head of it!

- Maple Heights, OH, USA

problem #155

Jul 012022

Malibu

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

This problem has occurred many times and I have taken to the internet to find out what I could to try to remedy it myself as I don't have endless disposable income to have someone else fix it. I have not had it seen by a professional, only consulted with a manager of a gm dealership repairs department over the phone as well as various mechanics and locksmiths. As I said I don't have endless disposable money to throw at this. The car will completely shut off in the middle of driving, I lose all power. The antitheft system engages in the middle of driving. Then I get no crank no start. I get stuck in the middle of the road. In the past I was able to just turn the key off and remove it and let it sit for a while and then it would let me start it again, this began a year ago and has gotten progressively worse and more frequent since it first occurred and I am now at the point where the car is completely no crank no start and anti theft system will not disengage. From my own research online I've found many others complaining of similar problems and they say it's related to gm passlock system.

- Friendsville, MD, USA

problem #154

Dec 212022

Malibu

  • miles
The car's anti-theft system (indicated on the dashboard lights) will randomly lock up the engine. Following a massive list of online suggestions from other Chevy owners who had the same problem, I learned to wait for 10-15 minutes with the key in the ignition (lights/radio on, no engine) before the anti-theft indicator disappears and the car can start again. Sometimes, I will have to repeat the process 2-3 times. This has been happening randomly for over 2 years despite taking it into a Chevy dealer for repairs twice. They claimed it was a battery issue and charged me over $500 to fix nothing; The engine would lock up again within a month. A cursory Google search shows that this has affected hundreds if not thousands of GM vehicles, some even claiming the anti-theft lock engaged while they were driving. Please put some serious investigation into the matter so people like me can stop getting price gouged and stuck in freezing weather for GM's incompetence.

- Lincoln, NE, USA

problem #153

Jan 282022

Malibu

  • miles
I was making a right turn onto a busy highway when my front end made a loud thunk, as if something had broken, then my steering wheel threw itself and locked up on me.

- St Mary, MO, USA

problem #152

Dec 062021

Malibu 6-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

1st when got car from local dealer cruise control worked next day still hasn't, interior lights not working with new bulb, brake light on, leaking oil from pan, front end drifting, than at station no power steering, didn't know wtf, wheels didn't turn, shut off he later was there ignition switch will keep turning. Rins battery dead. I'm scared power steering will go out while driving. It's a scary thought, think I will sell.It's the worse recall I've heard of can they be fixed. Consumer has all 7 recalls.

- Veblen, SD, USA

problem #151

Jun 232020

Malibu

  • miles
Driving at any speed the car will randomly brake on its own.

- Westland, MI, USA

problem #150

Apr 102021

Malibu

  • 144,000 miles
When I'm driving often..I turn the wheel as normal. Intermittently I hear a ding noise coming from my console, and my steering wheel stiffens and I have to use a large amount of force to straighten out. I have called GM many times and have been told there are no recalls with this issue. I believe that they should be a class action. Over 500 or other owners with the same issue. What gives GM?

- Wappingers Falls, NY, USA

problem #149

Dec 232020

Malibu

  • 200,000 miles
I lost all power assist in my steering wheel on the interstate. It was showing a recall for the electrical power steering but when I called Chevrolet, they didn't see it.

- Jackson, MS, USA

problem #148

Jul 152020

Malibu

  • 245,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Body contol module malfunctioning causing sensors to malfunction and read issues or conditions such as tire slippage, overheating, power steering malfunction, etc where there is no issue or wet road condition.

- Brandenburg, KY, USA

problem #147

Jul 052020

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 225,000 miles
Steering is not working, making it too hard to turn the wheel. Vehicle was in motion when it happened, while in a highway; has some electrical issues like check engine light on and speed control is not working properly

- Kissimmee, FL, USA

problem #146

Jun 292020

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 210,000 miles
Wiring issues replaced everything new it the charging department 2 times and the problems kept arising thus the computer the PCM fired so idk what went wrong but it's something that needs to be discussed I will never own another Chevrolet car

- Trinity, NC, USA

problem #145

Jul 172019

Malibu

  • 104,000 miles
My passenger side headlamp light (turn signal) assembly keeps burning out and melting the bulb housing and orange lens. It burned a hole in the orange turn signal lens. I replace bulb after bulb but it keeps failing. Please issue a recall because no car owner should have to keep replacing bulbs constantly only for them to fail over and over again! this happens when the car is stationary, moving, etc..

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #144

Jun 202019

Malibu

  • miles
Car battery keeps dying even though it's new and we have changed fuses. We took the car to mechanic they can find why losing charge on battery. Keep jumping of won't stay charged bit 1 day.

- Gonzales, LA, USA

problem #143

Jan 022019

Malibu

  • 223,000 miles
When I am driving, highway or local, my engine will stutter and shut down, or just quietly shut down right in the middle of traffic. It is happening a lot. I have found myself facing oncoming traffic during some of these stalls. Sometimes I can get it to restart snd other times I cannot. Also. I am having trouble get gas into the tank when fueling. I hear air escaping and the pump will shut off. Local mechanics do not want to tackle that issue. The dealer I bought it from says since I bought it used, as-is, that the problem is on me. I have read online that many people are having this same problem. I don't want me ire anyone to become a fatality because of this. What can be done?

- Newport, TN, USA

problem #142

Nov 132018

Malibu

  • 49,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA campaign number: 14V153000 (steering). The vehicle was taken to felix Chevrolet (3330 S figueroa St, los angeles, ca 90007) for the recall repair. Afterwards, the vehicle exhibited multiple failures. The vehicle was taken to back and forth to the dealer at least five times for multiple failures, including the door locks not working, the battery, the odometer numbers being erased, and the vehicle not starting. The dealer stated that the failures were due to the control module that needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 49,000.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #141

Jul 012018

Malibu

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu. While operating the vehicle, the brake lights intermittently failed to illuminate when depressing the brake pedal. Also, the front driver side window failed to operate and would not roll down and the rear passenger door could not be unlocked from inside the vehicle. Furthermore, the ignition key could be removed from the ignition switch while driving the vehicle and, after starting the engine, the vehicle suddenly stalled and shut off. The cause of the failures was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 60,000.

- Garden Grove, CA, USA

problem #140

Sep 272018

Malibu

  • 145,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu. After the vehicle was parked, the key seized in the ignition and was unable to be removed. A dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 145,000.

- Epworth, GA, USA

problem #139

Sep 022018

Malibu

  • 115,795 miles
Well after a day of no issues I was driving went to park and I put my car into park the car died and reversed a little bit. It now won't turn over and won't make any noise under the hood. I tried jumping it but that didn't work and I tried to see if maybe the anti lock system shut it off but it's not that either. When I turn the key to the on position it says it's still in reverse and when I move the shifter it doesn't register on the dashboard. So my car still thinks I'm in reverse.

- Lebanon, PA, USA

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