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.
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 start the car again, some days it does repeat stalls which causes me to almost get hit by cars behind me (very very dangerous), some days it drives fine. Then one day while shutting my car off and returning home the horn started honking and would not turn off for about a 1/2 hour, and after that it hasnt worked again. Took the car in to the shop because im fed up and they said it is all linked to a faulty pass key/anti theft system that causes these electrical problems. Did some research and noticed this is and has been a reaccuring problem in the Malibu's.
Over the last year, 2003 Chevy Malibu has not started on four different occasions. It was started and driven to another location (ie work, shopping, class, etc) and then upon returning to the car, it would not start. This is a major safety concern and especially so if one of the children is using the car. As I have read, others are having similar issues - this is a safety issue and warrants attention by the manufacturer!
After my 2003 Chevrolet Malibu had been parked in the sun for a while, on a short trip of 4 miles, the car started revving up and taking off on it's on. It also caused my A/C hose to burst (I am convinced it is related). I took it to dealer for repair and they cleaned the throttle and replaced the A/C hose. There is still the same problem. It seems as though it happens when it is very hot weather and I am making short trips running errands which calls for turning engine off and restarting. I drove back home with my foot entirely on the brakes while trying to keep the car from running out of control. I am very reluctant to drive it now, until I can find someone to "really" fix the problem (as I was stuck with a $487 repair bill).
My 2003 Malibu(65000 miles) started to idle high (2000-2500rpm). We took it to our regular mechanic shop, they decided it was the idle air control valve, replaced it and it worked fine until early June when it started idling high, intermittently. The rising idle would start with a rough acceleration, then the RPM's would start to rise and not come back down. We took it back and they could not get the problem to recur, so they told us to bring it in when it was acting up, since it was not constant. They assume at this point it was a faulty iac that had been replaced. 2 weeks later, it did and we took it in. The RPM's were close to 4000 and it was starting to overheat while the mechanic was checking it. That was on Monday, June 24, 2013. The mechanic reached into the engine and did something to stop the rpms from continuing to increase. Today is Wednesday and they do not know what the problem is. If anyone has any information on if this is a problem with this make and model, please let me know. Thank you.
Intake manifold gasket at less then 55,000 miles due to plastic gaskets.. after numerous mechanics say a cheap unreliable part that will cost anyone from 600$ or more depending on how server it could be. I am surprise there are no recalls on this... this should be looked into plus reimbursement to those whom have receipts for this particular procedure.
- Dubuque, IA, USA
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The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that in early May 2012 she was unable to start the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who reprogrammed the key. The failure continued. The vehicle was then taken to a private mechanic, who diagnosed no failure. The manufacturer was notified and provided a case number which was not available. The manufacturer advised to take the vehicle back to the dealer. The dealer again diagnosed that there was no failure. No further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 86,000 and the current mileage was 88,000.
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- Thornton, CO, USA