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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 9
Injuries / Deaths:
10 / 1
Average Mileage:
80,362 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 8 of 8)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #14

May 192010

Malibu

  • 97,000 miles

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

The power steering light comes on and sometimes the steering wheel won't turn at all. There is a knocking noise in the steering wheel when I turn. It was fixed only to start again a few weeks later. GM won't repair cause they say I'm over the mileage. The gas hand jumps up an down.

- Calumet City, IL, USA

problem #13

May 052010

Malibu

  • 63,300 miles
I have a 2005 Chevy Malibu, bought brand new, I've had problems from the start with this car. The rack & pinion has been replaced twice. The hub bearings have had to be replaced, the rear stabilizer bar needs replacing. I have a gas cap issue, now to top it all off, I've been having issues where I am driving and I start to accelerate and the steering wheel locks up, I have been on the freeway several times when this happens. This is a very dangerous situation, GM will do nothing about this. They know that the 2005 Malibu is a dangerous car but will not recall at all.

- Maple Heights, OH, USA

problem #12

Apr 132010

Malibu

  • 149,000 miles
I have read alot of reviews on customers that are having problems with there Chevy Malibu's from 2004-2008. The main complaint is the steering column locking up with out warning. I experienced that myself and luckily I was driving at a low speed. My steering wheel vibrates after the car has stopped and threatens to lock up again. There should be a recall on cars from those years.

- Lithonia, GA, USA

problem #11

Jan 012010

Malibu

  • 55 miles

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

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!!!!!!!!!!!

- North Versailles, PA, USA

problem #10

Oct 122009

Malibu

  • 50,000 miles
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 out. I also just had my fuel tank, fuel sensor replaced, at the cost of 600. It started giving false readings and then got increasingly worse until it did not work anymore. My exterior lighting is also messed up. I have to replace bulbs frequently and it looks like the base of the bulb is melted when they take them out. I had contacted my local dealer on these issues and they stated no recalls.

- Beacon, NY, USA

problem #9

Feb 052009

Malibu

  • 118,000 miles
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 for the identical failure. The contact had concerns of the safety risk involved. The failure mileage was 118,000 and the current mileage was 120,000.

- Lake Odessa, MI, USA

problem #8

Jun 192009

Malibu

  • 72,000 miles

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

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.

- Lawrenceburg, TN, USA

problem #7

May 302008

Malibu

  • 45,000 miles
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 insufficient in correcting the failures. The failure mileage was 45,000 and current mileage was 51,000.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #6

Mar 302005

Malibu

  • 1,000 miles
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 three different times, they couldn't locate the problem but would reset the computers to factory, one time they installed an update. It would stop for a few months and then start back up. A year after purchase I found a different dealership(2006), they said it was the headlight and replaced it, they also updated and reset the computer. It stopped for several months and then restarted. Then one day the cd player wouldn't quit working, it showed I needed to eject cd but there was no cd to eject, it would whir constantly. Then one morning last fall(2007) there was absolutely no power, we got it jump started and took it to the dealership, they discovered something with an ignition connection being plastic instead of metal. They replaced the entire steering column under a goodwill warranty. Now my vehicle is doing the same thing, you turn the key and there is no power, the second time there is power, but the info station is reset. We took it to the dealership and we are over the 12000 warranty miles on the new part, so there is no goodwill warranty on this one and it will cost around $600 and that it probably isn't the same part anyway. This is the same problem I have had from day one of owning this vehicle. I have had it in and out of dealerships who couldn't truly discover the problem. I don't think that I should have to pay to fix something that I have been trying to get fixed from day one. I would think that if it was something different there would be different problems than always losing power.

- Marion, IA, USA

problem #5

Sep 102008

Malibu

  • miles
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 it's going to start. Me and my daughters have been stranded in dark parking lots for up to 6 hours. Also the break light are a mess. When I'm driving the are on and when I push on the break the go off. Someone please help us with this horrible car. I will never buy another american made car again.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #4

Sep 082005

Malibu 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100 miles

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

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 interior lights failed, the remote start would not start the vehicle, and the engine shakes roughly. The current mileage was 12,030 and failure mileage was 100. Updated 09/24/08. The consumer stated there was a problem with the entire suspension. The shocks and bearings made a noisy. The hazard lights failed. Updated 09/30/08.

- Bremerton, WA, USA

problem #3

Oct 022007

Malibu 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 51,000 miles
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. The current and failure mileages were 51,000.

- Delta, LA, USA

problem #2

Jun 172007

Malibu 4-cyl

  • miles
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. A second complaint concerns the fan for the airconditioner/heater. It rattles constantly. Before the warranty expired I took it in twice to the dealership and had repairs done on the vehicle. Once the motor was replaced... was told their was something lodged in the fan. A week later the same noise. Nothing has been resolved.

- Etowah, TN, USA

problem #1

Aug 182005

Malibu 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
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.

- Isanti, MN, USA

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