2003 Chevrolet Malibu complaints

2003 CHEVY MALIBU ANTI THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON AND CAR WON'T START. CAR IS SITTING WON'T START. *TR

ANTI-THEFT LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY COMES ON. REPLACED IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER TWO MONTHS AGO. NOW THE CAR DOES NOT START AT ALL AND THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT IS STILL ON! THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I CANNOT TRAVEL WITH MY KIDS, ESPECIALLY DURING THE WINTER COLD B/C I NEVER KNOW IF I HAVE TO WAIT 10 MINUTES FOR THE THEFT SYSTEM TO RESET. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TODAY AND THEY TOLD ME THEY NEED TO HOOK IT UP TO A $5000 COMPUTER TO DE-CODE THE ANTI-THEFT ERRORS. THE GENTLEMAN SAID IT SOUNDS LIKE THE PASSLOCK MODULE. WITH THE COST OF TOWING, THE COMPUTER SCAN AND PARTS/LABOR, I'M LOOKING AT $800. HE ALSO SAID THERE IS NO GUARANTEE IT COULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN DAYS OR MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD! *TR

MY 2003 CHEVY MALIBU HAS NOISE DUE TO THE FRONT STRUT MOUNTS BEING BROKE, NOTICED ON WEB SITE 7 OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. SOME OF THEM HAVE REPLACED AND HAPPENED AGAIN WITHIN 17,000 MILES. ALL CARS ARE BETWEEN 50,000 TO 69,000 MILES. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A FACTORY RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY MALIBU AND I HAD TO GET A GASKET REPLACED DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF ANTI-FREEZE LEAKING INTO THE OIL. I'VE BEEN TOLD THE PROBLEM WILL HAPPEN AT ABOUT 77,000 MILES. ONE PERSON CREATED A WEBSITE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IF NOT FIXED IT WOULD CAUSE MASSIVE PROBLEMS FOR THE CAR. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY MALIBU THAT I BOUGHT THOUGH A FRIEND, IT RAN GOOD AND ONE DAY I WENT OUT TO START IT AND THE IGNITION LOCKED UP. I WENT OUT AND GOT ONE AND REPLACED IT AND NOW THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WILL LET IT START BUT SHUTS OFF IN 10 SECONDS. I HAVE CALLED THE MAIN OFFICE AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT AND THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE BEEN ON THE INTERNET AND THERE IS ALOT OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME THING WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT IT. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU *TR

CAR IS NOT STARTING. ANTI THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF. *TR

DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF MY CAR, I WILL RANDOMLY HAVE ISSUES WITH THE PASSLOCK THEFT SYSTEM NOT ALLOWING ME TO START MY VEHICLE. I HAD THE MODULES REPLACED AT A GM DEALERSHIP APPROXIMATELY 15 MONTHS AGO. AT THAT TIME, I SIMPLY PARKED MY CAR FOR THE NIGHT IN MY DRIVEWAY. I CAME OUT THE NEXT MORNING TO TAKE MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST CHEVY DEALERSHIP. THEY CALLED GM AND IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT I REPLACE THE IGNITION MODULE AND A SENSOR TO THE TUNE OF OVER $500. I WAS TOLD THIS WOULD FIX THE ISSUE. NOW, I FIND MYSELF FACING THE SAME PROBLEM ONLY 30,000 MILES LATER. I STOPPED AT A GAS STATION AND FILLED THE VEHICLE UP WITH GAS. WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE, THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT WAS ON. BEING A VETERAN TO THIS ISSUE, I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE CAR OFF THE WAITED FOR 10-15 MINUTES. THIS WILL SOMETIMES WORK TO ALLOW THE CAR TO RESTART AGAIN. HOWEVER, THIS TIME IT DID NOT. THIS SAME ISSUE OCCURRED AND THE RESULTS WERE THE SAME. IF YOU SIMPLY DO A SEARCH FOR CHEVY MALIBU PASSLOCK, YOU WILL EASILY FIND THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM ON A DAILY BASIS. IT PUTS EVERYONE AT AN INCONVENIENCE AND EVEN SOME LIVES AT RISK (AS IT CAN TURN THE CAR OFF WHILE IT IS IN MOTION). *TR

OKAY, THIS COMPLAINT IS ABOUT CHEVROLET MALIBU. THEY ARE HAVING A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THEIR ANTI THEFT SYSTEM. THE CAR WOULD RUN PERFECTLY AND THEN THE NEXT TIME YOU TURN THE KEY IT WOULDN'T START. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES TO US WITHIN A WEEK. AND IF YOU GOOGLE IT, YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM! IT'S A REAL SAFETY ISSUE AND HAS TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY AND DEALT WITH. TONIGHT MY MOM WHO OWNS THE CAR WAS STUCK ON A DARK PARKING LOT AT A TEMPERATURE BELOW 0 FOR OVER AN HOUR. SHE'S SICK NOW, THANKS TO CHEVY. OF COURSE THE TECHNICIANS WON'T FIND ANYTHING BUT START REPLACING THE IGNITION, REPROGRAM THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM, ETC. BUT THIS ALL DOESN'T HELP. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THERE ARE SINGLE WOMEN OUT THERE IN THE DARK NOT BEING ABLE TO START THEIR CAR. THERE ARE ELDERLY PEOPLE WHO ARE UNABLE TO MAKE THEIR DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS. AND THERE ARE PEOPLE ON THE HIGHWAYS PRAYING THE CAR WON'T SHUT DOWN IN FRONT OF A TRUCK THIS TIME. IT IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND HAS TO BE DEALT WITH. PLEASE CONFRONT GM WITH THIS AND LET THEM FIX IT. WE DON'T WANT TO WAIT FOR AN INCIDENT LIKE A RAPE, ROBBERY, OR EVEN DEATH TO START THEM THINKING. *TR

2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU SIGNAL AND HAZARD LIGHTS HAVE AN INTERMITTENT FAILURE. RELAY SWITCH MAY BE BAD. *TR

MY WIFE HAS A 2003 CHEVY MALIBU. WE WENT TO TAKE MY CAR TO AN AUTO SHOP BECAUSE WE THOUGHT THERE WAS A LEAK SOMEWHERE UNDER MY CAR. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME IT WAS A GASKET ON THE THERMOSTAT. HE REPLACED THAT AND STILL THE CAR LEAKED. THEN MECHANIC TOLD ME IT WAS ANTIFREEZE LEAKING FROM THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS TYPE OF ENGINE. IMAGINE HOW UPSET WE WAS TO KNOW THAT CARS THIS PROBLEM IS OCCURRING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE AND THAT IT WILL COST NEARLY $500.00 TO FIX. SINCE THIS IS HAPPENING TO ALOT OF CAR THERE MUST BE A MAJOR PROBLEM. I WAS LATER TOLD GM USES A GLUE ONTO A GASKET IN THIS AREA WHEN THEY BUILD THE CAR. GM MUST DO BETTER. THIS IS NOT RIGHT. *TR

THE TURN SIGNALS ON MY 2003 CHEVY MALIBU DON'T ALWAYS WORK, I FLIP THE SWITCH AND SOMETIMES THEY BLINK AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T. SOMETIMES THEY STOP BLINKING BEFORE THE TURN IS ACTUALLY MADE. THIS IS ANNOYING AND DANGEROUS. I'VE HAD TO MISS TURNS BECAUSE MY TURN SIGNAL WONT COME ON AND TO AVOID BEING REAR ENDED I JUST KEEP GOING, THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS! *TR

I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY MALIBU. THE PASSLOCK ANTI THEFT SYSTEM HAS LEFT ME STRANDED MANY TIMES. I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN STUCK AT NIGHT IN A DARK PARKING LOT WAITING THE TEN MINUTES FOR THE SYSTEM TO RESET. THIS IS A PERSONALSAFETY ISSUE FOR ANYONE HAVING TO SIT IN AN UNSAFE LOCATION WAITING FOR THE SYSTEM TO WORK. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS OFTEN (TWO OR THREE TIMES A WEEK). THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED ON GM'S DOLLAR BECAUSE IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND ANYONE WHO OWNS A GM CAR IS SPENDING MONEY OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKET TO TRY AND FIX THE PROBLEM WHEN IT IS GM THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHEN THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED, THE CONTACT IS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. A MECHANIC REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP BECAUSE THE VEHICLE CONSTANTLY STALLED; HOWEVER, THE FUEL PUMP WAS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO STALL, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED, AND THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. REPORT NUMBER 71-74-9932502 WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

FOR THE SECOND TIME IN TWO YEARS, AS I STARTED MY CAR THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE DEALER SAYS THAT THE IGNITION HAS TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE PASS KEY THEFT SYSTEM NOT RECOGNIZING MY KEY (THE ORIGINAL KEY) AND BREAKING THE IGNITION. THIS HAS LEFT ME WITH A DEAD CAR ALONE AS A WOMAN AT NIGHT. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED AND I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION. *TR

THE THEFT SYSTEM (PASSLOCK) ENGAGES ON MY CAR FOR NO REASON. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, BACK IN 2003, SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING MY CAR. I WAS AT A BANK, WITH MY YOUNG DAUGHTER, GETTING MONEY OUT OF AN ATM. AFTER RETURNING TO MY CAR, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. I HAD TO PAY MONEY FOR A TOW, AND THE MECHANIC CHARGED ME $800 TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP. CAR DID NOT NEED A FUEL PUMP, IT ONLY NEEDED THE THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM TURNED OFF. I KNOW THIS BECAUSE THE MECHANIC CALLED TO ASK ME HOW TO DO THIS. AT THE TIME, I HAD NO IDEA. I NOW KNOW THAT THE $1000 I PAID FOR TOW AND FUEL PUMP WERE A TOTAL WASTE OF MONEY. SINCE 2003, THIS THEFT SYSTEM ENGAGES FOR NO REASON, 2-3 TIMES PER WEEK. IT IS INSANE. IN ORDER TO DIS-ENGAGE IT, I HAVE TO WAIT 10 MINUTES SITTING IN MY CAR; SOMETIMES WITH MY YOUNG CHILDREN. I HAVE READ THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THIS PROBLEM, DATING BACK TO CARS MADE IN 1996. I CANNOT BELIEVE GM HAS NOT BEEN FORCED TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS WORTHLESS THEFT SYSTEM. I WONDER WHAT GENIUS FELT IT NECESSARY TO FORCE SOMEONE TO SIT IN THEIR CAR FOR 10 MINUTES, KEY IN THE IGNITION, TO RESET THE THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM. I'D RATHER MY CAR BE STOLEN! WHILE I AM SITTING IN MY CAR, WAITING FOR IT TO START, ME AND MY FAMILY COULD BE KIDNAPPED, ROBBED, KILLED. THIS IS INSANE. IF IT CANNOT BE MADE TO WHERE IT DOES NOT MALFUNCTION, THEY SHOULD JUST NOT PUT IN ON VEHICLES. OR, THEY SHOULD ONLY MAKE YOU WAIT A MERE 1-2 MINUTES WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. 10 MINUTES IS AN INSANE AMOUNT

WENT TO TAKE MY CAR TO AUTO SHOP BECAUSE I THOUGHT HAD A TRANSMISSION LEAK. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THE GOOD NEWS ,THE TRANNY WASN'T LEAKING, HOWEVER IT WAS ANTIFREEZE LEAKING FROM THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS TYPE OF ENGINE. IMAGINE HOW UPSET I WAS TO KNOW THAT CARS THIS PROBLEM IS OCCURRING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE AND THAT IT WILL COST $700 TO FIX IT. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION SUIT FOR THIS DEFECT. CONSIDERING THE ECONOMIC PROBLEMS AND ALL THE HELP GM HAS RECEIVED FROM AMERICANS IT SEEMS LIKE THEY WOULD HELP THEIR LOYAL CUSTOMERS BY FIXING THIS FOR NOTHING. THIS MALIBU IS THE 4TH CHEVY THAT I HAVE OWNED SINCE DRIVING. IF AMERICAN COMPANIES WANT US TO BUY THEIR PRODUCT THEY SHOULD MAKE WITH QUALITY MATERIAL. I ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE FUEL PUMP ABOUT 3 MONTHS AFTER BUYING THE CAR IN 2007. THAT COST ME ALMOST $800. IF I HAD KNOWN THAT THESE CARS WERE GOING HAVE SUCH A LIST OF PROBLEMS I WOULD HAVE LISTENED TO MY BROTHER AND GOT A FOREIGN VEHICLE. GM CAN EARN SOME GOODWILL WITH ITS VEHICLES BY ADMITTING ITS MISTAKES AND HELPING THE LITTLE GUY OUT, LIKE THE LITTLE GUY HAS HELPED THEM OUT WITH THE BAILOUT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V528000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: ACCELERATOR PEDAL). SHE WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING TO DETERMINE IF THEY WILL ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000. UPDATED 07/28/09. *LJ UPDATED 07/30/09.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. SHE NOTICED THAT THE ANTI THEFT LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. SHE PLACED THE IGNITION IN AUXILIARY MODE FOR 10 MINUTES. THE CONTACT THEN TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO CLIMB IN THE BACK SEAT TO EXIT BECAUSE THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK. UPON EXITING, SHE WOULD THEN HAVE TO LIFT THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AND SLAM THE HOOD BACK DOWN IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM WAS FAILING. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $1,168. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT BECAUSE REGULAR MAINTENANCE, OTHER THAN OIL CHANGES, WERE NOT PERFORMED AT A CHEVROLET DEALER, NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,943.

2003 MALIBU ACCELERATOR STUCK TO FLOOR WHEN CAR WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE CAR WAS CHECKED FOR THIS PROBLEM DURING A RECALL IN 2005 AND IT WAS DETERMINED BY THE DEALER THAT MY CAR DID NOT HAVE THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM. IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE SINCE THEN, AS RECENTLY AS LAST WEEK. I TOOK THE CAR TO A GM DEALER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM REPAIRED AND THEY SAID IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE I HAD ALREADY HAD IT CHECKED. THEY NOW TELL ME IT IS A RESULT OF WEAR AND TEAR.*TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH HER VEHICLE. THE TURN SIGNALS WOULD OPERATE WITHOUT INITIALIZATION AND THE POWER DOOR LOCKS WERE ALSO INOPERABLE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL; HOWEVER, THERE WERE NO OTHER FAILURES. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER COULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THERE WERE NO RECALLS AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 87,000.

I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY TURN SIGNALS. THEY WOULD WORK WHEN THEY WANTED TO. I TOOK MY CAR TO A CHEVY DEALER TO FIND OUT WHAT IT WAS AND HOW MUCH IT WAS GOING TO COST TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE ATTENDANT WAS VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD RECALL UP TO 2002 MALIBUS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM BUT OF COURSE MINE IS A2003 SO I HAD TO PAY FOR IT TO BE REPAIRED. THE COST WAS $110.00 WHICH WASN'T BAD BUT THE 2002 AND 2003 PARTS INTERCHANGE. SO WHY WOULDN'T THEY HAVE SAME RECALL? *TR

ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM KICKS IN EVEN WHEN ORIGINAL KEY IS USED TO START VEHICLE AND VEHICLE WILL NOT START WITHOUT WAITING 10 MINUTES TO RESTART SYSTEM. THIS HAPPENS AT IRREGULAR INTERVALS, USUALLY WHEN IT IS LEAST CONVENIENT. I HAVE HAD TO BE TOWED TWICE UNTIL I LEARNED THE OVERRIDE TRICK. I AM GOING INTO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN TODAY TO TRY TO GET A PERMANENT FIX. *TR

ENGINE CUTSOFF WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE CAR TO LOSE POWER AND COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY MALIBU WITH APPROX 72,000 MILES THAT HAS BEEN LEAKING ANTIFREEZE (SMALL VISIBLE MARKS ON PAVEMENT) THAT REQUIRE REFILLING COOLANT EVERY 3 TO 4 WEEKS. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR A DIAGNOSIS, AND IT WAS FOUND TO HAVE A LEAK AROUND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE PRICE ESTIMATE IS $878 AND 7 HOURS TO REPAIR. THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST DEXCOOL FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT WINDOW FOR CLAIMS ENDED ON OCT. 2008. I SPOKE WITH GM DEALERSHIP, AND THERE IS NO GM RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE, EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE MANY CARS WITH THIS PROBLEM (LEAKY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET). WILL HAVE WORK DONE, BUT UNHAPPY WITH THE COST INVOLVED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED IN HIS VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL OTHER THAN THE BATTERY INDICATOR, WHICH REMAINED ILLUMINATED. HE STATED THAT THIS FAILURE HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR QUITE SOME TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY A MECHANIC AND THEN REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR HIS VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000. UPDATED 6/8/09 *CN UPDATED 06/11/09.*JB

ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM ACTIVATES VERY FREQUENTLY & UNDER VARIOUS CONDITIONS. *TR

THE THEFT SYSTEM ON MY CHEVY MALIBU 2003 HAS LEFT ME STRANDED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AND COST ME MORE THAN $300 IN REPAIR COSTS. THE THEFT SYSTEM BELIEVES MY CAR IS BEING STOLEN AND SHUTS OFF THE FUEL TO THE ENGINE. SOME POSTS SAY IT'S WHEN YOU USE AN COPIED KEY, BUT I'M USING THE FACTORY ORIGINAL. AT FIRST, THIS HAPPENED ONCE EVERY MONTH THEN INCREASED WITH FREQUENCY TO ONCE AND WEEK AND NOW EVERY TWO/THREE DAYS. THE 1ST THIS HAPPENED, I REPLACED THE BATTERY. THIS ONE 1 1/2 YRS AGO AND NOW THE BATTERY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. WHEN THE THEFT SYSTEM LOCKS ME OUT, I HAVE TO WAIT 10 MINUTES FOR THE LIGHT TO TURN OFF AND TRY TO TURN THE KEY OVER AGAIN. WITH THE AMOUNTS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SYSTEM, I WOULD THINK GM WOULD CHANGE SYSTEMS OR REMOVE THE PROBLEM. IT'S A DISGRACE THAT THEY CONTINUE TO PUT THIS SYSTEM IN A CAR EFFECTIVELY LOCKING OUT THE VERY OWNER INSTEAD OF DOING ITS INTENDED JOB. *TR

THEFT LIGHT COMES ON AND ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM DISABLES THE VEHICLE, DRIVING AND PARKED. WE HAVE BEEN STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS. VEHICLE WILL NOT START IT TURNS OVER BUT WILL DO NOTHING. I HAVE HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN SEVERAL TIMES TO HAVE THE SYSTEM RESET, AT A COST TO ME EVERYTIME. *TR

IN OUR CASE, WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IS MORE EXTREME! AFTER RUNNING TO AND FROM THE STORE, OUR CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. IT HAPPENED IN OUR OWN DRIVEWAY--- THANK GOD!!! FROM WHAT I HAVE READ AS TO SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON OUR EXACT VEHICLE'S DEFECT, WE COULD HAVE BEEN IN TRAFFIC! SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS WERE IN LIFE-THREATENING POSITIONS WHEN THEIR CAR BROKE DOWN! WE WERE FORTUNATE!! WE HAVE SINCE HAD IT LOOKED AT BY A FRIEND WHO KNOWS CARS AND IS A MECHANIC, AND HE TELLS US THAT IT IS A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP. HE ALSO TELLS US THAT IT MAY ALSO INCLUDE REPLACING THE FUEL RELAY, BUT WILL DEFINITELY INCLUDE REPLACING THE FUEL FILTER! WITH HIS LABOR COST AND PARTS, WE ARE LOOKING AT A COST (MINIMUM--- BARRING NO FURTHER COMPLICATIONS) OF AROUND $400.00!! THE DEALERSHIP WOULD BE MUCH MORE!!! AT THIS TIME, DUE TO FINANCIAL DISTRESS, WE CANNOT AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED! MY WIFE WORKS 20+ MILES AWAY, AND I AM OUT OF WORK DUE TO A HEART CONDITION! THIS COULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED AT A WORSE TIME FINANCIALLY FOR US!! *TR

I OWN A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU WITH 51,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS CHECKING MY OIL WHEN THE DIP STICK SHOWED IT A QUART LOW. I THEN CHECKED THE ENGINE COOLANT AND DISCOVERED THE OIL HAD GOTTEN INTO THE COOLANT. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE CONFIRMED THAT THE COOLANT HAD OIL IN IT. HE SAID THE MANIFOLD GASKETS HAD TO BE REPLACED WHICH INCLUDED FLUSHING THE COOLING SYSTEM. I KNOW GM DOESN'T CARE ABOUT OUR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR SORRY BUILT CAR. THE TOTAL COST OF THE REPAIR WAS OVER $600. THIS IS THE FIRST CAR THAT I HAVE EVER OWNED THAT A MANIFOLD OR HEAD GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

AFTER ENGINE COOLANT LIGHT COMING ON AND RESERVOIR BEING ALMOST EMPTY SERVICE STATION ADDED COOLANT. SAME THING HAPPENED APPROX 2 MONTHS LATER SAME ACTION TAKEN. WENT TO GET OIL CHANGED AND PERSON SAID DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY BECAUSE YOU HAVE OIL MIXED WITH YOUR RADIATOR FLUID, YOU HAVE SOME MAJOR ENGINE PROBLEMS. TOOK CAR TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE SAID THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE 2003 MALIBU AND THAT THE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS THE PROBLEM AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE REPLACED IT AT GREAT EXPENSE TO MYSELF,AND HE DID MAKE THE COMMENT THAT THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THIS PARTICULAR PART. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE ANTI-FREEZE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE CONTACT PULLED BACK INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED THAT THE RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY. HE HAD TO REFILL THE VEHICLE WITH ANTI-FREEZE. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH LATER, THE RESERVOIR WAS ALMOST EMPTY AGAIN AND HE HAD TO REFILL THE VEHICLE WITH ANTI-FREEZE. IN JANUARY OF 2009, THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS SOME ANTI-FREEZE ON THE ENGINE DUE TO THE MANIFOLD GASKET BEING DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,500. UPDATED 2/5/09 *CN THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE GASKET WAS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC THAT WAS THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE. UPDATED 02/10/09. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SHUTTING OFF INTERMITTENTLY FOR THE PAST EIGHT MONTHS. THE DEALER KEEPS RESETTING THE COMPUTER, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR. THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES FAIL WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURS WHILE ACCELERATING OR CRUISING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000. UPDATED 2/5/09 *CN UPDATED 02/10/09. *JB

2003 CHEVY MALIBU WITH 88K. DURING ROUTINE OIL CHANGE WAS ADVISED OF OIL IN COOLANT. UPON TAKING TO MECHANIC WAS TOLD I HAD BAD HEAD/INTAKE GASKET AND NEEDED REPLACED , ESTIMATE COST $2400. UPON RESEARCHING FARTHER I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS COMMON ON SOME GM VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ENGINE AND THAT IN FACT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT HAD BEEN SETTLED IN CALIFORNIA EARLIER THIS YEAR. IN ANY CASE, I'M STUCK WITH THE BILL ON A REPAIR THAT WAS CAUSED BY THE COOLANT THAT THE GM USED AND REQUIRED AS APART OF THE WARRANTY. *TR

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ON MY 2003 CHEVY MALIBU HAD TO BE REPLACED SINCE IT WAS PLASTIC. HAS THEIR BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PART? IF SO, WHAT FORMS NEED TO BE FILLED OUT TO GET PROPER REFUNDING? *TR

STEERING COLUMN STARTED SMOKING, THEN BURST INTO FLAMES. *TR

I OWN A 2003 CHEVY MAILBU. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE ANITFREEZE DRAINING OUT. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP A COUPLE TIMES AND HAVE HAD THE MANIFOLD INTAKE GASKET REPLACED. THIS WAS VERY EXPENSIVE FOR A SINGLE MOM ON A BUDGET. THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. I HAVE ALSO STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT COMING ON AND PREVENTING THE CAR FROM STARTING. I CAN TURN IT TO "ON" AND GET IT STARTED AFTER 10 MINUTES, BUT THIS IS BOTHERSOME WHEN I AM IN A HURRY. I THINK THAT GM SHOULD HAVE THESE PROBLEMS UNDER RECALL AND PAY TO HAVE THEM FIXED. *TR

MY MALIBU 2003 ALSO HAS AN ACCELERATOR PEDAL THAT STICKS IN THE HOT WEATHER. IT STARTED HAPPENING INTERMITTENTLY ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. IF I CAN GET MY FOOT UNDER THE PEDAL TO SLOW IT UP THAT WORKS. OF COURSE IT NEVER HAPPENS AT THE DEALERSHIP. *TR

BOUGHT A 2003 CHEVY MALIBU 1 1/2 YEARS AGO (USED). SINCE THAT TIME THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE HAS FAILED TWICE. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS AT HOME, THE 2ND TIME LEFT ME STRANDED AN HOUR AWAY FROM HOME. I HAVE SPENT OVER $300.00 FOR TOWING, PLUS THE COST OF REPAIRS ON THE VEHICLE. I AM A COLLEGE STUDENT WHO AS LIMITED FUNDS. GM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR FIX THE PROBLEM. IT WILL TAKE GM SEVERAL DEATHS WHEN THESE CARS SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD BEFORE THEY GET OFF THEIR "BUTTS" TO FIX THE PROBLEM. GM DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO KEEP THEIR CUSTOMERS! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. DURING WARM WEATHER OR WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED OUTSIDE IN THE HEAT, THE ACCELERATOR WOULD STICK. THE CONTACT MUST USE HER OTHER FOOT TO RELEASE THE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V528000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.

TURN SIGNAL FAILS TO OPERATE UNLESS I PRESS LIGHTLY ON THE HAZARD SWITCH. OCCURS VERY FREQUENTLY ON WARM TO HOT WEATHER. *TR

TOOK THE CAR TO THE SERVICE STATION FOR MAINTENANCE. WHEN I PULL INTO THE DRIVE WAY OF THE SERVICE STATION THE CAR ACCELERATED BY ITSELF. I RAN INTO THE DOOR AND THE BUILDING. I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND INSPECTED THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR AND THE BUILDING. THE CAR HAD SOME SCRATCHES AND DAMAGE TO THE FRONT BUMPER. THE BUILDING DAMAGE WAS SUPERFICIAL. THE SERVICE STATION DID THE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRED THE FAULTY ACCELERATION CABLE. I REMEMBERED LATER THAT THERE WAS A RECALL SERVICE THAT WAS DONE IN 2005 ON THIS VEHICLE. THIS ALSO HAPPEN AGAIN, I HAD IT REPAIRED AGAIN. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE CAR IS UNSAFE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SEAT CUSHION SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. HE WAS ABLE TO RE-ATTACH THE SEAT BY SNAPPING THE CLIPS BACK INTO PLACE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 56,000.

THIS MORNING WHEN GETTING GAS, I GOT BACK IN THE CAR, STARTED IT UP AND THE HORN RANDOMLY BEEPED. ONCE I GOT TO WORK, AND LOCKED THE CAR THE HORN BEEPED AGAIN, KEEP IN MIND THE REMOTE LOCKS DON'T SOUND THE HORN. WHEN I GOT HOME LATER WHEN LOCKING THE CAR THE HORN DIDN'T SOUND. WHEN SOMEONE ELSE USED THE CAR LATER TONIGHT, WHEN STARTING THE CAR THE HORN SOUNDED AGAIN. I ASKED HER TO TURN IT OFF AND TRY AGAIN, AND ONCE AGAIN IT SOUNDED. *TR

I WENT TO THE DOCTOR TODAY. MY CAR WAS FINE. ON RETURNING TO MY CAR, IT WOULD NOT START. I CALLED AAA. THEY SHOWED ME THE PASSLOCK ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WAS ENGAGED -- WITH NO IDENTIFIABLE CAUSE. THE GENTLEMAN WHO HELPED ME, TOLD ME HE HAS SEEN THIS OFTEN. I AM USING THE ORIGINAL KEY, AND I AM SURE THE CAR WAS NOT TAMPERED WITH. READING ONLINE, I GET A SENSE THAT THIS WILL PROBABLY START HAPPENING MORE. ALTHOUGH THIS IS THE FIRST FAILURE, I READ THAT THE CAR CAN SWITCH OFF WHILE DRIVING. I AM CONCERNED AS MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER ALSO DRIVES THIS CAR, AND THAT SHE MAY BE ENDANGERED. *TR

THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM IN MY 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU IS DEFECTIVE, APPARENTLY THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR JUST ABOUT EVERY OWNER OF A CHEVY MALIBU. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BY GM!!!! ABOUT ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK WHEN I ATTEMPT TO START MY CAR I PRAY THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM DOES NOT BLINK, BECAUSE WHEN IT BLINKS THAT MEANS THE CAR ISN'T GOING TO START. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES THAT IF THIS OCCURS THEN TURN THE KEY TO THE "ON" POSITION AND LET IT SIT FOR 10 MINUTES AND THEN TURN THE KEY TO "OFF" AND START THE CAR AS NORMAL. WELL FOR ABOUT 1 YEAR THIS WORKED, IT WAS A HASSLE, BUT IT WORKED. NOW AFTER ABOUT A YEAR OF THIS PAIN IN THE BUTT ROUTINE TWICE A WEEK TO START MY CAR, FINALLY IT DIED ON ME WHILE DRIVING AND WILL NO LONGER START. GM IS OBVIOUSLY AWARE OF THIS MALFUNCTION BECAUSE THEY HAVE GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO DEAL WITH IT IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL, THE PROBLEM IS THEY HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, AFTER THEIR SUGGESTION FAILS TO START THE CAR. THIS MALFUNCTION NEEDS TO BE RECALLED!!!!!!! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING, FAILED TO RESTART, AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT SUSPECTED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED. THERE IS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION (PE07033) REGARDING THE FUEL PUMP. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 117,000.

2003 MAILBU 6 CY. I JUST HAD $1,300.00 CAR REPAIR THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF GMC WOULD HAVE RECALLED ALL CARS THAT HAVE THE ANTIFREEZE WITH ACID IN IT. THIS IS A REPAIR THAT THEY ARE FIGHTING IN A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT BLAMING THE DRIVERS WHEN OUR BOOKS STATE NO CHANGING ANTIFREEZE FOR 150,000 MILES. IN STEAD THEY ARE PUTTING PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT AMERICAN MADE CARS HAVE THIS UNNECESSARY EXPENSE. THIS IS MONEY THAT I HAD TO BORROW AND NOW FIND SOME WAY TO PAY BACK SO THAT I MAY CONTINUE TO WORK. THIS SHOULDN'T EVEN BE A LAW SUIT. THEY SHOULD OWN TO THEIR MISTAKE AND MAKE GOOD THE ERROR THAT THEY MADE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. ON MAY 25, 2008, WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN ACCELERATING FASTER THAN NORMAL. THE CONTACT HAD TO MERGE OUT OF TRAFFIC. SHE COULD NOT FEEL THE BRAKES WORKING AND SPED THROUGH A STOP SIGN. SHE DROVE INTO A PARKING LOT TO AVOID CRASHING INTO OTHER VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED WHEN IT CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE BODY SHOP TO REPLACE THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND HEADLAMP. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT AN INVESTIGATOR WOULD INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE. THEY ARE CURRENTLY STATING THAT DUE TO THE BODY WORK THAT WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, THEY WILL NOT INVESTIGATE THE ACCELERATION FAILURE, ONLY THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAS A BACK INJURY THAT WAS AGGRAVATED DUE TO THE CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 24,000.

I OWN A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU, I HAVE EXPERIENCED ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS A NO START INCIDENT, TWICE THE CAR WAS TOWED TO REPAIR FACILITIES WHERE VARIOUS COMPONENTS WERE CHANGED AFTER THE CAR STARTED RIGHT UP. THIS MOST RECENT INCIDENT HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY AT HOME AND, I DECIDED TO THOROUGHLY CHECK OUT THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE REPLACE VARIOUS COMPONENTS ON THE CAR AND SPENT UPWARDS OF 250.00 IN PARTS AND EVEN AFTER THAT, ONCE I GOT THE CAR RUNNING AGAIN I HAD A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND A VERY ROUGH IDLE. SO, I TOOK THE CAR TO A GARAGE TO HAVE IT SCANNED FOR FAULT CODES. NOW, I HAVE DISCOVERED A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH (FAULT CODE U1000) HAS BEEN BEHIND THESE INCIDENTS. AND, IN READING VARIOUS INTERNET FORUMS/DISCUSSION BOARDS, I AM NOT ALONE!! (CHEVROLET IS WELL AWARE OF THIS DEFECT !!) THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN THE PASSIVE THEFT SYSTEM ON GENERAL MOTORS CARS. THERE SHOULD BE A NATIONAL INVESTIGATION AND SUBSEQUENT RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM REMEDIED. THE DEALERS ARE GETTING 300-350.00 PER REPAIR AND MOST TIMES THIS PROBLEM RE-OCCURS. I WANTED TO BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION AS I AM ABOUT TO SPEND 300.00 PLUS AT MY LOCAL CHEVROLET SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE MY FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. THE NEW ONE MUST BE "PROGRAMMED" TO YOUR VEHICLE AND ONLY A CHEVROLET DEALER CAN DO THIS. PLEASE RENDER ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN IN THIS MATTER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. .....................................CHRIS MERCKX *TR