2003 Chevrolet Malibu complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65-70 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. HE COASTED SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD UNTIL THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS OFF, HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND IT RELEASED. AFTER RESEARCHING RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT REALIZED THAT HIS FAILURE WAS IDENTICAL TO THAT DESCRIBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V528000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND, SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. AS OF JUNE 10, 2008, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,000. UPDATED 07/08/08. *BF UPDATED

ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO WHEN IT STARTED GETTING HUMID, I WOULD BE DRIVING AT A CONSTANT SPEED, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I WOULD BEGIN TO SPEED UP. I WOULD LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR, AND THE CAR WOULD CONTINUE TO GAIN SPEED. WHEN I TRIED TO COME TO A STOP, THE CAR STILL WANTED TO GO FORWARD, AND THE RPM WAS STUCK AT 1.5. I NEED TO STICK MY FOOT UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO LIFT IT UP, AS IF IT GETS STUCK. IT TYPICALLY DOESN'T DO IT IN THE WINTER MONTHS, BUT DOES IT ALL SUMMER LONG, ESPECIALLY ON HOT, HUMID DAYS. I'VE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH BLINKER NOISE: I WILL BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, AND FOR NO PARTICULAR REASON, I WILL HEAR THE NOISE IT MAKES WHEN SIGNALING. MY TURNING LIGHTS DON'T COME ON, BUT IT DOES MAKE THE NOISE AND HAS CONTINUED TO DO IT EXCESSIVELY FOR PERIODS OF 10 MINUTES OR LONGER. MY CAR HAS ALSO STARTED TO MAKE A DINGING NOISE, AS IF A DOOR WERE OPEN, AS I'M DRIVING ALONG....EXTREMELY ANNOYING!! *TR

I HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES ON THIS CAR AT 6,000 MILES. SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THEM ON A YEARLY OCCURRENCE, AS WELL AS ROTORS AND WHEEL BEARINGS. THE BREAKS ALWAYS SOUND LIKE THEY ARE GRINDING AND VIBRATING. I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE ABS LIGHT COMING ON. IT HAS BEEN 7 MONTHS SINCE I HAD THE ROTORS REPLACED, AND I NEED NEW BREAKS AGAIN. *TR

THIS 2003 CHEVY MALIBU HAS A BAD REPUTATION ON ITS PASSLOCK SYSTEM. THE CAR COULDN'T BE STARTED WHEN I TURNED THE KEY. THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHTS WAS ON. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU AND THE THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM KEEPS ACTIVATING FOR NO REASON. THE VEHICLE USE TO HAVE A PROBLEM STARTING AND NOW HAS STARTED DYING ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM BUT CHEVROLET REFUSES TO DO A RECALL. IT IS GOING TO CAUSE SOMEONE TO CRASH. IT COSTS ANYWHERE FROM $700.00 - $1,300.00 TO DO THE REPAIRS AND MOST PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD IT. CHEVROLET IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR

INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START BECAUSE THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM KEPT LOCKING THE VEHICLE. IT TAKES SEVERAL MINUTES (TEN MIN OR SO) FOR THE SYSTEM TO RE-SET AND ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO START. DEALERSHIPS ARE NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. COM- PLAINTS REGISTERED ON WWW.MYSTATS.COM/SAFETY STATION ARE NUMEROUS (AT LEAST 40) CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY STOP RUNNING WHILE DRIVING IN MOTION. GM SHOULD RECALL AND CORRECT THIS IMMEDIATELY. *TR

PASSIVE ANTI-THEFT WOULD NOT ALLOW US TO START THE CAR. WE SAT THERE FOR OVER 15 MINUTES. NO OTHER ODD HAD OCCURRED BEFORE THAT BUT SUDDENLY IT WOULD NOT ALLOW US TO START. *TR

YOU CAN ADD MY NAME TO THE LIST OF INDIVIDUALS SHELLING OUT AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO REPLACE WHAT APPEAR TO BE DEFECTIVE PARTS AND/OR MANUFACTURING DESIGNS IN THE 2003 CHEVY MALIBU. WE PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN FEB 2003 AND REPAIR COSTS TO DATE ARE IN EXCESS OF $2,000 AND THE CAR ONLY HAS 52,000 MILES ON IT. FIRST, THE BRAKES AND ROTORS NEEDED PLACED AFTER ABOUT 40,000 MILES (MOST OF WHICH WERE INTERSTATE DRIVING)...COST WAS OVER $300. NEXT, WE WERE GETTING THE CAR REPAIRED AFTER AN INCIDENT WITH A DEER AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED US THAT COOLANT WAS STARTING TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE BECAUSE OF A FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET...REPAIR COST ALMOST $1,000. FINALLY, MY WIFE WAS RECENTLY STRANDED BECAUSE THE FUEL PUMP FAILED...REPAIR COST $1,000. ALL OF THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED WITHIN THE PAST 6 MONTHS. BY FAR THE MOST FRUSTRATION THING IS THAT ALL THESE ITEMS APPEAR TO BE VERY COMMON FAILURES WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL MADE BY CHEVROLET AND THERE HAS YET TO BE ANY RECALLS...VERY DISAPPOINTING. MY ENTIRE EXPERIENCE HAS CONTINUED TO SNOWBALL EVER SINCE WE HAD ISSUES WITH GETTING THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX ITEMS THAT WERE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. GENERAL MOTORS SEEMS TO BE MORE FOCUSED ON EARNING PROFITS THAT COMPETE WITH THE FOREIGN PRODUCERS RATHER THAN TAKING CARE OF THEIR CURRENT CUSTOMERS. IF THINGS DON'T CHANGE, THE COMPANY WILL HAVE VERY LIMITED REPEAT CUSTOMERS. *TR

LUCKILY I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY ON MY WAY TO WORK WHEN THIS OCCURRED OR A CRASH WOULD HAVE BEEN UNAVOIDABLE. ENGINE SHUTS OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND THEN DOES NOT RESTART FOR 10 TO 15 MINUTES. DASHBOARD LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON DURING THIS TIME. YOU CAN TELL WHEN IT WILL RESTART AS THE LIGHTS FINALLY COME BACK ON. GM DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM BUT IS UNABLE TO FIX - THEY KEEP REPLACING PARTS AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. (CARCOMPLAINT.COM HAS SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THIS EXACT NATURE LISTED ONLINE.) *TR

STUCK ACCELERATOR: ON 4/22/08, TOOK FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL -- CAR DID NOT DECELERATE AND MAINTAINED 47 MILES PER HOUR FOR 0.86 MILES. MADE SURE CRUISE CONTROL WAS TURNED OFF. RPM'S STILL STUCK AT 1.5. PROCEEDED THROUGH A GREEN LIGHT AND CAR CONTINUED AT 1.5 RPM'S FOR THE NEXT 2 MILES. APPROACHING A 2ND INTERSECTION, I DECIDED TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO BE ABLE TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE, BUT THERE WASN'T A SHOULDER; SO APPLIED BRAKES TO TURN ON TO QUIETER SIDE ROAD. BARELY MADE TURN. HAD BRAKES DOWN HARD AND CAR STILL TRAVELED AT 20 MILES PER HOUR. HIT EMERGENCY BRAKE AND CAR SLOWED TO 5 MPH. I THEN PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. TOOK IT TO SPUR CHEVY FOR REPAIR. THEY FOUND THE PRIOR OWNER HAD WORK DONE PER RECALL CAMPAIGN # 04V528000. NOTHING CAME UP ON THEIR SCAN TEST, NO FAULT CODES. CRUISE CONTROL CHECKED OUT OK. THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS THE TOP OF THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDING CLEANING. THIS IS THE 4TH TIME THE THROTTLE HAS BEEN CLEANED IN THE 1 1/2 YEARS I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE. PRIOR 3 SERVICES PERFORMED BY THE SELLER (BARRY DODGE) ON 8/7/07, 6/5/07 AND 4/5/07 WERE REQUESTED AS THE ENGINE ROUTINELY IDLED AT 1500 RPMS. THE 4/22/08 INCIDENT WAS THE FIRST TIME THE BRAKES WEREN'T ABLE TO STOP THE CAR. THE ENGINE WAS ACTING SLUGGISH IN THE WEEKS PRIOR TO 4/22. THE OIL CHANGE WASN'T DUE FOR ANOTHER 1000 MILES (BARRY DODGE OR VALVOLINE). I DON'T USE SYNTHETIC OIL. I ALWAYS ADD FUEL INJECTOR CLEANER AFTER AN OIL CHANGE. I PREFER SUNOCO GAS AND USE THEIR LEAST EXPENSI

I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT I NEED A NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. I WAS TOLD THAT GM WENT TO A CHEAP CAM SHAFT AND INTAKE GASKET ON MOST OF THE 3.1 TO 3.8 LITRE V6 ENGINES ABOUT 7 YEARS AGO AND THAT OVER 90% OF THESE ENGINES HAVE A LEAKING INTAKE GASKET WHICH CAUSES THE CHEAP CAM SHAFT TO RUST AND THEN BREAK DESTROYING THE ENGINE. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS HAPPENS BETWEEN 50,000 AND 90,000 MILES ON THESE ENGINES, THAT THERE ARE NO REPLACEMENT ENGINES AVAILABLE IN THE SALVAGE YARDS AND THAT GM CONTINUES TO PRODUCE THIS DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. NOW IM LOOKING AT APPROX. $600.00 TO REPLACE JUST THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. I DON'T THINK THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO FOOT THIS BILL TO REPLACE A PROBLEM THAT GM HAS KNOWN ABOUT FOR A LONG TIME AND REFUSES TO CORRECT. *TR

THE CAR HAS DIED AT NIGHT IN NOT A VERY GOOD SIDE OF TOWN AND WOULD NOT START ON 10/07. HAD IT TOWED AND THEY FOUND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET DAMAGED $1,000.00. FEB 08 CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER WORK. 10 MILES AWAY FROM HOME. HAD THE CAR TOWED BACK TO FIRESTONE THINKING IT WAS THE SAME THING INSTEAD THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM HAD CAUSED THE CAR NOT TO START. 4/08 CAR AGAIN WOULD NOT START AFTER WORK. PLEASE FORCE GM TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR VEHICLES MALFUNCTIONS BEFORE SOME ONE GETS HURT BECAUSE OF THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM. *TR

ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM: CAUSES THE CAR NOT TO START ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. TAKES SEVERAL MINUTES FOR SYSTEM TO RESET. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. INTERMITTENTLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START BECAUSE THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM KEPT LOCKING THE VEHICLE. IT TAKES 10-15 ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS OCCURS. THE FAILURE HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER TIME. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 05/05/08. *LJ THE DEALER WOULD NOT DISCONNECT THE THEFT SYSTEM. UPDATED 05/05/08. *JB

PASS LOCK SYSTEM FAILURE ON A 2003 CHEVY MALIBU. OR THE THEFT SYSTEM WILL ACTIVATE AND NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO BE STARTED. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU THE PASSLOCK ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM MESSES UP IT EITHER WONT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO START OR IT STOPS THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OR ROAD AND WONT START THIS IS PROBLEMATIC FOR CHEVY OWNERS AND COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS IF ON A BUSY HIGHWAY COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE CONTACTED GM ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THEY REFUSE TO RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

A FEW MONTHS AGO MY 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU TURN SIGNALS STOPPED WORKING FOR NO REASON. SOME DAYS THEY WORK AND SOME THEY DON'T. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IF YOU HAVE TO MAKE A TURN AND ANOTHER VEHICLE IS BEHIND YOU. ALSO THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE MAKES A CREAKING RUBBING NOISE AND A CLUNKING NOISE. IT'S VERY IRRITATING. *TR

INTAKE MANIFOLD IS LEAKING COOLANT. *TR

PASSLOCK SYSTEM ACTIVATES UNPREDICTABLY ON A 2003 CHEVY MALIBU. THE ONLY REMEDY IS TO WAIT 10 MINUTES FOR IT TO RESET AND THEN THE CAR WILL START. THIS CAUSED MY SON TO BE LATE IN GETTING TO HIS JOB THAT DAY. CAR WAS BROUGHT TO A MECHANIC ABOUT A YEAR AGO FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM, AND IT WAS TEMPORARILY FIXED BY REPROGRAMMING AND REPLACING THE PASSLOCK SENSOR. THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED UNTIL NOW. IT IS A RECURRING ISSUE, AND IS UNPREDICTABLE IN ITS OCCURRENCE. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN IN THE WRONG PLACE, LIKE A DARKENED PARKING GARAGE, SOMEONE COULD BE MUGGED OR ATTACKED, OR IT HAPPENED IN THE WINTER, THEY COULD FREEZE OR SUFFER HYPOTHERMIA WAITING 10 MINUTES FOR THE CAR TO START. *TR

I HAVE 2003 CHEVY MALIBU, I HAVE PROBLEM WITH MY THEFT SYSTEM, EVERY TIME IT TURNS ON I HAVE TO WAIT FOR 10 MIN, PLEASE ADVISE...THANKS. *TR

THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM IN MY VEHICLE CONTINUALLY MALFUNCTIONS, AND CAUSES ME TO WAIT 10 MINUTES IN ORDER TO START MY CAR. I AM AWARE THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING AND VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM VEHICLES WITH THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM. IT IS INEXCUSABLE THAT GM ALLOWS THIS PROBLEM TO GO ON UNACKNOWLEDGED. *TR

WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 30MPH CHANGED LANES AND SPED UP TO ABOUT 45MPM WHEN A CAR SWITCHED LANES AT THE SAME TIME IN FRONT OF ME JUS AS TRAFFIC CAME TO A STOP. WENT TO PRESS ON THE BRAKE BUT MY CAR WASN'T REALLY SLOWING DOWN LIKE I WAS STILL PRESSING ON THE GAS. ENDED UP CRASHING INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR THAT CHANGED LANES IN FRONT OF ME. AT THE TIME I THOUGHT IT WAS JUS AN AVERAGE ACCIDENT WHERE I WASN'T GIVEN ENOUGH TIME TO COME TO A FULL START SO ALL THE ORIGINAL PARTS ARE STILL ON THE CAR. THERE WAS NO INJURY JUS MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF MY CAR AND AIRBAGS . *TR

MANIFOLD INTAKE GASKET CRACKED AND LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE. THIS CAUSED THE CAR NOT TO START. *TR

I WENT OUT TO START MY CAR AND IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. AFTER WAITING AND TRYING SEVERAL TIMES, STILL NOTHING. I HAD THE CARD TOWED AND LEARNED THAT IT WAS THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE WHICH MEANT THAT THE IGNITION WOULD ALSO NEED TO BE REPLACED. I HAD IT REPAIRED FOR $650. THIRTY DAYS LATER, SAME PROBLEM. ANOTHER 30 DAYS, IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. IT HAS BEEN OVER 6 MONTHS NOW AND NOT PROBLEMS STARTING; HOWEVER THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT HAS COME ON ONCE WHILE DRIVING AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE CAR CAN CUT OFF IMMEDIATELY WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT WAS A BAD TIME WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED IN APRIL. I HAD MY GRANDCHILDREN AT MY HOUSE FOR EASTER BREAK AND WE HAD GREAT PLANS...NEVER MIND! I DID CONTACT GM AND THEY ASSURED ME IF THERE WAS A RECALL THAT I COULD CLAIM MY EXPENSES FOR REIMBURSEMENT. *TR

2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL AND HIT THE MEDIAN WALL. *KB OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT# 10-90-08-07

ANTI-THEFT LIGHT FLASHING ON MY 2003 CHEVY MALIBU. *TR

MY 2003 CHEVY MALIBU HAD DIED ON ME 3 TIMES WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT AND WOULD NOT RESTART. TWICE I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP (JBA IN GLEN BURNIE, MD) AND THEY CANNOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH IT. I CAN'T DRIVE IT, BECAUSE I HAVE A 45 MINUTE COMMUTE TO WORK AND CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP HAVING IT TOWED. *TR

THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM DISABLED MY CAR, AND I WAS UNABLE TO START IT. THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THIS, AND MY CAR IS ONLY 4 YRS OLD WITH 50,000 MILES ON IT, SO I DON'T BELIEVE THIS AMOUNTS TO A WEAR-AND-TEAR RELATED PROBLEM. REPAIR COST WAS $200; NO PARTS WERE REPLACED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH FOR APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DISPLAYED HOT. THE COOLANT LIGHT ILLUMINATED, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE COOLANT LEVEL WAS LOW. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND CHECKED THE LEVEL. HE THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO CARMAX AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 45,000. UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF

I HAVE A 2003 MALIBU SEDAN, AND THE ALARM/HORN HAS A DEFECT. LAST YEAR WE HAD A HIGH POWER WIND STORM AND MY ALARM BLEW FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES (2 HORNS). THEY FINALLY DIED DOWN BY THEMSELVES. MY CAR WAS NOT HIT BY ANYTHING EXCEPT FOR THE HIGH WINDS. I HAD TO TAKE FUSE #43 OUT TO MAKE THE HORN STOP BLOWING EVERY TIME I STARTED MY CAR. MY CAR NEED TO PASS INSPECTION, BUT THE DEALERSHIP WANT TO CHARGE ME $95.00 AN HOUR, TO DO AN EXPLORATORY DEAL ON THE CAR, TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. ANOTHER CAR REPAIR COMPANY TOLD ME THE COST WOULD BE $900.00, BUT COULD NOT JUSTIFY, WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO. THEY STATED IT COULD BE THE TURN SIGNAL OR IT COULD BE THE FUSE UNDER MY AIR BAG ON THE STEERING WHEEL. NO ONE CAN ACTUALLY EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT'S WRONG, BUT THEY WANT TO CHARGE THE HECK OUT OF ME. I DO NOT HAVE THAT TYPE OF MONEY FOR EXPLORATORY EXAMINATIONS ON MY CAR. I AM QUITE SURE THE MANUFACTURER KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THIS MALIBU, AND CAN FIX IT WITHOUT A PROBLEM. I CAN NOT AFFORD THIS, I WAS NOT TOLD THE CAR HAD TWO RECALLS ON IT WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR. I FEEL THIS IS VERY WRONG, I WOULD HAVE NEVER PURCHASE THE CAR, IF I KNEW OF RECALL PROBLEMS. NOW I AM STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITHOUT A HORN/ALARM SYSTEM. SINCE THE DEALERSHIP WANTED TO GO INTO MY STEERING WHEEL TO CHECK THE FUSE FOR $95.00 AN HOUR, MY AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON. *TR

PASSLOCK ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM ENGAGED WITH NO IDENTIFIABLE CAUSE. USING ORIGINAL KEY AND NO TAMPERING OCCURRED PRIOR TO PROBLEM. THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT WENT ON RANDOMLY 3 WEEKS AGO, BUT WAS ON ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES AND NEVER ON AGAIN PRIOR TO THIS NO-START. ABLE TO RE-SET THE SYSTEM, ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL, BY WAITING 10 MINUTES FOR THE COMPUTER TO RE-SET, BUT THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE WHEN PARKED IN CERTAIN AREAS (MALLS DURING THE EVENING, ETC). HAPPENS FREQUENTLY ENOUGH THAT IT GETS TO BE VERY INCONVENIENT, AND IN NEED OF REPAIR. REPAIR CAN ONLY BE DONE AT A GM DEALER - WHICH IS VERY PROFITABLE FOR THE DEALER. *TR

COOLANT IS LEAKING, MECHANIC SAID IT IS OUR LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET THAT HAS FAILED. ALSO HE SAYS TO FLUSH OUT THE DEX COOL BECAUSE IT IS A HORRIBLE COOLANT. *TR

CAR WOULD NOT START SO HAD IT TOWED TO THE SHOP THEY SAID COMPUTER SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG AND IT STARTED FOR THEM. THEY SAID MAYBE A WEAK FUEL PUMP. DROVE IT FOR A WEEK AND SAME THING HAPPENED. HAD IT TOWED TO THE SHOP AGAIN AND THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. DROVE IT FOR 2 DAYS AND SAME THING. NOW THEY SAID IT WAS THE ANTITHEFT THE WHOLE TIME. OUT OF POCKET TOTAL EXPENSE WAS $1300.00. THERE SHOULD BE RECALLS ON THIS STUPID THING I WENT TO START MY CAR AND IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER SO I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE $650 TO FIX THE IGNITION SWITCH. IN THE MEAN TIME THE CAR IS NOW RUNNING BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THEY "RESET" THE COMPUTER. I TOLD THEM I WOULD TAKE MY CHANCES WITH IT AND DROVE OFF AFTER PAYING THE $85 DIAGNOSTIC CHARGE. WELL 2 WEEKS LATER IT DOES NOT START AGAIN. I CALL AAA AND THE TOW COMES OUT AND THE DRIVER TELLS ME IT'S THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE, WAIT 10 MINUTES AND THE CAR WILL START. LOW IN BEHOLD IT WORKED. SO WHY DIDN'T THE DEALERSHIP TELL ME THIS IS THE PROBLEM. FUNNY THEY TOLD ME THE "RESET" COULD LAST 3 WEEKS, A YEAR, OR FOREVER... BUT THEY STILL WANTED TO MILK ME FOR $650. SO I DO A GOOGLE ON THIS AND FIND I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THE PROBLEM. WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH GM IF THEY KNOW THIS PROBLEM EXIST AND DON'T FIX THE PROBLEM WITH A RECALL OR A FIX! I WILL NEVER BUY A GM CAR AGAIN!!!

2003 CHEVY MALIBU ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN. CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE CAR WOULD DRIVE ON ITS OWN WITHOUT PUTTING HER FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. **NAR**KB THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL WHICH STATED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD BE INSPECTED ONLY. AFTER HAVING CONTINUAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATING ON IT S OWN, THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD AN INTERNAL MALFUNCTION. THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT. THE CONSUMER ALSO COMPLAINED OF A RATTLE NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THE LEFT FRONT STRUT AND MOUNT WERE WORN. THE LEFT SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS NOISY. *JB

I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY MALIBU, THE COOLANT STARTED TO SLOWLY LEAK OUT, THEN PROCEEDED TO LEAK FASTER WITHIN A FEW WEEKS, WE COULDN'T SEE WHERE THE COOLANT WAS GOING. I CALLED MY OLDER BROTHER EVERY WEEKEND, AND HIS 2001 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX WAS IN THE SHOP GETTING A NEW ENGINE INSTALLED, HIS GRAND PRIX, AND MY CHEVY MALIBU HAVE THE SAME ENGINE, I ASKED WHAT HAPPENED, AND HE SAID THAT HIS COOLANT STARTED LEAKING, HE COULDN'T SEE WHERE IT WAS GOING SO HE TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP, AND THE MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES MADE BY GM WAS THAT THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET IS FAULTY. I HAVE LOOKED IT UP ON LINE,AND THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT IN CANADA AGAINST GM FOR THIS PROBLEM, AS WELL MANY PEOPLE SAY (INCLUDING MY MECHANIC) THAT THE DEX COOL IS VERY BAD FOR YOU VEHICLE. ANYWAY, MY BROTHER GOT HIS CAR TO THE MECHANIC TOO LATE, AND AFTER SHELLING OUT 700 TO FIX THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, HE ENDED UP HAVING TO PAY 5900 TO REPLACE HIS 2001 GRAND PRIX ENGINE. AS IT TURNS OUT MY MALIBU HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, WE HAVE YET TO REPLACE IT, IT IS WORTHLESS, THE MECHANIC WHO IS CHEVY CERTIFIED, SAID THAT THE COOLANT HAS GOTTEN INTO OUR OIL, AND THE ENGINE IS WORTHLESS, WE DON'T HAVE THE 5900 TO SHELL OUT FOR A NEW ENGINE. I HAVE CONTACTED GM TWICE, THE FIRST TIME I TALKED TO A REPRESENTATIVE ON THE PHONE, AND HE SAID THAT HE DOESN'T KNOW WHY THEY ARE NOT RECALLING THE GASKET, IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, BUT THEY AREN'T GOING

MY CAR WOULD NOT START. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY. THE BATTERY WAS FINE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID MY PASSLOCK SENSOR FAILED. TO REPLACE IT WAS $1200. I DON'T EVEN HAVE AN ALARM ON MY CAR JUST THE FACTORY INSTALLED THEFT SYSTEM. I FEEL IT IS A DEFECT WITH THE CAR MANUFACTURER, NOTHING I DID TO THE CAR. *TR

ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM KEEPS SHUTTING DOWN THE CAR. *TR

MY CAR STALLED ON MY DAUGHTER AND I, RECENTLY TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER BECAUSE MY THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON EVERY ONCE AND A WHILE HAD TO PAY $115.00 JUST TO PUT ON THE MACHINE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY IGNITION SWITCH HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A TUNE OF $515.00 PLUS TAX, WELL MY CAR STOPPED ON MY DAUGHTER AND I HAD TO PUSH IT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED AND STILL WOULD NOT START. I'M TIRED THEY'RE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS MODEL(2003 MALIBU). *TR

MY DAUGHTER DROVE MY CAR TO WORK. IT WOULD NOT START AFTER A TRIP TO MALL. SHE WAS LEFT STRANDED DUE TO A CHEVROLET MALIBU DEFECTIVE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED IN A STRANGE CITY, AND IT IS STILL THERE. THE MAJOR CONSEQUENCE OF THIS BREAKDOWN IS THAT A 19 YEAR OLD GIRL WAS LEFT VULNERABLE IN A MALL PARKING LOT. IS IT A SAFETY HAZARD THAT COULD AFFECT HER? I THINK SO. I AM FEELING VULNERABLE BECAUSE MY VEHICLE IS NO LONGER 'SAFE' TO DRIVE. HAS THIS ISSUE BEEN INVESTIGATED BY THE NHTSA? WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME? WHY DOES GM FEEL THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE? A PATTERN OF BREAKDOWN HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED, AND A SOLUTION, WHETHER MONETARY OR IN REPAIR, SHOULD BE OFFERED. WILL IT TAKE SOMEONE BEING INJURED FROM A SECOND- HAND INCIDENT AS A RESULT OF 'EQUIPMENT FAILURE' TO MAKE GM NOTICE? THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING WITH THIS 'SHUTDOWN' OF THE CAR. AS A MOTHER, I CANNOT LET MY CHILDREN TAKE THIS CAR ON THE HIGHWAY. IN GOOD FAITH I PURCHASED THIS CAR, EXPECTING A RELIABLE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION. THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A KID-CAR FOR COLLEGE THIS YEAR. HOW CAN WE SEND OUR CHILD OFF AND ALWAYS WONDER IF A CALL WILL COME IN FROM HER THAT SHE IS STRANDED ON A DESERTED ROAD THAT SHE HAS TO TRAVEL TO GET TO SCHOOL?AAA SHOULD BE FURIOUS ABOUT THE MAGNITUDE OF CALLS FOR DESIGN FAILURE ON THIS VEHICLE. THERE IS A MORAL ISSUE HERE, AND I BELIEVE THAT GM IS NOT INTERESTED IN THE 'HUMAN' FACTOR OF CAR SALES. THE RIGHT THING TO DO WOULD BE TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM, ADDRESS IT AND FIX IT LIKE THE

GOT IN MY CAR, PUT MY KEY IN THE IGNITION AND TURNED IT TO THE START POSITION. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT CAME ON. I TRIED THE PROCEDURE FROM THE MANUAL TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, AND IT DID NOT WORK. IT'S A 2003 CHEVY MALIBU. *JB

I OWN A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU WITH 47000 MILES EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON WHILE IM DRIVING. I CALLED THE DEALERS AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED, AND THEY STATED THAT THEY HAVE TO PUT IT ON THE MACHINE AND IT WAS GOING TO COST ME $105.00 JUST TO PUT IT ON THE MACHINE. I WA S UPSET BECAUSE I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW, AND I ONLY HAVE 47,000 MILES ON IT. VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS PROBLEM THIS EARLY. I HAVE READ COMPLAITS ON THIS VEHICLE, AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THE 2003 MALIBU BECAUSE THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. ALSO, SOMETIMES THE CAR WILL NOT START. SO I READ IN THE OWNERS MANUAL THAT YOU HAVE TO WAIT 10 MINUTES TO TRY TO RESTART THE CAR . THIS DID NOT MAKE ANY SENSE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. *AK

CAR FAILED TO START ON RANDOM OCCASIONS. BECAME MORE FREQUENT. ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WAS CAUSING IT NOT TO START. WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FOR TEN MINUTES TO START - IN PLACES LIKE AT A GAS PUMP WITH OTHERS WAITING TO USE IT. THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT WOULD OCCASIONALLY STAY ON EVEN WHEN IT STARTED. IT BECAME LIKE PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE HOPING THE CAR WOULD START AND HOPING AGAINST HOPE THAT THE CAR WOULD NEVER STALL IN TRAFFIC AND THEN NOT RE-START. DEALER FINALLY HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH, IGNITION CYLINDER AND LOCK CYLINDER TO THE TUNE OF $682.00. THIS WAS DONE AT 71,190 MILES. THE IGNITION SWITCH AND IGNITION CYLINDER WERE ALREADY REPLACED AT 46,000 MILES. OTHERS I HAVE SPOKEN TO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR'S MODEL OF THE MALIBU BUT THEY NEVER RECALLED IT. THE THEFT SYSTEM IS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE.*AK

WHEEL HUB BEARINGS - SINCE I BOUGHT THE 2003 MALIBU NEW IN JANUARY 203 I HAD TO REPLACE THE WHEEL HUB BEARING 4 TIMES, ONCE UNDER WARRANTY WITH GM PARTS AT 27,918 ON 4/20/04 RIGHT SIDE), AGAIN RIGHT SIDE WITH AFTER MARKET PARTS AT 47,876, LEFT SIDE WITH AFTER MARKET PARTS AT 48,769 ON 5/3/05, AND RIGHT SIDE WITH AFTER MARKET PARTS AT 83,197 ON 4/17/07. WITH SO MANY FAILURES I BELIEVED THEREWAS EITHER AN INHERIT DESIGN FLAW OR POSSIBLE LATENT DEFECT OF THE FRONT END.*AK

CAR FAILS TO START CRANKS AND NO STARTS TOOK IT TO DEALER AND PROMISE NOTHING SPEND ALMOST 1000.00 DOLLARS AND IT DID IT AGAIN TODAY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE VEHICLE HAS FIRESTONE AFFINITY TOURING TIRES, SIZE P215-60R15. THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE HAD A NAIL IN IT AND IT WAS REPAIRED. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 17,800.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30-50 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS. THE CONTACT MUST APPLY THE BRAKES AND ATTEMPT TO REACH DOWN AND PULL THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL UP MANUALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE BEGAN ON MAY 30, 2005 AND THERE IS SAFETY RECALL # 04V528000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL) ON THE VEHICLE. SHE CALLED A DEALER THAT SOLD GM CARS BUT WAS NOT ACTUALLY A GM DEALER AND INFORMED HER THAT THE RECALL WAS CLOSED. THE CONSUMER HEARD SO MANY NEGATIVE THINGS ABOUT THAT SPECIFIC DEALER THAT REPAIRS WERE DONE AT ANOTHER LOCATION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD BEEN INSPECTED MONTHS EARLIER. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 65,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CHEVROLET DEALER WHO FIXED THE VEHICLE VIA THE RECALL IMMEDIATELY AT NO CHARGE. UPDATED 07/24/07 *TR

NO EVENTS OCCURRED PRIOR TO THIS PROBLEM. THEFT SYSTEM ACTIVATED ON ITS OWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING. SINCE HAVING NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM I HAD WORK DONE THAT WAS UNNECESSARY. THE THEFT SYSTEM AND KEY CYLINDER WERE SUPPOSEDELY BE REPLACED BACK IN 10/06. I PAID OVER $700.00. IT HAS STARTED TO ACTIVATE AGAIN AS OF MAY 1ST. THE ORGINAL DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER NOR CHEVY DEALER REPAIR CENTER I PAID THE $700.00 TO HAVE ANY HELPFUL OF UNDERLINE KNOWLEDGE OF WHY IT SUDDENLY ACTIVATED BY ITSELF. THIS WAS A RECKELESS SAFETY HAZARD WAITING TO HAPPEN. *AK

FUEL PUMP FAILURE ON HIGHWAY. *AK

WITHOUT WARNING WHILE ON A SHOPPING TRIP (WE ARE IN OUR LATE 70'S), THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND HAD TO BE TOWED. WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS THE ANTI-THEFT SECURITY SYSTEM, AND IT WAS RE-SET. WE WERE TOLD THAT IT MAY OR MAY NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. WELL, IT HAPPENED AGAIN ABOUT 6 WEEKS LATER, AND WE HAD TO TAKE A TWO HOUR BUS RIDE JUST TO GET HOME. I BELIEVE THAT THE DEALERS ARE FULLY AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THAT A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED, OR AT THE VERY LEAST THE COST OF REPAIR SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

THE BLINKERS AND HAZARD LIGHTS HAVE SPORADICALLY STOPPED WORKING FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS. NOW THEY HAVE STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD WHILE DRIVING. IT ALSO WILL NOT MEET THE STATE INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS. AFTER RESEARCHING THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF SITES WITH OTHER PEOPLE STATING THEIR CHEVY MALIBU HAS DONE THE SAME THING. GM HAD ONE RECALL ON THIS ISSUE BUT ONLY INCLUDED A SMALL NUMBER OF VIN'S. IT APPEARS THEY HAVE NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. *JB