2003 Chevrolet Malibu Problems: 4 Known Issues

2003 Chevrolet Malibu Problems: 4 Known Issues | Au7o

NHTSA Recalls14 recalls

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.

Campaign #14V25200014/05/2014

STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2006 Malibu Maxx, 2009-2010 HHR (non-turbo), 2010 Cobalt, 2008-2009 Saturn Aura and 2004-2007 Ion, and 2005-2009 Pontiac G6. In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving.

Campaign #14V15300031/03/2014

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on April 29, 2014, that they are recalling 56,214 model year 2007 and 2008 Saturn Aura vehicles. On May 22, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 1,074,899 model year 2004-2008 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured from May 16, 2003, through October 5, 2007, model year 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured from June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, and model year 2005-2008 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured from May 26, 2004, through September 28, 2007, and equipped with 4-speed transmissions. The total number vehicles being recalled is now 1,131,113.

Campaign #14V22400030/04/2014

STEERING

Dorman Products, Inc. (Dorman) is recalling certain replacement intermediate steering shafts sold under the Dorman, OE Solutions, and Solutions brand names, part numbers 425-167, 2425167, and 7-3074, for installation on 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6, and 2007-2009 Saturn Aura vehicles. The affected steering shafts may have a yoke that inadequately supports the u-joint bearing resulting in a premature failure.

Campaign #14E04400021/07/2014

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

TI AUTOMOTIVE IS RECALLING CERTAIN FUEL PUMPS, PART NUMBERS TU456 AND TU303, SOLD UNDER VARIOUS BRAND NAMES AS AFTERMARKET AND REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE MOTOR VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP MAY SEIZE, STOPPING THE FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE CREATING A STALLING CONDITION.

Campaign #11E00900028/02/2011

+ 9 more recalls. Check all on NHTSA.gov

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common Chevrolet Malibu problems?

According to Au7o's research across NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports, the 2003 Chevrolet Malibu has 4 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: Unintended Ignition Key Rotation Out of 'Run' — NHTSA Recall 14V400, 3.1L V6 Lower Intake Manifold Gasket Failure Causing Coolant Leak and Coolant-in-Oil, Passlock Anti-Theft System Causing No-Start and Intermittent Stalling. Of these, 2 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.

Is the Chevrolet Malibu reliable?

The 2003 Chevrolet Malibu has 4 known issues compiled from NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports. 2 issues are rated critical: Unintended Ignition Key Rotation Out of 'Run' — NHTSA Recall 14V400 and 3.1L V6 Lower Intake Manifold Gasket Failure Causing Coolant Leak and Coolant-in-Oil. Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.

How much does it cost to fix common Chevrolet Malibu problems?

Repair costs for known Chevrolet Malibu issues range from $0 to $1,100, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, Unintended Ignition Key Rotation Out of 'Run' — NHTSA Recall 14V400, typically costs $0-$0 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.

What is the 1997-2005 Chevrolet Malibu Unintended Ignition Key Rotation Out of 'Run' — NHTSA Recall 14V400?

Part of GM's 2014 ignition-safety recall wave and separate from the Cobalt switch campaign, this recall covers the 1997-2005 Chevrolet Malibu among roughly 7.6 million vehicles. The ignition lock cylinder allows the key to be rotated out of the 'Run' position by a knee bump or by… Repairs typically run $0-$0. Severity: high.

What is the 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu 3.1L V6 Lower Intake Manifold Gasket Failure Causing Coolant Leak and Coolant-in-Oil?

The 60-degree 3.1L V6 in the 1997-2003 Malibu (and the related 3.4L) uses a lower intake manifold gasket with a plastic carrier and silicone sealing beads. Exposure to heat and to the original Dex-Cool organic-acid coolant makes the silicone harden and the plastic carrier distort… Repairs typically run $500-$1,100. Severity: high.

What is the 2000-2005 Chevrolet Malibu Passlock Anti-Theft System Causing No-Start and Intermittent Stalling?

A common failure on early-2000s Malibu models is the Passlock security system falsely detecting a theft condition, which can disable fuel delivery and prevent the engine from starting. Owners report the SECURITY light flashing, long wait times before restart, and in some cases in… Repairs typically run $250-$800. Severity: medium.

What is the 2000-2003 Chevrolet Malibu Hazard Warning Switch Causing Turn Signal and Brake Lamp Malfunctions?

The multifunction hazard switch on 2000-2003 Malibu models is a well-known failure point that can cause intermittent or inoperative turn signals and, in some cases, affect brake lamp operation. The internal contacts overheat or wear, leading to erratic flashing, no turn signal ou… Repairs typically run $50-$180. Severity: medium.

2003 Chevrolet Malibu Problems: 4 Known Issues

All 4 Known Issues

1997-2005 Chevrolet Malibu: Unintended Ignition Key Rotation Out of 'Run' — NHTSA Recall 14V400#

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1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu: 3.1L V6 Lower Intake Manifold Gasket Failure Causing Coolant Leak and Coolant-in-Oil#

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2000-2005 Chevrolet Malibu: Passlock Anti-Theft System Causing No-Start and Intermittent Stalling#

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2000-2003 Chevrolet Malibu: Hazard Warning Switch Causing Turn Signal and Brake Lamp Malfunctions#

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common Chevrolet Malibu problems?

Is the Chevrolet Malibu reliable?

How much does it cost to fix common Chevrolet Malibu problems?

What is the 1997-2005 Chevrolet Malibu Unintended Ignition Key Rotation Out of 'Run' — NHTSA Recall 14V400?

What is the 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu 3.1L V6 Lower Intake Manifold Gasket Failure Causing Coolant Leak and Coolant-in-Oil?

What is the 2000-2005 Chevrolet Malibu Passlock Anti-Theft System Causing No-Start and Intermittent Stalling?

What is the 2000-2003 Chevrolet Malibu Hazard Warning Switch Causing Turn Signal and Brake Lamp Malfunctions?