What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx

Typical pattern

1.9% of complaints about the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2005 vehicle — around the middle of the 245 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 6.3 yr in service. The most-reported system is steering (190 complaints), typically at 5.6 yr or about 84,000 miles.

Complaints
415
Median age at failure
6.3 yr
Median mileage
88,000 n=331
Crash / fire / tow
8.9% of reports
Safety recalls
3

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Steering
190 reports · 84,000 mi
5.6 yr
4.7%
Exterior lighting
51 reports · 87,000 mi
6.2 yr
15.7%
Electrical system
40 reports · 86,000 mi
7.0 yr
7.5%
Seats
39 reports · 91,500 mi
7.3 yr
5.1%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

14V252000 2014-05-14
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

Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.

14V224000 2014-04-30
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 r

If the transmission shift cable fractures while the vehicle is being driven, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash. Furthermore, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, despite selecting the ‘PARK’ position, the transmission may not be in ‘PARK.’ If the vehicle

14V153000 2014-03-31
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.

If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

In owners’ own words

Steering 13,480 mi 11 mo in service
OUR 2005 CHEVY MALIBU HAS HAD STEERING ISSUES SINCE IT WAS NEW. THE DEALER AND GM HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT AS OF YET. THE CAR HAS A CONSTANT PULL TO THE LEFT AND ON OCCASION (4 TIMES) THE CAR WILL VEER TO THE LEFT CROSSING LANES BEFORE YOU CAN GET CONTROL AND BRING IT BACK IT TO THE CORRECT DRIVING LANE. THE REPAIR SO FAR HAS BEEN TO REPROGRAM THE STEERING MODULE OR REPLACE IT. THIS HAS NOT WORKED AND IS WHAT THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO DO AGAIN. *JB
Steering 15,721 mi 1.2 yr in service
POWER STEERING FAILED 2 TIMES IN LAST 3 DAYS AND BOTH TIMES IT HAS HAPPENED I WAS STOPPED. I HAD NO POWER ASSIST AND IT TAKES A LOT OF EFFORT TO MOVE THE WHEEL IN ANY DIRECTION. AFTER I DID MOVE THE WHEEL SEVERAL TIMES I REGAINED POWER STEERING AND WAS ABLE TO PROCEED ON MY WAY. I THINK THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE UPGRADED TO A RECALL ASAP! *JB
Steering 30,000 mi 1.8 yr in service
RECURRING PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM. CONSTANT NOISES AND DETERIORATING STEERING CONDITION. PURCHASED VEHICLE IN MARCH AND HAVE HAD IT SERVICED FOR RELATED PROBLEM 3 TIMES IN 3 MONTHS. *JB
Electrical system mileage not reported 1.2 yr in service
IGNITION TENDS TO STICK AND CAUSES THE SOLENOID TO GRIND W/FLYWHEEL. I JUST RECEIVED A COPY OF A SERVICE BULLETIN FROM G.M. STATING THEY ARE AWARE OF A PROBLEM. HOWEVER, AT THIS TIME THE ENGINEERS WILL CONTINUE TO WOK ON A SOLUTION. *JB

Other Malibu Maxx model years

2007200620052004

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