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

2005 Chevrolet Malibu

Typical pattern

3.3% of complaints about the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu 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 8.8 yr in service. The most-reported system is steering (507 complaints), typically at 7.1 yr or about 91,000 miles.

Complaints
1,379
Median age at failure
8.8 yr
Median mileage
89,000 n=1019
Crash / fire / tow
8.3% of reports
Safety recalls
6

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Steering
507 reports · 91,000 mi
7.1 yr
4.7%
Electrical system
182 reports · 101,000 mi
9.8 yr
9.9%
Exterior lighting
158 reports · 78,000 mi
6.5 yr
15.8%
Power train
65 reports · 90,000 mi
9.8 yr
3.1%
Seats
61 reports · 89,000 mi
7.5 yr
0%
Engine
49 reports · 106,500 mi
9.9 yr
14.3%
Service brakes
43 reports · 114,000 mi
9.9 yr
11.6%
Fuel system
37 reports · 78,000 mi
7.0 yr
2.7%
Other
33 reports · 93,000 mi
11.4 yr
18.2%
Fuel / propulsion
32 reports · 122,000 mi
10.5 yr
0%
Electronic stability control (esc)
30 reports · 170,000 mi
10.2 yr
0%
Speed control
27 reports · 150,000 mi
10.1 yr
3.7%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

14E044000 2014-07-21
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.

A joint bearing that fails prematurely may cause separation of the u-joint resulting in a complete loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

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.

11E009000 2011-02-28
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.

A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR SHOULD THE ENGINE STALL WHILE IN USE.

09E012000 2009-04-07
Exterior lighting

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

In owners’ own words

Steering 21,500 mi 7 mo in service
THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A POWER STEERING PROBLEM. WHICH MALFUNCTIONED INTERMITTENTLY. THE OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT IS CURRENTLY BEING SERVICED. *AK THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. *SC *JB
Steering mileage not reported 9 mo in service crash / fire / tow
(1) NONE (2) LOSS OF STEERING AT 65 MPH: CAR CATAPULTED RIGHTWARDS INTO 2 VEHICLES, VAN AND SEMI, AND ULTIMATELY OFF FREEWAY PERSONAL INJURIES SUSTAINED. (3) RECOVERED FRACTURED PART OF VEHICLE AT SITE OF COLLISION 2 DAYS LATER.PART IDENTIFIED BY CHEVROLET DEALER AS ENGINE MOUNTING BRACKET BELONGING TO MY MAKE AND YEAR OF CAR.
Steering 19,500 mi 7 mo in service
INSTALL JUMPER HARNESS PER PIP3098A NECK, FUEL TANK FILLER REPLACE TIE ROD END AND/OR ADJUSTER SLEEVE RIGHT REPLACE PANEL, SEAT BACK OF BACK PASSENGER R&R OR REPLACE RECEIVER, RADIO REMOVE, REPAIR AND REPLACE RADIO. *NM
Fuel system 135,000 mi 0 mo in service
THE SMELL OF FUEL PROMPTED THE CONSUMER TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE MANUFACTURE AND THE DEALER SINCE THERE WAS A FUEL TANK RECALL. THE CONSUMER LOCATED A CRACK ON THE FUEL TANK. *AK

Other Malibu model years

202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998

How to read this