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U.S. public vehicle records

Chevrolet MALIBU CLASSIC problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

312 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

90,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1978 to 2008 model years. Data snapshot: . 238 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 143 of 312 complaints (45.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior6721.5%
Electrical and battery issues5718.3%
Engine operation3310.6%
Braking behavior289.0%
Fuel system concerns134.2%
Transmission and shifting51.6%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System
143
Steering
59
Exterior Lighting
21
Engine
20
Fuel/Propulsion System
16
Air Bags
15
Unknown Or Other
14
Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module
12
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System143
Steering59
Exterior Lighting21
Engine20
Fuel/Propulsion System16
Air Bags15
Unknown Or Other14
Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module12

Electrical System: 143; Steering: 59; Exterior Lighting: 21; Engine: 20; Fuel/Propulsion System: 16; Air Bags: 15; Unknown Or Other: 14; Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module: 12

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
13
25,000 to 49,999
31
50,000 to 74,999
41
75,000 to 99,999
45
100,000 to 149,999
71
150,000 and above
37
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00013
25,000 to 49,99931
50,000 to 74,99941
75,000 to 99,99945
100,000 to 149,99971
150,000 and above37

Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 31; 50,000 to 74,999: 41; 75,000 to 99,999: 45; 100,000 to 149,999: 71; 150,000 and above: 37

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (71). 74 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2005
2
2006
7
2007
7
2008
14
2009
13
2010
22
2011
22
2012
17
2013
14
2014
87
2015
38
2016
18
2017
18
2018
14
2019
9
2020
5
2021
3
2023
1
2024
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20052
20067
20077
200814
200913
201022
201122
201217
201314
201487
201538
201618
201718
201814
20199
20205
20213
20231
20241

2005: 2; 2006: 7; 2007: 7; 2008: 14; 2009: 13; 2010: 22; 2011: 22; 2012: 17; 2013: 14; 2014: 87; 2015: 38; 2016: 18; 2017: 18; 2018: 14; 2019: 9; 2020: 5; 2021: 3; 2023: 1; 2024: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 67 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 57 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 33 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10637270 · 2014-09-18 (September 18, 2014)

THIS VEHICLE HAD A CRASH WITH FATALITIES IN 2006. GENERAL MOTORS NEVER ISSUED A UNINTENDED IGNITION TURNOFF ON THIS VEHICLE UNTIL AUG2014. THE CRASH BEGAN WITH AN UNCONTROLLABLE AND UNEXPECTED SPINOUT, THERE WAS NO ABILITY TO STEER, BRAKE AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THESE ARE THE EXACT CONDITIONS LISTED IN THE GM RECALL. GM WILL NOT ACCEPT A FILING FOR THIS MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE AND SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE GM IGNITION CLAIM PROGRAM. AN INNOCENT PERSON HAS A BEEN CONVICTED OF MANSLAUGHTER AND THIS SHOULD BE CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY AND COMPE…

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10637270 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10640142 · 2014-09-30 (September 30, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE THEN BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10640142 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10821977 · 2016-01-25 (January 25, 2016)

I'VE REPLACED TWO IGNITION SWITCHES PREVIOUSLY. ON 1/23/16 ANOTHER SWITCH FAILED. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND SUDDENLY QUIT RUNNING AND DASH LIGHTS POWER, RPM AND BATTERY WENT OFF. STARTED THE CAR AGAIN, AND AS I PUT IT IN REVERSE IN MY DRIVEWAY, THE ENGINE DIED AGAIN CAUSING LOSS OF POWER AND STEERING CONTROL. THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT THIS WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN AGAIN.

Owner-reported narrative. 160,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10821977 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10650832 · 2014-10-28 (October 28, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10650832 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10615974 · 2014-07-24 (July 24, 2014)

2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU LS SEDAN PRESENTED HAS NOTICEABLY WEAK AND INEFFICIENT HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS POSING A SAFETY ISSUE. THE FOG LIGHTS ARE NOT EFFECTIVE IN MILDLY FOGGY DRIVING CONDITIONS AT ALL. IN FACT DUE TO SUCH POOR PERFORMANCE, IT IS QUITE DIFFICULT TO DISCERN WHETHER OR NOT THE FOG LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON. HEADLIGHT PERFORMANCE IS POOR WITH MARKEDLY DECREASED LIGHTING EFFICIENCY IN CITY DRIVING AND ON WET ROADS. THE VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS DIM AND OR FLICKER WHEN THE DRIVER DEPRESSES THE BRAKE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE OR COME TO A COMPLETE STOP…

Owner-reported narrative. 69,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10615974 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10328366 · 2010-05-01 (May 1, 2010)

MY CAR SUDDENLY WOULDN'T START THIS MORNING WHILE TRYING TO GET TO WORK. AFTER RESEARCHING A LITTLE BIT ON THE INTERNET I CAME TO REALIZE THAT THIS HAS TO DO WITH THAT ANNOYING ANTI-THEFT LIGHT THAT IS ALWAYS LIT UP IN THE CORNER. SO I GO BACK OUT TO MY CAR, HOPING THAT THE 10 MINUTE PROCEDURE WILL WORK FOR ME AS WELL. BUT AS I AM SITTING THERE WITH MY CAR IN THE "ON" POSITION MY BATTERY DIES ON ME. SO NOW I AM STUCK HERE WITH A CAR THAT WONT TURN ON, AND NO WAY TO GET TO WORK! I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS AS WELL RELATED BUT ABOUT 2 MONTHS PRIO…

Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10328366 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10714597 · 2015-05-05 (May 5, 2015)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN THE FUEL PUMP EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE FUEL PUMP EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10714597 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10662727 · 2014-12-08 (December 8, 2014)

TRANSMISSION STICKS WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE IN GEAR CAUSING IT TO STALL AND JERK. BACK DOOR LOCK CONSTANTLY LOCKS AND UNLOCKS EVEN WHEN NOT IN USE. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY IRRITATING. THE GLASS HATCH UNLOCKS AND OPENS WITHOUT WARNING. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD EXPLORERS. THE GLASS HATCH GOES UP WITHOUT WARNING AND SOMETIMES ENDS UP SLAMMING DOWN WHEN DRIVER HITS THEIR BRAKES OR SOMETHING, CAUSING THE GLASS TO SCATTER. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10662727 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10703790 · 2015-04-05 (April 5, 2015)

VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO SMOOTHLY SHIFT INTO PARK POSITION TO ALLOW THE KEY TO BE TURNED OFF. CERTIFIED MECHANIC STATED THE SHIFTER CABLE IS MOST LIKELY THE DEFECT. MANY MODELS HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECALLED. THE CAR IN NOT ABLE TO SHIFT INTO PARK TO ALLOW TURNING OF THE KEY IGNITION SWITCH TO THE OFF POSITION SO THAT THE CAR BATTERY TURNS OFF. SIFTER CABLE COULD POSSIBLY MALFUNCTION DURING NORMAL DRIVING/OPERATION, STARTING/STOPPING. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 207,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10703790 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1997
0
1998
0
1999
0
2000
0
2001
0
2002
0
2003
0
2004
1
2005
1
2007
0
2008
0
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
19970
19980
19990
20000
20010
20020
20030
20041
20051
20070
20080

1997: 0; 1998: 0; 1999: 0; 2000: 0; 2001: 0; 2002: 0; 2003: 0; 2004: 1; 2005: 1; 2007: 0; 2008: 0

Year-by-year records

Chevrolet MALIBU CLASSIC model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
197801Not available
199730Not available
1998500
1999400
20001100
20011300
20021600
20031600
20041161+1
20059210
2007150Not available
20082100