Problems with 2003 Chevrolet Malibu ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I have a 2003 chevy malibu. the passlock anti theft system has left me stranded many times. i have recently been stuck at night in a dark parking lot waiting the ten minutes for the system to reset. this is a personalsafety issue for anyone having to sit in an unsafe location waiting for the system to work. this problem occurs often (two or three times a week). this should be recalled and fixed on gm's dollar because it is a common problem and anyone who owns a gm car is spending money out of their own pocket to try and fix the problem when it is gm that is responsible for it. *tr

For the second time in two years, as i started my car the theft system light came on and the car would not start. the dealer says that the ignition has to be replaced due to the pass key theft system not recognizing my key (the original key) and breaking the ignition. this has left me with a dead car alone as a woman at night. this is the second time this has happened and i have had to replace the ignition. *tr

The theft system (passlock) engages on my car for no reason. the first time this happened, back in 2003, shortly after purchasing my car. i was at a bank, with my young daughter, getting money out of an atm. after returning to my car, the vehicle would not start. i had to pay money for a tow, and the mechanic charged me $800 to replace the fuel pump. car did not need a fuel pump, it only needed the theft deterrent system turned off. i know this because the mechanic called to ask me how to do this. at the time, i had no idea. i now know that the $1000 i paid for tow and fuel pump were a total waste of money. since 2003, this theft system engages for no reason, 2-3 times per week. it is insane. in order to dis-engage it, i have to wait 10 minutes sitting in my car; sometimes with my young children. i have read thousands of complaints for this problem, dating back to cars made in 1996. i cannot believe gm has not been forced to issue a recall for this worthless theft system. i wonder what genius felt it necessary to force someone to sit in their car for 10 minutes, key in the ignition, to reset the theft deterrent system. i'd rather my car be stolen! while i am sitting in my car, waiting for it to start, me and my family could be kidnapped, robbed, killed. this is insane. if it cannot be made to where it does not malfunction, they should just not put in on vehicles. or, they should only make you wait a mere 1-2 minutes with the key in the ignition. 10 minutes is an insane amount of time to have to wait for this to reset. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet malibu. the contact stated he was unable to remove the key from the ignition switch. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet malibu. the contact stated that the vehicle anti theft system activated and as a result, it prevented him from turning on the ignition. the vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who diagnosed that the ignition cylinder needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 50,000 and the current mileage was 80,000.

Passlock anti-theft system engaging and not allowing car to start. started happening about two years ago. researched on the internet and asked professional ase mechanics. no warranty or tsb available to fix problem, but plenty of complaints. car has not shut off while driving. *tr

Anti-theft system kicks in even when original key is used to start vehicle and vehicle will not start without waiting 10 minutes to restart system. this happens at irregular intervals, usually when it is least convenient. i have had to be towed twice until i learned the override trick. i am going into the dealership again today to try to get a permanent fix. *tr

Vehicle won't start and security light is on. i have to wait 10 minutes with key in the on position to restart anti-theft system and then engine will start. the car as well died and security light came on while driving on the highway at speeds of 60 mph and had to coast over 2 lanes and was luckily not hit or injured. after this i took it to my normal mechanic to look at it. he fixed ignition switch on 3/3/2009 which i have documentation of problem i was having and him fixing it. this did not fix the problem and the car still does not start. i haven't had it stop while driving since then but in the back of my head i'm telling myself i need to get rid of this car before something terrible happens. sometimes the car is fine for months and then it won't start twice in one week. this is especially a pain when it is freezing cold and i have no where else to wait 10 minutes but in my car. seems to be very intermittent. but one thing is for sure that if i try to remote start the car with the key fab it will most likely ends in tripping the anti-theft system and the car will not start. i've seen so many complaints on-line about this issue. and i ask why has it not been recalled especially if the car can stop running while driving. this has made me lose confidence in gm, and if i buy another car i will think twice about buying another chevy even though i like everything else about my car. i am not about to take it in and spend hundreds of dollars getting it fixed when i can save my money and buy something more dependable besides a gm car. in the next couple of years i will be able to buy a new car and i will be glad when i don't have to deal with this problem again. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet malibu. when the anti-theft light is illuminated, the contact is unable to start the vehicle. a mechanic replaced the fuel pump because the vehicle constantly stalled; however, the fuel pump was not the cause of the failure. the vehicle continues to stall, the check engine light is illuminated, and the anti-theft light remains illuminated. the contact will take the vehicle back to the repair shop for further inspection. report number 71-74-9932502 was filed with the manufacturer. the failure mileage was 82,000 and current mileage was 88,000.

The theft system on my chevy malibu 2003 has left me stranded on multiple occasions and cost me more than $300 in repair costs. the theft system believes my car is being stolen and shuts off the fuel to the engine. some posts say it's when you use an copied key, but i'm using the factory original. at first, this happened once every month then increased with frequency to once and week and now every two/three days. the 1st this happened, i replaced the battery. this one 1 1/2 yrs ago and now the battery needs to be replaced again. when the theft system locks me out, i have to wait 10 minutes for the light to turn off and try to turn the key over again. with the amounts of complaints about this system, i would think gm would change systems or remove the problem. it's a disgrace that they continue to put this system in a car effectively locking out the very owner instead of doing its intended job. *tr

Theft light comes on and anti-theft system disables the vehicle, driving and parked. we have been stranded several times because of this. vehicle will not start it turns over but will do nothing. i have had to take the vehicle in several times to have the system reset, at a cost to me everytime. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet malibu. the contact stated that there was an electrical issue with her vehicle. the turn signals would operate without initialization and the power door locks were also inoperable. the check engine warning light continued to illuminate on the instrument panel; however, there were no other failures. the independent mechanic advised the contact to take the vehicle to the dealer. the dealer could not assist with the repairs because there were no recalls available. the current and failure mileages were less than 87,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet malibu. the contact stated that the vehicle would not start. she noticed that the anti theft light was illuminated. she placed the ignition in auxiliary mode for 10 minutes. the contact then turned off the ignition and restarted the vehicle. while driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle shut off without warning. the contact had to climb in the back seat to exit because the passenger and driver's side doors would not unlock. upon exiting, she would then have to lift the hood of the vehicle and slam the hood back down in order for the vehicle to restart. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that the anti theft system was failing. the vehicle is currently being repaired at the cost of $1,168. the manufacturer stated that because regular maintenance, other than oil changes, were not performed at a chevrolet dealer, no compensation would be provided. the failure mileage was 36,000 and current mileage was 40,943.

I had a problem with my turn signals. they would work when they wanted to. i took my car to a chevy dealer to find out what it was and how much it was going to cost to fix the problem. the service attendant was very knowledgeable about this particular problem. i was told that they had recall up to 2002 malibus for this same problem but of course mine is a2003 so i had to pay for it to be repaired. the cost was $110.00 which wasn't bad but the 2002 and 2003 parts interchange. so why wouldn't they have same recall? *tr

Bought a 2003 chevy malibu 1 1/2 years ago (used). since that time the anti-theft device has failed twice. the first time it was at home, the 2nd time left me stranded an hour away from home. i have spent over $300.00 for towing, plus the cost of repairs on the vehicle. i am a college student who as limited funds. gm is aware of the problem, but refuses to acknowledge or fix the problem. it will take gm several deaths when these cars shut off while driving down the road before they get off their "butts" to fix the problem. gm doesn't know how to keep their customers! *tr

I went to the doctor today. my car was fine. on returning to my car, it would not start. i called aaa. they showed me the passlock anti-theft system was engaged -- with no identifiable cause. the gentleman who helped me, told me he has seen this often. i am using the original key, and i am sure the car was not tampered with. reading online, i get a sense that this will probably start happening more. although this is the first failure, i read that the car can switch off while driving. i am concerned as my 16 year old daughter also drives this car, and that she may be endangered. *tr

The anti-theft system in my 2003 chevrolet malibu is defective, apparently this is a problem for just about every owner of a chevy malibu. this needs to be recalled by gm!!!! about once or twice a week when i attempt to start my car i pray the anti-theft system does not blink, because when it blinks that means the car isn't going to start. the owner's manual states that if this occurs then turn the key to the "on" position and let it sit for 10 minutes and then turn the key to "off" and start the car as normal. well for about 1 year this worked, it was a hassle, but it worked. now after about a year of this pain in the butt routine twice a week to start my car, finally it died on me while driving and will no longer start. gm is obviously aware of this malfunction because they have given instructions on how to deal with it in the owner's manual, the problem is they haven't done anything to correct the problem, after their suggestion fails to start the car. this malfunction needs to be recalled!!!!!!! *tr

This morning when getting gas, i got back in the car, started it up and the horn randomly beeped. once i got to work, and locked the car the horn beeped again, keep in mind the remote locks don't sound the horn. when i got home later when locking the car the horn didn't sound. when someone else used the car later tonight, when starting the car the horn sounded again. i asked her to turn it off and try again, and once again it sounded. *tr

I own a 2003 chevrolet malibu, i have experienced on 3 separate occasions a no start incident, twice the car was towed to repair facilities where various components were changed after the car started right up. this most recent incident happened in my driveway at home and, i decided to thoroughly check out this problem. i have replace various components on the car and spent upwards of 250.00 in parts and even after that, once i got the car running again i had a check engine light on and a very rough idle. so, i took the car to a garage to have it scanned for fault codes. now, i have discovered a faulty ignition switch (fault code u1000) has been behind these incidents. and, in reading various internet forums/discussion boards, i am not alone!! (chevrolet is well aware of this defect !!) this is a manufacturer defect in the passive theft system on general motors cars. there should be a national investigation and subsequent recall on these vehicles to have this problem remedied. the dealers are getting 300-350.00 per repair and most times this problem re-occurs. i wanted to bring this to your attention as i am about to spend 300.00 plus at my local chevrolet service department to have my faulty ignition switch replaced. the new one must be "programmed" to your vehicle and only a chevrolet dealer can do this. please render any assistance you can in this matter. thank you very much. .....................................chris merckx *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

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

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet malibu. the vehicle has been shutting off intermittently for the past eight months. the dealer keeps resetting the computer, but the failure persists. the weather was not a factor. the power steering and brakes fail without warning. the failure occurs while accelerating or cruising. the failure mileage was 132,000. updated 2/5/09 *cn updated 02/10/09. *jb

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

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

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

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

Anti-theft light flashing on my 2003 chevy malibu. *tr

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

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

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

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

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet malibu. while driving 25 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning and caused another vehicle to crash into the rear of the vehicle. the air bags failed to deploy. the contact sustained minor injuries that required medical attention. a police report was not filed. the dealer stated that the ignition needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. the contact received a recall notification for nhtsa campaign number: 14v400000 (electrical system). the contact was concerned that the remedy would not repair the failure. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the failure mileage was unavailable.

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!!!

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 good old days of customer service used to be and move on. i would be willing to pay for the repair in order to have a reliable car again. i am now worrying that my 2001 malibu with another daughter out of state will have the same problems. a car that could not start on a whim does not offer peace of mind to me. do the executives at gm drive chevrolet malibus? would they let their children drive a car like mine? ps. why don't you list 'website' under the referral sources? *tr

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

I have been having repeated problems with my cars theft system defaulting and not allowing my car to start randomly on several occasions, this problem has been reoccurring for about the past 4-5 years.there were no events leading up to this failure, it just happend. it occurs almost daily and is a huge inconvenience. i have taken the vechile to several gm dealerships and have been told its the passlock, bcm, car not reading the key, and several other issues. i have been told they could not duplicate the problm as well but wanted to charge me over 900 dollars for fix something they think it could be as well. i can place the key in the on setting in the ignition for anywhere from 15-30 minutes plus sometimes and this eventually works, but it a huge inconvenience. i have been stranded several times due to this same issue as well. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet malibu. the contact stated that while driving approximately 60 mph, the accelerator pedal became stuck, as the pedal was depressed and released within a few seconds. the failure recurred numerous times. the vin was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 04v528000 (vehicle speed control). in addition, the contact stated that it took several attempts for the ignition key to turn in the ignition switch. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 80,000.

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

I have had several issues with my car over the years. the first was when the fuel pump failed and my car stalled in traffic in 2006 and repair was $600. the intake manifold gaskets failed about 10 months later that was repaired at the dealer for $1200. i have replaced the engine twice ($600 each time) because of the head gaskets and too much oil inside the engine. now i have a strong odor of gasoline inside my car when i start it up that lasts for about 15-20 minutes each day. i've replaced the ignition switch twice now and the gear shift does not lock properly. now anti theft security light comes on often and i have to wait approximately 11 minutes to reset it before i can leave my location. the hood latch recently broke and now the wire must be replaced from the inside to the exterior of the car. *js

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet malibu. while starting the vehicle, the theft passlock sensor and the ignition lock cylinder lights illuminated and the vehicle would not start. the vehicle was able to start after ten minutes of holding the key in the ignition and restarting the vehicle. the failure recurred approximately 15 times. the vehicle was taken the dealer where it was confirmed that the theft passlock system malfunctioned and the remedy was to replace the ignition. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vin was unavailable. the approximate failure mileage was 50,000.

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

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

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

I am the owner of a 2003 malibu. i have only had it for 6 months. the car has cut off on me 3 times with my 3 year old in the car. i have read many complaints about the same problem. i took my car to the dealership, and they said that it was the ignition switch, and it was going to cost me $400.00 to fix it. i don't have that kind of money to put into a car when there should be a recall on it. i am highly upset with gm because they won't do anything about it. also, i have heard that they won't do a recall on this problem because they don't consider it to be a safety issue. i don't see how a company can put off a recall like this when someone can get seriously hurt or even killed. i don't know what else to do, and another of course the extended warranty that i bought doesn't cover it. why do they even have an extended warranty when it doesn't cover a blasted thing.*ak

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet malibu. the contact stated that the vehicle experienced several failures in which the electric windows would not function, the headlights stopped illuminating, and the air conditioning unit failed. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the ignition switch was replaced. the failure recurred approximately one year later. the vehicle was taken back to the dealer and the ignition switch was replaced a second time but the failure again recurred a year later. the vehicle ignition switch was replaced for the third time. the contact also stated that the vehicle stalled while driving 25 mph. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and the ignition switch was replaced for the fourth time. the manufacturer was notified of the recurring failure and offered no assistance. the failure mileage was 32,073. the ignition switch was replaced four times. updated 07/19/12

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet malibu. the contact stated that the vehicle would sporadically stall without warning. the contact was usually able to restart the vehicle however, there were instances when the vehicle would not immediately restart. the failure was recurring and the ignition switch was replaced three times by an authorized dealer however, the failure continuously recurred. the contact also stated that the power steering assist would intermittently fail. the contact referenced nhtsa campaign id number: 14v153000 (steering) but the vehicle was not included in the recall campaign. the manufacturer was notified of the failure multiple times and provided no remedy. the approximate failure mileage was 53728.