Problems with 2005 Chevrolet Malibu ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet malibu. the contact stated that while driving approximately 60 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. the vehicle was restarted after several attempts. the failure recurred on fourteen separate occasions at any given speed being driven. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the ignition switch was replaced. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 80,000.

My wife and i have contacted chevy dealer a long time ago about safety recalls on this vehicle a long time ago and have not received any info. on when these recalls can be done. most of these recalls state that the parts have not been sent. what can your company do about getting these resolved. *tr

I was driving my vehicle down i-680 in northern ca's bay area. while i was on the freeway in the slow lane and my power steering warning popped up on my car stereo display and a split second later i lost the ability to steer my car. i slowed the vehicle as fast as i could without slamming on the brakes. all of the cars behind me slammed on the brakes and i thought i was going to cause a pile-up. a nice man behind got out of his truck and helped me force the steering wheel to the right so i could pull the car off of the road. i then called my brother and he came and towed the car home. there has never been a warning to this issue. it never acted up and i have never been instructed to do a safety check on the power steering. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet malibu. while driving approximately 65 mph with the cruise control engaged, the cruise control deactivated and the brake lights illuminated without warning. the contact depressed the brake pedal and the brake lights turned off. the contact powered the vehicle off and back on and the brake lights resumed normal operation. the vehicle was previously repaired under nhtsa campaign number: 14v252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control). the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the brake light switch was faulty and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred on several occasions. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 199,000.

I consider us lucky. we were in a wal-mart parking lot 25 miles from home, and the car wouldn't start. i played with the ignition off and on for half an hour, and a connection was made, and the car started. i was careful to keep it running, and made it home. the next day, the same problem. the electrical connection to the fuel pump was missing. i had it towed to my repair shop, and they replaced the ignition switch. cost $620.54. on 2/7/2013 the fuel pump was replaced. i feel that the incidents are connected. i think the loss of electrical feed to the fuel pump harmed the pump, and caused it to fail. cost of fuel pump replacement was $635.11.this adds up to $1255.65 repair bills which should have been unnecessary. i feel there are more cars out there that gm should be made to recall and repair with better parts. i was lucky! others were not, and we don't need more unnecessary deaths on our highways. *tr

The key will not come out of the ignition in colder weather. i can turn the car on and off but not remove the key unless the car is driven for at least 20 mins. and is warm. this makes it very difficult for short trips where i need to park. dealership replaced ignition cylinder & keys10/24/2013 but problem still there. impalas has same problem - had shift lock replaced 4/4/2014. this car needs to be recalled. *tr

The vehicle would not start after work in the parking lot. arranged a ride home and did some research. went back to the vehicle and got it started with suggestions on how to reset the passlock system (security light on dash was on). the next day the vehicle won't start even after going through the reset procedure several times. this problem can leave one stranded anyplace at anytime. we live in mininesota and that can be a real problem at -20 deg. after reading about many people with the same issue, i was motivated to share this in hopes of initiating a recall for this problem. *tr

The ignition switch to start the car is defective. the cylinder does not turn with the key at the first try nor the second try. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet malibu. the contact stated that there was an intermittent failure with the connection of the fuse box and the connecting screws. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who replaced the screws and the fuse box. the contact also experienced a failure with the power steering. the steering wheel was tight and the contact experienced extreme difficulty turning the steering wheel left or right. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who replaced the steering column. the remedy corrected the failure. the contact had been waiting for months to have the vehicle repaired according to nhtsa campaign numbers: 14v252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control) and 14v224000 (power train). the dealer did not provide a specific date for when the parts would become available. the manufacturer was notified. the contact also indicated that the vehicle idled high and it was difficult to change gears. the approximate failure mileage was 62,000. updated 11/14/14*cn updated 8/11/2015*js

I was at a stop sign went to press gas pedal to turn onto road and the car just shut off no warning lights came on nor did it show any codes. got out of car popped trunk pulled relay fuse out put it back in and it cranked up,then on my way home from work,going about 25 mph and it just shut down again,i repeated pulling out relay fuse and put it back in then waited a minute then it cranked and i drove straight home. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet malibu. the contact stated that the vehicle would fail to start after numerous attempts. the failure recurred on numerous occasions. the vehicle was taken to a dealer, who stated that the ignition switch failed. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 30,000.

The warning chime will sound, then i sometimes get a warning note across the dashboard stating "power steering" & then for a brief moment i will have trouble turning the steering wheel; one time when this happened all the warning lights flashed across the dashboard and i lost power for a second & then everything went back to normal until several miles later when the chiming came on again; i paid the chevy dealer to replace the power steering in the summer of 2012 but the problem recurred almost immediately afterward. i am now afraid to drive the car. i don't want any refund, i just want the car to operate reliably & safely. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet malibu. while parked, the vehicle was not able to start. the contact mentioned that it took two attempts to start the vehicle. in addition, after switching off the vehicle, the key would get stuck and the vehicle had to be restarted in order to remove the key. the failure recurred intermittently. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 101,000. updated 01/27/16*lj the ignition switch tumbler was replaced. updated 02/09/16*jb

Power steering quit working. here in 2013, with 175000 miles, gm will not honor their "service policy" , due to miles! it only covered up to 150000 miles! absurd! *tr

Vehicle has failed to start after driving and then parking. first time had vehicle towed to s repair shop. they replaced fuel pump and installed a new fuel filter. vehicle still did not start. i researched the problem on the web. i found several complaints . i found that the problem was the vehicle anti- theft device. it malfunctions and shuts the fuel injectors down. i found a fix on the web, you have to turn the key on for 10 to 15 minutes until the vehicle theft light quits blinking turn key to the off position remove the key wait 1 to 2 minutes and then start vehicle it works. this is a temporary fix it will happen again. it has happened to me two more times. i called the local chevrolet dealership and inquired to see if they had heard or have seen this problem i was told that the problem has been around since 2002 and there has not been a re-call for the problem. i called chevrolet and informed them of the problem. their response was that they were not aware of the problem. according to the dealership gm has been aware of the problem for years. and they have not done a thing to correct the problem. according it will cost $500.00 to replace the defective parts. this in my opinion is totally unacceptable. this is a potential safety hazard putting people in danger. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet malibu. the contact stated that the power steering failed, fuel would not pump properly into the vehicle, the fuel gauge displayed improper readings, and the speedometer was inoperative. the local mechanic repaired the fuel system. neither the dealer, nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 140,000 and the current mileage was unavailable.

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet malibu. the contact stated that the bulb for the driver side turn signal burned out. the vehicle was taken to a local repair shop where failure diagnostic testing indicated possible bad wiring in the driver side turn signal and there was hole burned into the bulb. the manufacturer was contacted and the contact was advised to bring vehicle to a local dealer so they could perform a failure diagnostic test. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 85,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet malibu. while driving approximately 65 mph, the engine stalled. the vehicle restarted after forty five minutes. the failure occurred twelve times. the dealer was unable to diagnose the cause of the failure. the contact stated that the ignition switch was replaced, but the failure persisted. the vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 87,000.

I own a 2005 malibu with 160,000 miles on it. on june 16, 2011 i took my car to the dealer's service center because a week prior my car doors unlocked and my engine shut down as i was driving down the street. this happened twice about four days apart. they replaced the oxygen sensor. aweek later it started doing the same thing but about every two to four days. i took it back on july 16, 2011 and they could not find anything wrong and told me to bring it back when i could leave the car there. now this has become a daily occurrence, even happening two to ten times a day doing it 6 times within driving less that a mile at times. luckily it starts right back up and that i still have control of the steering and brakes. *tr

My 21 yr old son was driving his car on a city street when he started to smell a bad odor, possibly melting plastic. within 15 seconds, flames shot up the front seat center console on the passenger side. he quickly pulled over and tried to put out the flames. burning his hand in the process and realizing very quickly this wouldn't work, he quickly and urgently left the vehicle and called 911. within 30 seconds of leaving the vehicle, the flames spread and completely consumed the vehicle. this vehicle was in excellent condition, nothing changed/tailored from the factory (ie. stock parts including the radio), and no recent maintenance. if there had been a small child in a car seat, etc., this situation could have resulted in serious injury, even a death. *tr

Car lost power, steering intact & i steered it to the shoulder of the interstate highway. anti-theft light was flashing. on jun 4th, all attempts to reset the the system failed (i was waiting ten minutes with key in on position). the car began to flash all lights & a buzzing alarm sounded. by july, the anti theft device was preventing starting or causing the engine to stop on a daily basis. a code indicated a problem with the fuel supply to the injectors & possibly the fuel pump. (the anti theft device works by cutting off the fuel to the injectors). replaced 2 fuel pumps (all working), had electrical system checked, replaced a defective fuse box,bent plug. the problem occurred intermittently, & was documented by the shop. today car was disabled by the anti theft device as i turned onto the state highway.. when i picked my husband up from work at night the car displayed the anti theft light and buzzed & quit in the middle of a four lane road. we managed to get almost home, & turned into our driveway when the light began flashing & the buzzer again went off. a car almost hit us, but the guy pulled over & helped push our car. the local chevrolet dealer offered to do a diagnostic for $98, but says there are no bulletins or recalls it appears that a great many incidents of this sort have occurred without any response by the nhtsa to initiate a recall or have chevrolet fix or disable the device on affected vehicles, even though there is a span of over seven years or more during which chevy continued to manufacture vehicles with full knowledge that the part was defective & causing life threatening events. please direct chevrolet to notify owners & ameliorate the danger created by their defective product at their expense. *kb

The fuel gauge suddenly started to jump up and down and vehicle engine gets off and on. *tr

I purchased this 2005 chevy malibu used. shortly after had the right turn signal bulb blow, then left turn and both headlights at the same time. while replacing the bulbs, i noticed that the plastic surrounding the turn signal bulb had a large hole in it from melting. the other assembly had the same hole burnt in the turn signal light bulb cover. i have replaced the bulbs at least 2 more times this year. the problems with bulbs failing seems to happen in wet weather more frequently than dry weather. so i believe water is getting into the headlamps through these holes. the extreme heat is causing the headlight to become extremely cloudy. replacing the headlight assembly does not fix the problem because others have said it soon starts to melt again. please nhtsa these lighting systems that are failing are vital for nighttime driving, please get chevy to do the right thing and fix this dangerous issue. *tr

1.my 2005 mailbu has been failing to start when i turn over the engine. my remote car starter went out. 2.i bought it in nov,2010 until now feb, 2011 it has had about 5 failures to start. 3.i bought a new battery and so far it has worked but my remote control start does not work still or any of the remote control features. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet malibu. the contact stated that the vehicle failed to start intermittently and the security alert warning light illuminated. the vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the ignition pass lock sensor needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred on numerous occasions. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 83,115.

I had my first problem when i purchased the car. it would jerk & felt it was moving on it's own. then the lamps would go out and i was replacing the bulbs every month. then my key starter has failed two times after replacing them. the driver seat has calapsed on the left hand side. the rear seat handle to raise the seats up and down has broken on both passenger side. my lights have burned out on the front driver's side you can see the residue on the cover. the chairs was not scotch guard protected as stated they are very stained even when i tried to was them. in ready some of the others it appear as though mu care had all the defects of my counter parts. *tr

My vehicle stalled on rairoad track-when it hit the jarring --between the pavement and the tracks---the train was at a great distance---so the engineer stated---when they were 2078 feet from my chevrolet malibu -2005---they started to blow whistle----when i saw tghe train at a great distance -and yes i did have heavy things on my keychain--but gm failed to notify -i have a mailbox and a telephone--i was hitting the gas pedal over and over again and when i was doing that i remember hitting the ignition switch but the car was already dead-i was impacted and almost lost my life---it took me 3 years to recoperate----i did not know about the recall--and they started the recall in 2014--cover up gm--you should have startedit in 2010!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! there are 26 photos -but not in my posession i will attempt to obtain them----

Power steering failure. *tr

Purchased 2005 chevrolet malibu in may, 2009. ongoing problems with brake and turn signal lights not working. attempted replacement and repair by mechanic. lights remained inoperable as did fuel gauge by 80,000 miles. while parked, car ignited from under center console, door locks engaged, and interior burned. total loss of auto and contents. *tr

The power steering light comes on and sometimes the steering wheel won't turn at all. there is a knocking noise in the steering wheel when i turn. it was fixed only to start again a few weeks later. gm won't repair cause they say i'm over the mileage. the gas hand jumps up an down. *tr

I have a 2005 chevy malibu, bought brand new, i've had problems from the start with this car. the rack & pinion has been replaced twice. the hub bearings have had to be replaced, the rear stabilizer bar needs replacing. i have a gas cap issue, now to top it all off, i've been having issues where i am driving and i start to accelerate and the steering wheel locks up, i have been on the freeway several times when this happens. this is a very dangerous situation, gm will do nothing about this. they know that the 2005 malibu is a dangerous car but will not recall at all. *tr

I have read alot of reviews on customers that are having problems with there chevy malibu's from 2004-2008. the main complaint is the steering column locking up with out warning. i experienced that myself and luckily i was driving at a low speed. my steering wheel vibrates after the car has stopped and threatens to lock up again. there should be a recall on cars from those years. *tr

2005 chevy malibu. have told the dealership many times about the "bumping/thumbing" while the car is turning. and found out that there is no place for powering steering fluid...thank god for purchasing extended warranties!!!!!!!!!!! *tr

My friend, mrs. x., a widow and mother of two children attending college, has been plagued by a recurring problem with repairs performed by johnny londoff chevrolet. her car, a 2005 chevy malibu with 68,000 miles, has been in for repairs four times. . . londoff has extracted over $1400.00 from this widow woman, continuing to replace part after part which has done nothing to alleviate the complaint. they do not know what the problem is !!!! the internet reveals thousands of identical complaints! essentially, ms. x's chevy stops running, or slows to 15 mph while in the fast lane of the interstate highway where the speed limit is 60 mph with no warning! the last time the car was taken into londoff, the service manager, mr. b w. advised that after taking $1400.00 from my friend for "repairs" that did not effect a repair, that londoff was going to replace the "powertrain control module" under factory warranty, to complete the repairs which the previous repairs did not fix. to make the story short, londoff replaced the pcm and throttle body / pedal for mrs. x, and now 30 days later, the car once again stalls in the fast lane - in the rain, as huge tractor trailers came barreling down on her at high speed at night. i fear for both my friends life and her safety in this ' 05 malibu. we took the car in again today for the 4th repair opportunity for londoff, and "mr. w" refused to guarantee to make good on the 12 month, 12000 repair warranty, and refused to provide either a loaner or a rental at gm's cost so mrs. x could make it to work next week. essentially, these men continue to "jack up" this poor widow woman, taking more and more of her meager sustenance without effecting repairs!!!! mrs.x's life, her job, her home, her credit, her children's college education is threatened by gm / londoff's failure to properly repair this vehicle. in addition, time after time this car has broken down in the fast lane in heavy traffic during a thunderstorm. obvious recall !!! updated ivoq 12/01/10 *tr

I have a 2005 malibu,and have had a clunking noise in the steering since approx. 40,000miles. i have taken it to the garage several times and they have told me that chevrolet did not make a place to lubricate the joints inside the column so that they dry out quickly,and are banging together and it is nothing to worry abouti do not agree,anything constantly clanging against another object is eventually going to wear out. i also just had my fuel tank,fuel sensor replaced,at the cost of 600. it started giving false readings and then got increasingly worse until it did not work anymore. my exterior lighting is also messed up. i have to replace bulbs frequently and it looks like the base of the bulb is melted when they take them out. i had contacted my local dealer on these issues and they stated no recalls . *tr

I stopped to air up a tire and wash my car. i noticed smoke in the back portion of my car. i looked in the trunk but couldn't tell the origin of the smoke. smoke continued to fill my car from the back and i opened the trunk again. i placed my hand on the left fender and immediately noticed how hot it was. another costumer came over and jerked the trunk liner back to reveal that the fuse panel was on fire. *tr

Tl*the contact owns as 2005 chevrolet malibu. while driving approximately 5 mph; proceeding to make a right turn, the right turn signal switch began blinking at a rapid pace. an authorized technician stated that the failure was due to the turn signal bulb socket overheating which caused the plastic to melt. the vehicle was repaired; however, the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer on four separate occasions for the identical failure. the contact had concerns of the safety risk involved. the failure mileage was 118,000 and the current mileage was 120,000.

A bolt fell out of the left front fender. the front right turn signal does not work as the holder does not make electrical contact with the bulb.a dangerous situation. the remote keys no longer work. the electrical seat control does not operate properly. this car has so many problems that i will never buy another gm product. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet malibu. while driving approximately 35 mph, all four doors on the vehicle locked and unlocked independently. the vehicle was turned off and restarted, but the failure persisted. the vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. the vehicle was repaired, but the details of the repair were unavailable. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 29,000.

The anti-theft system in my 2005 chevy malibu ls keeps coming on while i'm driving. when that happens everything on the dash stops working. mph, fuel engine light comes on . when anti-theft light comes on the car will not start. so that leaves me and my daughters stuck. now when i stop and park the car for any length of time the anti-theft system activates. i am so scared to drive this car because i never know if it's going to start. me and my daughters have been stranded in dark parking lots for up to 6 hours. also the break light are a mess. when i'm driving the are on and when i push on the break the go off. someone please help us with this horrible car. i will never buy another american made car again. *tr

Front left turn signal repeatedly burns out, amber casing has melted hole, changing bulbs does not fix problem. *tt

We bought this car 4 yrs ago in aug 2008 at only a few yrs old we were very optimistic that the $ we were spending on it would be worth the less upkeep than that of the 1994 crown vic that we traded in (& my husbands 78 olds that has always required more work than it put out since he purchased it when we met back in 06). since it was a few yrs old we thought that even though there was no warranty on our new "used" car, we would be ok. we were wrong. the first problem we noticed was the alignment which makes the car shake/vibrate at speeds 60+ & our first vacation we took it on which we only drove 4-5 hrs there & we ended up with 2 flat tires on the way. then the headlights & blinkers had to be replaced (full units) bc both of them kept giving out & the bulbs weren't the problems & i kept getting traffic tickets bc i wasn't always aware when one would go out. our 2 biggest problems to date have been our fuel sensor/electrical problems which quit working after 1 yr & i have run out of gas 10 times bc it isn't easy to keep up with miles/dates & i have kids so filling up every day isn't easy either as well as the locks/buttons on the drivers door that do not work & i have to open my trunk with a key & had to pay $ to get auto lock so that i don't have to manually lock the doors w/ the keys & the transmission/motor we had to pay $2750 to replace bc the last one completely gave out resulting in the car not being able to run whatsoever & my husband having to literally push my neutral car with his bc we didn't have the $ at the time to fix it.. besides these problems there are the seats (plastic panels) falling/cracking apart, we had to replace the windshield bc anytime it rained our seats would be completely soaked.. & many other problems i still deal with. keep in mind for the 4 yrs i have owned this car i haven't wrecked it & my husband keeps it up (changes oil, brakes,etc). *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet malibu. when turning the steering wheel, the contact heard a popping sound. the failure began six months ago and now it is causing the power steering to fail. the failure was very subtle at first, but now the power steering fails for days at a time. the air conditioning would activate on and off, but now it does not work at all. the dealer stated that the power steering module and air conditioning resistor needed to be replaced. the contact also stated that the control panel is warm to the touch after driving for some time. the vehicle is currently with the dealer and the repair will cost over $900. the current mileage was 70,000 and failure mileage was 50,000. updated 09/10/08. *lj the consumer stated the shocks went bad, the tie rod ends had to be replaced, the cd became stuck in the cd player. the rear calipers had to be replaced and the starter worked intermittently. updated 09/12/08. *jb

Tl*the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet malibu. the contact stated that the power windows, locks, linkages, and ignition switch sporadically become inoperative. she took the vehicle to the dealer and they replaced the ignition switch at the cost of $495. the manufacturer stated that they would not assume responsibility for any repairs because the vehicle exceeded its mileage. all remedies as of march 31, 2009 have been insufficient in correcting the failures. the failure mileage was 45,000 and current mileage was 51,000.

I have a 2005 chevy malibu. the light in my dashboard stopped working. i took it to western auto, auto zone, and brians auto repair thinking it was a fuse that went out. i was told that at least three other people had the same problem. i was told there was a recall on this issue, but was told by gm there was not a recall concerning this issue. i then went back to auto zone and asked them to contact me if someone else has the same problem. according to the mechanics at gm the auto is to new to have this type of problem. of course i didn't get an extended warranty, so this is something i have to pay for out of my pocket. i'm very upset about this, so my plan is to file this complaint, and to take out news papers aids in the surrounding cities to see exactly how many people have had the same problem. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet malibu. while driving at low speeds and depressing the brake pedal, the brake lights would not illuminate and the cruise control seized without warning. the vehicle was repaired under nhtsa campaign number: 14v252000 (electrical system, service brakes, vehicle speed control), but the repair did not remedy the failures. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was approximately 54,000.

Drove car 2 blocks turned off ignition. attempted to start on numerous occasions. upon opening door no lights, insert key in ignition, turn ,nothing on console no ignition. had mechanic check car stated it has to be anti-theft system. vehicle has been taken to dealership for this problem before, ignition module replaced and reprogrammed,(2 months prior to the current situation). also have had problems related to transmission, would not start in park. had to put in neutral and push up to park while turning key. taken to personal mechanic changed out linkage in transmission. vehicle taken to dealership and reprogrammed. remote does not do anything. checked fuses and battery all good. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet malibu. while driving 65 mph, the power steering warning light illuminated. the contact had to use both hands to steer the vehicle with excessive force. the vehicle was shut off for approximately sixteen hours to reset the steering. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer and they performed a diagnostic test. the dealer stated that there was a short in the electrical system. the current and failure mileages were 51,000.

I bought my car about 9 months ago. it has about 36,750 miles on it now and my theft system light started staying on after i would start my car. then a couple of days later it would not let me start the car at all. the theft system light would steadily blink. i had to get it towed, they changed out the ignition in it and reprogrammed the car and runs fine. the gm place i took it to said they have had a lot of problems with this certain part going out in cars. i don't think it is fair that i had to pay for this when it has been out of warranty for only 700 miles. *jb

I owned the 2005 chevrolet malibu for almost 2 years. during that time i had to replace the rear turn signal once, and the front turn signals about 3 times each. somethingwas definitely wrong with the electrical part of this vehicle. the warranty has now expired, so i can get nothing done about it from gm or chevrolet. *ak a second complaint concerns the fan for the airconditioner/heater. it rattles constantly. before the warranty expired i took it in twice to the dealership and had repairs done on the vehicle. once the motor was replaced . . . was told their was something lodged in the fan. a week later the same noise. nothing has been resolved.