NHTSA vehicle safety data

2005 Chevrolet Malibu Classic Recalls & Complaints

The 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Classic has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 92 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Chevrolet dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Classic. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2005 Chevrolet Malibu Classic owner complaints

Owners have filed 92 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Classic, describing incidents dated March 7, 2005 to January 20, 2024.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 41 complaints
Steering 20 complaints
Engine 12 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System 9 complaints
Exterior Lighting 6 complaints
Service Brakes 6 complaints

Of the 92 complaints on file, 6 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 92 complaints, owners report 5 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11566791 · Filed January 21, 2024
While driving on the interstate while using the cruise control, the vehicle started increasing speed and rpm’s. I could not turn off cruise by braking or using the off button on steering wheel. I had to put it in neutral which caused the engine to redline in rpm’s, so I could use brakes to safely…
ODI #11542461 · Filed September 4, 2023
driving the car it just shuts off which results in no power no steering and no brakes possibly an ignition switch problem.
ODI #11351037 · Filed August 24, 2020
IGNITION SWITCH PROOBLEMS

Read all 92 complaints

Owner-reported

2005 Chevrolet Malibu Classic mileage at failure

66 of the 92 complaints on file for the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Classic give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Component	Median	Middle half	Based on
Electrical System	Median 90,000 miles	Middle half 70,000–130,000 miles	Based on 30 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

Ignition Switch may Turn Off

NHTSA #14V400000 · Electrical System — Ignition · NHTSA notice

Reported July 3, 2014 · General Motors LLC

Potentially affected: 5,877,718 vehicles

Repair completion: 37.05% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign 14350 · Owners notified September 8, 2014

Defect description

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Safety consequence

If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Classic. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

92 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Classic.

Engine

ODI #11566791

Incident: January 20, 2024 · Filed: January 21, 2024

While driving on the interstate while using the cruise control, the vehicle started increasing speed and rpm’s. I could not turn off cruise by braking or using the off button on steering wheel. I had to put it in neutral which caused the engine to redline in rpm’s, so I could use brakes to safely stop on the side of the interstate highway. I turned off the engine and opened the hood to look inside. I turned ignition back on and immediately the engine revved to redline rpm’s again.

Steering; Air Bags; Engine

ODI #11542461

Incident: September 2, 2023 · Filed: September 4, 2023

driving the car it just shuts off which results in no power no steering and no brakes possibly an ignition switch problem.

Electrical System

ODI #11351037

Incident: August 17, 2020 · Filed: August 24, 2020

IGNITION SWITCH PROOBLEMS

Electrical System

ODI #11256454

Incident: March 1, 2019 · Filed: September 18, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE ANTI-THEFT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. MIDWAY CHEVROLET(381 12TH ST, PLAINWELL, MI) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

Fuel System, Gasoline; Electrical System

ODI #11243945

Incident: April 1, 2019 · Filed: August 14, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR FLASHED AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

ODI #11219620

Incident: June 12, 2019 · Filed: June 12, 2019

THE THEFT SYSTEM KEEPS GOING OFF FOR NO REASON LEAVING ME STRANDED FOR 10-15 MINUTES. IT HAPPENED TO TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY 3 TIMES IN THE PAST THE WHOLE DASH BOARD LIT UP AND THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT WAS BLINKING. IT ALSO HAPPENS WHILE I INITIALLY START THE CAR UP.

Electrical System; Engine

ODI #11208666

Incident: May 1, 2006 · Filed: May 20, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 223,000.

Electrical System

ODI #11172396

Incident: January 24, 2019 · Filed: January 27, 2019

I HAVE A 2005 MALIBU - THAT IS A MONEY PIT- THIER IS A WIRING IGNITION PROBLEM - MY CAR IS AN INTERMITTENT STARTER - I'VE CHANGED FUSES- ALTERNATOR - FUEL PUMP- BEEN TOLD THIS AND THAT - I'M A SINGLE FEMALE - AND CAN'T DRIVE THIS CAR ANYWHERE - IT STOPS WHEN EVER IT WANTS TO - IN ORDER HE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD - OR GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE AAA HAS RETIRED MY TOWING - I'M ONLINE READING AND EVERYBODY HAS WENT THROUGH MY HE SAME - I CALLED LAST WEEK BEFORE HAVING MY CAR TOWED AGAIN - TO SEE IF THIER HAS BEEN A RECALL AND I HEARD NO- I HAD IT TOWED - SPENT 320 DOLLARS BEING TOLD IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR AFTER GOING THROUGH 2 BATTERIES - FOR THE SAME THING - I JUST GOT MY CAR BACK - WENT OUT TO GET SOME COFFEE - COME OUT AND THE CAR WON'T START AGAIN - WOULD SOMEONE CALL ME ABOUT THIS - 214 755 -3606

Power Train

ODI #11120609

Incident: July 27, 2018 · Filed: August 17, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION DUE TO THE GEAR SHIFTER NOT BEING IN THE PARK POSITION, ALTHOUGH THE SHIFT INDICATOR DISPLAYED PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. MAGEE AUTOPLEX CHEVROLET (2127 WASHINGTON ST, FRANKLINTON, LA 70438, (866) 551-5128) WAS CONTACTED AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,596.

Steering; Wheels; Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

ODI #11099322

Incident: May 25, 2018 · Filed: June 2, 2018

I CAN'T USE POWER STEERING FLUID IN MY CAR BECAUSE I'VE BEEN TOLD IT'S ELECTRICAL. I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY APARTMENT BUILDING AND I CAME UP TO A RED LIGHT UP THE ROAD TO TURN LEFT. I STOPPED AT THE LIGHT FOR A MINUTE, AS THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I CONTINUED AN THATS WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. I COULDN'T BARELY TURN MY STEERING WHEEL AND ITS HARD AN THATS WHEN "POWER STEERING" POPPED UP ON MY DASH. MY STEERING WHEEL SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY AND I'M SCARED TO DRIVE IT AND ITS MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM MY JOB.

Other Chevrolet Malibu Classic model years

Check your 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Classic VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Chevrolet Malibu Classic at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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