Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Chevrolet Malibu owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact discovered that while driving at various speeds, the key could be removed from the ignition while the engine was still running. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). The vehicle was taken to the dealer for service, and the vehicle was returned in less than 30 minutes. The contact was suspicious about the work that was performed on the vehicle. The contact stated that soon after the recall repair, the key remained stuck in accessory mode while attempting to turn off the vehicle. Due to the failure, the contact was forced to remove the key from the ignition while the engine was running and used pliers to unhook the battery to turn off the vehicle. …
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the ignition switch was inoperable and had been replaced three times by the dealer; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with ignition switch failure. The contact was informed that the ignition switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.
Multiple times, the vehicle, while driving, electrically shuts down. security light comes on, sometimes, many attempts to restart will work. These shutdowns cause me to revet to manual bakes and steering.
Tl* the contact owned a 2003 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving at approximately 55 MPH and attempting to merge into another lane, the vehicle crashed into two barrels. The air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle stalled. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a junk yard. The contact sustained a left knee, left ankle, and whiplash injuries that needed medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 14v40000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 133,200. Updated 04/20/16 consumer stated the ignition switch locked and GM says due to air bags imploding consumer had power. Consumer was behind the steering and it locked no brakes. Updated 06/05/18
For years, car stalls while driving and can not be re-started, or more frequently, just won't start. No warning except a fine, dim red anti-theft system light which is unlikely to be noticed at all, and certainly not immediately. Can happen several times per day, or can go two weeks without a problem. Short term remedy is reliable if inconvenient and in some situation, dangerous; with car in "park," turn off all system, turn on ignition switch but do not start, do not disturb for at least en minutes. System will then be reset. There is evidence that this problem had multiple causes. Got partial, temporary improvement (less frequent failure) by replacing defective ds lock switch, which is also used to program that locking system features. …
Not sure what the problem is but there are other complaints for same vehicle. Some have noted repair and still the problem occurs. Car will not start (some have stalled while driving) and must leave key in certain position for 10-15 minutes before it will start again. This is my mother's car and I was with her several weeks ago and we pulled out of parking space and it died and would not start (anti-theft light also flashes). Thank goodness we were not in the line of heavy traffic and a nice man pushed our car out of the way of incoming traffic to the lot. And thank goodness we were at a dr's office (where my ill 85 year old mom had been) so we could go inside out of the 90 degree heat. This car needs to be recalled and don't know why it has not been. I am extremely concerned that my mom will be driving and this car will quit and she will be hit and god forbid there be a fatality. …
Was not able to get keys out of the ignition switch. The keys would stick, and I was not able to remove the keys. Took it to a Chevrolet dealership, and they had to replace the shifter and knob assembly. I am the original owner of the vehicle and used the original keys. Furthermore, this car had low mileage, 56,040 miles, for a seven year old car, and was barely driven to have to have such a serious repair. I see that there is some kind of technical bulletin for this issue, but Chevrolet should have paid for the repair instead of charging me the $346.56 to repair a known issue that should have been recalled. I have had so much trouble with my 2003 Chevrolet Malibu that I would never purchase a Chevrolet or GM product ever again. Most of the issues that I see in the service bulletins are issues that I have also had. …
I parked the car in the driveway which is sloped downwards, and thought I put the car in park and turned the ignition off and took out the keys. After I got out of the car, it started rolling forward into the garage door. I quickly jumped into the seat and slammed on the brake. Thank g-d, no real damage was done, but I am pregnant and got really shocked. I realized the extent of this safety issue which I previously disregarded. The issue is that the keys can come out of the ignition while it is in the on position. Therefore if I forget to put the car in park and take the keys out they come out. Most cars have a safety feature which prevents removing the keys until the ignition is off, which cannot be done unless the car is in park. In my car however this is not the case as the keys come out in the on position and I am therefore lacking the feature to remind me to put the car in park. …
On July 20, 2015 could not adjust the front driver seat. Also power windows in the back driver window would not roll down or up. July 23, 2015 when to get an oil change at sears which they didn't peform due to they needed drive time to approve. Checked the oil it was very low added 1 quart on August 10 I was on the freeway going speed limit car started reducing its speed heard a loud noise pulled over couldnot drive it so I had it towed home next day ain had to have it towed to the shop where drivetime told me to take it they had it from 8/11/2015-8/25/2015 on aug 26 they so called put a new engine it was only 1 day later the check engine light came on and it overheated took it back to the shop and they said it needed the cat converter replaced in which it was not covered at that time on the 28 it was approved by the time I was informed drive time had my car repo due to nonpayment I …
The key will shift from the 'on' position to the 'accessory' or 'off' position by itself and without warning. This shuts down the engine, ps, pb, airbags.... I first complained about this back in 2003/2004 to the dealer and was told to remove the keys form the key ring. Now this car is under a recall (GM recall #n14350, NHTSA recall #14V400) and all GM and the dealer say they will do is shave off some of the plastic from the GM emblem on the original keys to make them lighter. I was told that they do not even have to have the car in the shop - all they do is modify the plastic emblem on the original keys. This won't solve the problem as I don't use the original GM keys and there is no plastic to shave off and I don't have a huge key ring full of keys. This is an ignition problem, not a key problem.
Related recalls
Electrical system › Ignition
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.
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.
Electrical complaints in other Malibu years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2003 Chevrolet Malibu?
NHTSA has 289 complaints about the electrical system of the 2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 51% of the model year's 569 complaints. The component named most often is ignition › anti-theft › control module (55 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Chevrolet Malibu electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 14V-400 (ignition, Jul 3, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2003 Chevrolet Malibu electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles, and 5% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 1 fire and 3 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.