Most common 2005 Chevrolet Malibu problems
Share of the 975 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Malibu complaints by model year
Best Malibu years: 2025, 2021, 2019. Years to avoid: 2010. Compare all years →
2005 Chevrolet Malibu recalls (3)
Vehicle speed control › Cruise control
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and harness connector, and will relearn the brake…
Power train › Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Floor shift
General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on April 29, 2014, that they are recalling 56,214 model year 2007 and 2008 Saturn Aura vehicles. On May 22, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 1,074,899 model year 2004-2008 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured from May 16, 2003, through October 5, 2007, model…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and GM dealers will replace the shift cable assembly and mounting bracket, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule.
Steering › Electric power assist system
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2006 Malibu Maxx, 2009-2010 HHR (non-turbo), 2010 Cobalt, 2008-2009 Saturn Aura and 2004-2007 Ion, and 2005-2009 Pontiac G6.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will perform one of four bulletins. Parts are not currently available. GM expects to send an interim notification around May 28, 2014.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu:
Turn Signal Lamps
GM designed the MY 2004 and 2005 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx vehicles with a daytime running lamp (DRL) system that uses the same filament (the high power filament of a dual filament bulb) as the front turn signals.The high power filament operates at full battery voltage when functioning as a DRL.The DRL is illuminated whenever the headlamps are off, increasing the duty cycle of the front turn signal bulb.The…
What 2005 Chevrolet Malibu owners say
Steering all 506 →
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH and making a turn, the steering wheel inadvertently lost power steering assist functionality. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to continue to drive the vehicle with the extra effort needed to steer the vehicle. The contact stated that as she arrived at her destination, turned off the vehicle, and restarted it, the steering wheel regained power steering functionality. The contact notified an independent mechanic who advised her that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V153000 (Steering). The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring while driving and the steering wheel was increasingly more difficult to maneuver. …
The contact's wife owns a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle emitted a chime and the message "Steering" was displayed. The contact stated that the vehicle did not experience any mechanical failure and he was able to continue driving. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the steering torque sensor needed to be reprogrammed. The independent mechanic referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist as the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V153000 (Steering) on February 09, 2015. The failure mileage was approximately 106,200.
Electrical system all 180 →
This problem has occurred many times and I have taken to the internet to find out what I could to try to remedy it myself as I don't have endless disposable income to have someone else fix it. I have not had it seen by a professional, only consulted with a manager of a gm dealership repairs department over the phone as well as various mechanics and locksmiths. As I said I don't have endless disposable money to throw at this. The car will completely shut off in the middle of driving, I lose all power. The antitheft system engages in the middle of driving. Then I get no crank no start. I get stuck in the middle of the road. …
The car's anti-theft system (indicated on the dashboard lights) will randomly lock up the engine. Following a massive list of online suggestions from other Chevy owners who had the same problem, I learned to wait for 10-15 minutes with the key in the ignition (lights/radio on, no engine) before the anti-theft indicator disappears and the car can start again. Sometimes, I will have to repeat the process 2-3 times. This has been happening randomly for over 2 years despite taking it into a Chevy dealer for repairs twice. They claimed it was a battery issue and charged me over $500 to fix nothing; The engine would lock up again within a month. A cursory Google search shows that this has affected hundreds if not thousands of GM vehicles, some even claiming the anti-theft lock engaged while they were driving. …
Lights all 153 →
1st when got car from local dealer cruise control worked next day still hasn't, interior lights not working with new bulb, brake light on, leaking oil from pan, front end drifting, than at station no power steering, didn't know wtf, wheels didn't turn, shut off he later was there ignition switch will keep turning. Rins battery dead. I'm scared power steering will go out while driving. It's a scary thought, think I will sell .It's the worse recall I've heard of can they be fixed. Consumer has all 7 recalls.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu. On several occasions, the driver and passenger side turn signal bulbs failed to operate as intended. Upon inspecting the bulb and wiring harness, the contact became aware that the turn lamp housing was melted, which caused the turn signal to become inoperable. The contact stated that the bulb and housing were replaced on three occasions; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to wheelers Chevrolet GMC (2701 s maple ave, marshfield, wi 54449, [phone]) where it was diagnosed that the turn signal housing and bulbs needed to be replaced. There was no remedy for the failure. The contact stated that the bulbs and housing were being replaced every two months. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000.
2005 Chevrolet Malibu engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 21 / 32 / 25 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 20 / 29 / 23 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu a good car?
Based on 975 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 Malibu rates average: 21% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Malibu at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu?
The steering — 506 complaints, 52% of all complaints for this model year, most often about column. Next are the electrical system (180) and lights (153).
How many recalls does the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu, the most recent from May 14, 2014 (cruise control). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Malibu?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2025, 2021 and 2019. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2010. See the full Chevrolet Malibu years comparison.
At what mileage do 2005 Chevrolet Malibu problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 88,000 miles; 22% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.