FaultScore

2005 Chevrolet Malibu Classic engine problems

12 of the 123 complaints about the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Classic are about the engine — 10% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 109,224 miles.

F

12

Complaints

2

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Engine 8 66.7%
Engine AND Engine Cooling 2 16.7%
Engine 1 8.3%
Catalytic Convertor 1 8.3%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Austin, MN

ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #11566791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fort Wayne, IN

ENGINE

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

NHTSA complaint #11542461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 223,000 miles Memphis, TN

ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #11208666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 116,285 miles Peralta, NM

ENGINE

TAKATA RECALL ENGINE OIL KEEPS DISAPPEARING EVERY WEEK ! THERE ARE NO LEAKS ! THERE IS NO OIL IN THE WATER THAT I CAN SEE !

NHTSA complaint #11065431 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 148,569 miles Riverdale, IL

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,569.

NHTSA complaint #10986192 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 60,000 miles Westerville, OH

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

FUEL GAUGE FLUCTUATION AND ENGINE LIGHTS COMES ON. I DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM UNTIL AFTER THE LAST RECALL CAR IS IN GOOD SHAPE AND I FEEL THAT SOMETHING WENT WRONG AND THEY FAILED TO TELL ME AT THE DEALERSHIP. I NEED HELP.

NHTSA complaint #10705064 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Cross City, FL Crash 3 injured

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHICH ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND TWO PASSENGERS SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 12/9/14*CN THE CONSUMER DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL NOTIFICATION. UPDATED 06/1/2015

NHTSA complaint #10638036 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 117,792 miles Spokane, WA

ENGINE

WE BOUGHT A 2005 CHEVY MALIBU CLASSIC BASE MODEL FROM A REPUTABLE DEALER. EVERYTHING WAS WORKING FINE UNTIL MY SON FLIPPED THE SWITCH ON THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR FOR THE LIGHTS FROM "AUTO" TO FULL LIGHTS AT NIGHT. THE DASH CLUSTER ILLUMINATION WENT OUT ALONG WITH THE RADIO BACK LIGHTING, HVAC BACK LIGHTING, DOOR LOCK AND WINDOW SWITCH LIGHTING. THE DOME LIGHT STOPPED WORKING. THE DOME LIGHT HAD BURNED WIRES AND THE PLASTIC FIXTURE WAS BURNED. REPLACED IT BACK TO THE HARNESS. FUSES KEPT BLOWING. HAVE SINCE TRIED REPLACING THE TURN INDICATOR/LIGHTS/WIPER MODULE, THE DIMMER SWITCH, AND DASH CLUSTER, UPON INSPECTING THE BODY CONTROL MODULE I FOUND CORRODED MODULE CONNECTORS THAT WERE CORRODED AND BURNED. NOW THE CAR WON'T START AND THE SUSPECT IS THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. THIS IS CLEARLY AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION FROM THE ASSEMBLY LINE AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN WASTE BY MYSELF MY SON AND OTHERS REPORTING ACROSS THE INTERNET WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS AS OURSELVES.

NHTSA complaint #10584103 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 150,000 miles Ashville, NY

ENGINE

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER CAR AND FOR NO REASON THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST WEEKS. THE CAR ALSO ON 6 OCCASIONS WOULD NOT START(HAS BRAND NEW BATTERY) WON'T TURN OVER, MY DAUGHTER HAS BEEN STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES. AFTER A $400. 00 FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT , WHICH AFTER IT WAS REPLACED THE CAR , OTHER CARS WHICH ARE JUST SHUTTING OFF WHILE THEY ARE BEING DRIVEN.THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS TO LOSE ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING!. AND AS WELL THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS CAR OWNERS WHO HAVE REPLACED FUEL PUMPS, WHICH DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CAR NOW HAS HAD THE IGNITION REPLACE AS THE MECHANICS "THINK:"ITS THE SECURITY SYSTEM!. TO DATE THE REPAIRS ARE HITTING $1,000. ALSO THE TURNING SIGNALS, RADIO AND A/C ALL WORK INTERMITTENTLY. I AM NO MECHANIC BUT SEEMS THERE IS ELECTRICAL/SECURITY SYSTEMS ISSUES WITH THESE CARS. THE FORUMS ARE LOADED WITH CAR OWNERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES! BUT OF COURSE THEY ARE SO VARIED THAT MOST NOT REPORTED TO YOU!AND WE ALL KNOW THE GARAGES DON'T REPORT ALL ISSUES! THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!

NHTSA complaint #10471360 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 102,164 miles Linn Creek, MO

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING HOME IN MY 2005 CHEVY MALIBU CLASSIC I HEARD A LOAD POPPING SOUND AND SMOKE CAME ROLLING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I THOUGHT AT FIRST THAT I HAD BLOWN THE TIRE OFF THE RIM SINCE I COULD SMELL LIKE BURNT RUBBER AND SEE THE SMOKE BUT THIS WAS NOT THE CASE. I LOOKED DOWN AND SAW ALL THE GAUGES LIT UP AND THE ENGINE HAD DIED. I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP SMOKING AT FIRST. BY THE TIME THEY ARRIVED IT HAD STOPPED BECAUSE THE OIL HAD BURNED OFF OF THE MOTOR. AFTER HAVING THE CAR TOWED HOME AND THEN TO A REPAIR SHOP THE NEXT DAY IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE CAP CAME OFF OF THE END OF A ROD WHILE THE PISTON WAS IN THE UP POSITION THE FUEL INSIDE FORCED THE PISTON DOWN CAUSING IT TO BLOW A HOLE IN THE SIDE OF THE MOTOR. HOW OR WHAT CAUSED THAT CAP TO COME OFF CAUSING THIS ISSUE? I NOW HAVE TO TRY AND LOCATE A MOTOR TO REPLACE THE ONE CURRENTLY DESTROYED.

NHTSA complaint #10340211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 27,000 miles Lawton, OK

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POPPING SOUND IN THE STEERING WHEEL HAS OCCURRED SINCE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS A PROBLEM WITH HIS BRAKES. THE CALIPERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES SINCE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY WORKED FOR A FEW DAYS AND BEGAN TO SQUEAK EXCESSIVELY AGAIN. ALSO, THERE WAS AN EGG SMELL IN HIS CAR AND BEGAN A FEW MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT COULD BE DONE TO CORRECT THE ONGOING VEHICLE INCIDENTS/FAILURES.

NHTSA complaint #10179342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 35,042 miles Supply, NC Crash

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

DT*: THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THERE WAS A LOSS OF ALL POWER AND NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AROUND A SHARP CURVE WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A CRASH, THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE POLICE WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER, BUT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. IN ADDITION TO THE STALLING PROBLEM, THE TRUNK LID LEAKED ALLOWING RAIN TO ENTER THE TRUNK COMPARTMENT. THE TRUNK CARPETING WAS REPLACED, BUT THE TRUNK LID CONTINUES TO LEAK. PRIOR TO THE PROBLEMS, THE VEHICLE WAS EXPOSED TO A HURRICANE BUT DID NOT HAVE ANY FLOOD DAMAGE.

NHTSA complaint #10147938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Classic problems

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