203 of the
29,413 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Malibu
are about the doors, latches and locks —
1% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2008.
The contact owns 2019 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the driveway, after removing the foot from the pedal brake and turning off the vehicle, the message "Shift to Park" was displayed. The contact was unable to exit the vehicle while the message was displayed. Additionally, the doors were unable to be locked during the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The dealer was contacted, and the contact was provided the cost for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 83,555.
NHTSA complaint #11611170 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that after returning to the parked vehicle, it was discovered that the rear trunk lid had erroneously opened. The contacted indicated that the failure had occurred on several occasions. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 31,000.
NHTSA complaint #11522710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Front Driver and Passenger door can not be opened from the inside or outside. Locking mechanism doesn't work. I've tried Unlocking the door with remote, button in the car, manually in the car and sticking the key in the actual door itself. When I pull on the handles nothing happens. You can hear the actuator working inside the doors, and the manual door lock knob goes up and down, but neither front door can be opened. The passenger side had the issue first, but I rarely have passengers in my car so I left it alone. Now, the driver side does the same thing. I've tried everything I can think of to get the door opened, but it does not work. I can not even get the inside of the door panel off to look and see what's wrong because the door is closed. This is a serious safety issue because I would not be able to get out of the car in an emergency. As of right now, the only way to get into and out of the car is climbing out through a back door.
NHTSA complaint #11512476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the front driver’s side door would not open from inside or outside the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 196,000. The VIN was not provided.
NHTSA complaint #11425618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEYS PROVIDED AT THE TIME OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE DID NOT OPEN THE DOORS AND THE TRUNK MANUALLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE KEYS TO A LOCKSMITH WHO STATED THAT THE KEYS DID NOT MATCH THE DOOR LOCKS AND THE TRUNK LOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TURAN FOLEY CHEVROLET BUICK (228-206-0289, LOCATED AT 11123 U S 49, GULFPORT, MS 39503) WHERE THE MANAGER AND GENERAL MANAGER WERE UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE. THE GENERAL MANAGER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST TO REPLACE THE LOCKS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT GET BACK WITH THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 14. *DT
NHTSA complaint #11288411 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON OR OFF, ALL THE DOORS UNLOCKED INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000.
NHTSA complaint #11280279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. ALSO, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW FAILED TO OPERATE AND WOULD NOT ROLL DOWN AND THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR COULD NOT BE UNLOCKED FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. FURTHERMORE, THE IGNITION KEY COULD BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND, AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND SHUT OFF. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
NHTSA complaint #11133439 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR REMAINED IN THE LOCKED POSITION. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. CHUCK NICHOLSON INC (LOCATED AT 7190 OH-39, MILLERSBURG, OH 44654, (330) 275-3522) STATED THAT A WAIVER NEEDED TO BE SIGNED PRIOR TO ANY ATTEMPTS TO UNLOCK THE DOOR DUE TO POSSIBLE DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
NHTSA complaint #11133517 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG SENSOR INDICATOR FLASHED OFF AND ON, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING, THE REAR TRUNK LID WOULD ERRONEOUSLY UNLOCK AND OPEN. THE FAILURES WERE NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.
NHTSA complaint #11129903 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY SHOOK, DECELERATED, AND THE BATTERY FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT OPERATE, WHICH PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM EXITING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER (ALL STAR CHEVROLET, 11377 AIRLINE HWY, BATON ROUGE, LA 70816) REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THE COIL SPRING, BUT THE FAILURES CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11083291 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS WOULD NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ENTER OR EXIT THE VEHICLE. ALSO, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RUSH CHEVROLET (1395 W. HIGHWAY 290, ELGIN, TX). THE DEALER REPLACED THE REMOTE DOOR LOCK, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,700.
NHTSA complaint #11080697 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE GEAR AUTOMATICALLY CHANGED AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, SERVICE TRACTION, AND CHECK ENGINE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, RESTARTED THE ENGINE, AND THE VEHICLE RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCKS AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED AND UNLOCKED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.
NHTSA complaint #11013751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BCM WAS CONTROLLING THE CHARGING OF THE ALTERNATOR, WHICH DAMAGED THE BEARINGS AND ALTERNATOR. THE BEARINGS AND ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ALTERNATOR, THE POWER STEERING, HEADLIGHTS, AND ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING INDICATORS INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. ALSO, WHEN THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, THE DOORS INDEPENDENTLY LOCKED WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN), 14V153000 (STEERING), AND 14V252000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 199,000.
NHTSA complaint #10979025 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS, THE LATCHES FAILED TO CONNECT. AS A RESULT, THE DOORS REMAINED OPEN AND THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
NHTSA complaint #10967878 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE DOOR LATCHES WERE DEFECTIVE, WHICH RESULTED IN THE DOOR LOCKS HAVING TO BE LOCKED AND UNLOCKED MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR ACTUATOR MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT CONSIDER IT A SAFETY ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000.
NHTSA complaint #10950120 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY REAR PASSENGER DOOR LOCK DISENGAGED FROM THE AUTOMATIC LOCKS AND CAN ONLY BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE. (SPRING 2016) MY TRACTION CONTROL IS PERIODICALLY SAYING THAT IT HAS MALFUNCTIONED BUT DOES NOT ALWAYS. WHEN THE LIGHT COMES ON, I FEEL A PULSE AS I'M BRAKING AND SOMETIMES IF IT COMES ON WHILE I'M DRIVING I'LL FEEL A SLIGHT JOLT THROUGH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I ALSO HEAR A CLICK NOISE LIKE THE PEDAL MAY DISENGAGE. (LATE SUMMER 2016) I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S RELATED BUT SINCE MOST THINGS SEEM ELECTRICAL, MY RADIO SOMETIMES WILL NOT TURN OFF AND SEEMS TO DO WHAT IT WANTS DURING TIMES WHEN OTHER THINGS ARE SEEMINGLY MALFUNCTIONING (I.E. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL ISSUE). ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, I HAVE TAKEN THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, OPENED THE DOOR BUT MY RADIO DOESN'T TURN OFF. (LATE SUMMER 2016) ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, I HAVE TAKEN THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, BUT THE CAR SEEMS TO STILL BE RUNNING, LIKE IDLING. I'VE THOUGHT IT WAS THE COOLING SYSTEM, BUT I'VE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN IN THE LAST 22 YEARS I'VE BEEN DRIVING NOR HEARD IT FROM ANYONE ELSE I ASK. (LATE SUMMER 2016) I HAVE ALSO BEEN DRIVING, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AND THEN REALIZE THAT I'M SLOWING DOWN ONLY TO FIND THE CRUISE IS NO LONGER ENGAGED. THE FIRST FEW TIMES I THOUGHT IT WAS ME. NOW, I RARELY USE IT BECAUSE IT'S NOT CONSISTENTLY RELIABLE. (LATE SUMMER 2016) WHILE MY FUSE AND BULBS ARE FINE, BOTH OF MY TAILLIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING. (LATE NOVEMBER, 2016 WHEN SOMEONE BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION).
NHTSA complaint #10929854 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE PUSHING THE LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTON INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE OR WHILE INSERTING THE KEY IN THE DOOR LOCK. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
NHTSA complaint #10923864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
"TAKATA RECALL": THE DOOR LOCK DOES NOT WORK AT TIMES. THE DOOR WILL NOT SHUT AS WELL AS THE DOOR'S LOCK ASSEMBLY NOT DISENGAGING. THE LOCKING ASSEMBLY WILL EITHER NOT UNLOCK OR WILL NOT ALLOW THE DOOR TO STAY LATCHED. IT HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING WHEN MOVING, STATIONARY, DRIVING ON ANY TYPE OF ROAD OR PARKING AREA. WE HAD DAVIDSON CHEVROLET IN WATERTOWN, NEW YORK ON MARCH 7, 2016 FOR A SEAT BELT PROBLEM AND HAD THE DOOR LOOKED AT THAT DAY. WE WERE INFORMED IT WOULD COST OVER $500.00 TO REPLACE THE PART. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I HAVE ALMOST FALLEN OUT OF CAR WHILE DRIVING WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE CAR WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT AND NOTHING CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN. THE LAST DATE THIS HAPPENED WAS 10-27-2016. THE FIRST IT HAPPENED WAS LAST YEAR.
NHTSA complaint #10919374 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE DOORS LOCKED ON THEIR OWN AND THE CONTACT COULD NOT EXIT THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE IGNITION KEY BECAME STUCK ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,000.
NHTSA complaint #10918456 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO UNLOCK FROM THE INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE KEY FOB ALSO FAILED TO UNLOCK THE DRIVER'S DOOR. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO USE OTHER DOORS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,197. UPDATED 09/29/16*LJ
NHTSA complaint #10894747 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.