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2005 Chevrolet Malibu Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 975 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu, most often about the steering (52% of complaints, typically around 90,500 miles). It is 8th of 26 Malibu model years by number of complaints and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2005 Chevrolet Malibu problems
Steering
506 complaints · 52%Half of these problems showed up before 90,500 miles. Parts named most often: column, rack and pinion, electric power assist system, linkages.
Tl contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu. On approximately 100 occasions, the power steering light would illuminate on the instrument panel while driving various speeds. The steering wheel would become difficult to turn as if it were locked. The contact would have to shut off and restart the vehicle to correct the…
Tl contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving between 25-60 MPH, the power steering warning indicator light illuminated. Five seconds later, there was a loss of power steering ability. The contact pulled over and the power steering returned after 15 minutes. The dealer stated that the steering column needed…
Electrical
180 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 101,000 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, wiring, instrument cluster/panel, alternator/generator/regulator.
Power steering quit working. Here in 2013, with 175000 miles, gm will not honor their "service policy" , due to miles! It only covered up to 150000 miles! Absurd!
The power steering light comes on and sometimes the steering wheel won't turn at all. There is a knocking noise in the steering wheel when I turn. It was fixed only to start again a few weeks later. Gm won't repair cause they say I'm over the mileage. The gas hand jumps up an down.
Lights
153 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 76,500 miles. Parts named most often: turn signal, headlights, brake lights, hazard flashing warning lights.
Front right drl bulb keeps going out.. When replaced I noticed the socket appears to be bad and the amber casing is melted. The light has been replaced 3 times in the last 3 months.
Headlights are dull. Passenger blinker does not work. Changed the bulb a couple times. Amber cover inside the headlight is melted. Hardly any light while driving at night. This is an accident waiting to happen. Went to dealer and they couldn't figure out what was wrong. Told me to go see someone who knows about head…
Fuel system
70 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 98,500 miles. Parts named most often: storage, delivery.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The diagnosis was that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was…
2005 Chevrolet Malibu ls with 3.5 v6 engine. Fuel gauge reads empty and check engine light comes on after every refill of fuel tank. Problem has been continual since 7/12/ 2010.
Brakes
69 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 101,500 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, foundation components.
Brake lights remain on with no contact with brake pedal. When pedal is depressed the brake lights go off. This has caused numerous 'road rage' incidents and near-miss rear-end collisions.
Every once in a while it feels like my brakes are locked up they start vibrating if I go over 40 and the left caliper is really hot and it'll have problems getting up to speed
Engine
66 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 89,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, cooling system, exhaust system.
Check engine/power steering light came on when starting down the road. Rpms shot up to 4 and 5, car won't shift (automatic car), MPH stopped reading, all the info I get through my radio screen went blank, there is only an error sign where my mileage is.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu. While attempting to start the vehicle, it would not start. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The…
Transmission
65 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 88,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, driveline.
I had to buy a transmission for my Malibu and now I am receiving recalls (multiple) # 14152 & #13036 for the same car. However, on the freeway coming home from temecula, ca, south bound on the 15 highway, my transmission was not engaging. No loud sounds, or excess acceleration, nor too much weight (driver and…
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14v252000 (service brakes, hydraulic, electrical system, exterior lighting, vehicle speed control, electronic stability control). The vehicle was taken to smith Chevrolet cadillac at ([phone] (1601 auto mall dr…
Seats
62 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 89,000 miles. Parts named most often: mid/rear assembly, front assembly.
I have a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu lt model with a problem with the front driver seat weld that holds the top seat frame to the lower seat frame. The weld that's holds them together broke. This is the second time this has happen. The seat only has one weld on the lower right braket, but the left lower braket has two welds…
2005 Chevrolet Malibu. The drivers seat rails and factory welds have failed. The seat is not secure to the car. I took the car to the dealer where I bought the car (fitzgeralds auto mall in frederick) and was told it is not covered and that I would have to pay the $700+ dollars to have it fixed. There is 91000 miles…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2005 Chevrolet Malibu recalls
Stability control: electronic stability control (esc)
Risk: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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 pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an interim letter to customers on july 14, 2014. The recall began on august 18, 2014. Owners may contact general motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (saturn). Gm's number for this recall is 13036.
Full defect summary
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 aura vehicles manufactured april 24, 2006, through may 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the body control module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the brake apply sensor (bas) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'park' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash
Transmission: floor shift
Risk: If the transmission shift cable fractures while the vehicle is being driven, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash. Furthermore, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, despite selecting the âparkâ position, the transmission may not be in âpark.â if the vehicle is not in the "park" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to
Fix: 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. Owners may contact general motors at 1-800-553-6000. Gm's number for this recall is 14152.
Full defect summary
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 year 2004-2007 malibu maxx vehicles manufactured from june 25, 2003, through april 5, 2007, and model year 2005-2008 pontiac g6 vehicles manufactured from may 26, 2004, through september 28, 2007, and equipped with 4-speed transmissions. The total number vehicles being recalled is now 1,131,113.
Steering: electric power assist system
Risk: If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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. When parts are available, owners will be mailed a second letter to come in to have the applicable bulletin applied. Bulletin 14115 covers model year 2004-2007 saturn ion, 2009-2010 chevrolet hhr and 2010 chevrolet cobalts. Dealers will replace the eps motor. Bulletin 14116 covers model year 2004-2006 chevrolet malibu and malibu maxx, 2005-2006 pontiac g6 and 2008-2009 chevrolet malibu, pontiac g6 and saturn aura built from mar
Full defect summary
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. In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (eps) assist that could occur at any time while driving.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Turn signal lamps
Summary
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 my 2003 and earlier malibu vehicles (malibu maxx was not manufactured for sale in the u.s. Prior to my 2004) used a headlamp based design, operated at a reduced voltage, for the drl function; gm reverted back to this design on the my 2006 and later malibu and malibu maxx vehicles.
Questions about the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
- What are the most common problems with the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: steering (506 complaints, typically around 90,500 miles); electrical (180 complaints, typically around 101,000 miles); lights (153 complaints, typically around 76,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from May 14, 2014 (stability control). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2005 a bad year for the Chevrolet Malibu?
- It is 8th of 26 Malibu model years by number of complaints, with 975 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.