Skip to content
Chevrolet Malibu ClassicModel year report

2003 Chevrolet Malibu Classic Problems

Complaints
16filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
130,000miles, 13 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2003 Chevrolet Malibu Classic (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

NHTSA recorded 16 consumer complaints for the 2003 Chevrolet Malibu Classic. The part named most often is electrical system, with 11 complaints (69% of the total), followed by electronic stability control (1) and engine (1). 13 of the complaints include a mileage, and 15% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 130,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 76 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 12 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Electrical system: “The drivers side brake light doesn't work.I have tried changing the bulb several times, but it will not work.a few yrs back I saw a recall on this but I didn't take advantage of it and now I cannot find it anymore I would like info on what I should do now as I got a warning ticket !! Thanks”

NHTSA complaint #11012732, filed 2017-08, 143,000 miles

Electronic stability control: “One of the tires slid on a puddle of water and stalled or vice or visa and hydroplaned off the highway rolling over several times and landing upside down in a ditch totaling the car. I was grateful to have survived the crash. I had just gotten the car out of the shop that same day. And the month before. The car repairs and the car notes and insurance payments were colliding.”

NHTSA complaint #10643600, filed 2014-10, 70 miles

Other or unknown: “I have been having problems with the anti-theft system. My car continues to not start until I complete a 10 minute procedure each time. This is very annoying and have left me stranded many times. I believe that this is a recall that needs to be corrected immediately. There have been numerous complaints on this problem and nothing has been done.”

NHTSA complaint #11063426, filed 2018-01, 170,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

15% of the 13 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 118,000 and 144,000 miles.

15%0–100%10–250%25–500%50–750%75–10069%100–15015%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (13 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 130,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

2014620152016201720182019
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2003 Chevrolet Malibu Classic in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 76 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 76 bulletins →

Other model years of the Chevrolet Malibu Classic

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20082165,0000———Stable
20071575,2500———Stable
20059290,0001——Not compared (before 2008)Rising
2004116100,0001——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200316130,0000———Stable
20021679,5000———Stable
20011381,5000———Not enough data
20001180,0000———Not enough data
1998580,0000———Not enough data

All Chevrolet Malibu Classic model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2003 Chevrolet Malibu Classic have?

NHTSA recorded 16 consumer complaints for the 2003 Chevrolet Malibu Classic as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2003 Chevrolet Malibu Classic is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 11 complaints (69% of the total), followed by electronic stability control with 1.

Has the 2003 Chevrolet Malibu Classic been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 2003 Chevrolet Malibu Classic reported?

Among the 13 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 130,000 miles and the middle half falls between 118,000 and 144,000 miles; 15% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.