2003 Chevrolet Malibu: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 772 complaints
772
Total Complaints
70,000mi
Median Mileage
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Top Issue
52
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

44,600 25th Percentile
70,000 Median Mileage
104,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
214
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
59
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
55
ENGINE
47
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
25
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
24
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
21
STEERING
21
AIR BAGS
19
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
17

Severity Assessment

52
Crashes
5
Fires
32
Injuries
1
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"THE VEHICLE HIT A GUARD RAIL AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY REPLACED THE CLOCKSPRING IN THE STEERING THAT SHORTED. SCC"
"WATER LEAKED INSIDE THE REAR TAIL LIGHT INTO THE TRUNK AREA AND CAUSED A BAD ODOR AND MOLD TO GROW INSIDE THE TRUNK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *NLM"
"THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, WHEN THE VEHICLE HIT A CURB. *JB"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28