2005 Chevrolet Malibu Classic Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Malibu Classic years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 11 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 92 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Classic. That ranks 2nd out of 11 Malibu Classic model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (41 complaints, 45%), typically at around 90,000 miles. Complaints mention 6 crashes, 1 fire, 5 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
- 92owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 6complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Classic problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 41 | 45% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 20 | 22% | 92,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 8 | 9% | 133,181 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 6 | 7% | 101,396 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 6 | 7% | 146,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 5 | 5% | 124,356 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 5 | 5% | 174,015 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 4 | 4% | 47,521 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 4% | 36,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 | 4% | 58,500 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 3% | 55 | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 2% | 58,606 | — | — |
| Power Train | 2 | 2% | 104,750 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 2% | 75,007 | — | — |
| Suspension | 2 | 2% | 12,500 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 2% | 150,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 2 | 2% | 56,515 | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 1% | 111,975 | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 1% | 35,042 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 1% | 208,029 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2005 Chevrolet Malibu Classic recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system:ignition
Problem: This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Risk: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
While driving on the interstate while using the cruise control, the vehicle started increasing speed and rpmâs. 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 rpmâs, so I could use brakes to…
driving the car it just shuts off which results in no power no steering and no brakes possibly an ignition switch problem.
Ignition switch prooblems
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet malibu classic. While attempting to start the vehicle, the anti-theft indicator illuminated and the engine would not start. Midway chevrolet(381 12th st, plainwell, mi) was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was…
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet malibu classic. The contact stated that the anti-theft system warning indicator flashed and the vehicle could not be started. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the fuel pump was defective. The fuel pump was replaced, but…
Other Chevrolet Malibu Classic years
← 2004 Malibu Classic · 2007 Malibu Classic →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 Malibu Classic | 21 | 0 |
| 2007 Malibu Classic | 15 | 0 |
| 2005 | 92 | 1 |
| 2004 Malibu Classic | 116 | 1 |
| 2003 Malibu Classic | 16 | 0 |
| 2002 Malibu Classic | 16 | 0 |
| 2001 Malibu Classic | 13 | 0 |
| 2000 Malibu Classic | 11 | 0 |
| 1999 Malibu Classic | 4 | 0 |
| 1998 Malibu Classic | 5 | 0 |
| 1997 Malibu Classic | 3 | 0 |
See all Chevrolet Malibu Classic problems by year, every Chevrolet model, or the Chevrolet VIN decoder.
Similar Chevrolet models
Embed this 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Classic badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Classic?
Owners most often report electrical system, steering, engine problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 41 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Classic?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Classic a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Malibu Classic model years, the 2005 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.