2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU Complaints

ON OUR 2005 CHEVY MALIBU WE HAVE CHANGED THE FRONT TURN SIGNAL LAMP NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE WE PURCHASED IT NEW IN 2005, THE FIRST TIME BEING ONLY A MONTH AFTER WE PURCHASED THE CAR. IN NOV. 2006 AT OUR EXPENSE WE HAD TO CHANGE THE TURN SIGNAL LAMP SOCKETS BECAUSE THE DEALER SAID THE REASON FOR THE LAMPS BURNING OUT WAS DUE TO THE SOCKETS BEING CORRODED. AFTER THAT WE HAVE STILL HAD TO CHANGE THE LAMPS AS FREQUENT. I WOULD SAY IN ALL WE HAVE REPLACED EITHER THE LEFT OR RIGHT LAMP ABOUT 12 TIMES SINCE THE PURCHASE DATE OF MARCH 2005. RECENTLY WE HAVE NOTICED THAT THE LAMP HOUSING HAS ACTUALLY MELTED ABOVE WHERE THE LAMPS ARE LOCATED. WE CURRENTLY HAVE THE LOCAL DEALER LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM AGAIN. EVERY TIME I SEE A CHEVY MALIBU FROM THE YEAR MODEL OF 2005 TO 2007, MOST OFTEN ONE OF THE FRONT PARK/SIGNAL LAMPS IS BURNED OUT. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO NOT HAVING A PROPERLY WORKING TURN SIGNAL COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. ALSO IF THE HOUSING IS MELTING, THEN IT COULD RESULT IN THE CAR CATCHING ON FIRE I BELIEVE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE HOOD ON THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE FLEW UP UNEXPECTEDLY. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND COULD NOT CLOSE THE HOOD BECAUSE IT WAS DENTED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY SENT HIM TO A BODY SHOP. THE HOOD WOULD COST $1,600 TO REPLACE. THE HOOD HAD NOT BEEN OPENED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,600.

IN 2006 I BOUGHT AN 2005 CHEVY MALIBU. BEFORE 49600 THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP 8 TIMES BEFORE THEY COULD TELL THAT IT WAS THE STEERING COLUMN. IT GOES OUT WITHOUT WARNING. WE HAVE ALMOST WRECKED SEVERAL TIMES. IT HAS GONE OUT GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. I STARTED TO REPLACE IT, BUT BEFORE I DID THAT I RESEARCHED THE MATTER. IT APPEARS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I AM HAVING, FROM THE 2005S TO THE 2008S, FROM THE MALIBU TO THE MALIBU MAXX. I HAVE NOT REPLACED IT BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THEM CHANGED THREE OR FOUR TIMES AND THEY KEEP BREAKING. I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY TO JUST THROW AWAY. I CAN'T AFFORD TO SELL IT EITHER OR TRADE IT IN. I AM THE ONE WHO DRIVES IT MOST OF THE TIME BECAUSE I AM AFRAID IT WILL GO OUT WHEN MY WIFE IS IN A CURVE, AND SHE COULD WRECK AND DIE BECAUSE SHE IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO CONTROL IT WHEN IT GOES OUT. *TR

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 ON THE CAR. THIS SEEMS TO ME A SAFETY ISSUE AND MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. THEY DID NOT BUDGE AND ALLOWED ME TO DRIVE AWAY. NOT SURE WHAT TO DO NOW..CERTAINLY DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY ON TOP OF THE MONTHLY PAYMENTS I MAKE TO FIX. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED FAILURE WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT BULB CONSTANTLY BURNING OUT. SIX MONTHS LATER, THE PLASTIC HEADLIGHT COVERS BURNED. THE STEERING SHAFT HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PLASTIC COVER FAILURE WAS A FACTORY DEFECT; THEREFORE, THEY WERE UNABLE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,400. UPDATED 02-23-09 *BF UPDATED 02/24/09. *JB

ON A 2005 CHEVY MALIBU OUR BRAKE LIGHTS, ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, OFTEN WORK IN REVERSE. IN OTHER WORDS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ON WHEN YOU AREN'T HITTING THE BRAKES, AND THEY ARE OFF WHEN YOU ARE HITTING THE BRAKES. THIS SEEMS TO POSE A SAFETY CONCERN SINCE VEHICLES BEHIND YOU DO NOT KNOW WHEN YOU ARE HITTING THE BRAKES. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN ON MANY FORUMS THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM SO THIS SHOULD BE A FACTORY RECALL INSTEAD OF SOMETHING WE HAVE TO PAY FOR TO GET IT FIXED. HERE ARE SOME LINKS THAT PROVE THIS PROBLEM ISN'T ISOLATED: HTTP://WWW.FIXYA.COM/CARS/T822542-BRAKE_LIGHTS_WONT_GO_OFF HTTP://WWW.2CARPROS.COM/FORUM/2005-CHEVY-MALIBU--BRAKE-LIGHTS-WILL-NOT-GO-OFF-VT181519.HTML HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/CHEVROLET/MALIBU/2004/LIGHTS/BRAKE_LIGHTS_BLINK_ON_BY_THEMSELVES.SHTML HTTP://WWW.CARDEALERCHECK.COM/FORUM/THREAD15599.HTML. *TR

KNOCKING OR BANGING SOUND IN THE FRONT END LED TO THE POWER STEERING RACK BEING REPLACED ON 11/17/06 AT 27M MILES ON MY 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE SAME HAPPENED AGAIN ON 12/05/08 AT 50M MILES. BOTH REPAIRS DONE BY THE DEALER. I REPORTED TO CHEVROLET THAT THE RACK FAILS APPROXIMATELY EVERY 25M MILES. *TR

THE FRONT END SOUNDS LIKE IT IS GOING TO FALL OUT ALONG WITH FEELING A METAL CLANKING SOUND AT 18000 MILES. I TOOK THIS TO BLACK CHEVROLET IN NASHVILLE WHICH WAS NOT THE SALE DEALERSHIP BUT ONE I HAD BOUGHT A TRUCK WITH AND WAS USING THEIR SERVICE THEY STATED THAT A RECALL MIGHT BE COMING SOON ON THE PROBLEM AND IT WOULD NOT PRESENT A SAFETY CONCERN. THE CAR WAS MY FATHERS WHICH DIED IN 2006 AND MY MOTHER WAS PUT IN ASSISTED LIVING IN 2008 SO I JUST FOUND OUT THE PROBLEM PLEASE HELP. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILURES... HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN 2 WEEKS NOW. ONCE WHILE SITTING STILL, THE OTHER WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE! AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE, I'VE FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN MALIBU'S. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. I THOUGHT I WAS BUYING A RELIABLE CAR AND INSTEAD GOT A BIG BURDEN. BEING A SINGLE MOM, THESE HIGH REPAIR COSTS WILL CAUSE ME TO FALL BEHIND IN EITHER MY CAR PAYMENT OR MY HOUSE PAYMENT... AND BELIEVE ME I'D RATHER LIVE IN MY HOUSE THEN MY CAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. HE NOTICED A V-SHAPED BURNT PATTERN IN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AGO, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.