Friday, August 7, 2026
RecallGazette

Vehicle problems, recalls & safety intelligence

2003 Chevrolet Malibu engine problems

47 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the engine on the 2003 Chevrolet Malibu8% of all complaints for this model year.

47
Engine complaints
8%
share of all complaints
85,800 mi
median reported incident mileage
2 / 0
crash / fire reports

What owners report

  • Multiple times, the vehicle, while driving, electrically shuts down. security light comes on, sometimes, many attempts to restart will work. These shutdowns cause me to revet to manual bakes and steering.

    filed Sep 15, 2023

  • Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet malibu. When the engine warmed up and the rpms reached their maximum level, the accelerator pedal automatically dropped to the floorboard. An independent mechanic diagnosed that the throttle body failed. The vehicle was repaired. The dealer was not notified…

    filed Aug 8, 2019

Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.

Related service bulletins

  • This service bulletin advises of a new fuel injection cleaner kit used for decarbonizing the intake valves to correct conditions of rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how…

    16-NA-383 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jun 28, 2024
All 2003 Chevrolet Malibu TSBs →

Engine problems in other Malibu years

YearReportsShare
2024 Malibu39%
2023 Malibu1119%
2022 Malibu2831%
2021 Malibu1316%
2020 Malibu5930%
2019 Malibu6132%
2018 Malibu27740%
2017 Malibu25236%
2016 Malibu30136%
2015 Malibu6926%
2014 Malibu12536%
2013 Malibu20424%
Malibu engine problems by year →

Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.