2003 Chevrolet Malibu vs 2003 Nissan Altima
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2003 Chevrolet Malibu | 2003 Nissan Altima |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 569 | 883 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 408 | 101 |
| Investigations | 0 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 35 | 41 |
| Fire reports | 4 | 13 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21 | 19–23 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 71,000 mi | 85,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Chevrolet Malibu | Nissan Altima |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 41 | 450 |
| Electrical System | 289 | 89 |
| Engine | 47 | 117 |
| Structure | 9 | 126 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 85 | 33 |
| Air Bags | 27 | 28 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 45 | 8 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 24 | 28 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 60 | 235 |
| Won’t start | 56 | 21 |
| Check engine light | 17 | 129 |
| Vibration / shaking | 12 | 14 |
| Rust / corrosion | 9 | 107 |
| Brake problems | 8 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 7 | 28 |
| Hesitation / surging | 7 | 36 |
2003 Chevrolet Malibu
2003 Nissan Altima
Compare all Chevrolet Malibu vs Nissan Altima years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.