2005 Cadillac CTS vs 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
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 | 2005 Cadillac CTS | 2005 Chevrolet Malibu |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 277 | 975 |
| Recall campaigns | 6 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 626 | 630 |
| Investigations | 3 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 25 | 46 |
| Fire reports | 4 | 34 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 18–19 | 23–25 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 68,376 mi | 90,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Cadillac CTS | Chevrolet Malibu |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 15 | 506 |
| Electrical System | 39 | 180 |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 | 153 |
| Power Train | 82 | 65 |
| Air Bags | 74 | 25 |
| Engine | 24 | 49 |
| Seats | 4 | 62 |
| Service Brakes | 22 | 43 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Airbag warning light | 28 | 0 |
| Stalling | 17 | 65 |
| Clunking / rattling | 15 | 59 |
| Brake problems | 6 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 6 | 34 |
| Rust / corrosion | 6 | 0 |
| Oil consumption | 5 | 0 |
| Steering problems | 0 | 101 |
2005 Cadillac CTS
2005 Chevrolet Malibu
Compare all Cadillac CTS vs Chevrolet Malibu 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.