repaired · 2015 Q4
Electrical system: wiring
Risk. Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
2005 Chevrolet Malibu MaxxProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 326 owner complaints about the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx, most often about the steering. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 14V-224 the manufacturer reports only 54% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through April 5, 2024. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx has problems
326 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
185Steering9 crash/fire/injury
51Exterior lighting8 crash/fire/injury
40Electrical system3 crash/fire/injury
39Seats2 crash/fire/injury
10Suspension
10Service brakes, hydraulic
9Electronic stability control (ESC)
9Air bags
8Fuel/propulsion system
4615 other systems8 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 185 | 9 |
| Exterior lighting | 51 | 8 |
| Electrical system | 40 | 3 |
| Seats | 39 | 2 |
| Suspension | 10 | 0 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 10 | 1 |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) | 9 | 1 |
| Air bags | 9 | 3 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 8 | 0 |
| 15 other systems | 46 | 8 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2016 Q2
Power train: automatic transmission
Risk. If the transmission shift cable fractures while the vehicle is being driven, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle…
repaired · 2016 Q2
Steering: electric power assist system
Risk. If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Chevrolet.
Mileage at failure
When do steering problems start?
84kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 155 steering complaints. 60% were reported before 100,000 miles.
15under 30k miles93under 100k miles62100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Steering
9 owners mentioned a cost$598median
Middle half: $393 – $700
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2005 vs. every other Malibu Maxx year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Malibu Maxx median. How we score
'04'05'06'07
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx, and the recalls they led to.
- Turn Signal LampsNo recall
In owners' words
What Malibu Maxx owners report
Recent steering complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx. The contact stated while driving on several occasions, the vehicle made an abnormal sound and the vehicle lost power steering functionality. There were no warning lights illuminated; however, the power steering failure message was displayed. The…
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the power steering assist fault message was displayed and the steering wheel became very difficult to turn in either direction. Additionally, there was a ticking sound coming from the…
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH and making a right turn, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road and stop the vehicle. The contact…
Own a 2005 Malibu Maxx?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.