2005 Chevrolet Malibu Chevrolet Malibu 2005

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2005 Chevrolet Malibu repairs by problem area

Engine (31%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (6%)

Brakes and Traction Control (12%)

Suspension and Steering (22%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (17%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (3%)

Other (8%)

Chart based on 127 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu.

2005 Chevrolet Malibu repair cost distribution

$2500+ (3%)

$1000 - $2499 (8%)

$500 - $999 (12%)

$100 - $499 (33%)

< $100 (43%)

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 120 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2005 Chevrolet Malibu

Engine not specified

Chevrolet Malibu in Massachusetts, United States
Sep 2010 - Jun 2011
Oct 2010

82000 mi
the power steering motor was faulty and i was beyond the special coverage. yet the special coverage was issued before i purchased my vechile from a chevy dealer. in the process of having them correct the other issues related... thermostat replaced 
Chevrolet in Saskatchewan, Canada
Apr 2010 - Jun 2011
Jun 2010

57040 mi

C $1100
Lower control arms replaced, sway bar bushings are also in need of replacement. Tires replaced 

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2005 Chevrolet Malibu 4dr Sedan

200-horsepower 3.5L V6 4-speed shiftable automatic FWD

Chevrolet Malibu in Massachusetts, United States
Nov 2008 - May 2016
Jun 2012

79000 mi

US $180
Replace AC condensor 
Nov 2012

82700 mi

US $35
water pump leaking replace water pump 
Mar 2015

104000 mi
Had to replace the throttle body 
Chevrolet Malibu in Arkansas, United States
Dec 2008 - Jun 2011
Sep 2009

234000 mi

US $150
Injection system cleaned because car had gotten hard to start. 
Chevrolet Malibu in Ohio, United States
Jun 2014 - Jan 2015
Jun 2014

150000 mi

US $700
Tie Rod's broke, clunked when i steered left. 
Chevrolet Malibu in Ontario, Canada
Sep 2010 - Jun 2020
Aug 2012

62500 mi

C $250
Stalling after a minute. ECM replaced with used one. Paid for 2 hrs. to reprogram. ( used one cost me $50.00) 
Jun 2014

66960 mi
replaced front rotors, pads and calipers. Brakes becoming hard to stop due to faulty front wheel ABS sensor. 
Mar 2018

75640 mi

C $500
replaced rear calipers , rotors and pads. 
Chevrolet Malibu in California, United States
Apr 2012 - May 2012
May 2012

90000 mi

US $45
Failing to start about once a week, starter will run on and not start. now becoming more frequent 
Chevrolet Malibu in Connecticut, United States
Apr 2014 - May 2014
May 2014

172000 mi

US $1200
Engine light. Needed EGR valve repair 
Chevrolet Malibu in Alberta, Canada
Oct 2007 - Apr 2017
Aug 2007

37820 mi

C $10
seafoamed the engine: 1/3 in the tank, 1/3 in the crankcase and a 1/3 up the vacuum line. 
Apr 2009

54560 mi

C $100
Leaking rear seal on the drivers rear caliper necessitated a caliper replacement. 
Oct 2009

61380 mi

C $45
replaced faulty evap canister purge valve 
Oct 2010

76880 mi

C $150
Amber bulb fixture in headlight assembly started to melt and scorched the assemblies. New assemblies and led amber bulbs purchased and installed.  Problem returned - headlight assembly daytime running light amber lenses caught fire. Replaced bulbs with gm 13502232 and new knock off lenses. Found GM TSB 06-08-42-004B. Also affects HHRs. 
Oct 2013

97920 mi
The mass air flow sensor needed cleaning with some contact cleaner 
Dec 2013

101060 mi

C $60
Replaced upstream oxygen sensors with new Bosch stuff at 150K and replaced serpentine belt with Gates micro groove 
Feb 2014

104160 mi

C $100
Replaced both upstream oxygen sensors and the mass air flow sensor - mileage improve a LOT 
Aug 2014

110980 mi

C $28
2-3 shift solenoid replacement on the 4t45-e transaxle. Car lost 3rd and 4th gear. 
Sep 2014

110980 mi

C $2500
Transmission completely failed - no gears in forward or reverse 
Oct 2014

111780 mi

C $10
Needed to clean the pcv line with seafoam to correct a cold idle hunting issue. 
May 2016

130200 mi

C $50
passenger side axle seal leaked fixed - replaced seal and sleeve on the 4t45e 
Feb 2017

138880 mi

C $80
Replaced spark plugs and wires 
Chevrolet Malibu in Indiana, United States
Jun 2017 - Jun 2019
Sep 2017

203000 mi

US $90
Deteriorating brake hose created check-valve for brake fluid. Brake caliper seized up. Had to replace entire brake system on that wheel (hose, caliper, rotor, pads). This was the 3rd out of 4 wheels this had happened to; prior to discovering the cause was the hose, I put on almost a dozen calipers on various wheels, but the bad brake hoses would kill them within a few months. 
Mar 2018

220000 mi

US $120
Deteriorating brake hose created check valve for brake fluid. The additional pressure caused the brake caliper to eventually seize up and killed the caliper, rotor, and pads. Replaced entire brake system on this wheel (caliper, pads, rotor, hose). This is the 4th and final wheel this has happened on - this problem occurred over time on every single wheel on the car. 
Jun 2018

223000 mi

US $46
20 amp fuse for horn blew. Recurring problem - after a single use of the horn, the fuse would blow. Gave up and stuffed a 30 amp fuse in it; horn now works fine. Cost was nothing because I already had piles of fuses laying around. Old coolant hose developed a pin-sized hole which caused a loss of coolant. Because of weather, finding the leaking part took most of the time; replacing the hose only took a few minutes. The hose itself was $4.39, and some new hose clamps to replace ones that broke in the process of replacing it cost $2.99. The rest of the cost was new coolant to replace that which leaked. 
Chevrolet Malibu in Oregon, United States
Aug 2011 - Sep 2015
Sep 2011

98000 mi
Power Steering failed and all lights went off on dash after dealer had performed a power steering repair. After 2000 miles repair appeared effective but it took 3 trips to get it done. Am unimpressed by the electronic steering in Malibu 
Jan 2015

129200 mi

US $1400
R and R first to second shift solenoid and second to third shift solenoid. 
Apr 2015

130000 mi

US $374
Remote auto start did not work because of dead electric component in hood latch assembly. Once replaced,, the auto start worked fine. 
Chevrolet Malibu in Texas, United States
Mar 2007 - Apr 2017
Oct 2007

35578 mi
Replaced steering gear assembly and replaced both lower control arms and bushings 

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2005 Chevrolet Malibu 4dr Sedan

145-horsepower 2.2L I4 4-speed shiftable automatic FWD

Chevrolet Malibu in Texas, United States
Dec 2010 - Aug 2011
Aug 2011

49000 mi

US $260
Engine lite Code P0449, replaced Evap Canister Vent Valve Solenoid 
Chevrolet Malibu in Tennessee, United States
Apr 2010 - Dec 2011
May 2010

82000 mi

US $2200
Automatic transmission stuck in second gear. Solenoid open circuit was the trouble code. Transmission removed and rebuilt. 
Jun 2010

84000 mi

US $88
Car ran really bad. Shop reflashed computer. Car runs OK. 
Jul 2011

98500 mi

US $573
New struts installed. 
Chevrolet Malibu in North Carolina, United States
Jan 2010 - Feb 2012
Mar 2010

53000 mi

US $80
Car turns over but would not start. Fuel pump not engaged. Towed to shop where they were unable to duplicate problem. Same recurring problem, 6 times over last 2 years. Fuel pump and relay switch replaced 2 times. Runs fine then, refuses to start. HEL 
Jun 2010

59000 mi

US $20
Same recurring problem.Bought another fuel pump relay switch and installed it myself.Running ok for the moment.Until the next time.. 
Sep 2010

60000 mi
Car periodically will not start. Occasionally will stall out. Repair shop reviewed dealer repairs and declined to attempt a fix. Thinking of making a flower pot out of it. Upset, dissappointed, and beside myself. 
Dec 2010

62000 mi
Repair shop tracked down problem, tightened all connections and fixed the problem.  
May 2011

72000 mi

US $1500
steering box, struts repair and replace 
Jul 2011

72000 mi

US $81
motor shift causing vibration 

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2005 Chevrolet Malibu 4dr Hatch

200-horsepower 3.5L V6 4-speed shiftable automatic FWD

Chevrolet Malibu in Maryland, United States
Jun 2010 - Jul 2011
May 2010

66000 mi

US $475
Took advantage of end of warranty and had key fobs replaced (terribly engineered, built to fail), stuck DVD is RSE, and drivers side door lock switch. Had trans fluid service, and coolant flush performed. 
Jul 2010

68000 mi

US $90
Replaced oil pressure sensor, idiot light was coming on, but oil level and pressure were fine. 
Chevrolet Malibu in New York, United States
Nov 2013 - Nov 2015
Dec 2013

110000 mi

US $125
Full exhaust from downpipe back Leak in Vapor Recovery System caused Engine Light and error message. Replaced valve. Rear Wiper Arm broke and fell off. 
Mar 2015

120000 mi
Error code: Temperature too low. Replace Thermostat. Fixed Problem 
Aug 2015

120000 mi

US $470
Front flex joint in exhaust pipe failed. Was informed by shop that 18 month old the rear exhaust had also "rusted out" and entire system would be $1000. I negotiated and they got the rear covered under warranty so only $470 for front part. 
Chevrolet Malibu in North Carolina, United States
Nov 2013 - Jul 2018
Feb 2014

162600 mi
Oil leaking slowly from oil pan. Source has yet to be identified and repaired. 
Dec 2014

174000 mi

US $200
Seat base weldment broke apart. Was welded back. Broke again a month later. Slow Oil leak from engine seal. 
Oct 2015

177000 mi

US $100
Rear window motor clip failed. 
Chevrolet Malibu in Ontario, Canada
Jan 2010 - Feb 2011
Oct 2010

71300 mi

C $100
Replaced front sway bar, tie rods, ball joints. Last stop before the extended warranty expired. 
Chevrolet Malibu in Connecticut, United States
Aug 2013 - Sep 2015
May 2014

104000 mi

US $40
Driver's seat collapsed on one side. Seat bottom was very loose. Power seat moved seat but made straining noises. Removed driver's seat found broken weld on the seat frame. Took seat to a muffler shop where the weld was re-done. Good as new. 
Chevrolet Malibu in Missouri, United States
Oct 2016 - Dec 2018
Nov 2016

201000 mi

US $2000
Ball joints, tie rod ends and lower control arms 
Dec 2017

217000 mi

US $600
Loose outer tie rod ends wore out front tires 
Chevrolet Malibu in Ontario, Canada
Mar 2013 - Jun 2013
Jun 2013

151280 mi
recharge 
Chevrolet Malibu in Arizona, United States
Sep 2016 - Jun 2018
Dec 2016

164000 mi

US $500
Replaced front struts and rear shocks. 
Apr 2018

173000 mi
Rebuild Transmission Replaced Expansion Valve and Compressor, full system flush. 
Chevrolet Malibu in Wisconsin, United States
Sep 2016 - Jun 2017
Sep 2016

185000 mi

US $600
Alternator failed 
Chevrolet Malibu in Pennsylvania, United States
Aug 2014 - Jan 2017
Oct 2014

78000 mi

US $380
Rear driver side caliper was leaking brake fluid. The reason for sending to the shop was a low brake fluid light 
Chevrolet Malibu in Florida, United States
Apr 2011 - May 2011
Mar 2011

32000 mi

US $331
replace battery 
May 2011

33000 mi

US $1886
interior lining of doors delaminating Inside door panels delaminating 
Chevrolet Malibu in California, United States
Mar 2008 - Mar 2014
Mar 2009

50000 mi

US $27
3 Remote Keyless entry keys continually failed; had received 1 new months ago but that one failed also; finally got them reprogrammed again when  Also had car taken in for rear blinker bulb burned out & incorrectly self-installed. 
Nov 2010

71000 mi
Power steering light coming on at times. After a few months, received recall notice for power steering assist loss due to electrical input signals within the steering column assembly. Repaired @ no cost to me. 
Mar 2012

86000 mi

US $245
Cable for emergency brake broke 
Jul 2013

96200 mi

US $40
reclining lever for back seat failed and could not raise seat back from flat position 
Mar 2014

99000 mi

US $233
whindshield replaced due to shattered lower right corner 
Chevrolet Malibu in Hawaii, United States
Mar 2008 - Jun 2011
May 2008

26000 mi
Steering tie rods replaced. Second time. Rear hatch struts failed. Both replaced. 
Dec 2008

33000 mi
Steering rod. Again. 
Chevrolet Malibu in Michigan, United States
Oct 2007 - Jun 2018
Nov 2007

33000 mi
Took to dealer for: 1. Brake shudder - Dealer turned the rear brake rotors under warranty which solved the problem. 2. Steering 'knocks' around corners and over bumps - Dealer lubed intermediate steering shaft and replaced steering column under warran 
Mar 2010

66000 mi
Front end was rattling. Both lower control arms replaced because of bad ball joints. Intermediate steering shaft also replaced. All repairs performed as goodwill warranty. Exhaust leak by resonator. Replaced free of charge per bulletin. 
Jul 2011

88800 mi
Steering column had a bad rattle - it was replaced by a service bulletin. 
Mar 2012

108000 mi

US $250
Both rear calipers were replaced because of leaking. 
Oct 2013

136500 mi

US $1200
Replaced both front structs, strut mounts, strut bearings, front and rear stabilizer busings. 
Mar 2015

157000 mi

US $257
Wheel bearing was making noise so I took it to the dealer. They replaced the rt-fry wheel bearing. 
Mar 2016

192000 mi

US $125
Replace rusted exhaust flex pipe. 
Jun 2017

218000 mi
Cruise control Set/Resume switch quit working. Installed a switch from a salvage yard (free). 
Dec 2017

219000 mi

US $125
Flex pipe on exhaust had rusted through. 
Chevrolet Malibu in Utah, United States
Oct 2007 - Feb 2019
Mar 2007

35500 mi
Visors fall down - Replaced under warranty Steering Gear knocks Check gas cap warning when gas cap is on - Warranty Fuel gauge only reaches 7/8 full Gas cap was replaced on first trip but the computer needed to be reset on a second trip. Fuel gauge i 
Apr 2007

36500 mi
The visors and steering knocks resolved without incident under warranty. Gas cap replaced The fuel tank was replace after the cluster and fuel level sender units were replaced. The tank was apparently warped but the mechanic did not see the problem or 
Jan 2009

60000 mi

US $16
Replace remote fob from Ebay and dealer programmed for free. 
Jun 2010

75000 mi

US $40
Replaced turn signal bulb 
Dec 2010

83000 mi

US $3000
Transmission stop going forward. Only reverse worked. Transmission was rebuilt. Could have used a transmission fluid change a few miles ago. 
Mar 2013

123000 mi

US $200
Replaced both tie rod ends and passenger control arm. Should have been $700 but did the work myself. 
Aug 2013

130000 mi

US $15
Replaced oil filter extension gasket. This was allowing an oil leak over the oil filter 
Mar 2017

165000 mi

US $250
Replaced shocks and struts first time in 165,000. Rides much better 
Feb 2019

183000 mi

US $3000
Transmission was slipping. We decided to junk the car instead of repair it. 
Chevrolet Malibu in Utah, United States
Nov 2009 - Jun 2011
Dec 2009

52000 mi

US $185
needed a rearview mirror select switch replaced. 
Chevrolet Malibu in Manitoba, Canada
Mar 2014 - May 2014
May 2014

122760 mi
Total electrical failure caused by a short in the wiring connected to the vanity mirror in the driver's side sun visor. Had been replaced with a used part after original joint wore out. Car was totaled off by AutoPac. 
Chevrolet Malibu in New York, United States
Oct 2007 - Jul 2011
Mar 2007

35000 mi
warranty repair on clunking steering box - known problem with this line - was not corrected, and dealer used the car for errands to the tune of 300 miles! 
Jan 2010

108100 mi

US $40
Check engine light, code was 'temperature error'. Changed anti-freeze, cleared code, and check engine is gone for now. Car ran fine as usual. This might indicate thermostat dying soon. 
Jan 2011

118000 mi

US $850
Steering column and motor (all electric power steering). 
Chevrolet Malibu in Ontario, Canada
Jul 2012 - Aug 2012
Aug 2012

63240 mi
leaking brake caliper 
Chevrolet Malibu in Washington, United States
Mar 2009 - Jun 2018
May 2009

47700 mi

US $470
Brakes: pads, rotors, or drums, repair 
Jul 2009

48600 mi

US $240
Driver seat bracket broken, find a shop to weld the seat frame back together 
Jan 2011

60000 mi

US $475
Change front wheel bearing 
Nov 2011

81000 mi

US $61
Battery terminal getting loose 
Sep 2013

99000 mi

US $500
Hater has no heat, blower fan broken 
Chevrolet Malibu in Colorado, United States
Mar 2010 - Jun 2011
Apr 2010

127000 mi

US $1700
Rear Main Oil leak and Oil Pan leak. Replaced both and tune up performed. 
Chevrolet Malibu in New Brunswick, Canada
Jan 2011 - Oct 2016
May 2011

62000 mi
"Power Steering" message appeared with chime. No apparent change in drivability. Steering shaft replaced according to GM Special Coverage Bulletin 10183 at no charge. 
Nov 2011

65100 mi

C $4910
Lower left control arm/ball joint Catalytic converter replaced under warranty, but this did not fix the original noise symptom EGR flex pipe and valve replaced 
Feb 2013

75220 mi

C $750
Noisy front wheel bearing. Both front wheel bearings replaced at dealer suggestion. 
Apr 2013

75420 mi

C $292
Evap vent valve fault, engine light on 
Jul 2013

76560 mi

C $20
Replaced broken selector rocker switch on electric side view mirror switch, owner repair 
Sep 2013

78120 mi

C $320
Control arm, right side 
Jul 2014

82860 mi

C $537
Front driver side caliper seized and replaced. 
Oct 2014

85140 mi

C $125
Replacement of faulty aftermarket left lower control arm assy under warranty 
Apr 2015

86280 mi

C $125
Collapsed brake line caused caliper seizure 
May 2015

86800 mi

C $205
check engine light for large evap leak = cracked purge canister solenoid 
Feb 2016

90400 mi

C $225
Right front seized caliper, replaced 
Apr 2016

91240 mi

C $115
Collapsed brake line caused seized caliper, different wheel than February. 
Oct 2016

94860 mi

C $286
Exhaust system, resonator replaced 
Chevrolet Malibu in Wisconsin, United States
Nov 2012 - Feb 2013
Dec 2012

123000 mi

US $30
Remote entry system had to be reset 
Feb 2013

123000 mi
Rear driver power window failed 

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2005 Chevrolet Malibu 4-door

6-cylinder automatic 2WD

Chevrolet Malibu in West Virginia, United States
Dec 2007 - May 2008
Jan 2008

122000 mi

US $600
Replace intermediate steering shaft 8-07, problem resurfaced 1-08, states known problem, repacked and advised should consider trading in, very noticable high speed vibration, common on Malibu. 

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2005 Chevrolet Malibu Repair Histories

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently 2005 Chevrolet Malibu problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.