There are 50 owner-reported fuel system complaints for the 2005 Chevrolet Malibuin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE WORKING ON THE VEHICLE IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK STRAP RUSTED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,709.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR FLASHED AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.
MAY BE FUEL PUMP. CAR WILL TURN OVER BUT WON'T START.
THESE ARE THE PHOTOS TAKE OF THE FUEL PUMP AFTER IT WAS REMOVED BY MATHIS AUTO SERVICE (SEE THE ATTACHED INVOICE). AS YOU CAN SEE THE TAG HAS ONLY A SMALL PART OF A BAR CODE, I DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THIS WAS THE PART NUMBER OR NOT, BUT IT SEEM THERE WAS NO NUMBER. THE TOP OF THE PUMP WAS VERY DIRTY AND WET FROM GASOLINE. I HAD THE FUEL PUMP REPLACE AFTER I WAS TRANSPORTING A CLIENT AND THE CAR STARTED SPUTTERING AND LOST POWER FROM 45-MILES-PER HOUR TO ABOUT 10-MILES PER HOUR, BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO TURN INTO A PARKING LOT. THIS SCARED THE CLIENT AND LEAD THEM TO REPORT TO LYFT ABOUT THE INCIDENT. I ALSO REPORTED THE ISSUE TO LYFT RIDE SHARE AND THEY SHUT DOWN MY VEHICLE FOR SAFETY REASONS BY DEACTIVATING MY ACCOUNT. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP TO COMPLETE 4 RECALLS, WHICH DID NOT CLEAR UP THE PROBLEM. OR CORRECT THE FUEL PUMP FROM SEIZING UP AND STALLING OUT. I PAID FOR THE REPLACEMENT PART OF A NEW FUEL PUMP AND EVERYTHING HAS BEEN WORKING PROPERLY. AND MY ACCOUNT HAS BEEN REACTIVATED WITH LYFT. I SPOKE TO TI AUTOMOTIVE CEO, ABOUT THEIR RECALL ON THEIR FUEL PUMP SEIZE, STOPPING THE FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE CREATING A STALLING CONDITION. I WAS TOLD THESE ISSUE WAS ONLY IN 2010 MODELS AND THEY WILL NOT REPAIR OR ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEFECTS IN EARLIER MODELS OF CHEVY MALIBU. BUT THERE ARE ISSUES WITH OTHER YEARS MODELS STALLING OUT IN TRAFFIC.
GAS GAUGE READS INCORRECTLY AND BOUNCES ERRATICALLY FROM FULL TO EMPTY AND BACK AGAIN TURNING ON THE CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT AND SETTING OFF THE AUDIBLE LOW FUEL WARNING. THIS HAPPENS HAVE EVERY FILL-UP. IN BETWEEN FILL-UPS, GAS GAUGE "STICKS": TO SOME ARBITRARY INTERMEDIATE VALUE. IT NEVER DISPLAYS ACCURATE FUEL-REMAINING. I MUST USED THE ODOMETER MILEAGE TO KNOW WHEN TO GET GAS. THIS ERRATIC BEHAVIOR OCCURS WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION OR STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL SENSOR LEVEL FAILED, AND THE FUEL SENSOR AND CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FUEL TANK WOULD BE FULL, BUT THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR SHOWED HALF A TANK. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED THE STATE INSPECTION DUE TO THE FUEL SENSOR AND CODES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,200.
NOTICED A FUEL SMELL COMING FROM BACK OF 2005 MAILBU MAXX, NOTHING LEAKING FOR 3 DAYS, THEN NOTICED FUEL ON THE GROUND, WAS HAVING ISSUE STARTING (FUEL LINE NOT PRESSURIZED) TURNING THE CAR ON AND OFF A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE CRANKING WORKED TO PRESSURIZE THE LINE. AT THE SHOP NOW, THEY SAID IT A NON-REPAIRABLE FUEL LINE COMING OFF OF THE PUMP, GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE SENDING UNIT AND IT IS GOING TO COST ME OUT THE WAHZOO TO REPAIR, HOW IS THERE NO RECALL ON THIS? I SPOKE WITH GM RECALL LINE AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NO RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIN OF MY CAR.
FUEL GAGE DOESN'T WORK CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD IN TRAFFIC
STARTING AROUND TWO YEARS AGO, FUEL GAUGE AFTER FILLING TANK AND THEN STARTING CAR WOULD FALL TO EMPTY ALONG WITH LOW FUEL LIGHT COMING ON. WHEN RESTART CAR WAS OKAY. SO, DID NOT FILL TANK ANYMORE, ALLEVIATED PROBLEM FOR A YEAR. IN PAST YEAR GOT WORST, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON UNTIL USING UP UNTIL AT LEAST 2 GALLONS WAS USED WHEN GASOLINE WAS ADDED. THEN ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF. AS TIME WENT ON, FUEL GAUGE ACTING UP MORE, NEVER READING ACCURATELY HOW MUCH GAS IS IN CAR. IN LAST MONTH, NO MATTER HOW MUCH OR LITTLE FUEL IS ADDED, READS FULL FOR A LONG TIME, THEN GAUGE DROPS SUDDENLY TO EMPTY AND LOW FUEL LIGHT COMES ON, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. HAD CHECKED, INDICATES THE FUEL SENSOR IS ENTIRELY NOT WORKING NOW /OR FUEL PUMP MAY NOT WORK SOON. SO EVERY 100 MILES, GUESS HOW MUCH FUEL TO ADD. NOT KNOWING, COULD RUN OUT OF GAS ANYTIME, AND CAR SHUT DOWN. COULD NOT LIVE WITH CONDITION ANYMORE. SO, HAVE THE COMBINED FUEL SENOR/FUEL PUMP REPLACED. MY OPINION, THIS SAFETY ISSUES SHOULD RESULT IN GENERAL MOTORS ISSUING A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND REIMBURSING ANY OWNER WITH SAME PROBLEM; SHOULD THEY HAD THE PROBLEM REPAIRED PREVIOUSLY.
FUEL PUMP LEAK. NOTICED STRONG GAS SMELL THAT ONLY INCREASED AS TIME PASSED, DRIVING AND PARKED. FUEL PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. HAVE NOTICED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS VEHICLE. SERIOUSLY NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED.
THE CURRENT ISSUE I AM HAVING IS EVERY TIME I GET GAS, WHICH IS OFTEN BECAUSE I DRIVE 80 MILES A DAY FOR WORK, MY GAUGE WILL DROP TO EMPTY AND LOW FUEL/ LIGHT COMES ON! NEXT DAY LOW FUEL LIGHT ON STILL, GOES OFF ON MY DRIVE EVENTUALLY, BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS NOW ON! THAT GOES AWAY AS WELL. I WENT TO GET THE CODES CHECK AT AUTOZONE AND THEY ARE AS FOLLOWS: P0463. *TR
FUEL SHOWS INCORRECT AMOUNTS. FILL IT AND SOMETIMES IS SAYS EMPTY. *TR
FUEL LEAK FROM THE SENDING UNIT ABOVE THE FUEL TANK. *TR
FOR THE PAST 4-5 MONTHS, EVERY TIME WE FILL UP WITH GAS AND THEN START THE CAR, THE FUEL GAUGE JUMPS UP TO FULL, STAYS THERE FOR A FEW MILES, THEN DROPS TO EMPTY AND LOW FUEL MESSAGE COMES ON. THE CHECK ENGINE LAMP ALSO COMES ON AND STAYS ON. AFTER ABOUT 20-30 MILES, THE FUEL GAUGE GOES BACK TO FULL AND AT THE POINT, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES OFF. THIS DOESN'T ALWAYS HAPPEN. SOMETIMES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON UNTIL THE NEXT FILL-UP, THEN THE SAME THING HAPPENS ALL OVER AGAIN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATE WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP VAPOR LINE WAS CRACKED AND LEAKING FUMES. THE MECHANIC WAS ALSO UNSURE AS TO HOW THE FUEL LINE BECAME FRACTURED. THE MECHANIC ALSO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT IF HE DID NOT GET THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AND THE LEAK CONTINUED, THE VEHICLE WOULD POSSIBLY EXPLODE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
GAS TANK FULL, YET THE GAS GAGE SAYS EMPTY AND THE BELL RINNGS OFR LOW GAS. *TR
FYI (THE INCIDENT DATE IS WHEN I HAD MY CAR FIXED AT A WORK SHOP) I REPLACED MY FUEL PUMP, LEFT AXLE AND TRANSMISSION.(TOTAL $2484.92) I HAVE A RECALL FOR MY FUEL PUMP (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11E009000 ) BUT GM WON'T REPLACE IT DUE TO IT NOT BEING BUILT IN A CERTAIN LOCATION. MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS A RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 ) MY KEY IGNITION HAS A RECALL ALTHOUGH THE CHEVROLET DEALER HAS NOT RECEIVED PARTS TO REPLACE THIS DEFECT. MY TRANSMISSION ALSO HAS A DEFECT ( THE TRANSMISSION HAS A CLICK ON 2ND AND 3RD GEARS AND GM IS NOT FIXING THESE PROBLEMS AND CONTINUE TO MAKE THESE DEFECTED TRANSMISSIONS) MY TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP REPLACE THESE CLICKS AND CHARGED ME $1750.00 AND GAVE ME A WARRANTY. MY ELECTRICAL HAS A DEFECT, I KEEP CHANGING MY FUSES BECAUSE OF MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM( NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 ). GM IS NEGLECTING TO FIX MY CAR. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER CHEVROLET AGAIN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11E009000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 7/16/15*CN
THERE IS A CRACK/LEAK IN THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. THIS IS THE SECOND ONE TO BE REPLACED ON THIS CAR. THE FIRST WAS ABOUT A YEAR AFTER PURCHASE (2006) AND THE NEWEST PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AROUND THE FIRST OF THIS YEAR (2014). I TOOK IT TO A COUPLE OF MECHANICS AND THE ENTIRE UNIT WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE UNIT IS AROUND 500 PLUS LABOR AND TOTALS ABOUT 1000 DOLLARS. THIS IS ON THE SHORT LIST OF PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR, EVEN THOUGH IT HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND TAKEN CARE OF. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY MAJOR ISSUES AS OTHERS HAVE, BUT THIS PARTICULAR ONE CONCERNS ME QUITE A BIT. *TR
THE CAR STOPS WHEN DRIVING ALSO THE EXTERIOR LIGHT HAVE BURNED OUT THE CASING THAT HOLDS THE BULBS ARE MELTED. *TR
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026