2003 Chevrolet Malibu: brake failure

Filed Sep 29, 2017 · Driver assistance, Engine · 132 miles · AZ

Took car to walmart one night and begins to overheat after napa told me it had no leaks. Car overheats I pull aside and turn it off for a bit I noticed the car would crank but hesitate to start. Once got it to start it would accelerate but at low rpms. Check engine light went on and I noticed car shaking and weird noise coming from the engine. Once started car squeaked and mad terrible noise. Car did not turn back on and did not make it home. Cranks and rare when starts, charged battery but drains, doesn't maintain charge. White smoke coming out of exhaust and when car would stall it would turn off, now theft system light is on. Now car wont even crank or turn on. Once I got it to turn on with trouble it would turn off once put into reverse or drive. Turned off while driving it one night and brakes did not work. Almost crashed into home, my car was in motion and would turn off amd steering wheel got hard and brakes didn't work, scared to drive the vehicle engine makes wierd bogging sound amd squeaking sound, smell of gas. Exhaust has white smoke coming out of it. Has trouble idling at times and low rpms.

Filed Feb 23, 2016 · Airbags, Electrical · 133,200 miles · TX · crash · fire · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owned a 2003 chevrolet malibu. While driving at approximately 55 MPH and attempting to merge into another lane, the vehicle crashed into two barrels. The air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle stalled. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a junk yard. The contact sustained a left knee, left ankle, and whiplash injuries that needed medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed. The VIN was included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v40000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 133,200. Updated 04/20/16*lj consumer stated the ignition switch locked and gm says due to air bags imploding consumer had power. Consumer was behind the steering and it locked no brakes. Updated 06/05/18

Filed Sep 18, 2014 · Electrical · 88,000 miles · OH

The antitheft light keeps coming on and vehicle will not start(which is a problem gm is aware of because it has been reported for years and is all over the internet). It came on while driving and after a few miles shut the car down. No brakes, no steering. Almost had a major accident.

Filed Apr 14, 2014 · Acceleration, Brakes · 29,332 miles · DE · crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the brakes failed without warning. The vehicle continued to accelerate while the brakes were applied, causing the contact to crash into another vehicle. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 29,332. Upadated 06/24/14 ma updated 06/30/2014

Filed Aug 15, 2005 · Brakes · 15,330 miles · TX

Dt: 2003 chevrolet malibu. The anti-lock brakes failed. The consumer states was driving 40 MPH when this occurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealership, and they state there was nothing wrong with the vehicle. This problem happened twice.

Filed May 10, 2005 · Brakes · PA

Dt: the contact states that she owns a 2003 chevrolet malibu ls . She purchased the vehicle in september of 2003. January 2004 she noticed a quivering pulsating brake problem. She took vehicle to the dealer, they cleaned the brakes and then they were fine. March 204 she took vehicle in for a regular pennsylvania inspection and she had them check the brakes. They said they were excellent. May 12 2004 she had brake failure. The brake pads, shoes, and rotors had all burnt off the vehicle. So she had all of them replaced. She takes her vehicle in every four to five weeks for an oil change. Every other oil change she has brakes inspected, so it is about every 10 weeks. The last week of march she went in for another inspection everything, including the calibration on the brakes looked perfect. May 10th 2005 brake failure again, the brake shoes, pads, and the rotors burnt off again. The contact called three dealer in the pennsylavnia area and all the dealers stated that chevrolet malibus are known for brake problems. She called gm on may 10th, and they were only worried about how many miles on the vehicle she had, and told her to get brakes serviced more often. In a total of six weeks vehicle has burnt out the brake pads, shoes, and rotors.

Filed Apr 25, 2005 · Brakes · 1,164 miles · MA

Front brake failure. 4 repairs of machining / replacing rotors. Car has under 15,000 miles. Bought it new. Car shakes uncontrollably on highways when applying brakes. Steering wheel literally bounces 1.5 inchs in all directions. Service dealer keeps on replacing and machineing the rotors. Something is causing them to warp ... My complaint is heard by deaf ears... Help.

Filed Oct 22, 2004 · Airbags, Brakes · FL · crash · 2 injuries

While driving consumer applied the brakes and pedal went to the floor. Consumer was unable to maintain control of the vehicle and hit a concrete barrier. Upon impact, both frontal air bags did not deploy. Driver and passenger sustained head and neck injuries, and were air lifted by a helicopter to the hospital. Vehicle was towed, and totaled by the insurance company.

Filed Oct 12, 2004 · Brakes · KY

When the consumer applied the brakes, the pedal went to the floor. A loud squeaking noise was heard when the brakes were applied. The consumer was able to drive to the dealer for inspection. The mechanic informed the driver that the brake pads and rotors needed replacement. Please fill in additional information.

Filed Oct 14, 2003 · Brakes · 29,100 miles · IN

Complete front brake failure with no warning.