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.
2003 Chevrolet Malibu: fire, smoke or burning smell
5 of the 569 complaints about the 2003 Chevrolet Malibu describe fire, smoke or burning smell.
- owner complaints
- 5
- of this car's complaints
- 1%
- recalls
- 1
Fire, smoke or burning smell by model year
What owners say
Contanct dealer company will not return calls ask for assistance in resolving issues car needs brake all the way around rotors damageded needs tyrod end has white smoke coming from exaust dealer will not check car they have their own mechanic tell you to contact and you get no response vehicle sold to 76 year old lady and is unsafe I aske if they would trade up it is half paid for I was told no it has to be completely paid off.
I tell dealer check engine light on "he says not to be concerned there is white smoke coming from tailpipe ignition can take up to 5 min to get on code says car needs egr valve car needed brakes and rotors all the way around and tyrod dealer will not respond to calls car was recalled for ignition switch never repaired I need to know if I can take it in to chevy dealer ony had 1 month vehicle is not safe and I am 76 there is a waranty on engine and transmission.
My check engine light has been coming on and giving me problems. Just took it in to my car repair they said now its shows air bag error also. They want to change out the ignition switch. This car has had nothing but trouble with only 66 thousand miles! Now the air bags probably wont work when needed. I want this fixed on the ignition recall. Every time I pull up to my home after driving this car I am just waiting for it to start on fire as nothing seems to work like it should.
Steering column started smoking, then burst into flames.
Service bulletins that may apply
- Electrical system
- Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles
- This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Service Programming System (SPS)...
- This bulletin provides information for electrical ground repairs using new General Motors replacement...
- This informational bulletin provides information for the IPC odometer programming method quick reference...
- This service bulletin provides information on Module Harvesting.
- This service bulletin provides diagnostic tips/steps on testing for possible EVAP leaks in the system to...
- Electrical system
Related recalls
Electrical system: ignition
- What is wrong
- This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
- Risk
- If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.
Recall number 14V400000 · Recall details
Questions about the 2003 Chevrolet Malibu fire or smoke
Is fire, smoke or burning smell a common problem on the 2003 Chevrolet Malibu?
5 of 569 owner complaints about the 2003 Chevrolet Malibu (1%) mention fire, smoke or burning smell. The model year with the most reports is 2013.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2003 Chevrolet Malibu?
There is 1 recall and 58 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
Won't start 84Stalling 59Fuel pump 34Check engine light 23Sudden acceleration 15No deployment 14Loss of power 12Brake failure 10Grinding brakes 9Adaptive cruise 8ABS 7Airbag light 7Engine failure 7Headlights 7Power steering loss 7Fuel gauge 5Hesitation 5Overheating 5
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