2003 chevy malibu anti theft system light comes on and car won't start. Car is sitting won't start.
2003 Chevrolet Malibu electrical complaints
Page 9 of 11: complaints 221 to 250 of 289, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Anti-theft light continuously comes on. Replaced ignition lock cylinder two months ago. Now the car does not start at all and the anti-theft light is still on! This is a serious safety issue. I cannot travel with my kids, especially during the winter cold b/c I never know if I have to wait 10 minutes for the theft system to reset. I called the dealership today and they told me they need to hook it up to a $5000 computer to de-code the anti-theft errors. The gentleman said it sounds like the passlock module. With the cost of towing, the computer scan and parts/labor, I'm looking at $800. He also said there is no guarantee it couldn't happen again days or months down the road!
I have a 2003 chevy malibu that I bought though a friend, it ran good and one day I went out to start it and the ignition locked up. I went out and got one and replaced it and now the anti-theft system will let it start but shuts off in 10 seconds. I have called the main office and there is nothing that they can do about it and they know about the problem but will not do nothing about it. I have been on the internet and there is alot of people complaining about the same thing what can I do about it. Please help. Thank you
Car is not starting. Anti theft system light will not turn off.
During normal operation of my car, I will randomly have issues with the passlock theft system not allowing me to start my vehicle. I had the modules replaced at a gm dealership approximately 15 months ago. At that time, I simply parked my car for the night in my driveway. I came out the next morning to take my daughter to school and the car would not start. I had to have my car towed to the nearest chevy dealership. They called gm and it was recommended that I replace the ignition module and a sensor to the tune of over $500. I was told this would fix the issue. Now, I find myself facing the same problem only 30,000 miles later. I stopped at a gas station and filled the vehicle up with gas. When I went to leave, the car would not start and the theft system light was on. Being a veteran to this issue, I immediately turned the car off the waited for 10-15 minutes. This will sometimes work to allow the car to restart again. However, this time it did not. This same issue occurred and the results were the same. If you simply do a search for chevy malibu passlock, you will easily find the thousands of people affected by this problem on a daily basis. It puts everyone at an inconvenience and even some lives at risk (as it can turn the car off while it is in motion).
Okay, this complaint is about chevrolet malibu. They are having a huge problem with their anti theft system. The car would run perfectly and then the next time you turn the key it wouldn't start. This has happened 3 times to us within a week. And if you google it, you'll see that there are thousands of people who are having the same problem! It's a real safety issue and has to be taken seriously and dealt with. Tonight my mom who owns the car was stuck on a dark parking lot at a temperature below 0 for over an hour. She's sick now, thanks to chevy. Of course the technicians won't find anything but start replacing the ignition, reprogram the anti theft system, etc. But this all doesn't help. The problem is that there are single women out there in the dark not being able to start their car. There are elderly people who are unable to make their doctor's appointments. And there are people on the highways praying the car won't shut down in front of a truck this time. It is a huge safety issue and has to be dealt with. Please confront gm with this and let them fix it. We don't want to wait for an incident like a rape, robbery, or even death to start them thinking.
2003 chevrolet malibu signal and hazard lights have an intermittent failure. Relay switch may be bad.
I have a 2003 chevy malibu. The passlock anti theft system has left me stranded many times. I have recently been stuck at night in a dark parking lot waiting the ten minutes for the system to reset. This is a personalsafety issue for anyone having to sit in an unsafe location waiting for the system to work. This problem occurs often (two or three times a week). This should be recalled and fixed on gm's dollar because it is a common problem and anyone who owns a gm car is spending money out of their own pocket to try and fix the problem when it is gm that is responsible for it.
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet malibu. When the anti-theft light is illuminated, the contact is unable to start the vehicle. A mechanic replaced the fuel pump because the vehicle constantly stalled; however, the fuel pump was not the cause of the failure. The vehicle continues to stall, the check engine light is illuminated, and the anti-theft light remains illuminated. The contact will take the vehicle back to the repair shop for further inspection. Report number 71-74-9932502 was filed with the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 82,000 and current mileage was 88,000.
For the second time in two years, as I started my car the theft system light came on and the car would not start. The dealer says that the ignition has to be replaced due to the pass key theft system not recognizing my key (the original key) and breaking the ignition. This has left me with a dead car alone as a woman at night. This is the second time this has happened and I have had to replace the ignition.
The theft system (passlock) engages on my car for no reason. The first time this happened, back in 2003, shortly after purchasing my car. I was at a bank, with my young daughter, getting money out of an atm. After returning to my car, the vehicle would not start. I had to pay money for a tow, and the mechanic charged me $800 to replace the fuel pump. Car did not need a fuel pump, it only needed the theft deterrent system turned off. I know this because the mechanic called to ask me how to do this. At the time, I had no idea. I now know that the $1000 I paid for tow and fuel pump were a total waste of money. Since 2003, this theft system engages for no reason, 2-3 times per week. It is insane. In order to dis-engage it, I have to wait 10 minutes sitting in my car; sometimes with my young children. I have read thousands of complaints for this problem, dating back to cars made in 1996. I cannot believe gm has not been forced to issue a recall for this worthless theft system. I wonder what genius felt it necessary to force someone to sit in their car for 10 minutes, key in the ignition, to reset the theft deterrent system. I'd rather my car be stolen! While I am sitting in my car, waiting for it to start, me and my family could be kidnapped, robbed, killed. This is insane. If it cannot be made to where it does not malfunction, they should just not put in on vehicles. Or, they should only make you wait a mere 1-2 minutes with the key in the ignition. 10 minutes is an insane amount of time to have to wait for this to reset.
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start. She noticed that the anti theft light was illuminated. She placed the ignition in auxiliary mode for 10 minutes. The contact then turned off the ignition and restarted the vehicle. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle shut off without warning. The contact had to climb in the back seat to exit because the passenger and driver's side doors would not unlock. Upon exiting, she would then have to lift the hood of the vehicle and slam the hood back down in order for the vehicle to restart. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that the anti theft system was failing. The vehicle is currently being repaired at the cost of $1,168. The manufacturer stated that because regular maintenance, other than oil changes, were not performed at a chevrolet dealer, no compensation would be provided. The failure mileage was 36,000 and current mileage was 40,943.
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that there was an electrical issue with her vehicle. The turn signals would operate without initialization and the power door locks were also inoperable. The check engine warning light continued to illuminate on the instrument panel; however, there were no other failures. The independent mechanic advised the contact to take the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer could not assist with the repairs because there were no recalls available. The current and failure mileages were less than 87,000.
I had a problem with my turn signals. They would work when they wanted to. I took my car to a chevy dealer to find out what it was and how much it was going to cost to fix the problem. The service attendant was very knowledgeable about this particular problem. I was told that they had recall up to 2002 malibus for this same problem but of course mine is a2003 so I had to pay for it to be repaired. The cost was $110.00 which wasn't bad but the 2002 and 2003 parts interchange. So why wouldn't they have same recall?
Anti-theft system kicks in even when original key is used to start vehicle and vehicle will not start without waiting 10 minutes to restart system. This happens at irregular intervals, usually when it is least convenient. I have had to be towed twice until I learned the override trick. I am going into the dealership again today to try to get a permanent fix.
Anti-theft system activates very frequently & under various conditions.
The theft system on my chevy malibu 2003 has left me stranded on multiple occasions and cost me more than $300 in repair costs. The theft system believes my car is being stolen and shuts off the fuel to the engine. Some posts say it's when you use an copied key, but I'm using the factory original. At first, this happened once every month then increased with frequency to once and week and now every two/three days. The 1st this happened, I replaced the battery. This one 1 1/2 yrs ago and now the battery needs to be replaced again. When the theft system locks me out, I have to wait 10 minutes for the light to turn off and try to turn the key over again. With the amounts of complaints about this system, I would think gm would change systems or remove the problem. It's a disgrace that they continue to put this system in a car effectively locking out the very owner instead of doing its intended job.
Theft light comes on and anti-theft system disables the vehicle, driving and parked. We have been stranded several times because of this. Vehicle will not start it turns over but will do nothing. I have had to take the vehicle in several times to have the system reset, at a cost to me everytime.
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet malibu. The vehicle has been shutting off intermittently for the past eight months. The dealer keeps resetting the computer, but the failure persists. The weather was not a factor. The power steering and brakes fail without warning. The failure occurs while accelerating or cruising. The failure mileage was 132,000. Updated 2/5/09 *cn updated 02/10/09.
Bought a 2003 chevy malibu 1 1/2 years ago (used). Since that time the anti-theft device has failed twice. The first time it was at home, the 2nd time left me stranded an hour away from home. I have spent over $300.00 for towing, plus the cost of repairs on the vehicle. I am a college student who as limited funds. Gm is aware of the problem, but refuses to acknowledge or fix the problem. It will take gm several deaths when these cars shut off while driving down the road before they get off their "butts" to fix the problem. Gm doesn't know how to keep their customers!
This morning when getting gas, I got back in the car, started it up and the horn randomly beeped. Once I got to work, and locked the car the horn beeped again, keep in mind the remote locks don't sound the horn. When I got home later when locking the car the horn didn't sound. When someone else used the car later tonight, when starting the car the horn sounded again. I asked her to turn it off and try again, and once again it sounded.
I went to the doctor today. My car was fine. On returning to my car, it would not start. I called aaa. They showed me the passlock anti-theft system was engaged -- with no identifiable cause. The gentleman who helped me, told me he has seen this often. I am using the original key, and I am sure the car was not tampered with. Reading online, I get a sense that this will probably start happening more. Although this is the first failure, I read that the car can switch off while driving. I am concerned as my 16 year old daughter also drives this car, and that she may be endangered.
The anti-theft system in my 2003 chevrolet malibu is defective, apparently this is a problem for just about every owner of a chevy malibu. This needs to be recalled by gm!!!! About once or twice a week when I attempt to start my car I pray the anti-theft system does not blink, because when it blinks that means the car isn't going to start. The owner's manual states that if this occurs then turn the key to the "on" position and let it sit for 10 minutes and then turn the key to "off" and start the car as normal. Well for about 1 year this worked, it was a hassle, but it worked. Now after about a year of this pain in the butt routine twice a week to start my car, finally it died on me while driving and will no longer start. Gm is obviously aware of this malfunction because they have given instructions on how to deal with it in the owner's manual, the problem is they haven't done anything to correct the problem, after their suggestion fails to start the car. This malfunction needs to be recalled!!!!!!!
I own a 2003 chevrolet malibu, I have experienced on 3 separate occasions a no start incident, twice the car was towed to repair facilities where various components were changed after the car started right up. This most recent incident happened in my driveway at home and, I decided to thoroughly check out this problem. I have replace various components on the car and spent upwards of 250.00 in parts and even after that, once I got the car running again I had a check engine light on and a very rough idle. So, I took the car to a garage to have it scanned for fault codes. Now, I have discovered a faulty ignition switch (fault code u1000) has been behind these incidents. And, in reading various internet forums/discussion boards, I am not alone!! (chevrolet is well aware of this defect !!) this is a manufacturer defect in the passive theft system on general motors cars. There should be a national investigation and subsequent recall on these vehicles to have this problem remedied. The dealers are getting 300-350.00 per repair and most times this problem re-occurs. I wanted to bring this to your attention as I am about to spend 300.00 plus at my local chevrolet service department to have my faulty ignition switch replaced. The new one must be "programmed" to your vehicle and only a chevrolet dealer can do this. Please render any assistance you can in this matter. Thank you very much. .....................................chris merckx
I have a 2003 chevrolet malibu and the theft deterrent system keeps activating for no reason. The vehicle use to have a problem starting and now has started dying on me in the middle of driving. This is very dangerous and nearly caused an accident. There are many people having this same problem but chevrolet refuses to do a recall. It is going to cause someone to crash. It costs anywhere from $700.00 - $1,300.00 to do the repairs and most people can't afford it. Chevrolet is aware of the problem.
Passive anti-theft would not allow us to start the car. We sat there for over 15 minutes. No other odd had occurred before that but suddenly it would not allow us to start.
Luckily I was not on the highway on my way to work when this occurred or a crash would have been unavoidable. Engine shuts off without any warning and then does not restart for 10 to 15 minutes. Dashboard lights do not come on during this time. You can tell when it will restart as the lights finally come back on. Gm dealership is aware of problem but is unable to fix - they keep replacing parts and the problem still exists. (carcomplaint.com has several complaints of this exact nature listed online.)
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet malibu. Intermittently, the vehicle would not start because the anti-theft system kept locking the vehicle. It takes 10-15 attempts to start the vehicle when this occurs. The failure has gotten progressively worse over time. The vehicle has not been taken to the dealer. The current mileage was 49,000 and failure mileage was 30,000. Updated 05/05/08. *lj the dealer would not disconnect the theft system. Updated 05/05/08.
Anti-theft system: causes the car not to start on several occasions. Takes several minutes for system to reset.
Pass lock system failure on a 2003 chevy malibu. Or the theft system will activate and not allow the car to be started. This has happened on numerous occasions.
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