Overview & Reviews

The side curtain airbag option now includes front-seat side-impact airbags.

• Pros: Smooth ride quality, above-average fuel economy with V6, plenty of passenger and cargo space, ample safety and convenience features, innovative remote start feature.

• Lackluster interior, subpar brakes and steering, down on power compared to competitors, no manual transmission available.

User Reviews:

Showing 11 through 20 of 172.00

• 

  Comfortable Driving - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By sueATL - June 23 - 6:13 pm

  Bought this car in 2006. Normal wear and tear, service regularly and get good mileage. Had to change rotors and no other parts so far. However was very disappointed to pay over $200 to exchange steering fluid. this should be change with regular oil change and not hit with high bill at 100,000 miles. Also dash light went out and cost $200 to replaced according to mechanic because of location. Small changes can reduce service cost. Overall good road experience. Will buy another Malibu.

• 

  Great fuel mileage - expensive repairs - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Domino - June 18 - 9:43 am

  The fuel mileage is excellent. The brakes fail way too early. I have gone through one complete brake shoes/pads/rotors.drums replacement at about 50,000 miles. Now the front rotors are warped again.. The transmission failed at 84,000 miles. I had it serviced at 80,000 miles (maintenance schedule calls for transmission service at 100,000 miles). I now have over $3000 in repairs on a 5 year car. I have a 13 year old Ford ranger (90k miles) that I have spent about $1000 in repairs. Good thing GM now has 10 year 1,000,000 power train warranty. However, what will that warranty do for you if the car strands you for 5 days 1000 miles from home while you wait for the transmission to be repaired?

• 

  Car has issues - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Cal - April 2 - 9:52 am

  I must say the car drove and performed nice when new.I have the 2.2 4cyl. And must say this motor for the size out performs most V6 engines I have had. Chev made one powerful little engine with excellent fuel economy.

• 

  Built Not To Last - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By rosalind - February 5 - 1:37 pm

  I have had several problems with my Malibu. The sun visor mirror had to be replaced. The check engine light had to be serviced. The steering shaft has been replaced 3 times. My car jerks and feels like its going to take off at least 3 times per month and the dealer doesnt know why. I am always replacing bulbs. The passenger door would not shut completely and has to be fixed. I have reached 55,000 miles and I feel that this car is not going to last another 55,000 miles.

• 

  Think Twice Before Buying - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By my 2nd malibu - January 28 - 7:52 pm

  I have owned my malibu for approx. three years. I was very disappointed at the fact that I have had my car in the shop for the same problem three times with service techs not knowing what was wrong with the car. I have also had to replace every single exterior light on my car, even the L.E.D. break light that was supposed to never go out. Its sad to say that the previous malibu I owned a 99 model has never had any problems and continues to run great.

• 

  One of Two Best Cars Ive Ever Owned - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Ann - January 22 - 1:41 pm

  Ive owned five cars. One of them a Honda Accord (bought new. It was a miserable lemon.) This is one of the two best cars Ive ever owned (other was an Olds Cutlass Supreme). Reliable, runs great, no big maintenance or performance issues. Not as stylish as Id like, but I got features I never dreamed Id have on a car. Including: remote engine ignition (Ive never scrapped ice off the windshield / I can get in a warm car on a 12-degree morning), OnStar (excellent response time and personnel for flat tire / dead battery), great gas mileage, comfortable seats, great brakes, satellite radio, exact temperature control. Would buy another Malibu if I needed a new car.

• 

  Nice car - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By jech - December 22 - 11:16 pm

  Bought this in May. Waited till it had 9000 before I made comment on it. Have 4 cyl and get 34 to 36 mpg on the hwy. 22 to 24 city. Great ride on both hwy and city. Handles great. Very quiet interior. Lot of standard options for the price. No real problems so far. Dont like the upgraded radio, only real complaint at higher speed radio turns up to high automatically cant hear passengers talking . Have Saab 9.5 for other car. will most likely buy another malibu instead of Saab. Same frame as 9.3 half the price, seven eights same ride.

• 

  Are you kidding me? Again? - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By 05 Chevy - November 20 - 12:30 am

  I HATE THIS CAR! The steering goes out whenever it wants. Ive had it fixed only after 6 months of owning-yet, it continues to happen. It has just shut off on me at redlights, it pretty much starts when it feels like it. Its actually in the shop now because it didnt want to start. Oh, and the lights on this car blow so frequently be prepared to have the Autozone workers know you by name. I HATE THIS CAR! Never will I in a million years buy another Chevy or recommend this piece of crap car to anyone.

• 

  glad tidings - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By larry - November 5 - 10:31 pm

  we all expect the best and this malibu has performed much better than average. one complaint that i have is mileage odometer is off reads about 103+ miles for every 100 chev says this is not unreasonable and wont fix. i have had turn signal bulbs burn out but replaced with heavy duty no problems.

• 

  First car - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Chris - October 1 - 11:00 am

  I bought this car used, and the main purpose is to get me from work and back. This is my first car, and after training in other vehicles I can say that I fit in this car very comfortably, more so than my folks old Cougar, my friends new Solara, or the last Sentra I sat in. Ive had other Chevy owners (mostly pickups) call it cute, and then look shocked when they see a 62" football build guy come out of it. The sound is great, everything works just fine. Passing cars in Upstate NYs hilly roads is an everyday thing so I love the V6 engine and the power behind it. The safety features (ABS, Traction Control, Multiple airbags, passive anti-theft, etc) assured the folks that Id be just fine.