ADJUSTABLE PEDALS WILL NOT ADJUST INOPERATIVE. UPDATED 3/13/09. UPDATED 8/1/11.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2005 Chevrolet Malibu cruise control problems
severe 11 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
2crashes
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering cruise control on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
CHEVROLET/PONTIAC/SATURN: INTERMITTENTLY BRAKE LIGHTS (STOP LAMPS) DO NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY, EXTENDED TRAVEL TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK, CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE, DTCS C0161/C0277 SET (PERFORM REPAIR AS OUTLINED). UPDATED 5/11/11.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SUPPLEMENT TO 05-06-01-003A - WRONG THROTTLE GASKET PART NUMBER.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe a range of critical drive problems with this 2005 Malibu model. The most severe: sudden unintended acceleration paired with complete brake pedal lockup on a freeway, forcing the driver to shift into park at highway speed to regain control. Another owner experienced total loss of vehicle control while turning—the car would not respond to steering or braking, swerved uncontrollably, and went airborne into a ditch.
Engine control issues show up repeatedly. One car stalled on the highway with no throttle response; a shop diagnosed a fuel pump and filter failure. Another vehicle's check engine light came on during cruise control operation, then the engine remained stuck at 4500 RPM and would not decelerate. A third car's traction control light disabled cruise control, followed by transmission that became stuck in second gear and shifted hard.
Owners also report intermittent brake lights that fire without braking, intermittent cruise control, and—notably—an accelerator pedal area with no guard between the foot and the throttle cable, a design flaw the dealership confirmed affects all 2005 Malibus. One car threw diagnostic code P0826 and stalled repeatedly even after throttle body replacement during recall work.
These complaints span normal highway and city driving with no apparent owner error.
Same Chevrolet Malibu cruise control reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended acceleration with brake lockup
Engine accelerates unexpectedly while driving; brake pedal becomes immobilized and unresponsive. Driver unable to decelerate despite pedal application.
When: While on freeway at highway speeds; occurred on initial complaint within weeks of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates on its own; Brake pedal frozen in place and will not depress; Toggling cruise control on/off does not restore braking; Engine revs faster after shifting to neutral and park
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to dealership; outcome of repair not provided in complaint
Loss of vehicle control during turning
While driving on a curve, vehicle suddenly loses directional control and cannot be slowed down. Driver experienced involuntary lane swerves and vehicle went airborne into a ditch.
When: May 2006, during early morning curve driving; 2005 model purchased December 2005
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle unresponsive to steering input during curve; Unable to slow car down despite attempting to brake; Car swerved involuntarily side to side; Vehicle became airborne and landed in ditch
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle totaled; no repair attempted
Engine stall with loss of throttle response
Vehicle stalls and shuts down while driving. After restart, engine will not respond to throttle input; gas pedal produces no acceleration.
When: Highway driving; fuel tank was near empty at time of incident
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls and shuts down while driving; No acceleration response when gas pedal pressed; Engine starts but refuses to rev up; Carburetor spray starting attempt failed
Repairs/costs cited: Service shop diagnosed fuel pump and fuel filter failure. Owner attempted to claim recall for aftermarket fuel pumps.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall for aftermarket fuel pumps exists but reported closed; owner unclear if repair covered under recall
Check engine light with cruise control dropout and stuck high RPM
Check Engine light illuminates while cruise control is engaged. When cruise control disengaged, tachometer remains stuck at high RPM (~4500) and vehicle will not decelerate.
When: At 154,000 miles; occurred while cruise control engaged at 40 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Check Engine light illuminates; Tachometer reads approximately 4500 RPM and does not drop; Vehicle fails to decelerate; Cruise control engagement preceded the failure
Repairs/costs cited: Diagnostic shop unable to locate any failure codes; vehicle not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer referred complaint to NHTSA; no other response noted
Traction Control light with cruise control and transmission loss
Traction Control light illuminates and disables cruise control. Shortly after, transmission appears stuck in second gear and exhibits hard shifting. Traction Control button on console becomes inoperative.
When: After approximately 1.5 weeks of mostly highway driving; TC light comes on every shift from Park to Drive
Symptoms owners cite: Traction Control light illuminates and persists; Cruise control disabled; Transmission stuck in second gear despite acceleration attempts; Hard shifting into second gear; TC button on console will not engage cruise control
Exposed throttle cable next to accelerator pedal
Accelerator pedal area lacks protective shield between foot and throttle cable. Foot can contact the cable instead of pedal, creating potential for unintended throttle input.
When: Design observation; applies to all 2005 Malibu models inspected
Symptoms owners cite: No protective guard or shield on accelerator cable; Driver foot can contact exposed cable; Difficulty distinguishing between pedal and cable contact
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership confirmed all Malibus exhibit this design; no remedy offered
Intermittent brake lights and cruise control malfunction
Brake lights illuminate when vehicle is not braking. Cruise control operates intermittently. Complaint references this as a common and documented problem for the model line.
When: Timing not specified; described as common problem for 2005 Malibu
Symptoms owners cite: Brake lights come on without brake pedal application; Cruise control intermittent operation
Reduced engine power with stalling after throttle body replacement
After dealership recall work, vehicle begins displaying reduced engine power message and stalling. Throttle body was replaced but symptoms persist and diagnostic code P0826 was thrown.
When: After recall service work; timing relative to service not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Reduced engine power warning light illuminated; Engine stalls; Diagnostic code P0826 generated; Symptoms persist after throttle body replacement
Codes mentioned: P0826
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body replaced during recall work; no resolution of symptoms
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall work performed; nature of recall not specified
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had cruise control trouble with your 2005 Chevrolet Malibu?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Based on the 11 complaints filed, cruise control issues most often appear around 131,000 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Chevrolet/Malibu.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.