2004 Chevrolet Malibu Air Bags & Restraints Problems

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx. The contact stated that after he turned off and restarted the vehicle, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to Bruce’s auto body shop where it was diagnosed that the air bag side impact sensor failed to reset and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified by the dealer and the contact was informed that the parts were no longer being manufactured and was unavailable. The failure mileage was approximately 164,000.

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT THAT IS WELDED TO THE FRAME OF THE CAR HAS BROKE. THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY DRIVERS SIDE SEAT NOW COLLAPSES WHEN DRIVING WHICH IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS NOT TO MENTION THE SEATBELT IS ATTACHED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SEAT AND BUCKLED INTO IT WHICH IS NOW COLLAPSED WHICH COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ISSUE IF I WAS TO EVER GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE DONE SOME REASEARCH ONLINE AND THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE AMONGSTS MOST 2004 MALIBU OWNERS. I AM THE SECOND OWNER AND I GET THE CAR IS CLOSE TO BEING 20 YEARS OLD BUT MINE ONLY HAS 60K MILES THE DRIVERS SEAT WELD SHOULD NOT JUST DETACH AND COLLAPSE WHILE DRIVING ON A PRACTICALLY BRAND NEW CAR. NOT TO MENTION I AM AN AVERAGE SIZED MAN 200 LBS 5 FOOT 7 ON TOP OF THAT I ENQUIRED TO FIX IT AT MY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER AND IT WILL COST WELL OVER 1000 DOLLARS BASED ON A VERBAL ESTIMATE. I CAN JERRY RIG THE SEAT TO NOT COLLAPSE BUT THAT DOESNT STOP THE FACT THAT GOD FORBID IM IN AN ACCIDENT MY DRIVERS SEAT COULD POTENTIALLY BECOME DETACHED HURLING MYSELF AND THE SEAT INTO THE WINDOW CAUSING SEVERE BODLY HARM OR WORSE DEATH. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AS IM SURE MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM IT IS A FAULTY WELD IN THE DRIVERS SEAT AND NEEDS TO BE ADRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER CHEVROLET

I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND WAS REAR-ENDED BY A CAR GOING 15-20 MPH (THE AT-FAULT DRIVER WAS DISTRACTED BY THEIR PHONE). I WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS AND HAD A BUMP OVER MY LEFT EYE FROM HITTING SOMETHING. I HAD A CONCUSSION. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICY REPORT WAS FILED. I STILL SUFFER MID AND LOWER BACK PAIN (DISC BULGES AND FISSURES). AFTER THE WRECK, I STARTED TO GET A WARNING ABOUT NEEDING TO SERVICE THE AIRBAGS.

MY AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED EVEN THOUGH I REPLACED THE AIRBAGS. MY BREAK LIGHTS COME ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ME PUSHING THE BREAKS. MY CAR FOR SOME REASON WON'T COME OUT OF PARK AT TIMES. IT'S LIKE IT DOESN'T KNOW THAT'S IT'S IN PARK. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR USED. I LOOKED UP RECALLS ON MY TYPE OF CAR AND THERE ARE RECALLS THAT MATCH THE DESCRIPTION I'M SAYING BUT WHEN I PUT IN MY VIN NUMBER IT SAYS I HAVE 0 WITH MY CAR. I'M WONDERING IF I DO HAVE RECALLS ON IT BUT NONE THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED YET. EVEN IN PARK MY CARS BREAK LIGHTS WILL BE ILLUMINATED AND I CAN NOT PULL IT OUT OF PARK. ALSO FUSES BURN OUT IN MY CAR LIKE A CIRCUIT PROBLEMS. IF I TURN MY CAR OFF AND THEN ON TO SEE IF IT REGISTERS THAT IT'S IN PARK AT TIMES MY CAR WILL MAKE A STALLING SOUND LIKE IT'S NOT GETTING GAS OR SOMETHING TO RESTART THE CAR. I WOULD CLICK MORE ON AFFECTED PARTS BUT ONLY ALLOWS 3.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE SPED INTO THE CONTACT'S LANE AND CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS SHAKEN UP, BUT WAS UNINJURED. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED, BUT DRIVABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

AIR BAG LIGHT WARNING LIGHT STAYING ON WHILE IN MOTION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, DROVE DOWN AN EMBANKMENT, AND CRASHED INTO A CREEK. DURING THE CRASH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 195,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT STAY IN PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V188000 (SEAT BELTS) BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE SEAT BELT ADJUSTER WOULD NOT STAY IN PLACE WHEN IT WAS SET AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED AND COMING TO A STOP, ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 TO 70 MPH. THE AIR BAGS DID NO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND THE OTHER DRIVER SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NOTICED DRIVERS SEAT WAS LEANING INWARD, TOWARD CONSOLE, AND FELT WOBBLY. TOOK CAR TO LAOCA MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THE ANCORAGE ON MY SEAT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEED TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO A CHEVY DEALERSHIP. I CONTACTED GM TO INQUIRE ABOUT RECALLS CONCERNING THIS MATTER WAS TOLD NNE ON RECORD. I DID INFORM THEM THAT I'D DONE SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MALIBUS'. I WAS REFERRED TO A CHEVY DEALERSHIP WHICH IS GOING TO COST ME $85.00 FOR A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED LONG AGO. IM SURE THIS THE FIRST TIME THE DEALERSHIP HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT MY SEATBELT WILL MORE THAN LIKELY NOT HOLD IF I WERE IN A COLLISION. THIS DANGEROUS. ARE THEY WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO DIE!!!

I SAT DOWN IN THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE DRIVERS SEAT WAS LEANING. I LOOKED ON LINE TO SEE IF I COULD FIX IT MYSELF. I FOUND A LOT OF COMPLAINTS THAT THE WELDS BREAK AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. I CONTACTED CHEVROLET AND THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE CHECKED BY A CHEVY DEALER. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE SEAT WELDS DID BREAK. I AM NOT AN OVERLY HEAVY PERSON, SO I THOUGHT THAT EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS OLDER, THAT THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM, AND NOT AN AGE OR NEGLECT PROBLEM BY THE OWNER. CHEVROLET TOLD ME THAT SINCE THE CAR WAS TOO OLD, I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING IT FIXED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AS IF I GET IN AN ACCIDENT WITH THE VEHICLE, THE FACT THAT THE SEAT BELT IS ATTACHED TO THE SEAT, AND THE SEAT IS NOT SECURED, I CAN BE HURT BADLY. IF I WERE THE ONLY PERSON WITH THE PROBLEM, I COULD SEE WHY I SHOULD FIX IT. SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES, IT APPEARS THAT IT IS A DESIGN FLAW, AND POOR QUALITY WORKMANSHIP FROM CHEVROLET. I HAVE ATTACHED THE WEB SITE THAT I SAW THE COMPLAINTS ON. IT IS: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/CHEVROLET/MALIBU/2004/ACCESSORIES-INTERIOR/SEATS.SHTML. SOME OF THOSE COMPLAINTS STATE THAT THEY FILED COMPLAINTS WITH YOU. PLEASE CHECK ON THIS AS THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND COULD CAUSE LIVES LOST. I WOULD APPRECIATE A REPLY TO TELL ME HOW I GO ABOUT GETTING THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED. THANK YOU *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE STUMP AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CHEST INJURY THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED HOWEVER, THE BODY DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

FIRST OF ALL IM WAITING ON PARTS FOR TWO RECALLS FOR MY 2004 CHEVY MALIBU. I FIND IT A LITTLE DANGEROUS AND FOR SOME REASON NOBODY HAS BEEN ABLE TO GIVE ME ANY INFORMATION ON WHAT I NEED TO DO OR HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THE PARTS ARE GOING TO BE AVAILABLE. MY SEAT ON THE DRIVER SIDE FEELS LIKE IT IS DETACHED ON ONE SIDE. I HAVE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE. MY CAR RANDOMLY DECIDES TO ACCELERATE SOMETIMES. I CANNOT GIVE YOU MILEAGE OR TELL YOU EXACT TIMES WHEN IT HAPPENS BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT FIVE TIMES A YEAR. I THINK IT'S WHEN I'M ON CRUISE CONTROL SO I FIND IT BIZARRE THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR STARTS SPEEDING. I HAVE HAD MY CAR SERVICED AND EVEN A NEW ENGINE PUT IN AND RESET BUT MY SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT IS STILL ON? MY HORN WILL WORK RANDOMLY BUT NOT ALL THE TIME AND THIS MAKES ME FEEL A LITTLE UNSAFE BECAUSE A HORN IS NEEDED FOR WARNING PEOPLE OF DANGER. THANKS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOP IN A PARKING LOT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO CONTACT VEHICLE AND THE HORN MALFUNCTIONED. AS RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO ALERT THE OTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE LIGHTS BECAME INOPERABLE INTERMITTENTLY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED ABOUT THE FAILURES. THE FAILURES RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSE OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

LADY LOST CONTROL OF CAR AND HIT A TRUCK AND SMASHED PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SECTION AND AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. SHE DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY THE TOW COMPANY SO SHE LET THEM HAVE THE CAR. I FOUND THIS INFORMATION ON CAR FACTS ONLINE. MY SON LIVES IN MO AND PURCHASED THE CAR AND I PURCHASED THE CAR DUE TO THE LOW MILES ON THE CAR AND NOW HAVING PROBLEMS GETTING THE AIR BAGS TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. I ALSO CALLER DEERY BROTHERS CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND THEY CHECKED MY VIN AND THIS CAR DOES HAVE A RECALL ON IT. *TR

PART IS ACTUALLY THE SEAT HOOK BRACKET ASSEMBLY WELD. COULDN'T GET THIS ACCEPTED IN "AFFECTED PARTS" ABOVE. MOVED THE SEAT WHILE PARKED AND IT BROKE. TOOK TO DEALER AND AFTER INSPECTION THEY SAID IT WAS AN INFERIOR WELD THAT CAME APART. THEY OFFERED TO GIVE ME THE NUMBER OF A MAN WHO WOULD COME OUT AND WELD IT BUT THAT IT PROBABLY WOULDN'T HOLD BECAUSE YOU'RE PUTTING A WELD ATOP AN INFERIOR ONE AND IT WOULD DISQUALIFY ME IF THERE WAS EVER A RECALL ON IT. I HAVE IT PROPPED UP WITH PIECES OF WOOD. ITS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AS IT LEANS TO ONE SIDE AND A LITTLE FORWARD SO I FEEL LIKE I'M SLIDING OUT OF MY SEAT. IT IS DIFFICULT TO GET AT SO I'M LEAVING IT THAT WAY FOR NOW. WILL MY CAR BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL? MY NIECE HAS THE SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR AND HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HERS. I FEEL THAT IF I'M IN AN ACCIDENT, MY SEAT WILL FLY FREELY AND THE SEATBELT WON'T BE MUCH HELP SO I MAY BE HURT MORE IF WE FLY FORWARD OR TOWARD THE CAR DOOR SINCE NOTHING IS HOLDING THE SEAT IN PLACE. *TR

2004 CHEVY MALIBU DRIVER SIDE SEAT FRAME BROKEN WELDS. THE WELDS IN THE FRAME HAVE BROKEN CAUSING THE SEAT TO BECOME UNSTABLE. GIVEN THAT THE WELDS ARE BREAKING UNDER NORMAL USE AND THAT THE SEAT RESTRAINTS ARE ANCHORED TO THIS FRAME CAUSES SAFETY CONCERNS. IF THE VEHICLE OWNERS ARE UNAWARE OF A DEFECTIVE WELD AND THE SEAT SHOULD BREAK UNDER CRASH IMPACT THE SAFETY RESTRAINT COULD FAIL POSSIBLY CAUSING GREATER HARM. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS AND CAN SEE THAT THE INTEGRITY OF THE SEAT AND SAFETY RESTRAINT COULD BE COMPROMISED. I SUBSCRIBED TO SOME CAR FORUMS AND WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE 2004 AND 2005 CHEVY MALIBU MODELS WHICH INDICATES SOME FORM OF DEFECT. I AM OF AVERAGE HEIGHT AND WEIGHT AND DID NOT MISUSE THE SEAT IN ANYWAY. *TR

THE WELDS ON THE DRIVER SEAT FRAME BREAK. I FIRST NOTICED THIS IN FEBRUARY 2010 WHEN MY SEAT WOULD RAISE AT AN ANGLE. RECENTLY I WAS CLEANING MY CAR AND I NOTICED THE SEAT BELT WAS NOT ATTACHED SECURELY. THE WELD HOLDING THE SEAT BELT TO THE SEAT FRAME HAD CRACKED AND BROKEN FREE. I FOUND A USED SEAT AND WHEN IT WAS DELIVERED, THIS SEAT HAD THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS, MULTIPLE WELDS ON THE SEAT FRAME THAT ARE CRACKED AND BROKE. THIS FRAME IS CRITICAL TO THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER. THIS WEBSITE SHOWS THAT THERE ARE MANY MORE COMPLAINTS OF REGARDING THE SAME DEFECT. HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2005/CHEVROLET/MALIBU_MAXX/SEATS/PROBLEM.ASPX THERE ARE MORE PLACES ONLINE TALKING ABOUT THIS VERY ISSUE. MY CAR HAS 55000 MILES ON IT. I AM 150LBS. THESE WELDS SHOULD NOT BE BREAKING SO EASY, AND SO PREMATURELY. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE AIRBAG MODULE LIGHT FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND SHE WAS ADVISED SINCE THAT THE MODULE HAS FAILED. ANY REPAIRS MADE, WOULD BE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36000.

I WAS DRIVING ON 91S IN HARTFORD CT. I HAD JUST GOTTEN ON THE HIGHWAY AND MOVED INTO THE SECOND LANE. IT WAS RAINING AND I HYDROPLANED. I WENT INTO A 360 AND AT THE 180 POINT I HIT THE CEMENT DIVIDER HEAD ON. I CONTINUED IN THE 360 AND AS I CAME ABOUT AGAIN I HIT THE METAL GUARDRAIL, AGAIN, HEAD ON AND WENT INTO ANOTHER 360. THERE WAS NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AT ALL AND MY SEATBELT DIDN'T LOCK UP WHICH CAUSED MY FACE AND UPPER TORSO TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. I LOST TEETH AND WAS INJURED ON MY UPPER TORSO AND NECK. I CALLED CHEVY AND WAS TOLD TO TAKE PICS OF CAR AND SEND THEM . I DID SO AND STILL HAVE THE PICS AND THE CAR. CHEVY SENT A "TECH" OUT TO DO "TESTS". THE TECH SHOWED UP NOT ONLY AN HOUR AND A HALF LATE BUT WITHOUT THE PROPER EQUIPMENT TO DO THE TESTS AND WOUND UP BORROWING CERTAIN THINGS FROM MY NEIGHBOR. I WAITED 3+ MONTHS TO HEAR FROM CHEVY. I RECEIVED A LETTER STATING THAT THEY TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY., AND THAT THE TESTS SAID IT WAS UNDER THE THRESHOLD IF WHEN AN AIRBAG SHOULD DEPLOY. INCLUDED WITH THE LETTER WAS A "COPY OF THE TEST" WHICH WAS/IS ABSOLUTELY INCOMPREHENSIBLE TO ME. THERE WAS NO EXPLANATION OF ANYTHING THIS "TEST" SAID. BUT CHEVY TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY AT ALL. IF NEEDED I WILL FORWARD ALL PICS AND THE LETTER FROM CHEVY AS WELL. *TR