2004 Chevrolet Malibu Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER HANDLE FRACTURED. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE BOTH HANDS TO SHIFT THE GEAR INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND BECAME HARD TO TURN. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING ACCOMPANIED BY A WARNING CHIME. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. IN ADDITION, AN UNKNOWN FUSE WAS REMOVED FROM UNDER CONSOLE AND CLEANED. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE STEERING COLUMN AND MODULE WERE BOTH REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000. ...UPDATED 11-18-13 *BF UPDATED 11/26/2013 *JS

WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MY CARS POWER STEERING SUDDENLY WENT OUT AND THE ALARM CAME ON, ON THE RADIO "POWER STEERING" . SOMETIMES IT GOES OUT JUST BY PUTTING MY CAR REVERSE OR DRIVE. IT ALSO WILL GO OUT WHILE TURNING! THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE AS I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND THIS CAN CAUSE A WRECK. THIS IS MY ONLY WAY OF GOING I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX GMS MISTAKE! *TR

FOR SOME REASON THE ENTIRE INTERIOR TRIM ON THE DOOR PANELS HAVE COME UNGLUED AND DETACHED FROM THE DOORS. IT LOOKS TERRIBLE. I RECENTLY RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE STEERING. OF COURSE, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS AND NOW THE NOTICE SAYS MY CAR MUST HAVE LESS THAN 150K MILES ON IT. I DARE SAY THERE ARE NOT MANY 2004 VEHICLES WITH LESS THAN 150K MILES? MINE IS AROUND 164K. WE USE TO SPRAY GREASE ON THE JOINT WHERE IT HITS WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. I HAD BEEN TOLD A DEALER WOULD WANT TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE RACK N PINION ON THE VEHICLE, BUT THAT WOULD NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. GUESS I AM JUST OUT OF LUCK.

2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION KEY FAILURE TO RE-START VEHICLE, TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH REPAIRS AND CONSUMER SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT FOR RECALL REPAIRS. *SMD *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND PERFORMED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE HAD A POWER STEERING MOTOR REPLACEMENT PREVIOUSLY BUT THE PROBLEM HAD SINCE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR INSPECTED SINCE THE RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

WHEN STARTING THE CAR THE IGNITION GETS STUCK, THERE IS A RECALL ON OTHER MODELS BUT NOT THE 2004 MALIBU, AND ALSO THE RIGHT REAR TIRE ROD HAS PART THAT HAS COME LOOSE, TOOK TO TIRE SHOP AND SHOWED WHERE THE PART WILL HAVE TO BE WELDED BACK TO THE ROD. CURRENTLY HAVE RECALL ON STEERING FOR 2004 MALIBU 14116. *TR

FRONT HEADLAMPS AND TURN SIGNAL BULBS ARE HAVING TO BE REPLACED AROUND EVERY 6 MONTHS. USING BULBS SPECIFIED BY THE OWNER'S MANUAL. PLASTIC ORANGE BULB CASING HAS HOLES MELTED ON THE TOP AND WARPED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE BRAKES ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL), BUT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. I WAS TURNING INTO MY APARTMENT COMPLEX AND MY STEERING WHEEL TIGHTENED UP. I RAN INTO THE MEDIAN THAT DIVIDES THE ENTRANCE AND THE EXIT OF A COMPLEX. DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE WAS A MESSAGE ON MY RADIO DISPLAY THAT SAID POWER STEERING. AFTER I HIT THE MEDIAN, I TURNED MY CAR OFF TO GET OUT AND SEE THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR AND THE PROPERTY. WHEN I GOT BACK INTO MY CAR AND STARTED IT AGAIN THE STEERING WAS FINE AGAIN. A FEW DAYS LATER I EXPERIENCED IT THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN WHILE DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AND THERE SEEM TO BE NO FIX IF THE DEALERSHIP CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT IF THEY WERE TO TAKE MY WORD AND FIX THE STEERING COLUMN AND THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM I WOULD BE OUT OF $1000+ DOLLARS. THIS IS THE ONLY PROBLEM THAT I HAVE EVER HAD WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THERE NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. FAST!! *TR

THE PASSLOCK SECURITY SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS DISABLING THE VEHICLE. YOU HAVE TO RESET THE SYSTEM WHICH CAN TAKE UP TO 30 MINUTES. THIS CAN BE A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN IT HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. I HAVE SEEN THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THIS ISSUE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR

HEARD A THUMP AND POWER SEAT SAGGED ON RIGHT SIDE. CHECKED UNDER SEAT AND FOUND WELD HAD BROKEN THAT HOLDS A TUBE TO A BRACKET. I COULD SEE THAT WHERE THE WELD PULLED LOOSE FROM THE TUBE IT PULLED METAL FROM THE TUBE. THE WELD DID NOT BREAK BUT PULLED METAL FROM THE TUBE. THE TUBE WAS MADE FROM THIN GAUGE METAL. *TR

WHILE OUT DRIVING DOING REGULAR ERRANDS, I NEEDED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AT AN INTERSECTION AND REALIZED THAT THE WHEEL WOULD NOT MOVE. I HAD TO FORCE THE STEERING WHEEL TO MOVE IN ORDER TO MAKE THE TURN. I WAS AFRAID TO GO ANY FURTHER BECAUSE I WAS ON A RELATIVELY BUSY STREET AND DID NOT WANT TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. I PULLED OVER AND CALLED MY SON WHO TOLD ME THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE THE POWER STEERING FAILED. AFTER I CALMED DOWN, I DROVE THE CAR APPROXIMATELY TWO MILES BACK TO MY HOME. I HAVE INFORMED CHEVROLET OF THE PROBLEM. *LN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND THE CONTACT ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO SIT FOR SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE THE POWER STEERING ASSIST RESUMED NORMAL FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

THE WELD ON THE SEAT BROKE AND THE SEAT LEANS RIGHT AND BACK, VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND A REAL SAFETY HAZARD IF YOU ASK ME. THE SEAT DOES NOT MOVE UP AND DOWN CORRECTLY OR FRONT TO BACK EITHER.WE HAD FIXED AT TODD WENZEL IN HUDSONVILLE MI A USED SEAT COST US $472.95 WE FEEL THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE SEAT AND A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

I WAS DRIVING TO A DOCTORS APPOINTMENT WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. VERY SCARY INCIDENT CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT THERE WAS NO WARNING AND I WAS IN MID-TURN. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING AND APPARENTLY THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE. I TURN THE CAR OFF AND LOOKED IT OVER AND NOTHING SEEMED TO BE OBVIOUSLY WRONG , SO I RESTARTED THE CAR AND THE SERVICE LIGHTS ON THE DASH DISAPPEARED AND THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING AS IF NOTHING HAD HAPPENED AND THE POWER STEERING WAS BACK TO PROPER FUNCTION. I AM NOW A LITTLE NERVOUS DRIVING THE CAR, BECAUSE I HAVE READ A LOT OF PEOPLES INPUT AND STORIES AND IT REPEATS ITSELF FREQUENTLY ONCE IT HAPPENS FOR THE FIRST TIME. THERE HAS BEEN A MOTION FOR A RECALL, BUT THEY STILL HAVE NOT RECALLED THIS MODEL. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE AND COULD VERY EASILY CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH DEPENDING ON THE SITUATION YOU ARE IN WHEN THE MALFUNCTION HAPPENS. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME RESEARCHING THIS MATTER. *JB

POWER STEERING LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE LAST 5 MONTHS. TODAY MY POWER STEERING FAILED COMPLETELY. WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. AFTER TURNING VEHICLE OFF THEN BACK ON IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN, THEN FAILED AGAIN. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING ON AN OFF RAMP AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER AN UNKNOWN RECALL BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. ALSO, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL), NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V153000 (STEERING) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN). HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

FRONT TURN SIGNALS INTERMITTEDY STOP WORKING

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

STEERING FAILED AS I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. THE STEERING WARNING SYSTEM HAS BEEN GIVING FALSE INDICATION THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR UNTIL IT DID FAIL. ALSO PLEASE CHECK OUT THE FOLLOWING HTTP://WWW.EDMUNDS.COM/CHEVROLET/MALIBU/2004/CONSUMER-DISCUSSIONS.HTML

WHILE DRIVING WENT TO PUT ON THE BRAKES AND THE DRIVER SEAT MADE A LOUD THUMP AND SHIFTED FORWARD TO THE RIGHT I HAD TO GRIP THE STEERING WHEEL AND PULL OVER BECAUSE THE SEAT WAS LEANING FORWARD TO THE RIGHT AND MADE IT HARD FOR ME TO DRIVE. I GOT OUT AND THE BAR UNDER THE SEAT THAT GUIDES THE SEAT WAS BROKEN HAD TO MANUEVER IT TO DRIVE AFTER PUTTTING A BLOCK OF WOOD UNDER IT TO STABALIZE THE SEAT SO I COULD DRIVE. HAD NEW TIRES, LUGS AND NUTS PUT ON CAR IN JUNE ALONG WITH ENTIRE SUSPENSION SYSTEM FORNT AND BACK AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND ON TWO OCCASIONS MY LUGS HAD TO BE CHANGED DUE TO BREAKAGE OR LUGS COMING UNSCREWED AND DROPPING OFF ON FRONT DRIVERSIDE AND BACK PASSENGER HAD CAR CHECKED AND THERE APPEARS TO SEVERAL MECHANIC SHOPS NOTHING VISIBLY WRONG BUT THIS IS A SURE SAFETY HAZARD.

STARTED MY CAR AFTER WORK AND MY POWER STEERING WAS SUDDENLY GONE AFTER WORKING FINE FOR 2 DAYS (JUST BOUGHT THE CAR). I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE DID A TROUBLE CODE SEARCH. THE COMPUTER KEPT DISPLAYING TORQUE SENSOR ERROR. TOOK IT TO GM AND FOUND OUT THAT THEY WILL NOT COVER THE COST TO REPLACE IT BECAUSE I HAVE A V6, NOT A V4 ENGINE. APPARENTLY GM EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE V4 STEERING COLUMNS, BUT NOT THE V6. DROVE BACK HOME AND LET THE CAR SIT FOR ABOUT 4 HOURS. WENT AND STARTED IT UP AND THE POWER STEERING WAS BACK. TURNED THE CAR BACK OFF AND IT OVERNIGHT. STARTED AGAIN THIS MORNING AND THE POWER STEERING IS GONE AGAIN! VERY UNHAPPY SINCE I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AS THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE INTERNAL STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000.

I RECENTLY ENCOUNTER AN INCIDENT WITH MY 2004 CHEVY MALIBU DRIVER SIDE FRONT SEAT, OUT OF NO WEAR THE STEEL WELDED BAR UNDER THE SEAT BROKE ON THE RIGHT SIDE CAUSE THE SEAT TO TILT TO THE RIGHT, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE THE CARS IN A SAFE MANNER. TO THE NHTSA TEAM THIS PROBLEM IS DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE IT RESORT IN A LIFE AND DEATH SITUATION. *TR

I WAS DRIVING HEARD A POP AND THEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I THEN NOTICED THE WHEEL WAS TURNED HALF WAY AND I WAS STILL GOING STRAIGHT. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS THANK GOD I WAS ON A STREET ALONE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER (HOVE) THEY TOLD ME MY EXTENDED WARRANT HAD EXPIRED DUE TO MILEAGE AND IT WAS 1300.00 TO FIX. ON TOP OF THE ISSUE OF SAFETY I ALSO DON'T HAVE THE CASH AND I NEED MY CAR. I HAVE SEEN ALL THE REPORTS FROM THIS PROBLEM AND STRONGLY FEEL THIS SHOULD BE A RECALLED PIECE. *TR

THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM AND FUEL RAIL COMBINED CREATED A INJURY TO PEDESTRIANS THAT IS UNBELIEVABLE THE CAR TOOK OFF AFTER LEFT TURN INTO A PARKING LOT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND MULTIPLE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING OVER SPEED BUMPS OR ANY OTHER TERRAIN. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, BUT THE KEY WOULD NOT EJECT. THE KEY WOULD CONTINUOUSLY BECOME STUCK BETWEEN THE OFF POSITION AND AUXILIARY POSITION AND WOULD NOT RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE LOCK ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000. UPDATED 01/12/15*LJ UPDATED 08/28/2017*CT

THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON FOR 2004 CHEVY MALIBU CLASSIC. CAR WOULD NOT START. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO SPORT CHEVROLET. GOOGLE SEARCH REVEALED THEFT PASSLOCK SYSTEM COMPLAINTS ON CHEVY CARS I WAS CHARGED $634.84 PLUS TAX, SPORT CHEVROLET IN SILVER SPRING MD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER, WIRING AND CONNECTOR. 2 DAYS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THE ISSUE WAS RESOLVED BY LEAVING THE KEY IN ACC FOR 10 MINUTES THUS RESETTING THEFT SYSTEM. WHY WAS I CHARGED $600 FOR A DEFECT? *TR

WHILE MAKING A TURN AT 15 MPH DRIVERS SEAT DROPPED TO FLOOR. NOW DRIVERS SEAT ROCKS BACK AND IN TOWARDS CENTER CONSOLE. ADJUSTING THE HEIGHT TWISTS THE DRIVERS SEAT TO A DANGEROUS ANGLE. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SEAT FRAME WELDS BROKE ON THE BACK RIGHT CORNER OF SEAT. AN INTERNET SEARCH HAS PROVIDED A VAST NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. WITH THE SEAT ATTACHED AT THE SEAT THIS WILL NO DOUBT FAIL IN A MODERATE IMPACT CRASH AND LEAVE THE DRIVER UNSECURED. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL BY CHEVROLET. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO TURN AS THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING ALARM CHIMED. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,000.

I GOT IN MY CAR AND TRIED TO CRANK IT AND IT MADE A CLICKING NOISE. IT TOOK HOURS BEFORE IT STARTED, ON ANOTHER INCIDENT; SEVERAL TIMES I COULDN'T SHIFT MY CAR FROM PARK. MY POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND WHEN I WAS COMING TO A STOP AT A LIGHT THE CAR LIST CONTROL SERVING LEFT TO RIGHT UNTIL I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I ALWAYS HAVE TO GAS THE CAR TO GET GAS TO THE ENGINE FOR THE CAR TO START. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER HE SAID THAT IT WAS A RECALL PROBLEM AND HE'S HAD SEVERAL CUSTOMERS WITH MY CAR COME TO HIM WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN I LOOKED UP THE RECALL I NOTICED THAT MY CAR WAS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES AS REPORTED. *TR

I WAS DRIVING AND WHEN I WENT TO TURN THE CORNER MY STEERING WENT OUT. I COULD BARELY TURN IT. I ENDED UP PULLING OVER AND SAT FOR A WHILE BUT THEN WHEN I STARTED DRIVING AGAIN IT DIDN'T DO IT BUT THAN IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON 9/08/2013. *JS

I WAS MAKING A TURN WHEN THE POWER STEERING IN MY VEHICLE LOCKED UP, MAKING IT HARD TO COMPLETE THE TURN AND LEADING ME INTO THE ONCOMING LANE, STRIKING THE BUMPER OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AND REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN AT MY COST. LESS THAN A YEAR LATER, THE POWER STEERING HAS ONCE MORE FAILED! I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AND TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS INFORMED THAT IN FACT IT WAS THE RECALLED PARTS THAT HAD FAILED BUT SINCE THEY WERE UNSURE OF WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. WHEN INQUIRING ABOUT A RENTAL CAR, WAS TOLD IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY LOOSE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE POWER STEERING AND THE WRENCH WARNING ICON ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

ENTERING EXPRESSWAY FROM RAMP AND MERGING ONTO EXPRESSWAY, THEN WITH LEFT TURN SIGNAL ON I HAD A CLEAR LANE TO MERGE LEFT AND WHEN I DID THIS THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP. LUCKILY, I WAS IN THE LANE I INTENDED TO BE IT, BUT IT SCARED ME HALF TO DEATH. STILL DRIVING FORWARD, AND UNSURE IF THE STEERING WOULD BE OK AGAIN, THEN THE STEERING COLUMN SEEMED TO EASE UP AND "UNLOCKED" AND I WAS ABLE TO STEER IT AND TURN IT NORMALLY AGAIN. IT WAS ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT NORMALLY AND EVENTUALLY TURNED BACK INTO THE RIGHT-HAND LANE TO EXIT THE EXPRESSWAY TO GET TO MY DESTINATION. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL/COLUMN "LOCKING UP" HAPPENED AGAIN ABOUT A WEEK LATER, WHEN I WAS AGAIN ENTERING AN EXPRESSWAY FROM A RAMP AND TRYING TO MERGE ONTO THE EXPRESSWAY AND TRYING TO MERGE LEFT TO GET INTO THE MOVING TRAFFIC. I TOOK THE CAR TO A CHEVY DEALERSHIP BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND A "CODE" REGISTERED FOR THE STEERING WHEEL/COLUMN LOCKING UP AND THE MECHANIC DROVE THE CAR AND IT DIDN'T HAPPEN WITH HIM. IS ANYONE AT GM OR THE CHEVY ENGINEERS OR THE NHTSA LOOKING IN TO THIS? I'M JUST NOW CHECKING THE NHTSA WEBSITE TO FIND OUT IF ANYONE ELSE IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM. I SEE A FEW REPORTS, BUT NO REAL ANSWERS FOR OWNERS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THIS SERIOUS AND VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. A STEERING WHEEL/COLUMN LOCKING UP EVEN FOR A FEW SECONDS CAN CAUSE A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLY A FATALITY. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT IS BEING DONE TO CORRECT THIS AND WHAT CAN I TELL MY CHEVY DEALERSHIP TO GET THEM TO "FIX" MY CAR SO I FEEL SAFE IN IT AGAIN?? *TR

I WAS SMELLING GAS IN MY CAR. IT WAS LEAKING GAS FROM UNDER THE CAR HEAVILY. THE SMELL OF GAS WAS IN MY CLOTHES AND CAME THRU THE HOUSE OF MY GARAGE. *TR

I CONTACTED THE NHTSA LAST YEAR (2013) AND I CONTACTED GM, CHEVY, AND MY CHEVY DEALERSHIP AT THAT TIME TO REPORT THAT MY STEERING COLUMN IN MY 2004 4-DOOR CHEVY MALIBU HAD LOCKED UP WHEN I WAS TRYING TO MERGE ONTO AN EXPRESSWAY. SINCE THEN, ALL THE NEWS ABOUT NOT ONLY THIS DEFECT, BUT OTHER DEFECTS AS WELL, HAVE BEEN FOUND IN THESE GM VEHICLES. I FINALLY REC'D. A SAFETY RECALL LTR., BUT IT ONLY INDICATES THE "PART IS NOT AVAILABLE" TO FIX MY CAR AND THAT I WILL HAVE TO WAIT ON ADDL. NOTIFICATION AS TO WHEN I CAN SCHEDULE A TIME TO TAKE MY CAR IN FOR THE REPAIR, SINCE SUPPOSEDLY THE DEALERSHIP IS WAITING ON THE MANUFACTURER OF THE PARTS IN QUESTION TO ACTUALLY "MAKE" THE PART. ???? WHY IS IT TAKING SO LONG TO GET WHAT THE RECALL # 14116 INDICATES THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR MY CAR IS A "TORQUE SENSOR ASSEMBLY." I WOULD SAY THAT BEFORE ANY MORE NEW CARS ARE PRODUCED AND SOLD THAT THE "DEFECTIVE & DANGEROUS" VEHICLES NEED TO BE REPAIRED SO PEOPLE ARE NOT "AT RISK OF A CRASH OR INJURIES OR POSSIBLY EVEN DEATH," DUE TO THE POWER STEERING ASSIST GOING OUT. WHY ARE WE HAVING TO WAIT SO LONG ON THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR OUR VEHICLES AND WHY ISN'T THE HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION SAFETY AGENCY PUTTING MORE PRESSURE ON THE MANUFACTURERS AND THE DEALERSHIPS TO GET OUR VEHICLES FIXED AND/OR GETTING US TEMPORARY "REPLACEMENT VEHICLES" UNTIL THE PARTS ARE IN?? ONE OF THE INCIDENTS WHERE THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP OCCURRED 07/19/13 (LAST YR.), BUT IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL MORE TIMES, AND ONCE WHEN MY OLDEST SON WAS DRIVING US TO AND FROM DINNER ONE NIGHT. SO, I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS EXPERIENCED THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING COLUMN. HERE'S MY PREVIOUS COMPLAINT NHTSA ID NUMBER (ODI #) : 10537050. I REGISTERED ADDL. COMPLAINTS TO THE NHTSA SINCE THEN, AND "VERBAL" CALLS/COMPLAINTS TO GM & CHEVY, BUT I'M STILL GETTING THE RUN-AROUND. PLEASE HELP! *TR

IN SUMMER 2013 I ELECTED TO REPLACE BOTH HEADLAMP CASING WITH A NEW HEADLAMP KIT BECAUSE OF INTERNAL DISCOLORATION AND YELLOW LIQUID FLUID SEEPING FROM DAYTIME RUNNING LAMP. APPROXIMATELY 1 WEEK LATER THE NEW DAYTIME RUNNING LAMP CASING MELTED AND BURNT THE NEW BULB. THE BULB WAS REPLACED AT NO COST. AT MY NEXT SERVICE 5-6 MONTHS LATER I INQUIRED ABOUT REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE HEADLAMP CASING BECAUSE THE BULB ON BOTH DAYTIME RUNNING LAMP BURNT THROUGH ITS PLASTIC CASING, AGAIN CAUSING INTERNAL DISCOLORATION OF HEADLAMP KIT. I WAS TOLD WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE DEALERSHIP SENT AN INQUIRE TO GM REGARDING SUCH DEFECT BUT I AM TOLD THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM GM AND I HAVE NO RECOURSE. I NO LONGER USE DAYTIME RUNNING LAMP. I PURPOSELY SHUT OFF THE DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS (WHICH DEFEATS THE PURPOSE) FOR FEAR THE BULB WILL CONTINUE TO MELT THE CASING CAUSING FURTHER DISCOLORATION AND BURN THE BULB. THIS IS NOT HOW THE PRODUCT SHOULD BE MADE; POOR CRAFTSMANSHIP AND POOR WORKMANSHIP. *TR

FIRST OFF, EVERYWHERE I LOOK ONLINE SOMEONE HAS PROBLEMS REGARDING THE CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX'S SEATS. I WAS GOING ABOUT 30MPH AND I HEARD A POP CONE FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT FRAME WHEN I TURNED A CORNER. THE WELD ON ONE OF THE SUPPORTING BARS POPPED OFF AGAIN AFTER TRYING TO WELD IT AGAIN WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE METAL BAR THAT BROKE WAS TO WEAK AND SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN PUT IN AT THE FACTORY.I BELIEVE VERY STRONGLY THAT THESE SEATS SHOULD BE FIXED BECAUSE IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD AND A FINANCIAL BURDEN ON THOSE SEEKING TO GET IT FIXED. THANK YOU FOR READING MY CONCERNS. *TR

UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER SEAT COLLAPSED, LEAVING THE SEAT LEANING BACKWARD AND TO THE RIGHT. THERE APPEAR TO BE BROKEN FRAME WELDS. AS THE SEAT IS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE FRAME, THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY RISK WERE THERE TO BE AN ACCIDENT; THE DRIVER WOULD NOT BE SECURE IN THE VEHICLE EVEN WITH A SEATBELT ENGAGED. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT TOTALLY OUT. I HEARD A CHIME, SAW THE WRENCH LIGHT UP ON THE DASH AND A POWER STEERING MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE MESSAGE PANEL. I NOTICED THE STEERING WAS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT AND THEN WENT OUT ALL TOGETHER. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN AND THE PROBLEM WAS TEMPORARILY RESOLVED ONLY TO REAPPEAR LATER AGAIN. I KNOW THAT THE 2005 WAS RECALLED FOR THE SAME ISSUE AND THINK THIS ONE NEEDS TO BE ALSO. IT IS NOT SAFE AT ALL TO DRIVE. *TR

POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION FLASHED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND WITHIN SECONDS I LOST ALL POWER STEERING UNTIL I STOPPED THE VEHICLE SHUT IT OFF AND RESTARTED ENGINE. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN BEFORE BUT IN THE PARKING LOT AND RANDOM MALFUNCTION INDICATORS SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A MALFUNCTION THAT THESE CARS ROLLED OFF THE ASSEMBLY LINE WITH. GM CHOOSES NOT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND IF I END UP PAYING OVER $1,000.00 FOR THE REPAIR I VOW TO NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLE AGAIN. *TR

ON TWO OCCASIONS THE CAR WOULD NOT CRANK THE ANTI THEFT LIGHT WILL BLINK. HAD TO GET SOMEONE TO START IT UP BY WAITING ON THE LIGHT TO STOP BLINKING, WHICH IS TIME CONSUMING AND COSTLY .SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. THERE IS A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS MATTER. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE.!!! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTIONED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING COLUMN WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

IN JUNE THE DRIVERS SEAT BEGAN LISTING TO THE RIGHT AND ROCKING. THE DEALER LOOKED AT IT AND SAID IT IS A BROKEN WELD AND QUOTED ME $800.00 TO FIX IT. THEN IN SEPT OF 2012 I WAS TRYING TO MANEUVER OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND THE POWER STEERING LOCKED UP. IT WAS REALLY SCARY, IT TOOK ALL MY MIGHT TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE TO STOP WITHOUT HITTING ANYONE. WHEN I RESTARTED IT WAS OKAY AND MY MECHANIC DID NOT SEE ANY OBVIOUS PROBLEM WITH IT. ALSO THE CD PLAYER NO LONGER WILL LOAD UP CDS ALTHOUGH THE OTHER FUNCTIONS AND INFO ON THE LITTLE SCREEN WORK. ALSO THE SIDE MIRRORS NO LONGER CAN BE ADJUSTED IN THE VERTICAL PLANE ALTHOUGH THEY STILL MOVE HORIZONTALLY. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND MY CAR CHIMED AND LOST ALL POWER STEERING FOR APPROXIMATELY 3-4 SECONDS AND THEN THE POWER CAME BACK. THIS TYPE OF POWER LOSS HAS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE SINCE I HAVE OWNED MY VEHICLE WHICH I PURCHASED IN 2008. *TR

2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SWITCH REPLACEMENT RECALL REPAIRS AND SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT. *SMD UPDATED 10/23/2017*JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000. UPDATED 6/26/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BECOME AVAILABLE. UPDATED 07/08/2014 *JS