2004 Chevrolet Malibu Complaint Log

1ST TIME:DRIVING IN THE DROP OFF AREA OF SON'S SCHOOL AND POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON MY WIFE. WE HAD TO SIGNAL THE OTHER CARS AROUND OUR CAR (2004 CHEVY MALIBU). MY WIFE COULD NOT MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL SO I HAD TO BACK THE CAR UP OUT OF THE CHILDREN' DROP OFF AREA WITH NO POWER STEERING INTO A PARKING SPACE AFTER ALL THE CHILDREN WERE DROPPED OFF. SECOND TIME:PER THE MESSAGE ON SERVICE INDICATOR POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON A MAIN ROAD IN OUR TOWN AFTER REPAIRS BY CERTIFIED CHEVROLET MECHANICS AT DON HEWLETT CHEVROLET WAS A YEAR LATER RIGHT AFTER THE WARRANTY WENT OUT. I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS SINCE THE WARRANTY WAS UP. THERE HAVE BEEN 46 COMPLAINTS ON A WEBSITE CALLED WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE AND THE 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU WAS RECALLED FOR THIS SAME ISSUE OF THE POWER STEERING FAILURE. *TR

MY 2004 MALIBU MAXX HAS A BROKEN WELD OF THE SEAT COMPONENT. THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, HAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000 MILES ON IT, AND THE REPAIR IS CLOSE TO $1000 AS THE ENTIRE SEAT FRAME HAS TO BE REPLACED. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS BY OTHERS ON THE SAME CAR, SAME YEAR, SAME MODEL, SAME MAKE. SEE HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2005/CHEVROLET/MALIBU_MAXX/SEATS/PROBLEM.ASPX. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 03/29/11*LJ UPDATED 03/30/11

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS DRIVERS SIDE SEAT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE SEAT PREVIOUSLY, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CURRENT FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SEIZE WHEN DRIVING 5 MPH AND ABOVE. THE CONTACT WOULD SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF WHENEVER THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE AS NORMAL UPON RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE POWER STEERING LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN BACK ON THE STEERING RESET ITSELF. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL AND DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY MALIBU AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON AND MY STEERING SYSTEM IS INOPERABLE AND MAKES IT VERY HARD FOR ME TO STEER IN TRAFFIC. I HAVE TO TURN MY CAR OFF TO RESET IT. THIS IS VERY SCARY WHILE DRIVING AND COULD BE A HAZARD. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 MALIBU, 6-CYLINDER, WITH 97,000+ MILES. RECENTLY, THE SERVICE VEHICLE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON WITH A COMPUTER DISPLAY INDICATION OF A POWER STEERING PROBLEM. THEY HAVE SINCE APPEARED ESPECIALLY IN WET WEATHER, WITH LOW RPMS (ABOUT 600) AND ON MAKING SLOW-SPEED RIGHT TURNS. MY NOT-YET-YEAR-OLD, 75-MONTH BATTERY ALSO JUST GAVE OUT, BUT REPLACING IT DID NOT STOP THE FAULT INDICATIONS. TURNING OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTING TO REBOOT THE SYSTEM USUALLY DID, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. TWO DAYS AGO, WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, FAULT INDICATIONS WERE NOT DISPLAYED AND STEERING RESPONSE WAS NORMAL. HOWEVER, ON NEGOTIATING AN S-SHAPED EXIT RAMP, THE POWER ASSIST FAILED AND THE INDICATORS CAME ON. STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND I ONLY MANAGED TO STAY ON THE ROAD AT THE EXPENSE OF A WRENCHED SHOULDER. THE 2004 MALIBU HAS AN ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSIST SYSTEM (EPS) - WHICH WAS THE SUBJECT OF NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA4018. THE DOOR STICKER ON MY CAR SHOWS A MANUFACTURE DATE OF 5/04. SO, ACCORDING TO YOUR REPORT, THE "NEWLY DESIGNED TORQUE AND POSITION SENSOR" IN VEHICLES PRODUCED AFTER 2/4/04, SHOULD HAVE BEEN INSTALLED. (I'LL BE EMAILING GM TO CONFIRM WHETHER THAT'S THE CASE.) IN ANY EVENT, JUDGING BY THE SPATE OF COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER MALIBU OWNERS, IT DOES NOT SEEM THAT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN RESOLVED'OR THAT GM HAS EVEN CARED TO SERIOUSLY LOOK INTO IT. PLEASE SEE CAR COMPLAINTS LINK FOR A SAMPLING: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/CHEVROLET/MALIBU/2004/STEERING/POWER_STEERING_GOING_OUT_INTERMITTENTLY.SHTML I ALSO TAKE ISSUE WITH YOUR REPORT THAT DRIVER IMPACT WOULD BE INSUBSTANTIAL AS THE CAR IS RELATIVELY SMALL AND LIGHT. BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE, THERE IS A CLEAR SAFELY HAZARD. THE MALIBU OBVIOUSLY IS NOT A CAR FOR 20-SOMETHINGS. PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY DRIVE IT WOULD NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT STRENGTH TO STEER WITHOUT THE POWER ASSIST TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. AS ALLUDED TO AT THE END OF YOUR REPORT, I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT CIRCUMSTANCES NOW WARRANT FURTHER ACTION. *TR

12/24/2010 WHILE DRIVING A 2004 CHEVY MALIBU MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING AND IT MADE A SUDDEN JERKING STOP. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED BUT IT SCARED BOTH MY DAUGHTER AND I. THEN IN ADDITION TO KEEP REPLACING MY HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS PRETTY MUCH EVERY OTHER MONTH THEY BLOW OUT AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. FOR BOTH INCIDENTS A LOCAL MECHANIC WAS CONSULTED AND HE RECOMMENDED THAT I CONTACT A GM DEALER SHIP TO CHECK FOR RECALLS. I DID THAT AND RECEIVED INFORMATION THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL FOR THE CURRENT SITUATIONS BUT THERE HAS BEEN MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL CAR AND WAS REFERRED ME TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP TO BE CHECKED. *TR

DRIVING IN CITY TRAFFIC. POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ENGAGED SUDDENLY. POWER STEERING NOT EFFECTED. CAR SHUT OFF. RESTART AND DRIVES NORMALLY THEN LIGHT GOES ON AGAIN. I HAVE FOUND OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY GOING OUT, SO I AM ADDING MY VOICE TO THOSE TO REQUEST CHEVY RECALL. *LN

POWER STEERING FAILURE. WARM STARTUP, AFTER REST STOP ON HIGHWAY TRIP, VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND THE "POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION" LIGHT CAME ON DASH. PULLED OVER AND CHECKED FUSES - ALL OK. RESTARTED, PROBLEM STILL THERE. RESTARTED AGAIN IN AN HOUR, PROBLEM WENT AWAY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20- 60 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY LOCKED AND THEN RELEASES INDEPENDENTLY WITHIN SECONDS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. CONSUMER SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR PREVIOUS REPAIRS, PRIOR TO RECALL. *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOISY, THE WHEEL WAS LOOSE, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. AN ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED TWICE, SHE EXPERIENCED STEERING PROBLEMS DURING THE ENTIRE YEAR OF 2013. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE STEERING ISSUE, BUT SHE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS. THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND RACK AND PINION WERE REPLACED. ALSO, THE TURN SIGNALS AND SHIFTER CABLE WERE REPLACED. *JB

TWICE IN THE LAST 3 WEEKS POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT THE BOTTOM OF A HILL. FORTUNATELY I HAD NOT YET PULLED OUT INTO TRAFFIC OR I WOULD HAVE BEEN FORCED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *TR

STEERING COLUMN FAILURE, LACK OF CONTROL OVER VEHICLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST POWERING STEERING MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 139,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVER SEAT, SHE NOTICED A DISCOMFORT AND THAT THE SEAT WOULD MOVE AS SHE WAS DRIVING. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO ADVISED HER THAT THE WELDING HAD FRACTURED AND THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE DRIVER SIDE SEAT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HER THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST DUE TO THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. UPDATED 04/15/11*LJ THE CONSUMER CONTACTED GM AND WAS INFORMED THAT DUE TO THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICE, THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE COST. UPDATED 10/12/11

I NOTICED THE DRIVER SEAT WAS "ROCKING" TO THE RIGHT WHEN I SAT DOWN. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE SEAT I NOTICED THAT THE CROSSBAR WAS BROKEN AT THE WELD JOINT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SEAT. *TR

2004 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX WILL NOT START DUE TO PASSLOCK. CAR CRANKS OVER AND OFTEN TAKES A WHILE TO START. EVENTUALLY CAR STARTS. OFTEN LEFT STRANDED WAITING FOR IT TO START. *TR

THIS IN REGARDS TO NHTSA CASE # [XXX] 2004 CHEVY MALIBU. POWER STEERING IS CUTTING OUT INTERMITTENTLY WITH NO WARNING. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING TO SCHOOL AND WHILE MAKING A TURN ON SCHOOL GROUNDS NEAR BUSES AND KIDS WALKING, THE STEERING CUT OUT. SHE ALMOST HIT A NUMBER OF KIDS AS THE SUDDEN UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER STEERING CAUSED HER TO LOSE CONTROL AS THE CAR JERKED IN THE OTHER DIRECTION AND ALMOST WINDING UPON THE SIDEWALK. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AND NOT ONLY SHOULD GM TAKE CARE OF THIS AT THEIR EXPENSE, I AM ALSO WORRIED THAT GM HAS NOT COME UP WITH A 100% PROVEN FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE KILLED IF SOMETHING ISN'T DONE RIGHT AWAY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTED TO EXIT A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED ABNORMALLY. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOLLOWING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF FOR MOMENTS AND WHEN RESTARTING, THE STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE STEERING COMPUTER AND ADVISED THAT IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, SHE NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING COLUMN. THE POWER STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 46,000.

I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE ROAD, AND THE YELLOW WRENCH POPPED UP,THE WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. ALSO, WHILE TURNING THE CAR THE WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS AT LEAST 3-4 TIMES A YEAR. MY BRAKE PEDDLE ACTS UP IN THE SNOWY MONTHS. WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE PEDDLE-THE PEDDLE JUMPS PUSHES UP AND DOWN INTO MY FEET. WHEN IT SNOWS, I WORRY ABOUT RUNNING INTO A CAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE WRENCH WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ACCOMPANIED BY A WARNING CHIME. THE STEERING RESUMED NORMAL FUNCTION AFTER SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHILE PARKED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WITH EXTREME DIFFICULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. WHEN THE ENGINE RESTARTED THE STEERING WHEEL UNLOCKED AND FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WILL BE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

TRAVELING AT 45 KPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND POWER STEERING ASSIST WAS LOST MAKING VEHICLE VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD RESULT IN A PRODUCT RECALL. AFTER VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND IGNITION TURNED OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN, POWER STEERING RESUMED. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 35MPH AND I CHANGED LANES. UPON STEERING TO THE RIGHT, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP COMPLETELY AND A NOISE LIKE THE DING AN OPEN DOOR MAKES SOUNDED TWICE. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TURNED OFF THE CAR WHILE I TRIED TO CATCH MY BREATH FROM BEING FRIGHTENED. WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR EVERYTHING WAS FINE. I DECIDED TO DRIVE THROUGH THE PARKING LOT MAKING TURNS TO SEE IF IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN AND IT DIDN'T. I AM JUST VERY LUCKY THAT TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT TODAY AND I WASN'T HIT!

I OWN A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX VIN [XXX]. EVERY TIME I ACCELERATE DURING A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS, MAKING IT NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE WHEEL. THE LOCK STOPS WHEN I LET UP ON THE GAS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

MY 2004 CHEVORLET MALIBU MAXX HAS HAD REPEATED FAILURE OF THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING. THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED AT BOTH LOW AND HIGH RATES OF SPEED. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST GOES OUT AND MAKES THE VEHICLE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. *TR

DATE: 11/15/10. 2004 MALIBU MAXX LT. WHILE EXITING A LIMITED ACCESS HIGHWAY AT 25 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SEAT SUDDENLY DROPPED TWO OR THREE INCHES DOWN AND TO THE RIGHT, NEARLY CAUSING THE OPERATOR TO CRASH INTO THE SAFETY BARRIER. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, AN INSPECTION REVEALED THE SEAT FRAME WELD HAD SEPARATED. RESEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE NHTSA ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS WITHOUT CORRECTIVE ACTION. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE DAMAGE AND CLAIMS THIS IS A RECURRING ISSUE. REPAIR IS OVER $1,000. THE RESULTING LITIGATION WILL RUN IN THE 10'S OF MILLIONS AS THE DEALERSHIP NOTES THAT IN A COLLISION THE SEAT MAY NOT STAY ANCHORED. THE SAFETY RESTRAINT IS ALSO ATTACHED TO THE SEAT, SO IT WILL BE INEFFECTIVE AS WELL. INVESTIGATE AND ISSUE THE RECALL! *TR

WHEN I START MY CAR, I CAN HEAR SOME CLICK NOISE FROM TRANSMISSION OR BRAKE CONTROL. I HAD NOT BEEN AWARE OF THAT COULD LEAD TO SERVER ACCIDENT AFTERWARDS, BECAUSE THE CAR IS PRETTY NEW AND I KEEP IT IN MAINTENANCE PERIODICALLY. ON NOVEMBER 13, 2010, I DROVE AT 40-50MPH, ALONG HWY 128 TO MENDOCINO. IT RAN OUT OF CONTROL, RUSH A SMALL MOUND OF ROAD SIDE, ROLLED OVER ON THE ROAD. I WAS TRAPPED IN THE CAR, ALL FROND WINDSHIELD WAS BROKEN. I ESCAPED SAFELY. I DOUBT THE CONTROL HAS SOME PROBLEM, LEAD THE CAR IMBALANCE. *TR

WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2006. ITS A 2004 CHEVY MALIBU. THE FIRST TIME WE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WAS ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO WHEN WE WENT TO TURN THE WHEEL AND THE HORN STARTED HONKING. THE DEALER TOLD US TO BRING IT IN AND COULDN'T MAKE IT HAPPEN. IT DID IT AGAIN AND THEN THEY DETERMINED IT WAS THE STEERING COLUMN AND REPLACED A PART. THE 2ND TIME IT DID IT, THE CAR/WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP AND WAS MAKING AN ODD NOISE. THEY STATED THEY REPLACED STEERING COMPONENT. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR JUST LAST WEEK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY STEERING LOCKED UP, THE CAR/WRENCH CAME ON AND MY PANEL SAID STEERING. I AM FEARFUL TO EVEN DRIVE THE CAR OR ALLOW MY DAUGHTER TO DRIVE IT AND HAVE FOUND THOUSANDS OF THE SAME ISSUES ON LINE. IT GIVES YOU NO WARNING AND JUST GOES OUT. *TR

2004 MALIBU PURCHASED 04/05/04 STEERING COLUMN FAILURE 01/10/05 9,225 MILES REPLACED AGAIN 06/16/05 13,430 MILES 01/30/06 INTERMITTENT SHAFT NEEDED REPLACEMENT BUT NO "GOOD PARTS AVAILABLE" FINALLY REPLACED 08/24/06 24,636 MILES RACK & PINION STEERING GEAR 04/17/07 31,846 MILES REPLACED INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT 09/14/09 54,841 MILES REPLACED RACK & PINION STEERING GEAR. CAR NOW HAS 3RD RACK GEAR. ON 11/11/10 AT 68,209 MILES WE WERE TOLD IT NEEDS REPLACEMENT OF RACK & PINION STEERING GEAR. IT HAS ONLY BEEN 14 MONTHS AND 13,368 MILES SINCE LAST TIME REPLACED. *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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO WANDER INTO THE NEXT LANE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL AND DRIVE ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY INFORMED HER THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNAVAILABLE.

APPROX. ON 11-06-2011 WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING STALL THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. 11-17-2011 WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. 11-23-2011 WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. ALL THREE TIMES I WAS ABLE TO GET THE POWER STEERING BACK AFTER PARKING AND TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. *TR

OUT OF THE BLUE ONE DAY I NOTICED THAT I COULD NOT ELEVATE THE DRIVER'S SEAT HEIGHT ON THE RIGHT SIDE. (THE LEFT SIDE CONTINUED TO WORK AS IT SHOULD.) I TOOK IT IN TO THE CHEVY DEALER FOR REPAIR AND IT COST ME $120.00 FOR THEM TO WELD THE FRONT EDGE OF THE SEAT FRAME BACK TOGETHER. ON FEB 28, 2012, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. MY LOCAL REPAIRMAN EXAMINED THE SEAT AND SAID THE FRONT EDGE OF THE SEAT FRAME HAD BROKEN IN A DIFFERENT SPOT. THE COST TO REPLACE THE SEAT (THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT) WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $850 PLUS TAXES, ETC. I'M LOOKING FOR A REPLACEMENT AT A LOCAL SALVAGE YARD BUT, THUS FAR, I HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN LOCATING A SEAT. *TR

I HAVE HAD MY 2004 MALIBU MAXX SINCE NOVEMBER 2007. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH THE POWER STEERING UNTIL TODAY (NOVEMBER 1ST, 2010). I WAS TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, A FEW "DINGS" SOUNDED, AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP. I WAS ABLE TO STEER IT TO THE SHOULDER TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC. I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHAT TO DO AFTER THAT. I TURNED THE CAR OFF, THEN ON AGAIN, AND THE LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ON AND THE STEERING WAS FINE. ABOUT 15 MINUTES AFTER THAT WHEN I WAS TRYING TO MAKE A SLIGHT RIGHT TURN TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY, IT HAPPENED ALL OVER AGAIN. THANK GOD I WASN'T GOING THAT FAST BOTH TIMES. THE SECOND TIME, I TURNED THE CAR OFF AGAIN AND THE CAR WAS FINE AFTER I TURNED IT BACK ON. I DECIDED TO RESEARCH THE ISSUE AND I AM AMAZED THAT THERE ARE SO MANY ISSUES WITH THE STEERING WITH THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT. I AM SCARED OUT OF MY MIND TO DRIVE THAT CAR NOW. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WHEN THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHTS FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT HAD TO DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND WAIT FOR THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT TO STOP FLASHING IN ORDER TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER NOR NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE SAFETY ISSUE COULD CAUSE CRASH TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

HAZARD SWITCH IS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSING THE DIRECTIONALS NOT TO WORK. THE EXTERNAL LIGHTS , FRONT AND BACK FAIL TO WORK ALSO, AND ITS CREATING A HAZARD WHERE THE CARS COMING IN FRONT US OR THE CARS IN BACK OF US DON'T SEE OUR BLINKER. WE THOUGHT THEY WHERE WORKING AND THEY ARE NOT. IF WE TURN ON THE EMERGENCY FLASHER AND THEN TURN ON THE DIRECTIONAL EVERYTHING WOULD WORK ONLY TO FAIL NEXT TIME YOU MAKE A TURN. *TR

2004 CHEVY MALIBU POWER STEERING RANDOMLY GOES OUT. STARTED AT UNDER 100,000 MILES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOWER SPEEDS, HE HEARD A THUMPING NOISE WHILE MAKING A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND REPAIRED THREE TIMES BY A LOCAL DEALER. THE CURRENT FAILURE WAS WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION COMPONENT; THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDTATED 2/17/11 *CN UPDATED 11/30/2011 *LN

I WAS DRIVING THE CHEVY MALIBU WHEN A CAR BEHIND ME ABOUT REAR END ME. I STOPPED AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAD A BREAK LIGHT OUT. I TRIED REPLACING BULBS AND THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY AND NOTHING WORKED. I TOOK THE PIG TAIL OUT OF THE PASSENGER LIGHT OFF AND NOTICED THAT THE PRONGS FOR THE LIGHTS WAS CORRODED. I BOUGHT A NEW ONE BUT THE PIG TAIL IS STILL RUINED. ( THE WIRING GOT WET IN A SEALED UNIT.) IT GOT SO WET THAT IT STARTED TO MELT THE OUTSIDE LENS COVER. IT IS A FIRE HAZARD AND AN ACCIDENT HAZARD. *TR

FIRST NOTICED DRIVER SEAT WOUL LEAN TO ONE SIDE IN 2005, DEALER WELDED SEAT BRACKET TO REPAIR BRACKET. NOTICED SAME PROBLEM IN 2007. DEALER REPLACED BRACKET. NOTICED PROBLEM AGAIN IN 2010. WITH WARRANTY EXPIRED WE'VE BEEN DRIVING EVER SINCE. BRACKET IS NOW COMPLETELY OFF TRACK AND WILL NOT ADJUST, FINALLY DECIDED TO SEE WHAT IT WOULD COST TOO REPLACE. AM NOW FINDING OUT ITS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. LOOKS LIKE BUYING A NEW BRACKET WOULD ONLY BE A TEMPORARY FIX.

IN A TURN AT HIGHER SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES STIFF, HARD TO TURN, AND THE BELL ALARM GOES OFF. *TR

THE THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM ON MY 2004 MALIBU CLASSIC MALFUNCTIONS REPEATEDLY IT DOES THIS APPROXIMATELY ONCE A WEEK RESET THE THEFT SYSTEM USING THE KEY ON ENGINE OFF LET THE CAR SET LIKE THIS FOR 10 MIN. THE CAR THEN STARTS IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS. *TR

FRONT WELD OF THE DRIVER SEAT BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO SOMETIMES LEAN TOWARDS THE FRONT RIGHT. WE TOOK IT TO CHEVY, ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE SEAT AND DO A STATE INSPECTION. THEY SAID THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS AND HAD TO PULL THE SEAT OUT. THEY THEN TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD BE $1,000 TO REPAIR THE SEAT, THEN TOLD ME IT WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION WITHOUT REPAIRING THE SEAT. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR, MORE WELDS HAD BROKEN AND THE SEAT WOBBLED A LOT. THEY TOLD ME THAT IF I PUT THE SEAT IN THE TOTALLY DOWN POSITION THAT IT WOULD NOT WOBBLE. WE COMPLAINED TO THE MANAGER, AND HE HAS AGREED TO CALL GM TO SEE ABOUT GETTING AN ALLOWANCE TO GET IT REPAIRED. NOW I AM LOOKING ONLINE AND SEE THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT BROKEN WELDS ON THE SEAT. I HOPE THAT THERE WILL BE AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS ISSUE. *TR

2004 CHEVY MALIBU LT 74,000 MILES. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE REMOTE START NOT WORKING. THE CRUISE WILL NOT WORK ALL THE TIME, BEARINGS IN STEERING COLUMN, CHECK GAS CAP AND ANTI THEFT LIGHT. IT ALSO WILL NOT START UNLESS I GIVE IT GAS. AND WHEN I TAKE IT IN THEY FIND NOTHING. FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED AND THAT IS NOT THE PROBLEM. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINTS. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL SAME YR OF CARS ALL WITH THE SAME ISSUE SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT. *TR

THE WELDING UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT IS BROKEN CAUSING THE SEAT TO TILT TO ONE SIDE AND SOMETIMES ROCK. IF A COLLISION OCCURS THE SEAT WILL NOT HOLD THE DRIVER SECURELY IN THE SEAT. *TR

LOSS OF POWER STEERING. WAS LEAVING A PARKING LOT AND PULLING OUT ONTO STREET WHEN POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. STEERING WHEEL THEN ABRUPTLY FELT SEIZED FOR A MOMENT CAUSING ME TO GO STRAIGHT INTO OPPOSITE LANE. THEN WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL HOWEVER STEERING WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY TO NEAREST DEALER. WHEN AT DEALER ASKED ABOUT RECALL OR BULLETIN. DEALER SAID THERE WAS NONE, HOWEVER THEY OFFERED A FIFTY /FIFTY SPLIT TO REPAIR. STRANGE IF THEY DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A DEFECT. REFUSED SERVICE AND CONTACTED MANUFACTURE, THEY SAID MY VEHICLE DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR "SPECIAL RECALL" . MY CAR WAS AN 04 "SPECIAL RECALL" IS FOR 05, I ASKED FOR AN EXCEPTION STATING THAT IT IS THE SAME PART, THEY REFUSED. ONE MONTH LATER MY CAR IS TOTALED AND IT NO LONGER HAS POWER STEERING. *TR