NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE WITH NO WARNING. I STARTED UP MY 2004 CHEVY MALIBU AND AS I WAS BACKING UP OFF THE DRIVE WAY, MY STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO LOCK UP. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM, WHAT IF THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH WAY SPEEDS! HERE IS A LINK TO THIS PARTICULAR CONCERN THAT I FOUND ONLINE. HTTP://WWW.LEMONLAWCLAIMS.COM/MALIBU_BRAKE_AND_STEERING_PROBLEM.HTM I HOPE YOU GUYS CAN BE ABLE TO CHECK IT OUT AND MAKE IT SAFE FOR THE DRIVER AND THE PUBLIC TO DRIVE IN PEACE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO EXERT FORCE IN ORDER TO MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
MILEAGE 31,610 REPLACED THE STEERING GEAR ASS'Y., MILEAGE 37,018 INSTALLED NEW STEERING COLUMN, MILEAGE 39,565 REPLACED NEW GEAR, MILEAGE 40,167 REPLACE RR STR INTERMEDIATE SHAFT LOWR UJOINT AND NOW AT 86,333 03APR09 NEED TO REPLACE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. WHEN WILL THIS STOP? A CUSTOMER AT THE DEALER SHIP WAS TOLD BY A SALESMAN THAT THERE HAS BEEN TROUBLE WITH THESE STEERING UNITS SINCE 2004 AND NOW GM DEV. A NEW ELECTRIC STEERING SYSTEM. NOW WHAT ABOUT ALL THESE OLDER CARS LIKE MIND? WHY SHOULD THE CONSUMER KEEP PAYING FOR THIS MESS UP. *TR THANK YOU TOM STANICH
THE THEFT SYSTEM COMES ON IN MY CAR ABOUT EVERY 3 TIMES I USE IT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS I NEED TO WAIT TEN MINUTES BEFORE STARTING ME CAR. IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT IN MY PARKING DECK. *TR
DRIVER'S SEAT FRAME BROKE AT RIGHT FRONT WELD JOINT. SEAT THEN LEANED TO THE RIGHT AND MOVED FORWARD AND BACKWARD. THIS OCCURRED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AT LOW SPEED. MECHANIC SAID THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE SINCE DURING HARD BRAKING OR IMPACT THE SEAT WOULD NOT HOLD AND WOULD LIKELY BREAK ENTIRELY LOOSE AND SLAM THE DRIVER INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. $850 TO REPLACE THE SEAT FRAME. GM WOULD NOT PAY TO FIX THIS OBVIOUS DESIGN/MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR
DRIVERS SEAT FRAME BROKE AT WELD. SEAT WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO VEHICLE. ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. $843 TO REPLACE THE FRAME. *TR
MY POWER STEERING HAD TO BE REPLACED WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR - AT 7800 MILES. NOW, AT 46,688 MILES, IT HAS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. I HAVE CALLED GM, AND THE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THEY HAVE NO RECALLS ON THE STEERING, AND IN FACT WOULD NOT EVEN ADMIT TO THE INVESTIGATION THAT WENT ON ABOUT THE STEERING IN THESE CARS. GM WILL NOT REPLACE THE STEERING. MY HUSBAND HAS THE SAME MODEL CARE AS I, AND HIS STEERING HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, AND NOW HE IS GETTING A WARNING LIGHT AGAIN, SO WE ARE LEFT HAVING TO REPLACE 2 STEERING COLUMNS? WHY DO CONSUMERS HAVE TO PAY OVER AND OVER AGAIN. *TR
I OWN A 2004 CHEVY MALIBU WHEN STARTING VEHICLE THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ENGAGES AND THE CONSOLE INDICATOR CHIMES READING POWER STEERING. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME I START THE CAR NOW. I HAVE REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN 2 TIMES SINCE TAKING OWNERSHIP OF VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY 2008. BOTH STEERING COLUMNS WERE GENUINE GM PARTS INSTALLED BY A CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN. WORK PERFORMED IN 5/08 AND 10/08 TOTALING SOME $3000.00. PAID ANOTHER DEALER $51.56 TO ADJUST AND CALIBRATE SENSOR. IT WAS OK FOR THE SUMMER. LATE FALL 2009 BEGAN COMING ON INTERMEDIATELY AGAIN. NOW IT COMES ON EACH TIME YOU START THE CAR AND YESTERDAY I ACTUALLY LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. I HAD LOST THE POWER ASSIST STEERING A TOTAL OF 4 TIMES NOW. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. SOMEONE COULD GET HURT HERE. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY SEAT COLLAPSED. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND TRIED THE UP AND DOWN SWITCH TO NO AVAIL. THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY SEAT WOULD NOT RAISE AND I HAVE TO DRIVE IN AN AKWARD POSITION. WENT TO THE DEALER AND WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF $1050 WHICH I COULD NOT AFFORD. I AM CONTINUING TO DRIVE THIS WAY. I JUST RECENTLY LOOKED ON THE COMPUTER AND SEE THAT THEIR ARE MANY, MANY COMPAINTS AND I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT YOU PEOPLE, NHTSA, HAVE NOT CONSIDERED THIS A PROBLEM AND ISSUE A RECALL NOTICE. IS GM TOO BIG OR DO THEY OFFER A GOOD SPIFF. TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE. BECAUSE OF YOU MANY PEOPLE MAY GET INJURED OR DIE. *TR
2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX LT BOTH FRONT PARKING LIGHT / TURN SIGNAL LIGHT HOUSINGS ARE MELTING, BOTH LAMPS HAVE FAILED, BOTH LAMP SOCKETS ARE SCORCHED. *TR
INTERMITTENT TURN SIGNAL PROBLEMS. FRONT AND REAR BULBS STOP WORKING, THE BULBS ARE FREQUENTLY REPLACED BUT THE FLASHERS STILL STOP WORKING. WHEN WE TAKE THE OLD BULB OUT THE ELEMENT IN THE BULB IS INTACT. *TR
ON MARCH 9TH, 2009 MY HUSBAND WAS PULLING OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY IN OUR 2004 CHEVY MALIBU WHEN HE TURNED THE WHEEL THERE WAS A LOUD POP AND THE STEERING WHEEL COULD BE MOVED LIKE A SECOND HAND ON A CLOCK. THANK GOODNESS HE WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 65 MPH WHEN THIS HAPPENED HE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AND AS WELL AS ANYBODY WITHIN HIS PATH. I HAVE DONE MY RESEARCH ON THIS AND I KNOW THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE HOWEVER IT IS NOT ON THE RECALL. 3 DIFFERENT MECHANICS ESTIMATES HAVE BEEN $1,200.00-$1,800.00. MEANWHILE OUR CAR SETS IN THE DRIVE WAY INDEFINITE, YET WE ARE STILL MAKING PAYMENTS AND CARRYING INSURANCE FOR A USELESS VEHICLE THAT DO TO MANUFACTURER DEFAULT IS UNDRIVABLE. THERE ARE A TON OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE LISTED COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME OR SIMILAR SITUATION AS MINE DATING BACK AS FAR 2004 AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO HELP US WITH THE COST OF REPAIR. WE HAVE FAMILIES AND WANT TO FEEL SAVE IN OUR VEHICLES! I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND REPAIRED. ENOUGH ALREADY!!!!! DO SOMETHING..... *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS. SHE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND SHIFT INTO PARK. SHE DROVE TO THE DEALER AND THEY ASSISTED HER IN PLACING THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND SHUTTING IT OFF. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. WHILE AT THE DEALER, A TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE SHIFT LEVER ASSEMBLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $206. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,378 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,382. UPDATED 03-30-09 *BF UPDATED 03/31/09. *JB UPDATED 11/22/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE DEALER STATED THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 03/05/12
DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR AT 75MPH, ALARM CHIME CAME ON, DISPLAY SAYS POWER STEERING, AND ORANGE LIGHT WITH A WRENCH. I LOST POWER STEERING, AND COULDN'T CONTROL MY VEHICLE WHATSOEVER. I RAN INTO A DITCH, CRASHED, AND SMASHED THE FRONT END IN. AFTER DOING RESEARCH, THIS ISSUE IS COMMON WITH MANY USERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE, BUT CHEVY NEVER RELEASED A RECALL. THEY REFUSED ANY DAMAGE COSTS CITING MY HIGH MILEAGE AS AN EXCUSE TO NOT PAY FOR IT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. SHORTLY AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE IN THE MORNING, THE CONTACT PLACED THE GEAR INTO REVERSE. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, SHE TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT SUDDENLY BECAME LOCKED. IMMEDIATELY AFTER, THE POWER STEERING AND CHECK ENGINE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND AN INVESTIGATION FOR THE SAME ISSUE (NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA04018 (STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM)). SHE HAS NOT YET TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT BELIEVES THAT THIS INVESTIGATION SHOULD HAVE ISSUED A RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 30,000.
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL OF THE REAR AND FRONT LIGHT BULBS IN MY 2004 CHEVY MALIBU IN THE PAST NINE MONTHS. I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED FROM A CHEVY DEALER IN 2006. TWO WEEKS AFTER OWNING IT THE LITTLE MALIBU EMBLEM ON THE DASH BOARD FELL INTO THE DASH AND SHREDDED WHEN WE TRIED TO GET IT OUT TO REPLACE IT. LITTLE THINGS THAT HAPPEN AD UP AND ARE VERY FRUSTRATING TO AN OWNER WHO THOUGHT THEY WERE GETTING A GOOD QUALITY CAR. *TR
THE KEY CAUSED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO SEPARATE AND BECOME LOOSE. NOW THE IGNITION SWITCH IS OUT OF POSITION AND START OUT OF PLACE AND IS VERY DANGEROUS. I ASKED TOLD THEM ABOUT IT WHEN THEY WERE REPLACING THE RECALL KEYS. THEY REFUSE TO FIX OR LOOK INTO IT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE LAW SUIT. WHICH IT SHOULD HAVE BECAUSE THEY BOTH GO TOGETHER TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE AND NOT RESOLVE. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS THE MAIN PROBLEM ALONG WITH THE KEYS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HAZARD WARNING SWITCH CAUSES THE TURN SIGNAL AND EMERGENCY FLASHERS NOT TO WORK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE; THEREFORE, HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT WENT TO THE DEALER TO PURCHASE THE PARTS AND HANGE THE SWITCH HIMSELF. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 03/18/09. *LJ UPDATED 03/19/09. *JB
DRIVER'S SIDE POWER SEAT. STEEL FRAME IS BROKEN CAUSING SEAT TO ROCK FRONT TO BACK AND SIDE TO SIDE. NOTICEABLE RUST. UNABLE TO WELD, ONLY FIX IS TO REPLACE SEAT. NOT A SAFE SEAT IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT. *TR
I HAVE A 2004 MALIBU MAX. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING COLUMN FOR THE PAST 1 1/2 YEARS. THE RACK AND PINION AND STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED LAST YEAR AFTER THE POWER STEERING KEPT GOING OUT. A YEAR LATER AND THE RACK AND PINION AS BEEN REPLACED AGAIN! THE STEERING COLUMN IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AS WELL! THE POWER STEERING GOES KEEPS GOING OUT, BUT IF I TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON IT CORRECTS THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY. THERE IS NO WARNING BEFORE IT GOES OUT. THE 2005 HAS A RECALL OUT ON IT BUT NOT THE 2004 AND IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM! *TR
LAST YEAR THEY HAD A RECALL FOR THE (BCM) BODY CONTROL MODULE. I'VE HAD THIS FIXED NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT WHEN I TRIED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED ON THE RECALL. I'VE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS. THE BCM SHORTS OUT THE TAIL LIGHTS, CAUSING THEM TO REMAIN ON WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. THEY WILL GO OFF WHEN I PRESS ON THE BRAKE TO THE FLOOR. THIS ALSO AFFECTS THE CRUISE CONTROL. I KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, BUT THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE UNIT.
STARTED THE CAR AND THE POWER STEERING LOCKED UP COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON MESSAGE CENTER [POWER STEERING] TURNED CAR OFF AND RESTARTED, STEERING WAS OK AT THAT TIME. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES SINCE JAN. 13, 2009. *TR
AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A 2004 CHEVORLET MALIBU IN 2 ACCIDENTS. THE FIRST ACCIDENT WAS ON 8/29/05 IN WHICH I WAS T-BONED BY AN SUV THAT RAN A STOP SIGN IN WHICH IN COURT THE SUV WAS FOUND GUILTY. THE SECOND ACCIDENT WAS ON 1/8/09 IN WHICH MY DAUGHTER GABRIELLE THREADGILL SLID INTO THE BACK OF A HUGE VAN DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS AND SLID INTO THE VAN GOING AT LEAST 30 MILES PER HOUR, NO CITATION WAS GIVEN DUE TO THE ICE. MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE BOTH INJURED IN BOTH ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING. *TR
2004 MALIBU MAXX POWER STEERING CUTS OUT WHILE DRIVING. MUST PUT CAR IN PARK TURN IT OFF AND RESTART. HAPPENS IN THE WINTER. FOUND ON INTERNET THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES LAST WINTER. *TR
FIRST MY HORN FUSE CONTINUED TO BLOW. I REPLACED THE FUSE MULTIPLE TIMES. THEN MY TURN SIGNAL LIGHT WENT OUT. I LOOKED AT IT AND NOTICED THAT BOTH SIDES HAD HOLES BURNT THROUGH THE AMBER GLOBE. I WAS OUT OF TOWN AND DIDN'T WANT TO RECEIVE A TICKET FOR NON WORKING LIGHT SO I HAD IT REPLACED, HOWEVER WITHIN A DAY THE BULB BLEW AGAIN AND THE HORN FUSE BLEW AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NO CLUE WHAT WAS CAUSING IT HOWEVER I HAD TO PAY OVER $500 TO HAVE THE HEADLIGHT PARTS REPLACED ON BOTH SIDES. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THEY DENIED THE CLAIM B/C THEY DON'T REPLACE LIGHTS, HOWEVER THE FACT THAT THE CAR IS BURNING UP I DON'T THINK I JUST WANTED NEW LIGHTS. I DO NOT FEEL I SHOULD BE OUT MONEY FOR A PROBLEM THAT HAS OBVIOUSLY OCCURRED ON OTHER VEHICLES AND NOW MINE. I FEEL THAT A CAR THAT IS ACTUALLY MELTING/BURNING IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN....BUT I GUESS UNTIL A FEW PEOPLE BLOW UP IN THERE VEHICLES PEOPLE WILL BE OUT MONEY TO PAY FOR A FAULTY AUTOMOBILE. I WISH I STILL HAD MY FORD..IT NEVER GAVE ME THE PROBLEMS THIS CAR HAS. I STARTED WITH STEERING GOING OUT, THEN BACK HATCH NEVER OPENED, CAR REMOTE SYSTEMS DOESN'T WORK (AND I WON'T PAY TO REPLACE THAT), NOW THE CAR IS BLOWING FUSES, LIGHTS, AND BURNING UP MELTING THE PLASTIC. I THINK THEY SHOULD JUST START REPLACING THE 2004 WITH SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE SAFE....LIKE A FORD. *TR
I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WHEN MY ELECTRONIC CONSOLE STATED "CHECK POWER STEERING". AS I PULLED AWAY FROM THE TRAFFIC LIGHT TO MAKE MY LEFT TURN, I QUICKLY NOTICED THAT MY VEHICLE HAD NO POWER STEERING, AS THE VEHICLE WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. I PULLED THE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING LOT AND TURNED IT OFF AND REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. AFTER ABOUT A MINUTE, I STARTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN, AND THE POWER STEERING WAS FINE AND WORKING PROPERLY. LATER THAT WEEK, I HAD THE POWER STEERING RACK REPLACED AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. *TR
WE OWN AN 04 MALIBU MAXX, AT 50000 MILES APP THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. IT STOPPED WORKING ON THE HIGHWAY .IF YOU TURN THE CAR OFF AND RE START POWER STEERING RETURNS. THIS IS HAPPENING TO MORE THAN PEOPLE ACCORDING TO INTERNET CAR FORUMS, SO WHY NO RECALL? *TR
I LOSE POWER IN MY STEERING ON MY 2004 CHEVY MALIBU LS. *TR
ON 12/2008 WHILE DRIVING FROM CALIFORNIA TO THE EAST COAST,ROUGHLY 3 HOURS INTO MY TRIP THE 'WRENCH IN THE CAR DISPLAY ON THE DASH LIT UP AND "POWER STEERING" WAS DISPLAYED ON THE RADIO. THE NEXT EXIT (BARSTOW) WAS APPROX 8 MILES AWAY.I AWOKEN THE NEXT MORNING TO FIND THAT THERE HAD BEEN A BLIZZARD THAT NIGHT. AFTER WAITING WHAT SEEMED FOREVER I GOT THE NEWS THAT THE STEERING COLUMN ( GM 15926870) AND THE IGNITION SWITCH (GM 15823541) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. LEFT BARSTOW AFTER LOSING 2-3 DAYS OF TRAVEL AND DROPPING $1150.00 TO THE DEALER, ALMOST $200.00 FOR HOTEL AND ABOUT $125.00 ON FOOD. AFTER RECEIVING THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS I GATHERED UP MY RECEIPTS AND TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE SUPPOSED WORK COMPLETED AND TURNED IN THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS TO THE DEALER. SIX DAYS LATER I EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM.I CALLED THE DEALER AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION. THE SERVICE WRITER STATED THAT THEY'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM AFTER RECALL WORK HAS BEEN COMPLETED. MONDAY MORNING I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN. THE SERVICE WRITER STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM DOESN'T USUALLY HAPPEN (OF COURSE THE GENTLEMAN THAT I SPOKE WITH ON FRIDAY WITH WAS NOT IN) AND THAT THEY WOULD CHECK TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL WORK THAT HAD BEEN PERFORMED. OF COURSE THEY SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL WORK THAT HAD BEEN PERFORMED, AND THAT TO FIX THE CURRENT ISSUE WOULD COST $850. THERE WAS ALSO A CHARGE OF $121.00 (LABOR@ $110 PLUS SHOP FEES AND TAX). AFTER ALL THESE YEARS GM KNEW OF THE DEFICIENCIES AND SHORT COMINGS WITH THEY'RE VEHICLES. THEY'VE HAD TIME TO PREPARE AND PREP THEIR PERSONNEL FOR ANY AND ALL QUESTIONS, COMMENTS AND SCENARIOS. DAMAGE CONTROL.MY CONCERN IS THAT WHEN THE RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED, THE TECH DOING THE WORK DIDN'T FOLLOW PROPER PROCEDURES. A LONG CALL TO GM, MY ISSUE HAS BEEN ESCALATED TO THE NEXT STEP. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE DRIVERS SEAT FRAME THAT SUPPORTS THE SEAT WAS BROKEN SINCE 2008. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED HIM THAT IT WOULD COST HIM $1000 FOR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
POWER STEERING FAILS WITHOUT WARNING. I'VE HAD THE POWER STEERING MOTOR REPLACED TWICE. *TR
BROUGHT CAR IN FOR MAINTENANCE OF OTHER SORTS AND MECHANIC NOTICED CLICKING IN STEERING WHEEL. A CLICKING THAT HAD BEEN PRESENT SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND WAS TOLD THAT IT IS NORMAL IN THE MALIBU BY TWO DEALERSHIPS AND AN OUTSIDE MECHANIC (WHOM I NO LONGER GO TO). THE NOISE HAD GOTTEN WORSE OVER TIME, BUT WAS REASSURED THAT IT WAS NO ISSUE. MY NEW MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT IT WAS A FAILURE OF THE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM AND CONTINUING TO DRIVE WITH IT WOULD BE DANGEROUS. I HAD IT REPLACED (12-4-2008). IT HAS BEEN SLIGHTLY OVER A YEAR NOW AND THE NOISE IS BACK AND PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE THAN BEFORE. IT COSTS NEARLY $1000+ TO REPAIR AND DOESN'T LAST A YEAR?! IT IS A LATE MODEL 2004 MALIBU, MEANING IT IS THE 2005 MALIBU MADE IN 2004. I'VE READ MANY REPORTS/COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF ASAP. *TR
I AM SIMPLY ADDING TO AN EXISTING COMPLAINT.#PE08062 I AM REPORTING MY CONCERN IN HOPES A DECISION WILL BE MADE TO PROCEED WITH A RECALL. I AM SADLY DISAPPOINTED THAT NOT ONLY DID THIS OCCUR WITH MY 1997 MALIBU, THIS IS NOW CONTINUING WITH MY 2004. I LOVE CHEVY AND I HAVE ENJOYED BOTH MY MALIBUS, HOWEVER AN ISSUE OF THIS MAGNITUDE SHOULD BE RESEARCHED. I WILL ALSO MAKE A COMPLAINT ON CLOSE #EA04018 & #PE04031 AS I JUST EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE TODAY. CHEVY HAS A NAME TO UPHOLD AND I FIND IT CONCERNING THAT ISSUES CAN GO ON OCCURRING WHEN CUSTOMERS TRULY HAVE CONCERNS. PLEASE DETERMINE WISELY IF AND WHEN A RECALL WILL BE ISSUED FOR MY CHEVY MODEL. I BELIEVE THAT GM WOULD BE MAKING A WISE DECISION TO SECURE THEIR CUSTOMER'S TRUST IN THEIR COMPANY BY LOOKING INTO THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.. CONCERNED CHEVY OWNER *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER TURNING THE ENGINE OFF, HE WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE DEFECT HAD OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000. *TR
ON MY 2004 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX, THE POWER STEERING FAILED COMPLETELY AS I WAS DRIVING YESTERDAY. LAST MONTH, THE STEERING WAS "STIFF" TURNING TO THE RIGHT. MY DEALER LUBRICATED SOMETHING AND THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE RESOLVED. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THAT THE PARTS WERE LUBRICATED, HOWEVER THE COMPLETE FAILURE CAME YESTERDAY. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND COULD NOT STEER THE CAR SINCE THE POWER STEERING SHUT OFF. I DID CONTACT MY DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE 2004 CHEVY MALIBU (RECALL #7126) FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM, BUT MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT ONE THAT WAS LISTED. ACCORDING TO MY DEALER, THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, WHICH WAS ALSO THE PART REPLACED IN THE RECALL OF THE 2004 CHEVY MALIBU. MY VEHICLE SHOULD DEFINITELY BE ADDED TO THE LIST OF RECALLED VEHICLES SINCE THE POWER STEERING FAILURE IS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN OR PART FLAW THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN RECALLED AND REPLACED IN SIMILAR MODELS OF THE SAME PRODUCTION YEAR. PLEASE ADVISE. *TR
POWER STEERING FAILURE ON 2004 CHEVY MALIBU. WHEN BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE, POWER STEERING FAILED. SINCE THEN, STEERING HAS INTERMITTENTLY FAILED, SOMETIMES RESULTING IN VIOLENT SHAKING OF STEERING WHEEL. *TR
THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONS, THE WHEEL DOES NOT TURN. THE MESSAGE CENTER READS POWER STEERING, THIS HAS HAPPENED ONCE A WEEK FOR THE PAST 4 WEEKS. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. THE VEHICLE HAS APPROX. 40K MILES. I GOOGLED THIS ISSUE AND SEEMS THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND SEE THAT GM HAS NOT ISSUED A FIX. WE ALREADY DID THE RECALL BACK IN 2005 ON THE STEERING COLUMN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SEAT WELD FAILED CAUSING THE SEAT TO BECOME UNSTABLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE SEAT BELT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE SEAT WELD HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
RIGHT REAR TURN SIGNAL BULB WENT OUT AND WAS REPLACED. REAR WENT OUT A SECOND TIME AND THEN THE FRONT WENT OUT AS WELL. THEN THE BACK WENT OUT A THIRD TIME, ALL HAPPENING WITHIN TWO MONTHS. NOW ABOUT A MONTH LATER THE LEFT REAR BULB HAS DONE THE SAME THING. MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT AND SAID WAS NOT NORMAL. NO PARTS WERE RETAINED AFTER REPAIR, HOWEVER WILL KEEP NEXT TIME REPLACED. *TR
AT 37500 MILES INSPECTION OF ALL (4) FOUR ROTORS AND RESPECTIVE BRAKE PADS FOLLOWED HEARING SCREECHING SCRAPING NOISES AND SLIGHT INCREASE IN BREAKING DISTANCE. EXCESSIVE WEAR WAS OBSERVED ON ROTOR DISCS. DRIVEN MILEAGE WAS CITY (35) THIRTY-FIVE PERCENT AND INTERSTATE (65) SIXTY-FIVE PERCENT. NON-DEALERSHIP TIRE/BRAKE SPECIALTY SHOP WITH KNOWN COMPETENT BUSINESS REPUTATION OF (25) TWENTY-FIVE YEARS STATED THE GM PRODUCT OF RECENT (2002-2004) MAKE HAVE EXHIBITED EARLY FAILURE RATES DUE TO 'SOFT ALLOY" USED IN THE OEM BRAKE DISCS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE EMANATING FROM THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, HE NOTICED A LARGE PUDDLE OF GASOLINE NEAR THE FUEL TANK. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE DELIVERY PUMP AND ASSOCIATED HOSES AT THE COST OF $513. THE TECHNICIAN ADDED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 101,143.
THE STEERING WHEEL ON MY CHEVROLET MALIBU LOCKED UP ON A BUSY STREET WITHOUT WARNING. THE CHECK ENGINE/SERVICE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON UNTIL AFTER MY STEERING WHEEL HAD ALREADY LOCKED ON ME. AFTER RESTARTING MY CAR 3 TO 4 TIMES THE STEERING WHEEL UNLOCKED. MY STEERING WHEEL HAS LOCKED UP FOUR TIMES SINCE THEN. I PHONED CHEVROLET BECAUSE MY SUPERVISOR AT WORK INFORMED ME THAT SHE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HER CHEVY MALIBU,AND SHE HAD A RECALL/DEFECT NOTIFICATION. CHEVROLET INFORMED ME THAT BECAUSE MY VIN# WAS NOT FROM THE FACTORY WITH THE DEFECTS THEY ARE NOT LIABLE FOR REPAIRS. *TR
CAR WOULDN'T START SO TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND REMOVED BATTERY AND THEN REPLACED IT AND CAR STARTED. INFORMED US HE HAS WORKED ON OTHERS THAT HAD SAME PROBLEM AND IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE THAT HAD TO BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE TAKEN CARE OF. THE CAR STARTED AND RAN FOR 3 DAYS THEN IT WON'T START AGAIN. SO HAD IT TOWED TO THE CHEVY DEALER. MECHANIC TALKED TO ON THE PHONE INSTANTLY KNEW THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE HAD TO REPAIR IT ON MANY CARS. TOLD US IT WAS THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE AND THE ONLY WAY AROUND IT WAS TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CAR IS STILL CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERS SO CANT GIVE A TOTAL ACCOUNT YET OF WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I'VE HAD TO MISS DAYS AT WORK BECAUSE OF THIS AND WONDERING IF IT IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM WHY SOMETHING ISN'T BEING DONE ABOUT IT. HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE BEFORE BUT CAUSED A DIFFERENT PROBLEM. IT WENT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND DIDN'T LET ME USE CRUISE CONTROL, AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. IT ALSO WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP. I HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND WAIT A FEW MINUTES. THEN IT STARTED BACK UP AND HAD NO PROBLEMS TILL NOW. *TR
STREERING STARTED TO MAKE A CLUCK NOISE AROUND SEPTEMBER 2008. I TOOK IT IN FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THEY PUT SOME GREASE IN. IT STILL MAKES THESE SOUNDS BUT HAS SLOWLY GOTTEN WORSE. I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING REALLY BAD OR MAJOR GOING ON WITH THE POWER STEERING UNIT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT BULBS CONSTANTLY TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOPS AND DEALERSHIPS SEVERAL TIMES. THE BULBS WERE REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE HEADLIGHT BULB RECENTLY MELTED TO THE WIRING HARNESS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD FLUCTUATE BETWEEN FULL AND EMPTY AND DID PRODUCE CORRECT READINGS. ON THREE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT RAN OUT OF FUEL BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY GAUGE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED FOR THIS PROBLEM AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD , DUE TO HIGH MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE, THEY COULD NOT ASSIST HER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 60,000.
I BOUGHT A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU IN 2008, SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT TURN SIGNALS APPROX. 6 TIMES DUE TO THE PLASTIC ON THE SIGNAL BULBS, MELTING AND COVERING THE WIRE S THAT GO OVER THE PLASTIC THAT MAKE CONTACT WITH THE PLUG THE BULB GOES INTO. *KB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 69 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE VEHICLE APPROACHED A PUDDLE AND HYDROPLANED. THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE MEDIAN AND SPUN OUT BEGINNING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. NEITHER FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT AND DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 48,000.
THE STEERING WENT OUT ON MY 2004 CHEVY MALIBU LS. FORTUNATELY I WAS IN A DRIVEWAY WHEN IT HAPPENED. HAD THIS HAPPENED ON MY WAY TO WORK I AM SURE THAT I WOULD HAVE DIED. I WAS TURNING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AND HEARD A CLUNK AND THEN WAS UNABLE TO STEER. MY STEERING WHEEL WENT ALL THE WAY AROUND. I CHECKED OUT RECALL AND COMPLAINT WEBSITES AND FOUND THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL 2004 MALIBU OWNERS AND CHEVY REFUSES TO MAKE THIS A RECALL. *TR
I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE MY 2004 CHEVY MALIBU DUE TO THE SUPPORTS UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT BREAKING ON ONE SIDE. IT IS A 6-WAY POWER SEAT AND THE BREAKAGE IS CAUSING THE ONE SIDE OF THE SEAT TO "FLOAT." IT IS NOT SECURE WHEN YOU HAVE THE SEAT RAISED OFF THE FLOOR. THE SEAT WILL MOVE WHEN YOU SHIFT IN YOUR SEAT, MAKE A TURN, OR GO OVER ANY BUMPS. NEW PARTS TO FIX THE SEAT COST $500 (NOT INCLUDING LABOR), FOR A FEW SCREWS AND SOME METAL BARS. SEARCHED JUNK YARDS FOR A REPLACEMENT SEAT AND NOTICED THE SAME ISSUE STARTING TO OCCUR ON SEVERAL SEATS THAT WERE THERE. ALSO INQUIRED WITH A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN THE 2004 AND LATER MALIBU SEDANS, HE KNEW THE EXACT PART NUMBERS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITHOUT EVEN SEEING THE CAR. I WOULD LIKE FOR CHEVROLET TO RECOGNIZE THIS AS A REAL SAFETY CONCERN. *TR
I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN ON MON 8/25/08 WHEN THE INDICATOR NOISE SOUNDED AND THE WORDS "POWER STEERING" SHOWED UP ON MY RADIO TUNER. I FELT A SMALL CLICK IN MY STEERING WHEEL AT THE SAME TIME THIS OCCURRED. WHEN I STARTED DRIVING AGAIN, I COULD TELL MY POWER STEERING HAD DEFINITELY GONE OUT AS THE WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN. I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN. THE CAR HAD BEEN WORKING GREAT UP TO THAT POINT. (2004 CHEVY MALIBU W/ 68,673 MILES). THE POWER STEERING WAS OUT FOR THE REST OF MY DRIVE HOME. TODAY, WHEN I WENT TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR, THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER ANYWAY AND THEY ARE TELLING ME I NEED A NEW STEERING COLUMN. I'M CONCERNED THAT IF I DON'T GET THIS REPAIRED, THE POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT AGAIN RANDOMLY. *TR