2004 Chevrolet Malibu Complaint Log

POPPING IN STEERING COLUMN WHEN TURNING, OCCURS ALL THE TIME. *TR

THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK. THE LIGHT WILL COME ON TO START IT BUT WHEN YOU TRY TO SET IT, IT WILL NOT SET. *TR

SOMETIMES WHEN I CRANK THERE IS NO POWER STEERING AT ALL. IF I PARK ON A INCLINE IT SEEMS TO NEVER HAVE POWER STEERING. THE WRENCH LIGHT STAYS ON IN THE DASHBOARD AND POWER STEERING IS WRITTEN ACROSS THE RADIO PANEL. *TR

SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T TAKE YOUR KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION AFTER PUTTING IT IN PARK. I HAVE TO SHIFT IT BACK TO REVERSE AND THEN BACK IN PARK FOR IT TO LET THE IGNITION SWITCH TO TURN ALL THE WAY OFF SO I CAN REMOVE MY KEYS. *TR

WHEN I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN, LIKE WHEN HAVING TO LET A CAR TURN IN FRONT OF YOU. WHEN THE CAR SHIFTS GEARS IT JERKS REALLY HARD, AND WILL DO THIS IN ALL GEARS IT SHIFTS INTO. *TR

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU SEDAN. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, SHE CRASHED INTO A DIRT MOUND AND BLACKED OUT. WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DETACHED. THERE WAS SMOKE AND SOME FLAMES PRESENT AROUND THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONSCIOUSNESS, SMELLED SMOKE AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE BY SHIFTING THE GEAR INTO PARK. THE SEAT BELT ALSO BROKE, THREW THE CONTACT INTO THE REAR SEAT AND THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER INTO A FIELD AND WAS DESTROYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION, WHIPLASH AND THE PASSENGER HAD MINOR INJURIES. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED NORMALLY. PICTURES AND A POLICE REPORT AND PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ATTEMPTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FIRE AND WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 100,000. RK UPDATED 5/5/08 *CN

THREE WEEKS AGO, NOTICED SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH STEERING ON 2004 MALIBU MAX. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG. ON MARCH 18TH THE STEERING FAILED AND FORTUNATELY WE WERE GOING SLOW AND GO THROUGH THE INTERSECTION INTO A PARKING LOT AVOIDING ACCIDENT. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHO NOW STATED THE LOWER ELECTRONIC ASSEMBLY OF THE STEERING FAILED. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT THE STEERING FAILED WHILE GOING SLOW AND ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN A POSITION TO BE TOWED. TOTAL REPAIR COST $675. IN ALL MY YEARS I HAVE NEVER HAD A STEERING FAIL AND THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I UNDERSTAND PARTS WEAR OUT, BUT THIS IS BAD WHEN IT IS NOT ABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED UNTIL COMPLETE FAILURE. *TR

LOSS OF POWER STEERING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $700. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,224 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

2004 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX HAS MAJOR FRONT END PROBLEM. HARD TO STEER, ALWAYS PULLING HARD TO THE RIGHT, SEEMS LIKE POWER STEERING IS NOT WORKING AT TIMES, CLUNKING NOISE WHEN STATIONARY AND TURNING WHEELS AND WHEN MOVING GOING OVER BUMPS. AT 33K MILES HAVE BEEN TOLD THE RACK AND PINION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. REPAIRS HAVEN'T BEEN DONE YET WAITING ON OTHER ESTIMATES. *TR

MY STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO MOVE ON ITS OWN EVEN AT IDLE. THIS HAPPENED FOR A DAY, THEN I LOST MY POWER STEERING AS I TRIED TO TURN LEFT IN A PARKING LOT. THE CAR WOULDN'T TURN. NOW I CANNOT STEER LEFT OR RIGHT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS CONTINUOUSLY ON AND YOU SEE "POWER STEERING" IN THE INFO BOX ON THE DASH. I AM UPSET THAT I AM FINDING MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET AND CHEVY/GM HAS NOT MADE THIS ISSUE A MANDATORY RECALL. I WILL BE EVEN MORE UPSET IF I RUN INTO THE SAME ISSUES THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD BY HAVING THEIR STEERING COLUMNS REPLACED 2 AND 3 TIMES ONLY TO CONTINUE HAVING PROBLEMS!!! *TR

DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT ROAD, LOST POWER STEERING. WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING. TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTARTED ENGINE. POWER STEERING RETURNED AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. *TR

I TRIED TO START THE CAR AND, WHILE THE STARTER MOTOR OPERATED, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. EVENTUALLY I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED, AND THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. IF HAD KNOW, I COULD HAVE LEFT THE KEY ON FOR 10 MINUTES AND PERHAPS IT WOULD HAVE STARTED. BUT THIS INFO WAS BURIED IN THE OWNER?S MANUAL UNDER THE HEADING PASSLOCK AND NOT FOUND UNTIL AFTER THE CAR WAS REPAIRED. I WOULD HAVE BEEN AFRAID TO SIT IN AN UNLOCKED CAR FOR 10 MINUTES IN ANY EVENT. *TR

WAS HEADING TO A WEDDING 200 MILES FELT A FUNNY VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END PULLED OVER THEN THE DASH LIT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON THE STEREO DISPLAY READ POWER STEERING STARTED DINGING. TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE TO CHECK POWER STEERING PUMP FOUND OUT DIDN'T HAVE ONE. TURNED AROUND TO COME HOME CALLED THE GROOM SO HE COULD FIND NEW BESTMAN NIGHT BEFORE WEDDING. CALLED GMAC WHEN I GOT HOME AND THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC DONE THE VEHICLE GOT UP THE NEXT DAY WENT TO THE DEALER THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW STEERING COLUMN CHARGED ME $70 TO TELL ME WHAT I ALREADY NEW BECAUSE I READ THE REPORTS. THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE ME $600 TO REPLACE IT. I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE DEALER AND GMAC TO FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE I FEEL I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THERE DEFECTIVE PART. *TR

STEERING GOES OUT. JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND STEERING FAILED. I COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL. I AM PAST THE WARRANTY AND THREE DIFFERENT STORIES FROM THREE DIFFERENT PEOPLE. IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT. *TR

MY PROBLEM IS WITH A 2004 CHEVY MALIBU CLASSIC...SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT THIS CAR I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION CYLINDER THREE TIMES BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD NOT START IN THE COLD WEATHER..AND NOW I MY CAR IS NOT STARTING BECAUSE OF A THEFT PASSLOCK MODULE ISSUE...THIS CAR HAS LEFT ME STRANDED EVERYWHERE AND IM A SINGLE MOTHER AND NEED TO GO TO WORK AND THIS CAR IS UNDEPENDABLE DUE TO THE FAULTY THEFT SYSTEM..I HAVE SPENT OVER 2000 DOLLARS ALREADY FOR NOTHING, BECAUSE THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURS ALL OVER AGAIN...PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS SITUATION...THERE IS A NEED TO FOR A RECALL.... *TR

SEVERAL TIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN THROUGH ANY MORE THAN A COUPLE INCHES OF SNOW THE FRONT BRAKES HAVE TEMPORARILY SEIZED UP AND WON'T GRAB. THE BACK BRAKES GRAB IMMEDIATELY WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED. I HAVE SLID SIDEWAYS AROUND CURVES ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS. THE ONLY WAY TO FREE THE FRONT BRAKES IS TO SLAM THE PEDAL DOWN AS IF IT WAS A PANIC STOP. I BOUGHT THIS CAR LAST SUMMER, SO THIS IS MY FIRST WINTER DRIVING IT. *TR

FRONT LEFT TURNING SIGNAL IS NOT WORKING. I HAVE BOUGHT MANY LIGHT BULBS REPLACING LIGHT BULB AFTER BULB. EVERYTIME I CHANGE THE BULB IT WOULD WORK BUT AS SOON AS I DRIVE FOR LITTLE AND TURN THE SIGNAL IT GOES OUT AGAIN. SEEM AS THOUGH IT MAY HAVE A SHORTAGE. *TR

I WAS TAKING MY DAUGHTERS 2004 CHEVY MALIBU FOR A TEST RIDE AFTER SHE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE POWER STEERING GOING OUT ON HER. I DROVE SEVERAL MILES, THEN THE MECHANICAL LIGHT ON THE LOWER LEFT PART OF THE DISPLAY CAME ON. I PULLED IN TO A PARKING LOT TO PARK WHEN THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY WENT OUT, CAUSING ME TO ALMOST COLLIDE WITH ANOTHER PARKED CAR. I FINALLY GOT THE CAR PARKED AFTER STRUGGLING WITH THE STEERING, SHUT OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTED, THE MECHANICAL LIGHT STAYED ON BUT THE STEERING RECOVERED. AFTER DRIVING AGAIN THE STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN. NOW I'M CONCERNED THAT WHENEVER SHE DRIVES THIS, SERIOUS INJURY COULD HAPPEN TO HER. IT WAS HARD ENOUGH FOR ME TO STEER WITHOUT P/S, I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT SHE CAN HANDLE IT ANY BETTER IF IT INADVERTENTLY GOES OUT AGAIN, WHICH IT NO DOUBT WILL! *TR

MY HUSBAND TRAVELS 200 MILES A DAY,MOSTLY INTERSTATE TRAVEL. AT LEAST .ONCE A DAY HIS TURN SIGNALS FAIL TO WORK. MOST OF THE TIME IF HE MESSES AROUND WITH THE HAZARD LIGHT BUTTON FOR A FEW SECONDS THE TURN SIGNALS WILL FUNCTION AGAIN,BUT NOT ALWAYS. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. ONE MECHANIC SAID IT IS MORE THAN LIKELY A SHORT IN THE WIRING BUT WILL E EXPENSIVE TO FIND LET ALONE FIX. I FEEL THERE IS ALSO A POSSIBILITY OF A FIRE. *TR

SOME TIME IN DECEMBER OF 2007 THE SPEEDOMETER OF MY 2004 CHEVY IMPALA BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION. IT IS VERY ERRATIC IN THAT SOMETIMES THE NEEDLE DOESN'T MOVE, SOMETIMES IT SHOWS 100+MPH, SOMETIMES IT APPEARS TO BE ACCURATE, AND SOMETIMES IT JUST STAYS FIXED ON A SPEED AND DOESN'T MOVE. WE HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND HE SAID ONLY A DEALER COULD FIX IT AND IT WOULD MOST LIKELY COST OVER $1,000 TO DO SO. WE HAVE CHOSEN TO LIVE WITH IT IN HOPES THAT CHEVROLET WILL PUT OUT A RECALL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. BOTH OF THE FRONT TURN SIGNAL LENSES HAVE A ONE HALF INCH HOLE BURNED INTO THE TOP OF THE PLASTIC. THE PLASTIC HAS COMPLETELY MELTED AND TURNED BROWN. THE SHINY MATERIAL HAS TURNED A DULL WHITE. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 82,000. UPDATED 02-14-08. *KB

AXLE SEALS BROKEN - LEAKING TRANSMISSION OIL. NO WAY TO CHECK THE LEVEL. *TR

A CLUNKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN TURNING AT LOW SPEED. TOOK MY 1ST CHEVY TO THE MECHANIC WITH THE SAME NOISE AND WAS TOLD I BOUGHT A LEMON BECAUSE GM CAN'T RESOLVE ISSUES WITH THE STEERING COLUMN SO I WAS BUMMED. I WENT OUT AND PURCHASED ANOTHER GM THINKING THAT THE LAST CAR WAS A LEMON AND IT COULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. I WAS SADLY MISTAKEN! I'VE BOUGHT 2 GM CARS IN THE LAST 3 YEARS AND NOW REGRET IT, I OWNED FOREIGN CARS BEFORE AND IT'S THE FIRST AND LAST TIME I'M BUYING GM UNFORTUNATELY.... *TR

TL*THE CONTACT IS CO-OWNER OF A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS BEGAN TO FLICKER AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF STEERING POWER. THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND THEN PULLED HARD TO THE LEFT, ENTERING INTO TRAFFIC AND STRIKING TWO VEHICLES. THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE TWO OTHER DRIVERS ALSO SUSTAINED INJURIES, BUT THE CONTACT DOES NOT KNOW TO WHAT EXTENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED APPROXIMATELY $2,600 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND TOWED TO A DEALER. INVESTIGATION NUMBER EA04018 WAS ISSUED, BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL AS OF YET. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 37,000. UPDATED 12-12-07. *KB

2004 CHEVY MALIBU STEERING COLUMN HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES AND NOW THE STEERING GOES OUT AGAIN AND THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I PAID OVER 100.00 TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP TO FIGURE OUT THE STEERING PROBLEM AND AN ELETRICAL PROBLEM JUST FOR THEM TO TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. HOWEVER BOTH PROBLEMS STILL EXIST. CHEVY DOES NOT WANT TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS, BUT THEY SAY THEY STAND BY THEIR CARS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CAR ICON LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY ON THE DASHBOARD. ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,011 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,300. UPDATED 04/08/08. *LJ

I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH MY STEERING COLUMN THAT HOPEFULLY NOW HAVE BEEN REPAIRED. MY MOST RECENT PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE HEADLIGHTS. THE FRONT MARKER LIGHTS HAVE BURNED THROUGH THE PLASTIC CASING. IT HAS OVERHEATED MY BULB RESULTING IN TURN SIGNAL GOING OUT. IN THE PROCESS OF REPAIRING. *TR

I PURCHASED MY 04 MALIBU IN 11/06-HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 3 DAYS AND HEARD A THUMPING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, TOOK IN AND THEY REPLACED THE DRIVE SHAFT ( A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR MALIBU I HAVE BEEN TOLD). THE PROBLEM HAS COME BACK TO HAUNT ALONG WITH HAVING ISSUES WITH THE POWER STEERING, I LOST MY POWER STEERING AND ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS CAR HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NOISE IN THE STEERING. *JB

STEERING WHEEL APPEARS TO LOCK UP AND POWER STEERING LOST. STEERING COLUMN APPEARS LOOSE. HAPPENS DAILY AND APPROX. TEN TO TWELVE TIMES WEEKLY. OFTEN NOISE RATTLING LIKE IN LOWER OR BASE STEERING SHAFT AREA. SOMETIMES HAPPENS A MINUTE OR TWO AFTER WE START CAR AND VEHICLE MOVES. SOMETIMES AT ABOUT 20-45 MPH IN CITY DRIVING. OTHER TIMES WHEN CAR IS GOING 50-75 MPH IN HIGHWAY DRIVING. IT IS INTERMITTENT AND UNPREDICTABLE. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN ON POT HOLED OR OTHERWISE ROUGH ROADS. OUR ONLY KNOWN STEERING RELATED GM RECALL WAS COMPLETED RECENTLY BY GMC DEALER. HOWEVER, PROBLEMS CONTINUE. *TR

GOT POWER STEERING WARNING. HAD DIAGNOSTIC CHECK WITH NO RESULTS. IGNORED THE WARNING FOR A MONTH. POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE IN A PARKING LOT. SHUT OFF ENGINE, RESTARTED AND HAD POWER STEERING AGAIN. HAPPENED A SECOND TIME THIS TIME WITH MY WIFE DRIVING. SHE MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND SHUT OFF CAR. POWER STEERING WORKED WHEN THE CAR WAS RE-STARTED. *TR

POWER STEERING WAS REPLACED BACK IN 2005, AS OF TODAY CAR IS BACK IN SHOP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM SUPPOSEDLY THAT WAS FIXED IN 2005. 1) LIGHT COMES ON "POWER STEERING" 2) CAR IS HARD TO STEER (THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED RIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY AND I WAS VERY SCARED FOR MY LIFE AS TO NO OTHER WARNING BUT THE LIGHT COMING ON AND IMMEDIATELY BEING UNABLE TO TURN). 3) CURRENTLY THE CAR IS IN THE SHOP. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WITHIN 60 DAYS OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD THUD COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO FIRESTONE AND THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BUSHINGS WERE FAILING. THE CONTACT WAS ADAMANT ABOUT HAVING THE VEHICLE FURTHER INVESTIGATED. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE RACK AND PINION FAILED AND MADE THE REPLACEMENT. IN LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER THE REPLACEMENT, THE RACK AND PINION FAILED AGAIN. THE INDEPENDENT DEALER STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE WITH THE RACK AND PINION; HOWEVER, NOTHING COULD BE DONE. A SECOND REPLACEMENT WAS ALSO RECOMMENDED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,200 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 54,000.

POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. HAD TO TURN CAR OFF THEN BACK ON TO BE ABLE TO TURN STEERING WHEEL SINCE IT WAS LOCKED UP. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING CONSTANTLY SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO CUT THE CAR OFF SEVERAL TIMES AND BACK ON JUST TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE IT. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS BECAUSE YOU LOSE ALL ABILITY TO TURN CAR. LUCKY FOR ME THIS HASN'T HAPPENED GOING DOWN THE ROAD YET ONLY WHEN SITTING IN A STORE PARKING LOT OR AT HOME. *TR

MY 2004 MALIBU MAXX HAS SOME SORT OF ELECTRICAL ISSUE HAS HAD IT FOR YEARS AND DRIVES ME CRAZY. THE TURN INDICATOR LIGHT WAS TELLING ME THE BULB WAS BURNED OUT WHEN WE WENT TO CHANGE THE BULB THE WHOLE BULB COVER WAS MELTED WE REPLACED THE BULB IT WOULD LAST A FEW WEEKS SOMETIMES A FEW MONTHS. WE DECIDED TO ORDER A WHOLE NEW LIGHT ASSEMBLE FOR THAT SIDE SINCE THE GLOBE WAS MELTED. WE INSTALLED IT A WEEK LATER THE WHOLE TURN INDICATOR LIGHT AND SOCKET WERE MELTED TOGETHER. WE COULD NOT EVEN GET THE BULB OUT. SO WE WENT BACK TO THE ORIGINAL LIGHT ASSEMBLY SAME ISSUE BULBS BURN OUT. ALSO INSIDE INTERIOR LIGHT SOMETIMES WON'T SHUT OFF NO MATTER HOW THE SWITCH IS POSITIONED. THIS CAR HAS ELECTRICAL ISSUES. *TR

ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 18, 2007 MY WIFE AND I WERE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH ALONG A WINDY, HILLY STRETCH OF ROAD. AT THE TOP OF THE THIRD HILL, THE TRANSMISSION DROPPED TO ZERO. AFTER COASTING DOWN THE HILL, I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE IN FIRST GEAR ONLY. AFTER STOPPING FOR 15 MINUTES, I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING IN LOW GEARS. HOWEVER, IF I TRIED TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY (SUCH AS TO MERGE WITH INTERSTATE TRAFFIC, OR TO MAKE A LEGAL U-TURN) THEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN. ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A SERVICE STATION AND HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED AND FILLED. MY HOPE WAS TO AVOID ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, THIS SERVICE DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALER WHO TOLD ME THE CLUTCH WAS COMPLETELY BURNED OUT. THEY ASKED ME WHY I WAITED SO LONG TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED. I POINTED OUT TO THEM THAT THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES THAT IT IS A "MAINTENANCE FREE" TRANSMISSION THAT SHOULD NEVER NEED SERVICING. *TR

FEBRUARY 2005 STEERING COLUMN REPLACED DUE TO FAILURE, PRIOR TO RECALL ISSUED (15,050 MILES). FEBRUARY 2007 RACK AND PINION SYSTEM REPLACED DUE TO THUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING LEFT (45,380 MILES). THUNKING NOISE RETURNED IN AUGUST 2007, THIS TIME NOISE WAS CAUSED BY STEERING SHAFT, WHICH WAS REPLACED (51,206 MILES). *TR

THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY ON MY 2004 CHEVY MALIBU. THIS TENDS TO HAPPEN DURING SUMMER MONTHS, PARTICULARLY JULY-SEPTEMBER WHEN THE WEATHER IS MORE HUMID THAN ANY OTHER TIME OF THE YEAR. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A TRUSTED AUTO MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THAT WHEN HE CONNECTED THE CAR TO HIS DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER THERE WAS A READING STATING THAT THE POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE DONE NOTHING SINCE THAT TIME WHICH WAS AROUND THE SUMMER OF 2007. *TR

STEERING WENT ON CAR WHILE DRIVING . NOT INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT BROUGHT TO DEALERS AND HAD TO GET WHOLE NEW STEERING COLUMN PUT IN , BUT I HAD TO PAY FOR THE BALANCING AND ROTATION OF THE TIRES. THAT WAS THE STEERING COLUMN'S FAULT. *TR

POWER STEERING LIGHT REPEATEDLY GOING ON AND OFF,STEERING GETTING TIGHT OFF AND ON,WENT TO MECHANIC THEY RESET LIGHT, POWER STEERING LIGHT OFF AND ON YET AGAIN, THEN HE HAD LOST POWER STEERING 3 X,BUT IF HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SHUT OFF AND RESTART, HE COULD DRIVE FOR A WHILE, FINALLY GOT IT TO CHEVROLET THEY HAD IT 2 DAYS, REPLACED STEERING COLUMN $796.00, NO WARRANTY NO RECALL, ONLY A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ABOUT THE PROBLEM, WHICH WHEN I TALKED TO GM THEY SAID THEY HAVE HAD NO COMPLAINTS! ARE THEY WAITING FOR DEAD BODIES TO START PILING UP BEFORE THEY SEND OUT A RECALL? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL INDEPENDENTLY TURNED LEFT AND RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING BOX ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AND STEERING BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

BOTH YELLOW DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT COVERS ARE MELTED. THERE IS A BURN MARK SURROUNDING THE HOLES OVER EACH LIGHT BULB -- ON BOTH THE RIGHT AND THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CLEAR PLASTIC SHELL AROUND THE HEADLIGHT IS DISCOLORED AS A RESULT OF THE EXCESS HEAT. *JB

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED FROM CRANE CHEVROLET, CLIFTON, NEW JERSEY, WITHIN SIX MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE I OBSERVED THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD SUDDENLY STOP OPERATING WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. I DISCOVERED THAT THE ONLY CORRECTIVE WAS TO SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTART THE ENGINE. THE POWER STEERING WOULD THEN REENGAGE. THIS FAILURE HAS PERSISTED FOR NEARLY THE ENTIRE TIME I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE. DURING THAT ENTIRE TIME, CRANE CHEVROLET HAS CLAIMED THERE WAS/IS NO DEFECT IN THE POWER STEERING, AND NO RECALL NOTICE OUTSTANDING. I JUST RECEIVED A GM SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 14116, WHICH CLAIMS, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT "PREVIOUSLY, YOU HAD THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED UNDER CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM 04050". THAT IS FALSE! NEITHER CRANE CHEVROLET, NOR GM HAS EVER CONTACTED ME CONCERNING THE STEERING COLUMN, OR MADE ANY ATTEMPT TO REPLACE IT! I ALSO NOTIFIED CRANE CHEVROLET THAT THE FRONT HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY TURN SIGNAL LAMPS REPEATEDLY BURNED OUT, AND THAT THE BULB HOUSINGS WERE BURNT AND COMPLETELY MELTED THROUGH!! BOTH GM AND CRANE CHEVROLET DENIED THERE WAS ANY DEFECT IN THE LAMP/HOUSING DESIGN OR FUNCTION. I HAVE TO REPLACE THE FRONT TURN SIGNAL LAMPS ABOUT EVERY SIX MONTHS. FINALLY, THE UNDERCARRIAGE SUPPORT STRUTS, SHOCKS, AND SPRINGS ARE WOEFULLY UNDERDESIGNED. THE CAR RUNS LIKE IT HAS STONE TIRES. I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STRUT, SHOCK, AND SPRING UNDERSUPPORTS FOR THE SECOND TIME. AND I JUST RUN THE VEHCILE ON ASPHALT SMOOTH ROADS IN A DEVELPED SUBURBAN CITY!! THIS WAS SERIOUS UNDERDESIGN. FORTUNATELY, THESE PARTS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE WEB AND I'VE GOT A GOOD MECHANIC THAT CHARGES FAIRLY FOR THIS DIFFICULT WORK. GO TO CRANE AND GM AND YOU'D NEED TO MORTGAGE YOUR HOME TO DO THE WORK!! *TR

IN SEPTEMBER 2005 I TOOK THE 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU TO THE DEALER TO CHECK A PROBLEM IN THE STEERING COLUMN . THE DEALERSHIP FIXED THE PROBLEM AND THE MANAGER AS MUCH AS ADMITTED THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING DEFECTIVE IN THE STEERING COLUMN OF THAT PARTICULAR VEHICLE. I PAID FOR THE REPAIRS, BUT I IMMEDIATELY CALLED GENERAL MOTORS, AND TOLD SOME ONE THERE THAT I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS RIGHT TO BE CHARGED FOR A REPAIR ON SOMETHING IN THE VEHICLE THAT WAS KNOWN TO BE DEFECTIVE. THAT OFFICE THEN CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND SPOKE TO THE MANAGER AND THEY REIMBURSED ME FOR THE REPAIR. WELL, NOW THE STEERING WAS ACTING UP AGAIN. THIS TIME THE VEHICLE PULLED STRONGLY TO THE LEFT WHEN BEING DRIVEN. IT ALSO MADE A STRANGE NOISE WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL, SIMILAR TO THE ONE IT MADE PREVIOUSLY WHEN REPAIRS HAD TO BE DONE. I HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES ,AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. TOMORROW I AM GOING TO ASK THEM TO CHECK INTO THE ACTUAL STEERING MECHANISM TO SEE IF THAT WAS WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS COMING FROM. IF I AM RIGHT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF I WILL BE ABLE TO GET THE MANUFACTURER OF THIS VEHICLE TO APPROVE OF PAYING FOR THE REPAIR.*AK

POWER STEERING GOES OUT ON A REGULAR BASIS IN MY 2004 CHEVY MALIBU LS. I HAVE HAD TO PULL OVER AND TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TO GET STEERING POWER BACK. THE DEALERSHIPS CLAIM THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR AND HAVE CHARGED ME 110 DOLLARS IN DIAGNOSTICS AND UNSUCCESSFUL REPAIRS. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY MALIBU WITH THE FACTORY THEFT SYSTEM. THIS THEFT SYSTEM HAS CAUSED THE CAR TO NOT START AND THUS MAKING ME LATE FOR MANY APPOINTMENTS. THE SYSTEM WILL RESET AFTER 10 MINUTES, BUT I FEEL THAT THIS IS SOMETHING GENERAL MOTORS NEEDS TO LOOK AT AND MAYBE ISSUE A RECALL. THANK YOU *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT 10 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES. THE ENGINE SIZE AND PURCHASE DATE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 40,500.

FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR, THE RIGHT FRONT TURN LIGHT CONTINUES TO GO OUT. WE HAVE REPLACED THE BULB MANY TIMES. SOMETIMES IT WILL LAST A FEW WEEKS AND SOMETIMES ONLY A FEW DAYS. *TR

CAR WAS MAKING CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL/TIRE AREA WHEN MAKING TURNS. DEALER REPLACED INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME INVOLVING A STEERING ISSUE. REPLACED STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY AND RACK & PINION. *AK