There are 50 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 2004 Chevrolet Malibuin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS PARKING THE VEHICLE, HE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE GEAR OUT OF REVERSE AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 218,381.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. AFTER REVERSING AND ATTEMPTING TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN PARK, THE TRANSMISSION GEAR SELECTION DID NOT MATCH THE INDICATED GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER STILL FAILED AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 129,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO MOVE INTO GEAR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE OR REVERSE. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED TRACY CHEVROLET AT (209) 835-4500 (LOCATED AT 3400 AUTO PLAZA WAY, TRACY, CA 95304) AND WAS INFORMED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER DUE TO THE DIAGNOSTIC AND REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 295,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MANUALLY SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK HOWEVER, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE CONTACT PUSHED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MIDWAY CHEVROLET (2323 W BELL RD, PHOENIX, AZ) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE, HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
I TURN MY CAR ON DRIVE GO TO GET OUT THE KEY WON'T COME OUT SOMETIMES IT DOES AND MOST TIME IS DOESN'T. I TRY TURN THE CAR BACK ON PUTTING THE CAR IN DRIVE THEN PARK AND TURNING THE KEY TO OFF POSITION AND THE CAR STILL DOESN'T GO INTO THE PARK POSITION SO THE KEY DOESN'T GO INTO OFF POSITION TO TAKE KEY OUT. THE CAR STAYS ON WITHOUT THE IGNITION BEING ON. THE CAR IS STATIONARY BUT THE CAR WON'T GO INTO PARK TO TURN THE CAR COMPLETELY OFF. SPOKE TO GM PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE BUT THEY WON'T HELP ME. THE KEEP SAYING THERE IS NO RECALL FOR MY CAR. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS GM'S RECALL 14152. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU!
THE VEHICLE CONTINUALLY GOES INTO "ENGINE LOW POWER MODE" WHILE ON THE HIGHWAYS. THIS IS NOW OCCURRING DAILY. I'VE TRIED TO GET IT FIXED BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT IT IS. I AM VERY FORTUNATE THAT NO ONE HAS HIT ME WHEN THE VEHICLE GOES FROM HIGH SPEEDS DOWN TO 20 MILES PER HOUR WITH NO RESPONSE BY PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE THINGS FAILING ON THIS CAR: PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW NO LONGER OPENS, CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT WORK, 2 OF THE 3 CHARGERS IN THE CAR DO NOT WORK (AFTER FIXING THOSE FUSES, THEY JUST BLEW IMMEDIATELY) POWER LOCKS WENT FROM BARELY WORKING TO NOT WORKING AT ALL, THE LATEST BEING THE LOW POWER MODE AND TRACTION CONTROL BEING ACTIVATED IN THE HEAT OF A TENNESSEE SPRING (ALREADY 80 DEGREES) - IT'S NOT A WATER ISSUE. THE FIRST FEW MONTHS I HAD THIS CAR IT WAS IN THE SHOP ALMOST EVERY WEEKEND. I'VE GOTTEN ALL THE RECALLS FIXED WHEN THEY REQUIRED IT AND I KEEP UP WITH MAINTENANCE ON THIS CAR. IT HAS THE USUAL BREAK DOWNS BUT THIS IS THE LEAST SAFE CAR I HAVE EVER DRIVEN (AND I HAVE DRIVEN AROUND TWENTY LONG TERM, TEN MORE SHORT TERM).
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR LEVER FAILED TO SHIFT FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFT CABLE FRACTURED. IN 2015, THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO FAILURE. RECENTLY, A FAILURE OCCURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT LOST BRAKING AND STEERING FUNCTIONS. THE FAILURE RESULTED IN A FRONT END COLLISION. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN). A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BUT IT WAS UNKNOWN IF IT WAS DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 315,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTER STICK WAS CHANGED FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS OR COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE JERKED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,067. UPDATED 02/05/16*LJ; UPDATED 05/04/18*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE REVERSING AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD TO BE APPLIED IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER A MANUFACTURER RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 161,000.
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY GAVE OUT AND I LOST ALL POWER TO THE ENGINE AND HAD TO SWERVE. HAVING SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER TO THE ENGINE I MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NARROWLY AVOIDED A COLLISION. THE CAR IS PERFECTLY MAINTAINED AND THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES AT THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP (BUNNIN CHEVY) CONCLUDED THIS WAS A MANUFACTURER ERROR.
2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE RECALL NOTICE AND IGNITION KEY ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX THE CABLE THAT CHANGED THE GEARS AND TO GET THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. WHEN SHE PICKED UP THE VEHICLE, SHE ONLY HAD ONE LOW GEAR, BUT THERE WAS SUPPOSSED TO BE THREE LOW HEARS AND THE KEY WAS STILL STUCK IN THE IGNITION. *JB
VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO SMOOTHLY SHIFT INTO PARK POSITION TO ALLOW THE KEY TO BE TURNED OFF. CERTIFIED MECHANIC STATED THE SHIFTER CABLE IS MOST LIKELY THE DEFECT. MANY MODELS HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECALLED. THE CAR IN NOT ABLE TO SHIFT INTO PARK TO ALLOW TURNING OF THE KEY IGNITION SWITCH TO THE OFF POSITION SO THAT THE CAR BATTERY TURNS OFF. SIFTER CABLE COULD POSSIBLY MALFUNCTION DURING NORMAL DRIVING/OPERATION, STARTING/STOPPING. *TR
2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 15 MPH. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND FLICKERED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION FLUID BURNING ODOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BURNING DOOR DID NOT OCCUR UNTIL AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT GEARS FAILED TO SHIFT PROPERLY AND THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS THE GEAR SLIPPED FROM DRIVE AND UPON TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, THE VEHICLE WENT TO THE LEFT AND CRASHED INTO A BARRIER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
THE TRACTION LIGHT, ABS BRAKE LIGHT, AND SERVICE LIGHT ARE COMING ON AND DO NOT GO OUT. THE SHIFT GEAR ALSO HAS A PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER THE PART TO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026