Chevrolet Malibu Complaints (2004)

1,582 consumer complaints on file.

#10542202September 6, 2013
STEERING
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10542026September 5, 2013
STEERING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10542041September 5, 2013
SEATS
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10538306September 1, 2013
STEERING
1ST INCIDENCE ON HIGHWAY, 2 YRS. AGO STEERING TIGHTENED UP AND LIGHT WITH CAR/WRENCH CAME ON. IT RESOLVED ON ITS OWN QUICKLY SOON AFTER CALLING ON STAR FOR ASSISTANCE. JUST RECENTLY MORE RANDOM INCIDENCES OF LIGHT COMING ON WITH NO NOTICEABLE STEERING DIFFICULTY. TODAY, WHILE PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, STEERING FROZEN, CAR/WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON, STUCK IN MIDDLE OF THE STREET. TURNED CAR OFF AND RESTARTED. STEERING LOOSENED UP THEN FROZE AGAIN, COULD NOT TURN WHEEL AT ALL, STILL STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. TURNED CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN. IT LOOSENED UP AGAIN AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT WITHOUT FURTHER LIGHT OR STIFFNESS. PLANNING ON VISITING THE DEALERSHIP THIS WEEK FOR A CHECK UP. THIS SHOULD BE COVERED ALONG WITH THE RECALL FOR 2005 MALIBU SINCE IT IS THE POWER STEERING ISSUE. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10538040August 30, 2013
SEATS, WHEELS
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10537541August 27, 2013
STEERING
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10537130August 25, 2013
STEERING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10537182August 25, 2013
SEATS
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10537050August 24, 2013
STEERING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10536650August 22, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10535911August 18, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR WOULD NOT START BECAUSE THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED FOR NO REASON. WAS ABLE TO START IT BY LEAVING THE IGNITION SWITCH IN THE ON POSITION FOR 10 MIN. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10535450August 15, 2013
STEERING, AIR BAGS
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10534907August 12, 2013
STEERING
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10535004August 12, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10526383July 23, 2013
STEERING, POWER TRAIN
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10525532July 18, 2013
STEERING, SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND IT BECAME HARD TO TURN. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SEAT BECAME LOWER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO ADJUST THE FRONT OR BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR BOTH FAILURES WHERE THE FAILURES WERE UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10525225July 16, 2013
SEATS
ON FEBRUARY 28, 2013 I TOOK MY 2004 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX TO A LOCAL DEALER TO HAVE THE POWER SEAT FIXED. THE FRAME BROKE AT THE WELD DURING NORMAL USE CAUSING THE SEAT TO ROCK, IT COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED, AND WAS A SAFETY HAZARD SINCE THE SEAT WAS NOT ANCHORED. I SPOKE WITH A LOCAL CHEVY DEALER BEFORE HAVING THIS FIXED AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM, A SAFETY ISSUE, AND THAT CHEVY HAD DECIDED TO NOT TAKE ANY ACTION ON IT JULY 16, 2013--SPOKE WITH SOMEONE IN CUSTOMER SERVICE AT CHEVY. THEY SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD HAVE TO BE DOCUMENTED BY A CHEVY DEALER, ALTHOUGH DOCUMENTATION COULD BE PROVIDED BY THE SHOP THAT FIXED THE PROBLEM. CHEVY SAID THEY WOULD OF COURSE WANT TO KNOW IF THERE WAS A SAFETY HAZARD WITH THE VEHICLE. BUT THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE THAT THIS EXISTS, EVEN THOUGH THE INTERNET POSTS SHOWS THIS TO BE QUITE A COMMON COMPLAINT. IMAGINE IF ONE WERE IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE ENTIRE SEAT WAS EJECTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10524112July 10, 2013
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WE BOUGHT THE CAR USED WITH 34,000 MILES ON IT IN 3/2006.THERE WAS A CLUNKING IN THE STEERING WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN ON 12/2007 WITH 66,000 MILES. THE CLUNKING WAS STILL THERE AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THIS IS NORMAL. SINCE THEN THE STEERING HAS GOTTEN WORSE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TRIED TO FIND THE PROBLEM BUT SAYS IT CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG. YET SOMETIMES THE STEERING WILL LOCKUP AT LOW SPEED WHEN BACKING UP OR TURNING WHILE STOPPED. IT HAS NOT DONE THIS WHILE DRIVING AT ROAD SPEED (OR I WOULD NOT DRIVE IT). HOWEVER AT ROAD SPEED THE STEERING IS VERY VAGUE. IT REQUIRES AN ALMOST QUARTER TURN OF THE STEERING WHEEL TO GET THE CAR TO RESPOND TO A STEERING INPUT TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. THIS IS NOT SAFE. THERE IS ALSO WARNING LIGHTS THAT COME ON THE DASH, AND WARNING BELLS THAT SOUND, AND SOMETIMES THEY GO BACK OFF OTHER TIMES CAR NEEDS TO SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED AND IT IS OK THEN. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON MOST OF THE TIME, AGAIN DEALERSHIP CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. SOMETIMES THE WHOLE DASH CLUSTER GOES OUT, THE CAR STAYS RUNNING AND THEY COME BACK ON AFTER A TIME AND AGAIN IF YOU CUT OFF AND RESTART THE CAR IT IS OK AGAIN FOR A WHILE. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS 150,000 ON IT AND I HAVE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CHECKING IT OVER TO SEE IF HE CAN FIND THE PROBLEM. THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP CAN'T FIND WHAT IS WRONG TO FIX IT, OR SO THEY SAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10524145July 10, 2013
SEATS
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10524187July 10, 2013
STEERING, POWER TRAIN
DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, STEERING GOT STIFF AND MY DASH LIGHT (WRENCH) LIT UP AND CHIMED. I'M GLAD I HAD BOTH HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL OR ELSE IT COULD HAVE TAKEN ME FOR A JOY RIDE. HAD MY WIFE AND MY INFANT SON AT THE TIME WITH ME. THIS DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE ATTENDED TO BECAUSE IT'S A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. NOW, I HAVE 100,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND IT'S STILL DOING THE SAME THING. I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO REPLACE SUCH A THING. THIS NEEDS TO PUSHED WITH GM TO HAVE RECALLED! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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