Chevrolet Malibu Complaints (2004)

1,582 consumer complaints on file.

#10496743February 7, 2013
STEERING
PULLING OUT OF THE GARAGE THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I DROVE IT WITHOUT POWER STEERING FOR ABOUT 3 MILES, PARKED THE VEHICLE AND SHUT IT OFF. WENT INSIDE THE BUSINESS & CAME OUT ABOUT A HALF HOUR LATER & THE STEERING WORKED FINE. I'VE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE ON LINE AND HAVE FOUND THAT GM HAS RECALLED VEHICLES FOR THIS ISSUE BUT NOT THE 2004 MALIBU. THIS VEHICLE HAS ALSO BEEN SERVICED 3 TIMES IN PAST YEARS FOR STEERING RELATED PARTS INCLUDING A RACK & PINION UNIT. MY DAUGHTER HAS A 2005 CHEVY COBALT & HER VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR THIS VERY SAME ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10496794February 7, 2013
STEERING
POWER STEERING WENT OUT UNEXPECTANTLY. NEARLY ADVERTED A WRECK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10496436February 5, 2013
STEERING
MY SON, AT COLLEGE, WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN A CHIME SOUNDED,POWER STEERING WENT OUT, AND WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. HE PULLED OVER AND CALLED ME. FIRST TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED SINCE WE BOUGHT CAR IN 2008. I TALKED TO A MECHANIC, A COUPLE OF SERVICE MANAGERS, AND LOOKED THIS COMPLAINT UP ON THE WEB. FOUND OUT THAT HUNDREDS OF MALIBU OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. GM HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE 2004, BUT HAS FOR LATER YEARS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING PROBLEM THAT COULD LEAD TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF IT OCCURS WHILE DRIVING ON A CURVY, BACK-ROAD HIGHWAY OR DURING A QUICK EVASIVE TURN. IT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL BE AN EXPENSIVE FIX THAT EACH OWNER MUST PAY THEMSELVES. GM SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND ISSUE A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10496297February 4, 2013
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON MY 04 MALIBU WHILE DRIVING, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. TOOK IT TO TWO DIFFERENT REPAIR PLACES. SPENT OVER $600 FOR IT TO NOT BE FIXED. I GOOGLE MY CAR AND FIND A WEBSITE WITH HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE 05 HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, YET NOT THE 04. I'M A SINGLE MOTHER WITH TWO KIDS, I CAN'T AFFORD TO SPEND MONEY ON A MAYBE FIX OR A NEW CAR. WILL IT REALLY TAKE ONE OF US DYING BEFORE THE PROBLEM IS TAKEN CARE OF? AND WHY IS GM NOT BEING HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR IT'S QUALITY ISSUES? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10496234February 3, 2013
STEERING, POWER TRAIN
I WAS DRIVING MY SONS 2004 MALIBU WHEN SUDDENLY THERE WAS A FEW DINGS FOLLOWED BY THE CAR SYMBOL LIGHT WITH THE WRENCH INSIDE IT ON THE DASH LIGHT UP. THE WHEEL IMMEDIATELY BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN . IT'S AS IF THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. I DROVE TO A SAFE LOCATION, TURNED OFF THE CAR AND THE PROBLEM WAS GONE. THIS DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT TO ME. PLEASE HAVE GM RECTIFY THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10496062February 1, 2013
SEATS
FRONT DRIVERS SEAT FRAME ROD SEVERED AT THE WELD JOINT CAUSING THE FRONT SEAT TO NOT REMAIN IN PLACE AND SHIFT AROUND DURING DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10496137February 1, 2013
STEERING, POWER TRAIN
2004 MALIBU LS-DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY TODAY AND THE BELL GOES OFF, THE YELLOW WRENCH APPEARS AND THE RADIO SHOWS POWER STEERING. THE POWER STEERING JUST WENT OUT ALL AT ONCE AND I ALMOST RAN INTO A TRUCK. CALLED THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON THIS AND IT IS ALSO NOT COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. NHTSA PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS POWER STEERING PROBLEM BEFORE IT CAUSES SOMEONE TO LOOSE THEIR LIFE. I HAVE A 1998 MALIBU LS AND A 2004 MALIBU LS AND THEY BOTH HAVE GAVE ME PROBLEMS. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER ONE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10494829January 26, 2013
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND I LOST POWER STEERING THE WHEEL GOT SO HARD AND THE RADIO SAID POWER STEERING BUT I PULLED OVER AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND WHEN I TURN THE CAR BACKON IT GOES BACK TO NORMAL..... KNOW I'M AT A RED LIGHT AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND IT GETS HARD ON ME ALL THE TIME I'M TIRED OF THIS HAPPENING TO MY CAR I ASKED MY DADS MECHANIC AND TOLD ME IT WOULD COST ME ....1500.00 TO FIX IT I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OFF MONEY AND THE DEALERSHIP AND SAID IT WAS SOMETHING NORMAL ...... WHAT CAN I DO ..... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10494524January 23, 2013
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING MY DAUGHTER TO A DOCTORS APPOINTMENT, AND MY CAR DINGED 3 TIMES AND "POWER STEERING" CAME ACROSS ON THE RADIO FACE, AND I LOST POWER STEERING. I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND WHEN I STARTED IT AGAIN IT WAS FINE. TODAY (1-23-13) I WAS DRIVING WITH MY DAUGHTER IN THE CAR, AND I WAS DRIVING AROUND A CURVE, WHEN THE CAR DINGED 3 TIMES AGAIN AND POWER STEERING DISPLAYED ACROSS THE RADIO SCREEN. I LOST POWER STEERING IN MID TURN, AND HAD TO FIGHT TO KEEP THE CAR UNDER CONTROL. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE FOR THIS TO NE CORRECTED? *TR ## VIN FAILED ##
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10493687January 21, 2013
STEERING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
AS FOR THE LIGHTING I CANNOT COUNT HOW MANY LIGHT BULBS I HAVE REPLACED ON THIS VEHICLE TO THE POINT THAT I HAD THE AUTO SHOP REPLACE THEM SINCE I THOUGHT I WAS DOING SOMETHING WRONG. THEY ONLY LAST ABOUT A MONTH OR TWO AND BURN OUT WHICH IS REALLY DANGEROUS WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW IF WILL WORK OR NOT. THE STEERING ISSUE IS A MUCH MORE DANGEROUS PROBLEM, THIS IS MY WIFE'S CAR AND SHE GOT STUCK LEAVING THE HOUSE AND PHYSICALLY COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH SHE DESCRIBED AS LOCKING UP. I CAN NOT IMAGINE IF SHE WERE TO BE TURN DOWN A BUSY INTERSECTION ON NOT BEEN ABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE TO THE PROPER LANE. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM AS THE 2005'S WERE!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10493604January 21, 2013
SEATS
AS I SAT DOWN IN DRIVERS SEAT THE SEAT SEEMED TO LEAN TO THE RIGHT AND TILTED BACK SLIGHTLY. I LOOKED UNDER SEAT TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG AND NOTICED A BAR ACROSS FRONT SIDE OF SEAT WAS BROKE AWAY FROM IT'S ORIGINAL WELDED POSITION. AFTER REMOVING SEAT I NOTICED THAT THE BAR HAD INDEED BROKEN FREE FROM WELD. NOT ONLY WAS THE WELD BROKEN BUT THE BAR WHICH WASN'T REALLY A BAR BUT A PIPE SLIGHTLY THICKER WALLED THAN A PIECE OF TYPE M COPPER PIPING BROKE OFF WITH A PIECE MISSING. ALSO NOTICED SAME PROBLEM WITH THE PIPE THAT ENCASES THE BAR AT REAR OF THE SEAT THAT ALLOWS THE SEAT BACK TO TILT BACK OR FORWARD. THE PIPE HAS ALSO BROKEN THE WELD AND MISSING A PIECE OF THE PIPE.WE BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND MY WIFE IS THE PRIMARY DRIVER .WEIGHT AVERAGE 155 LBS. SO I DON'T BELIEVE WEIGHT PLAYS A PART OF THIS POORLY DESIGNED WORK OF FAILURE. MILEAGE IS LESS THAN 10,000 PER YEAR OWNED. THIS IS EXTREMELY UPSETTING. IS CHEVROLET RESPONSIBLE OR SINCE WARRANTY IS OVER THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH THIS POOR DESIGN AND SAFETY ISSUE? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10493538January 20, 2013
STEERING
UPON SLOWING DOWN THE CAR TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE POWER STEERING FAILED CAUSING THE CAR TO VEER INTO AN ONCOMING LANE OF TRAFFIC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10491980January 9, 2013
STEERING
STOPPED AND PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. RETURNED TO NORMAL AFTER TURNING VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10490895January 3, 2013
SEATS
DRIVER SEAT FRAME BROKE AND SEVERELY LEANED TO THE RIGHT. DEALER FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. MARCH, 2008 - INCIDENT REPEATED - NO WARRANTY OFFERED! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10490971January 3, 2013
STEERING
I HAVE BEEN HAVING POWER STEERING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2004 CHEVY MALIBU FOR SEVERAL YEARS. IT FEELS LIKE THE STEERING GOES COMPLETELY OUT WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY OR OTHER ROADS AND FIND THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. I ORIGINALLY HAD DEALERSHIP CHECK STEERING AND WAS TOLD IT WAS FINE AND THERE WAS NO RECALL, BUT I HAVE READ WHERE SEVERAL OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS, THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE FOR MY DAUGHTER, WHO NOW DRIVES THE CAR. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON AND GOES OFF WHEN YOU PARK OR RESTART THE CAR. SHE RECENTLY LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND HAD DIFFICULTY STEERING THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. TODAY, WE TOOK THE MALIBU TO THE GM DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED IT, AND OUCH!...WAS TOLD THE REPAIRS TOTAL $900 PLUS TAX. DEALERSHIP WILL NEED TO REPLACE STEERING COLUMN AS MOTOR HAS GONE BAD AND ALSO NEED TO REPLACE THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT THAT CONNECTS TO THE COLUMN SINCE IT IS BINDING UP. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER TO GET A SECOND OPINION AND WONDER IF WE CAN WAIT TO HAVE THE SHAFT REPLACED? SHOULD I ALSO CONTACT GM TO SEE IF THEY WILL REIMBURSE FOR PARTS? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10490685January 2, 2013
SEATS
WHILE TURNING TO THE LEFT THE DRIVERS SEAT SUDDENLY SHIFTED AND WAS LEANING TO THE RIGHT. THE WELD WHICH HOLDS THE BASE TOGETHER HAD BROKEN. THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE OF THIS HAPPENING. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY SO IT WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. AT THAT TIME WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS A $1000 REPAIR BECAUSE THE WHOLE UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS TO ME SEEMS A DANGEROUS SITUATION SINCE WHEN THE SEAT JERKS THERE SEEMS TO BE A PERIOD WHEN THERE IS A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I WENT ON THE COMPUTER WHEN I GOT HOME AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10490687January 2, 2013
STEERING
DRIVING DOWN STRAIGHT SECTION OF ROAD. POWER STEERING ALARM COMES ON AND STEERING WHEEL GOES STIFF. SLOWED AND STOPPED BEFORE NEXT TURN (WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO NEGOTIATE TURN). THIS HAS HAPPENED ON AN OFTEN ENOUGH BASIS (USUALLY BEFORE BEING ON THE ROAD) AND USING FIX DESCRIBED IN OTHER OFTEN REPORTED ISSUES WITH THIS TYPE OF STEERING, STOPPED CAR, TURNED OFF, ADJUSTED POSITION OF STEERING COLUMN AND RESTARTED. STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10489553December 23, 2012
STEERING
POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE IDLING AT DRIVE THRU WINDOW OF FAST FOOD(FIRST INCIDENT). 2 MORE AFTER THAT WHILE IDLING. THE MESSAGE CENTER SAID POWER STEERING AND CHIMED EVERY INCIDENT. IS THERE A RECALL FOR THIS? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10487628December 7, 2012
SEATS
RIGHT REAR OF POWER OPERATED DRIVER'S SEAT FAILED TO RAISE. REMOVED SEAT FOR INSPECTION AND FOUND TWO BROKEN WELDS ON SEAT FRAME - RIGHT SIDE FRONT AND REAR. DISASSEMBLED SEAT AND HAD FRAME WELDED LOCALLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10487583December 6, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND COMPLETING A TURN, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. IN ADDITION, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AS IT PERFORMED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE THEY COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 93,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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