Chevrolet Malibu Complaints (2004)

1,582 consumer complaints on file.

#10439013December 8, 2011
STEERING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10438147December 2, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE POWER OF STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LAMP WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10438148December 2, 2011
STEERING
BEGINNING MY DAY, I STARTED MY VEHICLE, PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE, BACKED UP, AND PUT MY CAR IN DRIVE. I WENT APPROX. 10 FEET WHEN MY VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND MY CAR ALMOST WENT OFF OUR STEEP DRIVEWAY. THERE WAS AN ORANGE WRENCH THAT ILLUMINATED IN THE DASH AND POWER STEERING ALERT CAME ON MY INFORMATION DISPLAY ON THE RADIO. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED. ALL WARNING LIGHTS WENT OUT AND THE STEERING CAME BACK. THANKFULLY, I WAS HOME, AND NOT HURT, BUT I AM HAVING FEARS OF A MUCH WORSE SITUATION IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10437334November 26, 2011
STEERING
AS I WAS COMING UP A HILL TO A STOP LIGHT . STEERING WAS LOST . SINCE I DO NOT DRIVE THIS CAR OFTEN , I DID NOT KNOW THIS HAPPENED BEFORE . MY WIFE SAID SHE STOPS THE CAR AND RESTARTS THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY .. NOT A GOOD SITUATION AS ONE DRIVES . WONDERING IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10437293November 25, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
PURCHASED VEHICLE FOR DAUGHTER ON 8/17/2011 FROM ASSET RECOVERY DEALERSHIP COLORADO. WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING ON A MAJOR ROAD (APPROX. 40 MPH), A WARNING LIGHT ON DASH WENT ON AND THE POWER STEERING WENT AWAY (ALMOST TO THE POINT OF FEELING LIKE IT WAS TOTALLY LOCKED). SHE WAS IN RH LANE, PUT ON FLASHERS, TURNED OFF CAR AND RESTARTED CAR. WARNING LIGHT WENT OFF AND POWER STEERING WAS BACK. THIS HAPPENED TWO OTHER TIMES WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. IT HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY. TOOK THE VEHICLE IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO RAN DIAGNOSTICS AND FOUND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST RELAY TO BE FAULTY AND REPLACED ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AT $580 (THE RELAY CANNOT BE REPLACED WITHOUT REPLACING ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN). SINCE THEN I HAVE FOUND A NUMBER OF WEBSITES (WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM) WERE 100+ OTHER 2004 MALIBU OWNERS HAVE HAD THE EXACT PROBLEM. THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A RECALL ON THE 2004 MALIBU FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM BUT SOME HAVE WRITTEN THERE WAS A RECALL OR BULLETIN FOR 2005+ MALIBU FOR THIS PROBLEM. THIS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY (AND SCARY) ISSUE TO LOOSE YOUR POWER STEERING ASSIST OUT OF NO WHERE AND A VERY COSTLY REPAIR. I ALSO READ IN SOME OF THE POSTED COMPLAINTS THAT THEIR REPAIR DID NOT LAST AND THE PROBLEM RECURRED. I PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM A"RECOVERY" TYPE CAR DEALERSHIP. I WOULD LIKE TO GET REIMBURSEMENT FROM GM. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH PEOPLE AT VARIOUS MILEAGE RANGES SOME AS LOW AS 7,000 WHICH WOULD SEEM TO ME TO INDICATE A DEFECT. ALTHOUGH THE STEERING COLUMN HAS BEEN REPLACED, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM RECURRING. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10436554November 21, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE WRENCH WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ACCOMPANIED BY A WARNING CHIME. THE STEERING RESUMED NORMAL FUNCTION AFTER SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHILE PARKED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10436278November 17, 2011
STEERING
DRIVING HOME FROM WORK MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT COMPLETELY, SERVICE VEHICLE SOON LIGHT CHIMED AND CAME ON, POWER STEERING FAILURE ILLUMINATED ON THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER. AFTER PULLING OVER INTO A PARKING LOT WITH NO POWER STEERING I TURNED OFF CAR WAITED A FEW MINUTES RESTARTED CAR AND POWER STEERING WAS FINE ALL WARNING LIGHTS HAD GONE OFF. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE WITH CHEVROLET MALIBU'S. I JUST PURCHASED THIS USED CAR AND AM VERY CONCERNED WITH THIS SAFETY ISSUE, AS THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. NOT ONLY AM I JEOPARDIZING MY SAFETY AND WELL BEING, BUT JEOPARDIZING THOSE CLOSE TO ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435657November 15, 2011
POWER TRAIN
I READ YOU ARE LOOKING INTO 2004 MALIBU SHIFT CABLES. OUR CABLE BROKE A FEW MONTH BACK RESULTING IN AN INABILITY TO START THE CAR OR SHIFT GEARS. WE REPLACED THE CABLE. I HAVE THE OLD CABLE IF YOU WOULD LIKE IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435463November 14, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO TURN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON THREE PREVIOUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THERE WAS CONDENSATION IN THE WIRING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,502 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435465November 14, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND SUDDENLY THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE WRENCH SYMBOL. THE CONTACT PULLED ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. UPON RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE WARNING SYMBOL REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING CONTINUED TO MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT RESUMED WITH CAUTION. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435536November 14, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST RANDOMLY DISENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 124,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435089November 9, 2011
STEERING
WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL, THE CAR MADE A CLICKING NOISE. A YELLOW LIGHT/WRENCH APPEARED AND THE DISPLAY SHOWED POWER STEERING. ALL POWER STEERING WAS GONE. AFTER ARRIVING HOME I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. AWHILE LATER I STARTED THE CAR AND THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING AND ALL INDICATORS WERE GONE. I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN WHILE I'M MOVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10434827November 8, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CAR ENGINE WILL SHUT DOWN AT RANDOM TIMES SHOWING ANTI-THEFT LIGHT. EVEN WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10434938November 8, 2011
STEERING
POWER STEERING KEEPS FAILING WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE. THE CAR HAS 105,552 MILES. MY MECHANIC HAS TALKED TO CHEVY MECHANICS AND THEY SAY YOU CAN FIX THE SENSOR MOTOR AND STEERING COLUMN BUT CANT GUARANTEE THAT WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. HOW IS IT GM CAN GET AWAY WITHOUT DOING A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM IF ITS UNSAFE? THE CHEVY DEALER TOLD MY MECHANIC THE BEST THING I CAN DO IS TRADE IT IN. I AM ALMOST DONE PAYING FOR THE CAR AND DON'T WANT TO PURCHASE A NEW CAR. I WANT THIS ONE FIXED AND NOT BE SCARED THAT I'M GONNA GET KILLED IN IT OR KILL SOMEONE ELSE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10434268November 4, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED PREVIOUSLY BUT THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER OR THE DEALER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD RESULT IN A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10433454October 28, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD CONSTANTLY DISPLAY AN ERRONEOUS FULL READING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10432730October 25, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MERGE ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN HE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND AS A RESULT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,150 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,200. UPDATED 11/10/11 *BF UPDATED 11/16/11 UPDATED 11/18/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10432776October 25, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SEIZE WHEN DRIVING 5 MPH AND ABOVE. THE CONTACT WOULD SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF WHENEVER THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE AS NORMAL UPON RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10432579October 24, 2011
STEERING
THIS CAR IS OPERATED BY THE ORIGINAL RETIRED FEMALE OWNER WHO DRIVES IT 3 TIMES PER WEEK TO PERFORM LOCAL ERRANDS. AT 13,265 MILES THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WAS REPLACED TO ELIMINATE, UNSUCCESSFULLY, A RATTLING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION. AT 15,520 MILES, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON AND SERVICE POWER STEERING WARNINGS APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND DIC RESPECTIVELY. RESEARCHING THE INTERNET SHOWED CLEARLY THAT FAILURE OF THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING BOOST WAS IMMINENT IN THOUSANDS OF CASES. THE NEXT DAY, THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER REPLACED GM PART #25933396, THE STEERING COLUMN, AND CHARGED FOR SHOP SUPPLIES AND 4 HOURS OF LABOR. THE TOTAL, $777.22, WAS SOLELY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OWNER, WITH THE DEALER STATING, "WE'VE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. THE CAR IS SEVEN YEARS OLD, YOU KNOW." THE CAR IS OPERATING PROPERLY FOR NOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10432319October 21, 2011
SEATS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE DRIVERS SEAT SNAPPED OUT OF PLACE AND LEANED TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND STATED THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE DRIVERS SEAT BRACKETS. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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