Chevrolet Malibu Complaints (2004)

1,582 consumer complaints on file.

#10422621August 30, 2011
STEERING
KNOCKING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN, NOISE AND DIFFICULTY TURNING. NOTICABLE PLAY IN THE STEERING OF THE VEHICLE. OCCURS SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK, I REFUSE TO DRIVE MY CAR ON THE FREEWAY OR AT HIGH SPEEDS IN FEAR OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERING GOING OUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10422422August 29, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, STEERING
MY CAR HAS ALWAYS HAD LITTLE QUIRKS THAT DIDN'T SEEM RIGHT ABOUT IT SINCE I PURCHASED IT FROM MY CHEVY DEALER. IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AT THE TIME SO MY LEVEL OF CONCERN WASN'T AS HIGH AS IT IS NOW. THINGS LIKE A SPORADIC START TO THE ENGINE WHILE TRYING TO CRANK THE CAR AND THE CAR SHIMMING OR QUIVERING WHEN DRIVEN FASTER THEN 70 MPH (HIGHWAY). I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ASSESSMENT WHICH ALL CAME BACK INCONCLUSIVE. THIS LAST EXPERIENCE MERITS THIS COMPLAINT. I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT TAKING MY HANDS OFF THE WHEEL TO ADJUST MY SEAT BELT. I GLANCED OVER TO MY STEERING WHEEL AND IT BEGIN TO DANCE/ROCK RIGHT TO LEFT AND LEFT TO RIGHT. MY HANDS WERE CLEAR OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND MY FOOT FIRM ON THE BRAKES. WHEN I PROCEEDED TO DRIVE ONCE THE LIGHT WAS GREEN, I PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS THAT IS WHEN MY WARNING SIGNAL CHIMED, AND THE POWER STEERING MESSAGE FLASHED ON THE MESSAGE CENTER SCREEN. SIMULTANEOUSLY THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND IT BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. I BEGIN TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE INTO A NEARBY PARKING LOT. I REALIZED THAT TURNING THE VEHICLE TOOK A GREAT AMOUNT OF EFFORT. AFTER GETTING IN TO THE PARKING LOT AND TURNING THE ENGINE OFF I WAITED FOR ABOUT THIRTY MINUTES THEN I PROCEEDED TO RESTART MY ENGINE TO SEE IF THE SAME TROUBLE WOULD OCCUR. I DROVE AROUND IN THE PARKING LOT FOR ABOUT FIFTEEN MINUTES TO SEE THE I WOULD ENCOUNTER THE SAME ISSUE. THE CAR SEEMED FINE CONSIDERING, I DROVE IT HOME. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS SINCE BUT IT WAS A HORRIFYING ORDEAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10421610August 26, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND POWERED BACK ON, IT WOULD OPERATE AS NORMAL. THE DEALER DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 120,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10420984August 22, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION, THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,000. THE VIN UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10420839August 21, 2011
STEERING
I HAVE A 2004 MALIBU AND THE POWER STEERING WILL STOP WORKING AND BE EXTREMELY HARD TO HANDLE.I WENT ONLINE TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAD A PROBLEM ALSO, TO FIND MULTIPLE OWNERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE COMPLAINING OF THE SAME STEERING ISSUES.WE HAVE BEEN PLEASED WITH OUR MALIBU AND HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR THE PAST 6 MONTHS, I CERTAINLY WOULD HOPE GM WOULD RECALL THIS PROBLEM,I AM A GM BUYER, NOW OWNING A 2010 SILVERADO,AND HAVE PREFERRED GM PRODUCTS SINCE MY FIRST VEHICLE , A 67 IMPALA IN 73. I WOULD APPRECIATE A RESPONSE BACK TO ME SO I CAN DETERMINE WHAT TO DO NEXT. THANKS FOR LISTENING AND ANYTHING YOU CAN DO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10420830August 20, 2011
STEERING
POWER STEERING QUIT WHILE DRIVING. WENT ON LINE AND SAW LOTS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME VEHICLE-2004 CHEVY MALIBU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10420041August 18, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THERE WAS AN UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER STEERING, FOLLOWED BY AN ILLUMINATION OF BOTH THE POWER STEERING AND ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS. THE CONTACT DROVE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE RESUMED WITH THE STEERING MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10419784August 17, 2011
SEATS
THE FRONT DRIVERS SEAT RAIL IS BROKEN. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN SINCE THE SEAT BELT IS CONNECTED TO THE FRAME. I HAVE SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR MANY OWNERS OF THE 2004 MALIBU MAXX. THE BROKEN FRAME CAUSE THE SEAT TO FALL AND SHAKE WHILE DRIVING. I HAD A MECHANIC TRY TO FIX IT AND HE SAID IT IS NOT POSSIBLE AND CHEVY HAS DISCONTINUED THE CAR. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE THUS FAR TO FIND A NEW SEAT BUT SUSPECT EVEN IF I BUY A NEW ONE THE SAME FAULTY ISSUE WITH THE WELD WILL OCCUR. HTTP://WWW.AUTOMOTIVEFORUMS.COM/T919217-DISCUSS2004_CHEVY_MALIBU_MAXX_BROKEN_POWER_SEAT.HTML *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10419708August 16, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, A YELLOW LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SEIZE. AFTER SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF FOR A FEW MOMENTS, THE STEERING WOULD RESUME AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10418522August 11, 2011
STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILED TODAY COMPLETELY AND I RAN OFF THE ROAD WHEN ENTERING THE HIGHWAY. I ALMOST CRASHED INTO A SEMI-TRUCK AND COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN IN A LARGE CRASH IF THE TRUCK WAS ONLY A FEW FEET CLOSER. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. I AM NOT SURPRISED HOW SLOW THE GOVERNMENT WORKS. I ASSUME THAT NOTHING WILL COME FROM MY COMPLAINT. MY POWER STEERING HAS BEEN FAULTY FOR A COUPLE YEARS NOW, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT HAS FAILED COMPLETELY. I FEEL BAD IF I SELL THIS CAR BECAUSE IT MIGHT KILL THE PERSON I SELL IT TO, BECAUSE THERE IS NO TELLING WHEN THE STEERING WILL FAIL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10418842August 8, 2011
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS SIMPLY JUST TRYING TO START MY CAR THIS MORNING, AND AS I DID EVERYTHING WORKED AS NORMAL, EXCEPT WHEN I TURNED THE ENGINE OVER. FIRST ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON THEN THE TRUNK POPPED ITSELF AND THE CD PLAYER EJECTED THE CD THAT WAS IN IT. SHORTLY AFTER THAT BECAUSE THE CAR WOULDNT START I TRIED AGAIN AND AGAIN WITH NO LUCK. IT WASNT UNTIL I STARTED PUMPING THE GAS PEDAL AND KEEPING THE KEY HELD ALL THE WAY OVER TO GET IT TO START. I FIRST THOUGHT IT WAS THE STARTER BUT SOON REALIZED THIS WOULDNT MAKE MY TRUNK OPEN AND/OR CD PLAYER EJECT ITS WITH THAT SAID IT HAS LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A BIGGER PROBLEM DEALING WITH THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM IN THE CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10417967August 8, 2011
SEATS
THE DRIVERS SEAT FRAME WELDS BROKE, LEAVING THE SEAT UNSTABLE AND LEANING TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE HAD 50,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS DRIVEN PRIMARILY BY ONE PERSON AND MAINTAINED WELL. THE PRIMARY DRIVER WAS @ 200 LBS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10417993August 8, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING LAMP ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10416924August 3, 2011
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WHILE MAKING A TURN, THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN INTO THE MEDIAN CAUTIOUSLY AND TURNED OFF. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THERE WAS NO RECALL RELATED TO THE DEFECT. THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN NHTSA ITEM NUMBER 10018531 (STEERING: ELECTRIC POWER; ASSIST SYSTEM). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000. UPDATED 09/21/11*LJ UPDATED 10/03/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10417335August 1, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
IN THE MIDDLE OF MAKING TURNS, RIGHT AND LEFT, THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING WILL DEACTIVATE CAUSING CAR TO JERK, THEN STEERING WILL BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. CAR CAN BE TURNED OFF AND THEN RESTARTED AND THE ISSUE WILL STOP FOR A SHORT TIME. THERE HAS BEEN RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE ON OTHER GM MODELS BUT NOT MY MODEL. THIS ISSUE FIRST OCCURRED WHILE MY 16 YR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AND ALMOST RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERN FOR MY DAUGHTER SAFETY WILL DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. I TOOK THE CAR OUT SHORTLY AFTER THIS HAPPEN TO HER AND WITHIN 3 TURNS THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED, LIGHT ON DASH LIGHT, DISPLAY SHOWED POWER STEERING AND STEERING REVERTED TO WHAT CAN BEST BE DESCRIBED AS PREPOWER STEERING X 2. I AM A MUSCULAR 300 POUND MALE AND I HAD A DIFFICULT TIME GETTING THE CAR TO TURN SAFELY INTO THE LANE AND LATER OFF THE ROAD. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT WAS NO COVERED BY GM AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED. PLEASE REOPEN YOUR INVESTIGATION INTO THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10417328August 1, 2011
STEERING
FIRST STARTED AS AN OCCASIONAL STEERING PROBLEM AT LOW SPEEDS. THEN PROGRESSED TO MORE FREQUENT STEERING PROBLEM AT LOW SPEED. NEXT A BAD VIBRATION STARTED IN THE FRONT WHEN BREAKING. NOW A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. DIAGNOSIS BY MECHANIC IS DEFECTIVE RACK AND PINION, STEERING BOX, AND POSSIBLY POWER STEERING FAILURE. RESEARCH INDICATES THERE HAVE BEEN MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS, AND THAT THE 2005 MALIBU WAS RECALLED FOR EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM LAST SUMMER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10415614July 29, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD DEACTIVE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,850 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10415398July 27, 2011
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AROUND 11 PM I WENT TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND THE CAR STARTED BEEPING ABOUT THE POWER STEERING. THE NEXT DAY I GO TO HAVE THE CAR INSPECTED AND IT DRIVES NORMAL NO POWER STEERING LIGHTS ON. I HAVE CALLED TO FIND OUT IF THERE ARE ANY RECALLS AND THERE ARE NOT THIS HAPPENS TOO OFTEN TO JUST BE IGNORED MY FATHER WAS THE PREVIOUS OWNER AND IT WAS HAPPENING TO HIM AS WELL. I HAVE REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION, CONTROL ARMS AND TIE RODS AND STILL NOTHING IS WORKING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10414806July 23, 2011
STEERING
STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ALMOST CAUSED HEAD ON CRASH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10414714July 22, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY RESISTANT. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Chevrolet Malibu