Chevrolet Malibu Complaints (2004)

1,582 consumer complaints on file.

#10237676August 11, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE TURN SIGNAL LENS A PART OF THE FRONT HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY IS APPARENTLY MELTING FROM HEAT CAUSED BY THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHT BULB. THE LENS IS MOUNTED INSIDE OF THE CLEAR HEADLAMP LENS AND IS MADE OUT OF AMBER COLORED PLASTIC. THIS MELTING IS OCCURRING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE AND HAS CAUSED SEVERAL LIGHT BULB MALFUNCTIONS TO OCCUR. THIS PROBLEM NOT ONLY CAUSES THE FAILURE OF THE TURN SIGNAL BULB BUT ALSO CREATES THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE TO BREAK OUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236535July 31, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT TURN SIGNALS/DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE OVERHEATING AND CAUSING THE YELLOW PLASTIC LENS SURROUNDING THE BULB TO OVERHEAT AND MELT. THE MELTING PLASTIC IS DRIPPING DOWN ONTO THE HOT BULB WERE IS IT BURNING. ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT SEEN IT SMOKE OR FLAME THE DAMAGE AND CAUSE IS OBVIOUS. THIS IS A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD YET WHEN I CONTACTED GM THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. CITING THE AGE AND MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE. IT IS A 2004 WITH 55,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE CHECKED OUT MANY OTHER MALIBU'S AND THE PROBLEM IS OCCURRING ON THE MAJORITY OF THEM. WITH MOLTEN PLASTIC DRIPPING DOWN ONTO A HOT BULB OR ITS METAL BASE IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL A FIRE OCCURS. I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM ON BOTH SIDES. THIS IS A DESIGN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236575July 31, 2008
STEERING
POWER STEERING PROBLEM. CLUNKING WHEN TURNING BEFORE. NOW POWER ASSIST COMES AND GOES. VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236369July 30, 2008
STEERING
REFER TO NHTSA ACTION #: PE04031, MY CAR HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I BROUGHT IT TO THE CHEVY DEALER IN 2005 AND WAS TOLD "THAT'S HOW THE NEW ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING" WORKS. I ALWAYS FELT IT WASN'T RIGHT AND HAVE NARROWLY AVOIDED CRASHES A FEW TIMES WHEN THE STEERING FROZE UP. MY MECHANIC NOTED THE PROBLEM DURING THE CAR'S YEARLY INSPECTION AND REPLACED THE STEERING MODULE. THIS IS POTENTIALLY A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT CHEVROLET SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10235342July 22, 2008
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY RATE OF SPEED, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS HAVING A FAULTY INTERNAL STEERING SHAFT THAT HAD BEEN GREASED IMPROPERLY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,047. UPDATED 09/13/08. *LJ UPDATED 09/16/08 *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234689July 17, 2008
SEATS
SEAT BRACKET BROKE WHILE DRIVING CAUSING SEAT TO SUDDENLY DROP TO ONE SIDE. AS A RESULT, DRIVER NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. INSPECTION OF THE SEAT MOUNT REVEALED TWO FAILED WELDS. CONTACTED GM THE NEXT DAY, THEN BROUGHT VEHICLE TO NEAREST DEALER AT GM'S REQUEST. DEALER INITIALLY REPORTED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A CLEAR FACTORY DEFECT AND SUGGESTED THAT GM SHOULD REPAIR IT AT NO COST TO US. AFTER TWO WEEKS OF "CONSIDERING OUR REQUEST," GM DENIED THE CLAIM AND SUGGESTED THAT WE SHOULD HAVE PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED AT THIS TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234495July 16, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, EQUIPMENT
FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR, THE RIGHT FRONT TURN LIGHT CONTINUES TO GO OUT. WE HAVE REPLACED THE BULB MANY TIMES. SOMETIMES IT WILL LAST A FEW WEEKS AND SOMETIMES ONLY A FEW DAYS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234360July 15, 2008
STEERING:COLUMN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE LEFT WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SWERVE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN AND UNABLE TO BE MOVED TO THE LEFT. THE POWER STEERING DID NOT WORK WHEN TURNED TO THE RIGHT, AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY LOOSE WHEN IT WAS TURNED TO THE LEFT. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED TWICE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, SHE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND ONE POSSIBLE INVESTIGATION. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT A FOUR YEAR OLD VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE EXPERIENCING THESE TYPES OF FAILURES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 74,404. UPDATE 09/10/08 *CW THE CONSUMER STATED THE POWER STEERING FAILED 3 TIMES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN. UPDATED 09/16/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234066July 12, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU WITH 47,000 MILES. AFTER 2 WEEKS OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WENT OUT. AFTER REPLACING THE BULB, I NOTICED THAT A HOLE HAS BURNED THROUGH THE YELLOW, PLASTIC LENS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233791July 10, 2008
STEERING
I LOST POWER STEERING ON MY 2004 CHEVY MALIBU LAST WEEK. CAR HAS 34K MILES ON IT. FOR ABOUT 4-5 SECONDS THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO STEERING, THEN NO POWER STEERING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE ABSOLUTELY. GM REFUSES TO PAY FOR REPAIR OR HELP ME AT ALL. THEY ALSO REFUSE ACCORDING THE THEIR SPOKESMAN, TO DO A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233484July 8, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR APPROX. 12 MONTHS...RECENTLY TOOK A LONG TRIP-11 HOURS DRIVING STRAIGHT THROUGH-UPON RETURNING I NOTICED THE LEFT FRONT TURN SIGNAL NOT WORKING, I IMMEDIATELY PURCHASED REPLACEMENT BULB AND UPON REPLACING I NOTICED THE INTERNAL AMBER LENS CUP FOR THE SIGNAL HAD A HOLE MELTED/BURNED THROUGH IT. NOTICING THIS I IMMEDIATELY CHECKED THE RIGHT SIDE AND IT ALSO HAS A HOLE STARTING TO COME THROUGH. I TRAVELED AT NIGHT, OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS 62-68 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT FOR THE BETTER PART OF THE TRAVEL. THE BASE OF THE BULB THAT WAS REPLACED SHOWS SLIGHT MELT, THEIR IS NO APPARENT DAMAGE TO THE SOCKET. I HAVE SAVED THE OLD BULB. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233602July 8, 2008
STEERING
I WAS TRAVELING A STRAIGHT SECTION OF I-75 GOING NORTHBOUND THAT MY POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON. SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2007, I NOTICED A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE SECTION AND NEVER THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT, JUST THOUGHT AS BEING OK. SO I TOOK MY MALIBU TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT MY 2004 MALIBU MAXX STEERING COLUMN MUST BE REPLACED. SO I CALLED ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE PREVIOUS RECALLS CONCERNING THE POWER STEERING. I NOTIFIED GM OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY OFFERED TO PAY HALF OF THE COSTS WHICH WAS $430 OF AN $860 PROJECT. I THINK THEY SHOULD PAY ALL BECAUSE ITS STILL CONSIDERED A NEW USED CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233370July 7, 2008
STEERING
I OWN A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING ON THE NJ GARDEN STATE PARKWAY, I HEARD AN AUDIBLE ALARM AND AT THE SAME TIME NOTICED A "POWER STEERING" READ-OUT ON THE ON THE DIC DISPLAY. ALL THIS TIME I AM FEELING THE TIGHTNESS IN THE STEERING AND REALIZING THAT I HAVE LOST THE POWER STEERING ON THE VEHICLE. SINCE THEN I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS LOSS IS INTERMITTENT - IT COMES AND GOES WITH NO PREDICTION OF WHEN OR WHERE. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT PRIOR TO THE ACTUALLY LOSS OF PS, IT SEEMS THAT THE SYSTEM IS LOSING CONTROL, I.E. TRYING TO SYNCHRONIZE/STABILIZE BEFORE IT FAILS. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO GM, WHO IN TERM HAVE SUGGESTED THAT I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER FOR EVALUATION. WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS, IT CAN BE VERY SCARY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233422July 7, 2008
STEERING:COLUMN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST LOCKED, WHICH PREVENTED THE STEERING WHEEL FROM BEING TURNED. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED TWICE SINCE THE INITIAL FAILURE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE SENSOR WAS FAULTY, AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,020.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233186July 4, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, I LOST POWER STEERING IN MY VEHICLE ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAS BEEN AN OCCURRING PROBLEM FOR THE LAST YEAR OR SO BUT NEVER ON THE HIGHWAY. WE HAD TAKEN THE CAR TO A SERVICE STATION AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY THING WRONG. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231854June 20, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN FROM 60 MPH, THE BRAKES WOULD APPLY AUTOMATICALLY. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED A RECALL FOR THE ABS. IN MAY OF 2008, SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPROGRAMMED THE ABS ACTIVATION MODULE IN REGARDS TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V190000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE).; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WORSENED A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER. THE CONTACT FELT AS IF SHE WERE DRIVING ON FOUR FLAT TIRES. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY ASSISTANCE OR SATISFACTION. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,318 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231562June 19, 2008
STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE CAR BEING DRIVEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231167June 16, 2008
SEATS
WAS DRIVING WHEN DRIVERS SEAT LURCHED TO THE LEFT. WHEN I GOT HOME AND INSPECTED THE SEAT I OBSERVED THAT A WELD HAD BROKEN IN THE LOWER SEAT FRAME COMPONENT ASSOCIATED WITH VERTICAL HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT FOR POWER SEAT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231165June 16, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
FRONT BLINKER LIGHTS HAVE MELTED NICKEL SIZED HOLES IN THE TOPS OF THE AMBER PLASTIC GLOBES THE LIGHT BULBS GO INTO. MELTED PLASTIC DRIPPED ON THE LIGHT BULBS CAUSING BULBS TO FAIL. STRONG MELTED/BURNT PLASTIC ODOR IN THE CAR. SMOKE FROM THE MELTED PLASTIC HAS DISCOLORED HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. HAVE TO REPLACE FRONT AND BACK BLINKER LIGHTS AT LEAST MONTHLY. FRONT CASINGS ARE THE ONLY ONE THAT CAUGHT FIRE, BURNED THROUGH THE ORANGE GLOBISH COVER THROUGH TO THE OUTSIDE COVER. THE LIGHTS BURNING OUT STARTED WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR BUT THE FIRE DID NOT START UNTIL 2006. I SEE MORE MALIBU'S ON THE ROAD WITH ONLY ONE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHT WORKING AT A TIME. IT HAS TO BE A KNOW PROBLEM BUT THE DEALERSHIP DENIES IT EVERY TIME I'VE CALLED OVER THE YEARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230978June 13, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
FRONT BLINKER LIGHTS HAVE MELTED NICKEL SIZED HOLES IN THE TOPS OF THE AMBER PLASTIC GLOBES THE LIGHT BULBS GO INTO. MELTED PLASTIC DRIPPED ON THE LIGHT BULBS CAUSING BULBS TO FAIL. STRONG MELTED/BURNT PLASTIC ODOR IN THE CAR. SMOKE FROM THE MELTED PLASTIC HAS DISCOLORED HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Chevrolet Malibu