Chevrolet Malibu Complaints (2004)

1,582 consumer complaints on file.

#10712955April 26, 2015
STEERING
WHEN COMING TO A STOP, I WENT TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN WHEN A SIGNAL AND A DASH LIGHT WENT OFF AND THE POWER STEERING JUST WENT OUT, NO PREVIOUS WARNING. I HAD THE CAR TOWED AND WHEN IT WAS HOOKED UP TO HAVE THE DIAGNOSIS DONE, THE POWER STEERING JUST RESET ITSELF. HOWEVER IT WAS NOTED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE POWER STEERING AND I SHOULD TAKE IT TO A DEALER. I WAS CHARGED $44.99 FOR THAT INFORMATION. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER NEAR ME ABOUT A WEEK LATER WHICH WAS THE VERY FIRST APPOINTMENT I COULD MAKE. THERE WERE ACTUALLY 3 EXISTING RECALLS (TWO UNRELATED) ON MY CAR AND ALL THREE WERE ADDRESSED ON MARCH 24. I LEFT BELIEVING THAT MY CAR WAS NOW FIXED AND SAFE TO DRIVE. ON APRIL 16TH I DROVE OVER 30 MILES ONE WAY FROM MY HOME WITH THE FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY BECAUSE ON APRIL 18, THE POWER STEERING JUST WENT OUT, AGAIN WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN. I TOOK THE CAR BACK ON APRIL 20 AND AFTER CHARGING ME $59.50, (THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE ME $118!!!) I WAS TOLD THE ISSUE WAS "UNRELATED TO THE RECALL" AND WAS NOT COVERED. I DID NOT HAVE IT FIXED DUE TO THE HIGH COST (QUOTE OF $889.ESTIMATED) AND I FEEL STRONGLY THAT IT IS ALL RELATED! MY PERSONAL MECHANIC RECOMMENDED I REPORT THE ISSUE TO GM AND FEELS THAT GM SHOULD FIX THE POWER STEERING ISSUES. THE RECALL ISSUE CAUSED A "TRICKLE DOWN EFFECT" WITH THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN. HE IS WILLING TO FIX THE CAR BUT NOTED THAT IF HE DOES I WOULD HAVE NO RECOURSE WITH GM AND THAT I SHOULD TRY GETTING IT COVERED BEFORE HE DOES ANYTHING TO THE CAR. NOW, NOT ONLY IS IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE, IT IS UNSAFE. NOT DRIVING THE CAR AS IT CAN CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT WHERE EITHER MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE COULD BE INJURED OR KILLED AND CAUSE EXTENSIVE PROPERTY DAMAGE. I DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO FIX IT, A CAR TO GET TO WORK AND I AM MAKING PAYMENTS AND PAYING INSURANCE ON A CAR THAT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10712296April 22, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY DRIVERS SIDE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY THE LIGHTBULB KEPT ON BURNING OUT AND FINALLY DEALERSHIP GOT ME A REPLACEMENT BULB BUT THAN THE BULB GOT REALLY HOT AND BURNED THE ORANGE COVER AND IT MELTED ON THE BULB AND EVEN GOT INTO WHERE THE LIGHTBULB GOES IN. SO I ENDED UP BUYING A WHOLE NEW HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY FROM DEALERSHIP AND REPLACED IT. SO I THOUGHT IT FIXED THE PROBLEM NOPE HERE WE ARE IN APRIL 2015 AND SURE ENOUGH THE BULB IS GETTING TO HOT AND IS CAUSING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I'VE SEEN SEVERAL OTHER MALIBU MAX AND THEY ALSO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE SO WHEN IS CHEVROLET GOING TO RECALL THE MALIBU MAX FOR THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10712320April 22, 2015
SEATS, SEAT BELTS
I SAT DOWN IN THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE DRIVERS SEAT WAS LEANING. I LOOKED ON LINE TO SEE IF I COULD FIX IT MYSELF. I FOUND A LOT OF COMPLAINTS THAT THE WELDS BREAK AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. I CONTACTED CHEVROLET AND THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE CHECKED BY A CHEVY DEALER. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE SEAT WELDS DID BREAK. I AM NOT AN OVERLY HEAVY PERSON, SO I THOUGHT THAT EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS OLDER, THAT THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM, AND NOT AN AGE OR NEGLECT PROBLEM BY THE OWNER. CHEVROLET TOLD ME THAT SINCE THE CAR WAS TOO OLD, I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING IT FIXED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AS IF I GET IN AN ACCIDENT WITH THE VEHICLE, THE FACT THAT THE SEAT BELT IS ATTACHED TO THE SEAT, AND THE SEAT IS NOT SECURED, I CAN BE HURT BADLY. IF I WERE THE ONLY PERSON WITH THE PROBLEM, I COULD SEE WHY I SHOULD FIX IT. SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES, IT APPEARS THAT IT IS A DESIGN FLAW, AND POOR QUALITY WORKMANSHIP FROM CHEVROLET. I HAVE ATTACHED THE WEB SITE THAT I SAW THE COMPLAINTS ON. IT IS: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/CHEVROLET/MALIBU/2004/ACCESSORIES-INTERIOR/SEATS.SHTML. SOME OF THOSE COMPLAINTS STATE THAT THEY FILED COMPLAINTS WITH YOU. PLEASE CHECK ON THIS AS THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND COULD CAUSE LIVES LOST. I WOULD APPRECIATE A REPLY TO TELL ME HOW I GO ABOUT GETTING THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED. THANK YOU *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10705031April 10, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10703614April 3, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CAR CURRENTLY HAS 3 RECALLS. CALLED LOCAL CHEVY (650-994-2400) AND WAS TOLD 2-3 DAYS TO FIX. WILL NOT PROVIDE LOANER AND I DO NOT HAVE ANY OPTIONS FOR WORK TRANSPORTATION WITHOUT IT FOR 3 DAYS. SO I'M FORCED TO CONTINUE DRIVING IT WITHOUT GETTING THE PARTS FIXED ANYTIME SOON. ALL 3 RECALLS ITEMS CAN BE DONE IN 1 DAY BASED ON APPROXIMATIONS BUT CHEVY CAN'T GUARANTEE IT WILL BE DONE IN 2 DAYS AND THEY REFUSED TO SETUP AN APPOINTMENT TIME TO BRING IN TO SCHEDULE TASKS ACCORDINGLY. GROSS NEGLIGENCE BY GM TO GIVE NO PRIORITY FOR CARS THEY SOLD BUT CUSTOMERS THEY CAN'T PROFIT OFF OF. FILING THIS COMPLAINT INCASE I GET INJURED OR KILLED DUE TO RECALL PARTS AS I WILL WANT THEM TO BE HELD LIABLE. THANKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10703323April 2, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
ONE NIGHT WHEN IT WAS SNOWING, I WAS LEAVING WORK AND THREE LIGHTS CAME ON WHEN I WENT TO STOP MY VEHICLE. THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL AND SERVICE ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON AND I HAD TROUBLE STOPPING MY VEHICLE. AFTER THIS LITTLE INCIDENT I NOTICED THE BRAKES WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. TOOK THE CAR TO AUTO ZONE AND PUT IT ON THE CODE READER. A CODE POOPED UP, BUT COULD NOT BE TOLD WHAT IT WAS. THEY SAID YOU WOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT THE DEALER FOR THEM TO TELL YOU WHAT THE CODE IS. I HAD TO GO TO WORK, SO DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO TAKE IT THERE. WELL I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE LIGHTS POOPED BACK ON AND WHEN I WENT TO HIT MY BRAKES THERE WAS NONE. I HIT A TRUCK THAT STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10703325April 2, 2015
SEATS
THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT FELL DOWN OFF THE TRACK ON THE RIGHT SIDE. LIKE WHERE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN WELDED BETTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10703355April 2, 2015
SEATS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT MOVED INTERMITTENTLY AND LEANED TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME SECTION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 5/29/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED AN INSPECTION REVEALED TWO WELDS WITHIN THE DRIVER'S SEAT FRAME BROKE AWAY CAUSING THE SEAT TO WOBBLE. UPDATED 06/04/15*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10703184April 1, 2015
STEERING
VEHICLE WAS RECALLED IN GM POWER STEERING RECALL . CAR STILL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AFTER BEING FIXED BY DEALER . CONTACTED CHEVY AND THEY ARE UNCOOPERATIVE AT BEST . *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10701584March 30, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SWITCH REPLACEMENT RECALL REPAIRS AND SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT. *SMD UPDATED 10/23/2017*JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10700969March 22, 2015
STEERING
I'VE HAD LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING GOING OUT ON MY 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. I CALLED GM MANY TIMES ASKING IF THERE WERE ANY TYPE OF RECALLS. THERE WERE NONE. HAD POWER STEERING FIXED AT MY COST. SEVERAL YEARS LATER I RECEIVED RECALLS ABOUT THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. TWO MONTHS AGO I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A GM DEALERSHIP TO BE CHECKED. THE POWER STEERING PARTS WERE REPLACED. TODAY I WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE POWER STEERING GOING OUT IN MY CAR AGAIN. THIS TIME IT WAS WORSE THAN EVER BEFORE. TODAY THE POWER STEERING NOT ONLY LOCKED UP, BUT THEN THE STEERING WHEEL POPPED BACK IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION WITH FORCE AND A LOUD NOISE. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED HOME BECAUSE IT WAS ON A SUNDAY AND NOW GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE IT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ON MONDAY. FOR 4 YEARS I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH MY POWER STEERING. VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE GRANDCHILDREN IN THE CAR!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10700813March 21, 2015
SEATS
I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH ON FLAT STRAIT ROAD WHEN THE DRIVERS SEAT SUDDENLY DROPPED DOWN, BACK AND TOWARD THE RIGHT. UPON INSPECTION I SEE THAT THE WELD ON THE BRACE/FRAME OF THE SEAT HAS BROKEN. THE SEAT IS NOW UNSTABLE AND SLOPING TO THE RIGHT. I FEAR THE OTHER SIDE MAY SNAP AS WELL. I SEE SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEBODY IS SERIOUSLY HURT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10695390March 19, 2015
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL INDEPENDENTLY TURNED LEFT AND RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING BOX ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AND STEERING BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10695219March 18, 2015
SEATS
NOTICED SEAT MOVED AND TENDED TO LEAN DRIVER TOWARD CENTER CONSOLE. UPON INSPECTION THE SEAT FRAME BROKE AT THE RIGHT REAR. WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATES THE SEAT ROCKS BACKWARD FOR SEVERAL INCHES. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM THE DEALER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10694193March 13, 2015
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10693485March 12, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE DASHBOARD LIGHT ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SOME OF THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD DID NOT WORK. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10692737March 7, 2015
SEATS
NOTICED THE DRIVER'S SEAT NO LONGER ALIGNED PROPERLY: RIGHT SIDE IS DOWN AND BACK. INSPECTION SHOWS A SEAT FRAME WELD BROKEN AT THE FORWARD CROSS BAR WHERE IT IS WELDED TO THE SIDE FRAME. THE METAL CROSSBAR TUBE BROKE AWAY LEAVING THE WELD INTACT ON THE FRAME, INDICATING INSUFFICIENT STRENGTH IN THE DESIGN AND MATERIALS, BASED ON MY PROFESSIONAL MECHANICAL ENGINEERING BACKGROUND. INTERNET RESEARCH INDICATES BROKEN WELDS ON THESE DRIVER SEATS TO BE A GROWING PROBLEM, OFTEN LEAVING THE SEAT UNSTABLE, AND NEGATIVELY AFFECTING THE DRIVER'S CONTROL ON THE VEHICLE. THIS SHOULD BE A PRIME SAFETY RECALL ISSUE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10691499March 2, 2015
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND POWER STEERING WAS LOST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V153000 (STEERING) HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10690910February 26, 2015
POWER TRAIN, STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V153000 (STEERING) AND 14V224000 (POWERTRAIN) AND STATED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED WERE UNAVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO INFORM WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10690624February 25, 2015
SEATS
WHEN SEAT WAS MOVED, IT BECAME VERY LOOSE AND ROCKS BACK AND FORTH AS WELL AS SIDE TO SIDE. DEALER TECH SAID THERE WAS AN INFERIOR WELD WHICH CONNECTS THE SEAT TO THE BASE AND IT IS BROKEN. TOLD ME IF WE WELD IT BACK TOGETHER IT CANCELS THE WARRANTY ON IT AS WE'RE PUTTING A NEW WELD ON TOP OF AN INFERIOR ONE AND IT MAY NOT HOLD. HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO FIX IT. COST IS TOO MUCH AND NOT GUARANTEED. I HAVE THE SEAT PROPPED UP WITH WOODEN BLOCKS AND IT IS ALWAYS MOVING SO NEEDS CONTINUAL ADJUSTING WHICH IS DIFFICULT TO GET JUST RIGHT. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS THIS SEAT WILL MOVE IN A SUDDEN STOP OR SHARP TURN. ONLY SEAT BELT WILL HOLD ME AND SEAT IN PLACE. COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO ME. I LISTED THE PART ABOVE BUT IT WOULDN'T STAY THERE. I BELIEVE IT IS THE DRIVER SEAT ASSEMBLY. THIS CHANGE IS URGENT - DON'T KNOW WHY GM WON'T FIX IT SINCE IT WAS A MISTAKE IN THE ASSEMBLY PROCESS AND IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WITH THE SEAT CONSTANTLY MOVING. IT'S LIKE SITTING ON A BALL. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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