Chevrolet Malibu Complaints (2004)
1,582 consumer complaints on file.
- #10669454January 1, 2015EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE BACKLIGHTING ON THE MAIN DASH (BEHIND THE ODOMETER, SPEEDOMETER, GAS GAUGE AND OTHER INDICATORS) FAILS TO ILLUMINATE. IT STARTED OUT AS ONLY A SMALL PART OF THE BACKLIGHTING, BUT HAS PROGRESSIVELY BECOME WORSE. WE JUST HAD THE CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE 3 UNRELATED RECALLS AND ASKED THEM TO "GIVE US AN ESTIMATE TO REPAIR". WHEN THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO US, THE LIGHTING FAILED TO ILLUMINATE NEARLY THE ENTIRE DASH (WORSE THEN BEFORE IT WAS IN FOR SERVICE). WE WERE TOLD THE MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE RETURNED TO THE MANUFACTURER (GM) TO BE REPAIRED/REPLACED AND THEN BE REINSTALLED AND WOULD COST OVER $350. NO IDEA HOW LONG THE CAR WOULD BE OUT OF SERVICE EITHER. THIS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE FOR NIGHT DRIVING! *JS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10668973December 30, 2014POWER TRAIN, STEERING, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AND THERE WAS A SUDDEN INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED BEFORE SHIFTING INTO GEAR AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V153000 (STEERING) AND 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10668648December 29, 2014STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE EPS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V153000 (STEERING), BUT THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10668708December 29, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10668438December 27, 2014ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), POWER TRAIN
I AM WRITING THIS FOR MY DAUGHTER WHO IS AT THE END OF HER ROPE. THE SHIFT CABLE BROKE BACK IN JULY, WHEN SHE FOUND OUT THE CABLE WAS ON A RECALL SHE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO RIVERHEAD CHEVY. SHE WAS TOLD THERE ARE 3 RECALLS THEY WOULD TAKE CARE OF. AROUND MID SEPTEMBER WHEN SHE CALLED SHE TOLD THEM HER FARTHER WANTED GM'S CONSUMERS NUMBER. THE MAN THEN GAVE HER TWO NUMBERS TO CALL, WHEN TRIED TO CALL THEM I FOUND OUT THEY WERE SEX LINE NUMBERS. WHEN SHE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THEY WERE SORRY. THIS IS NOT THE WAY A DEALERSHIP SHOULD RUN A BUSINESS ! NOW IN THE MEANTIME I HAD TO HELP HER BUY ANOTHER CAR SO SHE COULD GET BACK AND FORTH FOR WORK (SHE IS A SINGLE MOM NOT LIVING AT HOME). BACK IN SEPT. SHE WAS TOLD THE PARTS WOULD BE IN AROUND LATE OCT. NOW SHE WAS TOLD NOT UNTIL AFTER DEC. THIS HAS GONE ON FOR 5 MONTHS WITH COUNTLESS PHONE CALLS TO THE DEALERSHIP AND GM HOT LINE, HOW AND WHY IS GM ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH THIS. I AM A MECHANIC AND HAD A REPAIR SHOP FOR MORE THEN TEN YEARS. I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN COURT A LONG TIME AGO IF I TRIED TO DO THIS. ON DEC. 26 WE RECEIVED THIS RECALL #14V224 AFTER SITTING IN A PARKING LOT FOR 5 MONTHS HOW GOOD WILL THE OIL, BATTERY, TIRES, AND GAS BE? *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10668109December 24, 2014SEATS
DRIVER SEAT RAIL BROKE... I BARLEY MOVE THE SEAT.. I'M 5'3" AND MY DAUGHTER IS 5'2" SHE JUST STARTED DRIVING AND TRIED TO MOVE THE SEAT UP JUST A LITTLE THEN WE HEARD A LOUD SCREECHING SOUND THE SEAT DID MOVE UP, BUT IT WAS SLOW.. THAT'S WHEN I CHECK TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG AND THE RAIL THE SEAT IS ON WAS BROKE. THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM, SO CLEARLY IT'S NOT OUR FAULT. AND WHY DOES IT COST SO MUCH TO GET FIXED? HTTP://WWW.AUTOMOTIVEFORUMS.COM/T919217-DISCUSS2004_CHEVY_MALIBU_MAXX_BROKEN_POWER_SEAT.HTML. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10659530December 17, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, STEERING, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CUSTOMER STATES THAT HE HAS RECEIVED THREE RECALL NOTICES FOR VEHICLE IN JUNE 2014 AND JULY 2014. ALL THREE NOTICED INDICATED THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AND HASN'T HEARD ANY RESPONSE SINCE. *TA
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10663692December 11, 2014SEATS
NOTICED THE SEAT TILTED TO THE RIGHT AND LOOKED UNDERNEATH TO DISCOVER A BROKEN WELD ON THE FRONT CROSS MEMBER OF THE SEAT FRAME. MY WIFE IS A PETITE WOMAN AND DRIVES IT MOST OF THE TIME. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR INCIDENT, IT WAS JUST A POOR WELD. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10663434December 10, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START OR WOULD STALL SHORTLY AFTER BEING STARTED. THE CONTACT VEHICLE WOULD ONLY RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT TO REMOVE THE EXTRA WEIGHT FROM THE KEY HOLDER IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. UPDATED 1/28/15*CN UPDATED 9/8/2017*CN
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10662980December 8, 2014POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL), NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V153000 (STEERING), AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT WAS NOT CERTAIN OF WHEN THE PART AND REMEDY WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE TO SCHEDULE THE APPOINTMENT FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE SAFETY CONCERN WITH THE THREE RECALLS AND THE CONTACT WAS STILL WAITING FOR THE PARTS TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL APPOINTMENT. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10662386December 5, 2014SEATS
MY DAUGHTER PURCHASED THIS CAR ABOUT A YEAR AGO, SHE STATED THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT WOULD NOT ADJUST. I ASSUMED A BAD ADJUSTMENT MOTOR. WHEN I EXAMINED THE SEAT I DISCOVERED THAT THE WELDS ON THE FRONT CROSS-BAR AND THE REAR CROSS BAR WERE SEPARATED BETWEEN THE SEAT AND LOWER ADJUSTMENT FRAME, THIS CAUSES THE DRIVERS SEAT TO LEAN TOWARD THE CENTER CONSOLE AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE. UPON FIRST EXAMINATION I THOUGHT THE WELDS HAD BROKEN, BUT ON CLOSER EXAMINATION IT APPEARS THAT THE WELD DID NOT PENETRATE THE METAL FAR ENOUGH AS THE WELD AND BAR WERE BOTH INTACT, EXCEPT FOR SOME SUPERFICIAL SCARING ON THE TUBING. THIS RESULTS IN A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM AS THE SEAT BELT IS ATTACHED TO THE SEAT AT THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE DRIVERS SEAT, NOT TO THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE. SHOULD THIS VEHICLE BE INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL CRASH THESE BROKEN WELDS RENDER THE SEAT BELT INEFFECTIVE AT BEST OR USELESS, DEPENDING ON THE WEIGHT OF THE DRIVER. IF THE AIR BAGS DO NOT DEPLOY THE DRIVER WILL BE THROWN FOREWORD ALONG WITH THE SEAT WITH THE APPEARANCE THAT THE DRIVERS WEIGHT BROKE THE SEAT, WHEN IN-FACT THE SEAT WAS EITHER BROKEN ALREADY OR SEVERELY WEAKENED BY INADEQUATE WELDS. A CURSORY ON LINE SEARCH REVEALED THAT THIS DEFECT EXISTS IN THE CHEVY MALIBU, MONTA CARLO, PONTIAC GRAND PRIX, PONTIAC G6, SATURN AURA AND ION. MODEL YEARS 1999 THROUGH 2009. I CONTACTED GM REF#[XXX] AND AS WITH MANY OTHER ON LINE COMPLAINTS WERE TOLD IN ESSENCE TOO BAD OUT OF WARRANTY YOUR PROBLEM NOT OURS. I AM FULLY CAPABLE OF WELDING THIS FRAME MY SELF, AND WILL DO SO HOWEVER, GM DEALERS CHARGE APP $1000. FOR THE REPAIR AND IF USING THE SAME STOCK FRAMES, WILL INSTALL A FAULTY FRAME. IN MY OPINION THESE FAULTY WELDS EXPOSE PEOPLE WITHOUT A PASSING FAMILIARITY TO MECHANICS, TO UNNECESSARY EXPENSE AS WELL AS AN UNNECESSARY SAFETY HAZARD. 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
- #10661882December 3, 2014SEATS
DRIVER SEATS TILTS TO THE RIGHT AND CAN NOT ADJUST FORWARD OR BACKWARD. HAD IT REPAIRED AT MY LOCAL MECHANIC (RE-WELD) AT A COST OF $214.00. NOW IT IS BROKEN AGAIN. *JS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10661161November 28, 2014STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE REMEDIED. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REMEDIED, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF A PARKED VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED HIS VEHICLE TO FLIP OVER. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,123. UPDATED 2/1/15*CN UPDATED 9/7/2017*CN
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10661012November 25, 2014AIR BAGS, STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE TRAVELING IN A SCHOOL ZONE GOING APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES PER HOUR, I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING A SCHOOL BUS. I COULD NOT STOP, OR STEER THE CAR TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH THE REAR OF THE BUS. MY CAR WENT UNDER THE REAR OF THE BUS, WHERE IT WAS CRUSHED IN THE FRONT END. THE CAR SEEMED TO JUST SHUT DOWN, HAD NO POWER STEERING AND BRAKING CONTROL. THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED., EVEN THOUGH THEY SHOULD HAVE WITH THE TYPE OF IMPACT THAT THE CAR RECEIVED. WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THIS COMPLAINT, ON BEHALF OF OURSELVES AND ANY OTHER MOTORIST THAT MIGHT HAVE HAD SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES. THANK YOU. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10659667November 20, 2014SEAT BELTS, SEATS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SEAT WELD FAILED CAUSING THE SEAT TO BECOME UNSTABLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE SEAT BELT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE SEAT WELD HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10659872November 20, 2014SERVICE BRAKES
I HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH IN MY 2004 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX BUT GENERAL MOTORS SAYS THAT IT IS NOT A RECALL UNDER MY VIN ON MY VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THERE ARE MORE RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH MY CAR AND ALOT OF OTHER PEOPLE'S VEHICLES BUT UNFORTUNATELY GENERAL MOTORS WILL NOT OWN UP TO THE FACT THAT THERE ARE MORE RECALLS ON THEIR PRODUCTS. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH AN ATTORNEY ABOUT MY CASE AND HE STATED THE SAME THING I AM SAYING ABOUT GENERAL MOTORS. I HAVE BEEN HAVING ONE PROBLEMS AFTER THE ANOTHER WITH MY 2004 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AND NONE OF THOSE ISSUES HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH MY DRIVING OR UPKEEP ON THE VEHICLE. I HAVE MAINTAINED EVERYTHING ON MY VEHICLE AND REPLACED OVER $2,000 WORTH IN REPAIRS BECAUSE THERE WERE RECALLS OUT THERE ABOUT MY CAR AND I WASN'T NOTIFIED ABOUT THEM. GENERAL MOTORS DOES NOT WANT TO MAKE IT RIGHT THEY JUST WANT TO MAKE MONEY OFF THIS RECALL SITUATION! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10653277November 19, 2014STEERING, AIR BAGS, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, POWER TRAIN
2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU EXPERIENCING POWER STEERING PROBLEMS, ABS AND SHIFT CABLE, ALL REPLACED. *CW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP SEVEN TIMES, DUE TO POWER STEERING FAILURE, WHICH RESULTED IN THE STEERING LOCKING UP. THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN TWO ACCIDENTS, IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A TRANSMISSION, STEERING AND BRAKE RECALL. HOWEVER, THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *JB
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10653308November 19, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CAR WAS TOTALED AND JUNKED BEFORE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. REQUESTING TO BE REMOVED FROM LIST *CN
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10651239November 13, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CONSUMER WRITING IN REGARDS TO 2004 CHEVORLET MALIBU RECALL. *KL
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10654732November 13, 2014EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, BOTH TURNING SIGNAL LIGHTS OVERHEATED. AS A RESULT, THE TURN SIGNAL HOUSING AND SOCKET MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE LIGHT BULB SOCKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 280,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0