Chevrolet Malibu Complaints (2004)

1,582 consumer complaints on file.

#10511652May 13, 2013
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOR MONTHS PRIOR TO IT FAILING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10511315May 9, 2013
SEATS
SLIDING & LEANING BACK TO ADAPT TO A COMFORTABLE POSITION IN THE DRIVERS SEAT, THE VERY COMFORTABLE AND ELECTRICALLY ADJUSTABLE DRIVERS SEAT LISTED TO THE RIGHT AND SLIGHTLY ROTATED TO THE RIGHT. NOW, SITTING ON AN ANGLE AS IF THE CAR IS ON A HILL I CONTINUE DRIVING. I EVENTUALLY GOT A FLASHLIGHT AND WHILE PARKED AND RESTING MY HEAD ON THE FLOOR MAT I COULD SEE THE RUSTED BAR THAT RUNS HORIZONTAL TO THE SEAT AND WELDED ON THE LEFT SIDE NEXT TO THE DRIVERS DOOR, IS HANGING ON THE RIGHT SIDE DROPPED BELOW WHERE THE WELD WAS HOLDING IT; I IMAGINE IN A CIRCULAR PATTERN SINCE I SEE HALF A CIRCUMFERENCE REMAINING BEHIND THE DROPPED BAR. I CAN LIFT THE BAR BACK TO THE REMAINING HALF WELD, AND WHEN I LET GO IT DROPS BACK DOWN MOVING THE SEAT SNUG WITH THE CENTER CONSOLE. I WAS TOLD BY A COMPANY THAT WELDING IT WOULD NOT BE WISE AND WOULD PUT THEM IN JEOPARDY IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED. A NEW FRAME WOULD BE ABOUT $600, THEN ADD LABOR; WE'RE LOOKING AT APPROX. $900+. YES, AS OTHERS HAVE SAID ON WWW.AUTOMOTIVEFORUMS.COM IT'S A SHAME NO RECALL, BUT AFTER 140K MILES... GUESS I'LL ASK IF I SHOULD USE WD-40 ON THE BAR AFTER INSTALL. SINCE THIS IS THE ONLY ELECTRIC SEAT IN THE CAR I DON'T EXPECT THE OTHER SEATS TO BE EFFECTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10510778May 6, 2013
SEATS, STEERING, VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY, STRUCTURE
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 2006 WITH 17,000 MILES AT THE CARMAX SUPERSTORE IN NAPERVILLE ILLINOIS AND HAVE HAD SEVERAL SERIOUS ISSUES SINCE. THE LEAKING SUNROOF WITH THE INNUMERABLE FAILED ATTEMPTS AT REPAIR. THE LEAK HAS NEVER BEEN RESOLVED AND I HAVE RESORTED TO COVERING THE VEHICLE WITH A TARP DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE CONSTANT CLICKING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEN MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH AND THE SEVERE STIFFNESS IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN CURB SIDE PARKING BETWEEN PARKED VEHICLES. THE INTERMITTENT IGNITION FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT TURN OVER UNLESS YOU DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR SLIGHTLY. THERE WERE COUNTLESS FUTILE ATTEMPTS AT REPAIR FOR ALL THESE DEFECTS THROUGH OUT THE YEARS OF WARRANTY AND EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE. THE FAILED ATTEMPTS OF CORRECTLY DIAGNOSING AND PROPERLY REPAIRING THESE DEFECTS BY THE ENGLEWWOOD AUTO GROUP IN ENGLEWOOD NEW JERSEY HAVE LEFT ME UNSATISFIED AND SUPER FRUSTRATED. TODAY I AM WRITING BECAUSE THE OPERATORS SEAT HAS NOW TILTED TO THE RIGHT AND IS LEANING AGAINST THE CENTER CONSOLE. THERE WAS NOTHING OF SIGNIFICANCE THAT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING THAT IMMEDIATELY ALERTED ME OF THIS PROBLEM, I WAS SIMPLY ADJUSTING THE SEAT WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE SEAT WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE CENTER CONSOLE. UPON INSPECTING UNDERNEATH THE SEAT I OBSERVED THAT THE RIGHT REAR CORNER DOES NOT RISE WHEN ENGAGING THE ELECTRIC SEAT CONTROLS. THE ANGLE OF THE LEAN IS SO BAD THAT IT AFFECTS MY POSTURE AND PAINS MY LOWER BACK. I AM ALSO AFRAID THAT THE SEAT WILL COMPLETELY COLLAPSE WHILE I AM DRIVING. WHEN THE SEAT IS LOWERED ALL THE WAY DOWN IT DOES LEVEL TO ITS ACCEPTABLE NORM, BUT AT 5 FEET 4 INCHES TALL I CANNOT OPERATE SAFELY THAT LOW TO THE FLOOR. FOR A VEHICLE THAT IS DRIVEN ON AVERAGE ONCE A WEEK IT IS PLAGUED WITH SOME SERIOUS MANUFACTURER DEFECTS THAT THE DEALERSHIPS' SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10510161April 30, 2013
STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE CAR STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND UNABLE TO CONTROL WHERE IT WAS GOING TO GUIDE AS COMING AROUND CURVE. ENDED UP IN DITCH AND SHAKING LIKE CRAZY! IM SO AFRAID THAT SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN. I WANT ANOTHER CAR! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10509506April 25, 2013
POWER TRAIN
WHEN I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN, LIKE WHEN HAVING TO LET A CAR TURN IN FRONT OF YOU. WHEN THE CAR SHIFTS GEARS IT JERKS REALLY HARD, AND WILL DO THIS IN ALL GEARS IT SHIFTS INTO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10509505April 25, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T TAKE YOUR KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION AFTER PUTTING IT IN PARK. I HAVE TO SHIFT IT BACK TO REVERSE AND THEN BACK IN PARK FOR IT TO LET THE IGNITION SWITCH TO TURN ALL THE WAY OFF SO I CAN REMOVE MY KEYS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10509503April 25, 2013
STEERING
SOMETIMES WHEN I CRANK THERE IS NO POWER STEERING AT ALL. IF I PARK ON A INCLINE IT SEEMS TO NEVER HAVE POWER STEERING. THE WRENCH LIGHT STAYS ON IN THE DASHBOARD AND POWER STEERING IS WRITTEN ACROSS THE RADIO PANEL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10509504April 25, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK. THE LIGHT WILL COME ON TO START IT BUT WHEN YOU TRY TO SET IT, IT WILL NOT SET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10509117April 22, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE ON MY WAY HOME, DRIVING NORTH ON I-95 NEAR WASHINGTON, DC, I EXPERIENCED LOTS OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS (NOISE AND GRABBING TO THE LEFT IN THE STEERING COLUMN, REPEATED BULB AND LIGHT UNITY FAILURES) THEN SUDDENLY, A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER STEERING. I BECAME SO SCARED WHILE NEEDING BOTH HANDS TO MANAGE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC TRAVELING AT AN AVERAGE OF 65MPH THAT I IMMEDIATELY THREW A LIT CIGARETTE OUT THE WINDOW IN A DESPERATE EFFORT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE STEERING WHEEL IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLY DIFFICULT TO STEER. I WAS UNAWARE THAT IT HAD BLOWN BEHIND MY BACK ONTO THE DRIVER?S SEAT UNTIL IT BURNT ME, MY SHIRT AND THE SEAT. IT IS BY THE GRACE OF GOD THAT I DIDN?T HAVE A FATAL ACCIDENT. IT IS PROBABLY NEEDLESS TO SAY THAT I CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE BACK PAIN. A DISASTER IS WAITING TO HAPPEN! THE FACT IS THAT SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING WILL START WORKING AGAIN AS QUICKLY AS IT WENT OUT. CONSIDER THAT I COULD BE TURNING THE WHEEL AS HARD AS I CAN AND AT THAT SECOND THE POWER RETURNS TO SEND ME SPINNING. KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS IS OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY EVERYDAY. SOMETIMES IT DOES STOP WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT. WITH REGARD TO THE BRAKES THEY MAKE A LOUD AND GRINDING SOUND WHEN I LIFT OFF OF THEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10508951April 20, 2013
STEERING, POWER TRAIN
ONE EVENING WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY @ APROX 55MPH THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON AND THREE CHIMES THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH THE CONCRETE WALL CAUSING SUSPENSION DAMAGE AND BODY DAMAGE TO A TUNE OF OVER $3600.00! STEERING AND STOPPING ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN GOING! GM NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS SAFETY ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10508782April 19, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE VEHICLE JUST RANDOMLY SHUT OFF THEFT LIGHT CAME ON AS IF I WAS STEALING MY OWN CAR HAD TO WAIT 10 MINS WITH IGNITION ON TO RESET THE THEFT SYSTEM WHEN LOOKING ONLINE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE MOST OF THE TIME IT IS WHEN STARTING BUT FOR ME I WAS DRIVING THIS IS A SERIOUS CONCERN FOR ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10508243April 15, 2013
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CHECK ENGINE AND POWER STEERING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL FOR THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10508283April 15, 2013
STEERING
LAST YEAR, I WAS DRIVING AND MY CARS POWER STEERING ACTIVATED. IT TURNED OFF ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. SINCE LAST SUMMER IS HAPPENS EVERY DAY, USUALLY WHEN I AM ACCELERATING AND SWITCHING GEARS. THIS HAS BEEN VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE ALMOST GOTTEN IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS BECAUSE MY STEERING WHEEL WILL JERK. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF A LEFT TURN. PLEASE TRY TO GET A RECALL ON THIS. I KNOW A COUPLE OF PEOPLE WILL THE SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR AS I HAVE, AND THEY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. I WILL NOT TAKE THIS TO GET FIXED AND SPEND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS AS OTHER HAVE. THIS CLEARLY NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10507488April 8, 2013
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,000.*TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10507382April 7, 2013
STEERING, ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
UPON ACCELERATION USING THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR LOSES TOTAL CONTROL OF ITS STEERING. ALL ENGINE LIGHTS AND FAILURE LIGHTS GO ON.SOMETIMES JUST MAKING A SIMPLE TURN AT AN INTERSECTION, THE CAR LOSES COMPLETE STEERING CAPABILITY. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, INCLUDING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH ACCELERATING OVER A SLIGHT INCLINE OR AT 10 MPH AT AN INTERSECTION WHILE MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. I NOTICED TROUBLE WITH THE STEERING WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT MY CAR UNDER WARRANTY BUT IT WASN'T AS SEVERE. JUST WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE THE STEERING WAS TIGHT, BUT THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD THE SHORT RACK STEERING GEAR, STEERING RACK, INTERMEDIATE SHAFT, AND SERPENTINE BELT REPLACED BUT TO NO AVAIL. ON THE WEBSITE WWW.LEMONLAWCLAIMS.COM THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST 42 STEERING COMPLAINTS OF SIMILAR NATURE REGARDING THE SAME YEAR MAKE FOR THE MALIBU. AN NHTSA INVESTIGATION WAS PERFORMED PE04-031 BASED ON EIGHT REPORTS OF ALLEGED POWER STEERING FAILURES. THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS BASED ON THE REPORT I PRINTED UP IN 2010, HOWEVER I AM NOT CERTAIN OF THE CURRENT STATUS OF THIS INVESTIGATION. I'M SURE THERE ARE A LOT MORE FAILURE REPORTS THAT HAVE BEEN OPENED, THOUGH I CANNOT FIND A RECALL REGARDING THIS FAILURE. AS A SIDE NOTE, SOMETIMES THE CAR HAS TROUBLE STARTING - IT ALWAYS HAS AND THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DETERMINE THE FAILURE. WHEN TRYING TO START IT UP, HITTING THE GAS PEDAL WILL CAUSE THE ENGINE TO KICK OVER AND NOT STALL. THERE IS ALWAYS THE SMELL OF FUEL. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS IS PART OF THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION WHEN THE STEERING FAILS OR THE STEERING WHEEL JERKS UPON ACCELERATION, A CLICKING SOUND CAN BE HEARD. THE ORIGIN OF THIS CLICKING IN UNKNOWN. I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL ON THIS OR BETTER YET A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10507279April 5, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
BRAKE LIGHTS FLASHED INTERMITTENTLY WHEN I WAS NOT BRAKING. I WAS STOPPED AND INFORMED OF THIS BY AT STATE TROOPER. "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WAS ON. THE CRUISE CONTROL HAS DISENGAGED INVOLUNTARILY SINCE 2005. I HAD A NEW BRAKE PEDAL POSITION SENSOR INSTALLED, BUT THE CRUISE CONTROL STILL DISENGAGES AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON DURING TRIPS OF MORE THAN 10 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10507160April 4, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED AT 75 MPH IT SUDDENLY DISENGAGED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE SPEED. THE CONTACT DID NOT APPLY THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO DISENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THE BRAKE LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE CRUISE CONTROL TO DISENGAGED DUE TO THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATING. THE MECHANIC REPLACED NUMEROUS FUSES IN THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS RE-CALIBRATING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; HOWEVER, THAT DID NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT STATED THE TURN SIGNAL MALFUNCTIONED AS WELL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10505325April 2, 2013
STEERING
WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MY 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU LT V6 DINGS AND A YELLOW WRENCH COMES UP AND ON THE RADIO IT STAYS POWER STEERING AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY STIFF AND I COULD NO LONGER CONTROL MY VEHICLE I ALMOST HIT A CAR TRYING TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BUT THANKFULLY I CAME TO A RED LIGHT PUT MY HAZARDS LIGHTS ON AND TURNED THE CAR ON AND OFF.... THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME MULTIPLE TIMES AND DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS FEATURE TO DEAL WITH ON THIS CAR IT MAKES IT UNSAFE AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN ITS GOING TO HAPPEN IT WOULD BE A MIRACLE IF CHEVROLET WOULD RECALL SUCH A DANGEROUS FEATURE SEEING HOW THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10505220April 1, 2013
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING FOR NO REASON, I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTED WHICH RESET THE POWER STEERING. IT HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES SINCE THEN, NOW IN THE LAST WEEK TWICE IT WILL NOT RESET AND HAVE TO HAD TO DRIVE IT HOME MANUALLY. I AM TAKING IT A DEALER TODAY, THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM SAID THEY FIXED THE STEERING RACK BUT IT OBVIOUSLY DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. GM HAS NO RECALL ON THIS EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS VERY SERIOUS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10505001March 29, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I BOUGHT THIS CAR NOVEMBER 02, 2011 DROVE IT HOME. THE VERY NEXT DAY I NOTICE THE CRANKING ISSUES. THE CAR WILL CRANK RIGHT UP OF THE MORNINGS, BUT AFTER IT WARMS UP IT COULD TAKE UP TO 5 TIMES. THE CAR WILL SHAKE AND DIE. SO I HAVE NO WARRANTY FOR THIS CAR I BOUGHT USED. SO IT'S LIKE I AM STUCK WITH IT UNTIL IT'S PAID FOR. SO I GOOGLE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS CAR FOR ANY RECALLS AND HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIND OUT IF THE FUEL PUMP HAS OR NOT BEEN REPLACED FOR THIS CAR. MY MECHANIC TELLS ME IT IS MY FUEL PUMP. THE RECALL WAS FEBRUARY 28, 2011, I FEEL THIS CAR WAS MISSED. THIS IS THE VERY FIRST CHEVROLET THAT I HAVE BOUGHT, BUT TRYING TO CRANK THIS CAR IS JUST CRAZY. I GET SO FUSTRATED THIS IS A POOR QUALITY OF A CAR. EVERYTIME I TAKE IT TO HAVE ANYTHING DONE TO IT. I WANT TO CRAWL UNDER THE TABLE, CAUSE I HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT I HAVE A RETARD OF A CAR. CAN SOMEONE HELP ME PLEASE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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