Chevrolet Malibu Complaints (2004)

1,582 consumer complaints on file.

#10474522September 10, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2004 MALIBU MAXX HAS SOME SORT OF ELECTRICAL ISSUE HAS HAD IT FOR YEARS AND DRIVES ME CRAZY. THE TURN INDICATOR LIGHT WAS TELLING ME THE BULB WAS BURNED OUT WHEN WE WENT TO CHANGE THE BULB THE WHOLE BULB COVER WAS MELTED WE REPLACED THE BULB IT WOULD LAST A FEW WEEKS SOMETIMES A FEW MONTHS. WE DECIDED TO ORDER A WHOLE NEW LIGHT ASSEMBLE FOR THAT SIDE SINCE THE GLOBE WAS MELTED. WE INSTALLED IT A WEEK LATER THE WHOLE TURN INDICATOR LIGHT AND SOCKET WERE MELTED TOGETHER. WE COULD NOT EVEN GET THE BULB OUT. SO WE WENT BACK TO THE ORIGINAL LIGHT ASSEMBLY SAME ISSUE BULBS BURN OUT. ALSO INSIDE INTERIOR LIGHT SOMETIMES WON'T SHUT OFF NO MATTER HOW THE SWITCH IS POSITIONED. THIS CAR HAS ELECTRICAL ISSUES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10474417September 9, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
IN JULY 2011 THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. ABOUT A WEEK LATER IT STARTED GOING OUT WHILE DRIVING. HAD THE STEERING COLUMN, AND RACKET AND PINION REPLACED, AND THE THEN THE RADIO STOPPED PLAYING CDS, AND THE SEAT BELT LIGHT CONSTANTLY STAYS ON EVEN IF YOU HAVE THE SEAT BELT ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10474304September 8, 2012
SEATS
DRIVER'S SEAT WELD FAILED AND SEAT SHIFTED DOWN AND DROPPED TO THE RIGHT. ALSO EFFECTED SEAT ADJUSTMENT. ROCKED BACK AND FORTH ON THE FRAME. SEAT HAD TO BE REPLACED, COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10473806September 4, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE STEERING BECAME HARD TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC, WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,200.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10470855August 16, 2012
STEERING
AS MY SON WAS DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. AFTER TURNING OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTING, THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469513August 7, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AS THE FAILED POWER STEERING MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE STEREO DISPLAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A VOLUNTARY RECALL FOR THE FAILURE BUT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468501July 31, 2012
SEATS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SEAT LEANED TO THE SIDE WHEN THE DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRACKET THAT HELD THE SEAT TO THE FRAME WAS FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE SEAT TO LEAN. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER OR CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468167July 29, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MILES WHEN THE CAR CUT OFF WITH NO WARNING,WHEN THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR .THIS HAS HAPPENED 7 DIFFERENT TIMES . MY SON THOUGHT I NEEDED A TUNE UP, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER,I WAS TOLD IT WAS ELECTRICAL BUT DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS CAUSING IT. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10467608July 25, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO RESET THE STEERING AND CORRECTED THE FAILURE FOR THREE WEEKS BEFORE RECURRING. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,356.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10466923July 22, 2012
STEERING
STEERING ON VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN TO THE RIGHT, BUT A LOT OF PLAY IN THE WHEEL WHEN TURNING LEFT. SAME SITUATION HAPPENED OFF AND ON FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK. ON 7/21/12 WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE CONSOLE MADE A "DINGING" SOUND AND INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING AND SIMULTANEOUSLY IT LOST ALL EASE OF STEERING. IT HAD ABSOLUTELY NO POWER STEERING CAPABILITY. IT WAS VERY FRIGHTENING TO NOT HAVE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HAVING TO STRUGGLE TO GET THE CAR TO A SAFE PLACE OUT OF THE ROAD THAT I WAS DRIVING ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10466700July 20, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID, VISIBILITY
REAR WINDOW OF VEHICLE APPARENTLY BROKEN BY TRUNK LID OPENING TOO FAR. TRUNK LID OPENED TOO FAR DUE TO TWO RUBBER TRUNK LID STOPS HAD BOTH PREVIOUSLY FALLEN FROM THEIR DESIGNED LOCATION. CHEVROLET DEALER STATES THESE PARTS WERE A PROBLEM AND ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE-NEW PARTS HAVE BEEN DESIGNED AND WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $100 IF PURCHASED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10466830July 20, 2012
SEATS
FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT IS COMPLETELY LOOSE ON RIGHT SIDE. NOT SECURED DOWN, CANNOT ADJUST AND TILTS WHEN YOU MAKE A TURN OR GO AROUND A CURVE. HAVE TO DRIVE WITH SEAT ALL THE WAY DOWN WHICH IS HARD BECAUSE I AM A SHORT PERSON. WHEN I GET OUT OF THE CAR THE WHOLE SEAT ACTS LIKE IT IS JUST CONNECTED ON LEFT SIDE AND COMES UP ON RIGHT SIDE. I HAD SOMEONE LIFT THE SEAT WHILE I LOOKED UNDERNEATH. SOMETHING IS BROKE. BRACKET WILL NOT HOLD SEAT UP, JUST FALLS BACK DOWN AND SEAT WILL NOT STAY IN PLACE. ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE WITH SEAT MOVING AND NOT SECURE. IN READING OTHER COMPLAINTS, I FEEL THAT I HAVE THE SAME ISSUE OF A BROKEN FRAME WHICH IS A DEFINITE DEFECT. I AM NOT REAL HEAVY AND THAT SEAT SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKE. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR OVER THREE YEARS AND THIS HAS BEEN MY PERSONAL VEHICLE. HOWEVER, I DO NOT FEEL IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE LIKE THIS, BUT HAVE NO CHOICE! OH! THESE ARE POWER SEATS. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465513July 13, 2012
STEERING
POWER STEERING GOES OUT DURING SUMMER MONTHS; PAID TO REPAIR 8/2011; WORKS OK DURING WINTER, BUT POWER STEERING GOES OUT IN SUMMER MONTHS. THIS IS DANGEROUS. ALMOST HAD SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465540July 13, 2012
SEATS
SAFETY ISSUE WITH DRIVER'S SEAT. TILTS AND LEANS, BROKEN WELD. THIS IS A SAFETY WARRANTY AND SHOULD BE FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465344July 12, 2012
SEATS
WHILE ADJUSTING THE SEAT UP, IT SUDDENLY DROPPED AND LEANED TO THE RIGHT. AFTER INSPECTING UNDER THE SEAT, I FOUND THAT THE WELDS ON THE FRONT FRAME BAR BROKE LOOSE ALSO TWISTING THE FRAME BAR. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING AS THE SEAT REALLY LEANED OVER VIOLENTLY. ALSO, IT APEARS THE SEAT BELTS ARE ATTACHED TO THESE SUPPORT BARS. THIS ISSUE STILL HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS THE COST IS OVER $1000. SHOULD WE BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, THE SEAT WILL VERY EASILY TEAR AWAY FROM THE REMAINING WELDS POSSIBLY EJECTING THE DRIVER ALONG WITH THE SEAT. THE SEAT SHIFTS AND TILTS DRASTICALLY WHEN TURNING VEHICLE. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE ONLINE, I FIND THAT SEVERAL MALIBU MAXX OWNERS FROM SEVERAL DIFFERENT YEARS ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL ISSUE AS THE SEAT WILL COME LOOSE ALONG WITH THE SEAT BELTS SHOULD VEHICLE BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465405July 12, 2012
SEATS, SERVICE BRAKES, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE DRIVER SEAT ON THIS CAR HAS COME OFF THE RAILS ON RIGHT SIDE CAUSING IT TO TILT. IF THE SEAT IS NOT MOVED TO THE LOWEST SETTING THE TILTS WITH THE MOVEMENT OF THE CAR. I HAD THE SEAT REPAIRED ONCE; IT FAILED AGAIN AFTER ABOUT 6 MONTHS. AT THE SAME TIME I HAD THE EMERGENCY BRAKE REPAIRED. WHEN SETTING THE BRAKE, I HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE REPAIR FAILED ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO FOR THE SECOND TIME. I AM ALSO GOING THROUGH NEW BRAKES ON THIS CAR AT AN ALARMING RATE - THREE BRAKE REPLACEMENTS ALREADY AND THE CAR HAS 90,000 MILES. THE CAR IS AGAIN BEGINNING TO SHIMMY/SHUDDER WHEN GOING DOWN STEEP HILLS AND THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THE CAR SEEMS NOT TO SLOW DOWN AT ALL (I.E. SHIFTING GEARS) WHEN GOING DOWN HILL OTHER THAN BY THE BRAKES - IT FEELS LIKE A FREE FALL. THE SIGNALS, HEADLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ALSO NEED FREQUENT REPLACEMENT. I TYPICALLY HAVE TO REPLACE AT LEAST ONE OF THESE AT EACH OIL CHANGE AND HAVE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS NEEDED TO MAKE REPLACEMENTS BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. I WOULD ESTIMATE THE HEADLIGHTS/BLINKERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES. THE REAR LIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED PERHAPS TEN TIMES. CURRENTLY THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT IS OUT AND CANNOT BE REPAIRED WITHOUT TAKING OFF THE INTERIOR COVER OF THE CAR TO ACCESS THE WIRING - THE BULB IS NOT THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465142July 10, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT HAD TO IMMEDIATELY APPLY THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 122,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10464600July 8, 2012
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON FOR SOME TIME NOW, BUT 3 DIFFERENT TIMES THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED WHEN LEAVING FROM BEING PARKED. TURNING OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTING FIXES IT BUT FOR HOW LONG WILL THAT CONTINUE TO WORK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10463893July 1, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING INCIDENT WITH ONE OR BOTH TURN SIGNALS LAMPS FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS. THE TURN SIGNAL LAMPS THEMSELVES DO NOT APPEAR BURNED OUT BUT THE LAMP SOCKET WIRE MELTS THE PLASTIC HOUSING FROM EXCESSIVE HEAT AND CAUSES A BREAK IN THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT. I HAVE MADE MULTIPLE BULB REPLACEMENTS OVER THE TWO PLUS YEARS ONLY TO HAVE THE TURN SIGNAL SOCKET PLASTIC HOUSING FAIL REPEATEDLY. THIS SITUATION MAY BE A SOLDER JOINT CRACKING CAUSED BY RAPID TEMPERATURE TRANSITIONS. IF SOLDER JOINT CRACKING OCCURS AND RESULTS IN AN OPEN CIRCUIT, THE TURN SIGNALS LAMPS BECOME INTERMITTENT OR INOPERATIVE. CONSEQUENCES: WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS ARE INOPERATIVE, THE DRIVER CANNOT USE THEM TO SIGNAL INTENT TO TURN THAT COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10463530June 29, 2012
STEERING
AS I DROVE MY WIFE WHO WAS IN LABOR TO THE HOSPITAL, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AS I BEGAN TO TURN INTO AN INTERSECTION. SIMULTANEOUS TO THIS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. BARELY MADE THE TURN WITHOUT GOING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. POWER STEERING STAYED OFF THE REST OF THE TRIP. ARRIVED AT HOSPITAL AND TURNED CAR OFF. POWER STEERING CAME BACK ON. POWER STEERING THEN FAILED ON WAY HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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