Chevrolet Malibu Complaints (2004)

1,582 consumer complaints on file.

#10432360October 21, 2011
STEERING
MAKING A RIGHT TURN POWER STEERING CHIMES WENT OFF NO POWER STEERING. IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. WHEN IT HAPPENS IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430724October 18, 2011
STEERING
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL. SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED IN 3 MONTHS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430553October 17, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE'S ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM FREQUENTLY LOCKS UP, PREVENTING DRIVER FROM STARTING CAR FOR A MINIMUM OF 10-15 MINUTES. HAS FAILED ON AVERAGE ONCE PER TWO MONTHS SINCE 2005. HAVE HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES YET THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430583October 17, 2011
STEERING
CLUNKING IN FRONT END. TAKEN TO DEALER AND RACK AND PINION REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. TWO YEARS LATER, CLUNKING IS BACK. TAKEN TO DEALER AND STEERING SHAFT REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. ONE YEAR AGO, THE CLUNKING IS BACK AND I DIDN'T TAKE IT IN. NOW THE POWER STEERING IS GOING OUT COMPLETELY WHEN I AM DRIVING. I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTART AND THAT TAKES CARE OF PROBLEM. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND GM NEEDS TO FIX IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430306October 15, 2011
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT. IT FELT LIKE WET CEMENT IN THE STEERING COLUMN. I HAVE DRIVEN A CAR WITH OUT POWER STEERING BEFORE THIS WAS MUCH HARDER. I PULLED OVER OPENED THE HOOD TO SEE IF ANYTHING WAS LOOSE. COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. ONCE I RESTARTED THE CAR IT WAS FINE. 30 MINS LATER MAKING A LEFT TURN IT GOES OUT AGAIN, TURN CAR ON AND OFF AND IT WORKS AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430241October 14, 2011
STEERING
BOUGHT THIS VEH. BRAND NEW 2004. HAD STEERING ISSUES FROM THE BEGINNING. THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 65K ON IT. ALWAYS HAD VEHICLE SERVICED AT THE DEALER OR DEALERSHIP I WORKED FOR. HAD STEERING SHAFT REPLACED, HAD STEERING SHAFT BOLT REPLACED,HAD RACK AND PINION REPLACED.. SON DROVE THE VEH., MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN IN THE OUTER LEFT TURNING LANE LEFT HIM WITH LOTS OF ROOM TO TURN, WHEEL LOCKED UP AND HE CRASHED ! VEH. IS TOTALED, NOTIFIED INSURANCE COMPANY THAT TOO MANY ISSUES WITH THE STEERING AND LOCKING UP SITUATION..EVEN GAVE THEM THE WEB SITE TO LOOK FOR THEMSELVES. THE WAY I SEE IT IS IT IS ONE LESS VERY DANGEROUS VEH. ON THE ROAD. TO BAD GM DOESN'T HANDLE THIS...ONE YARD EITHER DIRECTION AND MY SON WOULD HAVE HIT SOLID CONCRETE POLES OR HEAVY REINFORCED INTERSECTION LIGHTING AND ELECTRICAL BOX AND I WOULD BE FILING WRONGFUL DEATH SUIT. WHY DOES IT HAVE TO GO TO THIS EXTREME? *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430261October 14, 2011
STEERING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
POWER STEERING RECALL 04050 AND REPLACED IN 2005 WITH 9,296 MILES UNDER WARRANTY AND NEED IT AGAIN AT 26,000 MILES TODAY. FRONT BRACKET REPLACED IN 2006 WITH 19,217 MILES AND NEEDS IT AGAIN AT 26,000 MILES TODAY. FUEL LEAK TWICE ONCE IN 2006 AT 19,102 MILES AND REPLACED TANK IN 2007 AT 20959. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430129October 13, 2011
STEERING
DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I-81 AND STEERING FAILED COMPLETELY STOP AND LOCKED WHILE DRIVING MAJOR DEFECT NEEDS SERIOUS ATTENTION GM REALLY NEEDS TO RECALL OR PARTS MANUFACTURER. CHEVY MALIBU IS A DEATH TRAP A BAD ACCIDENT TO HAPPEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429404October 11, 2011
STEERING, STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE, IT BECAME HARD TO TURN. IT TOOK TWO OF US TO TURN INTO A PARKING LOT. I GOT TO A SAFE SPOT TO STOP, TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, WAITED ABOUT 15 MINUTES AND RESTARTED, OPERATED FINE. I HAVE DEALT WITH THIS ISSUE AT VARIOUS TIMES SINCE BUT HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH IT DAILY FOR THE PAST WEEK. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY DID DIAGNOSTIC AND SAW NO PROBLEMS. THEY HAVE NO SUGGESTIONS FOR ME. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429339October 10, 2011
SEATS
THE DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE CAUSING ME TO FALL/ROTATE TO MY RIGHT AND TO THE REAR OF THE CAR. SEAT FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A STRUCTURAL FAILURE OF 2 WELDS ON THE BOTTOM SEAT FRAME. WELDS LOCATED AT THE RIGHT BOTTOM REAR AND RIGHT BOTTOM FRONT OF THE MAIN SUPPORT MEMBERS. THE SEAT FRAME HAS BEEN REPLACED BY A LOCAL SERVICE REPAIR SHOP. I KEPT THE FRAME AFTER SEEING WHAT CAUSED THE SEAT TO FAIL. I CAN PROVIDE PICTURES IF YOU NEED THEM. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429128October 7, 2011
POWER TRAIN
UPON TRYING TO START CAR IMMEDIATELY HAD "WRENCH" SIGN ON THE LEFT OF THE STEERING WHEEL WITH A MESSAGE ABOVE THE RADIO STATING POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE LOOKED AT IMMEDIATELY, HOWEVER, LATER THAT NIGHT INDICATED WAS WORKING SO DROVE THE NEXT WEEK OR SO,. TOOK INTO DEALER ON SEPTEMBER 28 WHO RAN DIAGNOSTICS ON IT AND FOUND CODE C0545 BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEY DID INDICATE THAT IT WAS COMMON TO THE 2004 MODEL. ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 1, 2011 IT REPEATEDLY EXHIBITED THE SAME PROBLEM SO HAVE NOT DRIVEN IT SINCE. ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2011 WE DID HAVE TO MOVE IT FOR LAWN CARE PURPOSES. IT STARTED FINE AND DID NOT SHOW THE PROBLEM HOWEVER, AFTER READING OTHER COMMENTS ON-LINE WHERE IT INDICATED POWER STEERING HAD GONE OUT WHILE DRIVING HAVE NOT BEEN DRIVING IT UNTIL MORE CAN BE FOUND OUT. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS IS SOMETHING GM/CHEVROLET NEEDS TO CORRECT. SHOULD WE HAVE CORRECTED AND THEY WERE TO LATER COME OUT WITH A RECALL WOULD WE BE REIMBURSED? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428982October 6, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND THE STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING MOTOR. AFTER THE REPAIR THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 260,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428413October 4, 2011
STEERING
THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WILL QUIT WITH LITTLE TO NO WARNING MAKING THE CAR EXTREMELY HARD TO STEER SAFELY. THE PROBLEM ONLY SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN MOVING, I'VE NEVER LOST STEERING IN SAY A PARKING LOT, IT HAS BEEN ON THE ROAD EVERY TIME. USUALLY THE LIGHT ON THE DASH WILL LIGHT UP AND WARN YOU AND MOST TIMES NOTING HAPPENS, OTHER TIMES YOU'LL LOSE ALL POWER STEERING ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. TWICE I HAVE LOST STEERING FIRST, THEN THE LIGHT CAME ON LATER. NO RHYME OR REASON TO WHEN IT HAPPENS, IT CAN BE WHEN MAKING A TURN AND I ONCE A FEW WEEKS AGO LOST IT 4 SEPARATE TIMES WHILE ON A FREEWAY NOT MAKING TURNS. TURNING THE CAR OFF, THEN BACK ON HAS FIXED IT ALMOST EVERY TIME THOUGH TWICE IT TOOK MORE THAN ONE TRY. THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED I DID RUN OFF THE ROAD AS IT WAS AFTER A LARGE TURN AND I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE WHEEL STRAIGHTENED UP IN TIME TO NOT RUN BOTH RIGHT SIDE TIRES OFF THE ROAD, THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I LOST STEERING AND DID NOT GET A WARNING LIGHT. WHEN THE STEERING IS OFF IT IS MUCH, MUCH WORSE THAT A CAR WITHOUT NORMAL POWER STEERING. I HAVE DRIVEN OLD CARS THAT HAD NO POWER STEERING AND CAN HANDLE THOSE FINE, I WOULD SAY THE EFFORT REQUIRED AFTER LOOSING THE ELECTRIC STEERING IS OVER TWICE WHAT IS NEEDED FOR NORMAL CARS. I AM A LARGE MAN AND IT IS QUITE A STRUGGLE FOR ME, MY WIFE CANNOT HARDLY MOVE THE WHEEL AT ALL AND CERTAINLY NOT SAFELY. THIS APPEARS TO BE A PRETTY WIDESPREAD PROBLEM, SEE THIS LINK FOR A FEW EXAMPLES. HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/CHEVROLET/MALIBU/2004/STEERING/POWER_STEERING_GOING_OUT_INTERMITTENTLY I FEEL THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO THE TIMES IT HAPPENS, AND THE SEVERE IMPACT ON DRIVE-ABILITY WITH LITTLE, TO AT TIME NO WARNING AT ALL. THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428214October 2, 2011
STEERING
THE FIRST TIME THE POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY WENT OUT I WAS JUST PARKING. THE MALIBU HAS ELECTRONIC STEERING SO THERE IS NO WARNING WHEN THE STEERING IS ABOUT TO FAIL LIKE WITH A NORMAL POWER STEERING PUMP. I CHECKED SOME CONNECTIONS AND THOUGHT I HAD IT FIXED BECAUSE IT WORKED WHEN I STARTED THE CAR AGAIN. A FEW WEEKS LATER I WAS IN THE CITY AND THE STEERING QUIT WORKING AGAIN IF I WOULDN'T HAVE HAD A GOOD HOLD ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN I WAS TURNING I COULD HAVE EASILY RAN INTO SOMEONE OR EVEN WORSE HIT A PEDESTRIAN! THIS PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED IN MALIBU'S OF THIS AGE AND A COMMON PROBLEM. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS CAUSES A DEATH IF IT HASN'T ALREADY! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10426496September 20, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILED AND CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO SEIZE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT AN ELECTRICAL MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE EXACT PART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10426536September 20, 2011
STEERING
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN HER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND POWER STEERING FLASHED ACROSS HER INFORMATION SCREEN. WHEN SHE WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ON HER. FORTUNATELY SHE WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT. WE HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC, WHO LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THAT THE ONLY THING HE THOUGHT IT COULD BE WAS THE RACK AND PINION. WE HAD THAT REPLACED AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE FOR A FEW DAYS, AND THEN THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. IT HAS BEEN A CONSTANT ANNOYANCE, AND YOU HAVE TO CONSTANTLY RESTART THE CAR TO GET THE POWER STEERING TO COME BACK ON. JUST RECENTLY IT WAS TAKEN BACK TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED HE HAD TO REPLACE FLUID? I PICKED THE CAR UP FROM HIM ON 9/19/2011 AND TODAY 9/20/11 WITH MY 11 WEEK OLD DAUGHTER IN THE CAR IT HAPPENED AGAIN. FROM WHAT I'VE READ, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON THESE VEHICLES, AND HAD I KNOWN THAT AT THE TIME I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE. IT IS UNSAFE NOT ONLY FOR THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER OF THE CARS, BUT ALSO ANYONE THAT JUST HAPPENS TO BE AROUND WHEN IT HAPPENS!! I CONSIDER MYSELF TO BE A STRONG PERSON, AND I HAVE BEEN DRIVING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED, AND I COULD BARELY GET THE CAR SAFELY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I CANNOT AFFORD TO SPEND $600 FOR A REPAIR WHEN IT IS A FAULTY PART THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10425903September 17, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
REAR TURN SIGNAL BULBS BURN TOO HOT AND MELT BULB CONNECTION. FRONT TURN SIGNAL BULBS BURN TOO HOT AND MELT LENS HOUSING, CAUSING SEVERE DISCOLORATION IN HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY. HEADLAMP BECOMES VERY HOT TO TOUCH, COULD POSSIBLY START A FIRE. I HAVE READ MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE AND CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL BY GM. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10425667September 15, 2011
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST, SEATS
THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT WENT TO ADJUST IT AND IT STARTED GOING UP AT AN ANGLE. IT GOT TILTED AND LOOSE, THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT WAS TO PUT IT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR BUT CAN FEEL IT ROCK. ALL I CAN THINK OF IS I AM SCREWED IN AN ACCIDENT. ALSO THE POWER STEERING INDICATOR COMES ON ALL THE TIME AND WHEN YOU GET AN OIL CHANGE, THEN IT DISAPPEARS FOR A LITTLE WHILE, THEN COMES ON AGAIN EVERYTIME YOU START THE CAR. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10425549September 15, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A TURN WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS AND THE STEERING SERVICE LIGHT WOULD OCCASIONALLY ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT WOULD SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AFTER THE FAILURE AND UPON RESTART THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10424445September 9, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. AFTER TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND THEN ON, THE STEERING HAD INDEPENDENTLY RESET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE NOR WAS THE VEHICLE INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,765. UPDATED 10/14/11 *BF UPDATED 10/28/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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