Chevrolet Malibu Complaints (2004)

1,582 consumer complaints on file.

#10594556May 28, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
FRONT HEADLAMPS AND TURN SIGNAL BULBS ARE HAVING TO BE REPLACED AROUND EVERY 6 MONTHS. USING BULBS SPECIFIED BY THE OWNER'S MANUAL. PLASTIC ORANGE BULB CASING HAS HOLES MELTED ON THE TOP AND WARPED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10594436May 27, 2014
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THIS IS THE 5TH TIME THIS HAD HAPPENED WITH MY 2004 MALIBU, BUT THE SCARIEST. SIMILAR TO THE OTHER TIMES,BUT THIS TIME ON A CURVE. I HEARD A CHIME& "POWER STEERING" APPEARED IN THE MESSAGE BOX. MY CAR VEERED TO THE IEFT INTO TRAFFIC AND I COULD BARELY STEER IT. IT TOOK ALL MY 66 YEA OLD STRENGTH TO TURN THE WHEEL & GET INTO MY LANE. I PULLED OFF ASAP & TURNED CAR OFF IN A SAFE LOCATION. SHAKING FOR 15 MIN. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE. IT DOES NOT REVERT TO MANUAL STEERING. THE CEO IS LYING. I HAVE OWNED MANUAL STEERING CARS AND THIS DOES NOT STEER THAT WAY. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT IT HAS ALSO STALLED WITH NUMEROUS LIGHTS COMING ON. ABS, ENGINE, AND ONE I THINK IS ANOTHER STEERING LIGHT, YELLOW WITH A LINE THROUGH IT. WHY AREN'T THEY PULLED?CRUISE CONTROL COMES ON BY ITSELF & WON'T SHUT OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10593752May 23, 2014
STEERING
I WAS LEAVING WORK AND STARTED MY CAR AND THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT WORKING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON MY DASH PANEL ALSO CAME ON. THIS HAPPENED IN A SEPARATE INSTANCE A COUPLE DAYS PRIOR. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT AND THE POWER STEERING WAS FINE. THE SECOND INSTANCE I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR A COUPLE TIMES WITH NO CHANGE. I TOOK THE CAR HOME AND THEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I GET MY MAINTENANCE DONE THE NEXT DAY. THEY REPLACED A POWER STEERING COMPONENT AND I PAID FOR THE CHARGES. THIS ALL HAPPENED PRIOR TO MY KNOWLEDGE OF THESE RECALLS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10593392May 22, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING, WHEELS
I GOT IN MY CAR AND TRIED TO CRANK IT AND IT MADE A CLICKING NOISE. IT TOOK HOURS BEFORE IT STARTED, ON ANOTHER INCIDENT; SEVERAL TIMES I COULDN'T SHIFT MY CAR FROM PARK. MY POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND WHEN I WAS COMING TO A STOP AT A LIGHT THE CAR LIST CONTROL SERVING LEFT TO RIGHT UNTIL I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I ALWAYS HAVE TO GAS THE CAR TO GET GAS TO THE ENGINE FOR THE CAR TO START. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER HE SAID THAT IT WAS A RECALL PROBLEM AND HE'S HAD SEVERAL CUSTOMERS WITH MY CAR COME TO HIM WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN I LOOKED UP THE RECALL I NOTICED THAT MY CAR WAS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES AS REPORTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10592957May 21, 2014
STEERING
AFTER BEING AT A FULL STOP I SLOWLY ENTERED ONTO ANOTHER ROAD TAKING A LEFT TURN. A POWERING STEERING MESSAGE SHOWED UP ON MY RADIO SCREEN AND MY STEERING WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT! ON ABOUT 5 OR 6 OTHER OCCASIONS THE SAME MESSAGE APPEARED ON MY RADIO SCREEN AND MY POWER STEERING FAILED. ONE TIME WAS WHILE BACKING MY CAR UP, OTHER TIMES WHERE WHEN I TURNED MY CAR ON. AFTER ALL INCIDENTS SO FAR I WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF MY CAR, WAIT A MINUTE, TURN THE CAR BACK ON AND THE PROBLEM FIXED ITSELF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10592999May 21, 2014
STEERING
SUDDENLY LOST ABILITY TO OPERATE THE POWER STEERING WHEN MAKING RIGHT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH. THE WARNING LIGHT WAS PRESENT ON DASHBOARD AND INDICATED POWER STEERING PROBLEM. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE STRAIGHT ONLY AND THEN PUT THE CAR TO STOP. AFTER TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND ON AGAIN THE WARNING LIGHT WAS NO LONGER PRESENT. (THIS CAR WAS TWICE BEFORE AT THE DEALER REPAIR SHOP FOR STEERING PROBLEM IN THE PAST - UNDER WARRANTY. IT WAS BECAUSE THE STEERING WILL LOCKED WHEN I WAS PARKING THE CAR AND THIS REQUIRED ME TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT FOR ABOUT 3 TO 4 TIMES. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD WHAT SO EVER. THEN I WILL HAVE TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND WAIT ONE MINUTE AND START THE CAR AGAIN TO UNLOCK THE STEERING AND DRIVE THE CAR. THE CAR DEALER'S WARRANTY REPAIRS DID NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM.) *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10593094May 21, 2014
STEERING
I LOST COMPLETE CONTROL IN THE STEERING COLUMN AS I WAS TURNING LEFT AT AN INTERSECTION IN TRAFFIC. THE STEERING WHEEL FREELY TURNED 360 DEGREES, BUT THE TIRES DID NOT MOVE. I HAD NO WAY OF CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE AS IT WAS MOVING IN TRAFFIC. HAD I BEEN ON A HIGHWAY OR TRAVELING AT A HIGHER SPEED, I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED AND INJURED OTHER DRIVERS! THE MECHANIC MY VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO STATED THAT IT WAS THE RACK AND PINION COMPONENT OF THE VEHICLE AND THERE IS CURRENTLY A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THAT COMPONENT. STEERING FUNCTION IS A VITAL COMPONENT OF ANY VEHICLE AND I FIND IT SCARY AND APPALLING THAT THIS OCCURRED AND IS NOT COVERED BY A GM RECALL. DRIVING A CAR AT ANY SPEED, NOT TO MENTION HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WITHOUT ANY STEERING CONTROL IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10592521May 19, 2014
STEERING, INTERIOR LIGHTING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET APPROACHING THE CORNER PREPARING TO STOP LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER THE WHEEL, COULD NOT CONTINUE TO DRIVE HAD TO STOP THE CAR. ON SATURDAY MAY 17,2014 WHILE DOING 65 MILES ON THE HIGHWAY A CAR LIT UP ON THE LEFT CORNER OF THE DASH AND THE POWER STEERING WORDS APPEAR. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY IN FEAR. SEVERAL TIMES WHILE BACKING OUT OR PULLING OUT OF A SPACE THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTENS. EVERY MONTH I'M CONSTANTLY CHANGING LIGHT BULBS AND THE FUSES FOR THE INTERIOR AND THE EXTERIOR OF THE CAR. *TR UPDATED 12/9/2014 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10592287May 18, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
CHEVROLET MALIBU LS 2004 V6. EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHTS NOT WORKING AS EXPECTED. IN MY VEHICLE THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS NOT DEPRESSED, AND TURN OFF ONCE THE PEDAL IS APPLIED. DURING THIS EVENT I WAS NOTIFIED BY THE "SERVICE VEHICLE SOON" WARNING LIGHT. IN THE DARK I COULD SEE IN MY MIRRORS THAT MY BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD GO ON AND OFF WITH OUT TOUCHING THE PEDAL. MY BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHILE PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN I GOT HOME I HAD MY HUSBAND STAND BEHIND THE VEHICLE WHILE I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. NO CHANGED OCCURRED AS I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS BECAUSE OTHER DRIVERS WILL NOT KNOW WHEN I AM TRULY SLOWING DOWN OR ACTUALLY APPLYING THE BRAKE. NOW WHENEVER THE "SERVICE VEHICLE SOON" WARNING LIGHT COMES ON I KNOW THAT MY EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. SINCE FEBRUARY OF 2014 THIS HAPPENS 4 OR MORE TIMES A MONTH. I WORK SECOND SHIFT, SO WHEN I DRIVE HOME IT IS DARK OUT. MY VEHICLE COULD CAUSE ANOTHER DRIVER TO REAR END ME BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW THAT MY EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHTS AREN'T WORKING PROPERLY. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10592182May 17, 2014
STEERING
I HAVE HAD MY CAR SINCE 2011. I DIDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR UNTIL 2012. MY STEERING SHAFT BROKE AND IT WAS REPLACED AT A CHEVY DEALERSHIP. ALL WAS FINE UNTIL THIS YEAR IN MARCH, WHERE MY STEERING WAS BECOMING VERY HARD TO DO. WHEN I TURNED MY WHEEL, IT WOULD MAKE SOUNDS AS IF IT WAS BREAKING AND I NEEDED TO USE A LITTLE MORE FORCE TO TURN THE WHEEL. AS OF MAY 15, 2014, I TOOK MY CAR TO A CHEVY DEALERSHIP WHERE A FAMILY MEMBER ASKED IF THEY COULD SEE IF ANY PARTS ON MY CAR WAS ON RECALL AND THERE ARE SEVERAL RECALLS FOR THE MALIBU. MY STEERING IS GETTING WORSE BY THE DAY AND MY CAR IS DRIVING HORRIBLY. I HAVE A 4 YR AND THIS IS MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM WORK. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE TOO FAR BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL MIGHT GET STUCK AND MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I WANTED TO REPORT THIS BEFORE SOMETHING ACTUALLY HAPPENED. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10588850May 16, 2014
STEERING
AS I WAS DRIVING A LOSS OF POWER STEERING HAPPENED. THE CAR WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. I HAD TO BRAKE VERY FAST TO KEEP FROM HITTING THE CAR IN THE NEXT LANE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10588967May 16, 2014
STEERING
SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2004, IT HAS BEEN AT THE CHEVROLET DEALER 4 TIMES FOR THE STEERING COLUMN AND RACK AND PINION. THE LAST TIME I BROUGHT IT IN WAS ROUND 2007 AND IT STARTED GOING OUT AGAIN IN 2008. I WAS FED UP WITH TAKING IT TO THE DEALER, SO FILED A COMPLAINT AND WAS HOPING IT WOULD GET RECALLED. I CHECKED THE RECALL LIST FOR THIS YEAR AND FOUND MY VEHICLE WAS NOT ON THE STEERING RECALL LIST. I AM VERY UPSET AND WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER GM CAR AGAIN. I REFUSE TO PAY OUT OF MY POCKET FOR THIS ONGOING ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10588793May 16, 2014
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO INFORMED THAT CONTACT THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 14V153000 (STEERING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000. DR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10588716May 15, 2014
POWER TRAIN
HI I WAS WONDER HOW LONG CHEVY GOING TO LAG ON GETTING PEOPLE MALIBU FIXED AND WHEN THEIR GOING TO START RAGING VIN TO CAR I NEED THE MONEY THAT I DID NOT HAVE IN THE FIRST PLACE TO PAY UP SO I WANT IT BACK NOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10588320May 14, 2014
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY OVER A PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN AND TORQUE ANGLE SENSOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10588373May 14, 2014
STEERING
TL*T HE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME VERY HARD TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL TORQUE AND SENSOR FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE POWER STEERING COLUMN UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,327. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,258. UPDATED 08/11/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE TECHNICIAN FOUND THE FAULT CODE C0545 (STEERING WHEEL TORQUE IN THE PAST SENSOR FAILURE). THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN UNIT WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 08/13/2014 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10587744May 12, 2014
STEERING
TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FAIL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WOULD BECOME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000. ML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10587598May 10, 2014
STEERING
AFTER STARTING THE CAR LATE AT NIGHT LEAVING A FRIENDS HOUSE, WAS IN THE ACT OF PULLING OUT INTO THE STREET WHEN THE STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN, AND THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS STUCK OUT INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD UNTIL I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND TURNED IT BACK ON TO REST THE SYSTEMS. IF IT WAS EARLIER IN THE DAY I VERY MUCH BELIEVE WE COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED BY ANOTHER CAR. I HAVE HAD IT DO IT TO ME BEFORE FOR JUST A COUPLE OF SECONDS THE IT WAS FINE. IM GETTING VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10587603May 10, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MANY TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2006, I WOULD DRIVE TO A LOCATION SHUT THE CAR OFF COME BACK OUT (DOSE NOT MATTER HOW LONG OF A TIME I WOULD BE WHERE IM AT) TRY TO START THE CAR, IT STARTS AND THEN DIES, THIS SOMETIMES HAPPENS MORE THE ONCE IN A ROW, BY THE SECOND AND THIRD TRY IT WOULD START AND BE FINE AFTER THAT. THE LAST TIME IT DID IT AT AN INTERSECTION, THE CAR SHUT OFF WHILE IDLING, IT TOOK A FEW SECONDS TO START IT BACK UP. DURING THIS TIME I ALMOST GOT HIT TWICE BY DIFFERENT CAR. I HAVE HAD THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CHECKED AND EVERYTHING IS WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE. I SAW A RECALL FOR MALIBU'S ABOUT THERE FUEL SYSTEMS. IM WONDERING IF THE MAXX TYPE IS PART OF THAT PROBLEM AS WELL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10587609May 10, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT TURN SIGNAL BULBS MANY TIME WITH ORIGINAL PART NUMBERS USING STANDARD BULBS, THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH OVER HEATING AND MELTED THE ORANGE TURN SIGNAL GLOBES INSIDE THE HEAD LIGHTS TO THE POINT THAT IT MADE HOLES IN THE TOP OF THE INNER GLOBES AND ITS YELLOWING THE INSIDE OF MY HEADLIGHT. I HAVE HEARD MANY OTHERS HAVING PROBLEMS AS WELL, I ALSO WORK FOR A COMPANY WHERE WE SERVICE CAR, IT IS VERY NOTICEABLE ON THE 2004 - 2006 CHEVY MALIBU'S THAT COME INTO MY SHOP AS WELL. WHEN THE PLASTIC MELTS IT TOUCHES THE BULB AND POPS IT, NOW I DON'T HAVE ANY WAY TO WARN THE OTHER DRIVES THAT I NEED TO MAKE A TURN FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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