Chevrolet Malibu Complaints (2004)

1,582 consumer complaints on file.

#10358079September 28, 2010
STEERING
I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX THAT I BOUGHT IN MAY, 2006. ABOUT A YEAR AGO, WHILE DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I SEARCHED FOR RECALLS AND CALLED A CHEVROLET DEALER. IN MY RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. NOT LONG AFTER THIS, GM RECALLED THE CHEVY COBALT AND SOME PONTIAC MODELS FOR THE SAME THING. EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE READ SAYS THAT YOU CAN STILL STEER AT THE SPEED CONSISTENT WITH BEING ON THE INTERSTATE. MY PROBLEM IS, I LIVE AND WORK IN A SMALL TOWN. IT HAS NOW DONE THIS ON ME SEVERAL TIMES AND AT THE SLOW SPEEDS FOR A SMALL TOWN, I HAVE TROUBLE STEERING. TWO OF THESE TIMES THAT THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT I WAS AT AN INTERSECTION. TRYING TO TAKE OFF AND CROSS THE INTERSECTION WHEN THIS HAPPENS IS VERY DIFFICULT. THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT GM IS GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357317September 24, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FAILURE OF POWER STEERING WHILE ACCELERATING VEHICLE. STEERING DIRECTION BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE TO CHANGE UNTIL ACCELERATION CEASES. THIS HAS SUPPOSEDLY BEEN FIXED BY THE DEALERSHIP TWO TIMES PREVIOUS TO TODAY. THE LAST TIME IT WAS FIXED WAS ONLY TWO WEEKS AGO AND WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE KIDS INTO SCHOOL THIS MORNING, THE STEERING LOCKED UP, THE DINGING SOUND TURNED ON, AND THE MESSAGE BOARD READ POWER STEERING ALONG WITH A TOOL THAT LIT UP ON THE DASHBOARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10356917September 22, 2010
SEATS
FRONT DRIVERS SEAT. 2004 MALIBU MAXX. SEAT BECAME 'PITCHED' TO THE RIGHT. DISLODGED OF ASSEMBLY. WE TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS 'BROKEN' AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.....THIS HAPPENED 2 TIMES TOTALING 1200.00. UPON RESEARCH THIS APPEARS TO BE AN ALL TO COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MALIBU SEAT ASSEMBLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10356311September 19, 2010
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING BACK HOME AT NIGHT AFTER WORK A HOUR AWAY TO BOWIE TX I WORK IN FORT WORTH. GOING ON HWY 287 WHICH IS A BIG HWY FOR TRAVELING RIGS, I WAS GOING 65 MPH AND I CAME TO A TURNING THE HWY AND MY POWER STEERING JUST GOES OUT WITH ANY WARNING. I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES TAPPING THE WALL IN THE MEDIAN. LOOKED ON THE INFORMATION BOARD AND IT SAID POWER STEERING. THE NEXT MORNING I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND AROUND 10 TO 15 WEBSITES THAT HAD THIS COMPLAINT WITH THE CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. I CALLED GM CHEVROLET IN NORTH RICHLAND HILLS AND THE ON IN DECATUR AND THEY BOTH TOLD ME THAT THE KNOW THIS IS A BIG DEAL THE KNOW ABOUT IT BUT AT THIS TIME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME. THIS IS MY WIFE'S CAR AND LUCKY THIS DAY I TOOK IT INSTEAD FOR HER AND MY 3 YEAR OLD SON. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10355581September 14, 2010
STEERING:COLUMN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL FROZE AND WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AS IT ABNORMALLY PULLED TO THE LEFT ACROSS SEVERAL LANES AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISING ON THE SHOULDER AND NECK FROM THE SEAT BELT. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL AUTO BODY REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE STEERING COLUMN WAS RULED AS THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 122,000. UPDATED 12/09/10 *BF ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE CONSUMER STATED THE POWER STEERING FAILED. UPDATED 12/13/10*JB UPDATED 4/29/14*CN UPDATED 05/15/14
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10355390September 13, 2010
STEERING
2004 MALIBU MAX POWER STEERING FAILS WITH NO WARNING! IT HASN'T HAPPENED JUST ONCE, BUT MANY TIMES IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS. TOOK CAR TO THE DEALER, THEY CAN ONLY FIND 1 OF THE COMPONENTS TO DO THE REPAIR. SAID IT COULD TAKE UP TO 3 MONTHS TO GET THE PART. THEN THE REPAIR IS GOING TO COST A TOTAL OF $1200.00. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING HAPPENING. WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO DO A RECALL? HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE FIRST? I DON'T WANT TO BE ONE OF THEM. WHEN IS SOMEONE GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. I SEE THAT THE NHTSA CLOSED THE INVESTIGATION OF THE MATTER IN 2004. WHAT'S THAT? OPEN IT UP AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10354922September 10, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS HAD APPEARED ON DASHBOARD AND THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECREASE IN SPEED. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE, RESTARTED IT AND NOTICED THAT THE FAILURE HAD CORRECTED ITSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPRODUCED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10354613September 9, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT BULBS CONSTANTLY TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOPS AND DEALERSHIPS SEVERAL TIMES. THE BULBS WERE REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE HEADLIGHT BULB RECENTLY MELTED TO THE WIRING HARNESS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD FLUCTUATE BETWEEN FULL AND EMPTY AND DID PRODUCE CORRECT READINGS. ON THREE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT RAN OUT OF FUEL BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY GAUGE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED FOR THIS PROBLEM AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD , DUE TO HIGH MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE, THEY COULD NOT ASSIST HER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10354138September 7, 2010
STEERING
MY 2004 MALIBU HAS A POWER STEERING PROBLEM. I TOOK IT IN TODAY TO SEE ABOUT REPAIR AND IT IS GOING TO COST ALMOST $700 TO FIX. THE POWER STEERING JUST STOPS WORKING SOMETIMES. IT HAS BEEN DOING IT FOR A WHILE NOW. IT IS PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE. IT SOMEHOW RESETS WHEN YOU TURN THE CAR OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON SOMETIMES. I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD 50,000 MILES ON IT. I NOW HAVE 70,000 MILES ON IT AND IT IS TO THE POINT WHERE IT HAS TO BE FIXED. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW IT IS NOT A RECALL SITUATION KNOWING HOW IMPORTANT THE POWER STEERING IS ON A VEHICLE. THIS SITUATION COMES AFTER HAVING TO HAVE THE STEREO REPLACED IN THE VEHICLE 3 TIMES AND NOW IT IS NOT WORKING AGAIN. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN GM FOR NOT TAKING CARE OF EITHER OF THESE PROBLEMS SATISFACTORILY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10353713September 3, 2010
SEATS
THE SUPPORT RAIL UNDER MY DRIVERS SEAT IN A 2004 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX BROKE. THE WELD COMPLETELY SEPARATED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10353490September 2, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY FRIEND HAS A 2004 CHEVY MALIBU, SHE ASKED ME TO CHECK HER FRONT TURN SIGNALS AS THEY WERE NOT WORKING. I NOTICED THE LIGHT BULBS WERE COVERED BY A ORANGE PLASTIC GLOBE. I WAS AMAZED TO SEE THE PLASTIC GLOBES HAD BURN HOLES IN THEM AND THE MELTING PLASTIC WAS DRIPPING ON THE LIGHT BULBS AND DESTROYING THEM. I ALSO NOTICED BURN MARKS ON THE HEADLAMP LENSES ON BOTH SIDES. I REMOVED THE PLASTIC GLOBES AND PUT NEW BULBS IN. THE GLOBES ARE WAY TOO CLOSE TO THE HOT BULBS WHICH ARE BURNING THE PLASTIC. IT IS HAPPENING ON HIGHER MILEAGE MALIBUS THAT HAVE HAD TIME TO MELT THE PLASTIC. I FEEL THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. I CHECKED ON THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM. GM HAS NO BULLETINS ON THIS MATTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10353555September 2, 2010
STEERING
2004 CHEVY MALIBU "ELECTRIC STEERING" REPEATED FAILURE OF THE STEERING UNIT AND STEERING COLUMN. STEERING WHEEL CLUNKS AND BECOMES LOOSE. CHEVY FIXED IT TWICE OR SO BUT NOW SAYS ITS UP TO ME. I EXPECT THE STEERING ASSY OF ANY CAR TO BE BULLET PROOF AND NOT HAVE SAFETY PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10353601September 2, 2010
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING ALARM AND THE SERVICE ENGINE SIGN IN THE DASHBOARD OF MY 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU LS HAS BEEN GOING OFF EVERY TIME I TURN ON THE CAR. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR 3 WEEKS NOW. MY BROTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR 2005 AND 2007 CHEVROLET CARS. HOWEVER, SINCE I DID NOT GET A RECALL NOTICE, MY DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ME AN UPWARDS OF $150 TO JUST LOOK AT THE ISSUE I AM BEING TOLD THAT THE 2004 MALIBU'S ARE NOT ON THE RECALL LIST, HENCE I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSTICS. I AM SCARED OF THE SAFETY OF DRIVING MY CAR TO AND FROM WORK BUT I AM LEFT WITH NO CHOICE BUT TO TAKE A CHANCE AND USE MY CAR WITH THE ALARM GOING OFF. I CANNOT AFFORD THE PRICE THE DEALERSHIP IS WANTING TO CHARGE ME, ESPECIALLY IF IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITHIN THE CHEVROLET MODELS. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE... ASK THE DEALERS TO FIX THIS ISSUE WITH CHEVROLET CARS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10353222September 1, 2010
STEERING, EQUIPMENT, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING IN MY VEHICLE IS FAULTY. THE STEERING WHEEL WILL MOVE BY ITS SELF WHILE DRIVING OR IN PARK. ALSO MY POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP DUE TO POWER STEERING I HAVE A VERY HARD TIME TURNING AND CONTROLLING CAR. I HAVE BARELY AVOID SEVERAL ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. I HAVE TAKEN CAR TO DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF CAN BE FIXED BECAUSE WHEN I CALLED GM I WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE WARRANTY THAT WOULD HAVE FIXED ISSUE BUT BECAUSE IT WAS PAST THEIR RECALL TIME THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST ME AND THE DEALER WANTS 800.00 TO FIX AND THEY SAY THAT EVEN FIXING THE STEERING COLUMN AND OR THE ASSIST MOTOR THAT I WILL MORE THEN LIKELY HAVE THE SAME ISSUES! MY CAR IS A 2004 WITH ONLY 44,462 MILES ON IT. I GOT THE CAR USED FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR (2010) AND DIDN'T KNOW THAT IT WOULD BE A NIGHTMARE AND A DEATH TRAP FOR MY FAMILY! I HAVE VIDEO OF THE WHEEL MOVING BY ITS SELF AS WELL AS VIDEO SHOWING THAT WHEN I LOSS POWER STEERING THE CAR IS HAZARDOUS. I AM REALLY AFRAID THAT I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THIS ISSUE AND WILL ONE DAY LOSS COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE CAR AND HURT MYSELF AND POSSIBLY OTHERS! CHEVROLET NEEDS TO FIX THIS ISSUE FOR GOOD OR REPLACE THE CARS ALL TOGETHER BECAUSE ITS REALLY ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS ISSUE BITES THEM IN THE BUTT! I REALLY LIKE MY MALIBU BUT I REALLY THINK THAT I SHOULD HAVE NEVER GOT IT BECAUSE OF ALL THE ISSUES LOSING POWER STEERING, PULLS BAD TO LEFT AND RIGHT, LOOSE SHIFTER KNOB, & THE REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY DOESN'T WORK RIGHT. I HOPE BY FILING THIS COMPLAINT WITH YOU THAT MAYBE IT WILL BE RESOLVED. I WANT TO HAVE PIECE OF MIND WHILE DRIVING MY FAMILY IN CAR NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE CAR BEING A DEATH TRAP ON 4 WHEELS THAT WILL LOSS CONTROL WHEN IT FEELS LIKE IT AND KILL MY FAMILY AND MYSELF. I KNOW THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THESE ISSUES WITH THE MALIBU AND CHEVROLET REALLY NEEDS TO STEP UP AND MAKE THESE ISSUES RIGHT FOR US THE CONSUMERS FAST! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10353109August 31, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU . WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH A CHIMING SOUND ALERTED HER THAT THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WITHIN A FEW SECONDS THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, BACK ON AND BEGAN TO DRIVE NORMALLY. AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352669August 30, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REGAINING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS THE ONLY TIME THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 117,000. UPDATED 12/22/10 *BF UPDATED 12/29/10*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352728August 30, 2010
STEERING
I HAVE A 2004 MALIBU MAX. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING COLUMN FOR THE PAST 1 1/2 YEARS. THE RACK AND PINION AND STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED LAST YEAR AFTER THE POWER STEERING KEPT GOING OUT. A YEAR LATER AND THE RACK AND PINION AS BEEN REPLACED AGAIN! THE STEERING COLUMN IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AS WELL! THE POWER STEERING GOES KEEPS GOING OUT, BUT IF I TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON IT CORRECTS THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY. THERE IS NO WARNING BEFORE IT GOES OUT. THE 2005 HAS A RECALL OUT ON IT BUT NOT THE 2004 AND IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352810August 30, 2010
STEERING
ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILS RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352448August 28, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU LS, THE LEFT TURN, PARKING, & DRL BULB OVERHEATED AND CAUSED A FIRE THAT MELTED THE AMBER PLASTIC LENS INSIDE IF THE HEADLIGHT ASSY CAUSING IT TO SCORCH THE INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT ASSY AROUND THE AMBER PART. THE RIGHT SIDE HAD PREVIOUSLY JUST MELTED THE TOP OF THE AMBER LENS. THESE WERE THE ORIGINAL HEADLIGHT ASSYS WITH 3157 BULBS THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE VERY BRIGHT ALL THE TIME. THE BULB CAUSED A FIRE THAT WENT OUT BY ITSELF THAT IS THE SAFETY PROBLEM. BOUGHT CERTIFIED REPLACEMENT HEADLIGHT ASSYS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352507August 28, 2010
STEERING
2004 CHEVY MALIBU POWER STEERING GOES OUT WITHOUT WARNING AND FREQUENTLY. WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL LOCKS UP MAKING TURNING IMPOSSIBLE TO DO. I ALMOST CAUSED A HEAD ON COLLISION DUE TO THIS. NOW WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TIRES DO NOT MOVE AT ALL. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON-LINE ABOUT THIS EXACT ISSUE AND GM WANTS TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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