Chevrolet Malibu Complaints (2004)

1,582 consumer complaints on file.

#10690279February 24, 2015
POWER TRAIN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10666943February 24, 2015
STEERING
2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR STEERING COLUMN RECALL NOTICE REPAIRS. *SMD THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND RACK AND PINION WERE REPLACED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10690009February 23, 2015
STEERING
I LOST POWER STEERING AND GOT A MESSAGE IN THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER TELLING ME THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING. I WAS DRIVING ON ROUTE 1 IN NEW JERSEY AND GOING ABOUT 45-50 MPH. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED THE CAR, HOPING IT WAS JUST AN ELECTRONIC GLITCH. THAT SOLVED THE IMMEDIATE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, I LEARNED READING THE NYTIMES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MAXX AND IN FACT THERE HAD BEEN A SAFETY RECALL ON THE CAR. I CALLED A LOCAL CHEVY DEALER TO HAVE IT FIXED AND FOUND THERE ARE THREE OUTSTANDING SAFETY RECALLS ON MY CAR. IN ADDITION TO THE POWER STEERING PROBLEM, THERE ARE ALSO PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE AND THE BRAKE LAMP. ALL THESE RECALLS WERE MADE IN APRIL AND MAY OF LAST YEAR AFTER ALL THE BAD PUBLICITY ABOUT COVERING UP DEFECTS THAT RESULTED IN DEATHS. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE CARE OF ALL THREE PROBLEMS, BUT THIS IS MY LARGER CONCERN: I DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT I RECEIVED ONLY ONE RECALL NOTICE (NOT THREE) AND THAT ONE NOTICE (WHICH WAS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION CABLE) SAID THAT THE PARTS WEREN'T AVAILABLE AND THEY WOULD NOTIFY ME WHEN THEY WERE AVAILABLE. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED, BUT APPARENTLY THE PARTS ARE AVAILABLE AND HAVE BEEN FOR SOME TIME. MY QUESTION FOR YOU: WHAT IS NHTSA DOING TO MAKE SURE THAT INDIVIDUAL CONSUMERS RECEIVE ACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT SAFETY RECALLS? I WAS LUCKY. I WAS DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT ROAD IN AN URBAN AREA -- AND NOT TAKING A CURVE ON A MOUNTAINSIDE -- WHEN MY POWER STEERING SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. WHY WASN'T I TOLD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM EARLIER? WHY DID I HAVE TO WAIT TILL READING ABOUT IT IN THE NYTIMES? AND WHY DIDN'T I RECEIVE A FOLLOWUP LETTER WHEN THE PART BECAME AVAILABLE FOR THE TRANSMISSION CABLE? THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10689836February 22, 2015
STEERING
STEERING WHEEL APPEARS TO LOCK UP AND POWER STEERING LOST. STEERING COLUMN APPEARS LOOSE. HAPPENS DAILY AND APPROX. TEN TO TWELVE TIMES WEEKLY. OFTEN NOISE RATTLING LIKE IN LOWER OR BASE STEERING SHAFT AREA. SOMETIMES HAPPENS A MINUTE OR TWO AFTER WE START CAR AND VEHICLE MOVES. SOMETIMES AT ABOUT 20-45 MPH IN CITY DRIVING. OTHER TIMES WHEN CAR IS GOING 50-75 MPH IN HIGHWAY DRIVING. IT IS INTERMITTENT AND UNPREDICTABLE. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN ON POT HOLED OR OTHERWISE ROUGH ROADS. OUR ONLY KNOWN STEERING RELATED GM RECALL WAS COMPLETED RECENTLY BY GMC DEALER. HOWEVER, PROBLEMS CONTINUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10684060February 18, 2015
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10683465February 14, 2015
STEERING
AFTER I TOOK MY 2004 CHEVY MALIBU IN TO GET FIXED UNDER THE RECALLS, MY CAR KEEPS FLASHING THE MAINTENANCE LIGHT AND ON MY RADIO THE "CHECK POWER STEERING" COMES ON FOLLOWED BY A CHIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10662790February 9, 2015
STEERING, SUSPENSION, POWER TRAIN, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. CONSUMER SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR PREVIOUS REPAIRS, PRIOR TO RECALL. *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOISY, THE WHEEL WAS LOOSE, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. AN ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED TWICE, SHE EXPERIENCED STEERING PROBLEMS DURING THE ENTIRE YEAR OF 2013. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE STEERING ISSUE, BUT SHE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS. THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND RACK AND PINION WERE REPLACED. ALSO, THE TURN SIGNALS AND SHIFTER CABLE WERE REPLACED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10681305February 4, 2015
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE AND THE POWER STEERING SEIZED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CURB AND A POLE. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF ANY INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED OR IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10680938February 3, 2015
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AS THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT AFTER TEN MINUTES OF DRIVING, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FLASHED AND THE STEERING WHEEL RESUMED TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14R044000 (STEERING) BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL POWER SYSTEM MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT DID NOT DISCLOSE IF THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED OR NOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. UPDATED 03/30/15*LJ UPDATED 10/21/2015 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10680986February 3, 2015
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 15 MPH. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND FLICKERED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION FLUID BURNING ODOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BURNING DOOR DID NOT OCCUR UNTIL AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10680512February 2, 2015
SEATS
FIRST OFF, EVERYWHERE I LOOK ONLINE SOMEONE HAS PROBLEMS REGARDING THE CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX'S SEATS. I WAS GOING ABOUT 30MPH AND I HEARD A POP CONE FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT FRAME WHEN I TURNED A CORNER. THE WELD ON ONE OF THE SUPPORTING BARS POPPED OFF AGAIN AFTER TRYING TO WELD IT AGAIN WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE METAL BAR THAT BROKE WAS TO WEAK AND SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN PUT IN AT THE FACTORY.I BELIEVE VERY STRONGLY THAT THESE SEATS SHOULD BE FIXED BECAUSE IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD AND A FINANCIAL BURDEN ON THOSE SEEKING TO GET IT FIXED. THANK YOU FOR READING MY CONCERNS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10680406February 1, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
JULY 18 - DRIVING TO WORK, HEARD AND FELT A CLUNK. ON THE RADIO DISPLAY POWER STEERING WAS NOW DISPLAYED AND THE MECHANICS SYMBOL ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. JULY 28- MCCLUSKEY IS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE TROUBLE WITH CAR, THEY DO NOT HAVE PARTS ANYWAY. AUG. 6 - VM CAR IS READY. WHEN WE ARRIVED TOLD US THERE IS A PROBLEM, THEY HAVE USED NON-APPROVED GM PARTS, THEY NEED TO TAKE THOSE PARTS OUT AND PUT IN APPROVED GM PARTS TO BE PAID. REAR QUARTER OF THE CAR WAS DAMAGED. AUG.14 - PASSENGER SIDE LOWER FRONT BUMPER IS NOW DAMAGED AUG. 21 - PICKED UP MALIBU FROM THE BODY SHOP, REALIZE SEAT IS BROKEN CALL THE BODY SHOP BACK WITHIN 5 MIN. OF LEAVING THE LOT, I WENT AROUND A CORNER AND I AM THROWN INTO THE DOOR. IN OCT. RECEIVED THE RECALL LETTER AGAIN, DEALERSHIPS NOW HAVE PARTS, TAKE YOUR VEHICLE IN AND HAVE THE REPAIR COMPLETED. IF THIS WAS DONE IN AUGUST WHY DID I JUST RECEIVE A LETTER? NOV. 27, WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE CAR THE POWER STEERING WOULD NOT WORK AGAIN, MAKING A TURN AT SLOW SPEED THE CAR WOULD NOT RESPOND AND ACTED AS IF HE HAD HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE ACCELERATOR AT THE SAME TIME, AS IF HE WAS POWER BRAKING, THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE, THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE, COMPLETELY UNSAFE. DEC. 3 BORCHERDING BUICK CALLS ME AND TELLS ME THE RECALLS ARE NOT THE ISSUE AND CANNOT BE COMPLETED UNTIL THE STEERING COLUMN ISSUE IS FIXED.THE CAR HAD 57635 MILES ON JULY 18TH THE DAY THE CAR WAS TOWED TO MCCLUSKEY CHEVROLET, ON AUGUST 22ND THE MORNING AFTER I PICKED UP THE CAR FROM MCCLUSKEY CHEVROLET THE CAR HAS 58135. THE CAR BECAME UN-DRIVABLE WITH 60890 MILES. I HAVE A RECEIPT THE POWER STEERING WAS REPLACED IN 2005 UNDER A RECALL/WARRANTY AND THEN AGAIN THE POWER STEERING WAS REPAIRED IN 2009 WITH GM PAYING HALF WE PAID HALF DUE TO THE LOW MILES ON THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10679978January 30, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11E009000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 163,629.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10661727January 29, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. VEHICLE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING, WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY. *MW THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. IT WAS DETERMINED THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAULTY. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AND SUBMITTED DOCUMENTATION ALONG WITH THE REIMBURSEMENT CLAIM. THE CONSUMERS REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT WAS DENIED. ACCORDING TO CHRYSLER, HIS CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT WAS NOT VALID, THEREFORE IT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10679403January 28, 2015
STEERING
I WAS AT A STOP SIGN AND AS I ACCELERATED AND MADE A LEFT TURN THE STEERING WENT OUT COMPLETELY HALF WAY THROUGH MY TURN. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SPIN FREELY IN EITHER DIRECTION AND IT IN NO WAY ALLOWED ME TO STEER. MY VEHICLE WENT INTO THE DITCH BY THE TIME I STOPPED. I HAD JUST MINUTES BEFORE GOTTEN OFF THE INTERSTATE. HAD SOMEONE BEEN WALKING ALONG THE ROAD THAT DAY I COULD HAVE HIT AND KILLED THEM. THIS FAILURE CAME WITHOUT WARNING. THE STEERING HAD A SMALL AMOUNT OF PLAY BEFORE THE INCIDENT, HOWEVER NO MORE THAN I FELT WAS NORMAL FOR A CAR OF THIS AGE. THE ISSUE WAS FOUND TO BE THAT THE STEERING SHAFT PULLED OUT OF THE RACK AND PINION. I HAVE A PICTURE OF THE PART AFTER THE FAILURE, BUT BEFORE IT WAS REPLACED THAT I CAN SEND IF YOU WISH. IF THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO THE OWNERS AND THOSE AROUND THEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10679441January 28, 2015
SEATS
THE TRACK WELD AND BRACE ON DRIVER SIDE POWER SEAT IS FRACTURED/BROKEN CAUSING EXTREME UNEVEN SLOPING IN SEAT. THE SEAT MOVES WHILE DRIVING. MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH THIS CAR, WHY NO RECALL ON A FAULTY FRAMING DESIGN? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10678511January 23, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES, STEERING
THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING ON A TWO LANE ROAD AND CAME TO A CURVE IN THE ROAD AT WHICH TIME SHE REPORTED THAT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT SLOW OR STOP THE CAR AND THE CAR BEGAN TO VEER IN AN UNINTENDED (AND UNSTEERED) DIRECTION. THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE CAR'S PATH AND SPEED AND IT WENT OUT OF CONTROL STRIKING FOUR CARS, CROSSING A DIVIDER AND IMPACTING HEAD ON WITH A 4 X 4 TRUCK. THE DRIVER COMMENTED THAT THE "CAR WENT WILD". *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10676205January 17, 2015
SEATS
ELECTRIC POWER SEATS FRAME BROKE. SEATS WON'T ADJUST, AND LEANS TO THE SIDE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10672949January 16, 2015
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT GEARS FAILED TO SHIFT PROPERLY AND THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS THE GEAR SLIPPED FROM DRIVE AND UPON TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, THE VEHICLE WENT TO THE LEFT AND CRASHED INTO A BARRIER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10671277January 9, 2015
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ATTEMPTING TO AVOID A DOG, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AND THE POWER STEERING SEIZED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE DOG. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO NEAREST INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS TO THE DAMAGED FRONT END. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000. UPDATED 03/17/15*LJ UPDATED 9/12/2017*CN
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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