2004 Chevrolet Malibu Classic

IN PERFORMING THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS, ODI DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES CAN MALFUNCTION OR FAIL, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE; HOWEVER, DUE TO THE FOLLOWING REASONS, ODI HAS DECIDED THAT FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES ON THIS INVESTIGATION IS NOT WARRANTED AT THIS TIME: - GM ISSUED CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN (CSC) 04050A INDECEMBER 2004 TO ADDRESS THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN APPROXIMATELY58,700 SUBJECT VEHICLES, ENCOMPASSING AT LEAST 97 PERCENT OF THECOMPLAINT AND WARRANTY CLAIMS POPULATION.VEHICLES OUTSIDE THECSC 04050A POPULATION CONTAIN A NEWLY DESIGNED TORQUE ANDPOSITION SENSOR AND HAVE EXPERIENCED A RELATIVELY LOW COMPLAINTRATE.THIS CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN PRESENTLY HAS ACOMPLETION RATE OF 52%. - THE IMPACT ON THE DRIVER?S ABILITY TO CONTROL THESE RELATIVELYSMALL AND LIGHT VEHICLES WAS LIMITED.VRTC TEST ENGINEERS WEREUNABLE TO INDUCE A FAILURE MODE THAT WOULD CAUSE THE EPS TOSUBSTANTIALLY LIMIT THE DRIVER?S ABILITY TO TURN THE VEHICLE IN APARTICULAR DIRECTION OR TO PROVIDE THE DRIVER WITH UNINTENDEDPOWER ASSISTANCE.- THERE IS NO RISK OF FIRE.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.(FOR FURTHER DETAILS SEE ATTACHED ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA04-018)CLOSING REPORT.)

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Classic. The contact stated that while stopped at a red light, the vehicle lost motive power and abnormal noises were heard coming from the dashboard. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle when the door locks began to lock and unlock inadvertently. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and drove the vehicle to a locksmith. The locksmith informed the contact that there was no failure with the ignition switch. The dealer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that they could not repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000.

NHTSA ID

11433192

Incident

Sep 15, 2021

Mileage

91,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 MALIBU CLASSIC , WHEN ALL THE VEHICLE , TURNED OFF ,CAUSING ME TO HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AND THAT VEHICLE HITTING ANOTHER CAR , THERE WHERE 3 VEHICLE INVOLVED WITH INJURY'S, MY VEHICLE WAS TOLLED AND WAS SENT TO A TOW YARD , AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT I WAS WORKING AS A MAINTENANCE WORKER AND WOULD CARRY MY WORK KEYS WITH MY VEHICLE KEYS , NEVER WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT WOULD HAVE TURNED THE IGNITION

NHTSA ID

11399664

Incident

Jan 14, 2012

Mileage

86,509 mi

WELL MY IGNITION SWITCH WENT OUT I REPLACE THAT.NOW IT'S SHORTAGES IN WIRING AND LIGHTS HEAT ON AN OFF SOMETIMES SHOCKS

NHTSA ID

11394823

Incident

Jan 19, 2021

Mileage

175,000 mi

ON 01/14/2012 I WAS DRIVING A 2004 MALIBU CLASSIC IN WHICH I ENDED UP IN A CRASH INVOLVING 3 VEHICLES, I WAS DRIVING ON A STREET ABOUT 30 MILES PER HOUR WHEN MY MALIBU HAD SUDDENLY TURNED OFF WITHOUT POWER STEERING AND BREAKS I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, THEN THAT CAR HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM, MY 2004 MALIBU WAS TOTALED, THE INSURANCE COMPANY, WAS A TOTAL LOSS, AT THE TIME I WAS TICKETED FOR FOLLOWING TOO CLOSELY, HOWEVER I KNEW THAT THIS MALIBU HAD LOSS POWER CAUSING THE ACCIDENT

NHTSA ID

11364782

Incident

Jan 14, 2012

Mileage

124,356 mi

THE ANTI THEFT GAS CUT OFF FEATURE HAS RENDERED MY VEHICLE UNABLE TO START. I HAVE TRIED MANY METHODS BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. IT STARTS WHEN IT WANTS TOO, BUT NOT WHEN I DO. *TR

NHTSA ID

11327121

Incident

Jun 3, 2020

Mileage

117,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL INDEPENDENTLY TURNED TO THE LEFT WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON BUT FAILED TO FIX THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RACK AND PINION DETACHED FROM THE SUBFRAME AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONLY THE BUSHING WAS REPLACED AND NOT THE RACK AND PINION. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED ON ANOTHER OCCASION THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT TO REVERSE OR GO INTO FORWARD GEAR WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFT CABLE WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,000.

NHTSA ID

11311038

Incident

Apr 3, 2019

Mileage

157,000 mi

MY THEFT LIGHT CAME ON A MONTH AFTER THE IGNITION WAS REPAIRED DUE TO RECALL. IT IS ALWAYS ON NOW. I HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, SPARK PLUGS, AND TIMING CHAIN. MY CAR STILL WONT START AFTER ALL OF THAT AND THE THEFT LIGHT IS STILL ON. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A CAR FOR 2 MONTHS NOW DUE TO IT NOT STARTING. IT WILL ROLL OVER BUT NOTHING MORE HAPPENS.WHEN ALL OF THIS HAPPENED IT WAS STATIONARY AND IT WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT WHERE I WORK.

NHTSA ID

11297168

Incident

Nov 10, 2019

Mileage

183,000 mi

THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS. I HAD THE CIRCUIT BOARDS CHANGED AND ALL FUSES CHECKED AND CHANGED AND I STILL DON'T HAD BRAKE LIGHTS. THERE IS A RECALL LISTED CONCERNING THIS ISSUE IT IS RECALL NUMBER 13036. I HAVE RESEARCHED IS SITUATION AND FOUND OUT THAT THE CHEVY MALIBU MODELS FROM 1997 TO 2012 ALL SEEM TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILING TO OPERATE. SO WHEN A RECALL BE ISSUED OR DO PEOPLE HAVE TO CONTINUE TAKING CHANCES THAT WHILE THEY ARE DRIVING THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS MAY OR MAY NOT BE WORKING. I WAS DRIVING WHEN SOMEONE INFORMED ME THAT MY REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING THANKFULLY I ARRIVED HOME, PARKED MY CAR AND HAVE NOT DRIVEN IT SINCE. I DISCUSSED THE SITUATION WITH MY MECHANIC AND HE ADVISED ME ABOUT THE FAILED REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLY OF THE CHEVY MALIBU AND TO CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP. I SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE WHO BASICALLY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO THAT I COULD HAD IT SERVICED PAY OUT OF POCKET AND IF AND WHEN A RECALL FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS ISSUED I COULD BE REIMBURSED. BECAUSE OF THIS HUGE ISSUE I CAN'T AND DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING. THEREFORE, IT IS AN EXTRA COST ON ME TO TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO TRAVEL AND I'M ON A FIXED INCOME SO WHO IS GOING TO REIMBURSE ME FOR MY INCONVENIENCE.

NHTSA ID

11279732

Incident

Nov 2, 2019

Mileage

69,000 mi

This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about changing the tire and wheel size on vehicles. General Motors will only support a tire calibration for tires that have been sized, tested and designed for the vehicle in question and its applications. Technician should not use the information that is provided by the antilock braking system tire size selection.

Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles. It provides the ability via a single selection within Techline Connect to first identify which modules need updating and then proceed to updating affected modules (with some exceptions). The updating of modules is completed in parallel instead of the technician needing to update one module at a time. This allows a more streamlined approach for dealers and customers.

GM is receiving damaged (cracked or broken) transmission cores returned to the reman facilities. The damage is being caused either in the removal process by the technician, or inadequate packaging or shipping. This bulletin advises the dealers to be more careful not to damage the transmissions during removal and to package the core properly for return.

This service bulletin advises of a new fuel injection cleaner kit used for decarbonizing the intake valves to correct conditions of rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up.

This bulletin provides information for use on a Product Assistance Claim (PAC), which is formerly known as a Product Allegation Resolution (PAR) claim.