RoadVitals

2004 Chevrolet Malibu Classic Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Sep 16, 2021
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
8%
of 116 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Classic submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

EngineInterior & seats
Filed Sep 16, 2021

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
ElectricalEngineExterior lighting
Filed Feb 5, 2021

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
Engine
Filed Sep 3, 2015

VEHICLE WAS PARKED. KEY WILL TURN, THE ENGINE WILL CRANK BUT WILL NOT START. MECHANIC CHECKED THE VEHICLE ON SITE AND HAD TO BE PULLED TO THE MECHANIC'S SHOP. MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT ANTI THEFT SYSTEM WAS ON. THE ISSUE WAS FIXED. AMOUNT OF REPAIR WAS ABOUT 100 DOLLARS.

NHTSA ID
10761381
Incident
Aug 28, 2014
Engine
Filed Mar 18, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. WHILE AT A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,000.

NHTSA ID
10695184
Incident
Mar 16, 2015
Mileage
173,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 16, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND BELIEVED THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,177.

NHTSA ID
10645050
Incident
Sep 25, 2014
Mileage
10,177 mi
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed Apr 3, 2014

AT FIRST, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AT RANDOM INTERVALS. THEN ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE CAR WAS MOVING. THE PROBLEM HAPPENED MORE FREQUENTLY AS TIME PROGRESSED. THEN THE CAR WOULD NOT START INTERMITTENTLY. FINALLY IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL. THE SHOP FOUND THE BAD PART WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH. TOTAL COST TO REPLACE THE SWITCH AND DO THE ASSOCIATED WORK WAS $900. *TR

NHTSA ID
10577110
Incident
Mar 1, 2013
Mileage
55,000 mi
Body & structureEngine
Filed Jun 5, 2011

A/C HOSES RUB THE FRAME AND CREATE A HOLE IN THE LINE THAT CAUSES FREON 134A TO BE RELEASED IN TO THE AIR AND THE EXPENSE IS OVER 500. TO REPAIR ON THE 2004 CHEVY MALIBU. *TR

NHTSA ID
10404495
Incident
Jun 2, 2011
Mileage
89,564 mi
Engine
Filed May 5, 2011

ENGINE FAILURE AND INTERMITTENT STARTING PROBLEMS. WHILE DRIVING A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU, ITS ENGINE CUT OUT WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE ALL POWER CONTROLS IE. STEERING AND BRAKING. AFTER THIS INCIDENT, THE CAR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY NOT START FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 WEEKS. AFTER THE 2 WEEKS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AT ALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAULTY PASSLOCK CYLINDER, WHICH IS PART OF THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM ON GM CARS. THE PASSLOCK CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10399257
Incident
Apr 21, 2011
Mileage
40,272 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 10, 2010

2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU TIMING CHAIN FALLING APART DUE TO ROTATING COLLARS ON THE CHAIN WHICH GO BETWEEN GEAR TEETH FALLING OFF. MECHANIC SAID I PROBABLY HAVE 30 - 40 PIECES IN MY OIL PAN. THIS WERE MADE WITH A SLIT INSTEAD OF SOLID WITH JUST A HOLE TO SLIDE A PIN THROUGH FOR ATTACHMENT. GM HAD A RECALL OF THE SATURN WITH THE SAME ENGINE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT GM CLAIMS THAT ALL RECALLS ARE VIN SPECIFIC AND MY CAR DIDN'T FALL UNDER THE RECALL. I'VE READ OF OTHER INCIDENTS WHERE THIS HAS CAUSED BREAKAGE, RESULTING IN ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE ENGINE STOPPING AND BEING DESTROYED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10318424
Incident
Feb 14, 2010
Mileage
109,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .