2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx Airbags Problems

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx. The contact stated that after he turned off and restarted the vehicle, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to Bruce’s auto body shop where it was diagnosed that the air bag side impact sensor failed to reset and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified by the dealer and the contact was informed that the parts were no longer being manufactured and was unavailable. The failure mileage was approximately 164,000.

NHTSA ID

11523825

Incident

Jan 18, 2023

Mileage

164,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION, A POPPING NOISE WAS PRESENT AND THE STEERING ABILITY SEIZED. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT PULLED OUT OF THE RACK. THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. ELM CHEVROLET (301 E. CHURCH ST, ELMIRA, NY) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,000.

NHTSA ID

11172836

Incident

Jan 1, 2019

Mileage

157,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING LOST POWER. IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE FRONT DRIVER'S AIR BAG EXPLODED AND STRUCK THE DRIVER IN THE FACE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 104,000.

NHTSA ID

11141448

Incident

Mar 15, 2018

Mileage

104,000 mi

WHILE TRAVELING IN A SCHOOL ZONE GOING APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES PER HOUR, I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING A SCHOOL BUS. I COULD NOT STOP, OR STEER THE CAR TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH THE REAR OF THE BUS. MY CAR WENT UNDER THE REAR OF THE BUS, WHERE IT WAS CRUSHED IN THE FRONT END. THE CAR SEEMED TO JUST SHUT DOWN, HAD NO POWER STEERING AND BRAKING CONTROL. THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED., EVEN THOUGH THEY SHOULD HAVE WITH THE TYPE OF IMPACT THAT THE CAR RECEIVED. WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THIS COMPLAINT, ON BEHALF OF OURSELVES AND ANY OTHER MOTORIST THAT MIGHT HAVE HAD SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10661012

Incident

Mar 12, 2012

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TWICE WITH EXCESSIVE FORCE TO PREVENT A CRASH. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED THE SECOND TIME, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND EMITTED WHITE POWDER, WHICH IMPAIRED THE CONTACT'S VISION. THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK AND SHOULDER INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 10/08/14*LJ UPDATED 05/18/2015 *JS

NHTSA ID

10632140

Incident

Jul 21, 2014

Mileage

130,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON 91S IN HARTFORD CT. I HAD JUST GOTTEN ON THE HIGHWAY AND MOVED INTO THE SECOND LANE. IT WAS RAINING AND I HYDROPLANED. I WENT INTO A 360 AND AT THE 180 POINT I HIT THE CEMENT DIVIDER HEAD ON. I CONTINUED IN THE 360 AND AS I CAME ABOUT AGAIN I HIT THE METAL GUARDRAIL, AGAIN, HEAD ON AND WENT INTO ANOTHER 360. THERE WAS NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AT ALL AND MY SEATBELT DIDN'T LOCK UP WHICH CAUSED MY FACE AND UPPER TORSO TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. I LOST TEETH AND WAS INJURED ON MY UPPER TORSO AND NECK. I CALLED CHEVY AND WAS TOLD TO TAKE PICS OF CAR AND SEND THEM . I DID SO AND STILL HAVE THE PICS AND THE CAR. CHEVY SENT A "TECH" OUT TO DO "TESTS". THE TECH SHOWED UP NOT ONLY AN HOUR AND A HALF LATE BUT WITHOUT THE PROPER EQUIPMENT TO DO THE TESTS AND WOUND UP BORROWING CERTAIN THINGS FROM MY NEIGHBOR. I WAITED 3+ MONTHS TO HEAR FROM CHEVY. I RECEIVED A LETTER STATING THAT THEY TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY., AND THAT THE TESTS SAID IT WAS UNDER THE THRESHOLD IF WHEN AN AIRBAG SHOULD DEPLOY. INCLUDED WITH THE LETTER WAS A "COPY OF THE TEST" WHICH WAS/IS ABSOLUTELY INCOMPREHENSIBLE TO ME. THERE WAS NO EXPLANATION OF ANYTHING THIS "TEST" SAID. BUT CHEVY TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY AT ALL. IF NEEDED I WILL FORWARD ALL PICS AND THE LETTER FROM CHEVY AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10314139

Incident

Oct 24, 2009

Mileage

49,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE AIRBAG MODULE LIGHT FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND SHE WAS ADVISED SINCE THAT THE MODULE HAS FAILED. ANY REPAIRS MADE, WOULD BE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36000.

NHTSA ID

10295843

Incident

Nov 28, 2009

Mileage

35,000 mi

MY CAR WAS IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT WHERE IT LEFT THE ROAD AND FLIPPED TWICE LANDING ON IT'S SIDE AGAINST SOME TREES AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NOT THE ONES IN THE FRONT NOR THE SIDE AIR BAGS. THE INSURANCE CO. SAID THE CAR IS TOTALED. LUCKILY MY CHILDREN WEREN'T IN THE CAR AT THE TIME BUT IF THEY HAD BEEN WOULD THEY BE HERE TODAY WITHOUT THE SAFETY FEATURE OF AIRBAGS?*TR

NHTSA ID

10292660

Incident

Oct 17, 2009

Mileage

65,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 69 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE VEHICLE APPROACHED A PUDDLE AND HYDROPLANED. THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE MEDIAN AND SPUN OUT BEGINNING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. NEITHER FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT AND DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 48,000.

NHTSA ID

10242556

Incident

Sep 14, 2008

Mileage

48,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT DROVE DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OUT OF THE WOODS AND TOWED AWAY. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE SLIGHTLY INJURED, ALTHOUGH THEY WERE WEARING THEIR SEAT BELTS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE AIR BAGS WERE NEVER SERVICED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID

10240266

Incident

Aug 15, 2008

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. ON MAY 15, 2007, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FENDER. THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO SECURE THE CONTACT AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. HE SUFFERED AN INJURY FROM STRIKING THE STEERING WHEEL AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. THE CONTACT HAS A POLICE REPORT. THE ENGINE SIZE AND SPEED AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 16,500.

NHTSA ID

10191529

Incident

May 15, 2007

Mileage

16,500 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE VEHICLE HIT A DEER HEAD ON AND THE FRONTAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED FRONTAL BODY DAMAGE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP; THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHY THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.

NHTSA ID

10155993

Incident

Apr 19, 2006

Mileage

24,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON AN ICY ROADWAY ON A DOWNHILL LEFT CRUVE I FELT THE STEERING UNEXPECTEDLY STIFFEN UP AS IF THE CAR HAD STALLED. BY THE TIME I APPLIED ENOUGH PRESSURE TO COMPENSATE THE CAR STARTED TO VEER TO THE LEFT, AND WOULD NOT RECOVER. IT CRASHED AND ROLLED OVER. ALSO, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UNTIL WE WERE HANGING UPSIDE DOWN, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR HIT HARD IN THE FRONT. ALSO ONLY THE TWO FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED NOT THE SIDE OR CURTAIN BAGS. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10114067

Incident

Jan 23, 2005

Mileage

3,121 mi