2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx Owner Complaints

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

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14E044000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

NHTSA ID

11521181

Incident

May 9, 2022

Mileage

160,000 mi

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The power steering warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed with power steering failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 117,000.

NHTSA ID

11463018

Incident

May 1, 2022

Mileage

117,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MANUALLY SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK HOWEVER, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE CONTACT PUSHED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MIDWAY CHEVROLET (2323 W BELL RD, PHOENIX, AZ) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE, HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

NHTSA ID

11329336

Incident

Apr 10, 2018

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE STEERING ABILITY SEIZED AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN TO MCCURLEY CHEVROLET (1325 N AUTOPLEX WAY, PASCO, WA 99301) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V153000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

11229332

Incident

May 20, 2019

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. ALSO, 'POWER STEERING' DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO BILLION AUTOMOTIVE (600 W. 41ST, SIOUX FALLS, SD) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE SENSOR WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

NHTSA ID

11205826

Incident

May 1, 2019

Mileage

125,000 mi

NO STEERING,STEERING TURNS AROUND AND AROUND WITHOUT STOP TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION,RIGHT OR LEFT. SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED,SPENT APPROXIMATELY $1200.00 BEFORE. CAR THIS TIME ENDED IN A TOW POUND YARD. TRIPLE AAA MOVED MY CAR TO A SHOP CALLED QUICK STOP WHERE I WANTED TO GET MY CAR FIXED AT ONLY TO DISCOVER THEY DIDN'T DO ELECTRICAL WORK WHICH THEY DISCOVERED WAS THE PROBLEM AMONG OTHERS. AGAIN THE TOWING COMPANY TRIPLE AAA CARRIED IT TO WEBB CHEVROLET SUGGESTED BY THIS SHOP. WEBB CHEVROLET DISCOVERED ALSO ELECTRICAL ISSUES. MY INSURANCE NOTIFIED ME AFTER I CONTACT THEM FOR A CLAIM REPORT. AN ESTIMATOR WAS SENT TO WEBB CHEVROLET ALSO THEY DISCOVERED AFTER A TEAR DOWN DIAGNOSIS THAT IT IS A RECALL ISSUES. NOW YOU ARE BEING NOTIFIED BY ME,RUBY WELLS OF THESE PROBLEMS. THIS IS WHY IM NOTIFYING YOU OF THE RECALLS FOUND ON THIS MAKE,MODEL AND YEAR 2004 VEHICLE. NOT STATIONARY,IT WAS IN MOTION WHEN HAPPENED ON CITY STREET. MY SON WAS ARRESTED FOR NO REASON $2000 BAIL TIMES 2 . COURT JUDGE THROUGH CASE OUT ON APRIL 45TH 2019 AFTER DISCOVERING BOGUS TICKETS WRITING AND ARRESTS THEY INDICATED THERE WAS NO INSURANCE ON VEHICLE AND HAD MY CAR TOWED TO POUND WITHIN HOURS. I HAD TO PAD TOWING FEES OF $1200 APPROXIMATELY TO GET MY CAR FROM POUND LESS THAN24 HOURS OF THE TOWING. MONEY HAS ALREADY BEEN SPENT UNNECESSARILY MONEY I HAD TO BORROW BECAUSE I'M RETIRED. PLEASE TAKE CARE OF THIS FOR ME ASAP. PLEASE!

NHTSA ID

11194247

Incident

Mar 7, 2019

Mileage

155,000 mi

STEERING OUT OF WHACK. I HAVE HAD MY CONTROL ARM ON BOTH SIDES CHANGED ALONG WITH AXLES AND A ALIGNMENT. NO LUCK ITS STILL ALL OVER ROAD. I DRIVE FROM SYLVESTER GA TO TIFTON GA EVERYDAY. IT DOES THE SAME THING EVERYTIME. ALSO I HAVE HAD MY LIGHTS REPLACED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR. WHY ARENT THE LASTING. GAS CAP KEEPS READING ERROR. WHOLE CAR. I CAN LET SOMEONE DRIVE IT TO SEE WHAT I AM SAYING.

NHTSA ID

11193420

Incident

Jan 1, 2019

Mileage

140,000 mi

THE 6 WAY FRONT DRIVERS SEAT HAS FAILED 6 TIMES SINCE 2006. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT WAS 3/15/2019. THE FIRST FAILURE WAS IN 2007. THE WELDS THAT SUPPORT THE FRAME BREAK AND I HAVE REPLACED THE SEAT 3 TIMES, WELDED 3 TIMES. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE AS IT HAS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AFTER HITTING A BUMP AND CAUSED ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. I AM REPORTING THIS NOW AS THE DEALERS IGNORE THIS AS AN ISSUE AND JUST WANT OVER A $1000 TO REPLACE THE SAME DEFECTIVE PART WHICH WILL FAIL AGAIN. NHTSA IS MY LAST HOPE THAT LIVES WILL BE SAVED. THIS IS NOT AN UNUSUAL PROBLEM AS THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF THIS DEFECT.

NHTSA ID

11190399

Incident

Mar 15, 2019

Mileage

54,000 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

THE ELECTRONIC STEERING ASSIST WOULD FAIL WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOOSE STEERING AND HAVE TO COME TO A STOP AND TURN VEHICLE OFF TO AVOID A CRASH. IT IS SCAREY AND DANGEROUS. MINE ISN'T THE ONLY MALIBU MAXX THAT HAS HAD THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11170090

Incident

Jan 14, 2019

Mileage

198,000 mi

STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND POWER STEERING WON'T WORK

NHTSA ID

11165316

Incident

Nov 6, 2018

CAR WAS RUNNING A LITTLE ROUGH GOING UP HILLS AT 106,000 MILES SO I HAD A TRANSMISSION SERVICE DONE AT AAMCO. 2 DAYS LATER THE CAR IS IN LIMP MODE BARELY MADE IT HOME COASTED. LOW RPMS HAS NO POWER AND FOR SOME REASON IT WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE NOW. GETS HIGHER RPMS AND PULLS IN NEUTRAL. BEFORE THAT THE CAR WAS FINE BESIDE A SUSPENSION/ SHOCKS THAT WERE NEVER ABLE TO BE REPAIRED BY EVERY MECHANIC I WENT TO.

NHTSA ID

11163396

Incident

Apr 25, 2018

Mileage

106,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CHECK ENGINE AND POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE INDICATORS WENT AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,972. *DT CONSUMER STATED MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED AND REPAIRS MADE. UPDATED 12/04/18*JB

NHTSA ID

11142267

Incident

Oct 20, 2018

Mileage

27,972 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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. AFTER REVERSING AND ATTEMPTING TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN PARK, THE TRANSMISSION GEAR SELECTION DID NOT MATCH THE INDICATED GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER STILL FAILED AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 129,000.

NHTSA ID

11121349

Incident

Aug 21, 2018

Mileage

129,000 mi

ELECTRONIC STEERING FAILURE ON RECAL REPLACEMENT PART, IN 2014 REPLACED UNDER RECALL STEERING COLUMN AND MODULE. 3 YEARS LATER FAILED AGAIN. REPLACEMENT PARTS APPEAR DEFECTIVE NOT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. REPLACED AT DEALERSHIP INDICATED RECAL REPLACED ONCE, NOW IS OWNERS RESPONSIBILTY TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE PARTS.

NHTSA ID

11055167

Incident

Nov 15, 2017

Mileage

115,334 mi

FUEL PUMP RECALL

NHTSA ID

11052952

Incident

Jul 15, 2017

Mileage

101,526 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON ROUGH ROADS OR BREAKING NOISES RATTLES AN SEVERE SHAKE IN STEERING COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN AN AN STEERING BINDING WHEN FIRST STARTING CAR HARD TO TURN WHEELS STRANGE NOISES WHEN APPLYING BREAKS

NHTSA ID

11046007

Incident

Aug 15, 2017

Mileage

75,000 mi

RECALL #14116 WAS IN ON 04/13/15 TO HAVE THE RECALL CORRECTED AND IT WAS AT THAT TIME, BUT NOW THE PROBLEM IS RECURRING. WHEN CAR IS IN MOTION ANY WHERE WHEN YOU ACCELERATE THE POWER STEERING ON THE CAR LOSES ELECTRONIC ASSIST CAUSING THE STEERING TO BE EXCESSIVELY HARD.

NHTSA ID

11044464

Incident

Nov 1, 2017

Mileage

153,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE REMAINED ON AFTER THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR, AND THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE FAILURES OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

NHTSA ID

11000452

Incident

Jun 1, 2015

Mileage

51,000 mi

THE VEHICLE CONTINUALLY GOES INTO "ENGINE LOW POWER MODE" WHILE ON THE HIGHWAYS. THIS IS NOW OCCURRING DAILY. I'VE TRIED TO GET IT FIXED BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT IT IS. I AM VERY FORTUNATE THAT NO ONE HAS HIT ME WHEN THE VEHICLE GOES FROM HIGH SPEEDS DOWN TO 20 MILES PER HOUR WITH NO RESPONSE BY PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE THINGS FAILING ON THIS CAR: PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW NO LONGER OPENS, CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT WORK, 2 OF THE 3 CHARGERS IN THE CAR DO NOT WORK (AFTER FIXING THOSE FUSES, THEY JUST BLEW IMMEDIATELY) POWER LOCKS WENT FROM BARELY WORKING TO NOT WORKING AT ALL, THE LATEST BEING THE LOW POWER MODE AND TRACTION CONTROL BEING ACTIVATED IN THE HEAT OF A TENNESSEE SPRING (ALREADY 80 DEGREES) - IT'S NOT A WATER ISSUE. THE FIRST FEW MONTHS I HAD THIS CAR IT WAS IN THE SHOP ALMOST EVERY WEEKEND. I'VE GOTTEN ALL THE RECALLS FIXED WHEN THEY REQUIRED IT AND I KEEP UP WITH MAINTENANCE ON THIS CAR. IT HAS THE USUAL BREAK DOWNS BUT THIS IS THE LEAST SAFE CAR I HAVE EVER DRIVEN (AND I HAVE DRIVEN AROUND TWENTY LONG TERM, TEN MORE SHORT TERM).

NHTSA ID

10980567

Incident

Apr 25, 2017

Mileage

148,500 mi

POWER STEERING GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING WHEN DRIVING. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS. WEATHER CONDITIONS/TEMPERATURE, THE CAR BEING WARMED UP/COLD MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS, BACK ROADS GOING AROUND CORNERS-ROAD CONDITIONS/TYPE OF ROAD MAKE NO DIFFERENCE. ALSO THERE HAS BEEN A RATTLING SOUND LIKE SOMETHING METAL IS RATTLING. THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING AND THERE IS NO OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE PREPARATIONS. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10946400

Incident

Aug 10, 2016

Mileage

90,000 mi

STEERING WHEEL HAS NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. HAD A KNOCKING NOISE SINCE I BROUGHT 3 YEARS AGO. STEERING WHEEL TIGHTENS UP AND VERY HARD TO TURN AND TIGHTENS MORE WHILE TRYING TO MAKE TURNS AT SLOW SPEEDS . NOW HAPPENING SOME TIMES WHEN I PUT INTO REVERSE. BEEN TRYING TO TEACH MY SON HOW TO DRIVE AND WHEEL TO TIGHT FOR HIM TO PRACTICE TURNS. A FEW WEEKS AGO HE ALMOST RAN INTO A BUSH WHEN PULLING OUT FROM A STOP SIGN BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL WOULDN'T TURN. HAD HIM PUT THE CAR IN PARK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET WHILE ON COMING CARS HAD TO STOP AND WAIT FOR US TO SWITCH DRIVERS. GETTING WORSE/TIGHTER OVER TIME. IF THE WHEEL IS SLIGHTLY TURNED AND I PUT IN DRIVE THE CAR JUMPS AHEAD WITH NO CONTROL OVER THE STEERING. ALREADY TOOK IN FOR RECALL'S FOR POWER STEERING SO WHEN I CALLED WAS TOLD ALL MY RECALLS HAD BEEN DONE AND EXPIRED. LAST FEW DAYS THE WHEEL IS SHAKING THE CLOSER I DRIVE TO 55 MPH. CLEARLY THE STEERING HAS ISSUES THAT SEEMS TO BE A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM AND GM NOT WILLING TO MAKE RIGHT. A DRIVING HAZARD! *TR

NHTSA ID

10945596

Incident

Dec 1, 2016

Mileage

175,000 mi

INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING DURING ACCELERATION HAS PERSISTED AND CONTINUES TO GET WORSE AFTER RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V153000) WAS PERFORMED. THIS CREATES A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM ANY FURTHER REPAIRS AT THEIR EXPENSE, CLAIMING THERE WAS A ONE YEAR WARRANTY ON THE REPAIR. HOWEVER, THEIR REMEDY FOR THIS SAFETY DEFECT DIDN'T FIX THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM AND IT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN.

NHTSA ID

10917421

Incident

Oct 19, 2016