RoadVitals

2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx Powertrain (other) Problems

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

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) 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.
17
Latest Jun 17, 2020
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.
4%
of 434 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

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 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 powertrain

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

Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 17, 2020

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
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 21, 2018

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
ElectricalPowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Jun 21, 2017

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
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 25, 2017

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
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 12, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR LEVER FAILED TO SHIFT FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFT CABLE FRACTURED. IN 2015, THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO FAILURE. RECENTLY, A FAILURE OCCURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,000.

NHTSA ID
10825871
Incident
Feb 5, 2016
Mileage
173,000 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed May 27, 2015

2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE RECALL NOTICE AND IGNITION KEY ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX THE CABLE THAT CHANGED THE GEARS AND TO GET THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. WHEN SHE PICKED UP THE VEHICLE, SHE ONLY HAD ONE LOW GEAR, BUT THERE WAS SUPPOSSED TO BE THREE LOW HEARS AND THE KEY WAS STILL STUCK IN THE IGNITION. *JB

NHTSA ID
10720929
Incident
May 1, 2015
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 13, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR 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 ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10694193
Incident
Oct 30, 2014
Exterior lightingPowertrain (other)Steering+1 more
Filed Feb 9, 2015

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

NHTSA ID
10662790
Incident
Dec 20, 2010
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 27, 2014

I AM WRITING THIS FOR MY DAUGHTER WHO IS AT THE END OF HER ROPE. THE SHIFT CABLE BROKE BACK IN JULY, WHEN SHE FOUND OUT THE CABLE WAS ON A RECALL SHE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO RIVERHEAD CHEVY. SHE WAS TOLD THERE ARE 3 RECALLS THEY WOULD TAKE CARE OF. AROUND MID SEPTEMBER WHEN SHE CALLED SHE TOLD THEM HER FARTHER WANTED GM'S CONSUMERS NUMBER. THE MAN THEN GAVE HER TWO NUMBERS TO CALL, WHEN TRIED TO CALL THEM I FOUND OUT THEY WERE SEX LINE NUMBERS. WHEN SHE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THEY WERE SORRY. THIS IS NOT THE WAY A DEALERSHIP SHOULD RUN A BUSINESS ! NOW IN THE MEANTIME I HAD TO HELP HER BUY ANOTHER CAR SO SHE COULD GET BACK AND FORTH FOR WORK (SHE IS A SINGLE MOM NOT LIVING AT HOME). BACK IN SEPT. SHE WAS TOLD THE PARTS WOULD BE IN AROUND LATE OCT. NOW SHE WAS TOLD NOT UNTIL AFTER DEC. THIS HAS GONE ON FOR 5 MONTHS WITH COUNTLESS PHONE CALLS TO THE DEALERSHIP AND GM HOT LINE, HOW AND WHY IS GM ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH THIS. I AM A MECHANIC AND HAD A REPAIR SHOP FOR MORE THEN TEN YEARS. I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN COURT A LONG TIME AGO IF I TRIED TO DO THIS. ON DEC. 26 WE RECEIVED THIS RECALL #14V224 AFTER SITTING IN A PARKING LOT FOR 5 MONTHS HOW GOOD WILL THE OIL, BATTERY, TIRES, AND GAS BE? *TR

NHTSA ID
10668438
Incident
Jul 8, 2014
Powertrain (other)Steering
Filed Oct 8, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTICES FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V153000 (STEERING) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DELAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10643342
Incident
Aug 1, 2014
Powertrain (other)Steering
Filed Sep 4, 2014

I'VE RECEIVED 3 LETTERS IN THE LAST APPROX. 8 MONTHS. FIRST WAS RECALLING POWER STEERING, THEN ONE FOR BRAKES,AND THEN TRANSMISSION. AS SOON AS CAR WAS PAID OFF I LITERALLY HAD TO BUY ANOTHER TRANY TWICE IN TWO YEARS . THE LAST LETTER SAID I CAN DEFINITELY CRASH BECAUSE OF THIS RECALL PROBLEM SPECIALLY SAID I WOULD IT IS IN THE LETTER. I COULDN'T BELIEVE MY EYES. EVERY LETTER SAID SORRY PARTS AREN'T AVAILABLE WE WILL NOTIFY YOU. NEVER HAS CONTACTED ME AND IT HAS BEEN HALF A YEAR. I'M DRIVING A VERY UNSAFE VEHICLE WRITTEN BY CHEVROLET COMPANY. PLEASE ADVISE ME SOON. ALSO THERE WAS NO TRANY LISTED ABOVE SO WE PUT OTHER. AND THERE WASN'T ANY ACCIDENTS HOWEVER GOING OFF RAMP AT 30 MPH I SPUN IN 3 CIRCLES ANOTHER TIME DRIVING SLOW IN TOWN AROUND A EASY TURN IT JUST SPUN FOR NO REASON. PLEASE HELP ITS ONLY TRANSPORTATION[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10630868
Incident
Apr 8, 2011
Mileage
90,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 29, 2014

THE SHIFT SELECTOR STOPPED SHIFTING GEARS. THOUGH THE STICK WILL SHIFT INTO PARK, THE VEHICLE WILL REMAIN IN GEAR. THIS COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY UNLESS IT IS TURNED OFF PRIOR TO RELEASING THE BRAKE. *JS THIS ISSUE IS DESCRIBED IN AN EXISTING GM RECALL WHICH COVERS SOME MALIBU MAXX VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 2003 AND 2007. OUR MAILBU MAXX WAS MANUFACTURED IN JUNE OF 2004 AND HAS THE EXACT PROBLEM PRESENTED IN THE RECALL, BUT IS APPARENTLY NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL.

NHTSA ID
10617237
Incident
Jul 17, 2014
Mileage
154,000 mi
BrakesPowertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Jul 24, 2014

THIS CAR SHAKES ALL OVER THE ROAD, TAKES YOU ALL OVER THE ROAD YOU HAVE TO HOLD IT ON THE ROAD. CAUSE IT MIGHT TAKE YOU OFF THE ROAD. WE HAVE GONE THRU TIRES WITH THIS CAR AS WELL, THE BRAKE LIGHT WORKS SOME TIMES, HAD IT REPLACE, STILL HAS ISSUE. I WANTED TO GIVE THIS CAR TO MY SON NOW I'M SCARED TOO, I DON'T FEEL IT IS SAFE... *TR

NHTSA ID
10615949
Incident
Jul 24, 2014
Powertrain (other)Steering
Filed Jul 23, 2013

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT TOTALLY OUT. I HEARD A CHIME, SAW THE WRENCH LIGHT UP ON THE DASH AND A POWER STEERING MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE MESSAGE PANEL. I NOTICED THE STEERING WAS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT AND THEN WENT OUT ALL TOGETHER. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN AND THE PROBLEM WAS TEMPORARILY RESOLVED ONLY TO REAPPEAR LATER AGAIN. I KNOW THAT THE 2005 WAS RECALLED FOR THE SAME ISSUE AND THINK THIS ONE NEEDS TO BE ALSO. IT IS NOT SAFE AT ALL TO DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10526383
Incident
Jul 9, 2013
Mileage
66,124 mi
Powertrain (other)Steering
Filed Mar 4, 2013

I STARTED THE CAR, PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND ACCELERATED. WHEN I WENT TO TURN THE WHEEL, A LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASH (LOOKS LIKE A WRENCH) AND ON THE RADIO DISPLAY SAID POWER STEERING. I LOST ALL POWER STEERING. THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH. I PULLED OUT ON TO ANOTHER ROAD AND WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF TURNING, I LOST MY POWER STEERING. I HAD TO PULL OVER INTO A PARKING LOT, WHICH WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO DO SINCE I DID NOT HAVE POWER STEERING. TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED THE CAR. THE LIGHT WENT AWAY AND MY POWER STEERING CAME BACK. THE CAR IS VERY UNSAFE BECAUSE THE FAILURE HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING. MY HUSBAND CALLED CHEVY DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THIS CAR IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE SERVICE RECALL NOTICE!! *TR

NHTSA ID
10501257
Incident
Mar 2, 2013
Mileage
110,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 8, 2012

GEAR SHIFT PROBLEM. TRIED TO PLACE CAR IN PARK AND GEAR SHIFT STAYED IN DRIVE, ALTHOUGH GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR ON DASHBOARD SHOWED OTHERWISE. STUCK IN DRIVE AND COULD NOT SHIFT IT OUT. WITH FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL I CALLED CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP FOR ADVICE. THEY ADVISED ME TO PUT EMERGENCY BRAKE ON TO SHUT CAR OFF, AND CALL FOR A TOW TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10447093
Incident
Feb 1, 2012
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 10, 2005

LOSS OF POWER STEERING. RECALL #4050 POWER STEERING ASSIST. IT I NVOLVES REPLACEMENT OF STEERING COLLMN W/MOVABLE PEDALS V1185.

NHTSA ID
10120526
Incident
May 9, 2005
Mileage
19,189 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.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .