Owner-reported complaints naming the interior system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 41 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.
The 25 most recent of 41, in the owner's own words
DRIVER'S SEAT IS WOBBLING AND FEELS LIKE SOMETHING IS BROKEN OR DETACHED BENEATH THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SEAT. I'VE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS IN A CHEVY MALIBU/MAXX. SHOULD BE A RECALL. MECHANICS ON THE PHONE ASSUME IT'S A WELDING ISSUE. THE WOBBLING OCCURRED OVER TIME. SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR A MANUFACTURING DEFECT.
THE DRIVER SEAT, REAR RIGHT SIDE IS BROKEN. DRIVER LEANS TOWARD CENTER CONSOLE. POTENTIAL SAFETY CONCERN IF THERE WERE TO BE AN ACCIDENT. SEEMS AS IF THERE WAS A STRUCTURAL FAILURE IN THAT LOCATION. DRIVER DID NOT NOTICE IT BREAK UNTIL SITTING DOWN ONE DAY TO START DAILY COMMUTE.
THE WELD ON THE FRONT TORSION TUBE OF THE DRIVER SEAT ADJUSTER IS DETACHED AND THE TUBE IS DISCONNECTED, ALLOWING MORE THAN 200MM OF FORE/AFT MOVEMENT OF THE UPPER SEAT BACK AND HEADREST IF SEAT IS IN FULL UP POSITION. THIS WILL CLEARLY NOT PASS FMVSS 207 OR 210. THERE ARE ALREADY DOZENS OF COMPLAINTS NEARLY IDENTICAL TO THIS ONE ON THE NHTSA SITE. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. I DO NOT KNOW WHEN THIS INITIALLY OCCURRED.
ISSUE ONE IS THE DRIVERS SEAL WELDS BRAKE ON THE REAR AND FRONT FROM THE FLOOR MOUNT BASE TO THE ELEVATED CONTROL THUS IN THE CASE OF A CRASH THE SEAT IS COMPROMISED TO SEPARATE COMPLETELY FROM THE FLOOR MOUNT DUE TO THESE WELDS BEING BROKE. SECOND ISSUE FUEL PUMPS BEGIN TO LEAK AT THE SEAL OF THE PUMP AT THE FUEL TANK LEAKING HEAVY AMOUNTS OF FUEL FROM THE TANK AND ONTO THE EXHAUST. THIRD ISSUE WHICH I HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE REPORTS OF RECALLS BUT THE DEALERSHIP DENIES THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE MAXX THAT ONLY THE BASE MODEL IS EFFECTED BUT WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING WILL FAIL AND THE CAR HAS NO CONTROL AND WILL VIOLENTLY JERK IN ONE DIRECTION THROWING THE VEHICLE IN TO ONCOMING LANES OR EVEN INTO THE DITCH. HAPPENS PERIODICALLY THE POWER STEERING MESSAGE APPEARS ON MAIN CONTROL MESSAGE SCREEN AND CAR WILL SOUND AN ALARM, OTHER TIMES THE ENTIRE DASH BOARD WARNING LIGHTS FROM CHECK ENGINE, OIL, AIR BAG, SEAT BELT, SO ON SO ALL COME ON AND THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT. I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS ISSUE USUALLY OCCURS WHILE ACCELERATING WHETHER SLOWLY OR EVEN WHILE TRYING TO SPEED UP MORE AGGRESSIVELY TO MERGE UNTO EXPRESSWAY TRAFFIC. I HAVE NEARLY WRECKED INTO NUMEROUS CARS DUE TO STEERING GOING OUT AND WHEEL WILL VIOLENTLY JERK ONE DIRECTION OR TO THE OTHER. NOT SURE WHY THIS SITE SHOWS A RECALL FOR POWER STEERING BUT DEALERSHIP DENIES THERE IS A ACTIVE RECALL FOR THE MAXX BUT THEY HAVE ONE FOR THE 2005 BASE MALIBU
DRIVER POWER SEAT/ BROKEN WELD ON METAL STABILIZER BAR ACROSS THE LOWER FRONT OF THE SEAT. CAUSES THE SEAT TO BE UNSTABLE AND SHIFT WHEN BRAKING OR ACCELLERATING.
THE DRIVER SEAT WELDS HAVE BROKEN MAKING THE SEAT UNSAFE. *TR
DRIVERS SEAT WELDING HAS SNAPPED UNDERNEATH CAUSING THE SEAT TO LEAN TO THE RIGHT AND BOUNCE UP AND DOWN. *TR
WHEN ENTERING MY PARKED 2005 MALIBU MAXX, THE CROSS BAR UNDER THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF THE SEAT SNAPPED AT THE CORNER WELD. FROM READING THESE POSTS FROM OTHER CONSUMERS, THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED. NOT SURE HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN AFFORD $1000 TO BUY ANOTHER DEFECTIVE SEAT FRAME BEFORE THEY MAKE A STRONGER ONE, BUT THIS SEEMS LIKE IT SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE LIST OF RECALLS I ALREADY HAVE FOR THIS VEHICLE. ( WHICH PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AS OF YET ) THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY CONCERN. *TR
I WAS ADJUSTING THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT WHEN I HEARD A METALLIC POP. SEAT HAD A SLIGHT TILT TO RIGHT THAT BECAME WORSE WHEN SEAT WAS RAISED UP. SLIGHT ROCKING MOTION WAS NOTICED WHEN SHIFTING BODY WEIGHT. VISUAL INSPECTION FOUND THAT RIGHT FRONT WELD HAD FAILED. *TR
POWER DRIVER'S SEAT SUDDENLY TILTED BACK AND RIGHT, AND I HEARD A LOUD POP. UPON INSPECTION A BAR THAT RUNS UNDER THE SEAT BROKE AT A WELD. SEAT NOW FEELS INSECURE AND BOUNCY. *JS
THIS 2005 MALIBU MAXX LT IS EQUIPPED WITH A 6-WAY POWER DRIVER'S FRONT SEAT. SOMETHING HAS BROKEN THAT ALLOWS THE SEAT TO SLIDE FORWARD SLIGHTLY DURING BRAKING AND SLIDE BACK DURING ACCELERATION. I HAVE READ THE VARIOUS OWNER'S COMPLAINTS REGARDING BROKEN MALIBU SEAT FRAMES AND I FEEL THAT THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT SHOULD BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED BY CHEVROLET. THIS VEHICLE HAS ONLY 56,000 MILES AND IS DRIVEN BY MY WIFE WHO WEIGHS ONLY 122 POUNDS. IT HAS BEEN A GARAGE KEPT CAR ALL ITS LIFE AND IS EXCEPTIONALLY CLEAN. THERE IS NO REASON FOR THIS SEAT TO HAVE FAILED OTHER THAN POOR CONSTRUCTION. AS WITH MANY COMPLAINTS, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE! THIS SEAT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED YET. *JS
DRIVERS SEAT BROKE IN THREE PLACES AND IS A HAZARD TO DRIVE , BECAUSE THE SEAT MOVES LEFT TO RIGHT WHEN YOU GET IN AND OUT OF THE CAR. WHEN THE SEAT MOVES BEFORE DRIVING, YOU SIT TILTED TO THE LEFT AND ITS UNCOMFORTABLE TO SIT AND DRIVE GOOD. IT HAPPENED SO SUDDEN I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE ANYWHERE, IF I DID I ONLY DROVE SLOW. *TR
DRIVERS SEAT WELD BROKE RIGHT SIDE. NOW I HAVE A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVE AND DON'T TRUST THE SAFETY OF MY VEHICLE SINCE MY SEAT ROCKS BACK AND FORTH AT EVERY TURN AND STOP. *TR
I NOTICED THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT "SWAYED" TO THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN SITTING DOWN IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER REMOVING THE SEAT FOR INSPECTION, THE WELD CONNECTING THE SUPPORT TUBE INSIDE THE SEAT COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM ITS WELD JOINT. NO PREVIOUS ACCIDENTS OCCURRED WITH THIS VEHICLE. LOCAL SERVICE CENTER STATED THIS WELD WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO FIX BY REWELDING AND SUGGESTED FINDING A AUTOSALVAGE SEAT TO REPLACE IT. *TR
TWO WELDS HOLDING THE CONSOLE SIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO THE BODY OF THE CAR SNAPPED, CAUSING THE SEAT TO SIT CROOKED (LOWER ON THE INSIDE), PIVOT BACKWARD DURING ACCELERATION, AND FORWARD WHEN BREAKING. IF IT WERE EVER IN A COLLISION, THE ADDITIONAL STRESS PLACED ON THE DOOR SIDE WELDS WILL LIKELY RESULT IN THE ENTIRE SEAT COMING FREE. (EVEN IN THE ABSENCE OF A COLLISION, THE SEAT MAY COME FREE BASED ON THE STRESS OF CONSTANT PIVOTING DURING NORMAL USE.) FOR THE RECORD, TO MY KNOWLEDGE THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY COLLISIONS OR OTHER SITUATION THAT MIGHT HAVE PLACED ABNORMAL STRESS ON THESE WELDS. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, LUCKILY ON A CURVE. THE DRIVER SEAT BEGAN TO WOBBLE AND LEAN TO THE RIGHT AND BACK AND I THOUGHT THE MOTOR CAME OUT OF ALIGNMENT. WHEN I GOT HOME I BEGAN TO SEARCH TO LOCATE THE ISSUE. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT BAR OF THE SEAT HAD BROKEN OFF. I HAVE TAKEN PICTURES OF THE DEFECT. THE ISSUE AND CONCERN I HAVE AT THIS TIME IS SAFETY, HOW CAN A SEATBELT SECURE ME IF THE SEAT IS NOT ATTACHED TO THE CAR DURING AN ACCIDENT. IF I WERE IN A STAND STILL ON A FREEWAY AND THE CAR BEHIND ME DID NOT STOP IN TIME AND HIT ME AT 45 MPH, WHAT WOULD THE RESULT BE? I PICTURE MY SEAT FINALLY SNAPPING OFF OF ITS FRAME AND ME AND THE SEAT FLYING THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. *TR
SAT DOWN IN DRIVERS SEAT AND IT POPPED AND SLUMPED TO THE RIGHT TOWARDS THE CENTER CONSOLE. I LOOKED UNDER THE SEAT AND THE METAL TUBE FRAME HAD SEPARATED AT THE WELD AND LOOKS LIKE IT JUST PEELED BACK. THE SEAT IS NOW UNSTABLE AND WILL WOBBLE BACK AND FORTH DURING DRIVING. RESEARCHED THIS ON THE INTERNET AND IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS AN EPIDEMIC OF DRIVER SEAT FRAMES BREAKING IN THE SAME MANOR ON THIS YEAR MALIBU MAXX. WITH SO MANY VEHICLES EXPERIENCING THE SAME MALFUNCTION IN THE FRAME IT WOULD APPEAR THAT A MANUFACTURING DEFECT EXISTS WITH THIS SEAT. THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO INVESTIGATE AND REPAIR THE DEFECT AS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
THE SUPPORT BRACKET WELDED TO THE SEAT FRAME BROKE ON THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT, CAUSING THE SEAT TO LEAN TOWARDS THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE SEAT CAN NOT RAISE UP ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE DRIVER SEAT. *TR
SAT DOWN IN DRIVERS SEAT AND IT POPPED AND SLUMPED TO THE RIGHT TOWARDS THE CENTER CONSOLE. I LOOKED UNDER THE SEAT AND THE METAL TUBE FRAME HAD SEPARATED AT THE WELD AND LOOKS LIKE IT JUST PEELED BACK. THE SEAT IS NOW UNSTABLE AND WILL WOBBLE BACK AND FORTH DURING DRIVING. RESEARCHED THIS ON THE INTERNET AND IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS AN EPIDEMIC OF DRIVER SEAT FRAMES BREAKING IN THE SAME MANOR ON THIS YEAR MALIBU MAXX. WITH SO MANY VEHICLES EXPERIENCING THE SAME MALFUNCTION IN THE FRAME IT WOULD APPEAR THAT A MANUFACTURING DEFECT EXISTS WITH THIS SEAT. THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO INVESTIGATE AND REPAIR THE DEFECT AS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
DRIVING AWAY FROM WORK IN A PARKING LOT AND THE FRONT RIGHT SEAT OF THE DRIVER SEAT POPPED AND SAGGED ABOUT 3 INCHES DOWN, SHOVING THE SEAT SIDEWAYS. I PULLED OVER TO CHECK IT AND FOUND THAT A PIPE RUNNING THE FRONT OF THE SEAT HAD SHEERED AWAY ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE. DRIVING IT HOME, ANOTHER POP IN THE BACK OF THE SEAT HAPPENED AND NOW THE SEAT IS SHOVED INTO THE CENTER CONSOLE. *TR
THE DRIVERS SIDE POWER SEAT STARTED TO SAG ON THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE POWER SEAT ADJUSTMENT IS USED, THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE SEAT DOES NOT RAISE WHICH MAKES THE SEAT LEAN. FINALLY, THE SEAT NOW ROCKS FORWARD AND BACKWARD. IT APPEARS THAT THE FRAME OF THE SEAT HAS BROKEN. *TR
THE DRIVER'S POWER SEAT IS BROKEN. IT'S BEEN SLOWLY STARTING TO TILT BACK AND TO THE RIGHT AND FINALLY SNAPPED. IN RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, IT APPEARS IT IS VERY COMMON WITH THE CHEVY MALIBU AND ALSO VERY EXPENSIVE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AS A BROKEN DRIVERS SEAT WILL NOT WORK AS INTENDED IN A CRASH. THE SEAT TILTS TO THE RIGHT NOW AND BOUNCES WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS, SO BEING A SAFETY CONCERN IT'S ALSO VERY UNCOMFORTABLE. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE RECALL SITUATION FOR THE MALIBU SEAT AND THE DEALER SHOULD NOT BE PROFITING OFF A DESIGN FLAW. *KB
FRONT DRIVER SEAT WELD BROKE, SEAT LEANS TO RIGHT AND WOBBLES. *TR
SOMETHING BROKE UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT. IT NOW LEANS TO THE RIGHT. IT ROCKS BACK AND FORTH WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP. IT CAUSES STRAIN ON MY BACK TO DRIVE. I HAVE TO LEAN ALL THE WAY TO THE DOOR FOR THE SEAT TO BE UTILIZED. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE SAID THE METAL BRACKET SNAPPED AND NEEDED TO BE WELDED TOGETHER OR THE SEAT REPLACED. I FOUND A LIST OF FOLKS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AT THIS SITE: HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2005/CHEVROLET/MALIBU_MAXX/SEATS/PROBLEM.ASPX.M *TR
LEFT FRONT (DRIVER'S SEAT) IS BROKEN, IT ROCKS SIDE TO SIDE, SLIDES FORE AND AFT SLIGHTLY, AND NO LONGER HOLDS HEIGHT POSITION. THE SEAT IS A 6 WAY POWER SEAT. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP (PUYALLUP, WA) WAITING FOR A NEW SEAT TRACK TO BE INSTALLED. ESTIMATED REPAIR COST IS $800.00. DEALERS STATED THAT THE SEAT TRACK WAS BROKEN IN SEVERAL PLACES (FAILED WELD POINTS). I FEEL THAT THIS IS A MAJOR MANUFACTURER'S SAFETY DEFECT AND SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. *TR
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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