2004 Chevrolet Malibu Suspension Problems

ELECTRICAL WIRES/COMPONENTS ISSUES, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS NOT TURNING ON, VEHICLE WITH A WRENCH INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON & OFF, TRACTION CONTROL WITH A SLASH ON TC INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON & OFF (TC/), WHEN MY CAR IS RUNNING AN IDLING OR PARKED OR IDLING AT A STOP LIGHT OR DRIVING IN A CERTAIN SPEED LIMIT THE STEERING WHEEL SHACKS/SHUDDERS REPEATEDLY MOVING ON ITS OWN ONCE IN A AWHILE BUT NOW IT CONSTANTLY GETTING WORSE LASTING LONGER, ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON EVEN AFTER I REPLACED THE PARTS OBDLL SCANNER SAY WHAT TO FIX & REPLACE, OWNED THE CAR OVER A 1 YEAR AN BUILD KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE CAR AND GOOGLE RECALLS AFTER OWNING IT. I BELIEVE IT'S (POWER STEERING WHEEL COMPONENTS OR POWER STEERING WHEEL ASSIST MOTOR) I WAS DRIVING IN THE FREEWAY WITH MY BABIES GOING 65 SPEED LIMIT & I LITERALLY SEEN LIFE FLASHED BEFORE MY EYES WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WON'T TURN/LOCKS UP IN A BUSY FREEWAY. IT WAS BEYOND THE WORSE EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE BECAUSE MY BABIES IS IN THE CAR WHEN IT HAPPENED, I DON'T EVER WANT IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN EVER OR TO ANYONE ELSE. PLEASE & THANK YOU IF YOU CAN FIX IT, IT'S OUR ONLY TRANSPORTATION FOR MY SPOUSE & BABIES. AN ONE MORE OTHER THING IS "I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A PART OF IT THE THROTTLE BODY MALFUNCTION". I HOPE THAT'S ENOUGH & ACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT IT

NHTSA ID

11374793

Incident

Oct 21, 2020

Mileage

114,881 mi

THE DASH HAS ABS, TCH AND SECURITY LIGHT COMES SHORTLY AFTER CAR HAS BEEN STARTED WITH IN SCOUND COMES A BEEPING SOUND WERE ALL THREE LIGHTS STAY ON UNTIL ENGINE IS CUT OFF. THE LIGHT BULBS HAS MELTED PLASTIC COVER ON THE FRONT TURN SIGNAL/PARK LAMP DRL. WHEN SPEED IS INCREASING ON HIGH WAY FREE WAY CAR TENDS TO PULL LEFT ON ITS OWN

NHTSA ID

11338113

Incident

Jun 4, 2020

Mileage

6,500 mi

TAKATA INFLATORS PLEASE FIX MY CAR I WENT TO THE LOCAL AUTO PARTS STORE AND THEY CHECKED THE SYSTEM FOR ME AND ALL THESE PROBLEMS PLUS MORE HAVE POPPED UP AND THEY'RE ALL ON THE RECALL LIST

NHTSA ID

11141515

Incident

Oct 18, 2018

BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE PART # 22714392 ( BOTH HAVE THE SAME CODES OF ORA AND 301024P00 ON THE PAPER TAG ON SPRING ) THIS CAR HAS NEVER PULLED A TRAILER OR HAD ANY HEAVY LOADS BOTH OF THESE SPRINGS BROKE IN THE SAME PLACE ( I HAVE THE BROKEN SPRINGS) DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A SMOOTH ROAD YOU DO NOT NOTICE PROBLEM IT IS WHEN YOU HAVE TO DO FAST LANE CHANGE OR HARD BRAKING THEN VEHICLE IS HARD TO CONTROL I WENT TO A CHEVROLET DEALER AND ASKED WHAT THEY COULD FOR ME I SAID IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND I NEVER HEARD OF 2 COIL SPRINGS BREAKING IN THE SAME PLACE THEY SAID THERE WAS NOT ANYTHING THEY WERE WILLING TO DO THEY SAID I COULD CALL GENERAL MOTORS BUT THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING EITHER I STOPPED DRIVING CAR FOR SEVERAL MONTHS THEN ORDERED 2 AFTER MARKET MOOG BRAND SPRINGS WHICH ARE MADE OF THICKER METAL AND I INSTALLED REPLACEMENT SPRINGS ON 11/15/2016

NHTSA ID

10979959

Incident

Aug 10, 2015

Mileage

65,000 mi

I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM GENERAL MOTORS EXPLAINING THEY KNEW ISSUES WITH THE RACK AND PINION FOR MY 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU DURING THE FIRST 150,000 MILES OF THE VEHICLE AT NO CHARGE. IT ALSO STATES IF I PAID FOR REPAIRS I WOULD GET REIMBURSED FOR THIS. CURRENTLY I HAVE 48,857 MILES. MY STEERING COLUMN WENT OUT OF CONTROL WHILE I WAS IN MOTION. I HAD THE RACK AND PINION AND OUTER TIE ROD REPLACED ON MY VEHICLE ON (4/4/17). I CALLED GM ON 4/11/17. IN THE MORNING, THEY SAID I WOULD GET RE-IMBURSED. IN THE AFTERNOON I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL STATING I WOULD NOT GET RE-IMBURSED. I BELIEVE THERE ARE CURRENTLY 12 RECALLS FOR THIS VEHICLE. I WOULD LIKE THIS MATTER OF THE RACK AND PINION ISSUE BE LOOKED AT FURTHER BY THE SAFETY BOARD TO IMPOSE A SAFETY RECALL. IF IT HAPPENED TO MY CAR, IT MAY HAPPEN TO OTHER GM CARS.

NHTSA ID

10972010

Incident

Apr 3, 2017

Mileage

48,663 mi

"TAKATA RECALL" MY 2004 MALIBU DOES NOT HAVE WORKING CRUISE CONTROL , MY WIRING IS BARELY WORKING AS IN MY LOCKS WON'T WORK , MY HEAT WE ONLY BLOWS COLD AIR ON DEFROST MY DEFROST BARELY CLEARS MY WINDOWS , MY T\C LIGHT IS THE ONLY LIGHT THAT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME AND I BARELY HAVE TRACTION WHILE DRIVING IF I'M TRYING TO ACCELERATE GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY MY WHEEL WILL LOCK OR BARELY MOVE AND I HAVE TO LET COMPLETELY OFF THE GAS TO FREE THE WHEEL I GET ANY ALERTS ON MY SPEEDOMETER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10939475

Incident

Nov 23, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE HUB ASSEMBLY WAS DEFECTIVE AND VIBRATED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HUB ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO DEFECTIVE BOLTS THAT CAUSED THE HUB TO SEPARATE AND WEAR PREMATURELY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

NHTSA ID

10875662

Incident

Jun 5, 2016

Mileage

62,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE TIE ROD AND FRONT BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

NHTSA ID

10714033

Incident

Feb 2, 2015

Mileage

89,000 mi

WITH THE SHAKING STEERING WHEEL AND THE POWER STEERING GOING IN AND OUT MY FRONT TIRES WHERE FEELING OUT OF BALANCE SO I PULLING INTO WAL-MART AND HAD THEM LOOK AT IT. BOTH OF MY FRONT TIRES HAD BUSTED BELTS IN THEM AND MY BREAKS WERE PRETTY MUCH GONE AND THE ROTORS WERE TORN UP. THE ALIGNMENT WAS WAY OFF CAUSING THE CAR TO NOT STEER . I WAS TOLD ALL THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE POWER STEERING GOING OUT. THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE, HOWEVER ITS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION AND WITH SO MANY OF THESE PROBLEMS I HAVE NO MONEY TO HAVE HE PROBLEMS FIXED. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE . THERE ARE SO MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10651747

Incident

Jul 18, 2014

Mileage

1,530,000 mi

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED FROM CRANE CHEVROLET, CLIFTON, NEW JERSEY, WITHIN SIX MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE I OBSERVED THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD SUDDENLY STOP OPERATING WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. I DISCOVERED THAT THE ONLY CORRECTIVE WAS TO SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTART THE ENGINE. THE POWER STEERING WOULD THEN REENGAGE. THIS FAILURE HAS PERSISTED FOR NEARLY THE ENTIRE TIME I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE. DURING THAT ENTIRE TIME, CRANE CHEVROLET HAS CLAIMED THERE WAS/IS NO DEFECT IN THE POWER STEERING, AND NO RECALL NOTICE OUTSTANDING. I JUST RECEIVED A GM SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 14116, WHICH CLAIMS, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT "PREVIOUSLY, YOU HAD THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED UNDER CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM 04050". THAT IS FALSE! NEITHER CRANE CHEVROLET, NOR GM HAS EVER CONTACTED ME CONCERNING THE STEERING COLUMN, OR MADE ANY ATTEMPT TO REPLACE IT! I ALSO NOTIFIED CRANE CHEVROLET THAT THE FRONT HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY TURN SIGNAL LAMPS REPEATEDLY BURNED OUT, AND THAT THE BULB HOUSINGS WERE BURNT AND COMPLETELY MELTED THROUGH!! BOTH GM AND CRANE CHEVROLET DENIED THERE WAS ANY DEFECT IN THE LAMP/HOUSING DESIGN OR FUNCTION. I HAVE TO REPLACE THE FRONT TURN SIGNAL LAMPS ABOUT EVERY SIX MONTHS. FINALLY, THE UNDERCARRIAGE SUPPORT STRUTS, SHOCKS, AND SPRINGS ARE WOEFULLY UNDERDESIGNED. THE CAR RUNS LIKE IT HAS STONE TIRES. I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STRUT, SHOCK, AND SPRING UNDERSUPPORTS FOR THE SECOND TIME. AND I JUST RUN THE VEHCILE ON ASPHALT SMOOTH ROADS IN A DEVELPED SUBURBAN CITY!! THIS WAS SERIOUS UNDERDESIGN. FORTUNATELY, THESE PARTS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE WEB AND I'VE GOT A GOOD MECHANIC THAT CHARGES FAIRLY FOR THIS DIFFICULT WORK. GO TO CRANE AND GM AND YOU'D NEED TO MORTGAGE YOUR HOME TO DO THE WORK!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10604349

Incident

Jul 31, 2007

Mileage

33,000 mi

STEERING IS LOOSE AND RATTLING . DOES NOT SOUND SAFE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10586857

Incident

Apr 4, 2012

Mileage

107,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE POWER STEERING WOULD SUDDENLY MALFUNCTION MAKING THE STEERING WHEEL VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED THE CHECK ENGINE, ABS AND TC (TRACTION CONTROL) SENSOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIFT FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONTROL ARMS WERE FAULTY. THE CONTROL ARMS WERE REPLACED BUT THE DEFECT WAS NOT REMEDIED. WHILE DRIVING THE HEADLIGHTS, TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS AND REAR LIGHTS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY SHUT ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE DEFECT WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. THE DEFECT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.

NHTSA ID

10578534

Incident

Apr 5, 2006

CAR MADE CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING RIGHT AND OR LEFT FIND THAT THE UNIVERSAL JOINT ON STEERING SHAFT WAS RUSTED SO I SPRAYED IT DOWN WITH SOME FREE ALL PENETRATING OIL, HAS GONE AWAY. THERE IS ALSO A CLUNKNG NOISE GOING OVER BUMPS LIFTED THE CAR BY THE BODY AND SHOOK WHEELS FOUND THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS HAVE PLAY IN THEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10277337

Incident

Jul 21, 2008

Mileage

48,000 mi

SINCE I PURCHASED MY LEMON MALIBU 2004, I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING COLUMN, THE RACK AND PINION, THE CAR SUSPENSION, THE POWER WINDOW. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION TWICE. THEY REMOVED THREE TIMES THE STEERING COLUMN TO PLACE SOME GREASE IN THE SYSTEM. MY HUSBAND HAD A BAD EXPERIENCE WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, THE STEERING SYSTEM GOT STUCK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10205304

Incident

Aug 19, 2004

Mileage

2,500 mi

PROBLEMS WITH THE:"RACK AND PINION STEERING , BRAKES, FRONT SUSPENSION. *AK

NHTSA ID

10196611

Incident

Dec 12, 2004

THERE WAS A CLUNCKING SOUND EVERY TIME I TURN THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS FOR REPAIR, AND THEY REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN BOTH TIMES, THE CAR STILL CLUNCKED. .THE DEALER SAID THE CLUNCKING SOUND WAS OKAY AND NOT TO BRING IT BACK.THE RIGHT WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED, AND NOW THE GAS GAUGE DID NOT WORK. ALSO, I WAS TOLD WHEN THE GAS GAUGE FAILED IT WA S AN EARLY WARNING THAT THE FUEL PUMP WILL SOON NEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10193661

Incident

Oct 10, 2005

Mileage

45,000 mi

THERE WA SA CLUNCKING SOUND EVERY TIME I TURNED THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT. I SENT THE CAR TO THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS FOR REPAIRS, AND THEY REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN BOTH TIMES, THE CAR STILL CLUNCKED. .THE DEALER SAID THE CLUNCKING SOUND WAS OKAY AND NOT TO BRING IT BACK.THE RIGHT WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED, AND NOW THE GAS GAUG EFAILED. 1 WAS TOLD WHEN THE GAS GAUGE FAILURE WAS AN EARLY WARNING THAT THE FUEL PUMP WILL SOON NEED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10193660

Incident

Oct 10, 2005

Mileage

45,000 mi

POWER STEERING FAILED ON 2004 CHEVY MALIBU WITHOUT WARNING. I HAD TAKEN THE CAR IN ABOUT A MONTH AGO FOR FRONT ALIGNMENT ISSUES, THOUGHT THEY FIXED IT, BUT THE PROBLEM CAME BACK AND THEN POWER STEERING QUIT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10164859

Incident

Aug 5, 2006

Mileage

40,350 mi

2004 MALIBU ANTI THEFT LIGHT AND RADIO LOCK LIGHT ILLUMINATES, PROBLEM WITH SEAL ON THE REAR LEFT WINDOW. *TS THE STEERING WAS STIFF, THE MOLDING ON THE LET REAR WINDOW CAME OUT OF PLACE WHEN THE WINDOW WAS ROLLED UP. THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE WHILE DRIVING. THERE WAS A RUBBING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED SEVERAL TIMES, THE TEMPERATURE AND FUEL GAUGE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE TRUNK WOULD NOT OPEN PROPERLY WHEN USING THE REMOTE. THE VEHICLE STARTED BY ITSELF AND ALL THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHICH CAUSED THE BATTERY TO DIE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10161575

Incident

Jan 20, 2004

I PURCHASED MY 2004 MALIBU ON THE DATE LISTED AS INCIDENT DATE. AFTER BRINGING HOME AND DRIVING A BIT, I BEGAN TO NOTICE A CLUNKING NOISE UNDER THE FRONT FLOOR WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS IS ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE AT LOW SPEEDS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10159510

Incident

May 17, 2006

Mileage

36,300 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS A NOISE IN THE FRONT END WHILE TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THIS IS THE ISSUE ADDRESSED IN THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, MANUFACTURER #1716682 REGARDING THE SUSPENSION. THE BULLETIN STATED THE REPAIR IS BEING DESIGNED AND SHOULD BE AVAILABLE IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2006.

NHTSA ID

10155072

Incident

Apr 11, 2006

Mileage

33,500 mi

2004 MALIBU MAKES A CONSTANT KNOCKING AND POPPING SOUND IN THE FRONT END. *TS THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT HASN'T IDENTIFIED THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ID

10154131

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THERE WAS A RATTLING SOUND NOTICED COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALERTED NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.

NHTSA ID

10152399

Incident

Feb 1, 2006

Mileage

18,000 mi

2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU FRONT END MAD A THUMPING NOISE WHEN MAKING SLOW TURNS. *TS *JB

NHTSA ID

10153043

Incident

Sep 1, 2005

THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. CURRENTLY, IT PULLS TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED ON FOUR OCCASIONS. *AK ABOUT TWO MILES FROM THE DEALER THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. THE CONSUMER CORRECTED THE PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER SHIFTED THE TIRES, THEN IT SEEMED TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. *SC THE REAR VIEW MIRROR CRACKED.

NHTSA ID

10118873

Incident

Jun 30, 2004

Mileage

182 mi