2004 Chevrolet Malibu Transmission Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF, THE GEAR LEVER FAILED TO SHIFT INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN MADE THE CONTACT AWARE OF RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN). HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ID

10622397

Incident

Aug 9, 2014

Mileage

170,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHEN THE CONTACT DRIVES THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED HE NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY. A LOUD NOISE COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT HAD THE TRANSMISSIONS COMPUTER UPDATED AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE LEFT AND RIGHT OUTPUT SHAFT SEALS WILL ALSO NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 53600.

NHTSA ID

10318499

Incident

Mar 7, 2010

Mileage

53,618 mi

THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY ON MY 2004 CHEVY MALIBU. THIS TENDS TO HAPPEN DURING SUMMER MONTHS, PARTICULARLY JULY-SEPTEMBER WHEN THE WEATHER IS MORE HUMID THAN ANY OTHER TIME OF THE YEAR. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A TRUSTED AUTO MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THAT WHEN HE CONNECTED THE CAR TO HIS DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER THERE WAS A READING STATING THAT THE POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE DONE NOTHING SINCE THAT TIME WHICH WAS AROUND THE SUMMER OF 2007. *TR

NHTSA ID

10268393

Incident

Aug 15, 2007

Mileage

34,000 mi

MY 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU WAS PARKED LEGALLY IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. THE STREET WAS COVERED WITH BLACK ICE. THE DRIVER OF A 1999 FORD RANGER TRUCK SLIPPED ON THE ICE AND HIT THE FRONT OF MY CAR. HIS AUTO INSURANCE, STATE FARM, PAID FOR A RENTAL CAR FOR 40 DAYS AND PAID $5,338.10 IN BODY REPAIRS, INCLUDING REPLACING THE RADIATOR. HOWEVER, WHEN IT CAME TIME TO PAY $527.18 TO REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFT AND THE GEAR SHIFTER, THEY REFUSED. THE REASON GIVEN WAS THAT THESE PARTS IN THE 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU HAVE A HISTORY OF WEARING OUT PREMATURELY. THE CAR RAN FINE BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. HOWEVER, AFTER READING THE COMPLAINTS ON YOUR WEB SITE, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD MY COMPLAINT. I BOUGHT THIS CAR AS A GM CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE ON AUGUST 2, 2007, 17 MONTHS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE CAR HAD 31,720 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT AND 34,517 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, A DIFFERENCE OF 2,797 MILES I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW THAT INSURANCE COMPANIES DO NOT PAY FOR CERTAIN COMPONENTS ON THE 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THIS CAR IS STILL BEING SOLD ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. I FOUND 7 GM CERTIFIED USED VEHICLES, CHEVROLET 2004 MALIBU'S FOR SALE WITHIN A RADIUS OF 250 MILES RANGING IN PRICE FROM $9,500 TO $14,000. PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE SAFE WHEN THEY BUY THESE 2004 MALIBU'S; THEY ARE NOT. IS THERE SOME WAY THEY CAN BE TAKEN OFF THE ROAD? *TR THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 03/18/09.*JB THE CONSUMER WAS ALSO INFORMED THE BRAKES AND GEAR SHIFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 04/09/09. *JB

NHTSA ID

10256676

Incident

Dec 6, 2004

Mileage

34,517 mi

ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 18, 2007 MY WIFE AND I WERE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH ALONG A WINDY, HILLY STRETCH OF ROAD. AT THE TOP OF THE THIRD HILL, THE TRANSMISSION DROPPED TO ZERO. AFTER COASTING DOWN THE HILL, I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE IN FIRST GEAR ONLY. AFTER STOPPING FOR 15 MINUTES, I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING IN LOW GEARS. HOWEVER, IF I TRIED TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY (SUCH AS TO MERGE WITH INTERSTATE TRAFFIC, OR TO MAKE A LEGAL U-TURN) THEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN. ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A SERVICE STATION AND HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED AND FILLED. MY HOPE WAS TO AVOID ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, THIS SERVICE DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALER WHO TOLD ME THE CLUTCH WAS COMPLETELY BURNED OUT. THEY ASKED ME WHY I WAITED SO LONG TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED. I POINTED OUT TO THEM THAT THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES THAT IT IS A "MAINTENANCE FREE" TRANSMISSION THAT SHOULD NEVER NEED SERVICING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10200458

Incident

Aug 18, 2007

Mileage

54,350 mi

2004 MALIBU CUSTOMER HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH LOSS OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERING AND WANTS OUT OF THE LEASE WITHOUT PENALTY**CC THE RADIO WAS INOPERATIVE, THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS INOPERATIVE AT TIMES, IT WOULD TURN OFF, BUT NOT ENGAGE. THE PCM WAS REPLACED. THE PASSENGER SIDE DIRECTIONAL LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BULBS. THE HEATED SEATS CAME ON BY THEMSELVES. THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS REPLACED, BECAUSE THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES WERE LEAKING, THE REAR DEFOGGER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS INOPERATIVE. WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ON INTERMITTENT, THEY WOULD GO FULL SPEED BY THEMSELVES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10186840

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

TL* - THE CONTACT HAS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE TURNED THE IGNITION ON THE ENHANCED TRACTION SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT, THE ENGINE LIGHT, AND THE SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR WOULD START AND ALL OF THE DASHBOARD FEATURES WOULD WORK, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO THE REVERSE OR DRIVE GEARS. THE CONTACT STATED SHE COULD PUT THE CAR IN THE DRIVE GEAR AND IT WOULD NOT DRIVE. THE CAR BEGAN TO JERK AND SHAKE WITHOUT THE CONTACT ADDING PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, AND THE RPM LEVEL INCREASED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE. THE WEATHER WAS REALLY COLD AND THERE WERE SNOW FLURRIES, BUT NO ACCUMULATION.

NHTSA ID

10178798

Incident

Jan 16, 2007

Mileage

52,000 mi

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED STEERING AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE STEERING WENT OUT, FORCING THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INTO AN EMBANKMENT. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A SERVICE CENTER. TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ENGAGE INTO THE INTERLOCK. IF GOING INTO REVERSE AND CHANGING INTO DRIVE IT WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL VEHICLE. CONSUMER MUST USE ABOUT 45 LBS OF PRESSURE TO GET THE GEAR SHIFT TO OPERATE SMOOTHLY. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS HAVING BRAKE PROBLEMS. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON AN OFF RAMP AND APPLIED THE BRAKES DOWN TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN BUT DID NOT STOP COMPLETELY. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALERSHIP, WHO TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS A BRAKE RECALL, AND THAT THE BRAKE PROBLEM WAS ELECTRICAL. THE BRAKES WERE ELECTRONICALLY PROGRAMMED CONTROLLED. *AK RECALL CAMPAIGN; 04V190000. SUMMARY: SOME OF THESE PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) THAT MAY CALCULATE A HIGHER THAN ACTUAL VEHICLE SPEED BECAUSE OF AN ERRATIC REAR-WHEEL SPEED SENSOR SIGNAL, AND CAUSE ABS ACTIVATION WHERE IT IS NOT NEEDED OR NEEDED ABS ACTIVATION TO BE EXTENDED DURING BRAKING AS THE VEHICLE SPEED DROPS TO ABOUT 3 MPH. THE TRUNK RELEASE BUTTON ON THE DRIVERS DOOR CAME APART. THE SHIFTER HANDLE BROKE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AFTER BEING IN TRAFFIC. *TC

NHTSA ID

10107002

Incident

May 15, 2004

Mileage

1,500 mi

I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY 04 MALIBU. ROUGH IDLE, POWER STEERING FALIURE MANY TIMES TOOK TO DEALER 3 TIMES COULD NOT DUPLICATE, BROUGHT IN WITH POWER STEERING OUT AT IT WAS DUPLICATED, BUT COULD NOT FIGURE OUT FOR A WHILE TOLD ME TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE, NO SAFETY FACTOR.FINALLY THOUGHT THEY FIGURED OUT PUT IN A NEW STEERING COLUMN, 9,000 MILES LATER BACK TO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH POWER STEERING. ALSO PROBLEMS WITH HARD SHIFTING,AND ALSO WITH IGNITION STICKING OR CONTINUING TO TURN OVER AFTER LEETING GO OF THE KEY. I WOULD NOT RECOMEND THIS CAR TO ANYONE AND THEY SHOULD ALL BE CRUSHED.MY WIFE IS TERRIFIED OF THE CAR AND WILL NOT DRIVE.CAR IS AT DEALER RIGHT NOW WE ARE DRIVING A LOANER. *JB EA04018_CAT

NHTSA ID

10098645

Incident

Nov 8, 2004

Mileage

4,383 mi

POWER STEERING HAS FAILED ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME, THE DEALER REPLACED THE CAM SENSOR IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN 5 DAYS LATER. THE CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP, THEY ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG.*AK PE04031_CAT CALL NOTES: BACKED CAR OUT OF GARAGE. STEERING WAS DIFFICULT. SAW 'POWER STEERING' ON DISPLAY. TURNED CAR OFF AND RESTARTED, BUT NO POWER STEERING. DROVE CAR TO DEALERSHIP, WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE CONDITION, BUT THEY DID REPLACE CAM SENSOR. AFTER ABOUT 4 DAYS, DRIVER WAS BACKING OUT OF GARAGE AND SAME SITUATION HAPPENED AGAIN. SHUT OFF CAR AND CALLED DLR. HAD A COMMITMENT SO HE DROVE CAR WITHOUT POWER STEERING. AFTER FINISHING COMMITMENT RESTARTED CAR AND POWER STEERING WORKED. BROUGHT TO DEALER, WHO KEPT CAR FOR 4-5 DAYS AND REPLACED STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY. AS HE WAS DRIVING CAR OUT OF DEALERSHIP, FELT CAR PULLING TO LEFT, BUT NEEDED CAR SO HE DROVE CAR AND BROUGHT BACK AFTER FINISHING COMMITMENT. DEALERSHIP KEPT CAR FOR 7 DAYS, CALIBRATED STEERING, BUT DID NOT REPLACE ANY PARTS. DRIVER JUST PICKED UP CAR AND THINGS SEEMED OK. CAT 3/25/04 NO CRASH OR INJURIES PER CONSUMER CALL ON 3/30/04 CAT

NHTSA ID

10062107

Incident

Mar 11, 2004

Mileage

291 mi