RoadVitals

2004 Chevrolet Malibu Visibility Problems

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

Data refreshed

Visibility 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.
9
Latest Feb 8, 2016
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.
<1%
of 1,147 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

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 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 visibility

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

ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Feb 8, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD TRANSMISSION WIPER LINKAGE BUSHING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WAS DIFFICULT AT TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

NHTSA ID
10824874
Incident
Jan 24, 2016
Mileage
53,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seatsVisibility
Filed Sep 30, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL LOCKS FAILED AND THE DOORS FAILED TO LOCK. IN ADDITION, THE WINDOWS FAILED TO OPEN OR CLOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
10640163
Incident
Sep 4, 2006
Body & structureInterior & seatsSteering+1 more
Filed May 6, 2013

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 2006 WITH 17,000 MILES AT THE CARMAX SUPERSTORE IN NAPERVILLE ILLINOIS AND HAVE HAD SEVERAL SERIOUS ISSUES SINCE. THE LEAKING SUNROOF WITH THE INNUMERABLE FAILED ATTEMPTS AT REPAIR. THE LEAK HAS NEVER BEEN RESOLVED AND I HAVE RESORTED TO COVERING THE VEHICLE WITH A TARP DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE CONSTANT CLICKING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEN MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH AND THE SEVERE STIFFNESS IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN CURB SIDE PARKING BETWEEN PARKED VEHICLES. THE INTERMITTENT IGNITION FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT TURN OVER UNLESS YOU DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR SLIGHTLY. THERE WERE COUNTLESS FUTILE ATTEMPTS AT REPAIR FOR ALL THESE DEFECTS THROUGH OUT THE YEARS OF WARRANTY AND EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE. THE FAILED ATTEMPTS OF CORRECTLY DIAGNOSING AND PROPERLY REPAIRING THESE DEFECTS BY THE ENGLEWWOOD AUTO GROUP IN ENGLEWOOD NEW JERSEY HAVE LEFT ME UNSATISFIED AND SUPER FRUSTRATED. TODAY I AM WRITING BECAUSE THE OPERATORS SEAT HAS NOW TILTED TO THE RIGHT AND IS LEANING AGAINST THE CENTER CONSOLE. THERE WAS NOTHING OF SIGNIFICANCE THAT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING THAT IMMEDIATELY ALERTED ME OF THIS PROBLEM, I WAS SIMPLY ADJUSTING THE SEAT WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE SEAT WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE CENTER CONSOLE. UPON INSPECTING UNDERNEATH THE SEAT I OBSERVED THAT THE RIGHT REAR CORNER DOES NOT RISE WHEN ENGAGING THE ELECTRIC SEAT CONTROLS. THE ANGLE OF THE LEAN IS SO BAD THAT IT AFFECTS MY POSTURE AND PAINS MY LOWER BACK. I AM ALSO AFRAID THAT THE SEAT WILL COMPLETELY COLLAPSE WHILE I AM DRIVING. WHEN THE SEAT IS LOWERED ALL THE WAY DOWN IT DOES LEVEL TO ITS ACCEPTABLE NORM, BUT AT 5 FEET 4 INCHES TALL I CANNOT OPERATE SAFELY THAT LOW TO THE FLOOR. FOR A VEHICLE THAT IS DRIVEN ON AVERAGE ONCE A WEEK IT IS PLAGUED WITH SOME SERIOUS MANUFACTURER DEFECTS THAT THE DEALERSHIPS' SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10510778
Incident
Apr 27, 2013
Mileage
82,600 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Jul 20, 2012

REAR WINDOW OF VEHICLE APPARENTLY BROKEN BY TRUNK LID OPENING TOO FAR. TRUNK LID OPENED TOO FAR DUE TO TWO RUBBER TRUNK LID STOPS HAD BOTH PREVIOUSLY FALLEN FROM THEIR DESIGNED LOCATION. CHEVROLET DEALER STATES THESE PARTS WERE A PROBLEM AND ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE-NEW PARTS HAVE BEEN DESIGNED AND WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $100 IF PURCHASED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10466700
Incident
Apr 12, 2011
SteeringSuspensionVisibility
Filed Oct 10, 2007

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
Heating & air conditioningDriver assistanceElectrical+4 more
Filed Mar 15, 2007

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
Visibility
Filed May 18, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DEFOGGER SYSTEM PULLS AIR FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING IN CONGESTED TRAFFIC, THE POLLUTED AIR FROM THE OTHER VEHICLES IS PULLED INSIDE THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN INFORMED.

NHTSA ID
10157822
Incident
May 18, 2006
Mileage
9,000 mi
SuspensionVisibility
Filed May 20, 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
SteeringVisibility
Filed Aug 4, 2004

BOTH FRONT SIDE WINDOWS DID NOT ROLL DOWN. ALSO, A STEERING COLUMN PROBLEM. VEHICLE PULLED TO LEFT. DEALERSHIP INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND COULD NOT FIX IT. *AK EA04018_CAT

NHTSA ID
10087171
Incident
Aug 4, 2004

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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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .