Page 3 of 3 · complaints 101–116 of 116

2004 Chevrolet Malibu Classic complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2004 record →

Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal
Filed Apr 8, 200970,000 milesNJ

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. WITHIN THE PAST YEAR, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL FAILURE WITH THE WINDOWS. THE WINDOWS WORK AT RANDOM AND, OCCASIONALLY, RISE VERY SLOWLY AS IF THE MOTOR IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE IS ALSO EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH THE TURN SIGNALS. MOST OF THE TIME THEY DO NOT WORK AT ALL, BUT OTHER TIMES THE SIGNALS WORK FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THE ISSUE IS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND SHOULD BE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR. THE DEALER WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000. UPDATED 5/7/09 *CN UPDATED 05/12/09*JB

Exterior Lighting › Hazard Flashing Warning Lights › Switch
Filed Feb 17, 200940,000 milesTX

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HAZARD WARNING SWITCH CAUSES THE TURN SIGNAL AND EMERGENCY FLASHERS NOT TO WORK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE; THEREFORE, HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT WENT TO THE DEALER TO PURCHASE THE PARTS AND HANGE THE SWITCH HIMSELF. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 03/18/09. *LJ UPDATED 03/19/09. *JB

Air BagsCrash2 injured
Filed Jan 14, 2009MA

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A 2004 CHEVORLET MALIBU IN 2 ACCIDENTS. THE FIRST ACCIDENT WAS ON 8/29/05 IN WHICH I WAS T-BONED BY AN SUV THAT RAN A STOP SIGN IN WHICH IN COURT THE SUV WAS FOUND GUILTY. THE SECOND ACCIDENT WAS ON 1/8/09 IN WHICH MY DAUGHTER GABRIELLE THREADGILL SLID INTO THE BACK OF A HUGE VAN DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS AND SLID INTO THE VAN GOING AT LEAST 30 MILES PER HOUR, NO CITATION WAS GIVEN DUE TO THE ICE. MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE BOTH INJURED IN BOTH ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Dec 11, 200829,000 milesFL

AFTER RADIO WAS REPLACED I EXPERIENCED MY BLINKERS DO NOT WORK CONSISTENTLY. I HAD A WARRANTY AT THAT TIME TOOK IT TO DEALER THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM TOLD ME COME BACK WHEN IT STARTED AGAIN, HOWEVER THE DEALER SAID THAT IF I JIGGLED THE HAZARD BUTTON THE BLINKERS WOULD WORK THAT THEY HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM MANY TIMES AND THAT THEY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A RECALL MATTER. OF COURSE THE SITUATION CONTINUED MY WARRANTY RAN OUT AND I'M STUCK WITH THIS DANGEROUS ELECTRICAL ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE A RECALL. THE A/C IS ALSO AFFECTED, IT COMES ON AND OFF AND IT SEEMS THE HAZARD BUTTON SOMEHOW HELPS TO RESET THE PROBLEM SOMETIMES SO IT COMES BACK ON JUST LIKE THE BLINKERS WILL STAY ON IF I HOLD THE LEFT CORNER OF THE HAZARD BUTTON. IF ANYONE OUT THERE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW IT WAS CORRECTED. HELP! *TR

Electrical System
Filed Sep 30, 2008TX

CAR WOULDN'T START SO TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND REMOVED BATTERY AND THEN REPLACED IT AND CAR STARTED. INFORMED US HE HAS WORKED ON OTHERS THAT HAD SAME PROBLEM AND IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE THAT HAD TO BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE TAKEN CARE OF. THE CAR STARTED AND RAN FOR 3 DAYS THEN IT WON'T START AGAIN. SO HAD IT TOWED TO THE CHEVY DEALER. MECHANIC TALKED TO ON THE PHONE INSTANTLY KNEW THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE HAD TO REPAIR IT ON MANY CARS. TOLD US IT WAS THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE AND THE ONLY WAY AROUND IT WAS TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CAR IS STILL CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERS SO CANT GIVE A TOTAL ACCOUNT YET OF WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I'VE HAD TO MISS DAYS AT WORK BECAUSE OF THIS AND WONDERING IF IT IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM WHY SOMETHING ISN'T BEING DONE ABOUT IT. HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE BEFORE BUT CAUSED A DIFFERENT PROBLEM. IT WENT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND DIDN'T LET ME USE CRUISE CONTROL, AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. IT ALSO WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP. I HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND WAIT A FEW MINUTES. THEN IT STARTED BACK UP AND HAD NO PROBLEMS TILL NOW. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Aug 20, 200836,000 milesPA

MY HUSBAND TRAVELS 200 MILES A DAY,MOSTLY INTERSTATE TRAVEL. AT LEAST .ONCE A DAY HIS TURN SIGNALS FAIL TO WORK. MOST OF THE TIME IF HE MESSES AROUND WITH THE HAZARD LIGHT BUTTON FOR A FEW SECONDS THE TURN SIGNALS WILL FUNCTION AGAIN,BUT NOT ALWAYS. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. ONE MECHANIC SAID IT IS MORE THAN LIKELY A SHORT IN THE WIRING BUT WILL E EXPENSIVE TO FIND LET ALONE FIX. I FEEL THERE IS ALSO A POSSIBILITY OF A FIRE. *TR

Equipment
Filed Jul 7, 200872,000 milesIL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. AFTER TURNING THE AIR CONDITIONER ON IT WAS HEATING THE VEHICLE INSTEAD OF COOLING IT. A MECHANIC ADDED TWO CANS OF FREE-ON IN THE UNIT; HOWEVER, THE AIR CONDITIONER IS NOT OPERATING NORMALLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

Electrical System › Ignition › Anti-theft › Control Module
Filed Apr 8, 2008NY

THE 2004 CHEVY MALIBU CLASSIC WILL NO START FOR 10 MINUTES EVERYTIME I GET IN THE CAR. I WANT TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT WAS TOLD BY A CHEVY DEALER THAT IT WOULD COST $400.00 BUT IT IS A HIT OR MISS SITUATION. I WOULD LOVE IF GM RECALLED IT. I WORK IN CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND CHILDREN LIVES CAN BE AT RISK IF I CAN'T GET TO A FAMILY IN TIME. IF GM WILL NOT RECALL THE CAR COULD THEY PLEASE TELL ME HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM THAT WILL HAVE MONEY AND LIVES. *TR

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed Feb 27, 200835,371 milesIN

I TRIED TO START THE CAR AND, WHILE THE STARTER MOTOR OPERATED, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. EVENTUALLY I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED, AND THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. IF HAD KNOW, I COULD HAVE LEFT THE KEY ON FOR 10 MINUTES AND PERHAPS IT WOULD HAVE STARTED. BUT THIS INFO WAS BURIED IN THE OWNER?S MANUAL UNDER THE HEADING PASSLOCK AND NOT FOUND UNTIL AFTER THE CAR WAS REPAIRED. I WOULD HAVE BEEN AFRAID TO SIT IN AN UNLOCKED CAR FOR 10 MINUTES IN ANY EVENT. *TR

Electrical System › Ignition › Anti-theft › Control Module
Filed Feb 8, 2008NY

MY PROBLEM IS WITH A 2004 CHEVY MALIBU CLASSIC...SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT THIS CAR I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION CYLINDER THREE TIMES BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD NOT START IN THE COLD WEATHER..AND NOW I MY CAR IS NOT STARTING BECAUSE OF A THEFT PASSLOCK MODULE ISSUE...THIS CAR HAS LEFT ME STRANDED EVERYWHERE AND IM A SINGLE MOTHER AND NEED TO GO TO WORK AND THIS CAR IS UNDEPENDABLE DUE TO THE FAULTY THEFT SYSTEM..I HAVE SPENT OVER 2000 DOLLARS ALREADY FOR NOTHING, BECAUSE THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURS ALL OVER AGAIN...PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS SITUATION...THERE IS A NEED TO FOR A RECALL.... *TR

Electrical System
Filed Dec 7, 200770,000 milesWI

I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY MALIBU WITH THE FACTORY THEFT SYSTEM. THIS THEFT SYSTEM HAS CAUSED THE CAR TO NOT START AND THUS MAKING ME LATE FOR MANY APPOINTMENTS. THE SYSTEM WILL RESET AFTER 10 MINUTES, BUT I FEEL THAT THIS IS SOMETHING GENERAL MOTORS NEEDS TO LOOK AT AND MAYBE ISSUE A RECALL. THANK YOU *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc
Filed Apr 9, 200750,000 milesFL

SEVER VIBRATION WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. ONE ROTOR WAS CHANGED WHILE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY. NOW THERE IS 50,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND NO WARRANTY AND THE PROBLEM IS BACK. THIS WAS A PROBLEM THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF AND SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THE OTHER ROTOR ALSO.

Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist SystemCrash
Filed Feb 7, 2007DC

2004 MALIBU CLASSIC WITH POWER STEERING PROBLEMS. **CC THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE POWER STEERING WENT COMPLETELY OUT. *JB

Steering
Filed Aug 18, 200660,001 milesTX

I KEPT HEARING A RATTLING IN MY CAR COMING FROM THE FRONT TIRES AREA. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING A "STEERING GEAR". MY CAR IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD, THOUGH IT HAS RELATIVELY HIGH MILEAGE. AFTER CONSULTING WITH OTHERS MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT CARS, I FOUND OUT THAT GM HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH STEERING GEARS IN THE PAST, AND THAT MY CAR IS DEFINITELY TOO "YOUNG" TO HAVE THAT PART NEEDING REPLACEMENT. IT'S A 2004 CHEVY MALIBU WITH 64K+ MILES ON IT.*JB

Steering
Filed Jan 30, 200625,000 milesKY

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING ON THE VEHICLE LOCKS MOMENTARILY. THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WERE THE VEHICLE WAS TEST DRIVEN. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED.

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Dec 24, 2005FL

I AM A FORMER STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WITH EXTENSIVE SAFE DRIVING TECHNIQUES FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS. I NOW WORK WITH UPS AND HAVE EXTENSIVE SAFE HABITS WITH THIS CORPORATION. TODAY WAS A CLEAR, COOL AND CRISP DAY WITH NO WATER OR OIL SPOTS ON THE HIGHWAY. MY 15 MONTH OLD WAS IN HER CHILD RESTRAINT SEAT IN THE REAR AND I WAS IN THE DRIVER SEAT. WHILE COMING TO A STOP MY BRAKES LOCKED UP AND THE ABS DID NOT WORK. THE SEAT BELT I WAS WEARING DID NOT WORK PROPERLY CAUSING ME TO BREAK MY GLASSES AS MY HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO WORK ALSO. *JB THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE IMPACT OF RUNNING INTO THE REAR OF A DUMP TRUCK. HAD THE ABS AND SEAT BELT WORKED PROPERLY THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED BY MANEUVERING MY VEHICLE AROUND THE DUMP TRUCK.

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

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