2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx

Defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.

Risk. Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy. GM will notify owners, and dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and harness connector, and will relearn the brake pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). GM's number for this recall is 13036.

Defect. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on April 29, 2014, that they are recalling 56,214 model year 2007 and 2008 Saturn Aura vehicles. On May 22, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 1,074,899 model year 2004-2008 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured from May 16, 2003, through October 5, 2007, model year 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured from June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, and model year 2005-2008 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured from May 26, 2004, through September 28, 2007, and equipped with 4-speed transmissions. The total number vehicles being recalled is now 1,131,113.

Risk. If the transmission shift cable fractures while the vehicle is being driven, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash. Furthermore, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, despite selecting the ‘PARK’ position, the transmission may not be in ‘PARK.’ If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.

Remedy. GM will notify owners, and GM dealers will replace the shift cable assembly and mounting bracket, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 14152.

Defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2006 Malibu Maxx, 2009-2010 HHR (non-turbo), 2010 Cobalt, 2008-2009 Saturn Aura and 2004-2007 Ion, and 2005-2009 Pontiac G6. In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving.

Risk. If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. GM will notify owners, and dealers will perform one of four bulletins. Parts are not currently available. GM expects to send an interim notification around May 28, 2014. When parts are available, owners will be mailed a second letter to come in to have the applicable bulletin applied. Bulletin 14115 covers model year 2004-2007 Saturn Ion, 2009-2010 Chevrolet HHR and 2010 Chevrolet Cobalts. Dealers will replace the EPS motor. Bulletin 14116 covers model year 2004-2006 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx, 2005-2006 Pontiac G6 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from March 1, 2008, through June 27, 2008. Dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly. Bulletin 14117 covers model year 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from February 1, 2008, through February 28, 2008. Dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly and EPS motor controller unit. Bulletin 14118 covers model year 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from October 1, 2007, through January 31, 2008. Dealers will replace the EPS motor controller unit. The recall began on July 17, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, Saturn at 1-800-553-6000, and Pontiac at 1-800-620-7668. GM's number for this recall is N140115. Note: GM bulletin number 14119 will be implemented for model year 2006-2008 and early production of 2009 Chevrolet HHR (non-turbo) and model year 2003 Saturn ION to provide EPS Motor replacement for the life of the vehicle.

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx. The contact stated that after he turned off and restarted the vehicle, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to Bruce’s auto body shop where it was diagnosed that the air bag side impact sensor failed to reset and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified by the dealer and the contact was informed that the parts were no longer being manufactured and was unavailable. The failure mileage was approximately 164,000.

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14E044000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The power steering warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed with power steering failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 117,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MANUALLY SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK HOWEVER, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE CONTACT PUSHED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MIDWAY CHEVROLET (2323 W BELL RD, PHOENIX, AZ) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE, HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE STEERING ABILITY SEIZED AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN TO MCCURLEY CHEVROLET (1325 N AUTOPLEX WAY, PASCO, WA 99301) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V153000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. ALSO, 'POWER STEERING' DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO BILLION AUTOMOTIVE (600 W. 41ST, SIOUX FALLS, SD) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE SENSOR WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

NO STEERING,STEERING TURNS AROUND AND AROUND WITHOUT STOP TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION,RIGHT OR LEFT. SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED,SPENT APPROXIMATELY $1200.00 BEFORE. CAR THIS TIME ENDED IN A TOW POUND YARD. TRIPLE AAA MOVED MY CAR TO A SHOP CALLED QUICK STOP WHERE I WANTED TO GET MY CAR FIXED AT ONLY TO DISCOVER THEY DIDN'T DO ELECTRICAL WORK WHICH THEY DISCOVERED WAS THE PROBLEM AMONG OTHERS. AGAIN THE TOWING COMPANY TRIPLE AAA CARRIED IT TO WEBB CHEVROLET SUGGESTED BY THIS SHOP. WEBB CHEVROLET DISCOVERED ALSO ELECTRICAL ISSUES. MY INSURANCE NOTIFIED ME AFTER I CONTACT THEM FOR A CLAIM REPORT. AN ESTIMATOR WAS SENT TO WEBB CHEVROLET ALSO THEY DISCOVERED AFTER A TEAR DOWN DIAGNOSIS THAT IT IS A RECALL ISSUES. NOW YOU ARE BEING NOTIFIED BY ME,RUBY WELLS OF THESE PROBLEMS. THIS IS WHY IM NOTIFYING YOU OF THE RECALLS FOUND ON THIS MAKE,MODEL AND YEAR 2004 VEHICLE. NOT STATIONARY,IT WAS IN MOTION WHEN HAPPENED ON CITY STREET. MY SON WAS ARRESTED FOR NO REASON $2000 BAIL TIMES 2 . COURT JUDGE THROUGH CASE OUT ON APRIL 45TH 2019 AFTER DISCOVERING BOGUS TICKETS WRITING AND ARRESTS THEY INDICATED THERE WAS NO INSURANCE ON VEHICLE AND HAD MY CAR TOWED TO POUND WITHIN HOURS. I HAD TO PAD TOWING FEES OF $1200 APPROXIMATELY TO GET MY CAR FROM POUND LESS THAN24 HOURS OF THE TOWING. MONEY HAS ALREADY BEEN SPENT UNNECESSARILY MONEY I HAD TO BORROW BECAUSE I'M RETIRED. PLEASE TAKE CARE OF THIS FOR ME ASAP. PLEASE!

STEERING OUT OF WHACK. I HAVE HAD MY CONTROL ARM ON BOTH SIDES CHANGED ALONG WITH AXLES AND A ALIGNMENT. NO LUCK ITS STILL ALL OVER ROAD. I DRIVE FROM SYLVESTER GA TO TIFTON GA EVERYDAY. IT DOES THE SAME THING EVERYTIME. ALSO I HAVE HAD MY LIGHTS REPLACED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR. WHY ARENT THE LASTING. GAS CAP KEEPS READING ERROR. WHOLE CAR. I CAN LET SOMEONE DRIVE IT TO SEE WHAT I AM SAYING.

THE 6 WAY FRONT DRIVERS SEAT HAS FAILED 6 TIMES SINCE 2006. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT WAS 3/15/2019. THE FIRST FAILURE WAS IN 2007. THE WELDS THAT SUPPORT THE FRAME BREAK AND I HAVE REPLACED THE SEAT 3 TIMES, WELDED 3 TIMES. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE AS IT HAS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AFTER HITTING A BUMP AND CAUSED ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. I AM REPORTING THIS NOW AS THE DEALERS IGNORE THIS AS AN ISSUE AND JUST WANT OVER A $1000 TO REPLACE THE SAME DEFECTIVE PART WHICH WILL FAIL AGAIN. NHTSA IS MY LAST HOPE THAT LIVES WILL BE SAVED. THIS IS NOT AN UNUSUAL PROBLEM AS THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF THIS DEFECT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION, A POPPING NOISE WAS PRESENT AND THE STEERING ABILITY SEIZED. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT PULLED OUT OF THE RACK. THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. ELM CHEVROLET (301 E. CHURCH ST, ELMIRA, NY) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,000.

THE ELECTRONIC STEERING ASSIST WOULD FAIL WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOOSE STEERING AND HAVE TO COME TO A STOP AND TURN VEHICLE OFF TO AVOID A CRASH. IT IS SCAREY AND DANGEROUS. MINE ISN'T THE ONLY MALIBU MAXX THAT HAS HAD THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM.

STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND POWER STEERING WON'T WORK

CAR WAS RUNNING A LITTLE ROUGH GOING UP HILLS AT 106,000 MILES SO I HAD A TRANSMISSION SERVICE DONE AT AAMCO. 2 DAYS LATER THE CAR IS IN LIMP MODE BARELY MADE IT HOME COASTED. LOW RPMS HAS NO POWER AND FOR SOME REASON IT WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE NOW. GETS HIGHER RPMS AND PULLS IN NEUTRAL. BEFORE THAT THE CAR WAS FINE BESIDE A SUSPENSION/ SHOCKS THAT WERE NEVER ABLE TO BE REPAIRED BY EVERY MECHANIC I WENT TO.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CHECK ENGINE AND POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE INDICATORS WENT AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,972. *DT CONSUMER STATED MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED AND REPAIRS MADE. UPDATED 12/04/18*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING LOST POWER. IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE FRONT DRIVER'S AIR BAG EXPLODED AND STRUCK THE DRIVER IN THE FACE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 104,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. AFTER REVERSING AND ATTEMPTING TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN PARK, THE TRANSMISSION GEAR SELECTION DID NOT MATCH THE INDICATED GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER STILL FAILED AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 129,000.

ELECTRONIC STEERING FAILURE ON RECAL REPLACEMENT PART, IN 2014 REPLACED UNDER RECALL STEERING COLUMN AND MODULE. 3 YEARS LATER FAILED AGAIN. REPLACEMENT PARTS APPEAR DEFECTIVE NOT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. REPLACED AT DEALERSHIP INDICATED RECAL REPLACED ONCE, NOW IS OWNERS RESPONSIBILTY TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE PARTS.

FUEL PUMP RECALL

WHILE DRIVING ON ROUGH ROADS OR BREAKING NOISES RATTLES AN SEVERE SHAKE IN STEERING COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN AN AN STEERING BINDING WHEN FIRST STARTING CAR HARD TO TURN WHEELS STRANGE NOISES WHEN APPLYING BREAKS

RECALL #14116 WAS IN ON 04/13/15 TO HAVE THE RECALL CORRECTED AND IT WAS AT THAT TIME, BUT NOW THE PROBLEM IS RECURRING. WHEN CAR IS IN MOTION ANY WHERE WHEN YOU ACCELERATE THE POWER STEERING ON THE CAR LOSES ELECTRONIC ASSIST CAUSING THE STEERING TO BE EXCESSIVELY HARD.