TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000. UPDATED 6/26/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BECOME AVAILABLE. UPDATED 07/08/2014 *JS
2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx 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 →
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V153000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,517. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE 44,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
SINCE 1/2012, INTERMITTENT MALFUNCTION OF POWER STEERING AND ENGINE OPERATION AT HIGHWAY/STREET SPEEDS OCCURS. VEHICLE SINCE HAS BEEN INSPECTED FOR INCIDENTS BY CERTIFIED DEALERS/AUTO REPAIR SHOPS. PROBLEM CONTINUES FORCING THE DRIVER TO VEER OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT STEERING AND/OR POWER, PUTTING THE DRIVER AND ANYONE IN THE PATH AT RISK OF INJURY/DEATH. MY RESEARCH DUE TO THE MOST CURRENT INCIDENT LED ME TO INFORMATION RELEASED FROM THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION DATED APRIL 1, 2014 STATING THAT 1,340,447 CARS AFFECTED WITH THIS PROBLEM. NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 14V153000, GM RECALL #:N140115. GM KNEW THIS INFORMATION. ON 4/23/14 I SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT TO THE NHTSA, AND GM. 2 GM EMPLOYEES DENIED THE RECALL/SERVICES, YET EVENTUALLY ADMITTED THAT THEY KNEW ABOUT THE RECALL WHICH WOULD BE MADE PUBLIC 4/28/14, YET NOTICES TO VEHICLE OWNERS WILL GO OUT AFTER 4/28/14. GM CONTINUES THE PRACTICE OF NOT INFORMING THE PUBLIC. *TR
I SAT DOWN IN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT AND HEARD A LOUD SNAP. THE SEAT IMMEDIATELY DROPPED DOWN AND TO THE RIGHT. THE WELD ON THE SEAT FRAME JUST SNAPPED CAUSING THE POWER SEAT FUNCTIONS TO NO LONGER WORK. SINCE THE SEAT WAS MOVED AS FAR BACK AS POSSIBLE AT THE TIME THE FRAME BROKE, THE BOLTS THAT REMOVE THE SEAT FROM THE VEHICLE ARE COMPLETELY COVERED AND NOT ACCESSIBLE. I AM STUCK WITH DRIVING A BROKEN/ UNSAFE/ UNMOVABLE SEAT OR PAYING OVER $1000 AT THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THIS FIXED. BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY ISSUE I WOULD BE WILLING TO SPEND THE MONEY AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR A NEW SEAT BUT I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO FAITH THAT THE NEW SEAT WILL WORK FOR LONG, ESPECIALLY AFTER READING ABOUT SOME PEOPLE HAVING THEIR SEAT REPAIRED BY THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES (SPENDING OVER $2000 TOTAL) AND THEY'RE STILL DRIVING AROUND ON A BROKEN SEAT. WHEN ARE WE GETTING A RECALL?? THE POSTS DESCRIBING THIS ISSUE GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO 2005 AND IT SEEMS THAT GM JUST DOESN'T CARE. *TT
UPON RAISING MY POWER SEAT SOMETHING BROKE. THE MOTOR IS REALLY LOUD AND WHEN IT WENT UP THE LEFT SIDE DID NOT GO UP RIGHT AND THE SEAT LEANS TO THE RIGHT INTO THE CENTER CONSOLE, DOESNT FEEL AS THOUGH I HAVE ANY SUPPORT UNDER RIGHT SIDE OF SEAT. I AM SHORT AND I NEED TO SIT UP TO SEE OVER THE STEERING WHEEL AND I NOW CANNOT. SEAT BELT IS CONNECTED TO SEAT FRAME AND IF IM IN AN ACCIDENT I FEEL THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT HELP. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED! READ OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE ON THIS SAME YEAR. *TT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING FROM A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 162,790.
THE ABOVE DATE IS APPROXIMATE BECAUSE I HAVE HAD PROBLEM WITH THIS SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2004. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, GM CORPORATE, AND NHTSA FOR YEARS. I ALWAYS GOT THE SAME RESPONSE, "CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM". GM OWES ME MONEY FOR ALL THE AGGRAVATION AND MONEY FOR PAYING SERVICE DEPT. FOR NOTHING. MY CAR LOST STEERING ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE TRYING TO PASS AN 18 WHEELER, THIS MEANT I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE. BY THE GRACE OF GOD, I'M STILL HERE!! I STILL HAVE MY CAR, BUT I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SHIFTING INTO ANY GEAR THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE WARNING INDICATOR. UPON TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON IT BEGAN TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER THE YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND DEALER, WHO BOTH STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 5/22/14*CN UPDATED 7/06/17*CN
THE DRIVERS SEAT FRAME BROKE ON MY 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX CAUSING IT TO LEAN AND TILT BACK TO THE RIGHT TOWARD THE CENTER CONSOLE. IT HAS THE 6-WAY POWER SEAT. THE 58,795 IS LESS THAN AVERAGE FOR THE AGE OF THE CAR. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE SEAT BELT ATTACHES TO THE FRAME OF THE SEAT. I FEEL THAT GM SHOULD HAVE THIS ON A RECALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND RINGING SOUND SOUNDED AND POWER STEERING WENT COMPLETELY OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION AS I WAS MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN. I MANAGED TO GET IT TO THE CURB AND CALL FOR HELP. AFTER SITTING A WHILE IT BECAME NORMAL, BUT I AM AFRAID THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER ABOUT THIS. SEE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA 04018 AND LOTS OF GM SERVICE BULLETINS. MY DEALER CANNOT HELP BECAUSE THE RECALL WAS FOR 2005 MALIBU MAX ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING AND NOT THE 2004, BUT IT IS THE SAME POWER STEERING UNIT. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOSES POWER AND LOCKS UP, MY DAUGHTER IS 19 YEARS OLD AND I'D LIKE HER TO SEE HER 20TH BIRTHDAY, PLEASE HELP, THIS IS RIDICULOUS THE AMOUNT OF CHEVY CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE AND IT IS BEING IGNORED BY GM, THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED, ASAP!!!!! *TR
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY SEAT COLLAPSED. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND TRIED THE UP AND DOWN SWITCH TO NO AVAIL. THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY SEAT WOULD NOT RAISE AND I HAVE TO DRIVE IN AN AKWARD POSITION. WENT TO THE DEALER AND WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF $1050 WHICH I COULD NOT AFFORD. I AM CONTINUING TO DRIVE THIS WAY. I JUST RECENTLY LOOKED ON THE COMPUTER AND SEE THAT THEIR ARE MANY, MANY COMPAINTS AND I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT YOU PEOPLE, NHTSA, HAVE NOT CONSIDERED THIS A PROBLEM AND ISSUE A RECALL NOTICE. IS GM TOO BIG OR DO THEY OFFER A GOOD SPIFF. TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE. BECAUSE OF YOU MANY PEOPLE MAY GET INJURED OR DIE. *TR
POWER STEERING SIMPLY WENT OUT AND AT SUCH A SLOW SPEED, IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER CAR... ALL THE BELLS AND WHISTLES DID GO OFF, A SECOND OR TWO BEFORE IT FAILED. NOT SURE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY - NOT SURE I WANT TO FIND OUT. TURNED OFF THE CAR, THEN BACK ON AND STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL. WENT TO CHEVY DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WILL NOT COVER THE COST OF REPAIR, AND WANTS AN ADDITIONAL $100 JUST TO TELL ME WHAT IS WRONG.... NOT SURE WHY THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS CRITICAL ELEMENT OF THE CAR. IT SEEMS GM AND THE NHTSA ARE PLAYING "RUSSIAN ROULETTE" WITH OUR LIVES.... *TR
I TURNED MY CAR ON, AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON. COULDN'T STEER. TURNED CAR OFF AND ON, THEN MY STEERING WHEEL JERKS LIKE CRAZY FOR A WEEK. NOW DRIVING HOME FROM WORK MY STEERING DIED COMPLETELY. READING ABOUT THIS AND I SEE THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM FOR THE MALIBU AND MALIBU MAXX. CHEVY NEEDS TO DO A RECALL!!! *TR
A SLIGHT PULL TO THE RIGHT ON THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSES THE POWER STEERING TO PULL BACK TO THE LEFT IN A RANDOM PATTERN. IT CLEARLY HAPPENS AT A STOP IF YOU PULL SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT ON THE WHEEL. YOU CAN FEEL THE STEERING FIGHT YOU RANDOMLY (MULTIPLE PULLS WITHIN A FEW SECONDS) WHEN DRIVING AT SPEED ON A ROAD THAT HAS A CROWN TO THE LEFT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN VARIOUS WEATHER CONDITIONS, SPEED AND WITH OUT WARNING HIS VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER STEERING. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL FUNCTION UNTIL THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE 46,000 MILES.
I'VE HAD MY CAR FOR FIVE YEARS AND THE POWER STEERING HAS WENT OUT AND REPLACE 4 TIMES!! I AM A MOTHER WITH THREE KIDS DRIVING IS VERY DIFFICULT I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY TO REPLACE THE SAME PART OVER AND OVER THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS STEERING PROBLEM THERE ARE TO MANY COMPLAINTS FOR IS NOT TO BE AN ISSUE! *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR TO WORK WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. IT WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN THE VEHICLE. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON AFTER THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. THERE WAS NO WARNING BEFORE THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. LUCKILY, I WAS NOT IN A CURVE AND WAS ON THE INTERSTATE GOING STRAIGHT. DUE TO THE INABILITY TO EASILY TURN THE VEHICLE, GETTING OFF THE INTERSTATE RAMP SAFELY WAS CLOSE TO IMPOSSIBLE. THIS MAKES THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN 2009. THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I HAD A NEW STEERING COLUMN PUT IN ON 7/14/2009 (AT 69,000 MILES AND OUT OF MY OWN POCKET). IT WAS PRE-OWNED WHEN I BOUGHT IT, SO I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MANY TIMES THIS HAS BEEN REPLACED SINCE 2004, BUT I AM GUESSING THIS IS WHY IT WAS TRADED IN. *TR
IN JUNE THE DRIVERS SEAT BEGAN LISTING TO THE RIGHT AND ROCKING. THE DEALER LOOKED AT IT AND SAID IT IS A BROKEN WELD AND QUOTED ME $800.00 TO FIX IT. THEN IN SEPT OF 2012 I WAS TRYING TO MANEUVER OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND THE POWER STEERING LOCKED UP. IT WAS REALLY SCARY, IT TOOK ALL MY MIGHT TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE TO STOP WITHOUT HITTING ANYONE. WHEN I RESTARTED IT WAS OKAY AND MY MECHANIC DID NOT SEE ANY OBVIOUS PROBLEM WITH IT. ALSO THE CD PLAYER NO LONGER WILL LOAD UP CDS ALTHOUGH THE OTHER FUNCTIONS AND INFO ON THE LITTLE SCREEN WORK. ALSO THE SIDE MIRRORS NO LONGER CAN BE ADJUSTED IN THE VERTICAL PLANE ALTHOUGH THEY STILL MOVE HORIZONTALLY. *TR
I HAD JUST GOTTEN INTO TOWN AND PASSED MY ROAD I NEEDED SO I PULLED INTO THE NEXT ROAD TO TURN AROUND AND IT WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN. I THOUGHT I LOST MY POWER STEERING SO I TURNED THE CAR OFF ONLY TO REALIZE IT WAS STILL RUNNING. I STARTED IT BACK UP AND IT SEEMED TO LOOSEN UP SO I PULLED BACK OUT ON THE MAIN ROAD AND AGAIN COULD NOT GET THE WHEEL TO TURN EITHER WAY AT ALL. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AT A SPEED HIGHER THAN 20MPH, THERE WOULD BE NO WAY TO AVOID A WRECK. I WAS STUCK ON THE MAIN ROAD WITH NOWHERE TO GO AND WAS COMPLETELY BLOCKING TRAFFIC IN NOT GREAT ROAD CONDITIONS. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON MY WAY TO THE DESTINATION, I WOULD HAVE HAD NO CONTROL AND WOULD HAVE WENT OFF THE ROAD AND PROBABLE DEATH ON THE ROAD I WAS TRAVELING. AFTER REVIEWING SEVERAL SITES ONLINE, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. I FEEL IT SHOULD BE A PRIORITY 1 RECALL. THERE WERE A COUPLE OF PEOPLE WHO WRECKED BECAUSE OF IT. IF THIS CANNOT BE FIXED, WE WILL HAVE NO OTHER OPTION THAN TO GET RID OF THE CAR AND WARN OTHERS OF THIS SAFETY RISK. PLEASE CONSIDER LOOKING INTO THIS AS I REALLY DO LIKE MY CAR BUT I HAVE A FAMILY OF 4 TO CONSIDER AND ONE CHILD THAT WILL BE GETTING HIS LICENSE IN A FEW MONTHS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND COMPLETING A TURN WHEN THE POWER STEERING ASSIST SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED, MAKING THE STEERING WHEEL EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILURE SENSOR WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.
THE DRIVERS SEAT UPON ADJUSTING SAGGED TO THE LEFT AND THE SEAT BASE MOVED UNEVENLY CAUSING THE SEAT TO ROCK. THE SEAT WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM APPROXIMATELY 4 YRS AGO. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE I BELIEVE THE SEAT WOULD NOT HOLD UP TO EVEN A SMALL CRASH. *TR
WELD BROKE ON SEAT AND FELL TO THE RIGHT. ONLY WAY TO DRIVE WAS TO PUT THE SEAT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR 2 YEARS FOR A REPLACEMENT SEAT IN THE JUNK YARD. I HAVE FOUND 4 MATCHING SEATS OVER THE 2 YEARS, BUT EVERY ONE HAD THE FRAME BROKEN. PROBLEM IS THAT IN A SEVERE ACCIDENT THE SEAT COULD COME UNHOOKED FROM THE CAR. 2ND PROBLEM IS THAT THE SAFETY BELT HOOKS TO THE SEAT NOT THE CAR OR FRAME RENDERING THE SEATBELT USELESS. HAD IT WELDED 3 TIMES AND BREAKS IN LESS THAN A MONTH. IT IS SHAME THAT CHEVROLET WILL NOT DO A RECALL. PROBABLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO SOLUTION AS IT WAS A POOR DESIGN. I OWN 5 CHEVROLET VEHICLES INCLUDING 3 MALIBU'S, 2004, 2005 AND 2011. NONE WITH PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. *TR
WHILE DRIVING, HEARD WARNING SIGNAL, SAW WARNING LIGHT (WRENCH I THINK), THEN DIGITAL READ ON RADIO SAID "POWER STEERING." TRIED TO CHANGE LANES TO EXIT FREEWAY, STEERING WHEEL VERY DIFFICULT TO MOVE. REALIZED I HAD NO POWER STEERING. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THIS ALL HAPPENED VERY QUICKLY. *TR
I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY IN A PARKING LOT AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED COMPLETELY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO CAME ON. IT WAS VERY DIFICULT TO NAIGATE IN THE PARKING LOT AT SUCH LOW SPEEDS. WHEN I LEFT THE PARKING LOT AND ACCELERATED, I WAS ABLE TO MANAGE STEERING WITH SOME FORCE. AFTER TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTING, THE POWER STEERING WORKED FINE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF. I WAS CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AND WORRIED I WOULD HAVE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO DIFFICULTY STEERING. *TR
TURNED LEFT AT AN INTERSECTION WHEN THE A CHIME SOUNDED AND THE SERVICE LIGHT ON THE DASH APPEARED. THEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND THE CAR VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND ONTO THE SIDEWALK. THE CAR WAS PLACED INTO PARK AND THE IGNITION TURNED OFF. THE IGNITION WAS IMMEDIATELY TURNED BACK ON AND THE POWER STEERING WAS RESTORED. THIS HAPPENED LAST WINTER, THEN THREE TIMES ALREADY THIS WINTER. *TR
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD HEADING TO WORK, AND WENT AROUND A CURVE AND ALL THE SUDDEN THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I COMPLETELY LOST MY POWER STEERING. I MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND SHUT MY CAR OFF, TURN IT BACK ON AND WENT ON MY WAY. THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK AT THIS POINT. THE NEXT MORNING, I WAS DRIVING TO WORK, AND WAS GETTING READY TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. AS I ROUNDED THE CORNER, I LOST MY POWER STEERING YET AGAIN. I ONCE AGAIN KILLED THE ENGINE AND IT CAME BACK. BOTH TIMES, I LATER DROVE THE CAR HOME FROM WORK WITH NO INCIDENTS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO TURN AS THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING ALARM CHIMED. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,000.
ON THURSDAY OCTOBER 17TH WHILE DRIVING THE SEAT ALL OF A SUDDEN DROPPED DOWN ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, I BROUGHT TO A REPAIR SHOP ON MONDAY OCTOBER 21ST TO HAVE THE SEAT LOOKED AT IT. THE WELDS ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE SEAT FRAME ARE BROKEN, THE COST TO FIX THIS IS GOING TO BE OVER $1100 BECAUSE IN ORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM I NEED AN ENTIRE NEW SEAT. AFTER A LOT OF RESEARCH I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE IN THE 2004 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX, I FOUND A WEBSITE THAT HAD OVER 50 COMPLAINTS OF THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. I FEEL THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A RECALL ISSUE SINCE THE WELDING HAD BROKEN AND SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL CAR THIS SOUNDS LIKE A MANUFACTURING ERROR SINCE IT HAS OCCURRED FREQUENTLY WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING ACCOMPANIED BY A WARNING CHIME. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. IN ADDITION, AN UNKNOWN FUSE WAS REMOVED FROM UNDER CONSOLE AND CLEANED. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE STEERING COLUMN AND MODULE WERE BOTH REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000. ...UPDATED 11-18-13 *BF UPDATED 11/26/2013 *JS
HEARD A THUMP AND POWER SEAT SAGGED ON RIGHT SIDE. CHECKED UNDER SEAT AND FOUND WELD HAD BROKEN THAT HOLDS A TUBE TO A BRACKET. I COULD SEE THAT WHERE THE WELD PULLED LOOSE FROM THE TUBE IT PULLED METAL FROM THE TUBE. THE WELD DID NOT BREAK BUT PULLED METAL FROM THE TUBE. THE TUBE WAS MADE FROM THIN GAUGE METAL. *TR
WHILE MAKING A TURN AT 15 MPH DRIVERS SEAT DROPPED TO FLOOR. NOW DRIVERS SEAT ROCKS BACK AND IN TOWARDS CENTER CONSOLE. ADJUSTING THE HEIGHT TWISTS THE DRIVERS SEAT TO A DANGEROUS ANGLE. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SEAT FRAME WELDS BROKE ON THE BACK RIGHT CORNER OF SEAT. AN INTERNET SEARCH HAS PROVIDED A VAST NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. WITH THE SEAT ATTACHED AT THE SEAT THIS WILL NO DOUBT FAIL IN A MODERATE IMPACT CRASH AND LEAVE THE DRIVER UNSECURED. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL BY CHEVROLET. *JB
1ST INCIDENCE ON HIGHWAY, 2 YRS. AGO STEERING TIGHTENED UP AND LIGHT WITH CAR/WRENCH CAME ON. IT RESOLVED ON ITS OWN QUICKLY SOON AFTER CALLING ON STAR FOR ASSISTANCE. JUST RECENTLY MORE RANDOM INCIDENCES OF LIGHT COMING ON WITH NO NOTICEABLE STEERING DIFFICULTY. TODAY, WHILE PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, STEERING FROZEN, CAR/WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON, STUCK IN MIDDLE OF THE STREET. TURNED CAR OFF AND RESTARTED. STEERING LOOSENED UP THEN FROZE AGAIN, COULD NOT TURN WHEEL AT ALL, STILL STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. TURNED CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN. IT LOOSENED UP AGAIN AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT WITHOUT FURTHER LIGHT OR STIFFNESS. PLANNING ON VISITING THE DEALERSHIP THIS WEEK FOR A CHECK UP. THIS SHOULD BE COVERED ALONG WITH THE RECALL FOR 2005 MALIBU SINCE IT IS THE POWER STEERING ISSUE. *JS
STARTED MY CAR AFTER WORK AND MY POWER STEERING WAS SUDDENLY GONE AFTER WORKING FINE FOR 2 DAYS (JUST BOUGHT THE CAR). I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE DID A TROUBLE CODE SEARCH. THE COMPUTER KEPT DISPLAYING TORQUE SENSOR ERROR. TOOK IT TO GM AND FOUND OUT THAT THEY WILL NOT COVER THE COST TO REPLACE IT BECAUSE I HAVE A V6, NOT A V4 ENGINE. APPARENTLY GM EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE V4 STEERING COLUMNS, BUT NOT THE V6. DROVE BACK HOME AND LET THE CAR SIT FOR ABOUT 4 HOURS. WENT AND STARTED IT UP AND THE POWER STEERING WAS BACK. TURNED THE CAR BACK OFF AND IT OVERNIGHT. STARTED AGAIN THIS MORNING AND THE POWER STEERING IS GONE AGAIN! VERY UNHAPPY SINCE I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR! *TR
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT TOTALLY OUT. I HEARD A CHIME, SAW THE WRENCH LIGHT UP ON THE DASH AND A POWER STEERING MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE MESSAGE PANEL. I NOTICED THE STEERING WAS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT AND THEN WENT OUT ALL TOGETHER. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN AND THE PROBLEM WAS TEMPORARILY RESOLVED ONLY TO REAPPEAR LATER AGAIN. I KNOW THAT THE 2005 WAS RECALLED FOR THE SAME ISSUE AND THINK THIS ONE NEEDS TO BE ALSO. IT IS NOT SAFE AT ALL TO DRIVE. *TR
ON FEBRUARY 28, 2013 I TOOK MY 2004 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX TO A LOCAL DEALER TO HAVE THE POWER SEAT FIXED. THE FRAME BROKE AT THE WELD DURING NORMAL USE CAUSING THE SEAT TO ROCK, IT COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED, AND WAS A SAFETY HAZARD SINCE THE SEAT WAS NOT ANCHORED. I SPOKE WITH A LOCAL CHEVY DEALER BEFORE HAVING THIS FIXED AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM, A SAFETY ISSUE, AND THAT CHEVY HAD DECIDED TO NOT TAKE ANY ACTION ON IT JULY 16, 2013--SPOKE WITH SOMEONE IN CUSTOMER SERVICE AT CHEVY. THEY SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD HAVE TO BE DOCUMENTED BY A CHEVY DEALER, ALTHOUGH DOCUMENTATION COULD BE PROVIDED BY THE SHOP THAT FIXED THE PROBLEM. CHEVY SAID THEY WOULD OF COURSE WANT TO KNOW IF THERE WAS A SAFETY HAZARD WITH THE VEHICLE. BUT THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE THAT THIS EXISTS, EVEN THOUGH THE INTERNET POSTS SHOWS THIS TO BE QUITE A COMMON COMPLAINT. IMAGINE IF ONE WERE IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE ENTIRE SEAT WAS EJECTED. *TR
POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION FLASHED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND WITHIN SECONDS I LOST ALL POWER STEERING UNTIL I STOPPED THE VEHICLE SHUT IT OFF AND RESTARTED ENGINE. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN BEFORE BUT IN THE PARKING LOT AND RANDOM MALFUNCTION INDICATORS SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A MALFUNCTION THAT THESE CARS ROLLED OFF THE ASSEMBLY LINE WITH. GM CHOOSES NOT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND IF I END UP PAYING OVER $1,000.00 FOR THE REPAIR I VOW TO NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLE AGAIN. *TR
THE POWER STEERING LOCKS UP WHEN DRIVING, GETS VERY TIGHT AND CANNOT TURN THE WHEEL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT DOWN AND RESTARTED BUT THAT WAS ONLY A TEMPORARY REMEDY. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AND INTERIOR MODULE NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,700 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,400.
AFTER SEVERAL POWER STEERING SERVICE ALARMS IN THE PRECEDING MONTHS, THAT ALL RESET AFTER THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF, THE ALARM CAME ON AND THE POWER ASSIST FAILED LEAVING THE CAR EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT WEEK AND THEY REPROGRAMMED THE STEERING AND SENT ME HOME. THE NEXT DAY THE STEERING FAILED AGAIN. I THEN LOOKED UP THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND OUT THIS IS A PREVALENT PROBLEM AND HAS NO REAL FIX! WHAT DO I DO NOW? *TR
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE POWER STEERING FAILED COMPLETELY AS HAS BEEN NOTED BY THOUSANDS OF OTHER 2004 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX OWNERS. THE STEERING BECOMES DIFFICULT IS NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO OPERATE OR IT LOCKS UP COMPLETELY AS WAS THE CASE TODAY AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE STEERING TO BE TURNED. AS A 30 YEAR LAW ENFORCEMENT VETERAN I RECOGNIZE THIS AS A VERY SERIOUS LIFE SAFETY ISSUE. THIS VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED SINCE GM IS FULLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT DOES NOT WANT TO STEP UP AND FIX THIS ISSUE THAT HAS CAUSED ACCIDENTS AND INJURY TO OWNERS. THE FAULT INDICATOR COMES ON AND A BEEPING OCCURS AND THE DISPLAY IN THE CENTER OF THE DASH SAYS "POWER STEERING". *TR
THE STEERING LOCKS UP BETWEEN 2000 AND 3500 RPMS. THE TOOL, STEERING AND BATTERY LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING WHEN THE POWER STEERING LOCKS UP OR BEFORE THE STEERING LOCKS UP. CHIMING SOUNDS GO OFF AND A CLICKING NOISE FROM THE DASH BOARD. I HEARD MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. IT SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE IT ALMOST CAUSE ME TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT MANY TIME. I HAD TO STOP DRIVING ME CAR DUE TO THE DANGER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING HAD FAILED AND THE COLUMN AND STEERING MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,653 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,000. UPDATED 7/1/13 *CN UPDATED 07/17/2013 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOR MONTHS PRIOR TO IT FAILING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CHECK ENGINE AND POWER STEERING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL FOR THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. *TR
UPON ACCELERATION USING THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR LOSES TOTAL CONTROL OF ITS STEERING. ALL ENGINE LIGHTS AND FAILURE LIGHTS GO ON.SOMETIMES JUST MAKING A SIMPLE TURN AT AN INTERSECTION, THE CAR LOSES COMPLETE STEERING CAPABILITY. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, INCLUDING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH ACCELERATING OVER A SLIGHT INCLINE OR AT 10 MPH AT AN INTERSECTION WHILE MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. I NOTICED TROUBLE WITH THE STEERING WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT MY CAR UNDER WARRANTY BUT IT WASN'T AS SEVERE. JUST WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE THE STEERING WAS TIGHT, BUT THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD THE SHORT RACK STEERING GEAR, STEERING RACK, INTERMEDIATE SHAFT, AND SERPENTINE BELT REPLACED BUT TO NO AVAIL. ON THE WEBSITE WWW.LEMONLAWCLAIMS.COM THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST 42 STEERING COMPLAINTS OF SIMILAR NATURE REGARDING THE SAME YEAR MAKE FOR THE MALIBU. AN NHTSA INVESTIGATION WAS PERFORMED PE04-031 BASED ON EIGHT REPORTS OF ALLEGED POWER STEERING FAILURES. THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS BASED ON THE REPORT I PRINTED UP IN 2010, HOWEVER I AM NOT CERTAIN OF THE CURRENT STATUS OF THIS INVESTIGATION. I'M SURE THERE ARE A LOT MORE FAILURE REPORTS THAT HAVE BEEN OPENED, THOUGH I CANNOT FIND A RECALL REGARDING THIS FAILURE. AS A SIDE NOTE, SOMETIMES THE CAR HAS TROUBLE STARTING - IT ALWAYS HAS AND THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DETERMINE THE FAILURE. WHEN TRYING TO START IT UP, HITTING THE GAS PEDAL WILL CAUSE THE ENGINE TO KIC
BRAKE LIGHTS FLASHED INTERMITTENTLY WHEN I WAS NOT BRAKING. I WAS STOPPED AND INFORMED OF THIS BY AT STATE TROOPER. "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WAS ON. THE CRUISE CONTROL HAS DISENGAGED INVOLUNTARILY SINCE 2005. I HAD A NEW BRAKE PEDAL POSITION SENSOR INSTALLED, BUT THE CRUISE CONTROL STILL DISENGAGES AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON DURING TRIPS OF MORE THAN 10 MILES. *TR
I BOUGHT THIS CAR NOVEMBER 02, 2011 DROVE IT HOME. THE VERY NEXT DAY I NOTICE THE CRANKING ISSUES. THE CAR WILL CRANK RIGHT UP OF THE MORNINGS, BUT AFTER IT WARMS UP IT COULD TAKE UP TO 5 TIMES. THE CAR WILL SHAKE AND DIE. SO I HAVE NO WARRANTY FOR THIS CAR I BOUGHT USED. SO IT'S LIKE I AM STUCK WITH IT UNTIL IT'S PAID FOR. SO I GOOGLE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS CAR FOR ANY RECALLS AND HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIND OUT IF THE FUEL PUMP HAS OR NOT BEEN REPLACED FOR THIS CAR. MY MECHANIC TELLS ME IT IS MY FUEL PUMP. THE RECALL WAS FEBRUARY 28, 2011, I FEEL THIS CAR WAS MISSED. THIS IS THE VERY FIRST CHEVROLET THAT I HAVE BOUGHT, BUT TRYING TO CRANK THIS CAR IS JUST CRAZY. I GET SO FUSTRATED THIS IS A POOR QUALITY OF A CAR. EVERYTIME I TAKE IT TO HAVE ANYTHING DONE TO IT. I WANT TO CRAWL UNDER THE TABLE, CAUSE I HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT I HAVE A RETARD OF A CAR. CAN SOMEONE HELP ME PLEASE. *TR
TURN SIGNAL BULBS ARE BEING MELTED BY DEFECTIVE SOCKETS!!! NEED REPLACEMENT. *TR
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.
Full record for the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx → · Every Malibu Maxx year → · How the figures are calculated →