2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx complaints

POWER STEERING FAULT LIGHT ON YELLOW WRENCH LIGHT INTERMITTENT. STEERING SHAKE. *TR

I STARTED THE CAR, PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND ACCELERATED. WHEN I WENT TO TURN THE WHEEL, A LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASH (LOOKS LIKE A WRENCH) AND ON THE RADIO DISPLAY SAID POWER STEERING. I LOST ALL POWER STEERING. THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH. I PULLED OUT ON TO ANOTHER ROAD AND WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF TURNING, I LOST MY POWER STEERING. I HAD TO PULL OVER INTO A PARKING LOT, WHICH WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO DO SINCE I DID NOT HAVE POWER STEERING. TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED THE CAR. THE LIGHT WENT AWAY AND MY POWER STEERING CAME BACK. THE CAR IS VERY UNSAFE BECAUSE THE FAILURE HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING. MY HUSBAND CALLED CHEVY DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THIS CAR IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE SERVICE RECALL NOTICE!! *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND AN ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT SAID POWER STEERING ACROSS MY RADIO. I THOUGHT THAT MEANT I NEED POWER STEERING FLUID BUT AFTER DOING GOOGLE SEARCHES, I FIND THAT MEANS I LOST MY POWER STEERING CONTROL. LUCKILY, I WAS GOING STRAIGHT AND AT A HIGH SPEED SO I DIDN'T LOSE CONTROL BASED UPON WHAT I READ. HOWEVER, I HAVE TWO LITTLE GIRLS AND WILL SUE IN A HEARTBEAT IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO THEM AS A RESULT OF THIS ISSUE. ESPECIALLY, SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE SINCE 2004. WHY THE HECK HAVEN'T YOU FORCED CHEVY TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES. I DON'T CARE THAT IN MOST CASES STEERING IS NOT AFFECTED AND THAT IT CAN BE RESET BY TURNING THE CAR OFF AND ON. I HAVE READ ABOUT SO MANY INCIDENTS OF NEAR CRASHES AND SOME INJURIES. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE DIES. *TR

FRONT DRIVERS SEAT FRAME ROD SEVERED AT THE WELD JOINT CAUSING THE FRONT SEAT TO NOT REMAIN IN PLACE AND SHIFT AROUND DURING DRIVING. *TR

STOPPED AND PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. RETURNED TO NORMAL AFTER TURNING VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTING. *TR

DRIVER SEAT FRAME BROKE AND SEVERELY LEANED TO THE RIGHT. DEALER FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. MARCH, 2008 - INCIDENT REPEATED - NO WARRANTY OFFERED! *TR

I HAVE BEEN HAVING POWER STEERING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2004 CHEVY MALIBU FOR SEVERAL YEARS. IT FEELS LIKE THE STEERING GOES COMPLETELY OUT WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY OR OTHER ROADS AND FIND THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. I ORIGINALLY HAD DEALERSHIP CHECK STEERING AND WAS TOLD IT WAS FINE AND THERE WAS NO RECALL, BUT I HAVE READ WHERE SEVERAL OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS, THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE FOR MY DAUGHTER, WHO NOW DRIVES THE CAR. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON AND GOES OFF WHEN YOU PARK OR RESTART THE CAR. SHE RECENTLY LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND HAD DIFFICULTY STEERING THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. TODAY, WE TOOK THE MALIBU TO THE GM DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED IT, AND OUCH!...WAS TOLD THE REPAIRS TOTAL $900 PLUS TAX. DEALERSHIP WILL NEED TO REPLACE STEERING COLUMN AS MOTOR HAS GONE BAD AND ALSO NEED TO REPLACE THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT THAT CONNECTS TO THE COLUMN SINCE IT IS BINDING UP. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER TO GET A SECOND OPINION AND WONDER IF WE CAN WAIT TO HAVE THE SHAFT REPLACED? SHOULD I ALSO CONTACT GM TO SEE IF THEY WILL REIMBURSE FOR PARTS? *TR

WHILE TURNING TO THE LEFT THE DRIVERS SEAT SUDDENLY SHIFTED AND WAS LEANING TO THE RIGHT. THE WELD WHICH HOLDS THE BASE TOGETHER HAD BROKEN. THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE OF THIS HAPPENING. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY SO IT WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. AT THAT TIME WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS A $1000 REPAIR BECAUSE THE WHOLE UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS TO ME SEEMS A DANGEROUS SITUATION SINCE WHEN THE SEAT JERKS THERE SEEMS TO BE A PERIOD WHEN THERE IS A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I WENT ON THE COMPUTER WHEN I GOT HOME AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM? *TR

DRIVING DOWN STRAIGHT SECTION OF ROAD. POWER STEERING ALARM COMES ON AND STEERING WHEEL GOES STIFF. SLOWED AND STOPPED BEFORE NEXT TURN (WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO NEGOTIATE TURN). THIS HAS HAPPENED ON AN OFTEN ENOUGH BASIS (USUALLY BEFORE BEING ON THE ROAD) AND USING FIX DESCRIBED IN OTHER OFTEN REPORTED ISSUES WITH THIS TYPE OF STEERING, STOPPED CAR, TURNED OFF, ADJUSTED POSITION OF STEERING COLUMN AND RESTARTED. STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL. *TR

POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE IDLING AT DRIVE THRU WINDOW OF FAST FOOD(FIRST INCIDENT). 2 MORE AFTER THAT WHILE IDLING. THE MESSAGE CENTER SAID POWER STEERING AND CHIMED EVERY INCIDENT. IS THERE A RECALL FOR THIS? *TR

RIGHT REAR OF POWER OPERATED DRIVER'S SEAT FAILED TO RAISE. REMOVED SEAT FOR INSPECTION AND FOUND TWO BROKEN WELDS ON SEAT FRAME - RIGHT SIDE FRONT AND REAR. DISASSEMBLED SEAT AND HAD FRAME WELDED LOCALLY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT SUDDENLY COLLAPSED TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE SEAT NEEDED TO BE WELDED OR REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000. UPDATED 1/17/13 *CN UPDATED 01/24/13

MY PREGNANT WIFE WAS DRIVING WHEN THE POWER STEERING JUST WENT OUT THIS IS THE SECOND TIME AND FROM READING MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS AND THEY DO NOTHING TO SOLVE IT. *TR

THE CAR BECAME VERY HARD TO STEER. TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIME SINCE AUGUST. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSE TWO ACCIDENTS. *TR

AFTER BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, DROVE FORWARD A FEW FEET, TURNED RIGHT AT A STOP SIGN AND PROCEEDED FORWARD WHEN THE CAR'S WARNING CHIMES SOUNDED, THE "POWER STEERING" CAME UP ON THE DIC, THE SERVICE VEHICLE LIGHT CAME ON AND ALL POWER STEERING WAS LOST. IT WAS LATE AT NIGHT SO I CONTINUED DRIVING HOME WHICH WAS ABOUT 2 MILES AWAY BUT IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MAKE TURNS. HAVE NOT TRIED TO DRIVE CAR DUE TO DIFFICULTY AND SINCE IT IS SUNDAY WAS NOT ABLE TO GET ASSISTANCE FROM MECHANICS OR DEALER. HAVE BEEN READING ONLINE AND SEEMS TO BE A COMMON AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM. NO RECALLS OR NOTICES RECEIVED BY DEALER. THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW AND MAINTAINED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP BECAME FRACTURE D ON THE ELBOW OF THE PUMP. THE CONTACT NOTICED A GASOLINE LEAK IN FRONT OF THE EXHAUST AS HE WAS DRIVING AN UNKNOWN SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHO ATTEMPTED TO SEAL THE FRACTURE WITH EPOXY BUT THE REMEDY FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF THE RECALL RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V459000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP) AND STATED THAT HIS MODEL VEHICLE WAS SUFFERING FROM THE SAME DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 104,000. UPDATED 11/01/12 *BF UPDATED 11/02/2012 *JS

MY 2004 MALIBU MAXX HAS SOME SORT OF ELECTRICAL ISSUE HAS HAD IT FOR YEARS AND DRIVES ME CRAZY. THE TURN INDICATOR LIGHT WAS TELLING ME THE BULB WAS BURNED OUT WHEN WE WENT TO CHANGE THE BULB THE WHOLE BULB COVER WAS MELTED WE REPLACED THE BULB IT WOULD LAST A FEW WEEKS SOMETIMES A FEW MONTHS. WE DECIDED TO ORDER A WHOLE NEW LIGHT ASSEMBLE FOR THAT SIDE SINCE THE GLOBE WAS MELTED. WE INSTALLED IT A WEEK LATER THE WHOLE TURN INDICATOR LIGHT AND SOCKET WERE MELTED TOGETHER. WE COULD NOT EVEN GET THE BULB OUT. SO WE WENT BACK TO THE ORIGINAL LIGHT ASSEMBLY SAME ISSUE BULBS BURN OUT. ALSO INSIDE INTERIOR LIGHT SOMETIMES WON'T SHUT OFF NO MATTER HOW THE SWITCH IS POSITIONED. THIS CAR HAS ELECTRICAL ISSUES. *TR

DRIVER'S SEAT WELD FAILED AND SEAT SHIFTED DOWN AND DROPPED TO THE RIGHT. ALSO EFFECTED SEAT ADJUSTMENT. ROCKED BACK AND FORTH ON THE FRAME. SEAT HAD TO BE REPLACED, COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE STEERING BECAME HARD TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC, WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,200.

WHILE ADJUSTING THE SEAT UP, IT SUDDENLY DROPPED AND LEANED TO THE RIGHT. AFTER INSPECTING UNDER THE SEAT, I FOUND THAT THE WELDS ON THE FRONT FRAME BAR BROKE LOOSE ALSO TWISTING THE FRAME BAR. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING AS THE SEAT REALLY LEANED OVER VIOLENTLY. ALSO, IT APEARS THE SEAT BELTS ARE ATTACHED TO THESE SUPPORT BARS. THIS ISSUE STILL HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS THE COST IS OVER $1000. SHOULD WE BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, THE SEAT WILL VERY EASILY TEAR AWAY FROM THE REMAINING WELDS POSSIBLY EJECTING THE DRIVER ALONG WITH THE SEAT. THE SEAT SHIFTS AND TILTS DRASTICALLY WHEN TURNING VEHICLE. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE ONLINE, I FIND THAT SEVERAL MALIBU MAXX OWNERS FROM SEVERAL DIFFERENT YEARS ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL ISSUE AS THE SEAT WILL COME LOOSE ALONG WITH THE SEAT BELTS SHOULD VEHICLE BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

THE DRIVER SEAT ON THIS CAR HAS COME OFF THE RAILS ON RIGHT SIDE CAUSING IT TO TILT. IF THE SEAT IS NOT MOVED TO THE LOWEST SETTING THE TILTS WITH THE MOVEMENT OF THE CAR. I HAD THE SEAT REPAIRED ONCE; IT FAILED AGAIN AFTER ABOUT 6 MONTHS. AT THE SAME TIME I HAD THE EMERGENCY BRAKE REPAIRED. WHEN SETTING THE BRAKE, I HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE REPAIR FAILED ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO FOR THE SECOND TIME. I AM ALSO GOING THROUGH NEW BRAKES ON THIS CAR AT AN ALARMING RATE - THREE BRAKE REPLACEMENTS ALREADY AND THE CAR HAS 90,000 MILES. THE CAR IS AGAIN BEGINNING TO SHIMMY/SHUDDER WHEN GOING DOWN STEEP HILLS AND THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THE CAR SEEMS NOT TO SLOW DOWN AT ALL (I.E. SHIFTING GEARS) WHEN GOING DOWN HILL OTHER THAN BY THE BRAKES - IT FEELS LIKE A FREE FALL. THE SIGNALS, HEADLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ALSO NEED FREQUENT REPLACEMENT. I TYPICALLY HAVE TO REPLACE AT LEAST ONE OF THESE AT EACH OIL CHANGE AND HAVE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS NEEDED TO MAKE REPLACEMENTS BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. I WOULD ESTIMATE THE HEADLIGHTS/BLINKERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES. THE REAR LIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED PERHAPS TEN TIMES. CURRENTLY THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT IS OUT AND CANNOT BE REPAIRED WITHOUT TAKING OFF THE INTERIOR COVER OF THE CAR TO ACCESS THE WIRING - THE BULB IS NOT THE PROBLEM. *TR

THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON FOR SOME TIME NOW, BUT 3 DIFFERENT TIMES THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED WHEN LEAVING FROM BEING PARKED. TURNING OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTING FIXES IT BUT FOR HOW LONG WILL THAT CONTINUE TO WORK. *TR

THE POWER STEERING LOCKS UP FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 10 SECONDS. IT OCCURS AT SLOW SPEEDS ON SURFACE STREETS, HIGH SPEEDS ON THE INTERSTATE, GOING FORWARD AND EVEN WHEN I'M IN THE MIDST OF A TURN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL FLASH, THE LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF AND THE NOTICE BELL RINGS "DING, DING, DING." WHEN IT FINALLY STOPS THE, IF ITS SUMMER THE AC WILL STOP FUNCTIONING UNTIL I STOP AND RESTART THE CAR. IT IS A VERY SCARY 5 TO 10 SECONDS AND I'M VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE NOT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AS OF YET. THIS HAS ALSO COMPROMISED THE EASE OF THE POWER STEERING WHEN IT HAS NOT LOCKED UP. PARKING IS VERY DIFFICULT AS THE TURNING RADIUS AND NOT GOOD AND ITS JUST DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE CARS STEERING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED A STRONG GASOLINE FUEL ODOR. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE FUEL NECK ONLY HAD ONE HOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,198 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

FOR THE SECOND TIME MY DRIVERS SEAT HAS BROKEN ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE AT A WELD JOINT ON THE FRONT CROSS ROD. THE FIRST TIME IT FAILED AROUND 30,000 MILES AND THE SECOND TIME AROUND 71,000 MILES. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS A RECALL. NOT ONLY IS CHEVROLET GETTING AWAY WITH THIS, BUT THE FIX IS COMPLETE SEAT FRAME REPLACEMENT THAT COST THE CONSUMER ABOUT $1000. CHEVY WINS AGAIN AS THEY GET TO SELL A DEFECTIVE PART AT A PROFIT. A GREAT DEAL FOR CHEVY UNTIL I BUY MY NEXT CAR. TIME TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND DO A RECALL. *TR

STARTING SOON AFTER PURCHASE, SEVERAL TIMES SINCE (APPROX 3-15 TIMES A WEEK DEPENDING ON SEASON). POWER STEERING SHUTS OFF RANDOMLY. IF DONE WHILE TURNING, IT WILL REQUIRE EXTRA FORCE AND CONCENTRATION TO KEEP ON COURSE. MOST TIMES ISSUE CANNOT BE RESET FOR FULL DURATION OF TRAVEL (15 MIN - 3HRS), THIS IS DONE BY SHUTTING OFF VEHICLE, AFTER STOPPING ON SIDE OF ROAD, AND RESTARTING. USUALLY OCCURS WHEN WARM, EITHER FROM SUNNY DAY FOR FIRST START OR WINTER ONCE HEATER IS WARM. MANY CLOSE CALLS! *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE DRIVER STOPPED AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. THE STEERING WHEEL FUNCTIONED AS NORMAL UPON RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

DRIVING APPROX 20 MILES PER HOUR WHEN TURNING LEFT AT AN INTERSECTION AND THE VEHICLE SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON, POWER STEERING MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INFORMATION CONSOLE AND THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. THE UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER STEERING CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ENTER INTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM WORKED AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON. HOWEVER THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CONTINUED TO SHOW ON THE INFORMATION PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR AND THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. NO FURTHER INFORMATION MESSAGE CONCERNING THE POWER STEERING HAS BEEN SEEN SINCE THE REPAIR. *TR

I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN AUGUST 2004. THE POWER STEERING WENT WHILE I WAS TURNING ON TO A STREET IN I BELIEVE DECEMBER 2004. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE STEERING COLUMN WAS SUPPOSEDLY REPLACED. A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN, I QUESTIONED WHY IT WAS NOT RECALLED AT THE TIME, SINCE THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED. I WAS ADVISED THAT IT WAS A BAD BATCH OF STEERING BOOTS AND THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH PROBLEMS TO REPLACE THEM. AGAIN, THE STEERING COLUMN WAS SUPPOSEDLY REPLACED. ALL SEEMED TO BE FINE UNTIL I BELIEVE DECEMBER 2010. THE STEERING WENT AGAIN. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND GM TO SEE WHAT COULD BE DONE. I WAS ADVISED THAT MY PROBLEM HAD BEEN TAKEN CARE OF IN 2004/2005 AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO HAD TO REPLACE EVERYTHING ONCE AGAIN. THIS TIME IT COST ME OVER $1500. *TR

THE DRIVERS SEAT RIGHT SIDE DROPPED SUDDENLY. MY INSPECTION REVEALED A WELD TO A STRUCTURAL MEMBER FAILED. THE STRUCTURAL MEMBER ACTUALLY FAILED IN THE WELD HEAT AFFECTED ZONE. THE WALL THICKNESS OF THE STRUCTURAL MEMBER WAS A TUBE WITH INADEQUATE WALL THICKNESS FOR THE DESIGN. I AM A CIVILIAN NUCLEAR ENGINEER FOR THE DOD (NAVY) AND CAN SEND A DIGITAL IMAGE OF THE FAILED PART. IT APPEARS FROM AN INTERNET SEARCH THAT THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON FAILURE AS I WOULD EXPECT FROM MY INSPECTION. *TR

THE DRIVER SEAT LEANS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE WELDS BREAK. THE FRONT AND THE REAR SUPPORTS BROKE. I HAVE READ THIS HAPPENS TO MOST OF THE SEAT. THEY DON'T MAKE A REPLACEMENT FRAME AND THEREFORE WANT ME TO BUY A WHOLE SEAT AT A COST OF 800 JUST FOR THE SEAT. SO HERE I AM TO SAY THIS ISN'T RIGHT AND I'D LIKE TO HAVE THIS FIX AT THERE EXPENSE SINCE THEY WANT TO MAKE ME BUY THE WHOLE THING AND NOT JUST A FRAME. *TR

THE WELDS ON THE DRIVER SEAT FRAME BREAK. I FIRST NOTICED THIS IN FEBRUARY 2010 WHEN MY SEAT WOULD RAISE AT AN ANGLE. RECENTLY I WAS CLEANING MY CAR AND I NOTICED THE SEAT BELT WAS NOT ATTACHED SECURELY. THE WELD HOLDING THE SEAT BELT TO THE SEAT FRAME HAD CRACKED AND BROKEN FREE. I FOUND A USED SEAT AND WHEN IT WAS DELIVERED, THIS SEAT HAD THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS, MULTIPLE WELDS ON THE SEAT FRAME THAT ARE CRACKED AND BROKE. THIS FRAME IS CRITICAL TO THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER. THIS WEBSITE SHOWS THAT THERE ARE MANY MORE COMPLAINTS OF REGARDING THE SAME DEFECT. HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2005/CHEVROLET/MALIBU_MAXX/SEATS/PROBLEM.ASPX THERE ARE MORE PLACES ONLINE TALKING ABOUT THIS VERY ISSUE. MY CAR HAS 55000 MILES ON IT. I AM 150LBS. THESE WELDS SHOULD NOT BE BREAKING SO EASY, AND SO PREMATURELY. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING AT 3 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND SHUT OFF. THE STEERING WHEEL FUNCTIONED AS NORMAL UPON RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,050.

I JUST EXITED THE HIGHWAY AND WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT AND HEARD A LOUD CLUNK AND THE STEERING FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THE STEERING RACK AND GEARS TO THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE SPRING AND SENSOR FOR AIRBAG ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD THEN HAVE TO BE RE-CENTERED AND THE CAR REALIGNED.

WELD BROKE ON FRONT FRAME OF DRIVERS SEAT CAUSING THE SEAT TO TILT TO RIGHT AND NOT GO UP AND DOWN PROPERLY. LOOKS LIKE IT IS BROKE AT A WELD POINT. *TR

OUT OF THE BLUE ONE DAY I NOTICED THAT I COULD NOT ELEVATE THE DRIVER'S SEAT HEIGHT ON THE RIGHT SIDE. (THE LEFT SIDE CONTINUED TO WORK AS IT SHOULD.) I TOOK IT IN TO THE CHEVY DEALER FOR REPAIR AND IT COST ME $120.00 FOR THEM TO WELD THE FRONT EDGE OF THE SEAT FRAME BACK TOGETHER. ON FEB 28, 2012, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. MY LOCAL REPAIRMAN EXAMINED THE SEAT AND SAID THE FRONT EDGE OF THE SEAT FRAME HAD BROKEN IN A DIFFERENT SPOT. THE COST TO REPLACE THE SEAT (THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT) WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $850 PLUS TAXES, ETC. I'M LOOKING FOR A REPLACEMENT AT A LOCAL SALVAGE YARD BUT, THUS FAR, I HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN LOCATING A SEAT. *TR

POWER STEERING KEEPS GOING OFF, FOR NO APPARENT REASON, THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL THERE ARE TOO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENING THE SAME WAY, AND AT TIMES WHEN DRIVING HAPPY NO ONE HAS HAD TO LOOSE THEIR LIFE DUE TO A FAULTY SYSTEM DEFECT. *TR

GEAR SHIFT PROBLEM. TRIED TO PLACE CAR IN PARK AND GEAR SHIFT STAYED IN DRIVE, ALTHOUGH GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR ON DASHBOARD SHOWED OTHERWISE. STUCK IN DRIVE AND COULD NOT SHIFT IT OUT. WITH FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL I CALLED CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP FOR ADVICE. THEY ADVISED ME TO PUT EMERGENCY BRAKE ON TO SHUT CAR OFF, AND CALL FOR A TOW TRUCK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE STEERING SEIZED WHILE MAKING A TURN. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 59,843.

WHILE MY WIFE WAS CROSSING THE VERRANZNO BRIDGE BETWEEN BROOKLYN AND STATEN ISLAND THE ELECTRICAL STEERING FAILED. THIS CREATED A EXTREME SAFELY ISSUE SINCE MY WIFE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH STRENGTH TO CONTROL THE STEERING. THIS FORCED HER TO SLOW TO A STOP WHILE OTHER CARS WERE GOING FULL SPEED CREATING A SAFELY ISSUE. WHEN SHE TURN THE CAR ON AGAIN SHE MANAGED TO GET THE CAR OFF THE BRIDGE AND TO THE DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT. MY WIFE WAS LUCKY THAT IS WASN'T IN A CONDITION THAT SHE WAS MAKING A TURN OR SOME OTHER POSITION THAT COULD HAD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THERE WERE TWO OTHER PEOPLE IN THE CAR AND IN NO TIME SHOULD A STEERING FAILURE CAUSE ALMOST COMPLETE LOST OF CONTROL BECAUSE YOU NOT HAVE STRENGTH TO TURN THE WHEEL. *TR

THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT LAST YEAR AND I HAD THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACE (THAT'S WHAT THEY SAID WAS WRONG) NOW HERE IT IS 14 MONTHS LATER AND IT'S OUT AGAIN. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT EVEN TO THE SHOP. IT HAS TO BE SOME KIND OF DEFECTIVE PART BY CHEVY BASED ON THE MASSIVE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS I SEE ON THE WEB ABOUT THIS. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SHELL OUT MONEY TO HAVE THIS FIXED AGAIN. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE FACTORY! *TR

WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING SPOT, I RECEIVED A WARNING CHIME AND NOTICED A STEERING WARNING NOTE ON THE DIGITAL DISPLAY. AFTER CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON, THE NOTICE WAS NOT PRESENT AND STEERING WAS NORMAL. ON SEVERAL OTHER OCCASIONS, THE STEERING WOULD REPEAT THIS SITUATION BUT IT WOULD DO IT IN NO APPARENT REGULAR DRIVING STATE, IE, COULD BE GOING DOWN ROAD AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR JUST MANEUVERING INTO A PARKING SPOT. ALWAYS WOULD RETURN TO NORMAL AFTER A CYCLE OF THE IGNITION KEY AND COULD BE MONTHS BEFORE A REPEAT EVENT. SOMETIMES THE EVENT WOULD SEEM TO REDUCE STEERING POWER BUT NOT REMOVE ALL ASSIST AND AT OTHER TIMES THE STEERING ASSIST WOULD BE COMPLETELY REMOVED. *TR

FAILURE OF ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING. LUCKILY HAPPENED AT LOW SPEED AND NO TRAFFIC. INTERNET SHOWS THIS BE A PROBLEM WITH OTHER MALIBU OWNERS. GM HAS RECALLED OTHER VEHICLES WITH SAME PROBLEMS, BUT NO RECALL BY NHTSA, ONLY INVESTIGATIONS. LOSS OF STEERING IS ONE THING THAT SHOULD NOT BE ACCEPTABLE. *TR

THE DRIVER'S SEAT FRAME FAILED AT A WELD JOINT. THE SEAT ROCKS BACKWARD TO THE RIGHT. DEALER SAYS ENTIRE FRAME MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1200. *KB

RIGHT FRONT SIGNAL BULB SOCKET AND BULB OVER HEATING (MELTING) AND RESULTING IN INOPERATIVE FRONT TURN SIGNAL. REPEATEDLY OCCURRING - HAVING TO REMOVE MELTED PLASTIC AND REPLACE BULB. 4 TIMES SINCE FIRST OCCURRENCE. *TR

I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 2010. THE STEERING PROBLEM HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT SINCE THE CAR PASSED 33K. I HAVEN'T HAD THIS HAPPEN ON THE ROAD, BUT USUALLY AFTER I PARK AND TURN THE CAR BACK ON. THERE WILL BE NO POWER STEERING MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE. IF I SHUT IT OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON AGAIN, THE PROBLEM ISN'T THERE. QUITE UNNERVING. THE CAR ALSO HAS A CLUNK SOUND IN THE LEFT FRONT UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL. THE WARNING FOR POWER STEERING IS ON MORE THAN IT IS OFF. I WISH THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS. THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET AND MY MECHANIC SAYS THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS. I HAVEN'T HAD IT FIXED BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD IT. *TR

WE NEEDED THE DRIVERS SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR RE-SET. AFTER GETTING THE CAR BACK FROM THE SERVICE CENTER WE NOTICED THE SEAT DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. IT WOULD GO BACK AND FORTH BUT NOT UP AND DOWN. THE SEAT ROCKS WHILE SITTING IN IT. WE TOLD THE SERVICE CENTER AND THEY SAID IT COULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED WHEN THEY REPAIRED THE SENSOR AND IT WOULD COST APPROX $700 TO REPAIR. IT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *TR

APPROX. ON 11-06-2011 WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING STALL THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. 11-17-2011 WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. 11-23-2011 WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. ALL THREE TIMES I WAS ABLE TO GET THE POWER STEERING BACK AFTER PARKING AND TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK GOING ABOUT 30 MPH WHEN POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON ME. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND FREAKED ME OUT SINCE MY 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS IN THE BACK SEAT AND THERE WAS A LOT OF TRAFFIC. THANKFULLY I WAS ONLY 4 BLOCKS FROM HOME. GOT HOME TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND IT RESET, BUT THEN MY HUSBAND TOOK IT FOR A DRIVE AROUND THE BLOCK AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. AFTER ALL THE RESEARCH, IT TICKS ME OFF THAT GM IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBLITY FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

STREERING STARTED TO MAKE A CLUCK NOISE AROUND SEPTEMBER 2008. I TOOK IT IN FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THEY PUT SOME GREASE IN. IT STILL MAKES THESE SOUNDS BUT HAS SLOWLY GOTTEN WORSE. I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING REALLY BAD OR MAJOR GOING ON WITH THE POWER STEERING UNIT. *TR