2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx complaints

AS I WAS COMING UP A HILL TO A STOP LIGHT . STEERING WAS LOST . SINCE I DO NOT DRIVE THIS CAR OFTEN , I DID NOT KNOW THIS HAPPENED BEFORE . MY WIFE SAID SHE STOPS THE CAR AND RESTARTS THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY .. NOT A GOOD SITUATION AS ONE DRIVES . WONDERING IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM . *TR

DRIVING HOME FROM WORK MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT COMPLETELY, SERVICE VEHICLE SOON LIGHT CHIMED AND CAME ON, POWER STEERING FAILURE ILLUMINATED ON THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER. AFTER PULLING OVER INTO A PARKING LOT WITH NO POWER STEERING I TURNED OFF CAR WAITED A FEW MINUTES RESTARTED CAR AND POWER STEERING WAS FINE ALL WARNING LIGHTS HAD GONE OFF. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE WITH CHEVROLET MALIBU'S. I JUST PURCHASED THIS USED CAR AND AM VERY CONCERNED WITH THIS SAFETY ISSUE, AS THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. NOT ONLY AM I JEOPARDIZING MY SAFETY AND WELL BEING, BUT JEOPARDIZING THOSE CLOSE TO ME. *TR

WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL, THE CAR MADE A CLICKING NOISE. A YELLOW LIGHT/WRENCH APPEARED AND THE DISPLAY SHOWED POWER STEERING. ALL POWER STEERING WAS GONE. AFTER ARRIVING HOME I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. AWHILE LATER I STARTED THE CAR AND THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING AND ALL INDICATORS WERE GONE. I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN WHILE I'M MOVING. *TR

POWER STEERING KEEPS FAILING WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE. THE CAR HAS 105,552 MILES. MY MECHANIC HAS TALKED TO CHEVY MECHANICS AND THEY SAY YOU CAN FIX THE SENSOR MOTOR AND STEERING COLUMN BUT CANT GUARANTEE THAT WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. HOW IS IT GM CAN GET AWAY WITHOUT DOING A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM IF ITS UNSAFE? THE CHEVY DEALER TOLD MY MECHANIC THE BEST THING I CAN DO IS TRADE IT IN. I AM ALMOST DONE PAYING FOR THE CAR AND DON'T WANT TO PURCHASE A NEW CAR. I WANT THIS ONE FIXED AND NOT BE SCARED THAT I'M GONNA GET KILLED IN IT OR KILL SOMEONE ELSE! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SEIZE WHEN DRIVING 5 MPH AND ABOVE. THE CONTACT WOULD SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF WHENEVER THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE AS NORMAL UPON RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

WHILE DRIVING MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT. IT FELT LIKE WET CEMENT IN THE STEERING COLUMN. I HAVE DRIVEN A CAR WITH OUT POWER STEERING BEFORE THIS WAS MUCH HARDER. I PULLED OVER OPENED THE HOOD TO SEE IF ANYTHING WAS LOOSE. COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. ONCE I RESTARTED THE CAR IT WAS FINE. 30 MINS LATER MAKING A LEFT TURN IT GOES OUT AGAIN, TURN CAR ON AND OFF AND IT WORKS AGAIN. *TR

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE, IT BECAME HARD TO TURN. IT TOOK TWO OF US TO TURN INTO A PARKING LOT. I GOT TO A SAFE SPOT TO STOP, TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, WAITED ABOUT 15 MINUTES AND RESTARTED, OPERATED FINE. I HAVE DEALT WITH THIS ISSUE AT VARIOUS TIMES SINCE BUT HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH IT DAILY FOR THE PAST WEEK. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY DID DIAGNOSTIC AND SAW NO PROBLEMS. THEY HAVE NO SUGGESTIONS FOR ME. *KB

THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT WENT TO ADJUST IT AND IT STARTED GOING UP AT AN ANGLE. IT GOT TILTED AND LOOSE, THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT WAS TO PUT IT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR BUT CAN FEEL IT ROCK. ALL I CAN THINK OF IS I AM SCREWED IN AN ACCIDENT. ALSO THE POWER STEERING INDICATOR COMES ON ALL THE TIME AND WHEN YOU GET AN OIL CHANGE, THEN IT DISAPPEARS FOR A LITTLE WHILE, THEN COMES ON AGAIN EVERYTIME YOU START THE CAR. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. AFTER TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND THEN ON, THE STEERING HAD INDEPENDENTLY RESET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE NOR WAS THE VEHICLE INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,765. UPDATED 10/14/11 *BF UPDATED 10/28/11

KNOCKING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN, NOISE AND DIFFICULTY TURNING. NOTICABLE PLAY IN THE STEERING OF THE VEHICLE. OCCURS SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK, I REFUSE TO DRIVE MY CAR ON THE FREEWAY OR AT HIGH SPEEDS IN FEAR OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERING GOING OUT. *TR

THE FRONT DRIVERS SEAT RAIL IS BROKEN. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN SINCE THE SEAT BELT IS CONNECTED TO THE FRAME. I HAVE SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR MANY OWNERS OF THE 2004 MALIBU MAXX. THE BROKEN FRAME CAUSE THE SEAT TO FALL AND SHAKE WHILE DRIVING. I HAD A MECHANIC TRY TO FIX IT AND HE SAID IT IS NOT POSSIBLE AND CHEVY HAS DISCONTINUED THE CAR. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE THUS FAR TO FIND A NEW SEAT BUT SUSPECT EVEN IF I BUY A NEW ONE THE SAME FAULTY ISSUE WITH THE WELD WILL OCCUR. HTTP://WWW.AUTOMOTIVEFORUMS.COM/T919217-DISCUSS2004_CHEVY_MALIBU_MAXX_BROKEN_POWER_SEAT.HTML *KB

POWER STEERING FAILED TODAY COMPLETELY AND I RAN OFF THE ROAD WHEN ENTERING THE HIGHWAY. I ALMOST CRASHED INTO A SEMI-TRUCK AND COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN IN A LARGE CRASH IF THE TRUCK WAS ONLY A FEW FEET CLOSER. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. I AM NOT SURPRISED HOW SLOW THE GOVERNMENT WORKS. I ASSUME THAT NOTHING WILL COME FROM MY COMPLAINT. MY POWER STEERING HAS BEEN FAULTY FOR A COUPLE YEARS NOW, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT HAS FAILED COMPLETELY. I FEEL BAD IF I SELL THIS CAR BECAUSE IT MIGHT KILL THE PERSON I SELL IT TO, BECAUSE THERE IS NO TELLING WHEN THE STEERING WILL FAIL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WHILE MAKING A TURN, THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN INTO THE MEDIAN CAUTIOUSLY AND TURNED OFF. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THERE WAS NO RECALL RELATED TO THE DEFECT. THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN NHTSA ITEM NUMBER 10018531 (STEERING: ELECTRIC POWER; ASSIST SYSTEM). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000. UPDATED 09/21/11*LJ UPDATED 10/03/11

FIRST STARTED AS AN OCCASIONAL STEERING PROBLEM AT LOW SPEEDS. THEN PROGRESSED TO MORE FREQUENT STEERING PROBLEM AT LOW SPEED. NEXT A BAD VIBRATION STARTED IN THE FRONT WHEN BREAKING. NOW A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. DIAGNOSIS BY MECHANIC IS DEFECTIVE RACK AND PINION, STEERING BOX, AND POSSIBLY POWER STEERING FAILURE. RESEARCH INDICATES THERE HAVE BEEN MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS, AND THAT THE 2005 MALIBU WAS RECALLED FOR EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM LAST SUMMER.

IN THE MIDDLE OF MAKING TURNS, RIGHT AND LEFT, THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING WILL DEACTIVATE CAUSING CAR TO JERK, THEN STEERING WILL BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. CAR CAN BE TURNED OFF AND THEN RESTARTED AND THE ISSUE WILL STOP FOR A SHORT TIME. THERE HAS BEEN RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE ON OTHER GM MODELS BUT NOT MY MODEL. THIS ISSUE FIRST OCCURRED WHILE MY 16 YR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AND ALMOST RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERN FOR MY DAUGHTER SAFETY WILL DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. I TOOK THE CAR OUT SHORTLY AFTER THIS HAPPEN TO HER AND WITHIN 3 TURNS THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED, LIGHT ON DASH LIGHT, DISPLAY SHOWED POWER STEERING AND STEERING REVERTED TO WHAT CAN BEST BE DESCRIBED AS PREPOWER STEERING X 2. I AM A MUSCULAR 300 POUND MALE AND I HAD A DIFFICULT TIME GETTING THE CAR TO TURN SAFELY INTO THE LANE AND LATER OFF THE ROAD. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT WAS NO COVERED BY GM AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED. PLEASE REOPEN YOUR INVESTIGATION INTO THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

THE 2004 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX HAS A FAULTY DRIVERS SEAT. THE BASE AND FRAME FRACTURE AND CAUSE THE SEAT TO LEAN TO THE RIGHT AND PROHIBIT IT FROM RISING. THIS HAPPENED ONCE AND WE HAD IT REPLACED AT A COST OF $900. IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND A NUMBER OF OTHERS WITH THIS VEHICLE WITH THE EXACT PROBLEM. MY WIFE CANNOT EVEN DRIVE THE CAR WITH THE SEAT SO LOW AND IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. CHEVY NEEDS TO DO A RECALL AND STOP THOSE OF US WHO HAVE TRIED MULTIPLE FIXES AND IT CONTINUES TO BREAK. *KB

WHILE DRIVING OUR 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX WITH A 6 POSITION DRIVER SEAT, I HIT A POTHOLE AND THE DRIVER SEAT BROKE LOOSE. THIS CAUSED THE SEAT TO DROP DOWN, BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. THIS RESULTED IN A MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL CAUSING ME TO PULL THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND ENDING UP OFF THE ROAD AND HITTING A SMALL TREE. THE CONTACT TO THE TREE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE TRIM AROUND THE HEADLIGHT AND THE LENS. INSPECTION FOUND 2 WELDS ON THE SEAT FRAME HAD BROKEN. THE 1ST WELD IS ON THE FRONT CROSS BAR AND RIGHT FRAME RAIL. THE 2ND WELD HAD BROKEN ON THE REAR CROSS BAR AND THE FRAME WHERE THE SEATBELT RECEPTACLE IS ATTACHED. WE CALLED THE CHEVY CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE AND WE WERE TOLD THAT CHEVY HAD NOT HAD RECEIVED COMPLAINTS ABOUT BROKEN WELDS ON THE SEAT FRAME BUT WOULD BE HAPPY TO RECORD OUR CONCERN. WE TALKED TO THE DEALER AND WE WERE INFORMED THAT THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I ASKED ABOUT RECALLS AND TSB'S REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND WAS INFORMED THERE HAD BEEN NO RECALLS OR TSB'S REPORTED ON THE SEAT FRAME. IN FACT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME OUR LOCAL DEALER HAD EVER SEEN THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. REPAIR FOR THE SEAT ALONE WILL BE OVER $1,000 NOT TO MENTION THE OTHER DAMAGE CAUSED BY RUNNING OFF THE ROAD.I CALLED IN OUR AREA AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THEY COULD NOT KEEP SEATS IN STOCK. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT

DRIVER'S SEAT WELD IS BROKEN CAUSING SEAT TO TILT TO THE RIGHT. *TR

THE FRONT DRIVER'S BECOME LOOSE AND ROCKET TO THE RIGHT SIDE. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO SAID THE SEAT FRAME BROKE. DEALER STATES FRAME MUST BE REPLACED - COST $1200.00 I ASKED IF IT COULD BE WELDED AND HE SAID NO BECAUSE IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE. I'VE NEVER HAD A CAR WHOSE FRAME BROKE FROM NORMAL USE. I SEE ON THE INTERNET THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND FEEL THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FOR A RECALL. I ONLY FOUND OUT ABOUT OTHER BECAUSE OF A AUTOMOTIVE FORUM. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS LIKE THIS WHO I'M SURE DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOUR WEBSITE. *TR

2004 MALIBU MAXX HAS LOST POWER STEERING. WEEKS PRIOR THE STEERING TO THE LEFT IS LOOSE AND STEERING TO THE RIGHT IS TIGHT. MECHANIC CANNOT FIND AN ISSUE. FOUND OVER 40 COMPLAINTS IN ONLINE CAR BLOGS OF THE SAME ISSUE. SEVERAL HAD REPLACED STEERING COLUMN ONLY TO FIND THE ISSUE OCCURRED AGAIN. *TR

MY POWER STEERING ON MY 2004 MALIBU MAXX LOCKS UP AT RANDOM TIMES, THROWS THE CAR TO THE LEFT, I WAS GETTING THE BATTERY LIGHT AND A DING WHEN THIS WOULD HAPPEN. I HAD THE SERPENTINE BELT CHANGED IN MARCH 2011 THEN THE TENSIONER IN JUNE 2011. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WOULD CURE THE PROBLEM, AS THESE COMPONENTS ARE LINKED TO THE ALTERNATOR AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP/MOTOR. THIS PROBLEM IS STILL HAPPENING, HOWEVER NOW, I DO NOT GET THE BATTERY LIGHT, JUST A DING WHEN THE STEERING LOCKS AND THE CAR VEERS TO THE LEFT. *TR

DRIVING THROUGH A RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT THE CHECK POWER STEERING MESSAGE FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THEN THE POWER STEERING JUST STOPPED FUNCTIONING. CAR WAS VERY HARD TO MANEUVER AND STEER. ONCE RESTARTED, POWER STEERING RESUMED. SINCE THAT INCIDENT, THE POWER STEERING FAILED ONCE AGAIN WHILE CAR WAS IN PARK ON 6/20/2011. THEN ONCE CAR WAS RESTARTED THE POWER STEERING RESET ITSELF. VERY VERY DANGEROUS!!!

DRIVER SEAT BROKEN AT WELD MOUNT. *TR

I OWN A 2004 MALIBU MAXX,IMY POWER STEERING GOES OUT CONSTANTLY,WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 30 MPH OR 60 MPH.I RECENTLY WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY CHILDREN AND IT WENT OUT WHILE I WAS MAKING A TURN AND I ALMOST WENT OFF THE ROAD .SCARED ME AND MY KIDS TO DEATH....SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS....I HAVE READ TOO MANY STORIES ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH VARIOUS PEOPLE..DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO LOOSE THEIR LIFE TO GET A RECALL ON THIS OR WHAT!!!!!!!! *TR

THE DRIVERS FRONT SEAT LEANS TO RIGHT WHEN TILTED HAVE TO KEEP ALL THE WAY DOWN SO IT DOESN'T WOBBLE. THE WELD ON THE SEAT FRAME BROKE CAUSING IT TO LEAN TO THE RIGHT AND BE UNSTABLE. ALSO POWER STEERING WILL RANDOMLY STOP WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. YOU HAVE TO SHUT THE CAR OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON TO GET POWER STEERING BACK. DEALER SAID THEY RECALLED THE ISSUE BEFORE WE BOUGHT THE CAR AND IT IS BACK AGAIN SAME ISSUE NOW ITS APPARENTLY NOT COVERED SINCE THEY SAID THEY FIXED IT BEEN HAPPENING FOR A FEW YEARS NOW. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS DRIVERS SIDE SEAT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE SEAT PREVIOUSLY, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CURRENT FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

2004 MALIBU MAXX STEERING FAILURE. VEHICLE PURCHASED IN SEPTEMBER 2009. SPORADIC DIFFICULTY WITH POWER STEERING GOING OUT, HAS INCREASED TO A DAILY OCCURRENCE. WHEN ACCELERATING INTO A TURN, MUST HOLD ONTO STEERING WHEEL TIGHTLY AND LEAN HEAVILY INTO TURN TO NAVIGATE SUFFICIENTLY TO AVOID COLLISION WITH OTHER VEHICLES/OBJECTS/PEDESTRIANS. PROBLEM ALSO OCCURS ON HIGHWAY, CHANGING LANES, AND WHEN NAVIGATING EXIT RAMP WHEN THERE IS A CURVE. HAVE HAD STEERING WHEEL CLEANED AND GREASED, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE COLUMN CLICKS DURING THE TURN IF THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED. I SEE THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL FOR THIS FAILURE, AND AM LOOKING FOR RECOMMENDATION FOR REPAIR, AS MY RESEARCH HAS FOUND LITTLE TO REMEDY. A OLDER SENIOR FRIEND WITH THE SAME VEHICLE HAD DIFFICULTY NAVIGATING A TURN IN EFFINGHAM NH A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, AND WENT OFF THE ROAD, RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE AND FORTUNATELY, MINIMAL INJURY TO THE DRIVER. *TR

MY MALIBU MAXX POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVER INTERMITTENTLY. I HAD THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED IN 2008 FOR ANOTHER ISSUE. I KNOW SOME DAY THE STEERING WILL FAIL AT A MOST CRITICAL TIME. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS AND OTHER STEERING COLUMN PROBLEMS CONTINUE TO OCCUR. I CAN NOT BUY ANOTHER CHEVY WITH THIS KIND OF WORKMANSHIP. NOT LOOKING GOOD FOR THE BAILOUT REPAYMENT PROMISE. *TR

WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY WAS ADJUSTING THE SEAT FOR ME TO DRIVE THEN THE SEAT DROPPED DOWN AND NOW LEANS TO THE RIGHT AND ROCKS BACK AND FORTH WHEN GOING OVER ANY BUMPS AT ANY SPEED. FRONT WELD OF THE DRIVER SEAT BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO SOMETIMES LEAN TOWARDS THE FRONT RIGHT. WE TOOK IT TO CHEVY, ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE SEAT AND DO A STATE INSPECTION. THEY SAID THAT THEY DIDNT KNOW WHAT IT WAS AND HAD TO PULL THE SEAT OUT. THEY THEN TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD BE $1,000 TO REPAIR THE SEAT, THEN TOLD ME IT WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION WITHOUT REPAIRING THE SEAT. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR, MORE WELDS HAD BROKEN AND THE SEAT WOBBLED A LOT. THEY TOLD ME THAT IF I PUT THE SEAT IN THE TOTALLY DOWN POSITION THAT IT WOULD NOT WOBBLE. NOW I AM LOOKING ONLINE AND SEE THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT BROKEN WELDS ON THE SEAT. I HOPE THAT THERE WILL BE AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS ISSUE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE DRIVER IF CAR WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. JM

I HAVE A 2004 MALIBU MAXX AND I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND LOST MY POWER STEERING IN THE VEHICLE WHILE EXITING ON A RAMP THAT TURNED 360 DEGREES... I SUDDENLY HAD TO FIGHT WITH ALL MY MIGHT TO KEEP THE CAR ON THE ROAD AND NEARLY CRASHED. I'VE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE AND IT IS A HIGHLY KNOWN ISSUE ON THE INTERNET. IF I TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT MOMENTS LATER IT WILL WORK FOR A WHILE THEN FAIL AGAIN UNEXPECTEDLY... DANGEROUS!!! VERY DANGEROUS! I'M IN THE PROCESS OF CONTACTING A GM SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR A FIX... BUT PLEASE HELP THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DRIVERS ON THE ROAD WHO ARE UNSUSPECTING OF THIS KNOWN ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MALIBU MAX. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTIONED AS THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME TIGHTENED. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED JUST BEFORE THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED A MINIMUM OF THREE TIMES AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING SENSOR FAILED AND WOULD NEED REPAIRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

BOUGHT 2004 MALIBU MAXX BRAND NEW. SWITCH IN AC FIRST TO GO AT JUST UNDER 10000 MILES. 18000 MILES BRAKES AND ROTORS HAD TO REPLACE COST ALMOST $800.00. HEADLIGHTS BURNED UP REPLACE WIRING HARNESS ON BOTH ANOTHER $1000.00. REPLACED BOTH HEAD LIGHTS COULD NOT SEE THROUGH EITHER OF THEM ANOTHER $385.00 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON AND COME TO FIND OUT THERE WAS NOT A FUSE IN THE EMISSION SPOT. REPLACED THAT ANOTHER $400.00 WHEN THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM. LEAKS IN THE HATCH WHEN IT RAINS OR CAR IS BEING WASHED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON WILL NOT RESET. DRIVER SEAT SUPPORTS ARE BROKEN AND EVERYONE THAT I KNOW THAT HAS THIS CAR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THIS, GUESS WHEN THERE IS AN ACCIDENT AND SOMEONE REALLY GETS HURT THEN SOMETHING WILL BE DON. IT IS ASHAMED THAT YOU PAY SO MUCH FOR A VEHICLE AND THIS IS WHAT YOU GO THROUGH. I AM A FIRM BELIEVER IN OIL CHANGES AND GENERAL MAINTENANCE AND NO ONE FROM THE COMPANY SEEMS TO CARE ABOUT PROBLEMS THAT IS FAULT OF THE MANUFACTURING OF THIS CAR AND IT SEEMS THAT NO ONE WANTS TO REPLACE WHAT IS WRONG. *TR

THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS DIDN'T WORK AFTER ONLY 8,00 MILES AND THEN THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL DIDN'T WORK AFTER ONLY 15,000 MILES. THERE WAS A RELAY SWITCH THAT WAS REPLACED AT 8,000 MILES THAT COST $125.00 INCLUDING PARTS AND LABOR AND THEN AT 15,000 MILES THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL DIDN'T WORK AND AFTER TWO DAYS IN THE SHOP THEY "REPAIRED AND RECRIMPED TERMINAL AT BCM". NO PARTS, JUST LABOR $459.80. BOTH OF THESE JOBS WERE DONE AT CHEVY DEALERSHIPS. IT TURNS OUT THAT THESE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ESPECIALLY THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON BUT IT TOOK THE DEALERSHIP TWO DAYS TO FIX IT. *TR

BROKEN DRIVERS SIDE CAR SEAT FRAME TO A 2004 CHEVY MALIBU. BROKEN FRAME CAUSES SEAT TO ROCK UP AND DOWN AND LEAN TO ONE SIDE.THIS FRAME BROKE UNDER NORMAL USE. TO REPAIR THIS YOU NEED TO BUY A NEW SEAT FOR ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM A CHEVY DEALER OR YOU CAN TRY TO WELD THE FRAME BACK TOGETHER. THE MAIN PROBLEM IS THE POOR DESIGN AND ENGINEERING OF THE SIZE OF METAL USED TO BUILD THE FRAME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME FIRM AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNCONTROLLABLE. THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF AND WHEN RESTARTED, THE POWER STEERING WAS RESET AND THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 03/24/11*LJ UPDATED 04/07/11*LJ

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT SUDDENLY SHIFTED FORWARD AND DOWN WHILE DRIVING. INSPECTION REVEALED BROKEN WELD ON SEAT FRAME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE POWER STEERING LOCKED UP SUDDENLY. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF, RESTARTED AND THE STEERING RESET ITSELF. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

POWER STEERING COLUMN IS ABOUT TO FAIL FOR THE THIRD TIME. FIRST TIME AT 45,000 MILES, SECOND TIME AT 83,000, NOW AT 169,000. *TR

MY 2004 MALIBU MAXX HAS A BROKEN WELD OF THE SEAT COMPONENT. THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, HAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000 MILES ON IT, AND THE REPAIR IS CLOSE TO $1000 AS THE ENTIRE SEAT FRAME HAS TO BE REPLACED. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS BY OTHERS ON THE SAME CAR, SAME YEAR, SAME MODEL, SAME MAKE. SEE HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2005/CHEVROLET/MALIBU_MAXX/SEATS/PROBLEM.ASPX. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH OVER A SPEED BUMP, THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT COLLAPSED THREE TO FOUR INCHES INTO A TILTED POSITION. THE CONTACT ADJUSTED THE POWER SEAT TO THE LOWEST LEVEL TO SECURE THE SEAT AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESUME DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH CAUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE DEALER WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE DRIVER SEAT MOUNTING BRACKET WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

IN A TURN AT HIGHER SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES STIFF, HARD TO TURN, AND THE BELL ALARM GOES OFF. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE DRIVERS SEAT FRAME THAT SUPPORTS THE SEAT WAS BROKEN SINCE 2008. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED HIM THAT IT WOULD COST HIM $1000 FOR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

I OWN A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE POWER STEERING IN THE VEHICLE GOES OUT WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. WHEN POWER STEERING GOES OUT, I HAVE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHERE I AM AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART THE VEHICLE TO GET POWER STEERING TO COME BACK ON. ALSO THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL LIGHT CONTINUES TO GO OUT. I HAVE REPLACED THE LIGHT SEVERAL TIMES AND IT CONTINUES TO BLOW AFTER A DAY. THE TURN SIGNAL BEING OUT MAKES IT HARD FOR ME TO TURN WHEN AT STOP SIGNS. OTHER DRIVERS DON'T KNOW I AM TURNING AND TRY TO DRIVE WHILE I AM MAKING A TURN. *TR

STEERING COLUMN FAILURE, LACK OF CONTROL OVER VEHICLE. *TR

DATE: 11/15/10. 2004 MALIBU MAXX LT. WHILE EXITING A LIMITED ACCESS HIGHWAY AT 25 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SEAT SUDDENLY DROPPED TWO OR THREE INCHES DOWN AND TO THE RIGHT, NEARLY CAUSING THE OPERATOR TO CRASH INTO THE SAFETY BARRIER. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, AN INSPECTION REVEALED THE SEAT FRAME WELD HAD SEPARATED. RESEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE NHTSA ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS WITHOUT CORRECTIVE ACTION. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE DAMAGE AND CLAIMS THIS IS A RECURRING ISSUE. REPAIR IS OVER $1,000. THE RESULTING LITIGATION WILL RUN IN THE 10'S OF MILLIONS AS THE DEALERSHIP NOTES THAT IN A COLLISION THE SEAT MAY NOT STAY ANCHORED. THE SAFETY RESTRAINT IS ALSO ATTACHED TO THE SEAT, SO IT WILL BE INEFFECTIVE AS WELL. INVESTIGATE AND ISSUE THE RECALL! *TR

I NOTICED THE DRIVER SEAT WAS "ROCKING" TO THE RIGHT WHEN I SAT DOWN. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE SEAT I NOTICED THAT THE CROSSBAR WAS BROKEN AT THE WELD JOINT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SEAT. *TR

2004 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX WILL NOT START DUE TO PASSLOCK. CAR CRANKS OVER AND OFTEN TAKES A WHILE TO START. EVENTUALLY CAR STARTS. OFTEN LEFT STRANDED WAITING FOR IT TO START. *TR

LOSS OF POWER STEERING. WAS LEAVING A PARKING LOT AND PULLING OUT ONTO STREET WHEN POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. STEERING WHEEL THEN ABRUPTLY FELT SEIZED FOR A MOMENT CAUSING ME TO GO STRAIGHT INTO OPPOSITE LANE. THEN WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL HOWEVER STEERING WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY TO NEAREST DEALER. WHEN AT DEALER ASKED ABOUT RECALL OR BULLETIN. DEALER SAID THERE WAS NONE, HOWEVER THEY OFFERED A FIFTY /FIFTY SPLIT TO REPAIR. STRANGE IF THEY DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A DEFECT. REFUSED SERVICE AND CONTACTED MANUFACTURE, THEY SAID MY VEHICLE DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR "SPECIAL RECALL" . MY CAR WAS AN 04 "SPECIAL RECALL" IS FOR 05, I ASKED FOR AN EXCEPTION STATING THAT IT IS THE SAME PART, THEY REFUSED. ONE MONTH LATER MY CAR IS TOTALED AND IT NO LONGER HAS POWER STEERING. *TR

FRONT WELD OF THE DRIVER SEAT BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO SOMETIMES LEAN TOWARDS THE FRONT RIGHT. WE TOOK IT TO CHEVY, ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE SEAT AND DO A STATE INSPECTION. THEY SAID THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS AND HAD TO PULL THE SEAT OUT. THEY THEN TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD BE $1,000 TO REPAIR THE SEAT, THEN TOLD ME IT WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION WITHOUT REPAIRING THE SEAT. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR, MORE WELDS HAD BROKEN AND THE SEAT WOBBLED A LOT. THEY TOLD ME THAT IF I PUT THE SEAT IN THE TOTALLY DOWN POSITION THAT IT WOULD NOT WOBBLE. WE COMPLAINED TO THE MANAGER, AND HE HAS AGREED TO CALL GM TO SEE ABOUT GETTING AN ALLOWANCE TO GET IT REPAIRED. NOW I AM LOOKING ONLINE AND SEE THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT BROKEN WELDS ON THE SEAT. I HOPE THAT THERE WILL BE AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS ISSUE. *TR

MY 2004 CHEVORLET MALIBU MAXX HAS HAD REPEATED FAILURE OF THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING. THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED AT BOTH LOW AND HIGH RATES OF SPEED. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST GOES OUT AND MAKES THE VEHICLE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. *TR