2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAX. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLICKING NOISE AND THEN THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON THREE OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK AND THE POTENTIAL THAT A CRASH COULD OCCUR THE CONTACT FEELS THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

POWER STEERING FAILURE WITH CAR. STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT MOVE. ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *TR

LOST POWER STEERING. PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED BY TURNING CAR OFF WAITING A MINUTE AND RESTARTING. POWER STEERING THEN RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED ON TWO OCCASION. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THIS POINT. I HAVE REVIEWED CAR FORUMS AND NOTED THIS APPEARS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS MODEL. IT APPEARS THE STEERING COLUMN MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. ADDITIONALLY WHEN COLD, THE POWER STEERING NOW FEELS SLUGGISH. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX PURCHASED IN 2004. THE REAR VIEW MIRROR BEGAN TO FALL OFF OF THE VEHICLE WHILE IN MOTION. HER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOUND HAIRLINE CRACKS WHERE THE MIRROR MOUNTS TO THE VEHICLE. THE MIRROR WAS REAPPLIED. THIS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES THEREAFTER. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO DATE TO CORRECT THE ACTUAL FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNDER 10,000. THE CURRENT WAS 48,000.

2004 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX FAILURE OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. WHEN THE CAR IS SHUT OFF IT RESETS ITSELF BUT EVENTUALLY COMES BACK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE AIRBAG MODULE LIGHT FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND SHE WAS ADVISED SINCE THAT THE MODULE HAS FAILED. ANY REPAIRS MADE, WOULD BE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36000.

MY CAR WAS IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT WHERE IT LEFT THE ROAD AND FLIPPED TWICE LANDING ON IT'S SIDE AGAINST SOME TREES AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NOT THE ONES IN THE FRONT NOR THE SIDE AIR BAGS. THE INSURANCE CO. SAID THE CAR IS TOTALED. LUCKILY MY CHILDREN WEREN'T IN THE CAR AT THE TIME BUT IF THEY HAD BEEN WOULD THEY BE HERE TODAY WITHOUT THE SAFETY FEATURE OF AIRBAGS?*TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 MALIBU MAXX TO WORK YESTERDAY AND MY STEERING LOCKED UP ON ME WHILE DRIVING DOWN A BUSY ROAD DURING RUSH HOUR. THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO LEFT BEFORE LOCKING UP. I HOPE SOMEONE WILL FORCE GM TO RECALL THIS AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. THERE MAY HAVE NOT YET BEEN A DEATH, BUT THERE WILL BE IN TIME. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS NEED TO BE REPORTED BEFORE THIS IS TAKEN SERIOUSLY. MY DEALER HAD TO COMPLETELY REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AND POWER STEERING MOTOR. MY CAR ONLY HAS 55K MILES ON. THIS SITUATION IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE! DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!! *TR

POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN. DEALERSHIP SAID STEERING COLUMN HAS TO BE REPLACED. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED AT 14,000 MILES BECAUSE OF A SERVICE BULLETIN. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 56,000 MILES ON IT AND REPAIR COST IS IN EXCESS OF $550. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN INVESTIGATED. APPARENTLY GM HAS NOT FOUND A RELIABLE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND THERE SHOULD BE A TOTAL RECALL OF THE 2004 MALIBU MAXX. *TR

BOUGHT A CERTIFIED USED 2004 MALIBU MAXX IN AUGUST 2007 WITH 19000 MILES. CURRENTLY HAVE 68000 MILES. DRIVERS SEAT FRAME CRACKED. WAS NOT IN ANY ACCIDENT OR ANY INCIDENT WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED THE FRAME TO CRACK. THE DRIVER SEAT IS 4 WAY ELECTRIC POWERED SEAT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WAS INOPERATIVE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, HE NOTICED THAT THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL AMBER COVER WAS BURNED WITH A HOLE IN IT. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED; HOWEVER, HE HAS NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41, 140 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,167.

EXTERIOR LAMP SOCKET OVERHEATED, MELTED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF TURN SIGNAL INDICATORS. *TR

LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST GOES AWAY AND "POWER STEERING" IS DISPLAYED ON THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER. *TR

THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS/TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS ON MY 2004 MALIBU MAXX ARE MELTING THROUGH THE AMBER COLORED HOUSING AND STARTING TO MELT THE CLEAR HOUSING THAT COVERS THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT. I THINK AT SOME TIME THIS MIGHT LEAD TO A FIRE. THE PROBLEM WAS JUST NOTICED AT A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND MAY HAVE BEEN MELTING FOR A LONG TIME BEFORE IT WAS REALIZED. *TR

THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TURN SIGNAL / PARK LAMP WAS NOT WORKING. I REMOVED THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY TO ACCESS THE TURN SIGNAL BULB. BEFORE REMOVING THE BULB I NOTICED; A) THE OLD BULB GLASS WAS WHITE. B) THEOUTER CLEAR PLASTIC AND CHROME REFLECTIVE SURFACE OF THE HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY ARE DISCOLORED, DIRECTLY ABOVE THE TURN SIGNAL BULB, FROM HEAT. C) THE ROUND AMBER LENS DIRECTLY AROUND THE TURN SIGNAL BULB WAS MELTED AT THE TOP AND A MELTED PIECE OF THIS PLASTIC EXTENDED DOWN AND WAS MELTED TO THE TOP OF THE TURN SIGNAL BULB. CURRENTLY ALL I HAVE DONE WAS TO REPLACE THE BULB. NOTE: BOTH FRONT HEAD LAMP HOUSINGS HAVE THE SAME HEAT DISCOLORATION AND MELTING. *TR

LOST POWER STEERING EVERY TIME ENGINE GOES OVER 2500 RPMS AND UP. STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP AND THEN YOU HAVE NO CONTROL, TO MAKE TURNS OR TO MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY. DUE TO THIS FAILURE OF STEERING I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS OF BEING INVOLVED IN A CRASH. *TR

WHILE CROSSING INTERSECTION, POWER STEERING GAVE OUT. CREATED POTENTIAL HEAD ON COLLISION WITH ON-COMING TRAFFIC. STEERING VEHICLE WAS VERY DIFFICULT. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILURE. THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE OF POWER STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY FAILING. FIRST ONE REPLACED UNDER RECALL NOTIFICATION. CURRENTLY AT DEALERSHIP WAITING FOR NEW UNIT TO BE INSTALLED. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR, THE STEERING JUST FROZE UP AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO HANDLE. THIS INCIDENT NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT ON A HEAVILY TRAVELED ROAD. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN THE COURSE OF FOUR MONTHS AND EACH TIME THE CAR HAD TO BE TAKEN TO A SHOP AND PUT ON A DIAGNOSTIC TESTER TO FIND AND CLEAR DEFAULT CODES TO MAKE CAR DRIVABLE. THIS PROBLEM CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME AGAIN AND TO REPAIR IT COSTS 600.00 . CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME? *TR

DRIVERS SEAT FRAME BROKE AT WELD. SEAT WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO VEHICLE. ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. $843 TO REPLACE THE FRAME. *TR

PWR STEERING FAILED UPON VEHICLE START-UP. TURNED OFF CAR AND RESTARTED AND PWR STEERING WORKED OK. WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY PROBLEMS WITH PWR STEERING FAILURES ON MALIBU'S AND THAT IT IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE THAT HAS CAUSE NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS. I HAD TO PAY $600 TO REPAIR (REPLACE STEERING COLUMN AND BOX) SINCE GM WOULD NOT COVER IT. (THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED---THE 1ST TIME WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY.) *TR

I HAVE A CHEVY MALIBU MAXX. I WAS DRIVING YESTERDAY AND THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY BROKE WITHOUT WARNING. IT WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL AT ALL. THE POWER STEERING MESSAGE CAME ON THE CONSOLE. I STOPPED THE CAR AND WAITED A WHILE AND TRIED IT AGAIN. RIGHT WHEN I STARTED THE CAR, I HAD POWER STEERING, BUT WITHIN 60 SECONDS, IT LOCKED UP AGAIN AND THE LIGHT CAME ON. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. IT IS AT A CAR PLACE NOW TO GET FIXED. *TR

STEERING UNIT WENT ON 2004 CHEVY MALIBU MAX WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON THRUWAY AND GM REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

TURNING LEFT AT A MAJOR INTERSECTION THE POWER STEERING WENT DEAD. THE ORANGE SERVICE INDICATOR CAME ON, AND POWER STEERING CAME ON THE CENTER DISPLAY. I WAS ABLE TO GLIDE INTO A GAS STATION PARKING LOT. THE SERVICE DEPT SAID THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED BUT I NEEDED TO HAVE THAT DONE AT A DEALER. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO THEN FOUND THE CAR TO BE OPERATIONAL. THERE WERE ERROR CODES IN THE SYSTEM BUT THEY ARE SO FAR UNABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM. THEY WILL TRY AGAIN TOMORROW BUT IF THEY CAN'T RECREATE IT I AM SUPPOSED TO COME PICK UP THE CAR AND DRIVE IT AS NORMAL. THIS IS VERY SERIOUS AS HAD IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A BAD ACCIDENT HAD I NOT BEEN GOING VERY SLOWLY AT THE TIME. *TR

2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX LT BOTH FRONT PARKING LIGHT / TURN SIGNAL LIGHT HOUSINGS ARE MELTING, BOTH LAMPS HAVE FAILED, BOTH LAMP SOCKETS ARE SCORCHED. *TR

2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX HAS A BURNT OIL SMELL. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALERSHIP CAN NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER HE CHANGED THE OIL, THE SMELL WOULD LINGER FOR 3-4 WEEKS AFTER TRAVELING HIGHWAY SPEED FOR MORE THAN 20 MILES OR MORE. *JB

DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR AT 75MPH, ALARM CHIME CAME ON, DISPLAY SAYS POWER STEERING, AND ORANGE LIGHT WITH A WRENCH. I LOST POWER STEERING, AND COULDN'T CONTROL MY VEHICLE WHATSOEVER. I RAN INTO A DITCH, CRASHED, AND SMASHED THE FRONT END IN. AFTER DOING RESEARCH, THIS ISSUE IS COMMON WITH MANY USERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE, BUT CHEVY NEVER RELEASED A RECALL. THEY REFUSED ANY DAMAGE COSTS CITING MY HIGH MILEAGE AS AN EXCUSE TO NOT PAY FOR IT. *TR

WE OWN AN 04 MALIBU MAXX, AT 50000 MILES APP THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. IT STOPPED WORKING ON THE HIGHWAY .IF YOU TURN THE CAR OFF AND RE START POWER STEERING RETURNS. THIS IS HAPPENING TO MORE THAN PEOPLE ACCORDING TO INTERNET CAR FORUMS, SO WHY NO RECALL? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. SHORTLY AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE IN THE MORNING, THE CONTACT PLACED THE GEAR INTO REVERSE. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, SHE TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT SUDDENLY BECAME LOCKED. IMMEDIATELY AFTER, THE POWER STEERING AND CHECK ENGINE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND AN INVESTIGATION FOR THE SAME ISSUE (NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA04018 (STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM)). SHE HAS NOT YET TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT BELIEVES THAT THIS INVESTIGATION SHOULD HAVE ISSUED A RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 30,000.

I HAVE HAD AN ONGOING COMPLAINT ABOUT A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL OF MY 2004 MALIBU MAXX. ALMOST AS SOON AS I GOT THE VEHICLE I FELT A FAINT VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND HAVE TAKEN IT TO CHEVROLET ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS EACH TIME THEY CLAIM THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THIS KNOCKING HAPPENS EVERYTIME I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT IS GETTING LOUDER AND LOUDER. NOW THAT IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY GM IS TELLING ME TO ONCE AGAIN GO AND HAVE IT DIAGNOSED, WHICH COST ABOUT $90 AND THEY DO NOT GUARANTEE TO FIX IT AT NO COST. I TALKED TO A CSR AND SHE DOES NOT ADMIT OR ADMIT TO KNOWING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I REFERRED TO CAMPAIGN # 04050A 12/2004 POSTED ON YOUR WEBSITE. *TR

FIRST MY HORN FUSE CONTINUED TO BLOW. I REPLACED THE FUSE MULTIPLE TIMES. THEN MY TURN SIGNAL LIGHT WENT OUT. I LOOKED AT IT AND NOTICED THAT BOTH SIDES HAD HOLES BURNT THROUGH THE AMBER GLOBE. I WAS OUT OF TOWN AND DIDN'T WANT TO RECEIVE A TICKET FOR NON WORKING LIGHT SO I HAD IT REPLACED, HOWEVER WITHIN A DAY THE BULB BLEW AGAIN AND THE HORN FUSE BLEW AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NO CLUE WHAT WAS CAUSING IT HOWEVER I HAD TO PAY OVER $500 TO HAVE THE HEADLIGHT PARTS REPLACED ON BOTH SIDES. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THEY DENIED THE CLAIM B/C THEY DON'T REPLACE LIGHTS, HOWEVER THE FACT THAT THE CAR IS BURNING UP I DON'T THINK I JUST WANTED NEW LIGHTS. I DO NOT FEEL I SHOULD BE OUT MONEY FOR A PROBLEM THAT HAS OBVIOUSLY OCCURRED ON OTHER VEHICLES AND NOW MINE. I FEEL THAT A CAR THAT IS ACTUALLY MELTING/BURNING IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN....BUT I GUESS UNTIL A FEW PEOPLE BLOW UP IN THERE VEHICLES PEOPLE WILL BE OUT MONEY TO PAY FOR A FAULTY AUTOMOBILE. I WISH I STILL HAD MY FORD..IT NEVER GAVE ME THE PROBLEMS THIS CAR HAS. I STARTED WITH STEERING GOING OUT, THEN BACK HATCH NEVER OPENED, CAR REMOTE SYSTEMS DOESN'T WORK (AND I WON'T PAY TO REPLACE THAT), NOW THE CAR IS BLOWING FUSES, LIGHTS, AND BURNING UP MELTING THE PLASTIC. I THINK THEY SHOULD JUST START REPLACING THE 2004 WITH SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE SAFE....LIKE A FORD. *TR

THE PART IN QUESTION IS THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY PART # 25902150 OF A CHEVY MALIBU MAXX 2004. THE FIRST PART WAS REPLACED JULY 8 2008, THAT PART FAILED AND WAS REPLACED AGAIN ON OCTOBER 3 2008. THAT PART IS NOW FAILED AGAIN AND IT HAS NOT BEEN 3 MOTHS SINCE IT WAS REPLACED. SO THE PART HAS FAILED BY MAKING EXTREME NOISE, CLICKING OR THUMPING HEARD IN THE FRONT END. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE GM DEALER THAT PROVIDED THE PART TOLD HIM THEY KEEP MANY IN STOCK BECAUSE THEY HAVE THIS PROBLEM A LOT. MY MECHANIC ALSO TELLS ME THAT GM REFUSED TO PAY HIS LABOR COST EVEN THOUGH THEY ADMITTED THE PART FAILURE IN SUCH A SHORT TIME. MY MECHANIC TELLS ME THAT NOT REPLACING THE PART CAN RESULT IN MY LOSING CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AND POSSIBLY AT RISK OF CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY TO ME OR OTHERS. *TR

ON MY 2004 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX, THE POWER STEERING FAILED COMPLETELY AS I WAS DRIVING YESTERDAY. LAST MONTH, THE STEERING WAS "STIFF" TURNING TO THE RIGHT. MY DEALER LUBRICATED SOMETHING AND THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE RESOLVED. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THAT THE PARTS WERE LUBRICATED, HOWEVER THE COMPLETE FAILURE CAME YESTERDAY. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND COULD NOT STEER THE CAR SINCE THE POWER STEERING SHUT OFF. I DID CONTACT MY DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE 2004 CHEVY MALIBU (RECALL #7126) FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM, BUT MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT ONE THAT WAS LISTED. ACCORDING TO MY DEALER, THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, WHICH WAS ALSO THE PART REPLACED IN THE RECALL OF THE 2004 CHEVY MALIBU. MY VEHICLE SHOULD DEFINITELY BE ADDED TO THE LIST OF RECALLED VEHICLES SINCE THE POWER STEERING FAILURE IS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN OR PART FLAW THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN RECALLED AND REPLACED IN SIMILAR MODELS OF THE SAME PRODUCTION YEAR. PLEASE ADVISE. *TR

THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONS, THE WHEEL DOES NOT TURN. THE MESSAGE CENTER READS POWER STEERING, THIS HAS HAPPENED ONCE A WEEK FOR THE PAST 4 WEEKS. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. THE VEHICLE HAS APPROX. 40K MILES. I GOOGLED THIS ISSUE AND SEEMS THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND SEE THAT GM HAS NOT ISSUED A FIX. WE ALREADY DID THE RECALL BACK IN 2005 ON THE STEERING COLUMN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND MAKING A TURN, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES AND THEY REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN UNDER WARRANTY, THE PS GEAR, AND THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT; HOWEVER, THE CLUNKING NOISE STILL PERSISTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,523 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,557. UPDATED 2/23/09 *CN UPDATED 02/27/09. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE EMANATING FROM THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, HE NOTICED A LARGE PUDDLE OF GASOLINE NEAR THE FUEL TANK. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE DELIVERY PUMP AND ASSOCIATED HOSES AT THE COST OF $513. THE TECHNICIAN ADDED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 101,143.

THE WELD BROKE ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT MOUNTING BRACKET. THERE WAS NO ABUSE OF THE SEAT TO CAUSE THIS TO FAIL. IT DID NOT CAUSE CRASH OR INJURY. THE DRIVERS SEAT MOUNTING BRACKET WAS REPLACED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 69 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE VEHICLE APPROACHED A PUDDLE AND HYDROPLANED. THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE MEDIAN AND SPUN OUT BEGINNING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. NEITHER FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT AND DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 48,000.

WHEN DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING WILL JERK SIDE TO SIDE AND SEVERAL TIMES HAS COMPLETELY FAILED MAKING THE VEHICLE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE FAILURE CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL ON THE INTERSTATE SLAMMING ME AGAINST THE DOOR OF THE VEHICLE, THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL ALTHOUGH IT WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. THE DRIVER INFORMATION CONSOLE DISPLAYED "POWER STEERING." AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I SAW THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE. THAT IS WHY I DECIDED TO FILE A COMPLAINT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT DROVE DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OUT OF THE WOODS AND TOWED AWAY. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE SLIGHTLY INJURED, ALTHOUGH THEY WERE WEARING THEIR SEAT BELTS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE AIR BAGS WERE NEVER SERVICED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

WHEN USING THE TURN SIGNALS THE DASH BLINKERS OPERATED VERY FAST. UPON CHECKING THE TURN SIGNAL BULBS, BOTH FRONT BULBS WERE BURNED OUT AND THE AMBER LENS ON EACH HAD HOLE IN THE TOP OF THE LENS WHERE THEY HAD MELTED. THERE APPEARS TO BE FLASH BURNS ON THE OUTER LENS COVER. THIS IS A FIRST OCCURRENCE AT ABOUT 68000 MILES. THE BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND NOW OPERATE OK. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL BULBS OFTEN BLOW OUT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE BULB AND SOME WIRES. RECENTLY, HE NOTICED THAT THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL COVERING BURNED. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,900. UPDATED 10/03/08 *BF THE DEALER STATED THE WIRING HARNESS HAD MELTED. UPDATED 10/07/08.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SEAT DROPPED APPROXIMATELY 3 TO 4 INCHES ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THE CONTACT ARRIVED HOME AND DISCOVERED THAT THE BRACKET FAILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,678 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,653. UPDATED 09/10/08. *LJ THE SEAT FRAME WELD BROKE. UPDATED 09/12/08. *JB

SEAT BRACKET BROKE WHILE DRIVING CAUSING SEAT TO SUDDENLY DROP TO ONE SIDE. AS A RESULT, DRIVER NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. INSPECTION OF THE SEAT MOUNT REVEALED TWO FAILED WELDS. CONTACTED GM THE NEXT DAY, THEN BROUGHT VEHICLE TO NEAREST DEALER AT GM'S REQUEST. DEALER INITIALLY REPORTED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A CLEAR FACTORY DEFECT AND SUGGESTED THAT GM SHOULD REPAIR IT AT NO COST TO US. AFTER TWO WEEKS OF "CONSIDERING OUR REQUEST," GM DENIED THE CLAIM AND SUGGESTED THAT WE SHOULD HAVE PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED AT THIS TIME. *TR

FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR, THE RIGHT FRONT TURN LIGHT CONTINUES TO GO OUT. WE HAVE REPLACED THE BULB MANY TIMES. SOMETIMES IT WILL LAST A FEW WEEKS AND SOMETIMES ONLY A FEW DAYS. *TR

I WAS TRAVELING A STRAIGHT SECTION OF I-75 GOING NORTHBOUND THAT MY POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON. SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2007, I NOTICED A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE SECTION AND NEVER THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT, JUST THOUGHT AS BEING OK. SO I TOOK MY MALIBU TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT MY 2004 MALIBU MAXX STEERING COLUMN MUST BE REPLACED. SO I CALLED ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE PREVIOUS RECALLS CONCERNING THE POWER STEERING. I NOTIFIED GM OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY OFFERED TO PAY HALF OF THE COSTS WHICH WAS $430 OF AN $860 PROJECT. I THINK THEY SHOULD PAY ALL BECAUSE ITS STILL CONSIDERED A NEW USED CAR. *TR

I OWN A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING ON THE NJ GARDEN STATE PARKWAY, I HEARD AN AUDIBLE ALARM AND AT THE SAME TIME NOTICED A "POWER STEERING" READ-OUT ON THE ON THE DIC DISPLAY. ALL THIS TIME I AM FEELING THE TIGHTNESS IN THE STEERING AND REALIZING THAT I HAVE LOST THE POWER STEERING ON THE VEHICLE. SINCE THEN I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS LOSS IS INTERMITTENT - IT COMES AND GOES WITH NO PREDICTION OF WHEN OR WHERE. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT PRIOR TO THE ACTUALLY LOSS OF PS, IT SEEMS THAT THE SYSTEM IS LOSING CONTROL, I.E. TRYING TO SYNCHRONIZE/STABILIZE BEFORE IT FAILS. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO GM, WHO IN TERM HAVE SUGGESTED THAT I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER FOR EVALUATION. WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS, IT CAN BE VERY SCARY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST LOCKED, WHICH PREVENTED THE STEERING WHEEL FROM BEING TURNED. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED TWICE SINCE THE INITIAL FAILURE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE SENSOR WAS FAULTY, AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,020.

WAS DRIVING WHEN DRIVERS SEAT LURCHED TO THE LEFT. WHEN I GOT HOME AND INSPECTED THE SEAT I OBSERVED THAT A WELD HAD BROKEN IN THE LOWER SEAT FRAME COMPONENT ASSOCIATED WITH VERTICAL HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT FOR POWER SEAT. *TR

FRONT BLINKER LIGHTS HAVE MELTED NICKEL SIZED HOLES IN THE TOPS OF THE AMBER PLASTIC GLOBES THE LIGHT BULBS GO INTO. MELTED PLASTIC DRIPPED ON THE LIGHT BULBS CAUSING BULBS TO FAIL. STRONG MELTED/BURNT PLASTIC ODOR IN THE CAR. SMOKE FROM THE MELTED PLASTIC HAS DISCOLORED HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. HAVE TO REPLACE FRONT AND BACK BLINKER LIGHTS AT LEAST MONTHLY. FRONT CASINGS ARE THE ONLY ONE THAT CAUGHT FIRE, BURNED THROUGH THE ORANGE GLOBISH COVER THROUGH TO THE OUTSIDE COVER. THE LIGHTS BURNING OUT STARTED WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR BUT THE FIRE DID NOT START UNTIL 2006. I SEE MORE MALIBU'S ON THE ROAD WITH ONLY ONE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHT WORKING AT A TIME. IT HAS TO BE A KNOW PROBLEM BUT THE DEALERSHIP DENIES IT EVERY TIME I'VE CALLED OVER THE YEARS. *TR