2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx complaints

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. *TR

WAS DRIVING ON EXIT RAMP ON LOCAL EXPRESSWAY 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

TOOK CAR IN FOR SEMI ANNUAL SERVICE, CAR IS JUST OFF WARRANTY (105,000 KM APROX 62000 MILES). SERVICE LIGHT FOR THE POWER STEERING CAME ON, BUT NO LOSS IN STEERING. WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, BUT UNTIL FAILURE HAPPENS, LEAVE IT BECAUSE IT IS A COSTLY REPAIR. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON FAILURE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE COMPANY AND NOT THE CONSUMER. I HAVE NO PROBLEMS PAYING FOR REPAIRS, BUT THIS SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

CAR HAS HAD RATTLE NOISE FROM FRONT END SINCE CAR WAS BOUGHT FROM A CHEVY DEALERSHIP WITH 32K ON IT. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS 61K ON IT. STEERING RACK HAS WORN TO THE POINT WHERE IT JAMS AND THE WHEEL WILL NOT TURN. RATTLE NOISE HAS TURNED IN TO CLUNKING NOISE. WHEN CAR WAS BROUGHT TO DEALER 3 TIMES FOR NOISE IT WAS RETURNED "NO PROBLEMS FOUND". *TR

THREE WEEKS AGO, NOTICED SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH STEERING ON 2004 MALIBU MAX. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG. ON MARCH 18TH THE STEERING FAILED AND FORTUNATELY WE WERE GOING SLOW AND GO THROUGH THE INTERSECTION INTO A PARKING LOT AVOIDING ACCIDENT. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHO NOW STATED THE LOWER ELECTRONIC ASSEMBLY OF THE STEERING FAILED. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT THE STEERING FAILED WHILE GOING SLOW AND ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN A POSITION TO BE TOWED. TOTAL REPAIR COST $675. IN ALL MY YEARS I HAVE NEVER HAD A STEERING FAIL AND THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I UNDERSTAND PARTS WEAR OUT, BUT THIS IS BAD WHEN IT IS NOT ABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED UNTIL COMPLETE FAILURE. *TR

2004 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX HAS MAJOR FRONT END PROBLEM. HARD TO STEER, ALWAYS PULLING HARD TO THE RIGHT, SEEMS LIKE POWER STEERING IS NOT WORKING AT TIMES, CLUNKING NOISE WHEN STATIONARY AND TURNING WHEELS AND WHEN MOVING GOING OVER BUMPS. AT 33K MILES HAVE BEEN TOLD THE RACK AND PINION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. REPAIRS HAVEN'T BEEN DONE YET WAITING ON OTHER ESTIMATES. *TR

DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT ROAD, LOST POWER STEERING. WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING. TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTARTED ENGINE. POWER STEERING RETURNED AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. *TR

STEERING GOES OUT. JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND STEERING FAILED. I COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL. I AM PAST THE WARRANTY AND THREE DIFFERENT STORIES FROM THREE DIFFERENT PEOPLE. IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT IS CO-OWNER OF A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS BEGAN TO FLICKER AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF STEERING POWER. THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND THEN PULLED HARD TO THE LEFT, ENTERING INTO TRAFFIC AND STRIKING TWO VEHICLES. THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE TWO OTHER DRIVERS ALSO SUSTAINED INJURIES, BUT THE CONTACT DOES NOT KNOW TO WHAT EXTENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED APPROXIMATELY $2,600 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND TOWED TO A DEALER. INVESTIGATION NUMBER EA04018 WAS ISSUED, BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL AS OF YET. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 37,000. UPDATED 12-12-07. *KB

STEERING WENT ON CAR WHILE DRIVING . NOT INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT BROUGHT TO DEALERS AND HAD TO GET WHOLE NEW STEERING COLUMN PUT IN , BUT I HAD TO PAY FOR THE BALANCING AND ROTATION OF THE TIRES. THAT WAS THE STEERING COLUMN'S FAULT. *TR

PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, I HAVE TO REPLACE THE BRAKE PADS EVERY 2-3 MONTHS AND HAVE THE ROTORS TURNED AS WELL FOR THERE IS A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND FRONT END IF NOT TURNED. I WAS TOLD MY DEALERSHIP THAT THE ROTORS ARE NO GOOD FOR THE CAR AND THAT GM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO CORRECT IT. *TR

NOISE IN THE STEERING. *JB

FEBRUARY 2005 STEERING COLUMN REPLACED DUE TO FAILURE, PRIOR TO RECALL ISSUED (15,050 MILES). FEBRUARY 2007 RACK AND PINION SYSTEM REPLACED DUE TO THUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING LEFT (45,380 MILES). THUNKING NOISE RETURNED IN AUGUST 2007, THIS TIME NOISE WAS CAUSED BY STEERING SHAFT, WHICH WAS REPLACED (51,206 MILES). *TR

GEAR SHIFT LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT MOVE. HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. FRONT TURN LIGHTS CONSTANTLY LOOSE CONNECTION AND GO OUT. HAVE REPLACED THEM ON AVERAGE EVERY THREE MONTHS. WITHIN 6 MO OF PURCHASE, STEERING FELT LOOSE AND WOULD LOCK UP A SLOW SPEED TURNS. STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. AT THE SAME TIME, THUMPING CAN BE HEARD WITH LEFT HAND TURNS. DEALER SAYS THE PROBLEM IS RECOGNIZED BY CHEVROLET AND IS A DESIGN DEFECT OF THE RACK AND PINION, BUT CHEVROLET SAYS THEY HAVE NO REPORTS OF THE PROBLEM. THE SHOP JUST GREASES THE RACK AND PINION AND SENDS ME ON MY WAY. AFTER THE 5TH TIME OF HAVING IN THE SHOP AND CHEVY REFUSING TO DO ANYTHING BUT GIVE ME FREE OIL CHANGES, I HAVE TRADED IN THE CAR FOR A FORD. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE MAKES A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT SUSPENSION WAS REPLACED FOUR TIMES AND THE RACK WAS REPLACED ONCE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE SHOP FOURTEEN TIMES. THE STEERING SHAFT HAS BEEN PACKED WITH GREASE, WHICH SERVES AS A TEMPORARY REPAIR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT WILL NEED TO BE GREASED APPROXIMATELY EVERY THREE MONTHS. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE VEERS TO THE RIGHT DUE TO STEERING FAILURE, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATE AND DIM AT RANDOM, AND THE STARTER ON THE VEHICLE WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE FAILURES GENERALLY OCCUR WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE MAIN FAILURE, HOWEVER, IS THAT THE VEHICLE FAILS TO START OCCASIONALLY. WHEN SHE STARTS THE VEHICLE, IT SOUNDS AS IF IT IS ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE, BUT NEVER DOES. THE VEHICLE ALSO MAKES A CRANKING SOUND. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY 8-10 TIMES. THE DEALER WILL MAKE A REPAIR, BUT THE FAILURES ALWAYS CONTINUE. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,900 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.

CAR LEASED BRAND NEW IN AUGUST 2004. AS OF TODAY ON UNE 28,2007 CAR HAD BRAKES REPAIRED 4 TIMES AT THE DEALER. ROTORS HAVE BEEN MACHINED EACH TIME, AND TODAY BRAKE PADS REPLACED..CAR HAS 27,180 MILES ON IT, AND IT HAS BEEN MAINTAINED,GARAGED, KEPT, AND NO ONE HAS BEEN ROUGH ON THE BRAKES. THE LAST TIME WE HAD THE CAR TO DEALER FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS WAS JULY OF LAST YEAR. AT THAT TIME WE WERE TOLD THAT A BRAKE LINE WAS CRIMPED AND ONLY FOUND IT BECAUSE WE WERE HAVING TIRES ROTATED. ALSO, TOLD THAT THIS WAS THE LAST TIME ROTORS COULD BE MACHINED. WELL TODAY THEY MACHINED THEM ONCE AGAIN AS I HAD SAID PREVIOUSLY FOR THE FOURTH TIME. I DID SOME RESEARCH ,AND I MAY BE WRONG BUT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE CAR FOR ABS PROBLEMS IN APRIL 2004 PRIOR TO OUR PURCHASE OF THE CAR.. I CALLED GM , AND WAS TOLD THAT OUR CAR WAS INVOLVED, BUT WAS LATER TOLD BY OWNER OF DEALERSHIP THAT THERE HAD BEEN A COMMUNICATION ERROR AND OUR CAR WAS INVOLVED IN ANOTHER RECALL CONCERNING SEAT BELTS OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE BRAKES AT THIS POINT AFTER SO MANY CONFLICTING STORIES..I FEEL VERY FRUSTATED, AND HAD TO SPEND ALMOST $500.00 BECAUSE THE BRAKE PADS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY AS THEY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PREVIOUS ROTOR/BRAKELINE PROBLEMS OR SO I WAS TOLD..WE HAD COMPUTOR SENSOR PROBLEMS,SHORT SOCKETS ON BOTH REAL TURN SIGNALS, LOOSE TIE ROD, IGNITION PROBLEMS ,WHICH THEY COULD NOT DETECT..FAULTY GAS CAP ETC. *AK

TRYING TO START THE CAR, THE CAR SOMETIMES DOESN'T START. YOU CAN HEAR IT TURNING OVER BUT IT JUST DOESN'T START. YOU CAN TRY AND TRY AND THEN, MAGICALLY, IT JUST STARTS. THEN, YOU TRY LATER AND IT STARTS AS IF THERE ISN'T A PROBLEM. IT IS INCREDIBLY UNRELIABLE, UNPREDICTABLE AND FRUSTRATING AS THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A PATTERN FOR THE CAR NOT STARTING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. ON MAY 15, 2007, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FENDER. THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO SECURE THE CONTACT AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. HE SUFFERED AN INJURY FROM STRIKING THE STEERING WHEEL AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. THE CONTACT HAS A POLICE REPORT. THE ENGINE SIZE AND SPEED AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 16,500.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S STEERING WHEEL FELT LOOSE, AS IF IT COULD KEEP TURNING NONSTOP. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT HAD DIFFICULTY WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE MOTOR INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED AND WAS A VERY COMMON FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 51,400. THE CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER STATED WANTS TO REIMBURSED FOR REPAIRS. UPDATED 06/06/07 *TR

AROUND 40,000 MILES ON ODOMETER, A THUNK COULD BE HEARD WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL LEFT. DEALERSHIP WHERE CAR WAS PURCHASED COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE. AT 45,000 MILES ON ODOMETER, TOOK VEHICLE TO 2ND DEALERSHIP WHO KNEW OF A TECHNICAL BULLETIN - RACK AND PINION STEERING UNIT WAS FAILING. *JB

I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TRADED MY SATURN VUE FOR THE 2004 MALIBU MAXX. WHEN I TEST DROVE THE CAR, AFTER THE ACCELERATION REACHED 4RPMS, THERE WAS A HIGH PITCHED WHINE FROM THE ENGINE CLOSEST TO THE TIRE. THEY LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THAT IT WAS A LOOSE BELT. SO I BOUGHT THE CAR AND THEY SAID TO BRING IT THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP TO GET IT FIXED. I TOOK IT IN AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO I HAD TO RIDE WITH THEM. ALSO, MY SEAT HEATERS WERE TURNING ON AUTOMATICALLY, CAR CONSTINTLY PULLS TO THE RIGHT, I HAVE TO TURN THE KEY OVER FOR A LONG TIME TO GET THE CAR TO FULLY START UP. THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE ANY OF THE PROBLEMS SO I AM STILL DEALING WITH ALL OF THEM. FOR THE WHINING NOISE, THEY SAID IT IS A DRIVE BELT THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, BUT IT IS OUT OF STOCK. HOW CONVIENIENT. *JB

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX LT. THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, IT WAS MUCH WORSE WHEN DRIVING 70 MPH. WHEN DRIVING WITH LEFT HAND THE STEERING WHEEL THE WHEEL PUSHES THE HAND THE LEFT AND THE VEHICLE WENT TO THE LEFT. THE MECHANIC PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT, BUT HAD INDICATED THAT THE ALIGNMENT WAS WITHIN FACTORY SPECS. THE MECHANIC STATED THEY COULD TRY TO ADJUST THE CASTOR, BUT NOT TO FACTORY SPECS. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR AFTER THE ALIGNMENT WAS FINISHED AND BECAME WORSE. THERE WERE NO BULLETINS ON THIS VEHICLE . HOWEVER, THERE WERE ON 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU, NOT FOR THE MAXX THAT RELATED TO THIS FAILURE ,PER THE CONTACT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 6400. *AK

ROTORS REPEATEDLY WARP. HAVE HAD THE BRAKES SERVICED TWICE WITHIN THE 24000 WARRANTY FOR BRAKES AND IT IS REQUIRING A THIRD SERVICE AT 26,000 MILES OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY. ROTORS WOULD NEED TO BE RECUT OR REPLACED EVERY 4,000 MILES ON THIS CAR TO ELIMINATE THE PULSATION. THERE IS A SYSTEMATIC ISSUE WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM, INCLUDING THE ABS AND/OR THE TRACTION CONTROL. THIS IS NOT A MATERIAL OR SERVICE ISSUE, BUT A DESIGN ISSUE. THE DEALER HAS INDICATED THAT ALL SYSTEMS ON THE CAR ARE WORKING PROPERLY AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO OTHER THAN RECUT OR REPLACE THE ROTORS. GENERAL MOTORS HAS DENIED THERE IS A PROBLEM WHICH IS EXPECTED POSSIBLY FACING A RECALL OF MANY CARS. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER UNOFFICIALLY ADMITTED THIS PROBLEM IS A REGULAR AT THEIR FACILITY NO ONE WILL OFFICIALLY ADMIT THIS IS AN ISSUE. NOW THAT THE BRAKES ARE OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY AT 26,000 MILES, I AM FORCED TO PAY FOR THE SERVICE EVERY 4,000 MILES ON MY OWN. THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE ALTHOUGH THE BRAKES HAVE NEVER FAILED TO WORK. THE AFFECT OF THE DESIGN ISSUE IS THAT THE BRAKES PULSATE AND PROGRESSIVELY GET WORSE AS TIME GOES ON. EVEN AFTER A FEW THOUSAND MILES THE DEFECT BEGINS TO SURFACE. BY 4,000 MILES IT IS A BIG ENOUGH NUISANCE TO HAVE IT SERVICED. THIS IS AN EXPENSE I HAD NOT BARGAINED FOR WHEN I BOUGHT THIS CAR. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS WENT OUT. THE CONTACT HAD TO HOLD THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH UP ALL THE WAY TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. LATER, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE TAIL LIGHTS STAYED ILLUMINATED ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF, AND THE BATTERY HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED TO SHUT THE TAIL LIGHTS OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER.

BOUGHT A MALIBU LT MAXX IN APR 04, ENCOUNTERED STEERING WHEEL PROBLEMS SEVERAL. THE WORST WAS THAT IT LOCKED MY STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING ON THE HWY 401. I HAD TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HWY TO RE-START MY ENGINE TO TRY MY LUCKY TO GET BACK THE STEERING POWER. I HAVE THE PROBLEM TILL NOW AND YET UNSOLVED. NO CHOICE BUT TO GET INTO A NEW CAR NOW, JUST TO ADVISE BEING KILL ON THE ROAD. *JB

AT 40,000 BOTH FRONT ROTORS HAD TO BE TURNED AND CALIPERS REPLACED. CALIPERS WERE STICKING CAUSING UNEVEN WEAR. BRAKE PADS HAD PLENTY OF MATERIAL AND DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. *NM

FRONT AND REAR BRAKES HAVE HAD TO BE CHANGED PREMATURELY. REAR BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 20K MILES. FRONT BRAKES CHANGED AT 60K MILES. CALIPERS STICKING AND CAUSING NOISE AND UNEVEN WEAR ON NEW BRAKE PADS. GM DEALERSHIP ADVISES THAT THIS IS NOT A DEFECT. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY MELTED FROM THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT BULBS. THE LAMP FOGGED UP AND CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED. UPDATED 10/18/2006 - *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A SHORT CIRCUIT CAUSED ALL OF THE VEHICLE'S LIGHTS TO BLINK AT THE SAME TIME VERY RAPIDLY. ALSO, THE HORN SOUNDED RAPIDLY, THEN THE VEHICLE POWERED DOWN CAUSING ALL OF THE LIGHTS TO DIM AND THE ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP. THE VEHICLE WENT INTO A COASTING MODE. UNTIL THE VEHICLE POWERED BACK UP AGAIN, AND THE COMPUTERS OVERRODE EACH OTHER, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED ALL OF THE LIGHTS THREE TIMES. THIS INCLUDED TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS AND ANY OTHER LIGHTS TO TRY AND REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE FUEL PUMP WAS CHANGED BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP THOUGHT THE FUEL PUMP MAY BE OVERRIDING THE MAIN COMPUTER. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ALSO REPLACED BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP THOUGHT MAYBE THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ACTIVATING THE SYSTEM, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTED. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT IN USE WHEN THE SHORT CIRCUIT OCCURRED. UPDATED 10/4/2006 - *NM

2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAX STEERING FAILED MAKING THE VEHICLE UNDRIVEABLE. REAR HATCHBACK DOOR IS RUSTING. *KB WHEN THE STEERING FAILED THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED 38 MILES TOT HE CONSUMER'S HOME. THE REAR HATCH MOLDING CLIPS AND GASKETS FAILED TO PREVENT SALT INDUCED SWIRL RUST

MY CAR MAKES A GROANING OR LOW GROWLING SOUND WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. IT SEEMS THAT THE HOTTER THE WEATHER IS THE MORE IT GROWLS AND GROANS. *NM

DRIVING TO WORK NORMALLY, TURN SIGNALS WORKED NORMALLY, THEN TRIED TO SIGNAL A TURNING AFTER 5 MORE MINUTES OF DRIVING, TURN SIGNAL SYSTEM WAS COMPLETELY DEAD (COULD NOT SIGNAL TURN). SYSTEM STAYED DEAD FOR 5 MINUTES. APPLIED BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES TO PARK. WHEN PARKED, TURN SIGNAL SYSTEMS WORKED OK. OTHER POSTERS ON THE WWW.EDMUNDS.COM CHEVROLET MALIBU FORUM HAVE REPORTED SAME PROBLEM. *NM

2004 MALIBU MAXX. HAVE LOST POWER STEERING 3X'S. THIS IS THE ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM THAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED/FIXED, NOT PUTTING IN A NEW PART THAT IS THE SAME AS THE OLD ONE. VERY ANNOYED. *JB

MAKING SLOW LEFT HAND TURN, VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND ON BOARD DISPLAY LISTED ISSUE AS POWER STEERING. SHUT OFF VEHICLE AND RESTARTED. POWER STEERING WAS REGAINED. CONTACTED DEALER AND WAS NOTIFIED RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE WAS NOT IN EFFECT FOR THE VIN NUMBER LISTED FOR MY VEHICLE, BUT ANY ISSUE THAT WARRANTED A RECALL OF THE MODELS DUE TO THE SAME DEFECT. *JB

WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND SOMETIMES WHEN ACCELERATING THERE IS A CLUNK SOUND FROM THE BOTTOM LEFT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. AT FIRST WE COULD HARDLY HEAR IT AND AS THE MONTHS PASSED ON IT GOT WORSE. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER ON MARCH 31, 2004. THEY SAID GM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND ARE MANUFACTURING PARTS TO REPAIR THE DEFECT. THEY GAVE ME A GM DOCUMENT WITH ID#1764730 AND STATING THAT THE PART WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE SECOND QUARTER. I THINK I MAY HAVE A LEMON BECAUSE EARLIER THE POWER STEERING STOPPED AND THEY REPLACED THE WHOLE STEERING SYSTEM. IT IS NOW FIVE MONTHS SINCE I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER AND I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING. THE CAR NOW SOUNDS LIKE THE FRONT END IS GOING TO FALL OFF WHENEVER WE SLOW DOWN AND IT SOUNDS VERY DANGEROUS. THE CAR DOES NOT HAVE MORE THAN 23,000 MILES, WHICH I CONSIDER FAIRLY NEW, AND SOUNDS LIKE IT HAS 500,000 MILES ON IT. MY WIFE AND I ARE BOTH IN OUR 60'S AND BELIEVE ME WE ARE NOT HOT RODDERS. PLEASE HELP US TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. *NM

I HAVE REPLACED THE LEFT FRONT TURN SIGNAL BULB THREE TIMES IN THREE MONTHS. THE FILAMENTS ARE OK BUT THE CONNECTING WIRE ON THE BULB IS BURNT THROUGH. IT APPEARS THAT THE BULB DO NOT SEAT PROPERLY INTO THE SOCKET AND VIBRATION CAUSES THE CONNECTION TO ARC. I EXPECT THIS PROBLEM TO CONTINUE UNTIL THE SOCKET IS REPLACED BY THE DEALER (ASSUMING I CAN CONVINCE THE DEALER TO DO SO UNDER WARRANTY). *JB

1. POWER STEERING FAILURE 2. NOISE IN STEERING 3. NOISE IN STEERING STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED IN EACH INCIDENT, NOW MAKING CLUNKING NOISE AGAIN. DEALER SAID ITS "NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF VEHICLE. NOISE IS GETTING WORSE. *NM

LEFT FRONT TURN SIGNAL/LIGHT ASSEMBLY. I REPLACED THE AMBER BULB THREE TIMES IN THE SPACE OF 3 MONTHS. THE FILAMENTS WERE FINE, BUT THE PART WHERE THE BULB MEETS THE ASSEMBLY WAS BURNED. ON MAY 20TH, THE ENTIRE LIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. *NM

NOTICED FRONT END SHUTTER WHILE APPLYING BRAKES. TOOK CAR TO DEALER UNDER WARRANTY AND EXTENDED WARRANTY AND DEALER SAID EXCESSIVE RUST IN BRAKE PADS. ALSO DEALER SAID FRONT ROTORS WERE WARPED. DEALER TURNED ROTORS AND CLEANED. CAR HAD ONLY 28K MILES ON IT. DROVE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AND PROBLEM CAME BACK. TOOK BACK TO SAME DEALER AND HE SAID ROTORS FINE JUST EXCESSIVE RUST AND BRAKE DUST. NOTHING HE COULD DO. CAR HAS 34K MILES ON IT AND IN THE RAIN, APPLIED BRAKES AND WHOLE FRONT END SHUTTERED AND ANTI- LOCKS WERE GRINDING. TOOK BACK TO DEALER AND THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEMS. NOW CAR HAS 42K MILES AND TOOK TO MIDAS, THEY SAID FRONT ROTORS SEVERELY WARPED AND PADS WORN AWAY. THEY COULD TELL SOMEONE TURNED DOWN ROTORS ONCE AND DID BAD JOB. HAVE TO REPLACE FRONT ROTORS WITH DIFFERENT STYLE ROTORS AND NEW PADS. COSTS $500 DOLLARS TO REPLACE. CHEVROLET WILL NOT COVER ANY OF IT EVEN THOUGH EXISTING PROBLEM. *JB

BOUGHT CAR APRIL 2004, EVERY FEW WEEKS TO ONCE A MONTH CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR NOISES. SINCE 4/05 DEALER HAS REPLACED ROTORS 3 TIMES, CALIPERS AND STRUTS REPLACED, AND STILL WITH A VIBRATING IN STEERING WHEEL AND WINDY NOISE. WHEN YOU PUSH ON THE BRAKES YOU HAVE A GRINDING NOISE, LIKE A METAL SOUND, VERY LOUD CAN HEAR OVER THE RADIO. DEALER SAYS WINDY NOISE IS NORMAL FOR NEW PARTS. STILL VIBRATING FEELING IN STEERING WHEEL WHILE BRAKING FROM OVER 50 MPH. DEALER NOW SAYS PARTS ARE NOT COVERED BY GM. *JB

IN WARM WEATHER, WHEN MAKING LOW SPEED TURNS, POWER STEERING MAKES GROANING, POPPING SOUNDS, AND OCCASIONALLY STUTTERS. AFRAID THAT STEERING MIGHT FAIL COMPLETELY. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE VEHICLE HIT A DEER HEAD ON AND THE FRONTAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED FRONTAL BODY DAMAGE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP; THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHY THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.

BRAND NEW MONTE CARLO SS 2004 USEING EXSESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL.THIS PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT 700 MILES AND CONTINUES TODAY,HAVE USED ABOUT 6 QUARTS SO FAR CAR HAS 5000 MILES ON IT NOW. *NM

2004 MALIBU MAXX - AFTER CAR TURNED 25,000 MILES, WOULD START TO BE SLUGGISH UPON SLOW ACCELERATION BETWEEN 35 - 40 MPH. HAPPENING MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY AS CAR APPROACH 30,000 MILES. LEFT VEHICLE WITH DEALERSHIP IN FEBRUARY 06. PROBLEM WAS IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE 3-4 VALVES WERE BURNED, AS WAS THE BAN, AND THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. *JB

OWN 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. POWER STEERING FAILS OCASSIONALLY. PRESENTS DANGEROUS SITUATION UPON FAILURE. STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED ONE WEEK AGO BUT PROBLEM REMAINS. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT ANY SPEED, THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING SHAFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR. HOWEVER, AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND THE DEALER DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS THE STEERING SHAFT, THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT CURRENTLY NO REPAIRS COULD BE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THIS WAS DUE TO THE MANUFACTURER NOT HAVING A REMEDY OR TSB TO THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY WERE AWARE THE PROBLEM EXISTED. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THE CONTACT SHOULD CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.

TOOK MAXX TO DEALER FOR CLICKING NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN AND THUMPING NOISE IN REAR OF VEHICLE UPON DECELERATION. WAS ADVISED THAT THE CLICKING NOISE HAD BEEN REPORTED BEFORE BUT NO "FIX" WAS AVAILABLE AS OF YET FROM GM. ALSO WAS ADVISED THAT THUMPING NOISE WAS THE HATCH. THEY ADJUSTED THE HATCH SO POORLY THAT NOW IT DOESN'T CLOSE ALL THE WAY AND OF COURSE THE THUMPING NOISE IS STILL THERE. TOOK CAR BACK (THIRD TIME) AND HAD SERVICE MANAGER RIDE WITH ME UNTIL HE ACKNOWLEDGED THE THUMPING NOISE IN ADDITION TO THE CLICK IN STEERING COLUMN. LEFT MAXX IN SERVICE SO THE COULD RE-ADJUST THE HATCH TO WHERE IT WAS. CAR HAS BEEN TO SERVICE NOW THREE TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE, A TOTAL OF 14 DAYS. MAXX HAS ALSO BEEN IN TO SERVICE FOR INTERMITTENT WEAK START. SERVICE COULD NOT DUPLICATE IT. *NM

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE I LOST ALL POWER STEERING. I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT ACROSS 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC. A SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON AND I COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL. I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND BACK INTO THE LOT. I TURNED OFF MY CAR AND WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON MY POWER STEERING WAS BACK. *JB

ON DECEMBER 2, 2005 I WAS TRAVELING TO WORK USING MY TYPICAL ROUTE HIGHWAY 74 ALSO KNOWN AS THE ORTEGA HIGHWAY WHEN COMING TO A SHARP AND NARROW CURVE MY BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT WORK AND MY STEERING WAS LOCKED. I WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTROL THE DIRECTION OF MY VEHICLE AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE MERGED TO ON COMING TRAFFIC AND TUMBLED FOUR TIMES . *NM