ISSUE ONE IS THE DRIVERS SEAL WELDS BRAKE ON THE REAR AND FRONT FROM THE FLOOR MOUNT BASE TO THE ELEVATED CONTROL THUS IN THE CASE OF A CRASH THE SEAT IS COMPROMISED TO SEPARATE COMPLETELY FROM THE FLOOR MOUNT DUE TO THESE WELDS BEING BROKE. SECOND ISSUE FUEL PUMPS BEGIN TO LEAK AT THE SEAL OF THE PUMP AT THE FUEL TANK LEAKING HEAVY AMOUNTS OF FUEL FROM THE TANK AND ONTO THE EXHAUST. THIRD ISSUE WHICH I HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE REPORTS OF RECALLS BUT THE DEALERSHIP DENIES THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE MAXX THAT ONLY THE BASE MODEL IS EFFECTED BUT WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING WILL FAIL AND THE CAR HAS NO CONTROL AND WILL VIOLENTLY JERK IN ONE DIRECTION THROWING THE VEHICLE IN TO ONCOMING LANES OR EVEN INTO THE DITCH. HAPPENS PERIODICALLY THE POWER STEERING MESSAGE APPEARS ON MAIN CONTROL MESSAGE SCREEN AND CAR WILL SOUND AN ALARM, OTHER TIMES THE ENTIRE DASH BOARD WARNING LIGHTS FROM CHECK ENGINE, OIL, AIR BAG, SEAT BELT, SO ON SO ALL COME ON AND THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT. I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS ISSUE USUALLY OCCURS WHILE ACCELERATING WHETHER SLOWLY OR EVEN WHILE TRYING TO SPEED UP MORE AGGRESSIVELY TO MERGE UNTO EXPRESSWAY TRAFFIC. I HAVE NEARLY WRECKED INTO NUMEROUS CARS DUE TO STEERING GOING OUT AND WHEEL WILL VIOLENTLY JERK ONE DIRECTION OR TO THE OTHER. NOT SURE WHY THIS SITE SHOWS A RECALL FOR POWER STEERING BUT DEALERSHIP DENIES THERE IS A ACTIVE RECALL FOR THE MAXX BUT THEY HAVE ONE FOR THE 2005 BASE MALIBU
2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2005 record →
FUEL PUMP LEAK. NOTICED STRONG GAS SMELL THAT ONLY INCREASED AS TIME PASSED, DRIVING AND PARKED. FUEL PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. HAVE NOTICED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS VEHICLE. SERIOUSLY NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED.
I TOOK MY CAR IN ON 9/3/15 FOR A RECALL ON POWER STEERING TORQUE SENSOR ASSEMBLY, A BRAKE COMPONENT, AND GEAR SHIFT CABLE. MY CAR HAD THE ISSUE OF LOOSING POWER STEERING PRIOR TO ME BRINGING IT IN ON ONE OCCASION. AFTER GETTING MY CAR SERVICED AT CHUCK HUTTON CHEVY IN MEMPHIS, TN FOR THE RECALLS ONLY ONE WEEK LATER MY CAR BEGAN MAKING WHINING, GRINDING NOISES EVERY TIME I TURNED THE WHEEL. I FIRST THOUGHT THE CAR NEEDED POWER STEERING FLUID, HOWEVER I WAS ADVISED THAT SINCE MY CAR HAD AN EPS I COULDN'T PUT POWER STEERING FLUID IN THE VEHICLE. I DECIDED TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO CHUCK HUTTON BECAUSE I WAS NOT TOLD WHEN THEY DID THE REPAIRS THAT ANYTHING ELSE WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR. I ASSUMED PERHAPS A MISTAKE WAS MADE AND A BOLT WAS NOT PUT ON PROPERLY. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR BACK I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR NEEDED A POWER STEERING RACK, NEW TIRES, AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT. MY TIRES ON MY CAR ARE BARELY 6 MONTHS OLD AND YOU CAN NOW SEE THE THREAD AND PRIOR TO TAKING MY CAR TO GET THE RECALLS DONE ON IT I HAD MY CAR FULLY SERVICED IN AUGUST. I FEEL THAT MY CAR WAS TAMPERED WITH. THE SERVICING AGENT TOLD ME MY CAR WAS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID AND THE PS RACK WAS BADLY WORN DOWN. BUT MY CAR HAS AN ELECTRIC PUMP AND THEIR IS NO FLUID TO LEAK AS THE SUPERVISOR TOLD ME WHEN I CAME TO HIM TO RESOLVE MY CONCERNS. YES, I TRIED TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE WITH THE SUPERVISOR BUT WAS BRUSHED OFF AND TOLD MY CAR WAS OLD. AS BALDLY AS MY CAR SOUNDS I FEEL THAT IF IT WAS REALLY WEAR AND TEAR THEY WOULD HAVE
DRIVER POWER SEAT/ BROKEN WELD ON METAL STABILIZER BAR ACROSS THE LOWER FRONT OF THE SEAT. CAUSES THE SEAT TO BE UNSTABLE AND SHIFT WHEN BRAKING OR ACCELLERATING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT BOTH TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE FAILURES RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
WE JUST GOT OUT OF CHURCH AND WAS STOPPING AT A GAS STATION TO GET SOME GAS. PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND IT WENT INTO REVERSE AND STAYED IN REVERSE. NO MATTER HOW WE TRIED TO GET THE GEAR SHIFT OUT OF REVERSE, IT WOULD MOVE UP AND DOWN BUT WOULD NOT COME OUT OF REVERSE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IN MY OPINION AND I AM SURE WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES THIS HAS HAPPENED TO RECENTLY. RIGHT NOW THE VEHICLE IS IN OUR DRIVE WAY AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO EVEN FIND A TOW COMPANY THAT WILL MOVE A CAR STUCK IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING PERFECT PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. DON'T GET STUCK ON THE FREE WAY IN REVERSE!!
UPON ACCELERATION POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING AND POWER STEERING WARNING MESSAGE SHOWS. GM DEALER SERVICE CENTER ADVISED THAT IT IS THE IGNITION COIL. REPLACED WITH A NEWER VERSION OF THE IGNITION COIL AND ADDED A GROUND STRAP BASED ON THE DETECTED ERROR CODES AND A SERVICE BULLETIN FROM GM. UPDATED 10/9/15 *LN UPDATED 11/13/2017*CN
REPORTED EARLIER THAT POWER STEERING WENT OUT AFTER PARTS WERE REPLACED UNDER A RECALL. NEW: POWER STEERING WARNING/CHIMES CAME ON DURING ACCELERATION (ENTERING HIGHWAY FROM RAMP). APPOINTMENT WITH DEALER (LOU LARICHE CHEVROLET, PLYMOUTH, MI) ON 7/10/15 (8 AM EST) TO HAVE RECALL PARTS CHECKED. ...UPDATED 09/22/15 *BF UPDATED 11/07/2017*CN
TURNING LEFT FROM A PARKING LOT ONTO STREET. POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING FOR LESS THAN ONE SECOND WHILE MAKING LEFT TURN. POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN REPLACED EARLIER UNDER A GM RECALL. HAD NO ISSUES WITH OLD PARTS BEFORE RECALL. RECALL NUMBER: 14V153000 RECALL DATE: 03/31/2014 COMPONENT: STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
ON 12/16/14 I PURCHASED A SET OF 4 NEW 215/60R/16 95T GOODYEAR VIVA2 TIRES FROM LOUISVILLE WALMART SUPERCENTER 175 OUTER LOOP LOUISVILLE, KY 40214 FOR A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. ON 05/19/2015, WITH APPROPRIATELY 1500 MILES ON THE TIRES. WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH THE RIGHT REAR TIRE FAILED DUE TO SIDEWALL SEPARATION. DUE TO LOW SPEED AND LIGHT TRAFFIC THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, AT HIGHWAY SPEED THIS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN THE CASE. NO DAMAGE TO THE TIRE OTHER THAN SIDEWALL SEPARATION WAS NOTED BY WALMART SERVICE TECHNICIAN. I WAS NOT TOLD UNTIL LATER THAT THE TIRE WAS REPLACED BY A GOODYEAR 215/60R/16 95T VIVA 3 WITH A DIFFERENT TREED PATTERN(I DO NOT FEEL THIS IS SAFE) DUE TO GOODYEAR NO LONGER MAKING THE VIVA 2 DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRE.
LOUD POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, AND CAN BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. SLIGHT "PLAY" IN THE STEERING ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE NOISE SEEMS TO BE POPPING WITHIN THE "PLAY" AREA OF THE STEERING. PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM PRIVATE OWNER WITH LOW MILES, GARAGE KEPT, AND REGULAR MAINTENANCE. PREVIOUS OWNER NOTICED A NOISE NEAR THE STEERING AT 30000 MILES. *TR
2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. CONSUMERS STATED THAT THEY TRIED TO GET CAR FIX DUE TO STEERING RECALL, BUT COULDN'T BECAUSE THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE THEM FOR LABOR. *TA THE DEALER STATED THERE WOULD BE A CHARGE OF $393.00 TO REPLACE A CONNECTING SHAFT, BETWEEN THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE RACK AND PINION. *JB
2005 CHEVY MALIBU MASS MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER WAS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSED THE BRAKES TO WEAR VERY QUICKLY. *MW ALSO, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE, AS IT WAS TOTALED IN AN ACCIDENT. *JB
I USED MY SCANNER TOOL AND I GOT THE CODE P0826 WHICH IS DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE SHIFTER, THE SHIFT CABLE MUST BE BROKEN. AM I ENTITLED TO TAKE MY CAR TO GET FIXED IN A DEALER BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OCCURS OR SOMEBODY DIES? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY ONLY TURNED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN TURNING AND LIFTING AT THE SAME TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. UPDATED 3/3/15*CN UPDATED 03/17/15*JB
REPLACED A STEERING ROD AT 34000 & 73000 & 105,000 THAT WAS MADE OF METAL LN 05. GM WENT BACK TO PLASTIC THE NEXT YEAR AS THIS DID NOT HOLD UP. SECOND IS THE REMOTE START PROBLEM. I HAD IT REPAIRED TWO DIFFERENT TIMES AT GM AND DOES NOT WORK AS OF NOW. WAS TOLD IT WAS A BCM PROBLEM EACH TIME.AS IT WAS AN EXPENSIVE FIX TEMPORARY THAT IS.AS MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR! *TR
TOOK CAR TO THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP, FOR NHTSA ID: 14V252000/GM SAFETY RECALL: 13036, TO CORRECT THE ISSUES IN THE BODY CONTROL MODULE WHICH IMPACTED THE BRAKE APPLY SENSOR. NOW REAR TOP BRAKE LIGHTS NO LONGER ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS BEING PUSHED. FRONT LOW-BEAM HEADLIGHTS GOES ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. REPLACED BOTH LOW-BEAM LIGHTS ON 12/6/2014. FRONT LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS STILL GOES OFF AND ON INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO UPON VISUAL INSPECTION, THE TURN SIGNAL BLINKERS HAVE MELTED THE YELLOW PLASTIC INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT. BROUGHT BACK TO THE SAME CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP ON 1/2/2015, FOR VEHICLE RECALL NHTSA ID: 14V224000/GM SAFETY RECALL 14152 TO HAVE THE SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY AND MOUNTING BRACKET INSTALLED. I NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP THAT I WAS HAVING ISSUES WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TIED TO THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING SYSTEM. THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE ME THE REASON FOR THE FAULT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE ABS WAS ACTIVATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AND NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN PROVIDED WAS INCORRECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
PASSENGER FRONT TURN SIGNAL BULB AND ELCTRICAL UNIT MELTED. TURN SIGNAL ON DASH BLINKING FAST. CHANGED TO NEW BULB, THOUGHT BULB WAS BAD, REPLACED. WORKED FOR A FEW MONTHS AND IT OCCURRED BULB HAD BLOWN OUT. REPLACED AGAIN.. THIS TIME IT HAG GONE OUT AND EVERYTHINGS MELTED.. CONTACTED GM, HAVE A INCIDENT NUMBER. STATED THEY'LL SPEAK WITH DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO SEE IF THEYLL COVER A PORTION OF REPAIR. *TR
THE DRIVER SEAT WELDS HAVE BROKEN MAKING THE SEAT UNSAFE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED INTERMITTENTLY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER DUE TO BEING TOO LOOSE OR TIGHT. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INDICATED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14E044000 (STEERING) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V153000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,233. UPDATED 01/12/15*LJ
"SERVICE AIR BAG" WARNING MESSAGE ON RADIO CONSOLE: 2 CHIMES, AND TEXT: "SERVICE AIR BAG" PROBLEM OCCURS APPROX. 50% OF TIME. USUALLY OCCURS A FEW MINUTES AFTER STARTING AND DRIVING AND ALSO USUALLY OCCURS ONLY ONCE PER DRIVE CYCLE. *TR
THERE IS A CRACK/LEAK IN THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. THIS IS THE SECOND ONE TO BE REPLACED ON THIS CAR. THE FIRST WAS ABOUT A YEAR AFTER PURCHASE (2006) AND THE NEWEST PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AROUND THE FIRST OF THIS YEAR (2014). I TOOK IT TO A COUPLE OF MECHANICS AND THE ENTIRE UNIT WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE UNIT IS AROUND 500 PLUS LABOR AND TOTALS ABOUT 1000 DOLLARS. THIS IS ON THE SHORT LIST OF PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR, EVEN THOUGH IT HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND TAKEN CARE OF. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY MAJOR ISSUES AS OTHERS HAVE, BUT THIS PARTICULAR ONE CONCERNS ME QUITE A BIT. *TR
THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN PERSISTENT SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE AIR BAG LIGHT JUST CAME ON AT RANDOM AND THEN WENT OFF AFTER BEING RESET. AFTER A WHILE, I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY SAID THE CLOCK SPRING WAS BROKE. HOW? I DO NOT KNOW. I HAVE JUST DEALT WITH IT SINCE ALL OF THE ELECTRONICS HAVE BEEN WORKING. ANOTHER ALMOST 500 DOLLAR REPAIR TO A CAR THAT'S VALUE IS NOT WORTH TRADING IN AT THIS POINT. IT HAS BEEN A GREAT AND RELIABLE CAR OTHERWISE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
AT THE STOP LIGHT THE STEERING LOCKED UP WITH ENGINE RUNNING AT STOP LIGHT. AFTER POLICE STOPPED TO HELP AND ANOTHER PASSER BY STOPPED TO HELP THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND THEN RESTARTED TO RESET CPU COMPUTER AND THEN THE STEERING WAS RETURNED ON AGAIN TO WORK FREE.. THIS CAR ALSO HAS THE STARTER RUN ON WHEN TRYING TO START THE ENGINE , SOLUTION IS TO PUSH ON GAS PEDAL WHEN TURNING THE KEY TO START AND LET ENGINE THEN TO START AND RUN. RECALL PARTS STILL ON ORDER AND I KEEP ASKING TO GET THIS FIXED BUT NO PARTS YET. WHAT'S NEXT WITH THIS CAR ,,, GM SHOULD BUY IT BACK. AND SCRAP IT. *TR
DRIVERS SEAT WELDING HAS SNAPPED UNDERNEATH CAUSING THE SEAT TO LEAN TO THE RIGHT AND BOUNCE UP AND DOWN. *TR
FUEL LEAK FROM THE SENDING UNIT ABOVE THE FUEL TANK. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AMBER LIGHTS BURNED OUT AND MELTED THE PLASTIC SHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,370. UPDATED 10/10/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE LIGHTS WERE NOT BURNED OUT. THE PLASTIC COVE OVER THE RUNNING LIGHTS MELTED AND THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL FAILED. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED ALL LIGHT S NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BUT, WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 05/18/2015 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
BRAKES FAILED. I AM CONCERNED WITH 3 RECALLS ON MAJOR PARTS: IGNITION, POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. I HAD TO PAY FOR A BRAKE REPAIR OUT OF POCKET BECAUSE THE CAR WAS TOTALLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I SHOULD GET A REFUND. I HAVE 3 RECALL LETTERS AND I AM TOLD THE PARTS ARE UNAVAILABLE. THIS IS NOT SAFE. I NEED MY CAR TO DRIVE 30 MILES ACROSS TOWN TO WORK. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN MAKING A TURN, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE FRONT END WAS ALIGNED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TUNED UP. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V153000 (STEERING) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 213,000.
MY WIFE WAS SLOWING DOWN TO ENTER A REST STOP IN HER 2005 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX WHEN THERE WAS A DING AND POWER STEERING WAS DISPLAYED ON THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER. AT THE SAME TIME, SHE NOTICED SHE HAD LOST POWER STEERING. SHE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE SAFELY AND TURNED IT OFF. A FEW MINUTES LATER, SHE RESTARTED THE CAR. THERE WAS NO LONGER THE POWER STEERING DISPLAY AND THE POWER STEERING HAD RETURNED. A RECALL NOTICE WAS ISSUED ON APRIL 21 FOR ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSIST FOR THIS GENERATION OF MALIBU (GM RECALL NO. N140116; NHTSA RECALL NO. 14V153) BUT WE STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN A LETTER. WHEN I CALLED THE CHEVROLET CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER, I WAS TOLD PARTS ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE. APPARENTLY THERE ARE THREE OTHER GM ELECTRIC POWER STEERING RECALLS, WITH PARTS AVAILABLE FOR THOSE THREE OTHERS BUT NOT OUR CAR. SO FAR THE PROBLEM HASN'T RETURNED, BUT ONCE IT HAPPENS THE FIRST TIME DOUBT GETS PLANTED. ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THIS IS AT LEAST THE SECOND TIME THERE HAS BEEN SUCH A RECALL. WE GOT A RECALL NOTICE IN LATE 2007 FOR THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM AS WELL, AND I'M PRETTY SURE THERE WAS ANOTHER ONE BEFORE THIS YEAR'S RECALL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE REPAIRS THAT WERE MADE WERE UNKNOWN, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE KEY BECAME STUCK CAUSING HIM TO BE UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,728.
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND I WAS STUCK IN EVERYONE'S WAY. TRIED TO STEER TO THE SHOULDER BUT I WASN'T STRONG ENOUGH. AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF FOR AWHILE I STARTED IT UP AND THE STEERING CAME BACK ON JUST LONG ENOUGH TO MAKE IT HOME. CHEVY SAYS THEY DON'T HAVE PART NUMBERS BUT OTHER PRIVATELY OWNED SHOPS IN MY AREA SAY THEY CAN GET THE PARTS AND FIX IT. *TR
WHEN ENTERING MY PARKED 2005 MALIBU MAXX, THE CROSS BAR UNDER THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF THE SEAT SNAPPED AT THE CORNER WELD. FROM READING THESE POSTS FROM OTHER CONSUMERS, THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED. NOT SURE HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN AFFORD $1000 TO BUY ANOTHER DEFECTIVE SEAT FRAME BEFORE THEY MAKE A STRONGER ONE, BUT THIS SEEMS LIKE IT SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE LIST OF RECALLS I ALREADY HAVE FOR THIS VEHICLE. ( WHICH PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AS OF YET ) THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY CONCERN. *TR
WHILE ACCELERATING ONTO AN EXPRESSWAY THE WARNING CHIME SOUNDED, A CLICK WAS HEARD UNDER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, AND THE (ELECTRIC) POWER STEERING ASSIST QUIT. ALSO A BATTERY SYMBOL ILLUMINATED MOMENTARILY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. REDUCING ACCELERATION CAUSED THE POWER STEERING ASSIST TO RETURN TO NORMAL. UPON FURTHER TESTING IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THIS HAPPENS REPEATEDLY AT ANY SPEED WHEN UNDER HEAVY ACCELERATION (OFTEN AT ABOUT 4000 RPM) AND WHILE HILL CLIMBING UNDER LOAD AT ABOUT 2100 RPM. IT WAS NOTED THAT SIMULTANEOUSLY THE BATTERY VOLTAGE WENT EXCESSIVELY HIGH (16V, SOMETIMES 17V) AND OCCASIONALLY MULTIPLE (ALL?) INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATE. IF THE POWER STEERING ASSIST QUITS WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TENDS TO JERK HARD TOWARDS GOING STRAIGHT, A DECIDED SAFETY ISSUE. THIS MAY BE THE SAME ISSUE DETAILED IN THE JUNE 2010 TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TSB # 08-02-32-005A AND IT APPEARS TO NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
I WAS ADJUSTING THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT WHEN I HEARD A METALLIC POP. SEAT HAD A SLIGHT TILT TO RIGHT THAT BECAME WORSE WHEN SEAT WAS RAISED UP. SLIGHT ROCKING MOTION WAS NOTICED WHEN SHIFTING BODY WEIGHT. VISUAL INSPECTION FOUND THAT RIGHT FRONT WELD HAD FAILED. *TR
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED AND HAVE HAD AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHTS.GOING ON AND OFF.I HAVE REPLACED THE WIRE HARNESS 7 TIMES IN 2 YEARS.IS THEIR A RECALL ON THESE CARS FOR THE HEADLIGHT ISSUES.IF SO I NEED TO BE NOTIFIED ASAP BEFORE THEIR IS A FIRE IN MY CAR.I AM A HANDICAP MOTHER THAT NEEDS HER CAR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID LOW WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ON ALTHOUGH THE BRAKES WERE NOT ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, AND SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,900.
MY POWER STEERING TURNED OFF SUDDENLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING - I PULLED OVER MY CAR AND RESTARTED IT - THE POWER STEERING SEEMED TO BE ON AND I DROVE LESS THAN HALF A MILE BEFORE THE POWER STEERING ONCE AGAIN TURNED OFF. GM HAS NOTIFIED ME THERE ARE NOT ANY PARTS CURRENTLY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND THEY WILL NOT TELL ME WHEN DEALERSHIPS WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE PARTS. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THIS IS NOT A SERIOUS ENOUGH SAFETY ISSUE TO WARRANT A RENTAL VEHICLE TO CUSTOMERS UNABLE TO DRIVE THEIR VEHICLES WHILE THIS SAFETY PROBLEM IS OCCURRING. *TR
POWER DRIVER'S SEAT SUDDENLY TILTED BACK AND RIGHT, AND I HEARD A LOUD POP. UPON INSPECTION A BAR THAT RUNS UNDER THE SEAT BROKE AT A WELD. SEAT NOW FEELS INSECURE AND BOUNCY. *JS
A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX LS. 156964 MILEAGE. THE STEERING WHEEL EMITTED A CLUCKING AND A CREAKING NOISE WHILE MAKING A TURN. A CLAPPING REPEATED NOISE SOMEWHERE IN THE WHEELS HAS APPEARED ALSO. BLINKERS BURNED OUT TOO OFTEN AND THE PLASTICS THAT COVER THEM ARE MELT DOWN. IF IT STAYS MORE THAN 10 MINUTES STOPPED AFTER DRIVING A WHILE, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE START RISING TO THE OVERHEAT POINT, BUT IF YOU TURN ON THE AIR CONDITIONING IT COMES BACK TO THE MEDIUM READING MEASUREMENT GAUGE. *TR
THIS 2005 MALIBU MAXX LT IS EQUIPPED WITH A 6-WAY POWER DRIVER'S FRONT SEAT. SOMETHING HAS BROKEN THAT ALLOWS THE SEAT TO SLIDE FORWARD SLIGHTLY DURING BRAKING AND SLIDE BACK DURING ACCELERATION. I HAVE READ THE VARIOUS OWNER'S COMPLAINTS REGARDING BROKEN MALIBU SEAT FRAMES AND I FEEL THAT THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT SHOULD BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED BY CHEVROLET. THIS VEHICLE HAS ONLY 56,000 MILES AND IS DRIVEN BY MY WIFE WHO WEIGHS ONLY 122 POUNDS. IT HAS BEEN A GARAGE KEPT CAR ALL ITS LIFE AND IS EXCEPTIONALLY CLEAN. THERE IS NO REASON FOR THIS SEAT TO HAVE FAILED OTHER THAN POOR CONSTRUCTION. AS WITH MANY COMPLAINTS, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE! THIS SEAT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED YET. *JS
DRIVERS SEAT BROKE IN THREE PLACES AND IS A HAZARD TO DRIVE , BECAUSE THE SEAT MOVES LEFT TO RIGHT WHEN YOU GET IN AND OUT OF THE CAR. WHEN THE SEAT MOVES BEFORE DRIVING, YOU SIT TILTED TO THE LEFT AND ITS UNCOMFORTABLE TO SIT AND DRIVE GOOD. IT HAPPENED SO SUDDEN I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE ANYWHERE, IF I DID I ONLY DROVE SLOW. *TR
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE YESTERDAY AND UPON INSPECTION LAST NIGHT I REALIZED THAT THE ORANGE PLASTIC DOME THAT FITS OVER THE LAMP FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE BLINKER IS UNATTACHED, WHEN MY FATHER LOOKED FURTHER INTO IT HE BECAME AWARE THAT THE WIRES ARE MELTED AND SO IS THE PART OF THE ORANGE PIECE THAT ATTACHES, UPON FURTHER RESEARCH IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT MANY OWNERS OF THIS MODEL HAVE ENCOUNTERED, IS THERE A RECALL OR SOMETHING ON THIS TO HAVE IT REPLACED? *JS
I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE ON MY WAY HOME AND MY BACK BREAKS LOCKED UP AND THE TIRES AND HUBCAPS STARTED TO BURN. I HAD NO IMMEDIATE EXIT SO I HAD TO CONTINUE TO ROLL SLOW. ONCE I EXITED THE INTERSTATE MY WHEEL WAS ON FIRE. I PUT IT OUT WITH AN EXTINGUISHER. I ASKED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID NO RECALLS. I HAD TO GET THE TOW TRUCK AND HE SAID IT WAS NOT THE FIRST FOR MY CAR MAKE AND MODEL. I REPLACED THE BREAKS, ROTORS AND TIRES AND 2 WEEKS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. ONLY THIS TIME I WAS IN A PARKING LOT OF A GROCERY STORE. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD A TOTAL BREAK JOB AND REPLACE TIRES AND HUBCAPS. MY POWER STEERING LOCKED UP AND IT WAS VERY HARD BUT WAS ABLE TO USE MANUALLY. THE MANUAL SAID TO SHUT OFF CAR AND RESTART TO RESET THE POWER STEERING. THIS WAS NOT SAFE AND VERY SCARY. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL EMITTED A CLUCKING NOISE WHILE MAKING A TURN. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE IN THE STEERING WHEEL DRIVE SHAFT AND COLUMN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76, 000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 78,000.
DRIVERS SEAT WELD BROKE RIGHT SIDE. NOW I HAVE A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVE AND DON'T TRUST THE SAFETY OF MY VEHICLE SINCE MY SEAT ROCKS BACK AND FORTH AT EVERY TURN AND STOP. *TR
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NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx → · Every Malibu Maxx year → · How the figures are calculated →