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 →
AT APPROX 76,000 MILES THE POWER DRIVERS SEAT STARTED TO LEAN TO THE RIGHT. A WELD BROKE LOOSE FROM THE SEAT FRAME UNDERNEATH. THE REPAIR REQUIRES SEAT REPLACEMENT FOR OVER $1000. THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND SINCE IT CLEARLY IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. ITS UNFAIR. *TT
WHILE ACCELERATING, WARNING BELL DINGED AND POWER STEERING FAILED MOMENTARILY. HAS HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES SO FAR. I PLAN TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP TOMORROW. *TR
I HAVE A 2005 MALIBU MAXX. APPROXIMATELY 2 1/2 WEEKS AGO, I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE -VERY, VERY SLOWLY, THERE WERE A SERIES OF RED POLE ABOUT 3 FEET HIGH, I SAW THEM. I WAS TURNING RIGHT AND MY CAR JERKED TO THE LEFT ACCELERATED AND I HIT A POLE DAMAGING MY FRONT END. CAR WAS TOWED AND REPAIRED BY STATE FARM INSURANCE FOR ABOUT $2500.00. I GOT MY CAR BACK AND DROVE IT FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS, I WAS AGAIN PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE ONLY I WAS COMPLETELY IN AND PARKED, I WAS BRAKING AND SHUTTING OFF MY CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE BRAKE WENT COMPLETELY LOOSE, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SPIN AND THE CAR SURGED, IT SURGED AND FLEW OVER THE CURB ABOUT 6 FEET INTO AN ICE MACHINE AT A SPEEDWAY GAS STATION ON 15 MILE AND DODGE PARK IN STERLING HEIGHTS. THIS WAS ABOUT 8:15 - 8:30 A..M. . THAT CAR SURGED AND FLEW AT ABOUT 60 MPH MY FOOT NEVER LEFT THE BRAKE. THIS CAR WAS TOWED TO BUFF WHELAN CHEVROLET ON 18 AND VAN DYKE IN STERLING HEIGHTS MICHIGAN AND THEY ARE FIXING THE BUMPER. I HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO GENERAL MOTORS, TO THE PRESIDENT OF BUFF WHELAN AND TO KEITH ARMSTRONG IN THE UK WHO WROTE AN ARTICLE ABOUT CARS THAT SURGE IN 2010 FOR THE USA TODAY. I RECEIVED AFTER CONTACTING THE STERLING HEIGHTS POLICE A TICKET FOR RECKLESS DRIVING, WHICH I HAVE REQUESTED A HEARING OVER. I AM GOING TO BE PICKING UP MY CAR ON TUESDAY 8/9/2011 "FIXED" BUT I WILL HAVE IT TOWED SOMEWHERE, PROBABLY HOME. IT WILL NOT BE DRIVEN, THIS CAR SCARED ME TO DEATH. YOU WOULD HAVE TO EXPERIENCE A
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE YELLOW PLASTIC COVER FOR THE HEADLIGHTS WAS FOUND BURNED ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR FOR THE FAILURE. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE FRONT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS OVER HEATED, WHICH CAUSED THE SOCKETS TO MELT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
THE POWER TO THE DRIVER SEAT OF OUR '05 MALIBU MAXX, IS MAULFUNCTIONING/BROKEN/NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. IT APPEARS THAT THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FRAME HAS GIVEN UP. THE POWER TO THE SEAT GOES UP BUT THE RIGHT SIDE STAYS DOWN; LEAVING THE DRIVER LEANING TO THE RIGHT. WE CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHO CLAIMS THAT HE'S HEARD ABOUT THIS BEFORE, BUT AS FAR AS WE KNOW, THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS MALFUNCTION. *TT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHT WIRING HARNESS MELTED CAUSING THE LIGHT BULB PLASTIC COVERING TO MELT AND THE LIGHT BULB TO FAIL. A LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACED THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, BUT THE DRIVER HEADLIGHT ALSO FAILED. THE DRIVERS HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS NOT REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000. UPDATED 10/14/11 *BF UPDATED 10/28/11
DRIVER SIDE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHT/TURN SIGNAL BULB SOCKET CAUSES BULB BASE TO MELT AND CAUSE A SHORTAGE. IN ONE YEAR BULB HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED 4 TIMES. BULB MANUFACTURER SENT ME HEAVY DUTY REPLACEMENT BULBS TO HELP SOLVE THE PROBLEM THEY SUGGEST THAT GM IS AWARE OF. TWO HEAVY DUTY BULBS HAVE ALSO GONE BAD WITH MOST RECENT MELTING THE BASE WITHIN TWO DAYS. PROBLEM IS NO DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHT OR TURN SIGNAL. PASSENGER SIDE BULB WAS REPLACED ONCE, LIKELY UNDER NORMAL WEAR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND THE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO REGAIN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
REAR HATCH BACK HINGE HAS POPPED OFF IT'S PIVOT RESULTING IN THE HATCH BACK SLAMMING DOWN AND GLASS SHATTERING. *TR
COMPLETE AND TOTAL LOCK UP OF POWER STEERING; BATTERY LIGHT FLICKS ON AND THEN EVERYTHING LOCKS UP UNTIL YOU REPLACE THE GAS PEDDLE FOR ABOUT 3 SECONDS. MY LIGHTS RANDOMLY FLASH AND REAR BULBS ON THE DRIVER SIDE BLOW EVERY 3 DAYS. MY TURN SIGNALS WILL SPORADICALLY BLINK AND THE WIPER BLADES GO OFF WITH OUT WARNING OR BEING PROMPTED. EVEN WITH NO KEYS NEAR OR IN THE CAR IT WILL NOT TURN OVER TO START THE CAR UNTIL YOU FLOOR THE GAS PEDDLE AND HOLD IT THERE FOR 3-5 SECONDS. MY RADIO READS AT -19* ALL THE TIME AND THE CD PLAYER HAS NEVER WORKED CORRECTLY. WHEN GOING FROM 0 TO 50 GETTING ON THE PARKWAY (HIGHWAY) THE WHOLE CAR LOCKS UP AND LOSES POWER INCLUDING THE STEERING RADIO AND LIGHTS UNLESS YOU COMPLETELY RELEASE THE GAS THEN START TO GO AGAIN. IM SO HIGHLY FRUSTRATED AND CHEVY REFUSES TO FIX IT EVEN THOUGH THESE ARE ALL RECALLED PROBLEMS BUT MY VIN DOESN'T FALL IN THERE "BRACKET". *TR
SHORTAGE IN TURN SIGNALS. *TR
I HAVE A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WE HAD EXPERIENCED LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT 87017 MILES. DEALER REPLACED POWER STEERING COLUMN UNDER POLICY 10183. CAR HAS AGAIN HAD THE SAME PROBLEM NOW AT 101754 MILES. POLICY 10183 STATES THAT GM WILL PAY FOR REPAIRS BUT ONLY UP TO 100,000 MILES. I'M 1754 MILES OVER THIS. HOWEVER IT WAS REPAIRED BEFORE ONLY 14,737 MILES AGO. IS GM REPAIRING THIS DEFECT WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE COMPONENTS? IF SO THIS ENDANGERS EVERYONE AND IS UNETHICAL. THIS CAR HAS HAD NUMEROUS FRONT END ISSUES INCLUDING REPLACING THE STEERING RACK SEVERAL TIMES (CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING - NOW ALSO BACK AGAIN), WHEEL HUB AND BEARING ISSUES AND STEERING COLUMN REPLACED AT 50425 MILES FOR A FAILED TORQUE SENSOR. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE MAY NOT BE SAFE TO DRIVE. GM SHOULD BE RE-ENGINEERING THESE COMPONENTS AND REPLACING THE FAILED ONES WITH NEW DESIGN. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL FOR ALL IMPACTED MODELS BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED OR INJURED DUE TO LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHICH CAN BE VERY SUDDEN AND DRAMATIC. GM CLAIMS IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. HOWEVER, SOMEONE UNPREPARED OR WITHOUT UPPER BODY STRENGTH CAN GET INTO SERIOUS TROUBLE VERY QUICKLY. WHO WILL MAKE THE DECISION TO DO THE RIGHT THING WITH THIS PROBLEM? APPARENTLY THIS IS WELL DOCUMENTED WITH OTHER GM PRODUCTS AS WELL. *TR
MY WIFE WENT TO DRIVE THE CAR ON SUNDAY, 5/15/2011. THE SEAT BROKE. THE SEAT CROSS MEMBER FAILED. THE SEAT NOW ROCKS BACK AND FORTH. IT IS GOING TO THE DEALER ON 5/24/2011 FOR REPAIR. FORTUNATELY, IT DID NOT HAPPEN AT HIGHWAY SPEED. WE HAVE TO LOWER THE SEAT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO GET ANY STABILITY. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND APPARENTLY, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MAIBU MAXX
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THE WHEELS WOULD LOCK. WHILE MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN THE WHEELS WOULD MAKE A LOUD NOISE BEFORE THE WHEEL LOCKED AGAIN. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 06/14/11 *BF THE DEALER REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION. HOWEVER, THE NOISE RETURNED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THERE WAS NO SOLUTION FOR THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 11/23/11
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VEER TOWARD THE LEFT BEFORE THE POWER STEERING FAILED. DURING THE FAILURE, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND UPON RESTART, THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE HAD SINCE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN BECAME HARD TO MOVE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO ADVISED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SEAT FRAME WAS FRACTURED AND LEANING TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED HER THAT REPAIRS TO THE SEAT WOULD ESTIMATE $800 AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH WHEN AND A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING OCCURRED, FOLLOWED BY THE ILLUMINATION OF THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING USING EXTREME BODILY FORCE TO MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,000. UPDATED 05/18/11
STOPPED AT STOP SIGN AND I WAS TRYING TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN. WHEN TRAFFIC CLEARED I PUSHED ON THE GAS TO ENTER ONTO THE WHEN MY CAR STARTED TO MAKE THIS LOUD DING, DING, DING SOUND AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. AT THAT TIME I COULD NOT TURN MY STEERING WHEEL. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE STEERING UNLOCKED AND I THEN MADE LIKE A SHARP RIGHT AS IT KICKED IN. VERY SCARY. DURING THE LOUD DINGING SOUND I WAS LOOKING TO FIND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR SOME INDICATOR TO WHAT WAS GOING ON. I DID NOT SEE IT UNTIL THIS HAPPENED A SECOND TIME ABOUT A WEEK LATER AND IT FLASHED POWER STEERING. THERE IS A TSB ON THIS BUT BECAUSE I AM OVER THE MILES THEY WON'T HELP ME. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND EVERY VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED.
THE STEERING HAS A HEAVY CLUNK SOUND WHEN TURNING LEFT IN REVERSE, NO SOUND WHEN GOING TO THE RIGHT. THEN AT JUST OVER 50K MILES, THE STEERING ON THE VEHICLE STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH POWER WHILE TURNING TO THE RIGHT UNDER POWER, TO THE LEFT WAS JUST FINE. THE HEAD LAMPS ALSO HAVE GOTTEN SEVERELY CLOUDY WHICH LIMITS VISIBILITY DURING NIGHT TIME DRIVING. FRONT TURN INDICATOR LIGHTS ALSO HAD A PROBLEM WITH LOOSE SOCKETS, CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO SHORT OUT AND EVENTUALLY FAIL BECAUSE OF SPARKING RESIDUE ON THE CONTACTS. ALSO, FOR SOME REASON THE REAR WINDOW WIPER RANDOMLY TURNS ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAS A STARTING PROBLEM WHERE AT TIMES, THE VEHICLE WILL CRANK AND NOT START. LOOKING AROUND, QUITE A FEW FOLKS HAVE THAT PROBLEM AS WELL, WHERE SOME PEOPLE HAVE HAD TO SHORT OUT THE HOOD SAFETY SWITCH TO MAKE THE CAR WORK... NOW THAT IS CRAZY TO HAVE TO SHORT OUT SOMETHING TO START YOUR CAR. APPARENTLY THOUGH, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS SEVERELY SENSITIVE TO VOLTAGE ISSUES IN GENERAL, MORE SO THEN MOST VEHICLES ON THE ROAD.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH DOWNHILL WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE STEERING WHEEL COLLAPSED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE STEERING COLUMN BACK UP BUT HAD TO HOLD IT UPWARD WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. LATER, THE CONTACT PURCHASED A REPAIR KIT DIRECTLY FROM THE MANUFACTURER AT A LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP. AFTER THE REPAIR KIT WAS INSTALLED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE DID RECUR BUT NOT AS OFTEN AS BEFORE THE KIT WAS INSTALLED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXHIBITING AN UNUSUAL KNOCKING AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXHIBITING AN ABNORMAL GRINDING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT AND STEERING GEAR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE STEERING BUT THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNTIL A FAILURE OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 145,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
2005 MALIBU MAXX, ABOUT 88,000 MILES. DRIVERS SEAT FRAME BROKE UNDERNEATH, CAUSING THE SEAT TO LEAN TO THE RIGHT. DANGEROUS. JUST HAPPENED, TOOK TO REPAIR SHOP AND THEY SAID THAT ENTIRE SEAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR OVER $1000. EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER. NOT SURE HOW I'M GETTING IT FIXED YET. *TR
2005 MALIBU MAXX, 84,000 MILES. POWER DRIVER'S SEAT FRAME IS BROKEN, CAUSING THE SEAT TO LEAN TO THE RIGHT. DANGEROUS, AND UNCOMFORTABLE TO DRIVE. *TR
2005 MAILBU MAXX. CONSUMER STATES INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE LIGHTS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE WASN'T APPLIED AND WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE LAMP, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. *JB
THE DRIVERS SIDE TURN SIGNAL (INSIDE THE HARNESS IN THE HEADLIGHT) KEEPS MELTING THE PLASTIC SNAP IN BASE OF THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHT BULB AND CAUSES IT TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. ALMOST CAUSING OTHER VEHICLES TO CRASH IN TO ME AT 4 WAY STOP SIGNS. THE HARNESS ASSEMBLY GETS VERY HOT. MAY ONE DAY CAUSE A FIRE. I HAVE REPLACED LIGHT BULBS 4 TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH. WILL HAVE TO GET SERVICED. THIS IS BECOMING A REAL SAFETY ISSUE IN THE MIDWEST BECAUSE I HAVE TO STICK MY HAND OUT WHEN IT -30 TO USE AS A SIGNAL. THE DEALER CHARGES $267 FOR REPLACEMENT. 3 TIME SO FAR AND I AM NOT SURE WHAT IS NEXT. I BELIEVE GM SHOULD OWN TO THIS PROBLEM AND FIX AS A RECALL. *TR
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, IT GIVES OUT A COUPLE OF DINGS BUT NO LIGHT EVER OR ANYTHING TO LET ME KNOW THAT THE POWER STEERING THE ISSUE IT JUST GOES OUT. THIS OCCUR ON THE EXPRESS WAY IN CHICAGO WHERE THERE IS LITTLE ROOM FOR ERROR. I FELT THAT MY LIFE WAS IN DANGER AND I HATE TO SAY IT BUT I WAS REALLY SCARED. *LN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SEATBELT WOULD NOT RELEASE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY UNHARNESSED THE SEATBELT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 31,500. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,470.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT RUNNING LIGHTS WERE OVERHEATING AND MELTING THE PLASTIC COVERS. THE FAILURE FIRST STARTED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BUT PROGRESSED TO BOTH LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THE AMBER COVER ON THE DRIVER SIDE WAS MELTING AND LOOKED AS IF IT WAS STARTING TO MELT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AS WELL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000. UPDATED 02/15/12*BF THE CONSUMER STATED INITIALLY, HE NOTICED THE FRONT SIGNAL LIGHTS WERE BURNING OUT AT AN ALARMING RATE. EVENTUALLY, SMOKE BEGAN EMITTING FROM THE PLASTIC COVER, FOLLOWED BY MELTING OF THE LIGHT AND COVER. A MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THAT THE BULBS OR SOCKETS WERE PERHAPS LOOSE. AFTER THE BULB HOUSING MELTED, BOTH HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES WERE REPLACED. TO DATE, THE BULBS CONTINUE TO FUNCTION, WITH NO BURN OUTS. HOWEVER, THE LIGHTS SEEMED TO BOUNCE WHILE DRIVING. UPDATED 04/26/12
SUBJECT: NHTSA ITEM NUMBER 10032206 BRAKE LIGHTS COMMENTS: MY 2005 MALIBU MAXX HAS INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE LIGHTS. THEY GO ON WITHOUT PUTTING ON THE BRAKES AND GO OFF WHEN I PUT ON THE BRAKES. IN ADDITION, THE CRUISE CONTROL WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. I FOUND A TSB DATED 2009-06-01 THAT DESCRIBES IT PERFECTLY. CHEVY CAN'T FIND THE SAME TSB IN THEIR SYSTEM AND WON'T HELP ME. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE LAMP, BUT THAT IS CLEARLY NOT THE PROBLEM (BASED ON THE TSB). THE DEALER CAN'T SEE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT'S INTERMITTENT. I WANT THIS FIXED (THE CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE) BUT DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO PAY AGAIN, WHEN I FIRST PAID FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS CLEARLY THE WRONG SOLUTION, AND FOR WHICH THE DEALER COULD HAVE FOUND THE SAME TSB THAT I FOUND (EVEN IF IT'S NOT IN THE GM SYSTEM). THE SOLUTION APPEARS TO BE "HIGH RESISTANCE TO TERMINAL FRETTING CORROSION IN THE BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM) C2 CONNECTOR (SPECIFICALLY PINS C2-18, C2-31, AND C2-59). THE CORRECTION IS TO UNLATCH THE C2 CONNECTOR AND DISCONNECT FROM THE BCM. THEN REPEAT THIS AND THEN APPLY DIELECTRIC LUBRICANT ON THE BCM C2 PINS. IT IS NOT A BRAKE SWITCH PROBLEM. PLEASE CONTACT ME AND LET ME KNOW WHAT OPTIONS I HAVE, AND IF NHTSA CAN DEAL WITH GM ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU. *LN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX LS (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 149,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 148,500.
THE DRIVERS SIDE TURN SIGNAL (INSIDE THE HARNESS IN THE HEADLIGHT) KEEPS MELTING THE PLASTIC SNAP IN BASE OF THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHT BULB AND CAUSES IT TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. ALMOST CAUSING OTHER VEHICLES TO CRASH IN TO ME AT 4 WAY STOP SIGNS. THE HARNESS ASSEMBLY GETS VERY HOT. MAY ONE DAY CAUSE A FIRE. I HAVE REPLACED LIGHT BULBS 4 TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH. WILL HAVE TO GET SERVICED. *TR
UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER STEERING DURING ACCELERATION - DANGEROUS SITUATION. DEALER CORRECTED PROBLEM USING TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN #08-02-32-005A. THE SERVICE BULLETIN REQUIRED ADDING A GROUND STRAP AND REPLACING THE IGNITION MODULE. SOUNDS LIKE A DESIGN ISSUE (LACK OF REQUIRED GROUND STRAP) CORRECTED IN A SERVICE BULLETIN. IN MY OPINION IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO CORRECT A DESIGN DEFECT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAX. THE CONTACT STATED THE AMBER LIGHT REFLECTOR WOULD BECOME ABNORMALLY HOT AND BURN THE PLASTIC HOUSING, CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS TO FAIL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE LIGHT BULB AND SOCKET WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT REPLACE THE LIGHT BULB OR THE LIGHT SOCKET. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE REGARDING THE LIGHT BULBS BURNING THROUGH THE HOUSING AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000.
I WAS TURNING ONTO A ROAD WHILE DRIVING TO WORK AND MY POWER STEERING FAILED. I ALMOST DROVE OFF OF THE ROAD INTO A TREE! THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE STEERING COLUMN MUST BE REPLACED TO FIX THIS ISSUE. *TR
WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 CHEVY MALIBU, I MADE A TURN AND THE DRIVERS SEAT BROKE ON THE RIGHT REAR. THE WELDS BROKE OFF THE FRAME RAIL CAUSING ME TO SWERVE IN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR NEEDS A NEW SEAT RAIL TO REPAIR THE CAR. THE COST IS ABOUT $800, GM WILL NOT ASSIST IN THE REPAIR OF A DEFECTIVE SEAT WELD. *TR
1. I WAS PASSING A CAR UP HILL ON A CURVE IN THE ROAD. WHEN I ACCELERATE HARD I LOSS MY POWER STEERING. I HAD TO APPLIED MORE PRESSURE ON THE WHEEL TO GET AROUND THE CAR I WAS PASSING BUT HALF WAY AROUND THE CAR THE POWER STEERING KICKED BACK IN BUT BECAUSE OF THE EXTRA PRESSURE I WAS APPLYING ON THE STEERING WHEEL I OVER STEERED AND ALMOST HIT THE GUARD RAIL. THIS WAS ON A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY IN THE NEW YORK CITY AREA AND EVERYONE WAS TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEED. 2. I EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL INPUT SIGNALS WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY. 3. GM SENT A LETTER TOO MY HOME STATING THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT WILL ONLY FIX IT IF THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES. MY CAR IS OVER THAT LIMIT. GM SAYS IT IS NOT A RECALL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE POWER STEERING CUTS OUT AT HIGH SPEEDS. *TR
TURN SIGNAL ON MY 2005 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX. JUST LIKE SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINT ON THIS SITE I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BULBS MONTHLY IF NOT WEEKLY. I HAVE DISCOLERATION ON THE RIGHT FRONT LIGHT HOUSING FROM HEAT AND SOMETIMES SMELL THE SMELL OF SOMETHING ELECTRIC BURNING ALWAYS COMING FROM THE RECENTLY BURNED OUT BULB. DEALER WILL DO NOTHING BECAUSE CAR IS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. *TR
SAFETY ISSUE WITH 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. BECAUSE OF A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS WITH STEERING AND SUSPENSION, I HAVE HAD FOUR CERTIFIED MECHANICS INSPECT THE CAR. THREE FOUND THAT THE STEERING RACK IS DEFECTIVE; ONE FOUND THAT THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT IS DEFECTIVE. NEITHER SHOULD BE DEFECTIVE ON A CAR WITH 57K MILES. THE ONLY WAY THAT THE STEERING RACK COULD BE DEFECTIVE IS IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAT TREATMENT DURING MANUFACTURE; THIS WOULD IMPLY THAT THE ENTIRE BATCH IS DEFECTIVE. SIMILARLY, THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT IS A THICK PIECE OF SHEET METAL THAT SHOULD NOT BE DEFECTIVE WITH LOW MILEAGE. THE PROBLEM(S) HAS BEEN REPORTED TO GENERAL MOTORS, WHO HAVE NOT RESPONDED TO REPEATED CONTACTS. BECAUSE THE MECHANICS DO NOT AGREE, I WILL HAVE THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT REPLACED TO SEE IF THAT SOLVES THE PROBLEM. IF NOT, THEN I WILL REPLACE THE STEERING RACK. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAX. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A RIGHT TURN WHEN THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME INCREASINGLY HARD. THE CONTACT WAS BARELY ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO AVOID A CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OVER 100,000 MILES, THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD WHEN THE WHEEL TURNED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION THAT SHE WAS TURNING IN. THE POWER STEERING ALARM ALSO FAILED AND THE WARNING LIGHT BEGAN TO FLICKER. SPEED DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A FACTOR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING HARNESS AND COIL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000.
ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH MY 05 MALIBU MAXX.THE POWER STEERING KEEPS GOING OUT-CHEVY IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE ENGINE HAS TROUBLE STARTING. THE REAR WIPER GOES BY ITSELF WITHOUT ANYONE TOUCHING THE CONTROL-MOST RECENT EVENT, HAPPENS EVERY FEW DAYS 1 OR 2 TIMES. I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE STARTING FROM THE BEGINNING OF OWNERSHIP. THE POWER STEERING ISSUE HAS BEEN OVER THE PAST MONTH. SOMETIMES THE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON FIRST, USUALLY NOT. I HAVE NOT PAID TO HAVE ANY WORK DONE, BUT HAVE CONTACTED CHEVY'S CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD, THAT THEY WOULD MAKE A RECORD OF IT. RESTARTING THE CAR USUALLY FIXES THE POWER STEERING TEMPORARILY. I HAVE TO CHANGE THE BRAKES ONCE A MONTH, SO THEY DON'T DESTROY MY ROTORS. POWER STEERING SEEMS TO GO OUT MORE OFTEN WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON LOCAL STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH, THE POWER STEERING ON OUR CAR STOPPED WORKING MAKING STEERING VERY DIFFICULT. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND HE HAD TROUBLE STEERING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HE TURNED OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTED IT, AND THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK ON. WITHIN A 2 MILE SPAN, THIS OCCURRED TWICE. I ASKED MY KIDS AND HUSBAND HOW OFTEN THIS HAPPENS, AND IT'S EVERY TIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN. IF MY HUSBAND HAD TROUBLE STEERING WHEN THE POWER STEERING STOPS, IT MUST BE EVEN WORSE FOR MY 2 GIRLS. IF THIS OCCURS ON THE HIGHWAY, THERE COULD EASILY BE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I LOOKED ONLINE AND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR IT BUT IT NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. I READ THAT MAZDA3 AND MAZDA 5 CARS ARE BEING RECALLED FOR POWER STEERING FAILURE. WHY HAVEN'T CHEVY MALIBUS BEEN RECALLED? PLEASE HELP. *TR
THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR MORE THAN 6 MONTHS NOW, POSSIBLY A YEAR. HARD TO DETERMINE AS IT WAS VERY INCONSISTENT AT FIRST. OCCURS MORE OFTEN NOW. WHEN ACCELERATING, GENERALLY OVER 3000 RPM'S (THINK PASSING ON FREEWAY OR LEFT TURN ACROSS TRAFFIC) THE STEERING WILL FREEZE FOR A FEW SECONDS. THERE IS ALSO A TRIPLE BELL SOUND AND THE MESSAGE CENTER WILL DISPLAY "POWER STEERING". IN 12/2007 I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM GM SAYING THEY WILL FIX THE PROBLEM WITH THE "POWER STEERING ASSIST" IF WITHIN 7 YEARS OR 70,000 MILES. I DID NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM PLUS I WAS OVER MILES STATED. THIS WEEK I RECEIVED A SIMILAR LETTER SAYING THE SAME, THAT THEY WOULD FIX THE STEERING IF UNDER 10 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES. AGAIN I AM OVER MILES(BY 7000 MILES). I CALLED TO CONFIRM AND WAS TOLD THAT THEIR POLICY WAS VERY STRICT AND WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HELP ME. OBVIOUSLY THEY KNOW OF THE ISSUE AND ARE JUST TRYING TO PAY AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE IN REPAIR/REPLACEMENT COSTS. *TR
FRAME UNDER THE DRIVERS POWER SEAT IS BROKEN IN MULTIPLE PLACES. IT HAS BROKEN ON WELD POINTS AND THE BAR ITSELF IS BROKEN. THIS LEADS TO A ROCKING MOTION OF THE SEAT WHEN DRIVING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT WELLS WERE FRACTURED AND CAUSING THE SEAT TO ABNORMALLY LEAN TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE WELLS HAD FRACTURED FROM THE TRACK ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,600.
I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY POWER STEERING IN MY 2005 CHEVY MALIBU THAT HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THE POWER STEERING COLUMN. I CALLED AND SPOKE WITH A NHTSA REPRESENTATIVE TODAY AND HE SAID IT WAS A KNOWN DEFECT ON MANY CHEVY MODELS WHERE THE COBALT WAS RECALLED BUT MY 2005 MALIBU HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. I AM SCARED TO DEATH TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. I'VE READ ONLINE ABOUT ACCIDENTS HAPPENING AS A RESULT OF THIS PROBLEM AS A RESULT OF POWER STEERING LOSS. PLEASE CAN YOU RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM WITH CHEVROLET SO THEY ISSUE A RECALL. I DRIVE MY KIDS IN MY CAR AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. UPDATED IVOQ 08/31/10*JB *TR
BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON BY THEMSELVES AND GO OUT WHEN PEDAL IS PUSHED. TRIED NEW SWITCH, CALIBRATION, AND TSB PROCEDURE. PROBLEM WILL GO AWAY FOR A MONTH OR TWO THEN RETURN. HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB. I HAVE SEEN OTHER CARS DRIVE BY WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. MAY WORK FINE IN THE MORNING THEN ACT UP IN THE EVENING. ALSO IMPACTS THE SIFT INTERLOCK AND CRUISE CONTROL. THE OTHER DAY THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES. I HAD TO TURN IT OFF BY THE SWITCH ON THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR
WE OWN A 2005 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX THAT WE BOUGHT CERTIFIED USED IN 2008. FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS THE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING WHILE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN.. IT BECOMES VERY HARD TO STEER AND IS VERY SCARY WHEN IT HAPPENS ESPECIALLY ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN TRAVELING AT FASTER SPEEDS. ALSO SCARY WHEN TRAVELING ON CURVY ROADS. IF WE STOP THE CAR AND RESTART IT, THE POWER STEERING RETURNS. MY HUSBAND TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC WHO SAYS THE PART IS ABOUT $500 AND THE LABOR IS ABOUT $200. SHOULDN'T THIS BE A RECALL? IT'S VERY UNSAFE AND COULD EASILY LEAD TO A SERIOUS, OR FATAL, ACCIDENT. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS QUICKLY BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. THANK YOU. *TR
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.
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