2004 Chevrolet Malibu complaints

STEERING ON VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN TO THE RIGHT, BUT A LOT OF PLAY IN THE WHEEL WHEN TURNING LEFT. SAME SITUATION HAPPENED OFF AND ON FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK. ON 7/21/12 WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE CONSOLE MADE A "DINGING" SOUND AND INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING AND SIMULTANEOUSLY IT LOST ALL EASE OF STEERING. IT HAD ABSOLUTELY NO POWER STEERING CAPABILITY. IT WAS VERY FRIGHTENING TO NOT HAVE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HAVING TO STRUGGLE TO GET THE CAR TO A SAFE PLACE OUT OF THE ROAD THAT I WAS DRIVING ON. *TR

REAR WINDOW OF VEHICLE APPARENTLY BROKEN BY TRUNK LID OPENING TOO FAR. TRUNK LID OPENED TOO FAR DUE TO TWO RUBBER TRUNK LID STOPS HAD BOTH PREVIOUSLY FALLEN FROM THEIR DESIGNED LOCATION. CHEVROLET DEALER STATES THESE PARTS WERE A PROBLEM AND ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE-NEW PARTS HAVE BEEN DESIGNED AND WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $100 IF PURCHASED. *TR

FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT IS COMPLETELY LOOSE ON RIGHT SIDE. NOT SECURED DOWN, CANNOT ADJUST AND TILTS WHEN YOU MAKE A TURN OR GO AROUND A CURVE. HAVE TO DRIVE WITH SEAT ALL THE WAY DOWN WHICH IS HARD BECAUSE I AM A SHORT PERSON. WHEN I GET OUT OF THE CAR THE WHOLE SEAT ACTS LIKE IT IS JUST CONNECTED ON LEFT SIDE AND COMES UP ON RIGHT SIDE. I HAD SOMEONE LIFT THE SEAT WHILE I LOOKED UNDERNEATH. SOMETHING IS BROKE. BRACKET WILL NOT HOLD SEAT UP, JUST FALLS BACK DOWN AND SEAT WILL NOT STAY IN PLACE. ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE WITH SEAT MOVING AND NOT SECURE. IN READING OTHER COMPLAINTS, I FEEL THAT I HAVE THE SAME ISSUE OF A BROKEN FRAME WHICH IS A DEFINITE DEFECT. I AM NOT REAL HEAVY AND THAT SEAT SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKE. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR OVER THREE YEARS AND THIS HAS BEEN MY PERSONAL VEHICLE. HOWEVER, I DO NOT FEEL IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE LIKE THIS, BUT HAVE NO CHOICE! OH! THESE ARE POWER SEATS. THANK YOU. *TR

POWER STEERING GOES OUT DURING SUMMER MONTHS; PAID TO REPAIR 8/2011; WORKS OK DURING WINTER, BUT POWER STEERING GOES OUT IN SUMMER MONTHS. THIS IS DANGEROUS. ALMOST HAD SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. *TR

SAFETY ISSUE WITH DRIVER'S SEAT. TILTS AND LEANS, BROKEN WELD. THIS IS A SAFETY WARRANTY AND SHOULD BE FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT HAD TO IMMEDIATELY APPLY THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 122,000.

THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING INCIDENT WITH ONE OR BOTH TURN SIGNALS LAMPS FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS. THE TURN SIGNAL LAMPS THEMSELVES DO NOT APPEAR BURNED OUT BUT THE LAMP SOCKET WIRE MELTS THE PLASTIC HOUSING FROM EXCESSIVE HEAT AND CAUSES A BREAK IN THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT. I HAVE MADE MULTIPLE BULB REPLACEMENTS OVER THE TWO PLUS YEARS ONLY TO HAVE THE TURN SIGNAL SOCKET PLASTIC HOUSING FAIL REPEATEDLY. THIS SITUATION MAY BE A SOLDER JOINT CRACKING CAUSED BY RAPID TEMPERATURE TRANSITIONS. IF SOLDER JOINT CRACKING OCCURS AND RESULTS IN AN OPEN CIRCUIT, THE TURN SIGNALS LAMPS BECOME INTERMITTENT OR INOPERATIVE. CONSEQUENCES: WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS ARE INOPERATIVE, THE DRIVER CANNOT USE THEM TO SIGNAL INTENT TO TURN THAT COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. *TR

AS I DROVE MY WIFE WHO WAS IN LABOR TO THE HOSPITAL, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AS I BEGAN TO TURN INTO AN INTERSECTION. SIMULTANEOUS TO THIS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. BARELY MADE THE TURN WITHOUT GOING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. POWER STEERING STAYED OFF THE REST OF THE TRIP. ARRIVED AT HOSPITAL AND TURNED CAR OFF. POWER STEERING CAME BACK ON. POWER STEERING THEN FAILED ON WAY HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL. *TR

WHEN STARTING MY CAR, THERE WAS A WARNING CHIME AND THE MESSAGE "POWER STEERING" APPEARED ON MY DRIVER'S INFORMATION CENTER. WHEN I PUT MY VEHICLE IN GEAR THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING CAPABILITIES AND IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING ENABLED. *JB

I WAS DRIVING AND I HEARD A DING,I LOOKED DOWN AT MY GAUGES AND THE STEERING LIGHT WAS ON. AFTER THAT I NOTICED THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT THERE. I THEN SHUT OFF MY CAR AND LET IT SIT AND THEN STARTED IT. THE STEERING WAS BACK ON BUT I DON'T WANT MY LIFE OR ANY OTHERS LIVES AT RISK. UPDATED 07/05/12 *JB

SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE (USED), THERE HAVE BEEN MORE THAN 12 INSTANCES WHERE THE CAR CUTS OUT WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS OCCURRED AT SPEEDS AS HIGH AS 55 MPH. THERE IS A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER AND THE CAR MUST BE BROUGHT TO A ROLLING STOP OUTSIDE OF THE TRAFFIC FLOW. ALSO, THERE HAVE BEEN WEEKLY INSTANCES OF THE CAR FAILING TO START. THIS HAS SINCE INCREASED TO DAILY. THE KEY WILL ONLY START THE IGNITION WHEN THE DASH LIGHTS (BATTERY, OIL, ETC) ARE ON, AND THEY ARE ON AND OFF COMPLETELY AT RANDOM. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO WAIT UP TO 10 MINUTES WITH THE KEY PARTIALLY TURNED BEFORE THE LIGHTS COME ON AND I CAN TURN IT THE REST OF THE WAY AND START THE CAR. THE OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUE THAT HAS HAPPENED IS THAT THE BLOWER FAN HAS GONE ON AND OFF AND THE POWER WINDOWS HAVE GONE ON AND OFF. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 208,000.

WAS BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE AND HEARD A METALLIC CLANK FROM UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT. THE SEAT TIPPED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT, AS IF THE RIGHT REAR CORNER OF THE SEAT IS NO LONGER SUPPORTED. THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE, AS THE SEAT MOVES AROUND FREELY AND WOULD NOT BE AS SAFE IN AN ACCIDENT. AFTER A VERY SHORT INTERNET SEARCH, I FOUND THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM TO THIS MODEL AND YEAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED BUT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WAS NOT AFFECTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE BATTERY COULD POSSIBLY HAVE BEEN CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.

I WAS DRIVING AND THE POWER STEERING FLASHED ON DASHBOARD. AFTER THAT MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. I HAD TO PULL OVER CAUSE I COULD TURN STEERING WHEEL AT ALL. I TURNED MY CAR OFF AND RESTARTED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS BACK TO NORMAL. I AM UNDERSTANDING WHY THIS IS NOT A RECALL THIS VERY MUCH A SAFETY CONCERN. *TR

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. SHE WEIGHS 110 POUNDS AND COULD NOT STEER IT AT ALL. WHAT IF SHE WAS GOING 70 MPH? I HAVE READ ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS BUT GMC DECIDES NOT TO RECALL THIS YEAR BUT RECALL 2005? THAT IS A AWFUL WAY OF DOING BUSINESS. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO BE INJURED OR DIE BEFORE THEY FIX THIS? I WANT ANSWERS BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A COUPLE OF PEOPLE THAT IT HAPPENS TO. THIS IS CRAP! *TR

THIS WAS APPROXIMATELY THE FIRST TIME SINCE WE HAD THE PROBLEM FIXED UNDER THE WARRANTY WHEN WE FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE POWER STEERING JUST WENT OUT ON MY WIFE WHILE SHE WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN INTO A PARKING LOT AND DIDN'T HAVE FULL CONTROL OF THE CAR AND ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. IT HAS SINCE HAPPENED TO MY DAUGHTER ONCE ABOUT THREE WEEKS AFTER MY WIFE'S EXPERIENCE. NOW IT JUST HAPPENED TO MY WIFE AGAIN ON 4-10-12 AT MILEAGE 144216 APPROX. THIS TIME SHE WAS IN THE PARKING LOT AND IT WENT OUT CAUSING HER TO NOT HAVE COMPLETE CONTROL AGAIN JUST MISSING GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT. IT DOES COME BACK ON AFTER TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE AND LETTING IT SIT. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THAT IT JUST GOES OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND DOESN'T ALLOW THE DRIVER TO HAVE COMPLETE CONTROL OF STEERING THE CAR BECAUSE IT IS EXTREMELY HARD TO STEER WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING IF THEY CAN STEER IT AT ALL. *TR

MY ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM ACTIVATES AND LEAVES ME AND MY ONE YEAR OLD CHILD STRANDED IN FLORIDA HEAT. *TR

IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING, MY POWER STEERING TURNED ON AND I COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION, AND A CAR CRASHED INTO MY BACK BUMPER. I JUST RECENTLY GOT IT FIXED, AND FOUND IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE THAT COST ME 700. WHEN SPEAKING TO THE MECHANIC, THE TOLD ME THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN IF IT GETS JERKED THE WRONG WAY. *JS

POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT APPEARS IN DIC AND CAR LOSES ELECTRONIC ASSISTED STEERING FOR A PERIOD OF 5-10 SECONDS. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS AT SEVERAL DIFFERENT SPEED INTERVALS AND IS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,500.

AS I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, MY VEHICLE ALL OF A SUDDEN FAILED TO ALLOW ANY STEERING AND WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT. I WAS ABLE TO BRAKE AND AVOID THE ACCIDENT, BUT AS SOON AS I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF AND WOULD NOT TURN ON AGAIN. WHEN IT DID TURN ON, I WAS ABLE TO STEER AGAIN, SO I PARKED MY VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED IN ORDER FOR THE POWER STEERING TO RESET. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WOULD THEN BE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE A FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 155,069. UPDATED 08-07-12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD BECOME DIFFICULT TO MANAGE, ESPECIALLY WHEN MAKING TURNS, OR SIMPLY MOVING FORWARD. UPDATED 08/09/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME HARD TO STEER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 151,734.

SINCE LAST YEAR 3 OR 4 TIMES I HAVE THE DCI WARNING AND MESSAGE POWER STEERING, ITS HARD TO DRIVE,STOP THE CAR TURN OFF AND TURN ON AGAIN AND THE POWER CAME BACK, THE WARNING COMES WHEN I START DRIVING.EVERY DAY I DRIVE WORRY BECAUSE I DONT KNOW WHEN IT WILL HAPPEND AGAIN,SPECIALLY WHEN IM DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY OVER 50 MILES AN HOUR.THANK YOU FOR RECOMEND ME WHAT TO DO. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A LEFT TURN, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED WITH THE ILLUMINATION ON THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TURNED OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES AND ONCE RESTARTED THE POWER STEERING RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,985 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,011.

WHILE PULLING INTO A SHOPPING MALL THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. WITH A GREAT DEAL OF EFFORT I DID MANAGE TO GET THE CAR PARKED. HOWEVER IT COULD NO LONGER OPERATE SAFELY SO I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. *TR

LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS... STEERING COMES & GOES, LOSS OF POWER ASSIST. SHOULD BE A RECALL-VERY DANGEROUS WHEN NOT EXPECTED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. UPON RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE DIFFERENT TIMES. ALSO INTERMITTENTLY, THE FOUR POWER WINDOWS AND POWER DOOR LOCKS FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN THE CONTROL MECHANISM WAS ENGAGED. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION THE THE KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH UNTIL AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

THE DRIVER'S SEAT TILTS TO THE RIGHT. IF I PULL THE SEAT UP BEFORE GETTING IN THE CAR IT IS OKAY UNTIL I HIT THE BRAKES OR THE GAS, THEN THE SEAT WILL JUST DROP. WHICH CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF A LESS EXPERIENCED PERSON WAS DRIVING. THE SEAT HAS BEEN LIKE THIS FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS. I FINALLY GOT FED AND ASKED MY MECHANIC TO SEE IF HE COULD POSSIBLY PUT IT BACK ON TRACK BUT HE ADVISED THAT THE FRAME IS BROKEN. AFTER GOING TO ASK.COM, I FIND THAT THIS IS A DEFECT THAT IS PREVALENT IN THE CHEVY MALIBU. I BELIEVE THIS IS NOT ONLY A DEFECT BUT ONE THAT PRESENTS A SAFETY ISSUE. *KB

I BOUGHT A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU IN 2008, SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT TURN SIGNALS APPROX. 6 TIMES DUE TO THE PLASTIC ON THE SIGNAL BULBS, MELTING AND COVERING THE WIRE S THAT GO OVER THE PLASTIC THAT MAKE CONTACT WITH THE PLUG THE BULB GOES INTO. *KB

FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS THE THEFT LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHEN TRYING TO START. THEN YOU WOULD HAVE TO WAIT 10 MINUTES TO START. IN DECEMBER WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPS THE ENGINE STOPPED, POWER STEERING WAS LOST AND THE THEFT LIGHT WAS ON. AFTER 10 MINUTES THE CAR STARTED AGAIN. THEN TWO TIMES LATER THE ENGINE STOPPED WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 60 & 65 MPH, POWER STEERING WAS LOST. ONE OF THESE TIMES THE CAR STARTED UP AGAIN AND POWER STEERING RECOVERED. I TOOK THE UNIT TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER IN EMPORIA, KANSAS. THEY SAID THE SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THE FUEL PUMP CUTS OFF BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. BOTH NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $1,100 ACCORDING TO THEM. NORMALLY THE CAR OPERATES GREAT! I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY A PRODUCT IS ALLOWED ON THE MARKET WITH A FUEL PUMP THAT WORKS PART-TIME. PRIOR TO GOING TO THE EMPORIA CHEVROLET, I EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM TO THE BURLINGTON, KANSAS CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT HAD TO DO THAT AT THE TIME THEY WERE CHECKING IT OR THEY COULD NOT FIND OUT THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN. I AM GLAD THAT MY WIFE OF 4'11" WAS NOT DRIVING IT WHEN THE POWER STEERING WAS LOST BECAUSE OF THE ENGINE STOPPING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TURN SIGNAL, RUNNING LIGHTS, AND HAZARD LIGHTS AND NOTICED THEY WERE NOT ILLUMINATING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

AS WE PARKED I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AFTER LETTING SOMEONE OUT OF PASSENGER SEAT AND A SOON AS I PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE THE STEERING GAVE OUT. IF I WAS ON THE ROAD ANOTHER 5 MINUTES MY FIANCE AND I COULD BE DEAD IN THE HOSPITAL ETC... THIS COMPLAINT IS EVERYWHERE ON THE INTERNET WHY NO RECALL. SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE BECAUSE CHEVY DOESN'T WANT TO FIX THERE MESS UP. IF I SHOT AT SOMEONE AND KILLED THEM I WOULD BE IN JAIL FOR A LONG TIME. BUT IF THERE VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONS AND KILLS SOMEONE ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS PAY A LAWSUIT AND THERE GOOD. THAT ISN'T RITE. I AM GOING TO PUSH THIS ISSUE UNTIL THERE IS A RECALL. WHAT DO THEY HAVE TO REACH A QUOTA IN DEATHS IN ORDER TO PUT A RECALL OUT... THIS IS UNREAL AND THE SECOND TIME THIS PART WAS REPLACED ON THE CAR. BEFORE I BOUGHT IT THE DEALER HAD TOLD ME THEY JUST PUT A BRAND NEW STEERING COLUMN IN SO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BEFORE SOMEONE LOSSES THERE LIFE OVER IT. *TR

LOSS OF POWER STEERING. *TR

DRIVERS SEAT BROKEN. APPEARS A METAL WELD UNDER THE SEAT BROKE AND CAUSES THE SEAT TO LEAN BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. *TR

AS I TURNED MY 04 MALIBU TO THE LT MY DRIVERS SIDE FRONT SEAT BROKE ON RT SIDE CAUSING ME TO LEAN HARD TO THE RT AND REARWARD ALMOST LOOSING CONTROL OF CAR. I HAVE 81371 MI. ON CAR. APPEARS TO ME TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. I THOUGHT GM STOOD BY THEIR PRODUCTS. LOOKING AT ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE AND GM REFUSING TO FIX THIS SAFETY ISSUE,I AM WORRIED ABOUT HOW SAFE THIS CAR REALLY IS. I ALSO HAD MY HEATED SEATS COME ON ALL BY THEIR OVER 300 DOCUMENTED TIMES WHILE UNDER WARRANTY AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE SEATS CAME ON EVEN WHEN NO ONE WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT. *TR

DRIVERS SEAT UNSTABLE. DEALER REPORTS THAT TWO WELDS ON SEAT RAIL ARE BROKEN. RIGHT SIDE OF SEAT TILTS BACK WHEN SEAT IS RAISED ABOVE LOWEST POSITION. *TR

MY POWER STEERING HAS WENT OUT ON MY VEHICLE ON ITS ON WITH OUT WARNING I WAS DRIVING WHEN IT HAPPENED. IN THE BEGINNING I COULD POWER THE CAR OFF AND THEN TURN IT BACK ON THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD DISAPPEAR. BUT NOW THE LIGHT STAYS ON. ITS ABSOLUTELY HARD TO MAKE TURNS AND I GET STUCK IN PARKING LOTS AND TURNS THAT ARE NARROW I NEED SPACE TO TURN LIKE I AM DRIVING A 18 WHEELER. I HAVE HAD MY CAR READ AND NO CODES APPEARED, EVEN THOUGH THE STEERING WAS LOCKED AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT POWER STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED TO COVER FIFTY PERCENT OF THE COST OF THE PART. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 64,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

WHILE DRIVING, MY POWER STEERING FAILED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE POWER OF STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LAMP WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

BEGINNING MY DAY, I STARTED MY VEHICLE, PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE, BACKED UP, AND PUT MY CAR IN DRIVE. I WENT APPROX. 10 FEET WHEN MY VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND MY CAR ALMOST WENT OFF OUR STEEP DRIVEWAY. THERE WAS AN ORANGE WRENCH THAT ILLUMINATED IN THE DASH AND POWER STEERING ALERT CAME ON MY INFORMATION DISPLAY ON THE RADIO. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED. ALL WARNING LIGHTS WENT OUT AND THE STEERING CAME BACK. THANKFULLY, I WAS HOME, AND NOT HURT, BUT I AM HAVING FEARS OF A MUCH WORSE SITUATION IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR AGAIN. *TR

PURCHASED VEHICLE FOR DAUGHTER ON 8/17/2011 FROM ASSET RECOVERY DEALERSHIP COLORADO. WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING ON A MAJOR ROAD (APPROX. 40 MPH), A WARNING LIGHT ON DASH WENT ON AND THE POWER STEERING WENT AWAY (ALMOST TO THE POINT OF FEELING LIKE IT WAS TOTALLY LOCKED). SHE WAS IN RH LANE, PUT ON FLASHERS, TURNED OFF CAR AND RESTARTED CAR. WARNING LIGHT WENT OFF AND POWER STEERING WAS BACK. THIS HAPPENED TWO OTHER TIMES WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. IT HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY. TOOK THE VEHICLE IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO RAN DIAGNOSTICS AND FOUND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST RELAY TO BE FAULTY AND REPLACED ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AT $580 (THE RELAY CANNOT BE REPLACED WITHOUT REPLACING ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN). SINCE THEN I HAVE FOUND A NUMBER OF WEBSITES (WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM) WERE 100+ OTHER 2004 MALIBU OWNERS HAVE HAD THE EXACT PROBLEM. THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A RECALL ON THE 2004 MALIBU FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM BUT SOME HAVE WRITTEN THERE WAS A RECALL OR BULLETIN FOR 2005+ MALIBU FOR THIS PROBLEM. THIS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY (AND SCARY) ISSUE TO LOOSE YOUR POWER STEERING ASSIST OUT OF NO WHERE AND A VERY COSTLY REPAIR. I ALSO READ IN SOME OF THE POSTED COMPLAINTS THAT THEIR REPAIR DID NOT LAST AND THE PROBLEM RECURRED. I PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM A"RECOVERY" TYPE CAR DEALERSHIP. I WOULD LIKE TO GET REIMBURSEMENT FROM GM. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH PEOPLE AT VARIOUS MILEAGE RANGES SOME AS LOW AS 7,000 WHICH WOULD SEEM TO ME TO INDICATE A DEFECT. ALTHOUGH THE STEERING COLUMN HAS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE WRENCH WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ACCOMPANIED BY A WARNING CHIME. THE STEERING RESUMED NORMAL FUNCTION AFTER SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHILE PARKED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

I READ YOU ARE LOOKING INTO 2004 MALIBU SHIFT CABLES. OUR CABLE BROKE A FEW MONTH BACK RESULTING IN AN INABILITY TO START THE CAR OR SHIFT GEARS. WE REPLACED THE CABLE. I HAVE THE OLD CABLE IF YOU WOULD LIKE IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO TURN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON THREE PREVIOUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THERE WAS CONDENSATION IN THE WIRING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,502 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND SUDDENLY THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE WRENCH SYMBOL. THE CONTACT PULLED ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. UPON RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE WARNING SYMBOL REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING CONTINUED TO MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT RESUMED WITH CAUTION. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST RANDOMLY DISENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

CAR ENGINE WILL SHUT DOWN AT RANDOM TIMES SHOWING ANTI-THEFT LIGHT. EVEN WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR