2004 Chevrolet Malibu Power Train Problems
- 49
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 49 stored complaint records:
- 4 indicate a crash
- 0 indicate injury
- 0 indicate fire
What owners report
- power steering · 12 records
- steering wheel · 11 records
- power train · 10 records
- failure mileage · 8 records
- diagnosed repaired · 6 records
- notified failure · 6 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 150–400k mi | 11 |
| 100–150k mi | 10 |
| 60–100k mi | 9 |
| 1–30k mi | 3 |
| 30–60k mi | 2 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Air Bags · Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Power Train · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Steering · Traction Control System · Vehicle Speed Control
2004 chevrolet malibu experiencing power steering problems, abs and shift cable, all replaced. *cw the consumer stated the vehicle was taken to the repair shop seven times, due to power steering failure, which resulted in the steering locking up. The consumer was involved in two accidents, in which the air bags failed to deploy. The consumer received a transmission, steering and brake recall. However, the parts were…
Crash reported
ODI 10653277
Power Train
While shifting from park to reverse to back out of my driveway the shift handle popped up and is no longer attached completely to the shift lever. I have to push down on the handle while pushing in the button to shift or else the handle pops up and i am not able to shift. *tr
ODI 10631976
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 60 mph, the vehicle went into reverse instead of neutral and there was a loud grinding noise. The contact merged to the side of the road, where the transition failed. The failure recurred once. The vehicle was towed to the contact's resident. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made…
ODI 10725402
Engine · Power Train · Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that while driving at 25 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to turn and there was a sudden increase in engine rpms. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle jerked before shifting into gear and the engine warning light illuminated. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was…
ODI 10668973
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the gear shifter handle fractured. The contact had to use both hands to shift the gear into drive. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing, but was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 140,000.
ODI 10631453
Power Train · Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that while traveling on an off ramp at an unknown speed, the steering wheel seized. The contact mentioned that the vehicle was previously repaired under an unknown recall but the failure recurred. Also, the contact received notification for recall nhtsa campaign number: 14v252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting,…
ODI 10636976
Power Train · Steering
My daughter was driving to school this morning, and everything seemed to be fine. She pulled out of our neighborhood and into the turning lane on a fast moving street to turn into her school parking lot. As she went to turn, the steering wheel locked up right as she was turning into oncoming traffic. She said it took everything in her to turn the steering wheel enough just so she could get onto the curb and out of…
ODI 10513274
Power Train · Steering
One evening while driving on the expressway @ aprox 55mph the wrench light came on and three chimes the steering wheel locked causing loss of control resulting in a collision with the concrete wall causing suspension damage and body damage to a tune of over $3600.00! Steering and stopping are more important than going! Gm needs to be held accountable for this safety issue before someone is killed. *tr
Crash reported
ODI 10508951
Power Train · Steering
I was driving my sons 2004 malibu when suddenly there was a few dings followed by the car symbol light with the wrench inside it on the dash light up. The wheel immediately became difficult to turn . It's as if the power steering stopped working. I drove to a safe location, turned off the car and the problem was gone. This does not seem right to me. Please have gm rectify this issue. *tr
ODI 10496234
Power Train · Steering
2004 malibu ls-driving down the highway today and the bell goes off, the yellow wrench appears and the radio shows power steering. The power steering just went out all at once and i almost ran into a truck. Called the chevrolet dealership and they stated there is not a recall on this and it is also not covered under the powertrain warranty. Nhtsa please issue a recall on this power steering problem before it causes…
ODI 10496137
Power Train
I came to a stop at a red light and 3 seconds later i heard a chime and a car with a wrench through it appeared on my dash. My wheel locked up and the only way to unlock it was to turn the care off and back on. The same thing happened on two other occasions while stopped at a light. *tr
ODI 10480701
Power Train
Came home from work on 9/10/12 and pulled into the driveway. When i placed the car in park it did not go into park and the car kept on rolling almost hitting my other vehicle. I tried putting into other gears but they were off (shift to drive it might be in neutral, shift to reverse it might be in neutral too). It's like it doesn't know what gear it is in and you have to kinda play with it to get it into the right…
ODI 10474568
Air Bags · Power Train · Steering
INFLATED.
ODI 10927336
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated the brake lights failed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the vehicle was not included in recall nhtsa campaign number:14v252000 (exterior lighting). The failure and current mileage was 95,000....updated 09-05-14 *bf the consumer stated the vehicle the vehicle has also had issues…
ODI 10608906
Electrical System · Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet malibu. The contact noticed smoke underneath the vehicle and it became difficult to shift gears from drive into reverse. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer for diagnostic testing, but was not repaired. The contact was later notified of nhtsa campaign numbers: 14v252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic,…
ODI 10632432
Power Train
Upon trying to start car immediately had "wrench" sign on the left of the steering wheel with a message above the radio stating power steering needed to be looked at immediately, however, later that night indicated was working so drove the next week or so,. Took into dealer on september 28 who ran diagnostics on it and found code c0545 but could not duplicate the problem. They did indicate that it was common to the…
ODI 10429128
Power Train
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
ODI 10435657
Power Train · Steering
Driving down the interstate and all of a sudden, steering got stiff and my dash light (wrench) lit up and chimed. I'm glad i had both hands on the steering wheel or else it could have taken me for a joy ride. Had my wife and my infant son at the time with me. This definitely needs to be attended to because it's a serious safety issue. Now, i have 100,000 miles on the car and it's still doing the same thing. I don't…
ODI 10524187
Power Train · Seats · Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the drivers side seat frame was fractured. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician verified the failure and stated that the seat frame needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 67,987 and the current mileage was 95,000. Updated 09/26/2014*lj updated…
ODI 10576186
Power Train · Steering
I own a 2004; 4 cyl; chevy malibu with electronic power steering. The system failed while i was on the interstate. I narrowly escaped causing a collision because of this failure. When towed to chevy "... Their computer shows no problem...". Baloney, i have since found out by going on-line that lots of chevy malibus have this problem. Chevy will not own up to it because it is a major expensive repair. *tr
ODI 10285214
Column · Power Train
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet malibu. While driving 35 mph, the contact lost control of the vehicle and was unable to shift gears. She was unable to stop the vehicle and shift into park. She drove to the dealer and they assisted her in placing the vehicle into park and shutting it off. There were no warnings prior to the failure. While at the dealer, a technician determined that the shift lever assembly…
ODI 10260775
Power Train
When i have to slow down, like when having to let a car turn in front of you. When the car shifts gears it jerks really hard, and will do this in all gears it shifts into. *tr
ODI 10509506
Electrical System · Power Train · Steering
I have 3 recall letters and each states the parts aren't available. Those recalls are:14116,14152;13036. These recall repairs state that they affect the safety of this vehicle and yet we are forced to drive a vehicle with possible life threatening issues while the parts are not available. The safety issues aside, the recalls affect the value of this product by the implication it's defective. These issues should be…
ODI 10629347
Electrical System · Power Train · Seats
Reporting multiple issues. Increased problems after recall work performed..items 2 and 3. Item 1 from the original purchase and no gm solution on what has been a wide spread part quality problem documented. Drivers side seat early on from purchase dealer welded break once. Broke again driving with broken seat now leg nerve back problems. Concern on safety if in accident a..no recall why no option to get replacement…
ODI 10716937