This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Driving down the road when the radio panel started blinking with power steering. I then lost my power steering and my car began to shake this failure occurs without any warning and sometimes the power steering light will illuminate and it will show in the radio panel. As a woman, driving without power steering was extremely difficult. This is not the first time this happened to me it has happened several times and thankfully I was able to avoid an accident. I took the car to the dealer, and after running diagnostics, they told me that the 2004 Malibu's have electronic power steering, and that there is an issue with the power steering motor and that it overheats, causing loss of power steering. The car seat belts are froze and the hazard light button fell inside its hole and the headlight covers don't allow the lights to fully illuminate. This car should have been recalled because it poses life threatening issues. My research shows a high volume of complaints on this 2004 model but the 2005's and above were recalled, I also collected statements from factory workers who left their personal info on the internet and I found this : during my employment contract with delphi automotive (delphi saginaw steering system, 3900 E. holland ave., saginaw, Michigan 48601), I was instructed to conduct a screw "strip-out" study on the electric motor/controller assembly of the electric power steering (eps) system of the general motor's epsilon platform (my 2003.5 - 2006 Malibu). This study was conducted in may of 2004 at delphi's plant 1, assembly. The study included ten production motor and ten production controller assemblies that were assembled on the production equipment and process(ES). The controller is attached to motor by three M 5.0X 0.8 screws. The result of that study concluded that four of the ten motor/controller assemblies had at least one of the screws fully strip
In July 2011 the power steering went out. About a week later it started going out while driving. Had the steering column, and racket and pinion replaced, and the then the radio stopped playing cds, and the seat belt light constantly stays on even if you have the seat belt on.
I was driving about 45 miles when the car cut off with no warning, when the car came to a complete stop I was able to restart the car.this has happened 7 different times. My son thought I needed a tune up, I took the car to the dealer, I was told it was electrical but didn't know what was causing it.
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.
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.
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.
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 been replaced, I'm concerned about this problem recurring. Thank you.
Vehicle's anti-theft system frequently locks up, preventing driver from starting car for a minimum of 10-15 minutes. Has failed on average once per two months since 2005. Have had the ignition switch replaced multiple times yet the problem persists.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start at times after several attempts. The vehicle would also suddenly stop while she was driving. She had the vehicle towed several times as a result. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where a passlock sensor was replaced; however, the failure continued. The contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. The vehicle had not been repaired. The current mileage was approximately 125,000. The failure mileage was approximately 18,000. Updated 01/06/11
The electric power steering in my vehicle is faulty. The steering wheel will move by its self while driving or in park. Also my power steering will go out without warning while driving at any speed. When the steering wheel locks up due to power steering I have a very hard time turning and controlling car. I have barely avoid several accidents because of this issue. I have taken car to dealership to see if can be fixed because when I called GM I was not eligible for the warranty that would have fixed issue but because it was past their recall time they would not assist me and the dealer wants $800 to fix and they say that even fixing the steering column and or the assist motor that I will more then likely have the same issues! my car is a 2004 with only 44,462 miles on it. I got the car used February of this year (2010) and didn't know that it would be a nightmare and a death trap for my family! I have video of the wheel moving by its self as well as video showing that when I loss power steering the car is hazardous. I am really afraid that I will not be able to keep up with this issue and will one day loss complete control of the car and hurt myself and possibly others! Chevrolet needs to fix this issue for good or replace the cars all together because its really only a matter of time before this issue bites them in the butt! I really like my Malibu but I really think that I should have never got it because of all the issues losing power steering, pulls bad to left and right, loose shifter knob, & the remote keyless entry doesn't work right. I hope by filing this complaint with you that maybe it will be resolved. I want to have piece of mind while driving my family in car not worried about the car being a death trap on 4 wheels that will loss control when it feels like it and kill my family and myself. I know that I am not the only one with these issues with the Malibu and Chevrolet really needs to step up and make these issues right for us the consumers fast!
2004 Chevrolet Malibu ls, the left turn, parking, & drl bulb overheated and caused a fire that melted the amber plastic lens inside if the headlight assy causing it to scorch the inside of the headlight assy around the amber part. The right side had previously just melted the top of the amber lens. These were the original headlight assys with 3157 bulbs that caused the problem. The daytime running lights are very bright all the time. The bulb caused a fire that went out by itself that is the safety problem. Bought certified replacement headlight assys.
Wife started up her car after work on June 30th, come to find out, the electronic power steering failed and, good thing, she wasn't driving when it went out or else there could have been an accident. Now, it fails every once and awhile, still steerable, but very hard to steer. If you shut the car off, then, it goes a way for a while but then power steering fails again later on. We were driving down the interstate and it did the same thing while going 75mph. We're trying to research on if this is a recall or what the problem could be. Something needs to be done, I've seen a lot of complaints on the Chevy Malibu about the electronic power steering failing.
2004 Chevrolet Malibu - both front headlights assemblies are melting from the heat coming off of the turn signal/marker light. The plastic bulb housing is actually melting enough to drip onto the bulb causing them to break and need replaced. This is definitely a fire hazard.
The driver information center would reset the time. It also displayed "service air bag" as soon as the car turns on. When driving on the freeway, my steering wheel lost its power steering and the driver information center displayed "power steering" along with a car and wrench light flashing from the gauge window. This has not been fixed due to reading a customer satisfaction program that affected certain 2004 Chevrolet Malibu's. should not be responsible for a defect that the dealer was aware of. A real scare when driving on the road, let alone on the freeway.
I have reported two previous incidents regarding noise in the front end of my 2004 Chevy Malibu ls. The same noise is again occurring in the front end of my car which leads me to believe it is a steering issue. When I took the car to jack phelan Chevrolet, they did not find a problem with the front end/steering. I believe they aren't telling me because this will be the 3rd complaint regarding steering parts.
This car is terrible. Not only did my brakes not work which made my car crash through the front of my house the steering has been replaced twice and the problem still exists. The electrical system has major problems. The blinker burned a hole through the lens cover and makes the horn, doors and lights not work. I have contacted GM several times over the last 5 years and they don't care because the warranty is out. Then you read how many people have the same problems. They got their bailout how about a bailout for the people who bought GM products. There seems to be no help for the consumer.
Electronic power steering system failure with no warning. I started up my 2004 Chevy Malibu and as I was backing up off the drive way, my steering wheel started to lock up. No warning lights came on. This is a safety problem, what if this happened while driving at high way speeds! here is a link to this particular concern that I found online. www.lemonlawclaims.com/malibu_brake_and_steering_problem.htm I hope you guys can be able to check it out and make it safe for the driver and the public to drive in peace.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Chicago, IL, USA