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.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. Immediately after purchasing the vehicle in February of 2007, the exterior and interior lights would lose power intermittently. While driving approximately 50-60 mph, the exterior and interior lights lost power and caused the contact to pull over to the side of the road. She turned off and parked the vehicle for a while and eventually the lights illuminated again. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. Approximately a year later, she drove the vehicle back to the dealer due to the exterior and interior lights losing power intermittently. The mechanic replaced the entire instrument panel, but the failure recurred a month later. The vehicle has not been repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were notified and stated that they were not liable for the repairs. The VIN was unavailable. The current mileage was 112,000 and failure mileage was 47,000.
We own a 2004 Chevy Malibu ls sedan with 66,000 miles on it. In March we had the front right turn signal light bulb replaced, and within a week we had to replace the rear left turn signal. Then on May 1st, we were on a trip when the rear right turn signal went out, so we replaced that. The next day the front left turn signal went out for four hours, started to work again for a while, and went on and off again for two days. We brought it into our dealership because we suspected that there might be an electrical problem. The service person called us to report that we had to replace the electrical harness which had been cut (somehow) and it would cost a large sum of money. As with any fear of major electrical problems in an automobile, we gave him permission to replace it. However on the bill it only states that the bulb was replaced for a lesser cost and said nothing about the electrical harness that he had mentioned (which we never even knew existed). We are going back in to talk with the head service manager about this. Our concern is that there are so many reports listed here about turn signal problems. We are reporting this to Chevrolet and hope other people will contact Chevrolet at so they will be aware of and look into these problems.
I have had several issues with my steering column that hopefully now have been repaired. My most recent problem is related to the headlights. The front marker lights have burned through the plastic casing. It has overheated my bulb resulting in turn signal going out. In the process of repairing.
2004 Chevrolet Malibu with noise in the steering wheel customer states that this problem has been going for 2 years without correction from the dealership* the dealer replaced various parts in the steering, however the problem remained the same. The battery was replaced. The vehicle hesitated to start. The dealer found the ignition switch had shorted out internally. The horn was replaced. The cd player made a clicking sound.
2004 Malibu anti theft light and radio lock light illuminates, problem with seal on the rear left window. The steering was stiff, the molding on the let rear window came out of place when the window was rolled up. The vehicle would vibrate while driving. There was a rubbing noise coming from the front of the vehicle, the check engine light illuminated several times, the temperature and fuel gauge light illuminated. The trunk would not open properly when using the remote. The vehicle started by itself and all the lights illuminated which caused the battery to die.
- Hamilton, MS, USA
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This vehicle is equipped with remote start, which allows you to start the vehicle from the key remote. On Friday 8-19 the "service engine soon light" came on briefly when vehicle was started but did not come back on after I shut the vehicle off and restarted. The following Monday 8-22-05 after making a stop, shutting off the engine, and getting off the car the engine started on its own and stayed on for appx a minute, it then shut off and restarted in less than a minute. This cycle repeated for about 8 mins or so on its own. I got back on the car after dropping my child off at school and drove at hwy speeds with the cruise on, after a few minutes of hwy speeds the cruise control shut off and was non responsive. I got off the hwy parked and shut the vehicle off. Again the engine started on its own, this time staying on for several minutes. I drove the vehicle to a Chevrolet dealership and explained the problem. The service dept replaced the keyless entry module and reprogrammed the brake ECU as they said the keyless module was malfunctioning and causing the engine to start using the remote start feature. They also said the brake module could have caused the cruise control to be non responsive. This malfunction concerned me greatly as the vehicle was garaged kept until this happened and I no longer trust to put the car in the garage in fear of possible carbon monoxide poisoning from the engine starting on its own while in the garage, specially at night while asleep.
The car cut off while I was driving and in heavy traffic more than once. There was no warning that this would happen. The car was serviced before for this problem but it continued to happen. I have had 3 recalls, the horn fuse has been replaced twice, and the blinker is currently out. The steering collar has also been replaced. This car was supposed to be a new car.
Electrical problems and numerous starting problems. While driving, the door locks unlocked, engine dies with no warning. Nar the steering wheel locked up, the hazard lights stopped working, the alarm would go off, the power rear view mirrors were inoperative, the vehicle would buck and surge, the steering wheel would shake, the vehicle would start rough and the tachometer would bounce.
On March 22, 2004 at 2,715 miles steering column locked while driving 56 mph. During the attempt to unlock the steering column consumer broke the steering wheel. At the present time, vehicle stalled while driving 45 mph. Consumer believed the problem was due to the computer module. Dealer was not contacted during both incidents. Ea04018_cat
While driving, the air bag light illuminated on the dashboard. The vehicle was taken to the dealership and the mechanic told the consumer not to panic, because it was normal. The passenger side door was permanently lock from the outside.
While driving at 35 mph all gauges failed. Consumer didn't know the speed. Dealership inspected vehicle several times, and could not duplicate or correct the problem. Wanteds to buy the vehicle from the consumer.
While traveling at any speed vehicle stalled. Without consumer had several close calls of being rear ended. Vehicle was serviced several times, but problem recurred.
Traveling down street at low speed when a sudden but light jolt from the engine is felt. Moments later slowing down for a traffic light total lose of electrical power. This does not happen all the time. Vehicle is in for repairs on this date. Ea04018_cat
While drving or sitting the alarm would go off at anytime, including the vehicle's engine turning on/off while the alarm going off. Told by dealer service department that the car could start/turn off on its own while being driven. Turned into service department numerous times and problem not fixed, they replaced the computer in the car and removed the accessory alarm, but factory secrurit system would still go off. It is cuurently in the shop today 4/29/04 for the 3rd time to be "fixed" again. While this problem is occuring the infomation panel (trip miles, mpg, average speed, oil life, etc.) would reset.
While driving at any speed and without warning, the vehicle lost power steering. This problem happened four times in four months. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, who replaced the steering column unit. Also, the ABS light came on and the brakes made a screeching noise when depressed. The dealer replaced the ABS module and front brake hubs. Although the repairs had been done, the same problems recurred. There were electrical failures with the dash dimmer switch and headlight dimmer, the keyless entry needed to be replaced and grease leaked from the left front wheel. Pe04031_cat
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Jacksonville, FL, USA