870 complaints reported

2004 Chevrolet Malibu Steering

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
870
Crashes
30
Fires
0
Injuries
13

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Apr 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE STEERING BECAME HARD TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC, WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,200.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Aug 2012
Mar 2012 Crash

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2012
Mar 2012

I JUST EXITED THE HIGHWAY AND WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT AND HEARD A LOUD CLUNK AND THE STEERING FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THE STEERING RACK AND GEARS TO THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE SPRING AND SENSOR FOR AIRBAG ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD THEN HAVE TO BE RE-CENTERED AND THE CAR REALIGNED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2012
Mar 2012

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2012
Mar 2012

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Feb 2012
Mar 2012

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2012
Mar 2012

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2011
Mar 2012

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Apr 2011
Feb 2012

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Feb 2012
Feb 2012

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Feb 2012
Feb 2012

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: May 2012
Feb 2012

POWER STEERING KEEPS GOING OFF, FOR NO APPARENT REASON, THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL THERE ARE TOO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENING THE SAME WAY, AND AT TIMES WHEN DRIVING HAPPY NO ONE HAS HAD TO LOOSE THEIR LIFE DUE TO A FAULTY SYSTEM DEFECT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jul 2011
Jan 2012

WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING SPOT, I RECEIVED A WARNING CHIME AND NOTICED A STEERING WARNING NOTE ON THE DIGITAL DISPLAY. AFTER CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON, THE NOTICE WAS NOT PRESENT AND STEERING WAS NORMAL. ON SEVERAL OTHER OCCASIONS, THE STEERING WOULD REPEAT THIS SITUATION BUT IT WOULD DO IT IN NO APPARENT REGULAR DRIVING STATE, IE, COULD BE GOING DOWN ROAD AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR JUST MANEUVERING INTO A PARKING SPOT. ALWAYS WOULD RETURN TO NORMAL AFTER A CYCLE OF THE IGNITION KEY AND COULD BE MONTHS BEFORE A REPEAT EVENT. SOMETIMES THE EVENT WOULD SEEM TO REDUCE STEERING POWER BUT NOT REMOVE ALL ASSIST AND AT OTHER TIMES THE STEERING ASSIST WOULD BE COMPLETELY REMOVED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2007
Jan 2012

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2012
Jan 2012

1ST TIME:DRIVING IN THE DROP OFF AREA OF SON'S SCHOOL AND POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON MY WIFE. WE HAD TO SIGNAL THE OTHER CARS AROUND OUR CAR (2004 CHEVY MALIBU). MY WIFE COULD NOT MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL SO I HAD TO BACK THE CAR UP OUT OF THE CHILDREN' DROP OFF AREA WITH NO POWER STEERING INTO A PARKING SPACE AFTER ALL THE CHILDREN WERE DROPPED OFF. SECOND TIME:PER THE MESSAGE ON SERVICE INDICATOR POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON A MAIN ROAD IN OUR TOWN AFTER REPAIRS BY CERTIFIED CHEVROLET MECHANICS AT DON HEWLETT CHEVROLET WAS A YEAR LATER RIGHT AFTER THE WARRANTY WENT OUT. I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS SINCE THE WARRANTY WAS UP. THERE HAVE BEEN 46 COMPLAINTS ON A WEBSITE CALLED WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE AND THE 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU WAS RECALLED FOR THIS SAME ISSUE OF THE POWER STEERING FAILURE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jun 2011
Jan 2012

THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT LAST YEAR AND I HAD THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACE (THAT'S WHAT THEY SAID WAS WRONG) NOW HERE IT IS 14 MONTHS LATER AND IT'S OUT AGAIN. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT EVEN TO THE SHOP. IT HAS TO BE SOME KIND OF DEFECTIVE PART BY CHEVY BASED ON THE MASSIVE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS I SEE ON THE WEB ABOUT THIS. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SHELL OUT MONEY TO HAVE THIS FIXED AGAIN. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE FACTORY! *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2011
Dec 2011

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: May 2011
Dec 2011

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Sep 2011
Dec 2011

I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 2010. THE STEERING PROBLEM HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT SINCE THE CAR PASSED 33K. I HAVEN'T HAD THIS HAPPEN ON THE ROAD, BUT USUALLY AFTER I PARK AND TURN THE CAR BACK ON. THERE WILL BE NO POWER STEERING MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE. IF I SHUT IT OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON AGAIN, THE PROBLEM ISN'T THERE. QUITE UNNERVING. THE CAR ALSO HAS A CLUNK SOUND IN THE LEFT FRONT UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL. THE WARNING FOR POWER STEERING IS ON MORE THAN IT IS OFF. I WISH THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS. THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET AND MY MECHANIC SAYS THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS. I HAVEN'T HAD IT FIXED BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD IT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Apr 2011
Dec 2011

WHILE DRIVING, MY POWER STEERING FAILED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Nov 2011
Dec 2011

APPROX. ON 11-06-2011 WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING STALL THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. 11-17-2011 WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. 11-23-2011 WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. ALL THREE TIMES I WAS ABLE TO GET THE POWER STEERING BACK AFTER PARKING AND TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jun 2010
Dec 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AROUND A CURVE AND THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO RESPOND WHILE MAKING A TURN FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE SECONDS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,123.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2011
Nov 2011

AS I WAS COMING UP A HILL TO A STOP LIGHT . STEERING WAS LOST . SINCE I DO NOT DRIVE THIS CAR OFTEN , I DID NOT KNOW THIS HAPPENED BEFORE . MY WIFE SAID SHE STOPS THE CAR AND RESTARTS THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY .. NOT A GOOD SITUATION AS ONE DRIVES . WONDERING IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM . *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Nov 2011
Nov 2011

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Nov 2010
Nov 2011

DRIVING HOME FROM WORK MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT COMPLETELY, SERVICE VEHICLE SOON LIGHT CHIMED AND CAME ON, POWER STEERING FAILURE ILLUMINATED ON THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER. AFTER PULLING OVER INTO A PARKING LOT WITH NO POWER STEERING I TURNED OFF CAR WAITED A FEW MINUTES RESTARTED CAR AND POWER STEERING WAS FINE ALL WARNING LIGHTS HAD GONE OFF. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE WITH CHEVROLET MALIBU'S. I JUST PURCHASED THIS USED CAR AND AM VERY CONCERNED WITH THIS SAFETY ISSUE, AS THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. NOT ONLY AM I JEOPARDIZING MY SAFETY AND WELL BEING, BUT JEOPARDIZING THOSE CLOSE TO ME. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Nov 2011

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2004 Chevrolet Malibu has 870 Steering complaints on file. 30 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.