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2004 Chevrolet Classic

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

31 reports with mileage · 9 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Equipment. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

2 reports
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94,650 miles · Sep 19, 2014
EngineVehicle Speed Control

WE STOP AND WAITING FOR RED LIGHT, WHEN THE LIGHT TURN TO GREEN, PUSH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BUT THE CAR NOT HAVE ANY REACTION. I TURN OFF THE CAR, AND START AGAIN THEN THE CAR CAN MOVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10637553

40,000 miles · Mar 29, 2010
Electrical SystemService Brakes, ElectricSteeringCrashFire

MY HUSBAND WAS TAKING OUR FOUR YOUNGEST CHILDREN TO SCHOOL OCT. 18, 2005, TRAVELING SOUTH ON I-45 IN THE HOUSTON AREA IN OUR 2004 MALIBU CLASSIC WHICH HAD APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES ON IT. WITNESSES SAID HE SWERVED AROUND SEVERAL CARS AND WAS GOING 80+ MPH. HE PULLED ONTO THE SHOULDER, PASSED AND CLIPPED A CAR; AND THEN PULLED O…

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MY HUSBAND WAS TAKING OUR FOUR YOUNGEST CHILDREN TO SCHOOL OCT. 18, 2005, TRAVELING SOUTH ON I-45 IN THE HOUSTON AREA IN OUR 2004 MALIBU CLASSIC WHICH HAD APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES ON IT. WITNESSES SAID HE SWERVED AROUND SEVERAL CARS AND WAS GOING 80+ MPH. HE PULLED ONTO THE SHOULDER, PASSED AND CLIPPED A CAR; AND THEN PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY INTO THE GRASSY MEDIAN. HE SWERVED AROUND A POST, A LARGE ELECTRIC BOX AND A LARGE SIGN PILLAR. HIS LEFT FRONT TIRE HIT A CULVERT AND WAS FLATTENED. ACCORDING TO AN EXPERT, THIS PULLED HIS CAR TO THE LEFT, LEAVING THE CAR HARD TO STEER. THE CAR HIT A SIGN SUPPORT STRUCTURE. ALL FIVE WERE KILLED; THE CAR WAS DEMOLISHED AND CAUGHT FIRE. ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THIS ALL TOOK PLACE IN LESS THAN 15 SECONDS. ACCORDING TO THE EXPERT REPORT, THE THROTTLE BODY WAS FOUND STUCK AT THE NEAR FULL THROTTLE POSITION; THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD SIGNIFICANT DEFORMATION IN THE FORWARD DIRECTION (BENT FROM THE REAR TO THE FRONT) INDICATING THE DRIVERS FOOT WAS ON THE PEDAL AT THE TIME OF IMPACT; THERE WAS LITTLE FIRE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER, THE FRONT BRAKE PAD MATERIAL WAS OVERHEATED AND SPALLED, INDICATING HARD BRAKE/PEDAL APPLICATION; ALL FIVE SEATBELT LATCHES WERE FOUND AND STILL LOCKED; AND THE TIRES PLOWED UP THE DRY GRASS AND SOIL FROM THE TIME THE VEHICLE LEFT THE FREEWAY UNTIL IT HIT THE POLE, LEAVING A TRAIL THAT SCREAMED FOR HELP AND WAS STILL VISIBLE FOR WEEKS AFTER THE ACCIDENT OTHER VEHICLES DROVE ALL OVER THE MEDIAN AND LEFT NO IMPRESSIONS. THE EXPERT CONCLUDED THE BRAKE SYSTEM, THROTTLE CONTROL, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL AND CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM ARE DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED AND MANUFACTURED. THE FAMILY HAS HAD A LAWSUIT AGAINST GM SINCE OCT. 2007 WITH NO RESOLUTION.

NHTSA ODI #10322665

Official recalls

1

04V301000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage

Jun 30, 2004

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH A FUEL TANK THAT DOES NOT MEET SPECIFICATION. A WELD ON THESE FUEL TANKS MAY BE INSUFFICIENT, RESULTING IN A FUEL LEAK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL TANK, AND REPLACE IT, IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 23, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.