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2004 Chevrolet Malibu 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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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

92 reports with mileage · 24 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 59 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports2 fire reports7 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

11 reports
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175,000 miles · Feb 5, 2021
Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting

WELL MY IGNITION SWITCH WENT OUT I REPLACE THAT.NOW IT'S SHORTAGES IN WIRING AND LIGHTS HEAT ON AN OFF SOMETIMES SHOCKS

NHTSA ODI #11394823

109,000 miles · Jun 30, 2014
Exterior Lighting

MY VEHICLE DRIVERS SIDE LIGHT HAS GONE OUT VARIOUS TIMES. THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ON THAT SIDE HAVE STOPPED WORKING AS WELL. TURN SIGNALS WILL STOP WORKING WHILE MERGING IN TRAFFIC. THE POWER WINDOWS WILL STOP WORKING AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10607075

90,000 miles · Jun 19, 2014
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL FAILED TO OPERATE AT TIMES OR WOULD OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY DO TO A DEFECTIVE HAZARD SWITCH. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE HAZARD SWITCH AND THE DEFECT WAS REMEDIED. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT WHILE DRIVING EXHAUST FUMES WERE EMITTED INS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL FAILED TO OPERATE AT TIMES OR WOULD OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY DO TO A DEFECTIVE HAZARD SWITCH. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE HAZARD SWITCH AND THE DEFECT WAS REMEDIED. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT WHILE DRIVING EXHAUST FUMES WERE EMITTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE BLEND DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #10604528

120,000 miles · May 22, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS W/ SIGNAL LIGHT. NO SIGNAL (FROM STOPPED OR WAITING POSITION) SIGNAL, THEN NO SIGNAL (ANY SPEED). NO SIGNAL, THEN SUDDENLY SIGNAL (ANY SPEED OR DRIVING CONDITION) I'VE HAD IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES BUT THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO REPLICATE, SO THEY SAY THERE ISN'T A PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10593517

83,000 miles · May 25, 2013
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

TURN SIGNALS WORKING INTERMITTENT AND INOPERATIVE COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WHEN TURN SIGNALS NOT WORKING THIS IS A BIG SAFETY CONCERN GM KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS A RECALL NO. 03043 MY VEHICLE IS A 2004 AND GM SAID NO RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE THIS CAR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES TURN SIGNALS STOP WORKING…

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TURN SIGNALS WORKING INTERMITTENT AND INOPERATIVE COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WHEN TURN SIGNALS NOT WORKING THIS IS A BIG SAFETY CONCERN GM KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS A RECALL NO. 03043 MY VEHICLE IS A 2004 AND GM SAID NO RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE THIS CAR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES TURN SIGNALS STOP WORKING COULD CAUSE A FATAL CRASH I WANT GM TO PAY FOR REPAIRS THEY KNOW OF THIS BIG PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10513513

142,500 miles · Jun 27, 2011
Exterior Lighting

HAZARD/TURN SIGNAL WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. DOES NOT APPEAR ON THE INDICATOR PANEL WHEN NOT WORKING. WILL WORK FOR PART OF A TRIP AND THEN STOP OR NOT WORK AT ALL WHEN THE VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED AND THEN WORK 20 MINS. LATER. THE SPEED/WEATHER CONDITIONS DO NOT SEEM TO HAVE AN EFFECT AS TO WHEN IT WORKS. CONSEQUENCE COULD BE A …

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HAZARD/TURN SIGNAL WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. DOES NOT APPEAR ON THE INDICATOR PANEL WHEN NOT WORKING. WILL WORK FOR PART OF A TRIP AND THEN STOP OR NOT WORK AT ALL WHEN THE VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED AND THEN WORK 20 MINS. LATER. THE SPEED/WEATHER CONDITIONS DO NOT SEEM TO HAVE AN EFFECT AS TO WHEN IT WORKS. CONSEQUENCE COULD BE A TICKET. THE TOWN OF AMHERST HAS MADE THE NEWS FOR HOW MUCH THEY TICKET AND A PLEA DOWN TO A PARKING TICKET WOULD COST A PERSON $200+. I HAVE HESITATED TO REPLACE IT AS I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM OF CHEVY MALIBU'S. THESE CARS NEED SO MANY REPAIRS THAT I HATE TO PUT MORE MONEY (YET AGAIN) INTO SOMETHING THAT WILL NOT WORK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10409028

50,000 miles · Sep 18, 2010
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

INTERMITTENT TURN SIGNAL FAILURE. THERE IS NO CAUSE OR EFFECT. SOME DAYS THEY WORK SOME DAYS NOT. SOMETIMES THEY WORK OR NOT IN THE SAME DAY. WE HAVE FOUND NO SHORTS IN THE SYSTEM AND EVERYTHING ELSE WORKS FINE ON THE SELECTOR SWITCH WITHOUT FAIL. WE TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC TWICE WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE HAD SE…

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INTERMITTENT TURN SIGNAL FAILURE. THERE IS NO CAUSE OR EFFECT. SOME DAYS THEY WORK SOME DAYS NOT. SOMETIMES THEY WORK OR NOT IN THE SAME DAY. WE HAVE FOUND NO SHORTS IN THE SYSTEM AND EVERYTHING ELSE WORKS FINE ON THE SELECTOR SWITCH WITHOUT FAIL. WE TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC TWICE WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS MALFUNCTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10356285

118,400 miles · Jun 23, 2010
Exterior Lighting

I AM EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH BOTH OF MY TURN SIGNALS. THEY ARE CURRENTLY NOT WORKING AT 100%. SOMETIMES THEY COME ON AND SOMETIMES THEY DO NOT. ALSO, THEY HAVE TURNED ON AND IMMEDIATELY STOPPED WORKING. THIS HAS CAUSED GREAT CONCERN BECAUSE I AM NOT ALWAYS ABLE TO SIGNAL TO CHANGE LANES WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. NOTHI…

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I AM EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH BOTH OF MY TURN SIGNALS. THEY ARE CURRENTLY NOT WORKING AT 100%. SOMETIMES THEY COME ON AND SOMETIMES THEY DO NOT. ALSO, THEY HAVE TURNED ON AND IMMEDIATELY STOPPED WORKING. THIS HAS CAUSED GREAT CONCERN BECAUSE I AM NOT ALWAYS ABLE TO SIGNAL TO CHANGE LANES WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. NOTHING HAPPENED DIRECTLY BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. ONE NIGHT WHEN A FRIEND WAS FOLLOWING ME SHE NOTICED THAT I HAD "STOPPED" USING MY TURN SIGNALS WHEN IN FACT I NOTICED LATER THAT THEY WERE NO LONGER WORKING. THE NEXT DAY, THEY WORKED ON AND OFF THROUGHOUT THE DAY. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER AND REPORTED THAT PROBLEM AND ASKED ABOUT THE RECALL, THE DEALER STATED THAT MY 2004 MALIBU WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL THOUGH IT WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS PREVIOUS MODELS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10339696

70,000 miles · Apr 8, 2009
Electrical SystemExterior LightingVisibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. WITHIN THE PAST YEAR, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL FAILURE WITH THE WINDOWS. THE WINDOWS WORK AT RANDOM AND, OCCASIONALLY, RISE VERY SLOWLY AS IF THE MOTOR IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE IS ALSO EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH THE TURN SIGNALS. MOST OF THE T…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. WITHIN THE PAST YEAR, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL FAILURE WITH THE WINDOWS. THE WINDOWS WORK AT RANDOM AND, OCCASIONALLY, RISE VERY SLOWLY AS IF THE MOTOR IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE IS ALSO EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH THE TURN SIGNALS. MOST OF THE TIME THEY DO NOT WORK AT ALL, BUT OTHER TIMES THE SIGNALS WORK FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THE ISSUE IS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND SHOULD BE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR. THE DEALER WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000. UPDATED 5/7/09 *CN UPDATED 05/12/09*JB

NHTSA ODI #10264462

40,000 miles · Feb 17, 2009
Exterior Lighting

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HAZARD WARNING SWITCH CAUSES THE TURN SIGNAL AND EMERGENCY FLASHERS NOT TO WORK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE; THEREFORE, HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT WENT TO THE DEALER TO PURCHASE THE PARTS AND …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HAZARD WARNING SWITCH CAUSES THE TURN SIGNAL AND EMERGENCY FLASHERS NOT TO WORK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE; THEREFORE, HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT WENT TO THE DEALER TO PURCHASE THE PARTS AND HANGE THE SWITCH HIMSELF. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 03/18/09. *LJ UPDATED 03/19/09. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10259131

Official recalls

1

14V400000 · Electrical System:ignition

Jul 3, 2014

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.

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

1

EA04018 · Loss Of Electric Power Steering

Opened Jul 1, 2004 · Closed May 10, 2005

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering; Steering:electric Power Assist System

IN PERFORMING THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS, ODI DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES CAN MALFUNCTION OR FAIL, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE; HOWEVER, DUE TO THE FOLLOWING REASONS, ODI HAS DECIDED THAT FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES ON THIS INVESTIGATION IS NOT WARRANTED AT THIS TIME: - GM ISSUED CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN (CSC) 04050A INDECEMBER 2004 TO ADDRESS THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN APPROXIMATELY58,700 SUBJECT VEHICLES, ENCOMPASSING AT LEAST 97 PERCENT OF THECOMPLAINT AND WARRANTY CLAIMS POPULATION.VEHICLES OUTSIDE THECSC 04050A POPULATION CONTAIN A NEWLY DESIGNED TORQUE ANDPOSITION SENSOR AND HAVE EXPERIENCED A RELATIVELY LOW COMPLAINTRATE.THIS CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN PRESENTLY HAS ACOMPLETION RATE OF 52%. - THE IMPACT ON THE DRIVER?S ABILITY TO CONTROL THESE RELATIVELYSMALL AND LIGHT VEHICLES WAS LIMITED.VRTC TEST ENGINEERS WEREUNABLE TO INDUCE A FAILURE MODE THAT WOULD CAUSE THE EPS TOSUBSTANTIALLY LIMIT THE DRIVER?S ABILITY TO TURN THE VEHICLE IN APARTICULAR DIRECTION OR TO PROVIDE THE DRIVER WITH UNINTENDEDPOWER ASSISTANCE.- THERE IS NO RISK OF FIRE.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.(FOR FURTHER DETAILS SEE ATTACHED ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA04-018)CLOSING REPORT.)

Additional source detail variants (2)

Steering:electric Power Assist System

IN PERFORMING THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS, ODI DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES CAN MALFUNCTION OR FAIL, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE; HOWEVER, DUE TO THE FOLLOWING REASONS, ODI HAS DECIDED THAT FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES ON THIS INVESTIGATION IS NOT WARRANTED AT THIS TIME: - GM ISSUED CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN (CSC) 04050A INDECEMBER 2004 TO ADDRESS THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN APPROXIMATELY58,700 SUBJECT VEHICLES, ENCOMPASSING AT LEAST 97 PERCENT OF THECOMPLAINT AND WARRANTY CLAIMS POPULATION.VEHICLES OUTSIDE THECSC 04050A POPULATION CONTAIN A NEWLY DESIGNED TORQUE ANDPOSITION SENSOR AND HAVE EXPERIENCED A RELATIVELY LOW COMPLAINTRATE.THIS CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN PRESENTLY HAS ACOMPLETION RATE OF 52%. - THE IMPACT ON THE DRIVER?S ABILITY TO CONTROL THESE RELATIVELYSMALL AND LIGHT VEHICLES WAS LIMITED.VRTC TEST ENGINEERS WEREUNABLE TO INDUCE A FAILURE MODE THAT WOULD CAUSE THE EPS TOSUBSTANTIALLY LIMIT THE DRIVER?S ABILITY TO TURN THE VEHICLE IN APARTICULAR DIRECTION OR TO PROVIDE THE DRIVER WITH UNINTENDEDPOWER ASSISTANCE.- THERE IS NO RISK OF FIRE.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.(FOR FURTHER DETAILS SEE ATTACHED ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA04-018)CLOSING REPORT.)

Steering

IN PERFORMING THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS, ODI DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES CAN MALFUNCTION OR FAIL, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE; HOWEVER, DUE TO THE FOLLOWING REASONS, ODI HAS DECIDED THAT FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES ON THIS INVESTIGATION IS NOT WARRANTED AT THIS TIME: - GM ISSUED CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN (CSC) 04050A INDECEMBER 2004 TO ADDRESS THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN APPROXIMATELY58,700 SUBJECT VEHICLES, ENCOMPASSING AT LEAST 97 PERCENT OF THECOMPLAINT AND WARRANTY CLAIMS POPULATION.VEHICLES OUTSIDE THECSC 04050A POPULATION CONTAIN A NEWLY DESIGNED TORQUE ANDPOSITION SENSOR AND HAVE EXPERIENCED A RELATIVELY LOW COMPLAINTRATE.THIS CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN PRESENTLY HAS ACOMPLETION RATE OF 52%. - THE IMPACT ON THE DRIVER?S ABILITY TO CONTROL THESE RELATIVELYSMALL AND LIGHT VEHICLES WAS LIMITED.VRTC TEST ENGINEERS WEREUNABLE TO INDUCE A FAILURE MODE THAT WOULD CAUSE THE EPS TOSUBSTANTIALLY LIMIT THE DRIVER?S ABILITY TO TURN THE VEHICLE IN APARTICULAR DIRECTION OR TO PROVIDE THE DRIVER WITH UNINTENDEDPOWER ASSISTANCE.- THERE IS NO RISK OF FIRE.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.(FOR FURTHER DETAILS SEE ATTACHED ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA04-018)CLOSING REPORT.)