NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
116 reports13,400 miles · Jan 17, 2012
Steering
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 CHILD…
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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
NHTSA ODI #10444081
Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 2011
Steering
THE POWER STEERING CONSTANTLY GOES OUT ON THIS CAR. I CAN BE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND IT WILL GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL, YET THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES. THE QUOTE I'VE BEEN GIVEN TO REPAIR IS OVER $500 AND SEVERAL PEOPLE HAD TO GET THE REPAIR DONE MORE THAN ONCE…
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THE POWER STEERING CONSTANTLY GOES OUT ON THIS CAR. I CAN BE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND IT WILL GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL, YET THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES. THE QUOTE I'VE BEEN GIVEN TO REPAIR IS OVER $500 AND SEVERAL PEOPLE HAD TO GET THE REPAIR DONE MORE THAN ONCE. CHEVY SHOULD DO A RECALL AND COMPENSATE THE CONSUMERS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10430823
Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2011
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. IN APRIL 2011, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE RACK AND PINON HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, NOR WAS THE VEH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. IN APRIL 2011, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE RACK AND PINON HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10425411
128,656 miles · Aug 27, 2011
Unknown Or Other
CHEVY MALIBU CLASSIC 2004. ANTI-THEFT LIGHT IS STAYING ON AND THE CAR WILL NOT TURN OVER AT ALL. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I HAVE HAD ANY PROBLEM WITH IT. THE CAR WILL SIT IN THE "ON" POSITION AND THE POWER WILL BE ON, BUT ONCE IT IS TURNED TO "START" EVERYTHING GOES OFF AND THER…
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CHEVY MALIBU CLASSIC 2004. ANTI-THEFT LIGHT IS STAYING ON AND THE CAR WILL NOT TURN OVER AT ALL. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I HAVE HAD ANY PROBLEM WITH IT. THE CAR WILL SIT IN THE "ON" POSITION AND THE POWER WILL BE ON, BUT ONCE IT IS TURNED TO "START" EVERYTHING GOES OFF AND THERE IS NO POWER FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. *TT
NHTSA ODI #10421694
19,000 miles · Jul 17, 2011
Steering
POWER STEERING GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING, TWICE IN THE LAST TWO DAYS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10413196
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
89,564 miles · Jun 5, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingStructure
A/C HOSES RUB THE FRAME AND CREATE A HOLE IN THE LINE THAT CAUSES FREON 134A TO BE RELEASED IN TO THE AIR AND THE EXPENSE IS OVER 500. TO REPAIR ON THE 2004 CHEVY MALIBU. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10404495
40,272 miles · May 5, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE FAILURE AND INTERMITTENT STARTING PROBLEMS. WHILE DRIVING A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU, ITS ENGINE CUT OUT WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE ALL POWER CONTROLS IE. STEERING AND BRAKING. AFTER THIS INCIDENT, THE CAR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY NOT START FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 WEEKS. AFTER THE 2 WEEKS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STA…
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ENGINE FAILURE AND INTERMITTENT STARTING PROBLEMS. WHILE DRIVING A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU, ITS ENGINE CUT OUT WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE ALL POWER CONTROLS IE. STEERING AND BRAKING. AFTER THIS INCIDENT, THE CAR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY NOT START FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 WEEKS. AFTER THE 2 WEEKS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AT ALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAULTY PASSLOCK CYLINDER, WHICH IS PART OF THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM ON GM CARS. THE PASSLOCK CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10399257
128,000 miles · Mar 26, 2011
Electrical System
THE THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM ON MY 2004 MALIBU CLASSIC MALFUNCTIONS REPEATEDLY IT DOES THIS APPROXIMATELY ONCE A WEEK RESET THE THEFT SYSTEM USING THE KEY ON ENGINE OFF LET THE CAR SET LIKE THIS FOR 10 MIN. THE CAR THEN STARTS IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10392951
80,000 miles · Mar 21, 2011
Steering
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY,MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT MY CAR OFF AND STARTED IT UP AGAIN AND IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN.GM HAS RECALLED OTHER MODELS FOR DOING THE SAME THING,BUT NOT THE 2004 MALIBU. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET KILLED UNLESS GM TAKES CAR…
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WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY,MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT MY CAR OFF AND STARTED IT UP AGAIN AND IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN.GM HAS RECALLED OTHER MODELS FOR DOING THE SAME THING,BUT NOT THE 2004 MALIBU. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET KILLED UNLESS GM TAKES CARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE 2004 CHEVY. MALIBU HAS ELECTRIC ASSISTED POWER STEERING. THE THING IS THAT GM,THE DEALERS AND NHTSA ALL KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM,BUT ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING UNTIL PEOPLE ARE HURT AND KILLED. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW AND HAVE TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10392403
Official recalls
1Jul 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 ↗