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.
I purchased this vehicle in 2006 with 17,000 miles at the carmax superstore in naperville Illinois and have had several serious issues since. The leaking sunroof with the innumerable failed attempts at repair. The leak has never been resolved and I have resorted to covering the vehicle with a tarp during inclement weather. The constant clicking noise in the steering when moving the steering wheel back and forth and the severe stiffness in the steering wheel when curb side parking between parked vehicles. The intermittent ignition failure, the vehicle will not turn over unless you depress the accelerator slightly. There were countless futile attempts at repair for all these defects through out the years of warranty and extended warranty coverage. The failed attempts of correctly diagnosing and properly repairing these defects by the englewwood auto group in englewood New Jersey have left me unsatisfied and super frustrated. Today I am writing because the operators seat has now tilted to the right and is leaning against the center console. There was nothing of significance that occurred while driving that immediately alerted me of this problem, I was simply adjusting the seat when I noticed that the seat was rubbing against the center console. Upon inspecting underneath the seat I observed that the right rear corner does not rise when engaging the electric seat controls. The angle of the lean is so bad that it affects my posture and pains my lower back. I am also afraid that the seat will completely collapse while I am driving. When the seat is lowered all the way down it does level to its acceptable norm, but at 5 feet 4 inches tall I cannot operate safely that low to the floor. For a vehicle that is driven on average once a week it is plagued with some serious manufacturer defects that the dealerships' service department is unable or unwilling to repair.
As I sat down in drivers seat the seat seemed to lean to the right and tilted back slightly. I looked under seat to see what was wrong and noticed a bar across front side of seat was broke away from it's original welded position. After removing seat I noticed that the bar had indeed broken free from weld. Not only was the weld broken but the bar which wasn't really a bar but a pipe slightly thicker walled than a piece of type M copper piping broke off with a piece missing. Also noticed same problem with the pipe that encases the bar at rear of the seat that allows the seat back to tilt back or forward. The pipe has also broken the weld and missing a piece of the pipe.we bought this car brand new and my wife is the primary driver.weight average 155 lbs. So I don't believe weight plays a part of this poorly designed work of failure. Mileage is less than 10,000 per year owned. This is extremely upsetting. Is Chevrolet responsible or since warranty is over they can get away with this poor design and safety issue?
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the driver seat leaned to the side when the driving. The contact stated that the bracket that held the seat to the frame was fractured and caused the seat to lean. The contact did not take the vehicle to a dealer or call the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 151,000.
Front driver's seat is completely loose on right side. Not secured down, cannot adjust and tilts when you make a turn or go around a curve. Have to drive with seat all the way down which is hard because I am a short person. When I get out of the car the whole seat acts like it is just connected on left side and comes up on right side. I had someone lift the seat while I looked underneath. Something is broke. Bracket will not hold seat up, just falls back down and seat will not stay in place. Also a safety issue with seat moving and not secure. In reading other complaints, I feel that I have the same issue of a broken frame which is a definite defect. I am not real heavy and that seat should not have broke. I have had this car for over three years and this has been my personal vehicle. However, I do not feel it is safe to drive like this, but have no choice! oh! these are power seats. Thank you.
Was backing out of parking space and heard a metallic clank from under the driver seat. The seat tipped back and to the right, as if the right rear corner of the seat is no longer supported. The car is not safe to drive, as the seat moves around freely and would not be as safe in an accident. After a very short internet search, I found this is a very common problem to this model and year.
The driver's seat tilts to the right. If I pull the seat up before getting in the car it is okay until I hit the brakes or the gas, then the seat will just drop. Which can cause an accident if a less experienced person was driving. The seat has been like this for the last 5 years. I finally got fed and asked my mechanic to see if he could possibly put it back on track but he advised that the frame is broken. After going to ask.com, I find that this is a defect that is prevalent in the Chevy Malibu. I believe this is not only a defect but one that presents a safety issue.
As I turned my 04 Malibu to the lt my drivers side front seat broke on rt side causing me to lean hard to the rt and rearward almost loosing control of car. I have 81371 mi. On car. Appears to me to be a safety issue. I thought GM stood by their products. Looking at all the other complaints about this same issue and GM refusing to fix this safety issue, I am worried about how safe this car really is. I also had my heated seats come on all by their over 300 documented times while under warranty and said there was nothing wrong with it. The seats came on even when no one was sitting in the seat.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving 65 mph the drivers seat snapped out of place and leaned to the right. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who performed a diagnostic test and stated the failure was caused by the drivers seat brackets. The VIN was unknown. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 102,000.
The driver's seat broke causing me to fall/rotate to my right and to the rear of the car. Seat failure was caused by a structural failure of 2 welds on the bottom seat frame. Welds located at the right bottom rear and right bottom front of the main support members. The seat frame has been replaced by a local service repair shop. I kept the frame after seeing what caused the seat to fail. I can provide pictures if you need them.
The drivers seat frame welds broke, leaving the seat unstable and leaning to the right. The vehicle had 50,000 miles on it and was driven primarily by one person and maintained well. The primary driver was @ 200 lbs.
Bought my 2004 Chevy Malibu in June of 2010 and just recently the support beam on the right side of the seat gave way. I don't jerk around in my seat I just get in and drive my car. Never had this happen before and I was heavier when I bought the car! I have a warranty which I hope covers it. However, I have noticed other people have made complaints about this very same thing happening on the right side of the seat and documented it online. I want it to be checked out as a safety issue for possible recall by Chevy.
One day, I was adjusting the power seat while sitting in it and the seat suddenly dropped down on the right side, so that I was tilting back and right. The frame weld had broken, so now adjusting the seat up/down only affects the left side. Since the seatbelt is attached to this frame, it strikes me as a serious safety hazard; in a crash, more stress would be put on the intact left weld and if it failed then the seat would come free from the rest of the car... I have not sought to get this fixed yet as I am weighing my options on a potential $1,000+ repair/replacement.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the steering column would become loose while driving at any speed and the wheel would sporadically shake when driving over 50 mph. In addition the power steering warning light was illuminated when the failure would occur. The contact stated the failure was the second occurrence and the steering column was replaced in 2007. The vehicle was not inspected or repaired for the recent failure. The failure mileage was 100,000 and the current mileage was 115,000. The consumer stated the vehicle made a clunking, knocking and rattling sound when driven at a low grade speed and when the steering wheel was turned. The vehicle also shook violently. The driver seat didn't to stay on track and was difficult to adjust forward and backward. The horn and cruise control were inoperative. The brake and accelerator pedals no longer adjusted. The safety locks did not latch at times when the button was pushed and the gas cap continued to open after it was locked causing the engine light to illuminate. Updated 02/01/12
Chevy Malibu driver side seat frame broken welds. The welds in the frame have broken causing the seat to become unstable. If the car was involved in a minor accident the seat would fall apart. I am average size and weight and believe this is a factory defect.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving 75 mph the right drivers seat detached from the metal base. The vehicle will be taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The manufacturer filed report 71937106775 but would not assist with the repair cost, because of the age of the vehicle and since the warranty expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 131,000. Updated 07/08/11 the consumer stated the weld broke on the driver's side seat while driving 75 mph. The seat tilted back to the right rear. Updated 07/20/11
My front seat broke on one side causing me to sit lop sided while driving. My mechanic repaired 3 times and said it had to be replaced. The front and rear blinkers continuosly go out. The bulbs are fine the connection is just loose.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Teaneck, NJ, USA