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2.5

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
59,600 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

2004 Chevrolet Malibu electrical problems

electrical problem

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2004 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments

problem #12

Sep 242013

Malibu 4-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2004 Chevrolet Malibu. Consumer writes in regards to ignition key failure to re-start vehicle, towed to dealership for faulty ignition switch repairs and consumer seeks reimbursement for recall repairs.

- Downers Grove, IL, USA

problem #11

Jun 012017

Malibu

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. When the contact reached his destination, the vehicle was placed in park and attempted to remove the key from the ignition, but was unsuccessful. The contact had to move the key in an up and down, side to side motion for several minutes in order to remove it from the ignition. The ignition failure occurred several times since June of 2017. The contact purchased a new key, which worked for a few months. The vehicle was taken to an independent auto mechanic and was informed that the failure would have to be repaired at the Chevrolet dealer because specific tools needed to be used. The failure was not repaired. The manufacturer and dealer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 100,000.

- North Chicago, IL, USA

problem #10

Dec 152014

Malibu

  • 140,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. In addition, the vehicle failed to shift into reverse. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the ignition needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 14V400000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.

- Monett, MO, USA

problem #9

Aug 212014

Malibu

  • 95,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that after parking and turning off the vehicle, the key became lodged in the ignition switch. The vehicle was towed to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that the ignition switch needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 95,000.

- Binghamton, NY, USA

problem #8

Aug 012014

Malibu

  • 145,661 miles
Key is stuck in the ignition.

- Springfield, OH, USA

problem #7

Jun 032014

Malibu

  • 112,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the parking brake would malfunction and the vehicle would roll away when parked on an incline or a flat surface. Additionally, the vehicle would sporadically hesitate when the contact attempted to accelerate. The contact also stated that the transmission would become stuck in first gear and began to exhibit an abnormal jerking motion. The key would also become stuck in the ignition and the vehicle would intermittently fail to start. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 112,000.

- Hollister, MO, USA

problem #6

May 262011

Malibu

  • 108,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Since purchasing the vehicle (used), there have been more than 12 instances where the car cuts out while driving. This has occurred at speeds as high as 55 mph. There is a total loss of power and the car must be brought to a rolling stop outside of the traffic flow. Also, there have been weekly instances of the car failing to start. This has since increased to daily. The key will only start the ignition when the dash lights (battery, oil, etc) are on, and they are on and off completely at random. Sometimes I have to wait up to 10 minutes with the key partially turned before the lights come on and I can turn it the rest of the way and start the car. The other electrical issue that has happened is that the blower fan has gone on and off and the power windows have gone on and off.

- Richmond, IL, USA

problem #5

May 252005

Malibu 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 11,500 miles
Key is not released from ignition unless shift lever is put again back in drive and then park after car is off. GM has replaced both ignition components and shift components but has not solved the problem since car was new, Malibu 2004 lt, and it means sometimes having to leave car with key in ignition if can't remove it.

- Hyattsville, MD, USA

problem #4

Dec 012004

Malibu 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact states that vehicle will not start. The car will die while it is idling. When getting out of vehicle and turning it off and then get ting back into the vehicle it will not start again. This happened four different times. The cd player will not work, and sometimes when he tried starting vehicle the trunk will open. So it had been several different electrical problems with this vehicle.

- Woolwich, ME, USA

problem #3

Dec 082004

Malibu 4-cyl

  • miles
Number one complaint. 2004 Malibu is having problems with intermittenly not starting. Purchased the car with 6000+ miles. The problem started right after purchase. Dealer can't find anything wrong. Was told to drive it until it becomes frequent problem. Last episode was on 12/8/04. Also have had warning come up on regarding the powers teering, took to dealer. They had to "reprogram the car". haven't had that problem since. Very concerned over the issue of car not starting. Worried it my quit running while driving, and cause accident.

- Auburn, KY, USA

problem #2

Aug 092004

Malibu

  • miles
First two occurrences I would be completely stopped at traffic light and my Malibu would go completely dead. No warning lights on the dash would light up. The third occurrence my husband was backing out of the parking lot at home and the car went dead again. Also, at times when turning the key in the ignition the car would take 3 times to start. The first time the engine would just click like the engine wasn't turning over so to speak, then the other attempts of trying to turn the car on it would just make this god awful noise like it was trying to start but nothing would happen. I am currently filing the Florida lemon law on this vehicle.

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #1

Sep 242003

Malibu

  • 3,035 miles
After putting the key in the ignition, it became stuck and was not able to be released right away. The consumer took the vehicle to the dealership several times, but the mechanic could not resolve the problem. When the power steer locked up, the consumer had trouble turning the wheel. Steering column and steering position sensor replacedcw. Pe04031_cat

- Flint, MI, USA

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