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.
The 6 way front drivers seat has failed 6 times since 2006. The most recent incident was 3/15/2019. The first failure was in 2007. The welds that support the frame break and I have replaced the seat 3 times, welded 3 times. This is a significant safety issue as it has occurred while driving after hitting a bump and caused me to loose control of the car. I am reporting this now as the dealers ignore this as an issue and just want over a $1000 to replace the same defective part which will fail again. NHTSA is my last hope that lives will be saved. This is not an unusual problem as there are many reports of this defect.
2004 Malibu lt, weld on rt front of 6 way driver seat broken, seat motor runs but can not make seat adjustments. The seat sags to right when trying to move forward or back. But will not move forward or back on the seat frame.
The driver's seat frame is broken. The adjuster only raises the left side. In speaking with other Malibu owners, this is a very common problem in both the sedan and maxx versions of this vehicle.
First noticed driver seat woul lean to one side in 2005, dealer welded seat bracket to repair bracket. Noticed same problem in 2007. Dealer replaced bracket. Noticed problem again in 2010. With warranty expired we've been driving ever since. Bracket is now completely off track and will not adjust, finally decided to see what it would cost too replace. Am now finding out its a common problem with this model. Looks like buying a new bracket would only be a temporary fix.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu maxx. The contact stated that the driver seat frame welds fractured. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician verified the failure and replaced the seat frame. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 134,360. Updated 02/26/16
- Mount Joy, PA, USA
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Attempting to adjust the driver's seat back it snapped and dropped on the right side, closest to the center column. Driver's seat now tilts towards the right. Mechanic said it will not pass a safety inspection. Upon reading NHTSA reviews by other owners of the same model there are multiple reports of the same incident. This really should be recalled.
I have owned a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu maxx for a couple years. Recently the drivers seat started wobbling and now sits uncomfortably crooked leaning to the right. I had my mechanic take the whole seat out to determine what the problem was and he said that the frame holding the seat to the floor had broken in 2 places. He said that there was no way to fix it safely for several reasons. He said that the materials for the frame were weak and inadequate. He said that it would be impossible to weld because there was no way to do it without possibly starting the seat on fire. He also brought up the facts that if a seat wasn't securely bolted to the floor and was loose that in a front end crash the seat would throw the driver forward into the windshield. The air bag "might" help slightly. Or - if you were hit from the rear with the seat loose the seat would collapse backward and throw the driver to the rear of the car or possibly through the rear windshield. Either situation could cause serious injury or death to a driver with this situation. My mechanic suggested replacing the whole seat but why would I spend the possible $900 and end up with a seat with the same inadequate, weak frame only to break again. The seat broke because of cheap, weak, inadequate materials that were used. It did not happen from wear and tear or abuse. It is a huge safety issue that GM needs to recall and fix at their expense. I hope others reading this complaint will pursue this issue with GM until a recall happens, and before any of us are killed!
I own a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu maxx. The front drivers seat recently has started uncomfortably leaning to the right and shiftng back and forth. I was just informed by my mechanic that the frame on the front seat drivers side is broken. He did not recommend trying to fix it due to the fact that by breaking it has affected the whole integrity of the frame. He advised me to get a new seat due to safety issues if being in accident or crash. He said the seat could come all the way loose and cause the driver to fly forward and sustain serious injury. Also, it could cause the air bag to inflate prematurely. I would like to see GM do a recall due to this being a safety issue. And by doing research on the computer I have found that there are a lot of Malibu owners that have had their car seat frames break. This problem is not due to abuse or extended wear. It is due to an inadequate, defective part. I need advice as to how to proceed with addressing this issue with GM. Thank you.
I was driving about 35 mph on flat strait road when the drivers seat suddenly dropped down, back and toward the right. Upon inspection I see that the weld on the brace/frame of the seat has broken. The seat is now unstable and sloping to the right. I fear the other side may snap as well. I see several other complaints regarding the exact same issue. This needs to be recalled before somebody is seriously hurt.
Noticed seat moved and tended to lean driver toward center console. Upon inspection the seat frame broke at the right rear. When the car accelerates the seat rocks backward for several inches. I have owned the car since it was purchased new from the dealer.
Noticed the driver's seat no longer aligned properly: Right side is down and back. Inspection shows a seat frame weld broken at the forward cross bar where it is welded to the side frame. The metal crossbar tube broke away leaving the weld intact on the frame, indicating insufficient strength in the design and materials, based on my professional mechanical engineering background. Internet research indicates broken welds on these driver seats to be a growing problem, often leaving the seat unstable, and negatively affecting the driver's control on the vehicle. This should be a prime safety recall issue!
First off, everywhere I look online someone has problems regarding the Chevrolet Malibu maxx's seats. I was going about 30mph and I heard a pop cone from the drivers side seat frame when I turned a corner. The weld on one of the supporting bars popped off again after trying to weld it again which leads me to believe that the metal bar that broke was to weak and should not have been put in at the factory.I believe very strongly that these seats should be fixed because it is a major safety hazard and a financial burden on those seeking to get it fixed. Thank you for reading my concerns.
The track weld and brace on driver side power seat is fractured/broken causing extreme uneven sloping in seat. The seat moves while driving. Multiple complaints about this issue with this car, why no recall on a faulty framing design?
Noticed the seat tilted to the right and looked underneath to discover a broken weld on the front cross member of the seat frame. My wife is a petite woman and drives it most of the time. There was no accident or incident, it was just a poor weld.
Possible defect in the construction of the front seat. Seatbelt attached to seat; now useless. Noticed other drivers have posted the same issue. Front seat tips to the right. While driving, the seat wobbles; seat appears to move as accelerating and moves when braking. Possible defect in seat. Have read other complaints; same issue; where is the recall letter?
I was making a right turn when something under my seat popped and flung me to the passenger's side. When I got to my destination, I looked under the seat to find the horizontal metal bar on the seat frame snapped at the weld.
While making a left turn the right side of my driver power seat dropped and rocked in an unstable condition. I was unaware the problem is a common one and have attempted to have the weld repaired twice, however it would require for the seat to be totally removed and at great expense since the car is out of warranty.
While driving down the expressway at approximately 70mph I hit a dip in the road heard a loud pop from under the front driver's seat. The seat dropped to the right causing me to nearly lose control of the vehicle. I really think that there should be some sort of recall on this vehicle as there have been numerous complaints about this seat incident. First search on google brought up this website which may be of concern to you. Please look at this sincerely and consult with GM and issue a recall or something. This is going to get someone killed if its not fixed now. This is an obvious design flaw as when I inspected the support bar it was only welded on either corner of the bracket holding it on. There should have been a full and proper weld placed in this location as they had to know it would be a heavy stress point.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Dana Point, CA, USA