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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
57,910 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 Maxx electrical problems

electrical problem

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2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx Owner Comments (Page 2 of 2)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #13

Apr 012004

Malibu Maxx

  • miles

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

Bought 2004 Malibu maxx brand new. Switch in ac first to go at just under 10000 miles. 18000 miles brakes and rotors had to replace cost almost $800. Headlights burned up replace wiring harness on both another $1000. Replaced both head lights could not see through either of them another $385 check engine light kept coming on and come to find out there was not a fuse in the emission spot. Replaced that another $400 when they found the problem. Leaks in the hatch when it rains or car is being washed. Check engine light on will not reset. Driver seat supports are broken and everyone that I know that has this car has the same problem and no recall has been issued on this, guess when there is an accident and someone really gets hurt then something will be don. It is ashamed that you pay so much for a vehicle and this is what you go through. I am a firm believer in oil changes and general maintenance and no one from the company seems to care about problems that is fault of the manufacturing of this car and it seems that no one wants to replace what is wrong.

- Newellton, LA, USA

problem #12

Jan 112010

Malibu Maxx

  • 8,000 miles
The dashboard lights and tail lights didn't work after only 8,00 miles and then the left turn signal didn't work after only 15,000 miles. There was a relay switch that was replaced at 8,000 miles that cost $125 including parts and labor and then at 15,000 miles the left turn signal didn't work and after two days in the shop they "repaired and recrimped terminal at BCM". no parts, just labor $459.80. Both of these jobs were done at Chevy dealerships. It turns out that these electrical problems especially the left turn signal problem is very common but it took the dealership two days to fix it.

- New York, NY, USA

problem #11

Aug 282009

Malibu Maxx 6-cyl

  • miles
I own a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu maxx. The power steering in the vehicle goes out while the car is in motion. When power steering goes out, I have to stop the vehicle where I am and turn the car off and restart the vehicle to get power steering to come back on. Also the left turn signal light continues to go out. I have replaced the light several times and it continues to blow after a day. The turn signal being out makes it hard for me to turn when at stop signs. Other drivers don't know I am turning and try to drive while I am making a turn.

- Phenix City, AL, USA

problem #10

Dec 032010

Malibu Maxx

  • 113,451 miles

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

2004 Chevy Malibu maxx will not start due to passlock. Car cranks over and often takes a while to start. Eventually car starts. Often left stranded waiting for it to start.

- Rumford, RI, USA

problem #9

Nov 102009

Malibu Maxx 6-cyl

  • 85,000 miles
Getting "power steering error" intermittently since last one year. The error message goes away at restart, but comes back again later. This is serious matter as it could mean loss of power to the steering and may result in a crash. Please investigate it and have it recalled before some one gets killed.

- Akron, OH, USA

problem #8

Sep 242010

Malibu Maxx

  • 40,000 miles
Failure of power steering while accelerating vehicle. Steering direction becomes impossible to change until acceleration ceases. This has supposedly been fixed by the dealership two times previous to today. The last time it was fixed was only two weeks ago and while I was driving the kids into school this morning, the steering locked up, the dinging sound turned on, and the message board read power steering along with a tool that lit up on the dashboard.

- Hendersonville, TN, USA

problem #7

Aug 302010

Malibu Maxx

  • 91,000 miles

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

My friend has a 2004 Chevy Malibu, she asked me to check her front turn signals as they were not working. I noticed the light bulbs were covered by a orange plastic globe. I was amazed to see the plastic globes had burn holes in them and the melting plastic was dripping on the light bulbs and destroying them. I also noticed burn marks on the headlamp lenses on both sides. I removed the plastic globes and put new bulbs in. The globes are way too close to the hot bulbs which are burning the plastic. It is happening on higher mileage Malibu that have had time to melt the plastic. I feel this is a design flaw and a possible fire hazard. I checked on the internet and there are hundreds if not thousands of complaints about this same problem. GM has no bulletins on this matter.

- Eagan, MN, USA

problem #6

Jan 052009

Malibu Maxx

  • 57,000 miles
First my horn fuse continued to blow. I replaced the fuse multiple times. Then my turn signal light went out. I looked at it and noticed that both sides had holes burnt through the amber globe. I was out of town and didn't want to receive a ticket for non working light so I had it replaced, however within a day the bulb blew again and the horn fuse blew again. I took it to the dealer and they said they had no clue what was causing it however I had to pay over $500 to have the headlight parts replaced on both sides. I have an extended warranty and they denied the claim B/C they don't replace lights, however the fact that the car is burning up I don't think I just wanted new lights. I do not feel I should be out money for a problem that has obviously occurred on other vehicles and now mine. I feel that a car that is actually melting/burning is a major safety concern....but I guess until a few people blow up in there vehicles people will be out money to pay for a faulty automobile. I wish I still had my Ford..it never gave me the problems this car has. I started with steering going out, then back hatch never opened, car remote systems doesn't work (and I won't pay to replace that), now the car is blowing fuses, lights, and burning up melting the plastic. I think they should just start replacing the 2004 with something a little more safe....like a Ford.

- Covington, KY, USA

problem #5

Jan 012005

Malibu Maxx 6-cyl

  • 15,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu maxx. The left turn signal bulbs often blow out. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and they replaced the bulb and some wires. Recently, he noticed that the left turn signal covering burned. The vehicle will be taken to the dealer for a diagnosis. The failure mileage was 15,000 and current mileage was 37,900. Updated 10/03/08 the dealer stated the wiring harness had melted. Updated 10/07/08.

- South Pasadena, CA, USA

problem #4

Nov 072007

Malibu Maxx 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 37,000 miles
The contact is co-owner of a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu maxx. The contact's daughter was driving approximately 55 mph when the instrument panel lights began to flicker and there was a loss of steering power. The vehicle veered to the right and then pulled hard to the left, entering into traffic and striking two vehicles. The passenger and driver of the vehicle sustained minor injuries. The two other drivers also sustained injuries, but the contact does not know to what extent. A police report was filed. The vehicle sustained approximately $2,600 worth of damage to the front end. The vehicle was inspected by the insurance company and towed to a dealer. Investigation number EA04018 was issued, but there has been no recall as of yet. The current and failure mileages were 37,000. Updated 12-12-07.

- Mansfield, TX, USA

problem #3

Sep 132006

Malibu Maxx 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 29,000 miles

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

: the contact stated while driving various speeds, a short circuit caused all of the vehicle's lights to blink at the same time very rapidly. Also, the horn sounded rapidly, then the vehicle powered down causing all of the lights to dim and the electronic steering wheel to lock up. The vehicle went into a coasting mode. Until the vehicle powered back up again, and the computers overrode each other, the steering wheel would not unlock. The dealership replaced all of the lights three times. This included turn signal lights, headlights, taillights and any other lights to try and remedy the problem. The fuel pump was changed because the dealership thought the fuel pump may be overriding the main computer. The cruise control was also replaced because the dealership thought maybe the cruise control was activating the system, but the problem still persisted. The cruise control was not in use when the short circuit occurred. Updated 10/4/2006 -

- Baton Rouge, LA, USA

problem #2

May 242005

Malibu Maxx 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 13,800 miles
Driving vehicle, check engine light came on at 13,890 miles, made appointment for service, work was done on car, drover 150 miles, check engine light came on again. The dealerhas H my car for three weeks now and they can not find the problem. They had to have an egineer for the manufacturing plant come work on the car. Todays date is June 16 2005, I am getting very frustrated with this matter I just wish the manufacture would buy this car back. So I can buy another car.

- Victorville, CA, USA

problem #1

Feb 212004

Malibu Maxx

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,379 miles
When the vehicle was started with the remote control dashboard components failed to function when the key was turned in the ignition. The vehicle was taken to the dealership the following day a diagnostic test was performed, but no failure codes were found. The failure recurred 4 months later while turning into a parking space. Also, the steering column locked up. When this occurred, the instrument panel read steering column assistance needed. The consumer then turned the vehicle off, then back on. The vehicle started, but the steering wheel wouldn't move. The steering wheel unlocked when the vehicle was restarted 20 minutes later. The vehicle was taken back to the dealership the following day. The service person indicated that there was a technical service bulletin on this issue, and ordered a new steering column to be installed. The consumer was instructed not to drive the vehicle out of town, in addition, while driving at 1379 miles, the consumer smelled a strong fuel odor. This occurred because the fuel line clip came off, and fuel was leaking. The dealership reinstalled the fuel clip because it wasn't properly installed at factory. Ea04018_cat

- Potsdam, NY, USA

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