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U.S. public vehicle records

2004 Chevrolet MALIBU CLASSIC problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

116 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

100,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 92 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 51 of 116 complaints (44.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior2723.3%
Electrical and battery issues1916.4%
Engine operation1210.3%
Braking behavior86.9%
Fuel system concerns43.4%
Transmission and shifting21.7%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System
51
Steering
23
Exterior Lighting
8
Unknown Or Other
8
Engine
6
Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module
5
Power Train
5
Air Bags
4
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System51
Steering23
Exterior Lighting8
Unknown Or Other8
Engine6
Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module5
Power Train5
Air Bags4

Electrical System: 51; Steering: 23; Exterior Lighting: 8; Unknown Or Other: 8; Engine: 6; Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module: 5; Power Train: 5; Air Bags: 4

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
4
25,000 to 49,999
13
50,000 to 74,999
13
75,000 to 99,999
15
100,000 to 149,999
33
150,000 and above
14
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0004
25,000 to 49,99913
50,000 to 74,99913
75,000 to 99,99915
100,000 to 149,99933
150,000 and above14

Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 13; 75,000 to 99,999: 15; 100,000 to 149,999: 33; 150,000 and above: 14

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (33). 24 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2005
1
2006
2
2007
3
2008
7
2009
6
2010
14
2011
12
2012
7
2013
5
2014
27
2015
15
2016
2
2017
3
2018
4
2019
1
2020
4
2021
3
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20051
20062
20073
20087
20096
201014
201112
20127
20135
201427
201515
20162
20173
20184
20191
20204
20213

2005: 1; 2006: 2; 2007: 3; 2008: 7; 2009: 6; 2010: 14; 2011: 12; 2012: 7; 2013: 5; 2014: 27; 2015: 15; 2016: 2; 2017: 3; 2018: 4; 2019: 1; 2020: 4; 2021: 3

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 27 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 19 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 12 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10146020 · 2005-12-24 (December 24, 2005)

I AM A FORMER STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WITH EXTENSIVE SAFE DRIVING TECHNIQUES FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS. I NOW WORK WITH UPS AND HAVE EXTENSIVE SAFE HABITS WITH THIS CORPORATION. TODAY WAS A CLEAR, COOL AND CRISP DAY WITH NO WATER OR OIL SPOTS ON THE HIGHWAY. MY 15 MONTH OLD WAS IN HER CHILD RESTRAINT SEAT IN THE REAR AND I WAS IN THE DRIVER SEAT. WHILE COMING TO A STOP MY BRAKES LOCKED UP AND THE ABS DID NOT WORK. THE SEAT BELT I WAS WEARING DID NOT WORK PROPERLY CAUSING ME TO BREAK MY GLASSES AS MY HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10146020 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10149045 · 2006-01-30 (January 30, 2006)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING ON THE VEHICLE LOCKS MOMENTARILY. THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WERE THE VEHICLE WAS TEST DRIVEN. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED.

Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149045 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10238970 · 2008-08-20 (August 20, 2008)

MY HUSBAND TRAVELS 200 MILES A DAY,MOSTLY INTERSTATE TRAVEL. AT LEAST .ONCE A DAY HIS TURN SIGNALS FAIL TO WORK. MOST OF THE TIME IF HE MESSES AROUND WITH THE HAZARD LIGHT BUTTON FOR A FEW SECONDS THE TURN SIGNALS WILL FUNCTION AGAIN,BUT NOT ALWAYS. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. ONE MECHANIC SAID IT IS MORE THAN LIKELY A SHORT IN THE WIRING BUT WILL E EXPENSIVE TO FIND LET ALONE FIX. I FEEL THERE IS ALSO A POSSIBILITY OF A FIRE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10238970 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10244072 · 2008-09-30 (September 30, 2008)

CAR WOULDN'T START SO TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND REMOVED BATTERY AND THEN REPLACED IT AND CAR STARTED. INFORMED US HE HAS WORKED ON OTHERS THAT HAD SAME PROBLEM AND IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE THAT HAD TO BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE TAKEN CARE OF. THE CAR STARTED AND RAN FOR 3 DAYS THEN IT WON'T START AGAIN. SO HAD IT TOWED TO THE CHEVY DEALER. MECHANIC TALKED TO ON THE PHONE INSTANTLY KNEW THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE HAD TO REPAIR IT ON MANY CARS. TOLD US IT WAS THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE AND THE ONLY WAY AROUND IT WAS TO REPLACE T…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10244072 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10284892 · 2009-09-22 (September 22, 2009)

STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHIMMY WHILE IN MOTION, OFTEN ACCOMPANIED BY KNOCKING THAT IS HEARD AND ALSO FELT THROUGH THE STEERINGWHEEL WHILE APPLYING BRAKES, AND WOULD STOP ONLY WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO AN NEAR OR COMPLETE STOP. OTHER NOTABLE EVENTS INCLUDE A ROUGH VIBRATION WITH AN AUDIBLE REPETITIVE THUMPING THAT WAS FELT FROM THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL THAT WOULD SLIP ON REGULAR INTERVALS WHILE APPLYING BRAKES. THE FAILURE HAPPENED SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING MY 2 SPECIAL NEEDS BOYS TO SCHOOL. THE FAILURE STARTED WITH LITTLE WARNING IN FRONT OF THE SCHOO…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10284892 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10339246 · 2010-06-20 (June 20, 2010)

I OWN A 2004 CHEVY MALIBU. THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE CONTINUALLY CAUSES MY CAR TO HAVE A DELAYED START. I HAVE HAD TO PUT SO MUCH MONEY INTO THIS VEHICLE THAT FIXING IT TO THE TUNE OF $500 IS OUT OF THE QUESTION. MY DEALER TOLD ME THAT EVEN FIXING THE VEHICLE DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE REPLACEMENT PARTS WILL NOT BE DEFECTIVE. MY CAR RECENTLY STALLED IN A DARK PARKING LOT AND I HAD MY TWO YEAR OLD BABY WITH ME. DOES CHEVY HAVE NO SHAME FOR SELLING PRODUCTS THAT THEY KNOW ARE DANGEROUS? IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN ATTACKED AND MY LITTLE GIRL HURT IT WOULD HAVE …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10339246 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10187354 · 2007-04-09 (April 9, 2007)

SEVER VIBRATION WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. ONE ROTOR WAS CHANGED WHILE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY. NOW THERE IS 50,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND NO WARRANTY AND THE PROBLEM IS BACK. THIS WAS A PROBLEM THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF AND SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THE OTHER ROTOR ALSO.

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10187354 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10328366 · 2010-05-01 (May 1, 2010)

MY CAR SUDDENLY WOULDN'T START THIS MORNING WHILE TRYING TO GET TO WORK. AFTER RESEARCHING A LITTLE BIT ON THE INTERNET I CAME TO REALIZE THAT THIS HAS TO DO WITH THAT ANNOYING ANTI-THEFT LIGHT THAT IS ALWAYS LIT UP IN THE CORNER. SO I GO BACK OUT TO MY CAR, HOPING THAT THE 10 MINUTE PROCEDURE WILL WORK FOR ME AS WELL. BUT AS I AM SITTING THERE WITH MY CAR IN THE "ON" POSITION MY BATTERY DIES ON ME. SO NOW I AM STUCK HERE WITH A CAR THAT WONT TURN ON, AND NO WAY TO GET TO WORK! I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS AS WELL RELATED BUT ABOUT 2 MONTHS PRIO…

Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10328366 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10714597 · 2015-05-05 (May 5, 2015)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN THE FUEL PUMP EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE FUEL PUMP EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10714597 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10703790 · 2015-04-05 (April 5, 2015)

VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO SMOOTHLY SHIFT INTO PARK POSITION TO ALLOW THE KEY TO BE TURNED OFF. CERTIFIED MECHANIC STATED THE SHIFTER CABLE IS MOST LIKELY THE DEFECT. MANY MODELS HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECALLED. THE CAR IN NOT ABLE TO SHIFT INTO PARK TO ALLOW TURNING OF THE KEY IGNITION SWITCH TO THE OFF POSITION SO THAT THE CAR BATTERY TURNS OFF. SIFTER CABLE COULD POSSIBLY MALFUNCTION DURING NORMAL DRIVING/OPERATION, STARTING/STOPPING. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 207,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10703790 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10984738 · 2017-05-10 (May 10, 2017)

I TURN MY CAR ON DRIVE GO TO GET OUT THE KEY WON'T COME OUT SOMETIMES IT DOES AND MOST TIME IS DOESN'T. I TRY TURN THE CAR BACK ON PUTTING THE CAR IN DRIVE THEN PARK AND TURNING THE KEY TO OFF POSITION AND THE CAR STILL DOESN'T GO INTO THE PARK POSITION SO THE KEY DOESN'T GO INTO OFF POSITION TO TAKE KEY OUT. THE CAR STAYS ON WITHOUT THE IGNITION BEING ON. THE CAR IS STATIONARY BUT THE CAR WON'T GO INTO PARK TO TURN THE CAR COMPLETELY OFF. SPOKE TO GM PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE BUT THEY WON'T HELP ME. THE KEEP SAYING THERE IS NO R…

Owner-reported narrative. 100,103 miles reported. Look up ODI 10984738 at NHTSA ↗