2004 Chevrolet MALIBU MAXX: complaints, problems and recalls

COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING, WHILE DRIVEING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS (65 MPH). *AK PE04031_CAT

Owner-reported narrative. 4,450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10078620 at NHTSA ↗

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 WHE…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,379 miles reported. Look up ODI 10081632 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH OR LESS AND MAKING A LEFT TURN CONSUMER NOTICED DASHBOARD INDICATOR LIGHTS FLASHING. THEN, LOST POWER STEERING. *AK EA04018_CAT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10081687 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, LETTING THE CONSUMER KNOW THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHICH MADE IT VERY HARD TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME IT HAS HAPPENED. *AK EA04018_CAT THE STEERING COLUMN HAD BEEN REPLACED AND THERE HAD BEEN NO RECURRENCE. *SC

Owner-reported narrative. 2,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10092926 at NHTSA ↗

(1) GRINDING NOISE FROM FRONT OF CAR WHEN TURNING WHEEL (2) HAVING TO TAKE 1 HOUR OFF OF WORK TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT BY A DEALER FEAR OF IT NOT BEING SAFE TO DRIVE. *AK (3) THE FRONT STEERING COMPONENT NEEDS REPLACED. IT WILL TAKE AT LEAST A WEEK TO GET THE PART IN. (1) REAR DEFROST DOES NOT WORK (2) NOT ABLE TO SEE OUT OF THE BACK WINDOW IN THE MORNING. (3) WILL BE LOOKED AT WHEN CAR IS IN FOR STEERING UNIT TO BE REPLACED. (1) WEAK START UP (2) EMBARRASSING WHEN OWNING A NEW CAR WITH ONLY 1600 MILES ON IT. (3) WILL BE LO…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10093432 at NHTSA ↗

POWER STEERING FAILS WHILE DRIVING. CAN OT STEER THE VEHILCLEVERY VERY HARD, OLDER PEOPLE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO STEER.. STOP AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTART LIGHT GOES OUT AND STEERING WORKS FINE UNTIL NEXT TIME.*AK EA04018_CAT

Owner-reported narrative. 12,738 miles reported. Look up ODI 10093648 at NHTSA ↗

AT 34 MILES ON THE CAR ABS/TRACTION CONTROL SENSOR IN THE WHEEL HUB FAILED, CAUSING SEVERAL TROUBLE LIGHTS TO COME ON AND A SOUND SIGNAL TO INDICATE THERE WAS A PROBLEM. THE OWNERS MANUAL NOTED THAT THE CAR SHOULD BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 34 miles reported. Look up ODI 10093659 at NHTSA ↗

I PURCHASED A 2004 MALIBU MAXX, NEW NOT USED. THE SECOND DAY I DROVE IT, IT SPUTTERED A LITTLE AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. ON OCTOBER 14, I FILLED THE CAR WITH GAS AND WITHIN 1 MILE, THE CAR STALLED OUT 4 TIMES. I INITIALLY THOUGHT I HAD PURCHASED BAD GAS, AND MY HUSBAND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP. THEY CAME AND PICKED IT UP WITH A WRECKER. AT THIS TIME, THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 800 MILES ON IT. THEY CALLED ME THE NEXT DAY AND SAID IT WAS MY ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM AND THEY HAD TO REPROGRAM MY KEY BUT IT WAS FINE NOW. I PICKED IT UP AND BEFORE I MADE IT …

Owner-reported narrative. 780 miles reported. Look up ODI 10096292 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2014-03-31 (March 31, 2014)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2006 Malibu Maxx, 2009-2010 HHR (non-turbo), 2010 Cobalt, 2008-2009 Saturn Aura and 2004-2007 Ion, and 2005-2009 Pontiac G6. In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving.

Consequence: If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will perform one of four bulletins. Parts are not currently available. GM expects to send an interim notification around May 28, 2014. When parts are available, owners will be mailed a second letter to come in to have the applicable bulletin applied. Bulletin 14115 covers model year 2004-2007 Saturn Ion, 2009-2010 Chevrolet HHR and 2010 Chevrolet Cobalts. Dealers will replace the EPS motor. Bulletin 14116 covers model year 2004-2006 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx, 2005-2006 Pontiac G6 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from March 1, 2008, through June 27, 2008. Dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly. Bulletin 14117 covers model year 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from February 1, 2008, through February 28, 2008. Dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly and EPS motor controller unit. Bulletin 14118 covers model year 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from October 1, 2007, through January 31, 2008. Dealers will replace the EPS motor controller unit. The recall began on July 17, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, Saturn at 1-800-553-6000, and Pontiac at 1-800-620-7668. GM's number for this recall is N140115. Note: GM bulletin number 14119 will be implemented for model year 2006-2008 and early production of 2009 Chevrolet HHR (non-turbo) and model year 2003 Saturn ION to provide EPS Motor replacement for the life of the vehicle.

Reported: 2014-04-30 (April 30, 2014)

General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on April 29, 2014, that they are recalling 56,214 model year 2007 and 2008 Saturn Aura vehicles. On May 22, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 1,074,899 model year 2004-2008 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured from May 16, 2003, through October 5, 2007, model year 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured from June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, and model year 2005-2008 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured from May 26, 2004, through September 28, 2007, and equipped with 4-speed transmissions. The total number vehicles being recalled is now 1,131,113.

Consequence: If the transmission shift cable fractures while the vehicle is being driven, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash. Furthermore, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, despite selecting the ‘PARK’ position, the transmission may not be in ‘PARK.’ If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and GM dealers will replace the shift cable assembly and mounting bracket, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 14152.

Reported: 2014-05-14 (May 14, 2014)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.

Consequence: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and harness connector, and will relearn the brake pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). GM's number for this recall is 13036.