142 of the
1,389 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
are about the seats —
10% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2004.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11190399 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE DRIVER'S SEAT TIPS BACKWARD WHEN WE SIT BACK IN IT, AND CAN ROCK BACK AND FORTH WHEN THE CAR STOPS AND STARTS, OR IF THE DRIVER LEANS BACK WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENS NO MATTER WHICH POSITION THE POWER SEAT IS PLACED IN, UP OR DOWN, FORWARD OR BACK. THIS IS A SIX-WAY POWER SEAT CONTROL.
NHTSA complaint #11180231 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVER'S SEAT IS WOBBLING AND FEELS LIKE SOMETHING IS BROKEN OR DETACHED BENEATH THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SEAT. I'VE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS IN A CHEVY MALIBU/MAXX. SHOULD BE A RECALL. MECHANICS ON THE PHONE ASSUME IT'S A WELDING ISSUE. THE WOBBLING OCCURRED OVER TIME. SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR A MANUFACTURING DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #11078865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE DRIVER SEAT, REAR RIGHT SIDE IS BROKEN. DRIVER LEANS TOWARD CENTER CONSOLE. POTENTIAL SAFETY CONCERN IF THERE WERE TO BE AN ACCIDENT. SEEMS AS IF THERE WAS A STRUCTURAL FAILURE IN THAT LOCATION. DRIVER DID NOT NOTICE IT BREAK UNTIL SITTING DOWN ONE DAY TO START DAILY COMMUTE.
NHTSA complaint #10888020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10883780 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10853590 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE SEAT WARMER CAUSED THE CAR SEAT TO CATCH A FIRE. I WAS CRYING, SHAKING, AND JUST ALL AROUND NERVOUS. I HAD TO GATHER MYSELF TOGETHER TO EVEN THINK OF WHAT TO DO. THIS HAPPENED IN LIKE 3 MINUTES. AT 6:05AM I HAD WENT OUT TO CRANK THE CAR WHICH WAS PARKED TO WARM UP. I PRESSED THE SEAT WARMER WENT BACK IN THE HOUSE BECAUSE I HAD LEFT A CASE OF WATER ON THE BACK PASSENGER FLOOR. WHEN I CAME BACK OUT TO THE CARE THE SEAT WAS ON FIRE. NOTHING OF COURSE IS OPEN AT THAT TIME IN THE MORNING AND THANKFULLY I DIDN'T STAY INSIDE THE HOUSE LONGER THAN THE LITTLE TIME WHICH I DID. AT AROUND 8:30AM I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER CHEVROLET TO REPORT THIS. THEY OPENED A CLAIM REQUESTED PICTURES OF THE ARE OF CONCERN AND OF THE VEHICLE WHICH I SENT. CHEVROLET CLOSED THE CLAIM WITH THE CONCLUSION: AFTER CAREFUL INVESTIGATION OF YOUR CASE, NONE OF THE AVAILABLE DATA SUGGESTS THAT THE PRODUCT ALLEGATION HAS ANY MERIT. IF YOU'D LIKE TO PROVIDE US WITH ANY ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE THAT YOU FEEL WOULD FURTHER SUPPORT YOUR CLAIM, PLEASE CONTACT US AGAIN. HOWEVER AT THIS TIME, GENERAL MOTORS IS UNABLE TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR DAMAGES AND WE SUGGEST THAT YOU RESOLVE THIS MATTER THROUGH YOUR INSURANCE CARRIER. NOT ONLY WAS THIS TERRIFYING, ENDANGERMENT TO MY FAMILY AND LOVED ONES THIS HAS BEEN A VERY TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE OVERALL. TO GET THIS RESPONSE IS A INSULT TO CONSUMERS AND THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES. THIS IS NOT RIGHT. WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP? THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER RECORDS SHOWING THAT THIS IS A ISSUE THAT HAS OCCURRED WITH THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL OF THIS VEHICLE. HOW CAN YOU HELP?I CAN SEND PICTURES OR FORWARD VIA E-MAIL IF THERE IS A E-MAIL ADDRESS- THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10836852 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10821806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* 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
NHTSA complaint #10810527 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE WELD ON THE FRONT TORSION TUBE OF THE DRIVER SEAT ADJUSTER IS DETACHED AND THE TUBE IS DISCONNECTED, ALLOWING MORE THAN 200MM OF FORE/AFT MOVEMENT OF THE UPPER SEAT BACK AND HEADREST IF SEAT IS IN FULL UP POSITION. THIS WILL CLEARLY NOT PASS FMVSS 207 OR 210. THERE ARE ALREADY DOZENS OF COMPLAINTS NEARLY IDENTICAL TO THIS ONE ON THE NHTSA SITE. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. I DO NOT KNOW WHEN THIS INITIALLY OCCURRED.
NHTSA complaint #10806438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ISSUE ONE IS THE DRIVERS SEAL WELDS BRAKE ON THE REAR AND FRONT FROM THE FLOOR MOUNT BASE TO THE ELEVATED CONTROL THUS IN THE CASE OF A CRASH THE SEAT IS COMPROMISED TO SEPARATE COMPLETELY FROM THE FLOOR MOUNT DUE TO THESE WELDS BEING BROKE. SECOND ISSUE FUEL PUMPS BEGIN TO LEAK AT THE SEAL OF THE PUMP AT THE FUEL TANK LEAKING HEAVY AMOUNTS OF FUEL FROM THE TANK AND ONTO THE EXHAUST. THIRD ISSUE WHICH I HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE REPORTS OF RECALLS BUT THE DEALERSHIP DENIES THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE MAXX THAT ONLY THE BASE MODEL IS EFFECTED BUT WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING WILL FAIL AND THE CAR HAS NO CONTROL AND WILL VIOLENTLY JERK IN ONE DIRECTION THROWING THE VEHICLE IN TO ONCOMING LANES OR EVEN INTO THE DITCH. HAPPENS PERIODICALLY THE POWER STEERING MESSAGE APPEARS ON MAIN CONTROL MESSAGE SCREEN AND CAR WILL SOUND AN ALARM, OTHER TIMES THE ENTIRE DASH BOARD WARNING LIGHTS FROM CHECK ENGINE, OIL, AIR BAG, SEAT BELT, SO ON SO ALL COME ON AND THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT. I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS ISSUE USUALLY OCCURS WHILE ACCELERATING WHETHER SLOWLY OR EVEN WHILE TRYING TO SPEED UP MORE AGGRESSIVELY TO MERGE UNTO EXPRESSWAY TRAFFIC. I HAVE NEARLY WRECKED INTO NUMEROUS CARS DUE TO STEERING GOING OUT AND WHEEL WILL VIOLENTLY JERK ONE DIRECTION OR TO THE OTHER. NOT SURE WHY THIS SITE SHOWS A RECALL FOR POWER STEERING BUT DEALERSHIP DENIES THERE IS A ACTIVE RECALL FOR THE MAXX BUT THEY HAVE ONE FOR THE 2005 BASE MALIBU
NHTSA complaint #10783309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVER POWER SEAT/ BROKEN WELD ON METAL STABILIZER BAR ACROSS THE LOWER FRONT OF THE SEAT. CAUSES THE SEAT TO BE UNSTABLE AND SHIFT WHEN BRAKING OR ACCELLERATING.
NHTSA complaint #10778796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10759270 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIRBAG TROUBLE LIGHT WOULD COME ON FROM TIME TO TIME, NOW THE LIGHT STAYS ON, AND PASSENGER AIRBAG DOES NOT COME ON WHILE SEAT IS OCCUPIED. VERY CONCERNING AS I DO NOT KNOW IF I HAVE AIRBAGS OR NOT. SEEMS THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10735924 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT ABOUT TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN. JUST AS THE CAR WAS STOPPING, THE BACK OUTSIDE EDGE OF MY DRIVER SEAT MADE A LOUD POP AND DROPPED ABOUT 4 INCHES. AFTER I REMOVED THE SEAT LATER, THE WELD, ATTACHING THE ELECTRIC SEAT ADJUSTER TO THE CROSS BAR IN THE BACK OF THE SEAT, IS RIPPED LOOSE OF THE CROSS BAR. THIS SEAT CONTAINS AN AIRBAG IN THE SIDE OF IT. HAD THIS HAPPENED IN AN ACCIDENT, I DON'T THINK THE SAFETY FEATURES WOULD STILL HAVE PREVENTED SERIOUS INJURY. THE SEAT IS A DEALER ITEM AND THEY WANT OVER $1000 DO FIX.
NHTSA complaint #10722831 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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!
NHTSA complaint #10721290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10721235 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10700813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.