FaultScore

Chevrolet Malibu Maxx transmission problems

41 of the 1,389 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Malibu Maxx are about the transmission — 3% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2004.

41

Complaints

3%

Share of all complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year

2004 Malibu Maxx 20 48.8%

Median failure at 90,000 miles

Median failure at 146,000 miles

2006 Malibu Maxx 17 41.5%

Median failure at 82,850 miles

Median failure at 73,500 miles

What owners said

2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx at 100,000 miles Phoenix, AZ

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MANUALLY SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK HOWEVER, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE CONTACT PUSHED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MIDWAY CHEVROLET (2323 W BELL RD, PHOENIX, AZ) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE, HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

NHTSA complaint #11329336 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx at 129,000 miles Topeka, KS

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. AFTER REVERSING AND ATTEMPTING TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN PARK, THE TRANSMISSION GEAR SELECTION DID NOT MATCH THE INDICATED GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER STILL FAILED AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 129,000.

NHTSA complaint #11121349 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx at 51,000 miles Albany, NY

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE REMAINED ON AFTER THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR, AND THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE FAILURES OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

NHTSA complaint #11000452 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx at 148,500 miles Hermitage, TN

POWER TRAIN

THE VEHICLE CONTINUALLY GOES INTO "ENGINE LOW POWER MODE" WHILE ON THE HIGHWAYS. THIS IS NOW OCCURRING DAILY. I'VE TRIED TO GET IT FIXED BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT IT IS. I AM VERY FORTUNATE THAT NO ONE HAS HIT ME WHEN THE VEHICLE GOES FROM HIGH SPEEDS DOWN TO 20 MILES PER HOUR WITH NO RESPONSE BY PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE THINGS FAILING ON THIS CAR: PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW NO LONGER OPENS, CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT WORK, 2 OF THE 3 CHARGERS IN THE CAR DO NOT WORK (AFTER FIXING THOSE FUSES, THEY JUST BLEW IMMEDIATELY) POWER LOCKS WENT FROM BARELY WORKING TO NOT WORKING AT ALL, THE LATEST BEING THE LOW POWER MODE AND TRACTION CONTROL BEING ACTIVATED IN THE HEAT OF A TENNESSEE SPRING (ALREADY 80 DEGREES) - IT'S NOT A WATER ISSUE. THE FIRST FEW MONTHS I HAD THIS CAR IT WAS IN THE SHOP ALMOST EVERY WEEKEND. I'VE GOTTEN ALL THE RECALLS FIXED WHEN THEY REQUIRED IT AND I KEEP UP WITH MAINTENANCE ON THIS CAR. IT HAS THE USUAL BREAK DOWNS BUT THIS IS THE LEAST SAFE CAR I HAVE EVER DRIVEN (AND I HAVE DRIVEN AROUND TWENTY LONG TERM, TEN MORE SHORT TERM).

NHTSA complaint #10980567 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx at 171,375 miles Tuscaloosa, AL

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE CONSTANTLY SHOOK. THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED GEARS AND THE POWER TRAIN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GASKET FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,375.

NHTSA complaint #10927121 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx at 156,115 miles Griffin, GA

POWER TRAIN

ON 9-28-16, I PLACED THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE TO DEPART A PARKING SPACE, WHEN I TRIED TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE THE GEAR REMAINED IN REVERSE. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL ON 03-27-15, FOR THE PREVIOUS 8 YEARS THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE SHIFT CABLE. THE SHIFT CABLE THAT WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL HAS NOW FRACTURED.

NHTSA complaint #10910641 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx at 136,000 miles Plainfield, IN

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT RANDOMLY FLASHED AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TIGHT EACH TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY OR SOLUTION. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V064000 (STEERING), 14E044000 (STEERING), AND 14V153000 (STEERING). THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN). THE DEALER WAS TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION OF THE POWER STEERING FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS WAITING TO DETERMINE WHEN THE DEALER WOULD COMPLETE THE RECALL REPAIR. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

NHTSA complaint #10852433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx at 173,000 miles Salinas, CA

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR LEVER FAILED TO SHIFT FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFT CABLE FRACTURED. IN 2015, THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO FAILURE. RECENTLY, A FAILURE OCCURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,000.

NHTSA complaint #10825871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx at 50,000 miles Kingwood, WV

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER LAST YEAR FOR THREE MANUFACTURER RECALL REPAIRS, WHICH DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. MONTHS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, IT WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS PROPERLY AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND VIBRATED RANDOMLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND, IF IT WERE RELEASED, THE VEHICLE WOULD RANDOMLY STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTING TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 1/19/16 LN

NHTSA complaint #10790542 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx at 156,000 miles Kent, WA

POWER TRAIN

WE JUST GOT OUT OF CHURCH AND WAS STOPPING AT A GAS STATION TO GET SOME GAS. PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND IT WENT INTO REVERSE AND STAYED IN REVERSE. NO MATTER HOW WE TRIED TO GET THE GEAR SHIFT OUT OF REVERSE, IT WOULD MOVE UP AND DOWN BUT WOULD NOT COME OUT OF REVERSE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IN MY OPINION AND I AM SURE WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES THIS HAS HAPPENED TO RECENTLY. RIGHT NOW THE VEHICLE IS IN OUR DRIVE WAY AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO EVEN FIND A TOW COMPANY THAT WILL MOVE A CAR STUCK IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING PERFECT PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. DON'T GET STUCK ON THE FREE WAY IN REVERSE!!

NHTSA complaint #10747454 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx Ormond Beach, FL

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10732473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx Erin, TN

POWER TRAIN

2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE RECALL NOTICE AND IGNITION KEY ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX THE CABLE THAT CHANGED THE GEARS AND TO GET THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. WHEN SHE PICKED UP THE VEHICLE, SHE ONLY HAD ONE LOW GEAR, BUT THERE WAS SUPPOSSED TO BE THREE LOW HEARS AND THE KEY WAS STILL STUCK IN THE IGNITION.

NHTSA complaint #10720929 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx Atlanta, GA

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10694193 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx Upland, CA

POWER TRAIN

2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. CONSUMER SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR PREVIOUS REPAIRS, PRIOR TO RECALL. *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOISY, THE WHEEL WAS LOOSE, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. AN ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED TWICE, SHE EXPERIENCED STEERING PROBLEMS DURING THE ENTIRE YEAR OF 2013. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE STEERING ISSUE, BUT SHE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS. THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND RACK AND PINION WERE REPLACED. ALSO, THE TURN SIGNALS AND SHIFTER CABLE WERE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10662790 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx Monroe, LA

POWER TRAIN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10678392 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx East Patchogue, NY

POWER TRAIN

I AM WRITING THIS FOR MY DAUGHTER WHO IS AT THE END OF HER ROPE. THE SHIFT CABLE BROKE BACK IN JULY, WHEN SHE FOUND OUT THE CABLE WAS ON A RECALL SHE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO RIVERHEAD CHEVY. SHE WAS TOLD THERE ARE 3 RECALLS THEY WOULD TAKE CARE OF. AROUND MID SEPTEMBER WHEN SHE CALLED SHE TOLD THEM HER FARTHER WANTED GM'S CONSUMERS NUMBER. THE MAN THEN GAVE HER TWO NUMBERS TO CALL, WHEN TRIED TO CALL THEM I FOUND OUT THEY WERE SEX LINE NUMBERS. WHEN SHE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THEY WERE SORRY. THIS IS NOT THE WAY A DEALERSHIP SHOULD RUN A BUSINESS ! NOW IN THE MEANTIME I HAD TO HELP HER BUY ANOTHER CAR SO SHE COULD GET BACK AND FORTH FOR WORK (SHE IS A SINGLE MOM NOT LIVING AT HOME). BACK IN SEPT. SHE WAS TOLD THE PARTS WOULD BE IN AROUND LATE OCT. NOW SHE WAS TOLD NOT UNTIL AFTER DEC. THIS HAS GONE ON FOR 5 MONTHS WITH COUNTLESS PHONE CALLS TO THE DEALERSHIP AND GM HOT LINE, HOW AND WHY IS GM ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH THIS. I AM A MECHANIC AND HAD A REPAIR SHOP FOR MORE THEN TEN YEARS. I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN COURT A LONG TIME AGO IF I TRIED TO DO THIS. ON DEC. 26 WE RECEIVED THIS RECALL #14V224 AFTER SITTING IN A PARKING LOT FOR 5 MONTHS HOW GOOD WILL THE OIL, BATTERY, TIRES, AND GAS BE?

NHTSA complaint #10668438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx Rochester, NY

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTICES FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V153000 (STEERING) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DELAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10643342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx at 71,943 miles Sylvania, OH

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT WAS ABLE TO BE MOVED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION WITHOUT ENGAGING THE BRAKES. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED, THE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,943.

NHTSA complaint #10637345 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx Blakeslee, PA

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTICES FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V153000 (STEERING) AND 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE DELAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 10/23/2014*LJ UPDATED 4/20/15

NHTSA complaint #10631469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx at 90,000 miles Livermore, CA

POWER TRAIN

I'VE RECEIVED 3 LETTERS IN THE LAST APPROX. 8 MONTHS. FIRST WAS RECALLING POWER STEERING, THEN ONE FOR BRAKES,AND THEN TRANSMISSION. AS SOON AS CAR WAS PAID OFF I LITERALLY HAD TO BUY ANOTHER TRANY TWICE IN TWO YEARS . THE LAST LETTER SAID I CAN DEFINITELY CRASH BECAUSE OF THIS RECALL PROBLEM SPECIALLY SAID I WOULD IT IS IN THE LETTER. I COULDN'T BELIEVE MY EYES. EVERY LETTER SAID SORRY PARTS AREN'T AVAILABLE WE WILL NOTIFY YOU. NEVER HAS CONTACTED ME AND IT HAS BEEN HALF A YEAR. I'M DRIVING A VERY UNSAFE VEHICLE WRITTEN BY CHEVROLET COMPANY. PLEASE ADVISE ME SOON. ALSO THERE WAS NO TRANY LISTED ABOVE SO WE PUT OTHER. AND THERE WASN'T ANY ACCIDENTS HOWEVER GOING OFF RAMP AT 30 MPH I SPUN IN 3 CIRCLES ANOTHER TIME DRIVING SLOW IN TOWN AROUND A EASY TURN IT JUST SPUN FOR NO REASON. PLEASE HELP ITS ONLY TRANSPORTATION[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10630868 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Chevrolet Malibu Maxx problems