2004 Chevrolet Malibu equipment problems

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES

THEFT SYSTEM KEPT CAR FROM CRANKING.

NHTSA complaint #10609023 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT

I HAVE A 2004 MALIBU LS, WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE CAR DURING THE WINTER OF 04 I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING. IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY, I TOOK IT BACK EVERY WINTER FOR 4 YEARS AND THE DEALERSHIP ALWAYS REPAIRED THE CAR. IN 2010 MY POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST POWER TRYING TO TURN INTO A PARKING SPOT. THE NEXT TIME IT OCCURRED, I WAS DRIVING 50 MPH I WENT TO CHANGE LANES THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND I COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL. I WAS PULLING OUT FROM A PARKING SPOT THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND I COULD NOT STEER THE CAR. THIS YEAR THE SEAT BELT LIGHT STAYS ON WHEN MY SEAT BELT IS ON. IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY THE LIGHT STAYS ON. THE DEALER THAT I USE TO USE WENT OUT OF BUSINESS AND DID NOT NOTIFY THE CUSTOMERS. I FOUND OUT WHEN I WENT TO HAVE SOME WORK CORRECTED THAT THEY DID. THIS PROBLEM IS SCARY BECAUSE I NEVER KNOW WHEN THE POWER STEERING LIGHT IS GOING TO COME ON. THAT IS VERY VERY SCARY. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THEY CAN NEVER FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I RECENTLY HAD MY CAR INSPECTED THEY WOULD NOT PASS IT BECAUSE OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT.I HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR 300 MILES AND THE LIGHT WENT OFF AND THEY PASSED IT FOR INSPECTION. THE ORIGINAL BRAKES WERE REPLACED 3 TIMES IN THE FIRST 2 YEARS OF HAVING THE CAR. I ONLY HAVE 45, 000 MILES. PURCHASED 2 BATTERIES FROM GM THE 2ND ONE LASTED LESS THEN 2 YEARS AND DIED. AN AUTHENTIC GM BATTERY.

NHTSA complaint #10371123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT

2004 MALIBU PURCHASED 04/05/04 STEERING COLUMN FAILURE 01/10/05 9,225 MILES REPLACED AGAIN 06/16/05 13,430 MILES 01/30/06 INTERMITTENT SHAFT NEEDED REPLACEMENT BUT NO "GOOD PARTS AVAILABLE" FINALLY REPLACED 08/24/06 24,636 MILES RACK & PINION STEERING GEAR 04/17/07 31,846 MILES REPLACED INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT 09/14/09 54,841 MILES REPLACED RACK & PINION STEERING GEAR. CAR NOW HAS 3RD RACK GEAR. ON 11/11/10 AT 68,209 MILES WE WERE TOLD IT NEEDS REPLACEMENT OF RACK & PINION STEERING GEAR. IT HAS ONLY BEEN 14 MONTHS AND 13,368 MILES SINCE LAST TIME REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10367879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT

THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING IN MY VEHICLE IS FAULTY. THE STEERING WHEEL WILL MOVE BY ITS SELF WHILE DRIVING OR IN PARK. ALSO MY POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP DUE TO POWER STEERING I HAVE A VERY HARD TIME TURNING AND CONTROLLING CAR. I HAVE BARELY AVOID SEVERAL ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. I HAVE TAKEN CAR TO DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF CAN BE FIXED BECAUSE WHEN I CALLED GM I WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE WARRANTY THAT WOULD HAVE FIXED ISSUE BUT BECAUSE IT WAS PAST THEIR RECALL TIME THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST ME AND THE DEALER WANTS 800.00 TO FIX AND THEY SAY THAT EVEN FIXING THE STEERING COLUMN AND OR THE ASSIST MOTOR THAT I WILL MORE THEN LIKELY HAVE THE SAME ISSUES! MY CAR IS A 2004 WITH ONLY 44,462 MILES ON IT. I GOT THE CAR USED FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR (2010) AND DIDN'T KNOW THAT IT WOULD BE A NIGHTMARE AND A DEATH TRAP FOR MY FAMILY! I HAVE VIDEO OF THE WHEEL MOVING BY ITS SELF AS WELL AS VIDEO SHOWING THAT WHEN I LOSS POWER STEERING THE CAR IS HAZARDOUS. I AM REALLY AFRAID THAT I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THIS ISSUE AND WILL ONE DAY LOSS COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE CAR AND HURT MYSELF AND POSSIBLY OTHERS! CHEVROLET NEEDS TO FIX THIS ISSUE FOR GOOD OR REPLACE THE CARS ALL TOGETHER BECAUSE ITS REALLY ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS ISSUE BITES THEM IN THE BUTT! I REALLY LIKE MY MALIBU BUT I REALLY THINK THAT I SHOULD HAVE NEVER GOT IT BECAUSE OF ALL THE ISSUES LOSING POWER STEERING, PULLS BAD TO LEFT AND RIGHT, LOOSE SHIFTER KNOB, & THE REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY DOESN'T WORK RIGHT. I HOPE BY FILING THIS COMPLAINT WITH YOU THAT MAYBE IT WILL BE RESOLVED. I WANT TO HAVE PIECE OF MIND WHILE DRIVING MY FAMILY IN CAR NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE CAR BEING A DEATH TRAP ON 4 WHEELS THAT WILL LOSS CONTROL WHEN IT FEELS LIKE IT AND KILL MY FAMILY AND MYSELF. I KNOW THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THESE ISSUES WITH THE MALIBU AND CHEVROLET REALLY NEEDS TO STEP UP AND MAKE THESE ISSUES RIGHT FOR US THE CONSUMERS FAST!

NHTSA complaint #10353222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT

I HAVE REPORTED TWO PREVIOUS INCIDENTS REGARDING NOISE IN THE FRONT END OF MY 2004 CHEVY MALIBU LS. THE SAME NOISE IS AGAIN OCCURRING IN THE FRONT END OF MY CAR WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE IT IS A STEERING ISSUE. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO JACK PHELAN CHEVROLET, THEY DID NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT END/STEERING. I BELIEVE THEY AREN'T TELLING ME BECAUSE THIS WILL BE THE 3RD COMPLAINT REGARDING STEERING PARTS.

NHTSA complaint #10293318 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT

2004 CHEVY MALIBU WAS TAKEN IN DUE TO POWER STEERING COLUMN AND SERVICE CAR LIGHT COMING ON AND CLUNKING COMING FROM CAR. HAD IT IN THE FIRST DEALERSHIP FIRST TIME NOTIFIED ME THAT IT WAS THE STEERING COLUMN $1500 LATER AND IT WASN'T REPAIRED. TOOK BACK TO SAME LOCATION. THEN THEY NOTIFY ME THAT THE SAME STEERING COLUMN WAS BAD AGAIN AND NOW MY RACK AND PINION HAD TO BE REPLACED. $650.00. LIGHT AGAIN NOW LOOSING POWER STEERING HAD TO TAKE TO ANOTHER DEALER. THE FIRST ONE NOTIFIES ME BY LETTER THAT I CAN NOT COME BACK WITH MY CAR. NOW I HAD TO PAY $52.00 TO HAVE THE SENOR THAT ARE PART OF THE STEERING COLUMN ADJUSTED. THAT WHEN I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE SERVICE NOTICES. BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A RECALL THE OWNER HAS TO CONTINUE TO PAY. MY CAR IS A SALVAGE HOWEVER, THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE GENUINE GMC PARTS THAT HAVE BEEN INSTALLED NOT ONCE BUT TWICE AND GUESS WHAT. THE LIGHT HAS COME ON AGAIN. $2400.00 LATER AND ITS NOT FIXED. I HAVE TALKED DIRECTLY TO GM AND THEY ARE NOT GOING TO HELP. THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO PROTECT CONSUMER FROM BEING TAKEN TO THE CLEANERS FROM A MANUFACTURER THAT KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10260860 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU WITH NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL CUSTOMER STATES THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING FOR 2 YEARS WITHOUT CORRECTION FROM THE DEALERSHIP**CC THE DEALER REPLACED VARIOUS PARTS IN THE STEERING, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM REMAINED THE SAME. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO START. THE DEALER FOUND THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD SHORTED OUT INTERNALLY. THE HORN WAS REPLACED. THE CD PLAYER MADE A CLICKING SOUND.

NHTSA complaint #10199155 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

2004 MALIBU CUSTOMER HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH LOSS OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERING AND WANTS OUT OF THE LEASE WITHOUT PENALTY**CC THE RADIO WAS INOPERATIVE, THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS INOPERATIVE AT TIMES, IT WOULD TURN OFF, BUT NOT ENGAGE. THE PCM WAS REPLACED. THE PASSENGER SIDE DIRECTIONAL LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BULBS. THE HEATED SEATS CAME ON BY THEMSELVES. THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS REPLACED, BECAUSE THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES WERE LEAKING, THE REAR DEFOGGER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS INOPERATIVE. WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ON INTERMITTENT, THEY WOULD GO FULL SPEED BY THEMSELVES.

NHTSA complaint #10186840 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

THREE ISSUES WITH MY 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU LS V6... 1. THE STEERING GEAR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT 48,000 MILES. 2. THE STARTER STAYS ENGAGED PERIODICALLY OR HAS TROUBLE TURNING OVER TO START THE CAR. 3. A/C NOT COOLING VEHICLE. ENTIRE UNIT EVENTUALLY REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN NUMEROUS (13) TIMES TO VARIOUS GM DEALERS AND ONLY HAS 48,000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10170011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT

DT: WHEN THE CONSUMER WENT TO CHANGE A FLAT TIRE THE JACK THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED WHILE HE HAD THE VEHICLE RAISED UP. THIS WAS THE ORIGINAL JACK THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE. IT COLLAPSED WHEN HE HAD THE TIRE OFF AND WAS TRYING TO PUT THE SPARE ON. IT COLLAPSED UNDER THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.

NHTSA complaint #10133828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATES THAT VEHICLE WILL NOT START. THE CAR WILL DIE WHILE IT IS IDLING. WHEN GETTING OUT OF VEHICLE AND TURNING IT OFF AND THEN GET TING BACK INTO THE VEHICLE IT WILL NOT START AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES. THE CD PLAYER WILL NOT WORK, AND SOMETIMES WHEN HE TRIED STARTING VEHICLE THE TRUNK WILL OPEN. SO IT HAD BEEN SEVERAL DIFFERENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10122590 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

MY A/C BUTTON LIGHTS FLASH INTERMITTENTLY WHEN I TRY TO CHANGE SETTINGS FROM PANEL TO DEFROST...THE AC WILL NOT SHUT OFF IN DEFROST MODE! ALSO THE A/C WILL NOT SHUT OFF WHILE IT IS IN INTERIOR RECIRCULATE MODE. WHEN I ATTEMPT TO TURN OFF THE A/C IN THESE MODES IT FLASHES ABOUT 5 TIMES AND STAYS ON! I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE I KNOW THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN THAT SYSTEM ARE ALL INTERLINKED...IF THE A/C ELECTRICAL IS FAILING..WHAT IS TO BE NEXT?

NHTSA complaint #10114302 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND HAD THE WORK DONE ON JULY 1, 2004. VEHICLE HAD ONLY 100 MILES. ON AUGUST 13,2004 THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS FAILED, AND THE TAIL LIGHTS WERE OUT. ON AUGUST 23, VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. CONSUMER PARKED THE VEHICLE AND THE LOCKS AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCKED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL RUNNING. ALSO, THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS RUNNING WHEN THE KEY WAS NOT IN THE IGNITION.

NHTSA complaint #10090066 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.