14 of the
1,639 complaints about the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu are about the
seat belts — 1% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
60,390 miles.
THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT THAT IS WELDED TO THE FRAME OF THE CAR HAS BROKE. THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY DRIVERS SIDE SEAT NOW COLLAPSES WHEN DRIVING WHICH IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS NOT TO MENTION THE SEATBELT IS ATTACHED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SEAT AND BUCKLED INTO IT WHICH IS NOW COLLAPSED WHICH COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ISSUE IF I WAS TO EVER GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE DONE SOME REASEARCH ONLINE AND THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE AMONGSTS MOST 2004 MALIBU OWNERS. I AM THE SECOND OWNER AND I GET THE CAR IS CLOSE TO BEING 20 YEARS OLD BUT MINE ONLY HAS 60K MILES THE DRIVERS SEAT WELD SHOULD NOT JUST DETACH AND COLLAPSE WHILE DRIVING ON A PRACTICALLY BRAND NEW CAR. NOT TO MENTION I AM AN AVERAGE SIZED MAN 200 LBS 5 FOOT 7 ON TOP OF THAT I ENQUIRED TO FIX IT AT MY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER AND IT WILL COST WELL OVER 1000 DOLLARS BASED ON A VERBAL ESTIMATE. I CAN JERRY RIG THE SEAT TO NOT COLLAPSE BUT THAT DOESNT STOP THE FACT THAT GOD FORBID IM IN AN ACCIDENT MY DRIVERS SEAT COULD POTENTIALLY BECOME DETACHED HURLING MYSELF AND THE SEAT INTO THE WINDOW CAUSING SEVERE BODLY HARM OR WORSE DEATH. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AS IM SURE MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM IT IS A FAULTY WELD IN THE DRIVERS SEAT AND NEEDS TO BE ADRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER CHEVROLET
NHTSA complaint #11342187 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 147,680 milesBitely, MI
SEAT BELTS
DRIVINGDOWN THE ROAD TURNED ON A SHARP CURVE LOST ALL STEERING WENT INTO DITCH SUSPENSION BOTTOMS OUT ON FRAME ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH SECURITY PROGRAM
NHTSA complaint #11220602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 42,000 milesKomack, NY
SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT STAY IN PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V188000 (SEAT BELTS) BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE SEAT BELT ADJUSTER WOULD NOT STAY IN PLACE WHEN IT WAS SET AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.
NHTSA complaint #10760791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 134,295 milesOconto, WI
SEAT BELTS
I SAT DOWN IN THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE DRIVERS SEAT WAS LEANING. I LOOKED ON LINE TO SEE IF I COULD FIX IT MYSELF. I FOUND A LOT OF COMPLAINTS THAT THE WELDS BREAK AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. I CONTACTED CHEVROLET AND THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE CHECKED BY A CHEVY DEALER. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE SEAT WELDS DID BREAK. I AM NOT AN OVERLY HEAVY PERSON, SO I THOUGHT THAT EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS OLDER, THAT THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM, AND NOT AN AGE OR NEGLECT PROBLEM BY THE OWNER. CHEVROLET TOLD ME THAT SINCE THE CAR WAS TOO OLD, I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING IT FIXED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AS IF I GET IN AN ACCIDENT WITH THE VEHICLE, THE FACT THAT THE SEAT BELT IS ATTACHED TO THE SEAT, AND THE SEAT IS NOT SECURED, I CAN BE HURT BADLY. IF I WERE THE ONLY PERSON WITH THE PROBLEM, I COULD SEE WHY I SHOULD FIX IT. SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES, IT APPEARS THAT IT IS A DESIGN FLAW, AND POOR QUALITY WORKMANSHIP FROM CHEVROLET. I HAVE ATTACHED THE WEB SITE THAT I SAW THE COMPLAINTS ON. IT IS: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/CHEVROLET/MALIBU/2004/ACCESSORIES-INTERIOR/SEATS.SHTML. SOME OF THOSE COMPLAINTS STATE THAT THEY FILED COMPLAINTS WITH YOU. PLEASE CHECK ON THIS AS THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND COULD CAUSE LIVES LOST. I WOULD APPRECIATE A REPLY TO TELL ME HOW I GO ABOUT GETTING THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED. THANK YOU
NHTSA complaint #10712320 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 40,000 milesCumming, GA
SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SEAT WELD FAILED CAUSING THE SEAT TO BECOME UNSTABLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE SEAT BELT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE SEAT WELD HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
NHTSA complaint #10659667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 140,000 milesSomerville, ALCrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS
POWER STEERING LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING THRU A CURVE CAUSING A ACCIDENT WHICH RESULTED IN ONE RIDER INJURY. WE MADE A CLAIM WITH GM AND THEY DENIED IT STATING THAT THE DATA FROM THE BLACK BOX SHOWED THAT THERE WAS NOT ANY EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTIONS. THE POWER STEERING STARTED WORKING AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE DATA SHOWED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT LOCK WAS TOLD TO DEPLOY AND IT DID NOT. TO ME AND EVERYBODY ELSE, THAT IS AN EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTION. GM TOLD ME THAT SINCE THE DRIVER WAS NOT HURT THAT THEY DENIED THIS ONE ALSO. THE BACK SEAT RIDER WAS INJURED WHEN THE REAR DOOR GLASS SHATTERED SENDING GLASS INTO THE BACK OF HIS HEAD. THIS REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION TO REMOVE ALL OF THE GLASS FRAGMENTS.
NHTSA complaint #10648227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 48,000 milesBurnsville, MN
SEAT BELTS
PART IS ACTUALLY THE SEAT HOOK BRACKET ASSEMBLY WELD. COULDN'T GET THIS ACCEPTED IN "AFFECTED PARTS" ABOVE. MOVED THE SEAT WHILE PARKED AND IT BROKE. TOOK TO DEALER AND AFTER INSPECTION THEY SAID IT WAS AN INFERIOR WELD THAT CAME APART. THEY OFFERED TO GIVE ME THE NUMBER OF A MAN WHO WOULD COME OUT AND WELD IT BUT THAT IT PROBABLY WOULDN'T HOLD BECAUSE YOU'RE PUTTING A WELD ATOP AN INFERIOR ONE AND IT WOULD DISQUALIFY ME IF THERE WAS EVER A RECALL ON IT. I HAVE IT PROPPED UP WITH PIECES OF WOOD. ITS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AS IT LEANS TO ONE SIDE AND A LITTLE FORWARD SO I FEEL LIKE I'M SLIDING OUT OF MY SEAT. IT IS DIFFICULT TO GET AT SO I'M LEAVING IT THAT WAY FOR NOW. WILL MY CAR BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL? MY NIECE HAS THE SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR AND HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HERS. I FEEL THAT IF I'M IN AN ACCIDENT, MY SEAT WILL FLY FREELY AND THE SEATBELT WON'T BE MUCH HELP SO I MAY BE HURT MORE IF WE FLY FORWARD OR TOWARD THE CAR DOOR SINCE NOTHING IS HOLDING THE SEAT IN PLACE.
NHTSA complaint #10616279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 93,000 milesIndianapolis, IN
SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND IT BECAME HARD TO TURN. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SEAT BECAME LOWER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO ADJUST THE FRONT OR BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR BOTH FAILURES WHERE THE FAILURES WERE UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
NHTSA complaint #10525532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 300 milesPhiladelphia, PA
SEAT BELTS
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.
at 111,000 milesRome, NY
SEAT BELTS
2004 CHEVY MALIBU DRIVER SIDE SEAT FRAME BROKEN WELDS. THE WELDS IN THE FRAME HAVE BROKEN CAUSING THE SEAT TO BECOME UNSTABLE. GIVEN THAT THE WELDS ARE BREAKING UNDER NORMAL USE AND THAT THE SEAT RESTRAINTS ARE ANCHORED TO THIS FRAME CAUSES SAFETY CONCERNS. IF THE VEHICLE OWNERS ARE UNAWARE OF A DEFECTIVE WELD AND THE SEAT SHOULD BREAK UNDER CRASH IMPACT THE SAFETY RESTRAINT COULD FAIL POSSIBLY CAUSING GREATER HARM. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS AND CAN SEE THAT THE INTEGRITY OF THE SEAT AND SAFETY RESTRAINT COULD BE COMPROMISED. I SUBSCRIBED TO SOME CAR FORUMS AND WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE 2004 AND 2005 CHEVY MALIBU MODELS WHICH INDICATES SOME FORM OF DEFECT. I AM OF AVERAGE HEIGHT AND WEIGHT AND DID NOT MISUSE THE SEAT IN ANYWAY.
NHTSA complaint #10365700 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,000 milesGretna, VACrashFire2 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU SEDAN. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, SHE CRASHED INTO A DIRT MOUND AND BLACKED OUT. WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DETACHED. THERE WAS SMOKE AND SOME FLAMES PRESENT AROUND THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONSCIOUSNESS, SMELLED SMOKE AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE BY SHIFTING THE GEAR INTO PARK. THE SEAT BELT ALSO BROKE, THREW THE CONTACT INTO THE REAR SEAT AND THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER INTO A FIELD AND WAS DESTROYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION, WHIPLASH AND THE PASSENGER HAD MINOR INJURIES. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED NORMALLY. PICTURES AND A POLICE REPORT AND PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ATTEMPTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FIRE AND WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 100,000. RK UPDATED 5/5/08
NHTSA complaint #10224017 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 23,500 milesDetroit, MI
SEAT BELTS
THE CAR CUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND IN HEAVY TRAFFIC MORE THAN ONCE. THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN. THE CAR WAS SERVICED BEFORE FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT IT CONTINUED TO HAPPEN. I HAVE HAD 3 RECALLS, THE HORN FUSE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, AND THE BLINKER IS CURRENTLY OUT. THE STEERING COLLAR HAS ALSO BEEN REPLACED. THIS CAR WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A NEW CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10123684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 5,300 milesCaledonia, MI
SEAT BELTS
THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING CONTROL WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE POWER STEERING MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB THE ADJUSTER ASSEMBLY ON THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT WAS REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10105005 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NEW City, NY
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
RECALL NOT COMPLETELY FIXED BY DEALER! THE ABS CONTROLLER WAS REPROGRAMMED, BUT THE INSTALLATION OF A RETAINER IN THE FRONT SAFETY BELT CONNECTORS WAS NOT REPAIRED! THE DEALER SAID THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY SUCH PART TO INSTALL!
NHTSA complaint #10081202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.