2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. ON MAY 15, 2007, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FENDER. THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO SECURE THE CONTACT AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. HE SUFFERED AN INJURY FROM STRIKING THE STEERING WHEEL AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. THE CONTACT HAS A POLICE REPORT. THE ENGINE SIZE AND SPEED AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 16,500.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S STEERING WHEEL FELT LOOSE, AS IF IT COULD KEEP TURNING NONSTOP. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT HAD DIFFICULTY WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE MOTOR INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED AND WAS A VERY COMMON FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 51,400. THE CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER STATED WANTS TO REIMBURSED FOR REPAIRS. UPDATED 06/06/07 *TR

AROUND 40,000 MILES ON ODOMETER, A THUNK COULD BE HEARD WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL LEFT. DEALERSHIP WHERE CAR WAS PURCHASED COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE. AT 45,000 MILES ON ODOMETER, TOOK VEHICLE TO 2ND DEALERSHIP WHO KNEW OF A TECHNICAL BULLETIN - RACK AND PINION STEERING UNIT WAS FAILING. *JB

I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TRADED MY SATURN VUE FOR THE 2004 MALIBU MAXX. WHEN I TEST DROVE THE CAR, AFTER THE ACCELERATION REACHED 4RPMS, THERE WAS A HIGH PITCHED WHINE FROM THE ENGINE CLOSEST TO THE TIRE. THEY LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THAT IT WAS A LOOSE BELT. SO I BOUGHT THE CAR AND THEY SAID TO BRING IT THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP TO GET IT FIXED. I TOOK IT IN AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO I HAD TO RIDE WITH THEM. ALSO, MY SEAT HEATERS WERE TURNING ON AUTOMATICALLY, CAR CONSTINTLY PULLS TO THE RIGHT, I HAVE TO TURN THE KEY OVER FOR A LONG TIME TO GET THE CAR TO FULLY START UP. THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE ANY OF THE PROBLEMS SO I AM STILL DEALING WITH ALL OF THEM. FOR THE WHINING NOISE, THEY SAID IT IS A DRIVE BELT THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, BUT IT IS OUT OF STOCK. HOW CONVIENIENT. *JB

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX LT. THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, IT WAS MUCH WORSE WHEN DRIVING 70 MPH. WHEN DRIVING WITH LEFT HAND THE STEERING WHEEL THE WHEEL PUSHES THE HAND THE LEFT AND THE VEHICLE WENT TO THE LEFT. THE MECHANIC PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT, BUT HAD INDICATED THAT THE ALIGNMENT WAS WITHIN FACTORY SPECS. THE MECHANIC STATED THEY COULD TRY TO ADJUST THE CASTOR, BUT NOT TO FACTORY SPECS. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR AFTER THE ALIGNMENT WAS FINISHED AND BECAME WORSE. THERE WERE NO BULLETINS ON THIS VEHICLE . HOWEVER, THERE WERE ON 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU, NOT FOR THE MAXX THAT RELATED TO THIS FAILURE ,PER THE CONTACT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 6400. *AK

ROTORS REPEATEDLY WARP. HAVE HAD THE BRAKES SERVICED TWICE WITHIN THE 24000 WARRANTY FOR BRAKES AND IT IS REQUIRING A THIRD SERVICE AT 26,000 MILES OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY. ROTORS WOULD NEED TO BE RECUT OR REPLACED EVERY 4,000 MILES ON THIS CAR TO ELIMINATE THE PULSATION. THERE IS A SYSTEMATIC ISSUE WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM, INCLUDING THE ABS AND/OR THE TRACTION CONTROL. THIS IS NOT A MATERIAL OR SERVICE ISSUE, BUT A DESIGN ISSUE. THE DEALER HAS INDICATED THAT ALL SYSTEMS ON THE CAR ARE WORKING PROPERLY AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO OTHER THAN RECUT OR REPLACE THE ROTORS. GENERAL MOTORS HAS DENIED THERE IS A PROBLEM WHICH IS EXPECTED POSSIBLY FACING A RECALL OF MANY CARS. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER UNOFFICIALLY ADMITTED THIS PROBLEM IS A REGULAR AT THEIR FACILITY NO ONE WILL OFFICIALLY ADMIT THIS IS AN ISSUE. NOW THAT THE BRAKES ARE OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY AT 26,000 MILES, I AM FORCED TO PAY FOR THE SERVICE EVERY 4,000 MILES ON MY OWN. THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE ALTHOUGH THE BRAKES HAVE NEVER FAILED TO WORK. THE AFFECT OF THE DESIGN ISSUE IS THAT THE BRAKES PULSATE AND PROGRESSIVELY GET WORSE AS TIME GOES ON. EVEN AFTER A FEW THOUSAND MILES THE DEFECT BEGINS TO SURFACE. BY 4,000 MILES IT IS A BIG ENOUGH NUISANCE TO HAVE IT SERVICED. THIS IS AN EXPENSE I HAD NOT BARGAINED FOR WHEN I BOUGHT THIS CAR. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS WENT OUT. THE CONTACT HAD TO HOLD THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH UP ALL THE WAY TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. LATER, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE TAIL LIGHTS STAYED ILLUMINATED ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF, AND THE BATTERY HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED TO SHUT THE TAIL LIGHTS OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER.

BOUGHT A MALIBU LT MAXX IN APR 04, ENCOUNTERED STEERING WHEEL PROBLEMS SEVERAL. THE WORST WAS THAT IT LOCKED MY STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING ON THE HWY 401. I HAD TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HWY TO RE-START MY ENGINE TO TRY MY LUCKY TO GET BACK THE STEERING POWER. I HAVE THE PROBLEM TILL NOW AND YET UNSOLVED. NO CHOICE BUT TO GET INTO A NEW CAR NOW, JUST TO ADVISE BEING KILL ON THE ROAD. *JB

AT 40,000 BOTH FRONT ROTORS HAD TO BE TURNED AND CALIPERS REPLACED. CALIPERS WERE STICKING CAUSING UNEVEN WEAR. BRAKE PADS HAD PLENTY OF MATERIAL AND DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. *NM

FRONT AND REAR BRAKES HAVE HAD TO BE CHANGED PREMATURELY. REAR BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 20K MILES. FRONT BRAKES CHANGED AT 60K MILES. CALIPERS STICKING AND CAUSING NOISE AND UNEVEN WEAR ON NEW BRAKE PADS. GM DEALERSHIP ADVISES THAT THIS IS NOT A DEFECT. *NM