repaired · 2015 Q4
Electrical system: wiring
Risk. Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
2004 Chevrolet MalibuProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 1,148 owner complaints about the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu, most often about the steering. It is covered by 6 safety recalls, and for recall 14V-224 the manufacturer reports only 54% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 29, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu has problems
1,148 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
799Steering31 crash/fire/injury
151Electrical system9 crash/fire/injury
84Exterior lighting
69Seats
64Power train
31Suspension
30Service brakes
28Service brakes, hydraulic
27Vehicle speed control
18923 other systems24 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 799 | 31 |
| Electrical system | 151 | 9 |
| Exterior lighting | 84 | 5 |
| Seats | 69 | 0 |
| Power train | 64 | 5 |
| Suspension | 31 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 30 | 7 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 28 | 2 |
| Vehicle speed control | 27 | 3 |
| 23 other systems | 189 | 24 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
6 recalls
2004 Chevrolet Malibu recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2016 Q2
Power train: automatic transmission
Risk. If the transmission shift cable fractures while the vehicle is being driven, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle…
repaired · 2016 Q2
Steering: electric power assist system
Risk. If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
no report yet
Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module
Risk. UNEXPECTED ABS ACTIVIATION COULD INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCE UP TO ABOUT 11 FEET DPENDING ON THE GRADE OF THE ROAD, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Show 2 more recalls
no report yet
Front: anchorage
Risk. IF THIS OCCURRED IN A CRASH, THE DRIVER COULD RECEIVE GREATER INJURIES.
no report yet
Other: labels
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Chevrolet.
Mileage at failure
When do steering problems start?
62kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 668 steering complaints. 65% were reported before 100,000 miles.
168under 30k miles436under 100k miles232100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Steering
38 owners mentioned a cost$700median
Middle half: $596 – $1,000
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2004 vs. every other Malibu year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Malibu median. How we score
0120245321134439767899227215675691,1489751,1199779891,5111,36397890783735127084170570119320390100734612
'73'74'75'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'86'89'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2004 Chevrolet Malibu safety ratings
2004 Chevrolet Malibu 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Stability control: No
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
4 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu, and the recalls they led to.
- LOSS OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERINGNo recall
- Turn Signal LampsNo recall
- LOSS OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERINGNo recall
- TURN SIGNAL LAMPSNo recall
In owners' words
What Malibu owners report
Recent steering complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at 15 MPH, a whining noise was heard coming from the steering system when attempting to turn. The failure mileage was 133,000.
Electric Power Steering has failed on my car. Warning shows up saying power steering. Live in a snowy deer populated area impossible to turn wheel in these situations to avoid a collision. There was no actual accident that occured but there more than likely could be.
The steering system gets extremely sensitive towards highway speeds to where a slight touch of the steering wheel could cause the car to move a significant amount no warning lamps or messages
Own a 2004 Malibu?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.