2004 Chevrolet Malibu Electrical System
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SWITCH REPLACEMENT RECALL REPAIRS AND SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT. *SMD UPDATED 10/23/2017*JS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO RELEASE OUT OF THE ACCESSORY MODE INTO THE OFF POSITION. IN ADDITION, THE KEY REMAINED IN THE IGNITION CYLINDER AND THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE IGNITION CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,808.
2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. VEHICLE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING, WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY. *MW THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. IT WAS DETERMINED THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAULTY. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AND SUBMITTED DOCUMENTATION ALONG WITH THE REIMBURSEMENT CLAIM. THE CONSUMERS REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT WAS DENIED. ACCORDING TO CHRYSLER, HIS CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT WAS NOT VALID, THEREFORE IT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION FAILED WHILE THE ANTI THEFT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED RANDOMLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER WAS FAILING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 145,691.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START PROPERLY MULTIPLE TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO EJECT THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, THE KEY FAILED TO TURN ALL THE WAY TO THE OFF POSITION. THE KEY WAS ABLE TO TURN FROM ACCESSORY TO THE ON POSITION AND VICE VERSA, BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN TO THE OFF POSITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH AND KEYS COULD BE REPLACED FOR A FEE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CAR WAS TOTALED AND JUNKED BEFORE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. REQUESTING TO BE REMOVED FROM LIST *CN
CONSUMER WRITING IN REGARDS TO 2004 CHEVORLET MALIBU RECALL. *KL
2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED OCCASIONALLY, HE WOULD EXPERIENCE A WEAK CRANK WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE, AS IF THE BATTERY WAS FAILING. AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF, AND WAITING 15 SECONDS, HE WOULD ATTEMPT TO START THE VEHICLE AGAIN. IT WOULD CRANK, BUT NOT FIRE AS IF IT WERE FLOODED. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM. *JB
THE IGNITION SWITCH IS ACTING UP . I GOT INTO THE CAR TRIED TO START THE CAR BUT THERE WAS NOTHING, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY BUT THAT WAS NOT IT. EVERYTHING WORKING. BUT WHEN YOU TURN THE KEY THERE WAS NOTHING, I TRIED IT 4 TIMES. ON THE 5TH TIME ITH TURNED STARTED. THIS HAS HAPPPENED 8 DIFFERENT TIMES. I KNOW THERE IS A RECALL ON THE IGNITION SWITCH BUT I HAVEN'T RECEIVED ONE. I NEED IT SO THAT IF I CAN EVER GET INTO A DEALER SHIP THAT HAD PARTS I CAN GET IT FIXED.. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START OR WOULD STALL SHORTLY AFTER BEING STARTED. THE CONTACT VEHICLE WOULD ONLY RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT TO REMOVE THE EXTRA WEIGHT FROM THE KEY HOLDER IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. UPDATED 1/28/15*CN UPDATED 9/8/2017*CN
I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF SLOWING DOWN FOR A RED LIGHT ON A BUSY HIGHWAY WHEN MY CAR JUST DIED. I HAD TWO KIDS IN THE CAR WITH ME. SOMETHING BAD COULD HAVE HAPPENED. GOOD THING IT THE CAR DIED AT A RED LIGHT. I WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND THE CAR STARTED UP. I HAD THE CAR TESTED FOR ANY CODES AND NOTHING SHOWED FOR A REASON WHY THE CAR DID THIS. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
ON 7/13/09 WITH 28500 MILES & AGAIN AT 5/21/14 WITH 43500 MILES THE REAR HATCH SOP ACTUATOR FAULTY INTERNAL FAILURE LOCK /SOLENOID #15145724 DESCRIPTION LATCH #12.242 CAR DELIVERED 2/11/04 7/13/09 LOCK FAIL COST $159 LABOR $230 =$390 5/12/14 FAILS LOCK $353.63 LABOR $240 =$ 594 CHEV GARAGED & MAINTAINED DEFECTIVE PART NEVER UPGRADED & GM REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE DESIGN EFFECT TOTAL COST $984 PRICE A RIP OFF GOOD BY GM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING AND TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE, THE KEY BECAME LODGED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED WHEN IT WAS SUCCESSFULLY STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE PASS LOCK SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000.
THEFT SYSTEM DID NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO START. THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT APPEARS INTERMITTENTLY. FOLLOWING THE "WAIT 10 MINUTES" PROCEDURE DESCRIBED IN OTHER COMPLAINTS RESULTS IN START ON SOME OCCASIONS BUT DOES NOT WORK ON OTHERS. CONSIDERING THE GM IGNITION PROBLEM RECALLS, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS HAS NOT BEEN THE SUBJECT OF ONE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN EXPECTED DATE FOR THE PART TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
UPON SHUTTING CAR OFF MY CAR KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT IGNITION AFTER DANGLING THE KEY I CAME OUT BUT THE IGNITION WASN'T IN THE OFF POSITION. LM ATTEMPT TO PUT THE KEY BACK IN TO TURN IT TO OFF POSITION IT DIDN'T BUDGE. THE NEXT MORNING THE CAR WOULDN'T START I HAD TO GET A JUMP AND THEN THE FOLLOWING MORNING THE CAR WOULDN'T START I HAD TO GET A JUMP. I WENT ADVANCE AUTO PARTS AND WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE THE CAR IS NOT IN OFF POSITION COMPLETELY ITS DRAINING MY BATTERY, I ALSO WAS INFORMED OF A RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE THAT I WASN'T AWARE OF. I WILL TAKE TO DEALERSHIP ON MONDAY. THE OTHER PROBLEMS I HAVE IS THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW AFTER LETTING DOWN WONT COME BACK UP. TURN SIGNALS NOT WORKING ONE MINUTE POP ON OTHER MINUTE. I CHECK THE FUSE BOX IT WAS FINE. *TR
MY COMPLAINT IS THAT I HAVE RECEIVED TWO LETTERS INFORMING ME OF RECALLS ON MY BRAKES, AND THE ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING. I RECEIVED THE FIRST LETTER A MONTH AGO REGARDING THE ( EPS), I CALLED GM AND I ALSO CALLED CHEVROLET, I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING, NOW I RECEIVE A LETTER TWO DAYS AGO RECALLING (BCM), (BAS), I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW YOU CAN SEND OUT LETTERS STATING THERE ARE RECALLS BUT PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE, BUT YOU ARE CONCERNED. PLEASE HELP ME UNDERSTAND THIS, THIS IS MY ONLY MEANS IF TRANSPORTATION AND I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT HOW THIS IS BEING HANDLED. NOW I AM IN FEAR IF WHAT COULD HAPPEN WHILE I'M DRIVING AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE TO CORRECT THESE PROBLEMS AND PREVENT MY DEATH OR SOMEONE ELSE'S. I HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED THE (EPS) PROBLEM TWICE TO BE EXACT, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON, SO, I WOULD APPRECIATE SOMEONE CONTACTING ME WITH SOME INFORMATION IN HOW QUICKLY THESE PROBLEMS CAN BECOME RESOLVED. I AM REALLY CONSIDERING CONTACTING A LAWYER, BECAUSE NOTHING IS BEING DONE. MY LIFE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE LETTERS YOU SEND SAYING YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY, THAT IS A JOKE. THANKS FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE AND HOPEFULLY I WILL GET SOME KIND OF RESPONSE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER WHEN TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE ANTI-THEFT PROTECTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AFTER THE KEY WAS PLACED IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO FIND A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 117,000.
THE THEFT SYSTEM AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGES RANDOMLY WHEN IGNITION IS ATTEMPTED. RESET WITH KEY IN ON POSITION FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES IS THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE CAR TO START. CAN HAPPEN MULTIPLE TIMES PER DAY, REGARDLESS OF WEATHER OR PARKING CONDITIONS. REPLACED IGNITION IN 2013 AND COMPUTER IN 2011 WITH NO CHANGE IN ISSUE TO A DETRIMENT OF OVER $1,000.00. OCCASIONALLY PRESSING GAS WHEN IGNITION FIRST CATCHES WILL ROUTE THE ISSUE, BUT NOT ALWAYS. THEFT LIGHT ALSO NOW STAYS ON REGARDLESS OF A SUCCESSFUL FIRST START OR NOT. NEEDLESS TO SAY, IT IS FRUSTRATING TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN WHEN YOU NEED TO GET ON THE ROAD FOR WORK OR EVEN AN EMERGENCY! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER TURNING THE ENGINE OFF, HE WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE DEFECT HAD OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. ADDITIONALLY, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, DIMMER SWITCH, RADIO, SPEEDOMETER, AIR CONDITIONING LIGHTS, AND THE AIR CONDITIONING CONTROLS ALL FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO REPOSITION THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND ATTEMPTED NUMEROUS TIMES TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT FEATURE WOULD NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO BE STARTED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL AND SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
SECURITY SYSTEM WENT HAYWIRE. I GOT IN MY CAR TRIED TO START IT, IT WILL START, BUT DIES IN SECONDS, NO DASH LIGHTS, IF I LEAVE THE IGNITION TURN TO ON AFTER SO LONG 10 MINUTES OR LONGER SOMETIMES THE DASH LIGHTS WILL TURN ON AGAIN. AND THEN I AM ABLE TO START MY CAR AND DRIVE IT, HOWEVER SOMETIMES THE CAR EVEN AFTER WAITING A HALF HR WILL NOT RESET THE PASSLOCK SECURITY SYSTEM. IT COSTS OVER $500.00 TO FIX AND THIS IS THE SECOND ONE I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE IN MY CAR. THE DEALER SHOULD BE FIXING THIS ISSUE AS IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND HAS HAD MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. THIS IS RIDICULOUS HOW CAN THE CHARGE SUCH AN OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNT AND YET IT GO BAD AGAIN AND NOT RECALL THIS. *TR
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Quick Summary
The 2004 Chevrolet Malibu has 112 Electrical System complaints on file. 2 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.