2004 Chevrolet Malibu Power Train
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MANUALLY SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK HOWEVER, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE CONTACT PUSHED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MIDWAY CHEVROLET (2323 W BELL RD, PHOENIX, AZ) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE, HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS PARKING THE VEHICLE, HE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE GEAR OUT OF REVERSE AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 218,381.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. AFTER REVERSING AND ATTEMPTING TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN PARK, THE TRANSMISSION GEAR SELECTION DID NOT MATCH THE INDICATED GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER STILL FAILED AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 129,000.
I TURN MY CAR ON DRIVE GO TO GET OUT THE KEY WON'T COME OUT SOMETIMES IT DOES AND MOST TIME IS DOESN'T. I TRY TURN THE CAR BACK ON PUTTING THE CAR IN DRIVE THEN PARK AND TURNING THE KEY TO OFF POSITION AND THE CAR STILL DOESN'T GO INTO THE PARK POSITION SO THE KEY DOESN'T GO INTO OFF POSITION TO TAKE KEY OUT. THE CAR STAYS ON WITHOUT THE IGNITION BEING ON. THE CAR IS STATIONARY BUT THE CAR WON'T GO INTO PARK TO TURN THE CAR COMPLETELY OFF. SPOKE TO GM PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE BUT THEY WON'T HELP ME. THE KEEP SAYING THERE IS NO RECALL FOR MY CAR. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS GM'S RECALL 14152. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR LEVER FAILED TO SHIFT FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFT CABLE FRACTURED. IN 2015, THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO FAILURE. RECENTLY, A FAILURE OCCURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. PRIOR TO THE CONTACT OWNING THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER INDICATED THAT A RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETED FOR THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE. UPON DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE GEAR FAILED TO PROPERLY SHIFT INTO PARK AND OTHER GEARS. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT COULD ONLY SHIFT INTO THE DRIVE LOW GEAR AT AN EXTREMELY LOW RATE OF SPEED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE TWICE AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTER STICK WAS CHANGED FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS OR COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE JERKED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,067. UPDATED 02/05/16*LJ; UPDATED 05/04/18*JB
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY GAVE OUT AND I LOST ALL POWER TO THE ENGINE AND HAD TO SWERVE. HAVING SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER TO THE ENGINE I MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NARROWLY AVOIDED A COLLISION. THE CAR IS PERFECTLY MAINTAINED AND THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES AT THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP (BUNNIN CHEVY) CONCLUDED THIS WAS A MANUFACTURER ERROR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO REVERSE INSTEAD OF NEUTRAL AND THERE WAS A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHERE THE TRANSITION FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,000.
VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO SMOOTHLY SHIFT INTO PARK POSITION TO ALLOW THE KEY TO BE TURNED OFF. CERTIFIED MECHANIC STATED THE SHIFTER CABLE IS MOST LIKELY THE DEFECT. MANY MODELS HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECALLED. THE CAR IN NOT ABLE TO SHIFT INTO PARK TO ALLOW TURNING OF THE KEY IGNITION SWITCH TO THE OFF POSITION SO THAT THE CAR BATTERY TURNS OFF. SIFTER CABLE COULD POSSIBLY MALFUNCTION DURING NORMAL DRIVING/OPERATION, STARTING/STOPPING. *TR
2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE REVERSING AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD TO BE APPLIED IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER A MANUFACTURER RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 161,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 15 MPH. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND FLICKERED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION FLUID BURNING ODOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BURNING DOOR DID NOT OCCUR UNTIL AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT GEARS FAILED TO SHIFT PROPERLY AND THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS THE GEAR SLIPPED FROM DRIVE AND UPON TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, THE VEHICLE WENT TO THE LEFT AND CRASHED INTO A BARRIER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER THE PART TO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT FROM DRIVE INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE SHIFT LEVER CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14E044000 (STEERING), BUT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLICKING SOUND WHENEVER A TURN WAS MADE. THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE DRIVESHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000.
WHILE SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY THE SHIFT HANDLE POPPED UP AND IS NO LONGER ATTACHED COMPLETELY TO THE SHIFT LEVER. I HAVE TO PUSH DOWN ON THE HANDLE WHILE PUSHING IN THE BUTTON TO SHIFT OR ELSE THE HANDLE POPS UP AND I AM NOT ABLE TO SHIFT. *TR
FIRST, MY TRANSMISSION SHIFTER CABLE WENT OUT (THANKFULLY IN MY DRIVEWAY WHERE NO ONE WAS HARMED) SO AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH WE DISCOVERED GM HAD A RECALL FOR THIS PART, THAT SUPPOSEDLY COVERED MY MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR. AFTER CALLING GM WITH MY VIN THEY CLAIMED MY CAR WAS NOT A PART OF THIS RECALL. THIS MAKES VERY LITTLE SENSE TO ME BECAUSE MY CAR HAD THE SAME PROBLEM THE RECALL STATED. THEY REFUSED TO COVER MY CAR. ALL WHILE THEY HAD THIS PART ON A NATIONAL HOLD, MAKING IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO FIX THEIR MISTAKE. NOW, MY CAR HAS A USED AND POSSIBLY FAULTY PART IN IT BECAUSE THEY STILL WILL NOT COVER IT. WELL NOW ABOUT A MONTH LATER I'M HAVING A HAZARD SWITCH PROBLEM WITH THE SAME CAR. COME TO FIND OUT THEY RECALLED THIS PART ON 2000-2001 MALIBUS, BUT THEY'RE ARE MANY REPORTS OF 2002-2004 MALIBUS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THAT THEY REFUSE TO COVER. MY POINT HERE IS THAT GM CONTINUALLY MAKES MISTAKES THAT NEED FIXING, BUT PICK AND CHOOSE WHAT THEY WILL BE FIXING. BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS COULD BE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND COULD EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS SITUATION WITH GM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF, THE GEAR LEVER FAILED TO SHIFT INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN MADE THE CONTACT AWARE OF RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN). HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER HANDLE FRACTURED. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE BOTH HANDS TO SHIFT THE GEAR INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
THE SHIFT SELECTOR STOPPED SHIFTING GEARS. THOUGH THE STICK WILL SHIFT INTO PARK, THE VEHICLE WILL REMAIN IN GEAR. THIS COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY UNLESS IT IS TURNED OFF PRIOR TO RELEASING THE BRAKE. *JS THIS ISSUE IS DESCRIBED IN AN EXISTING GM RECALL WHICH COVERS SOME MALIBU MAXX VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 2003 AND 2007. OUR MAILBU MAXX WAS MANUFACTURED IN JUNE OF 2004 AND HAS THE EXACT PROBLEM PRESENTED IN THE RECALL, BUT IS APPARENTLY NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL.
WHEN IN REVERSE, BUT NOT MOVING, THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR SHIMMIES AND MAKES NOISES. THE AFFECTED PART WAS JUST REPLACED (SUPPOSEDLY) IN FEB. 2012. NOW THEY SAY THAT THE PARTS AGAIN MUST BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY ARE JUST FINDING IT NOW, A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. *TR
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Quick Summary
The 2004 Chevrolet Malibu has 42 Power Train complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.