92 complaints reported

2005 Chevrolet Malibu Seats

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
92
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
1

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

May 2014

DRIVER SEAT IS BROKEN. THERE WAS NO INCIDENT THAT CAUSED IT TO BREAK. IT IS CROOKED AND SOMETIMES MOVES WHILE DRIVING, WHICH HAS CAUSED MY FOOTING TO SLIP OFF THE BRAKE/GAS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2012
May 2014

THE DRIVER SEAT IS BROKEN DUE TO POOR DESIGN OF SEAT ASSEMBLY. MANY OTHER MALIBU OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THE ISSUE ON VARIOUS OTHER AUTOMOBILE DEFECT SITES. DUE TO BROKEN SEAT ASSEMBLY, DRIVER'S POSITION COULD SHIFT UNEXPECTEDLY, CAUSING, AT A MINIMUM, A DISTRACTION, IF NOT LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2014
May 2014

THIS 2005 MALIBU MAXX LT IS EQUIPPED WITH A 6-WAY POWER DRIVER'S FRONT SEAT. SOMETHING HAS BROKEN THAT ALLOWS THE SEAT TO SLIDE FORWARD SLIGHTLY DURING BRAKING AND SLIDE BACK DURING ACCELERATION. I HAVE READ THE VARIOUS OWNER'S COMPLAINTS REGARDING BROKEN MALIBU SEAT FRAMES AND I FEEL THAT THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT SHOULD BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED BY CHEVROLET. THIS VEHICLE HAS ONLY 56,000 MILES AND IS DRIVEN BY MY WIFE WHO WEIGHS ONLY 122 POUNDS. IT HAS BEEN A GARAGE KEPT CAR ALL ITS LIFE AND IS EXCEPTIONALLY CLEAN. THERE IS NO REASON FOR THIS SEAT TO HAVE FAILED OTHER THAN POOR CONSTRUCTION. AS WITH MANY COMPLAINTS, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE! THIS SEAT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED YET. *JS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: May 2013
Apr 2014

DRIVERS SEAT BROKE IN THREE PLACES AND IS A HAZARD TO DRIVE , BECAUSE THE SEAT MOVES LEFT TO RIGHT WHEN YOU GET IN AND OUT OF THE CAR. WHEN THE SEAT MOVES BEFORE DRIVING, YOU SIT TILTED TO THE LEFT AND ITS UNCOMFORTABLE TO SIT AND DRIVE GOOD. IT HAPPENED SO SUDDEN I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE ANYWHERE, IF I DID I ONLY DROVE SLOW. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Aug 2014
Mar 2014

DRIVER'S SEAT RIGHT FRONT SUPPORT BRACKET WELD FAILED DURING SLOW TURN. THE CORNER OF THE SEAT DROPPED DOWN, AND NOW IT WOBBLES UP AND DOWN. THE TUBE THAT CONNECTS THE BRACKETS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT FAILED AT THE WELD ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THE TUBE APPEARS TO BE TOO THIN FOR THE APPLICATION - THE WELD HAS PEELED A PIECE OF THE TUBING AWAY. THE SEAT BELT IS ATTACHED TO THE SEAT INSTEAD OF THE FRAME. SO NOW THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER RESTRAINT SYSTEM IS IN QUESTION, BECAUSE THE SEAT IS UNSTABLE. AFTER AN INTERNET SEARCH, IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM, AND IS COSTLY TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE SEAT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2014
Mar 2014

THE DRIVERS SEAT REAR INSIDE MOUNTING BRACKET IS BROKEN. IT LOOKS LIKE THE WELD FAILED. SEAT IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND UNSAFE AS IT LUNGES FORWARD WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AS WELL AS FALLS BACK WHEN YOU ACCELERATE. LOOKED ONLINE FOR A FIX AND IT SEEMS THIS IS VERY COMMON AND CHEVROLET HAS NOT RECALLED IT NOR IS TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS UNSAFE FLAW. I HAVEN'T TAKEN IT TO A MECHANIC AS I HEARD AND READ THAT IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX OR REPLACE IT WITH A JUNK YARD PART...WHICH IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE REMEDY. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2013
Feb 2014

THE DRIVERS SEAT HAS BROKEN WHEN SIMPLY SITTING DOWN IN THE VEHICLE AND CAN ONLY BE SAFELY USED IN IT'S LOWEST POSITION. IF YOU TRY TO RAISE THE POWER SEAT, IT TILTS TO THE EXTREME RIGHT, AND ONLY THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT LIFTS. THE CAR IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE WHILE SITTING ON SUCH AN EXTREME SLANT, AND ALSO HARD TO SEE WHEN SITTING IN THE LOWEST POSITION, UNLESS YOU ARE QUITE TALL. OVERALL, THE SEAT IS NOW VERY WOBBLY AND UNSTABLE IF YOU SHIFT YOUR WEIGHT IN THE SEAT NOT THAT IT HAS BROKEN. I DON'T RECALL AT WHAT MILEAGE THIS HAPPENED - BUT I WAS GETTING INTO THE CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY AND HEARD A LOUD POP OF SOMETHING BREAKING LOOSE, AND THE SEAT FELL TO THE SIDE. FORTUNATELY IT HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND NOT WHILE DRIVING. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2013
Jan 2014

DRIVERS SEAT WELD BROKE RIGHT SIDE. NOW I HAVE A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVE AND DON'T TRUST THE SAFETY OF MY VEHICLE SINCE MY SEAT ROCKS BACK AND FORTH AT EVERY TURN AND STOP. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2014
Oct 2013

DRIVERS SEAT, THE WELD HAS BROKEN AND NOW THE SEAT SITS TO THE RIGHT AND MOVES WITH ANY BUMP OR TURN. VERY UNSAFE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Sep 2013
Oct 2013

PURCHASED CAR AND REALIZED THAT THE SEAT IS BROKEN. IT APPEARS THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRAME HAS BECOME UN-WELDED AT A JOINT ON THE RIGHT FRONT CROSSBAR CAUSING THE SEAT TO LEAN TOWARD PASSENGER SIDE AND WOBBLE IN REMAINING FRAME AS CAR IS DRIVEN. SHOCKING THAT THIS DEFECT IS COMMON FOR THIS VEHICLE, THAT THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR INJURY AND EVEN FATALITY RELATED TO THE SHOCK OF THIS BREAKING AS ONE DRIVES IT DOWN THE ROAD AND THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH FROM THE ALARMING NATURE OF THIS DEFECT. TOOK THIS TO THE LOCAL CAR REPAIR SHOP TO SEE IF THEY COULD FIX IT, THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT BEFORE, AND RECOMMENDED WE GO TO A JUNK YARD TO PURCHASE A NEW FRAME. AFTER SEEING ALL THE COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THIS SAME SIDE/POSITION, IT SEEMS A RECALL TO FIX THIS DEFECT SHOULD BE IN ORDER. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Sep 2013
Sep 2013

I NOTICED THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT "SWAYED" TO THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN SITTING DOWN IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER REMOVING THE SEAT FOR INSPECTION, THE WELD CONNECTING THE SUPPORT TUBE INSIDE THE SEAT COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM ITS WELD JOINT. NO PREVIOUS ACCIDENTS OCCURRED WITH THIS VEHICLE. LOCAL SERVICE CENTER STATED THIS WELD WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO FIX BY REWELDING AND SUGGESTED FINDING A AUTOSALVAGE SEAT TO REPLACE IT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: May 2013
Aug 2013

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, LUCKILY ON A CURVE. THE DRIVER SEAT BEGAN TO WOBBLE AND LEAN TO THE RIGHT AND BACK AND I THOUGHT THE MOTOR CAME OUT OF ALIGNMENT. WHEN I GOT HOME I BEGAN TO SEARCH TO LOCATE THE ISSUE. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT BAR OF THE SEAT HAD BROKEN OFF. I HAVE TAKEN PICTURES OF THE DEFECT. THE ISSUE AND CONCERN I HAVE AT THIS TIME IS SAFETY, HOW CAN A SEATBELT SECURE ME IF THE SEAT IS NOT ATTACHED TO THE CAR DURING AN ACCIDENT. IF I WERE IN A STAND STILL ON A FREEWAY AND THE CAR BEHIND ME DID NOT STOP IN TIME AND HIT ME AT 45 MPH, WHAT WOULD THE RESULT BE? I PICTURE MY SEAT FINALLY SNAPPING OFF OF ITS FRAME AND ME AND THE SEAT FLYING THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2013
Aug 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT TRACK WELD BECAME LOOSE FROM THE FRAME, CAUSING THE SEAT TO DETACHED AND TILT TOWARD THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN VERIFIED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE SEAT FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Feb 2013
Aug 2013

THE SUPPORT BRACKET WELDED TO THE SEAT FRAME BROKE ON THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT, CAUSING THE SEAT TO LEAN TOWARDS THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE SEAT CAN NOT RAISE UP ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE DRIVER SEAT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2012
Aug 2013

SAT DOWN IN DRIVERS SEAT AND IT POPPED AND SLUMPED TO THE RIGHT TOWARDS THE CENTER CONSOLE. I LOOKED UNDER THE SEAT AND THE METAL TUBE FRAME HAD SEPARATED AT THE WELD AND LOOKS LIKE IT JUST PEELED BACK. THE SEAT IS NOW UNSTABLE AND WILL WOBBLE BACK AND FORTH DURING DRIVING. RESEARCHED THIS ON THE INTERNET AND IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS AN EPIDEMIC OF DRIVER SEAT FRAMES BREAKING IN THE SAME MANOR ON THIS YEAR MALIBU MAXX. WITH SO MANY VEHICLES EXPERIENCING THE SAME MALFUNCTION IN THE FRAME IT WOULD APPEAR THAT A MANUFACTURING DEFECT EXISTS WITH THIS SEAT. THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO INVESTIGATE AND REPAIR THE DEFECT AS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Apr 2011
Jun 2013

TWO WELDS HOLDING THE CONSOLE SIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO THE BODY OF THE CAR SNAPPED, CAUSING THE SEAT TO SIT CROOKED (LOWER ON THE INSIDE), PIVOT BACKWARD DURING ACCELERATION, AND FORWARD WHEN BREAKING. IF IT WERE EVER IN A COLLISION, THE ADDITIONAL STRESS PLACED ON THE DOOR SIDE WELDS WILL LIKELY RESULT IN THE ENTIRE SEAT COMING FREE. (EVEN IN THE ABSENCE OF A COLLISION, THE SEAT MAY COME FREE BASED ON THE STRESS OF CONSTANT PIVOTING DURING NORMAL USE.) FOR THE RECORD, TO MY KNOWLEDGE THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY COLLISIONS OR OTHER SITUATION THAT MIGHT HAVE PLACED ABNORMAL STRESS ON THESE WELDS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2013
Apr 2013

SAT DOWN IN DRIVERS SEAT AND IT POPPED AND SLUMPED TO THE RIGHT TOWARDS THE CENTER CONSOLE. I LOOKED UNDER THE SEAT AND THE METAL TUBE FRAME HAD SEPARATED AT THE WELD AND LOOKS LIKE IT JUST PEELED BACK. THE SEAT IS NOW UNSTABLE AND WILL WOBBLE BACK AND FORTH DURING DRIVING. RESEARCHED THIS ON THE INTERNET AND IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS AN EPIDEMIC OF DRIVER SEAT FRAMES BREAKING IN THE SAME MANOR ON THIS YEAR MALIBU MAXX. WITH SO MANY VEHICLES EXPERIENCING THE SAME MALFUNCTION IN THE FRAME IT WOULD APPEAR THAT A MANUFACTURING DEFECT EXISTS WITH THIS SEAT. THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO INVESTIGATE AND REPAIR THE DEFECT AS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2013
Mar 2013

WELD ON DRIVERS SEAT BACK LEFT SIDE FAILED. SEAT NOW ROCKS BACK AND FORTH. SEAT MAY NO LONG BE ABLE TO HANDLE CRASH LOADS APPLIED TO IT. PLEASE CHECK HTTP://WWW.CHEVYMALIBUFORUM.COM/ FORUM FOR THIS ISSUE. THERE ARE MANY CASE OF THIS EXACT ISSUE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2011
Feb 2013

THE DRIVER SEAT ROCKS WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION AND IT WILL NOT ADJUST. DEALER STATES THAT THE SEAT TRACK IS BUSTED AND WILL NEED TO BE WELDED TOGETHER OR REPLACED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2013
Feb 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT WAS NOT SECURED PROPERLY TO THE FLOORBOARD OF THE VEHICLE AND WOULD MOVE FREELY WHEN THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE OWNER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT TWO BOLTS WERE FRACTURED, WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED THE SEAT TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 53,851. UPDATED 3/22/13 *CN THE VEHICLE HAS SINCE BEEN SOLD.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Feb 2013
Nov 2012

DRIVING AWAY FROM WORK IN A PARKING LOT AND THE FRONT RIGHT SEAT OF THE DRIVER SEAT POPPED AND SAGGED ABOUT 3 INCHES DOWN, SHOVING THE SEAT SIDEWAYS. I PULLED OVER TO CHECK IT AND FOUND THAT A PIPE RUNNING THE FRONT OF THE SEAT HAD SHEERED AWAY ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE. DRIVING IT HOME, ANOTHER POP IN THE BACK OF THE SEAT HAPPENED AND NOW THE SEAT IS SHOVED INTO THE CENTER CONSOLE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2012
Nov 2012

DRIVERS SEAT BRACKET BROKE, DRIVER NOW SITS LOPSIDED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: May 2011
Sep 2012

THE FRAME THAT SUPPORTS THE DRIVERS SEAT HAS A BROKEN WELD. THE SEAT NOW WOBBLES, ESPECIALLY ON BUMPS. *TR *JS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2012
Aug 2012

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE INTERSTATE AND HEARD A LOUD POP. SUDDENLY I AM SITTING SIDEWAYS IN THE DRIVER SEAT. AFTER PULLING OVER AND STOPPING, I NOTICED THAT THE SEAT BRACKET/SUPPORT HAD BROKE ON THE RIGHT SIDE, NEXT TO THE CONSOLE. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN APRIL 2012 AND HAVE A LIMITED WARRANTY THAT DOES NOT COVER THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM. IS THERE A RECALL FOR THIS PARTICULAR DEFECT? I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE CAR OR HAVING ANYONE AS PASSENGERS FOR FEAR OF LOOSING CONTROL IF THE LEFT SIDE BREAKS. I CONTACTED CHEVY DIRECTLY WITH THIS RESPONSE...PER OUR CONVERSATION THIS MORNING, I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT CHEVROLET IS NOT CONCERNED WITH THIS MATTER AS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH IT'S 2005 MALIBU DRIVER SEAT FRAMES. I PRAY THAT NO FATALITIES COME OF THIS POOR DECISION ON CHEVROLET'S PART. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Aug 2012
Jul 2012

THE DRIVERS SIDE POWER SEAT STARTED TO SAG ON THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE POWER SEAT ADJUSTMENT IS USED, THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE SEAT DOES NOT RAISE WHICH MAKES THE SEAT LEAN. FINALLY, THE SEAT NOW ROCKS FORWARD AND BACKWARD. IT APPEARS THAT THE FRAME OF THE SEAT HAS BROKEN. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2011

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2005 Chevrolet Malibu has 92 Seats complaints on file. 2 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.