"How reliable is the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu?"

"Based on 1639 NHTSA complaints, the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu has a median complaint mileage of 69000 miles. The most common issue is Steering."

"What are common problems with the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu is Steering, accounting for a significant portion of the 1639 total complaints filed."

2004 Chevrolet Malibu: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 1639 complaints

1639

Total Complaints

69,000mi

Median Mileage

Steering

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

20,800 25th Percentile

69,000 Median Mileage

111,454 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

Steering

715

Electric Power Assist System

139

Electrical System

117

Seats

Exterior Lighting

Power Train

Column

Service Brakes

Air Bags

Vehicle Speed Control

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"AFTER PUTTING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, IT BECAME STUCK AND WAS NOT ABLE TO BE RELEASED RIGHT AWAY. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE MECHANIC COULD NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK WHEN THE POWER STEER LOCKED UP, THE CONSUMER HAD TROUBLE TURNING THE WHEEL. *CB *J..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

When Does Each Component Fail?

Median mileage at complaint for top components.

Steering 715 complaints

25th: 36,000 mi Median: 80,000 mi 75th: 117,420 mi

Electric Power Assist System 139 complaints

25th: 4,829 mi Median: 8,379 mi 75th: 15,048 mi

Electrical System 117 complaints

25th: 55,850 mi Median: 90,000 mi 75th: 129,662 mi

Seats 68 complaints

25th: 77,000 mi Median: 96,000 mi 75th: 118,000 mi

Exterior Lighting 60 complaints

25th: 58,162 mi Median: 84,000 mi 75th: 113,320 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

NY: 153 MI: 113 CA: 97 OH: 94 IL: 94 PA: 92 FL: 90 TX: 74 IN: 61 VA: 59

Who Files Complaints?

21.8%

Original Owners

78.2%

Second+ Owners

Chevrolet Malibu — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

Year	Complaints	Median Mileage	Top Issue	Crashes
1997	693	82,750	Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	34
1998	1480	70,000	Rotor	53
1999	1227	60,000	Rotor	61
2000	1379	65,000	Electrical System	71
2001	1005	70,000	Electrical System	51
2002	754	68,607	Electrical System	28
2003	772	70,000	Electrical System	52
2005	1385	89,000	Steering	67
2006	1473	85,000	Steering	59
2007	1252	100,000	Steering	53
2008	1482	80,000	Steering	54
2009	2354	100,000	Steering	64
2010	2193	82,000	Steering	72
2011	1512	79,632	Electrical System	71
2012	1470	87,000	Electrical System	93
2013	1367	70,000	Electrical System	50
2014	561	60,000	Engine	32
2015	389	50,000	Engine	30
2016	1424	50,000	Engine	37
2017	1157	51,000	Engine	25
2018	1166	44,700	Engine	34
2019	293	41,750	Power Train	9
2020	307	70,000	Engine	15
2021	99	21,000	Unknown Or Other	0
2022	116	42,000	Electrical System	6
2023	48	34,853	Electrical System	5

Active Recalls (9)

Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.

Wiring

Campaign 14V252000 | 14/05/2014

Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.

GM will notify owners, and dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and harness connector, and will relearn the brake pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim let

Electric Power Assist System

Campaign 14V153000 | 31/03/2014

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.

GM will notify owners, and dealers will perform one of four bulletins. Parts are not currently available. GM expects to send an interim notification around May 28, 2014. When parts are available, owners will be mailed a second letter to come in to have the applicable bulletin applied. Bulletin 1

Automatic Transmission

Campaign 14V224000 | 30/04/2014

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 may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash. Furthermore, when the driver goes to stop and park the veh

GM will notify owners, and GM dealers will replace the shift cable assembly and mounting bracket, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 14152.

Steering

Campaign 14E044000 | 21/07/2014

A joint bearing that fails prematurely may cause separation of the u-joint resulting in a complete loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Dorman will notify owners, and dealers will refund the purchase price or replace the steering shafts, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact Dorman customer service at 1-800-523-2492.

Fuel Pump

Campaign 11E009000 | 28/02/2011

A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR SHOULD THE ENGINE STALL WHILE IN USE.

TI AUTOMOTIVE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND WILL REPLACE ANY DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP WITH A NEW OR REWORKED FUEL PUMP FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 22, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TI AUTOMOTIVE AT 1-866-867-3759 OR LOG ON TO WWW.RECALLRESPONSE.COM.

Exterior Lighting

Campaign 09E012000 | 07/04/2009

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Control Unit/Module

Campaign 04V190000 | 19/04/2004

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.

DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ABS CONTROLLER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 16, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438.

Anchorage

Campaign 04V188000 | 16/04/2004

IF THIS OCCURRED IN A CRASH, THE DRIVER COULD RECEIVE GREATER INJURIES.

DEALERS WILL INSERT A RETAINER ON BOTH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S BELT ANCHORAGES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 16, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438.

Labels

Campaign 04V094000 | 24/02/2004

OWNERS WILL BE SENT REPLACEMENT LABELS WITH INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO INSTALL THEM. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 21, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438.

Protect Your Steering System

Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.

Get a wheel alignment annually or after hitting a significant pothole
Don't hold the steering wheel at full lock for more than a few seconds
Check power steering fluid monthly on hydraulic systems
Address wandering, vibration, or play in the wheel promptly
Replace worn tie rod ends before they cause tire wear

Vehicle Rankings

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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28