2004 Chevrolet Malibu Classic: problems, recalls and reliability
1 recall and 116 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is electrical system (48% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Jul 2014
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 116 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The anti theft gas cut off feature has rendered my vehicle unable to start. I have tried many methods but the problem persists. It starts when it wants too, but not when I do. *tr”Owner report · Electrical System · Jun 2020
“My theft light came on a month after the ignition was repaired due to recall. It is always on now. I have replaced the fuel pump, spark plugs, and timing chain. My car still wont start after all of that and the theft light is still on. I have been without a car for 2 months now due to it not starting. It will roll over but nothing more happens.when all of this happened it was stationary and it was parked in a parking lot where I work.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Nov 2019
“Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet malibu classic. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The contact had to leave the key in the "on" position for approximately ten minutes before attempting to start the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure occurred twice and the theft warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 190,000.”Owner report · Electrical System · Jul 2018
Show 7 more owner reports
“My theft system warning light keeps coming on. When I turn the key off and try to restart the car it will not start back. I have to turn it to the on position and wait until the theft light quits flashing which is usually 10 minutes and then restart the car. I was told by a chevrolet dealership mechanic that the problem was the ignition cylinder which cost around $180. Why is there not a recall for this.”Owner report · Electrical System · Jul 2018
“The theft system light has been an issue with this car for some time. The theft system light comes on and stays on by itself as well the systems makes the horn honk when opening or closing the car door. The theft system has made it so that I cannot start my car & this has been an on going problem with my car.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Jan 2018
“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!”Owner report · Power Train · May 2017
“Due to the passlock sensor inside the ignition lock cylinder case failure, the vehicle will stall at any moment and anywhere, which makes more likely to be involved in a wreck because of this. Gm stated that the problem with the vehicle stalling was due to the key coming out from the ignition cylinder. Gm added weight to the plastic portion of the key as a solution to the problem but the real problem for the vehicle to stall is not that, it is due to the failure of the passlock sensor.”Owner report · Electrical System · Jan 2017
“Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet malibu classic. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning and was unable to be restarted. The security pass lock and anti-lock warning indicators randomly flashed intermittently. The vehicle began to stall at random. The vehicle was diagnosed by a mechanic who stated that the fuel pump regulator failed. The vehicle was repaired, but continued to stall. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14v400000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.”Owner report · Electrical System · Jul 2016
“Ends of hollow sway bar broke off affecting control. Mechanic said it was a common problem and should have had a recall.”Owner report · Suspension · Jun 2016
“Tl* the contact owned a 2004 chevrolet malibu classic. The contact stated that the driver lost control of the vehicle, drove down an embankment, and crashed into a creek. During the crash, the front end of the vehicle sustained significant damage. The air bags did not deploy and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was destroyed. A police report was filed. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 195,000.”Owner report · Air Bags · Nov 2015
When filing, owners marked a crash in 8 of these complaints and injuries in 13 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 1 campaign
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.
How other years compare
Check your exact Malibu Classic by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Classic reliable?
NHTSA has 116 owner complaints and 1 recall campaign on record for the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Classic. The most complained-about area is electrical system (48% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Classic problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 100,000 miles or less.
Does the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Classic have open recalls?
1 recall campaign has been issued, the latest concerning electrical system:ignition. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.