Steering out of whack. I have had my control arm on both sides changed along with axles and a alignment. No luck its still all over road. I drive from sylvester ga to tifton ga everyday. It does the same thing everytime. Also I have had my lights replaced 3 times in the last year. Why arent the lasting. Gas cap keeps reading error. Whole car. I can let someone drive it to see what I am saying.
2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx lights problems
38 complaints (9% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 70,000. 1 crash reported.
- owner complaints
- 38
- of this car's complaints
- 9%
- typical mileage
- 70,000
- crashes
- 1
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
- Turn signal4
- Headlights: concealment devices2
- Headlights2
- Tail lights1
- Headlights: switch1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+
Chevrolet Malibu Maxx lights problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx lights
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Related investigations
Turn Signal Lamps
GM designed the MY 2004 and 2005 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx vehicles with a daytime running lamp (DRL) system that uses the same filament (the high power filament of a dual filament bulb) as the front turn signals.The high power filament operates at full battery voltage when functioning as a DRL.The DRL is illuminated whenever the headlamps are off, increasing the duty cycle of the front turn signal bulb.The MY 2003 and earlier Malibu vehicles (Malibu Maxx was not manufactured for sale in the U.S. prior to MY 2004) used a headlamp based design, operated at a reduced voltage, for the DRL function; GM reverted back to this design on the MY 2006 and later Malibu and Malibu Maxx vehicles. Filament based bulbs have a finite life (hours of illumination) for any given operating voltage.As a result, increasing the duty cycle of a bulb typically decreases the life span of the bulb.GM identified and addressed two front turn signal/DRL and rear turn signal bulb quality issues early in MY 2004 production, however vehicle warranty claims for failed bulbs continued to occur.To address the high warranty levels of bulb failures (90% of the warranty claims submitted to ODI by GM were bulb failures and 10% were socket failures), GM issued a technical service bulletin in March 2006 advising dealers to use a new specification of bulb when addressing service failures, and to also inspect the electrical sockets for thermal damage and replace if necessary.In June 2006 (after subject vehicle production ended) GM changed the turn signal bulb specification to that of the TSB bulb in vehicle production also.To date, ODI has not identified any allegations of crash, injury, or fire related to the alleged defect even though the subject vehicles have experienced 5 - 6 years of field exposure.ODI's analysis of consumer complaints, both VOQ and manufacturer, shows a declining trend.The warranty rate for turn signal bulb replacement is high however statistical analysis of the warranty data suggests that the majority of the original equipment bulbs have already been replaced.GM conducted a safety recall (06V‑263) for MY 2004-2005 Cadillac XLR to replace the front turn signal/DRL bulbs and the electrical sockets.However GM advised that the turn signal/DRL bulbs/sockets on the subject vehicles differ from those on the recalled XLRs in several respects, including using bulb sockets with four electrical terminals as opposed to three, which improves the electrical connection, allows the bulb to operate at a lower temperature, and adds stability to the bulb in the socket; operating at a lower voltage, which increases vehicle bulb life; using vented headlamps, which allows bulbs to run cooler than those installed in a non-vented XLR headlamp; and using a clear bulb, which runs cooler than the amber bulbs installed on the XLR.Additionally, the warranty claim level related to subject vehicle sockets is unremarkable compared to other defect investigations into defective socket assemblies.A safety-related defect trend has not been identified at this time.Further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will take further action if warranted by the circumstances.See attached report for further information.
EA09004
Turn signal lamps
The subject vehicles may experience loss of function of one or more of the park, turn, stop or daytime running lamps (drl).failure of the bulb may also include discoloration (heat damage) to the bulb socket.general motors (gm) technical service bulletin (tsb) number 06-08-42-004c instructs technicians to examine the lamp housing for signs of discoloration and to replace the bulbs and or sockets depending on the severity of the discoloration and the condition of the bulbs and sockets.the scope of investigation in the preliminary evaluation (pe08-062) was the 2004 malibu/maxx.however, the agency evaluated gm's warranty data which indicates that the 2005 model year (my) malibu and malibu maxx vehicles are also affected by this condition.this investigation is upgraded to an engineering analysis (ea09-004).
PE08062
What 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
My drivers side headlamp assembly the lightbulb kept on burning out and finally dealership got me a replacement bulb but than the bulb got really hot and burned the orange cover and it melted on the bulb and even got into where the lightbulb goes in. So I ended up buying a whole new headlamp assembly from dealership and replaced it. So I thought it fixed the problem nope here we are in april 2015 and sure enough the bulb is getting to hot and is causing the exact same problem. I've seen several other malibu max and they also have the same issue so when is chevrolet going to recall the malibu max for this specific issue?
2004 chevrolet malibu maxx. Consumer seeking reimbursement for previous repairs, prior to recall. *cn the consumer stated the steering wheel was noisy, the wheel was loose, the vehicle pulled to the right. An alignment was performed twice, she experienced steering problems during the entire year of 2013. There was a recall on the steering issue, but she continued to experience problems. The intermediate shaft and rack and pinion were replaced. Also, the turn signals and shifter cable were replaced.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet malibu maxx. While driving approximately 5 MPH, both turning signal lights overheated. As a result, the turn signal housing and socket melted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician diagnosed that the light bulb socket needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 280,000.
Tl* the contact owned a 2004 chevrolet malibu maxx. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the contact depressed the brake pedal twice with excessive force to prevent a crash. When the brake pedal was depressed the second time, the air bags deployed and emitted white powder, which impaired the contact's vision. The contact crashed the vehicle into the rear of another vehicle. A police report was filed. The contact sustained back and shoulder injuries that did not require medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000. Updated 10/08/14*lj updated 05/18/2015
What can I say I have been writing about this car for the longest. I just want to say the other complaints about the bulbs burning out, the driver's seat breaking at the weld and the seat belt light constantly coming on is an ongoing problem I'm sure gm knew about this. I have complained to deaf ears both to the federal safety agency and gm. The last time I made a complaint was in may 2014 to both of them about the steering. Gm and the federal safety agency says there is nothing they can do since there was no recall. Exactly 2 weeks later the ceo of gm comes out to say the malibu maxx is included in the recall! I paid to have my steering wheel replaced in 2007 because of power steering failure, the dealer said I needed the steering column replace and I did to the tune of almost $800. Now a bulletin was sent out to dealers in 2005 about a key insert for any customer who came in to complain about power steering failure, but this was not given to me as a choice. They were sure I needed the steering column replaced, so I did. Now that my car is included in the recall and I paid, perhaps, unnecessarily to have my steering column replaced as anyone know this defective part is part of the steering gm still does not want to reimburse me my money back. I bought the cadillac catera which was discontinued due to many recalls and because of all my complaints gm gave me $3000 toward a new gm car, which I applied to the malibu maxx. I won't put my money or given credit toward a gm again, I'm through and since nearly half of my family members are gm owners I am getting them to make their next purchase something other than american made cars. I make sure I tell everyone about my experience so they will think twice about a company who didn't want to invest 90 cents topossibly fix a problem per car.
The seat belt do not lock in case of an accident. The drivers seat rocks while you are driving an adjusts by itself you can not keep the seat still. The welding has come apart from the base. The head lights are melting the bulbs for the signal and running light. I just caught that last weekend the lights stopped working when I look at the bulb it was melted which could have started an fire. I am waiting for the letter for the recall on the stern now. This would be the second time for it. I keep my car up to date with everything oil and whatever need to be done I am on top of it. But I have to many safety issue with it right. Seat belt, stern,drivers seat, headlights. Not only that the rotor warps every six months.
The seat belt do not lock in case of an accident. The drivers seat rocks while you are driving an adjusts by itself you can not keep the seat still. The welding has come apart from the base. The head lights are melting the bulbs for the signal and running light. I just caught that last weekend the lights stopped working when I look at the bulb it was melted which could have started an fire. I am waiting for the letter for the recall on the stern now. This would be the second time for it. I keep my car up to date with everything oil and whatever need to be done I am on top of it. But I have to many safety issue with it right. Seat belt, stern,drivers seat, headlights. Not only that the rotor warps every six months.
Drls bulbs on headlights run too hot causing the bulb to burn out constantly and causing assembly to and melt. I have to drive with my headlights on at all times, or my turning signals will not work. I've already had to replace headlight assembly twice.
On three separate occasions over the past year I would hear a loud chime and my power steering would go out in my 2004 malibu maxx, making it very difficult to drive. Each time this has occurred, I would turn the car off and restart it which would resolve the power steering problem. Initially, I took the car to a mechanic who said there were no leaks in the power steering system and it must have been an electronic problem. I chalked it up to old age (for the car) and continued to drive the car with care. My wife has not been able to drive the car since this happened because she could not control the car if the power steering goes out. Recently I heard of a recall on t.v. Regarding my year, make, and model. The recall description fit my experience with this car. I contacted the gm dealer (sweeney chevrolet in boardman ohio) and was told 'there had not been a recall on my car as of yet'. They went on to say that if I wanted it fixed, to bring it in and pay out of pocket. I would later be reimbursed by gm if, in fact, there was an eventual recal. My complaint is that I don't have $500-$1000 for a repair that I may not get reimbursed for. It is obvious that my car should be covered by this recall that was announced nationally on t.v. Is there anything that can be done so that gm can be made to fix this car before it causes an accident? Additionally, I have been brushed off by them regarding the turn signals since this car has been under warranty. I have replaced over 100 bulbs since this car was new. They overheat and melt the surrounding materials. I have already replaced the entire headlamp assembly, to no avail. I now drive this car without a left front turn signal because it will burn out the bulb within a day or two of replacing it. I'm not sure if this has been brought to the attention of gm in the past, but it seems to be a fire hazard.
Questions about the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx lights
Does the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx have lights problems?
Owners have filed 38 complaints about the lights of the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx, 9% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx lights problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 70,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx lights?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
What year does the Chevrolet Malibu Maxx have the most lights problems?
The Chevrolet Malibu Maxx model years with the most lights complaints are 2005 (51 complaints) and 2004 (38 complaints).
Other 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx problems
Steering 251Seats 93Electrical 37Brakes 20Transmission 20Fuel system 14Airbags 13Engine 11Seat belts 7Suspension 7Acceleration 6Locks 5Body 4Driver assistance 3Visibility 1
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