NHTSA vehicle safety data
2004 Chevrolet Malibu Classic Recalls & Complaints
The 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Classic has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 116 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Chevrolet dealer.
NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Classic. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
2004 Chevrolet Malibu Classic owner complaints
Owners have filed 116 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Classic, describing incidents dated June 1, 2005 to September 15, 2021.
Most-cited components
- Electrical System 59 complaints
- Steering 24 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 11 complaints
- Engine 9 complaints
- Unknown or Other 8 complaints
- Power Train 5 complaints
Of the 116 complaints on file, 8 report a crash and 2 a fire; across all 116 complaints, owners report 13 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Newest complaints
ODI #11433192 · Filed
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Classic. The contact stated that while stopped at a red light, the vehicle lost motive power and abnormal noises were heard coming from the dashboard. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle when the door locks began to lock and unlock inadvertently. The…
ODI #11399664 · Filed
I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 MALIBU CLASSIC , WHEN ALL THE VEHICLE , TURNED OFF ,CAUSING ME TO HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AND THAT VEHICLE HITTING ANOTHER CAR , THERE WHERE 3 VEHICLE INVOLVED WITH INJURY'S, MY VEHICLE WAS TOLLED AND WAS SENT TO A TOW YARD , AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT I WAS WORKING AS…
ODI #11394823 · Filed
WELL MY IGNITION SWITCH WENT OUT I REPLACE THAT.NOW IT'S SHORTAGES IN WIRING AND LIGHTS HEAT ON AN OFF SOMETIMES SHOCKS
Owner-reported
2004 Chevrolet Malibu Classic mileage at failure
92 of the 116 complaints on file for the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Classic give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.
| Component | Median | Middle half | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | Median 100,000 miles | Middle half 55,000–120,000 miles | Based on 44 complaints |
A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.
Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.
These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.
Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out
NHTSA defect investigations
NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Classic in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
- Engineering Analysis EA04-018: LOSS OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERING
Closed May 10, 2005
Ignition Switch may Turn Off
NHTSA #14V400000 · Electrical System — Ignition · NHTSA notice
Reported July 3, 2014 · General Motors LLC
Potentially affected: 5,877,718 vehicles
Repair completion: 37.05% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)
Manufacturer campaign 14350 · Owners notified September 8, 2014
Defect description
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.
Safety consequence
If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Manufacturer 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.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Other Chevrolet Malibu Classic model years
Check your 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Classic VIN
Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Chevrolet Malibu Classic at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
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