Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
NHTSA data on file today
The 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 433 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #14V252000 Brake Lights may or may not Randomly Illuminate NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V224000 Transmission Shift Cable may Fracture/Rollaway NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V153000 Sudden Loss of Electric Power Steering NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Steering 250 complaints
- Seats 93 complaints
- Electrical System 37 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 37 complaints
- Power Train 20 complaints
- Air Bags 13 complaints
Of the 433 complaints on file, 25 report a crash and 6 a fire; across all 433 complaints, owners report 18 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $6,000–$12,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx faces significant issues, notably in steering, with 251 complaints, and seats with 93 complaints. The three recalls address critical areas like electrical system, power train, and steering. Given these common complaints and recalls, reliability is at least below-average, though some data is limited.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| steering system | Unknown | $500–$1,500 | very common |
| seat mechanisms | Unknown | $200–$600 | common |
| exterior lighting | Unknown | $100–$300 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake pad inspections
- Tire rotation and balance
- Transmission fluid check
- Coolant system check
- Brake fluid replacement
- Spark plug replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Steering difficulty or noise
- Seat adjustment problems
- Dashboard warning lights
- Transmission slipping
- Dimming or flickering lights
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.