Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
NHTSA data on file today
The 2004 Chevrolet Malibu has 9 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1,147 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #14E044000 Steering Shaft Inadequate Support of U-Joint NHTSA notice
- 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
- NHTSA #11E009000 AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMPS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E012000 FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V190000 GM/ABS MODULE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V188000 GM/DRIVER'S SEAT BELT NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V094000 GM/FMVSS 208/AIR BAG WARNING LABELS NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Steering 798 complaints
- Electrical System 151 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 84 complaints
- Seats 69 complaints
- Power Train 64 complaints
- Suspension 31 complaints
Of the 1,147 complaints on file, 47 report a crash and 7 a fire; across all 1,147 complaints, owners report 22 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,000–$9,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2004 Chevrolet Malibu has a below-average reliability score due to a high number of complaints, especially regarding steering issues, and significant recall activities. With 1,147 complaints and nine recall campaigns, most issues are steering-related, suggesting potential recurring problems. However, data on other systems is limited, with fewer complaints.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| steering | 60,000–100,000 miles | $500–$1,200 | very common |
| electrical system | 50,000–90,000 miles | $200–$800 | common |
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 replacement
- Coolant system flush
- Tire rotation and alignment
- Transmission fluid change
- Air filter replacement
- Fuel filter replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Steering stiffness or noise
- Electrical system failure
- Transmission slipping
- Exterior light malfunction
- Engine stalling
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.