Model year
2004 Chevrolet Malibu
NHTSA lists 6 recalls and 1,147 complaints for the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu (recall file dated Oct 23, 2026; complaint file dated Oct 23, 2026). NHTSA also lists 4 recalls and 550 complaints under MALIBU CLASSIC and MALIBU MAXX. Those counts are separate from the numbers above. The components listed on the most complaints are STEERING (715), STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM (139), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (117). NHTSA lists 4 investigations. NHTSA star ratings from before model year 2011 use an older method and are not shown here. EPA rates it 22–25 mpg combined depending on configuration (fuel economy file dated Sep 29, 2026). EPA's annual fuel-cost figures for these configurations are $2,700–$3,050, based on 15,000 miles and 55% city driving.
- 2000 922 complaints
- 2001 721 complaints
- 2002 567 complaints
- 2003 569 complaints
- 2004 1,147 complaints
- 2005 975 complaints
- 2006 1,117 complaints
- 2007 977 complaints
- 2008 989 complaints
- 2009 1,509 complaints
- 2010 1,363 complaints
- 2011 978 complaints
- 2012 907 complaints
- 2013 837 complaints
- 2014 351 complaints
- 2015 270 complaints
- 2016 841 complaints
- 2017 703 complaints
- 2018 700 complaints
- 2019 193 complaints
- 2020 199 complaints
- 2021 90 complaints
- 2022 99 complaints
- 2023 72 complaints
- 2024 43 complaints
- 2025 11 complaints
Recalls
14V252000 · May 14, 2014
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC); VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE…
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26,…
14V224000 · Apr 30, 2014
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT; POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on April 29, 2014, that they are recalling 56,214 model year 2007 and 2008 Saturn Aura vehicles. On May 22, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 1,074,899 model year 2004-2008 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured…
14V153000 · Mar 31, 2014
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2006 Malibu Maxx, 2009-2010 HHR (non-turbo), 2010 Cobalt, 2008-2009 Saturn Aura and 2004-2007 Ion, and 2005-2009 Pontiac G6. In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden…
04V190000 · Apr 19, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
SOME OF THESE PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) THAT MAY CALCULATE A HIGHER THAN ACTUAL VEHICLE SPEED BECAUSE OF AN ERRATIC REAR-WHEEL SPEED SENSOR SIGNAL, AND CAUSE ABS ACTIVATION WHERE IT IS NOT NEEDED OR NEEDED ABS ACTIVATION TO BE EXTENDED DURING…
04V188000 · Apr 16, 2004
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, ANALYSIS OF AN A SIDE IMPACT CRASH TEST CONDUCTED BY THE NHTSA;S NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (NCAP) INDICATED THAT THE OUTBOARD ANCHORAGE OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT COULD DISCONNECT BECAUSE OF CONTACT BETWEEN THE SEAT TRIM AND THE ANCHORAGE…
04V094000 · Feb 24, 2004
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD (FMVSS) NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." SOME OF THESE VEHICLES THAT WERE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AN ADVANCED OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM (AORS) HAVE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE…
Complaints
1,147 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 47, fire flag on 7, injury field 22, deaths field 0. A complaint can be counted under more than one component. The injury and death figures are the file's numbers (the highest value on each complaint, then added), not a separate verified count of people.
Other NHTSA names
These names matched the same EPA model but are not included in the headline counts above.
| Name | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| MALIBU CLASSIC | 1 | 116 |
| MALIBU MAXX | 3 | 434 |
Investigations
| Action | Subject | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE04031 | LOSS OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERING · STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM; STEERING | Mar 30, 2004 | Jul 1, 2004 |
| EA04018 | LOSS OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERING · STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM; STEERING | Jul 1, 2004 | May 10, 2005 |
| PE08062 | TURN SIGNAL LAMPS · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL | Oct 21, 2008 | Mar 20, 2009 |
| EA09004 | Turn Signal Lamps · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN… | Mar 20, 2009 | Aug 12, 2010 |
Safety ratings
NHTSA star ratings from before model year 2011 use an older method and are not shown here.
Fuel economy
| Configuration | Fuel | City | Hwy | Comb | kWh/100 mi | Range | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malibu · 2.2L · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 21 | 31 | 25 | — | — | $2,700 |
| Malibu · 3.5L · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 20 | 29 | 23 | — | — | $2,900 |
| Malibu Maxx · 3.5L · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 19 | 28 | 22 | — | — | $3,050 |
Open this model year in the fuel-cost calculator. The calculator starts with no fuel price filled in.
Check a vehicle
This page is not a VIN lookup. NHTSA's recall tool checks a specific vehicle: nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's page for this model year is 2004 Chevrolet Malibu at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.