2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx, and owners have filed 434 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Electronic stability control (esc) and 4 other components
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, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and harness connector, and will relearn the brake…
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Floor shift (power train) and automatic transmission (power train)
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 from May 16, 2003, through October 5, 2007, model year…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and GM dealers will replace the shift cable assembly and mounting bracket, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact General Motors at…
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Electric power assist system (steering)
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 loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will perform one of four bulletins. Parts are not currently available. GM expects to send an interim notification around May 28, 2014. When parts are available, owners will be mailed…
434 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx have filed 434 complaints with NHTSA; 26 describe a crash and 6 describe a fire. Reports cite 20 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 78,907 miles. Complaints peaked in 2010 with 63 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx. The contact stated that after he turned off and restarted the vehicle, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to Bruce’s auto body”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 25, 2023 · Air bags
“The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 9, 2023 · Steering
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu (Malibu Maxx). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 22–25 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 19–21 / 28–31 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Large Cars, Midsize Cars |
| Engine | 4/6 cyl, 2.2/3.5 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd |
Compare Chevrolet Malibu Maxx model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Chevrolet Malibu Maxx model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx | 3 | 434 |
| 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx | 3 | 326 |
| 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx | 4 | 270 |
| 2007 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx | 3 | 44 |
Checking a specific 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
How do I know if my 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Chevrolet dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 14V153000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Chevrolet models
- Malibu19,364 complaints
- Silverado 150018,029 complaints
- Impala10,434 complaints
- Tahoe10,032 complaints
- Equinox9,161 complaints
- Silverado8,799 complaints
- Blazer8,192 complaints
- Suburban8,164 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.