Electrical System:wiring
NHTSA campaign 14V252000 · 2014 · reported 05/14/2014
Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Steering — runs 9.8× the fleet median for that category across the 1656 model-years tracked on this site.
434Complaints
3Recalls
26Crashes
6Fires
20Injured
0Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Steering (50.2% of complaints) — is covered by 1 NHTSA recall campaign.
Steering complaints here are 9.8× the median for that category across the 1656 model-years tracked on this site.
4 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 2 rest on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 218 · 50.2% | Recalled | Recall 14V153000 |
| Seats | 92 · 21.2% | No official action | — |
| Electrical System | 33 · 7.6% | Recalled | Recall 14V252000 |
| Steering:electric Power Assist System | 31 · 7.1% | Recalled | Recall 14V153000 |
| Exterior Lighting | 29 · 6.7% | Investigation closed | EA09004 · PE08062 |
| Power Train | 17 · 3.9% | Recalled | Recall 14V224000 |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 434 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls — 3 campaigns
Steering:electric Power Assist System
NHTSA campaign 14V153000 · 2014 · reported 03/31/2014
If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Power Train:automatic Transmission
NHTSA campaign 14V224000 · 2014 · reported 04/30/2014
If the transmission shift cable fractures while the vehicle is being driven, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash.… Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. SHORTLY AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE IN THE MORNING, THE CONTACT PLACED THE GEAR INTO REVERSE. WHILE DRIVING…”NHTSA complaint 10259737 — filed 02/24/2009 · STEERING
“I HAVE HAD AN ONGOING COMPLAINT ABOUT A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL OF MY 2004 MALIBU MAXX. ALMOST AS SOON AS I GOT…”NHTSA complaint 10258115 — filed 02/09/2009 · STEERING
“ON MY 2004 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX, THE POWER STEERING FAILED COMPLETELY AS I WAS DRIVING YESTERDAY. LAST MONTH, THE STEERING WAS "STIFF" TURNING TO THE…”NHTSA complaint 10249425 — filed 11/20/2008 · STEERING
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx?
Steering issues are the most-reported category, cited in 218 of 434 NHTSA complaints (50.2%), followed by seats (92), electrical system (33), steering:electric power assist system (31). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx have?
434 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 26 involved a crash, 6 involved a fire, and 20 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.
Does the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx have any recalls?
Yes — 3 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 14V252000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx's reported problems?
4 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.
