RecallRepo

2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 4,944,814 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 574 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the steering. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 14V252000 2014-05-14 2,440,524 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.

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 pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers…

POWER TRAIN 14V224000 2014-04-30 1,131,113 affected
Defect

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,…

Consequence

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. Furthermore, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, despite…

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 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 14152.

STEERING 14V153000 2014-03-31 1,373,177 affected
Defect

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)…

Consequence

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.

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 a second letter to come in to have the applicable bulletin applied. Bulletin 14115 covers model…

Complaints by component

STEERING
218
13crashes1fires7injuries
SEATS
92
1crashes
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
33
2crashes1fires2injuries
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
31
2crashes2injuries
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
29
2fires
POWER TRAIN
17
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
10
1crashes1injuries
SERVICE BRAKES
8
1crashes1fires
SUSPENSION
7
AIR BAGS
6
4crashes2injuries
Total complaints574

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“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 shop where it was diagnosed that the air bag side impact sensor failed to reset and needed to be…”

AIR BAGS · reported 2023-01-18

“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: 14e044000 (steering) however, the vin was not included. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by…”

STEERING · reported 2022-05-09

“The contact owns a 2004 chevrolet malibu maxx. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 mph, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The power steering warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed with power steering failure. The…”

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID · reported 2022-05-01

“Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet malibu maxx. While driving approximately 60 mph, the steering ability seized and all the warning indicators illuminated. The contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road as the power steering warning indicator remained illuminated. The vehicle was…”

STEERING · reported 2019-05-20

“Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet malibu maxx. While operating the vehicle, the power steering malfunctioned and the steering wheel became very difficult to turn in either direction. Also, 'power steering' displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was driven to billion automotive (600 w.…”

STEERING · reported 2019-05-01

“The 6 way front drivers seat has failed 6 times since 2006. The most recent incident was 3/15/2019. The first failure was in 2007. The welds that support the frame break and I have replaced the seat 3 times, welded 3 times. This is a significant safety issue as it has occurred while driving after…”

SEATS · reported 2019-03-15

“No steering,steering turns around and around without stop turning in either direction,right or left. Second time this happened,spent approximately $1200.00 before. Car this time ended in a tow pound yard. Triple aaa moved my car to a shop called quick stop where I wanted to get my car fixed at…”

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) · reported 2019-03-07

“No steering,steering turns around and around without stop turning in either direction,right or left. Second time this happened,spent approximately $1200.00 before. Car this time ended in a tow pound yard. Triple aaa moved my car to a shop called quick stop where I wanted to get my car fixed at…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2019-03-07

Defect investigations

Investigation EA04018 Opened 2004-07-01 · closed 2005-05-10

LOSS OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERING

IN PERFORMING THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS, ODI DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES CAN MALFUNCTION OR FAIL, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE; HOWEVER, DUE TO THE FOLLOWING REASONS, ODI HAS DECIDED THAT FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES ON THIS…

Investigation EA04018 Opened 2004-07-01 · closed 2005-05-10

LOSS OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERING

IN PERFORMING THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS, ODI DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES CAN MALFUNCTION OR FAIL, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE; HOWEVER, DUE TO THE FOLLOWING REASONS, ODI HAS DECIDED THAT FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES ON THIS…

Investigation EA09004 Opened 2009-03-20 · closed 2010-08-12

Turn Signal Lamps

GM designed the MY 2004 and 2005 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx vehicles with a daytime running lamp (DRL) system that uses the same filament (the high power filament of a dual filament bulb) as the front turn signals.The high power filament operates at full battery voltage when functioning as a DRL.The DRL is…

Investigation EA09004 Opened 2009-03-20 · closed 2010-08-12

Turn Signal Lamps

GM designed the MY 2004 and 2005 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx vehicles with a daytime running lamp (DRL) system that uses the same filament (the high power filament of a dual filament bulb) as the front turn signals.The high power filament operates at full battery voltage when functioning as a DRL.The DRL is…

Investigation EA09004 Opened 2009-03-20 · closed 2010-08-12

Turn Signal Lamps

GM designed the MY 2004 and 2005 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx vehicles with a daytime running lamp (DRL) system that uses the same filament (the high power filament of a dual filament bulb) as the front turn signals.The high power filament operates at full battery voltage when functioning as a DRL.The DRL is…

Investigation EA09004 Opened 2009-03-20 · closed 2010-08-12

Turn Signal Lamps

GM designed the MY 2004 and 2005 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx vehicles with a daytime running lamp (DRL) system that uses the same filament (the high power filament of a dual filament bulb) as the front turn signals.The high power filament operates at full battery voltage when functioning as a DRL.The DRL is…

Investigation PE04031 Opened 2004-03-30 · closed 2004-07-01

LOSS OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERING

ODI OPENED PE04-031 BASED ON EIGHT REPORTS OF ALLEGED POWER STEERING FAILURE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THE COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT THE DRIVER SUDDENLY LOST ALL ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE WITHOUT WARNING MAKING THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE SUBJECT VEHICLE UTILIZES AN ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSIST SYSTEM…

Investigation PE04031 Opened 2004-03-30 · closed 2004-07-01

LOSS OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERING

ODI OPENED PE04-031 BASED ON EIGHT REPORTS OF ALLEGED POWER STEERING FAILURE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THE COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT THE DRIVER SUDDENLY LOST ALL ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE WITHOUT WARNING MAKING THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE SUBJECT VEHICLE UTILIZES AN ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSIST SYSTEM…

Investigation PE08062 Opened 2008-10-21 · closed 2009-03-20

TURN SIGNAL LAMPS

THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE LOSS OF FUNCTION OF ONE OR MORE OF THE PARK, TURN, STOP OR DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS (DRL).FAILURE OF THE BULB MAY ALSO INCLUDE DISCOLORATION (HEAT DAMAGE) TO THE BULB SOCKET.GENERAL MOTORS (GM) TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) NUMBER 06-08-42-004C INSTRUCTS TECHNICIANS TO EXAMINE THE…

Investigation PE08062 Opened 2008-10-21 · closed 2009-03-20

TURN SIGNAL LAMPS

THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE LOSS OF FUNCTION OF ONE OR MORE OF THE PARK, TURN, STOP OR DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS (DRL).FAILURE OF THE BULB MAY ALSO INCLUDE DISCOLORATION (HEAT DAMAGE) TO THE BULB SOCKET.GENERAL MOTORS (GM) TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) NUMBER 06-08-42-004C INSTRUCTS TECHNICIANS TO EXAMINE THE…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.