The 2005 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 416 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the steering. Last updated July 5, 2026.
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 TRAIN14V2240002014-04-301,131,113 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.
STEERING14V1530002014-03-311,373,177 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
162
6crashes1fires4injuries
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
41
6fires
SEATS
39
1crashes1injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
33
2crashes1fires
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
10
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
9
1crashes
AIR BAGS
8
2crashes1injuries
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
8
SERVICE BRAKES
8
2crashes1fires
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
7
Total complaints416
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“The contact owns a 2005 chevrolet malibu maxx. The contact stated while driving on several occasions, the vehicle made an abnormal sound and the vehicle lost power steering functionality. There were no warning lights illuminated; however, the power steering failure message was displayed. The…”
“The contact owns a 2005 chevrolet malibu maxx. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the power steering assist fault message was displayed and the steering wheel became very difficult to turn in either direction. Additionally, there was a ticking sound coming from the…”
“The contact owns a 2005 chevrolet malibu maxx. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 mph and making a right turn, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road and stop the vehicle. The…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet malibu maxx. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 mph, the vehicle loss motive power and stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to john elway chevrolet located at 5200 s. Broadway, englewood, co 80113, to be diagnosed. The contact was…”
“The contact owns a 2005 chevrolet malibu maxx. The contact stated that while her husband was driving 55 mph, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that her husband manually steered the vehicle and veered to the side of the road.…”
“The contact owns a 2005 chevrolet malibu maxx. The contact stated that while her husband was driving 55 mph, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that her husband manually steered the vehicle and veered to the side of the road.…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet malibu maxx. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, a clunking sound was coming from the steering column while turning the steering wheel in either direction. The cause of the failure was not determined. The contact indicated that the steering…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet malibu maxx. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start and the anti-theft warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer and dealer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 165,000.”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA09004 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…
InvestigationEA09004 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…
InvestigationEA09004 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…
InvestigationEA09004 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…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.