Problems · by component

2004 Chevrolet Malibu service brakes problems

39 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu cite service brakes, 2% of all 1,698 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
39
2% of all complaints
Crashes
7
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
6
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the service brakes

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The Grumman LLV was hit by the driver of the Chevy Malibu. The Grumman LLV had seatbelt issues with impact. The LLV was forced over on two wheels with left side impact from the driver of Chevy Malibu. [XXX] was the driver of the USPS Grumman LLV at the time of accident sustaining neck injuries requiring medical attention. Multiple medical procedures paid out of pocket followed to include surgeries The driver of Chevy Malibu was injured and received coverage by State Farm insurance.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 24, 2024Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11579145
“POWER STEERING UPON IGNITION LIGHTS UP AND LOCKS POWER STEERING. TURN OFF AND RESTART SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE OPERATIONAL. ABS LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON WHILE DRIVING. ELECTRIC ASSIST POWER STEERING. BOTH IN STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING IN CITY AND HIGHWAY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 15, 2021Steering, Service brakes, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11408197
“ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY, 8, 2019 MY 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU, VIN [XXX] HAD TO BE TOWED OFF OF THE ROAD AND HOME BECAUSE THE FRONT BRAKES WERE LOCKING AND THE VEHICLE WAS SMOKING FROM THE SAME ORIGINAL LOCATION. ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2019 THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SOUTH CHARLOTTE CHEVROLET, THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2019 KB FROM SOUTH CHARLOTTE CHEVROLET INFORMED ME THAT THE FRONT CALIPERS, BRAKES AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I EXPLAINED THAT THE WORK WAS DONE ONLY THREE AND A HALF MONTHS AGO BY LANCASTER MOTOR COMPANY. KB INFORMED ME THAT THE PREVIOUS TECHNICIAN AT LANCASTER MOTOR COMPANY INSTALLED THE PARTS INCORRECTLY AND AS A RESULT THE SAME PROBLEM WAS OCCURRING AND THAT I NEEDED TO CONTACT CHEVROLET/GMC REGARDING MY WARRANTY. CHEVROLET/GMC IS NOT HONORING THEIR WARRANTY AND THE FAILED ROTORS ALMOST CAUSED MY DAUGHTER TO BE IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON FEBRUARY 8, 2019. THE SAME VEHICLE WAS TAKE TO LANCASTER MOTOR COMPANY, SC FOR A FRONT BRAKE CONCERN; SMOKE AND SCREECHING ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2018. I RECEIVED A FOLLOW UP CALL FROM THE LANCASTER MOTOR COMPANY, SC SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON OCTOBER 6, 2018 THAT THE CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 30, 2019Service brakesODI 11216999
“CLUNKING SOUND THAT YOU CAN FEEL IN THE FOOT PEDAL AND WHEN YOU ROCK STEERING WHEEL BACK IN FORTH AND CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT ENDIN STEERING WHEEL AND UNABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE FELLING OVER LOOSING CONTROL OF CAR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 17, 2019Steering, Electronic stability control (esc), Service brakesODI 11196854
“WHILE DRIVING ON ROUGH ROADS OR BREAKING NOISES RATTLES AN SEVERE SHAKE IN STEERING COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN AN AN STEERING BINDING WHEN FIRST STARTING CAR HARD TO TURN WHEELS STRANGE NOISES WHEN APPLYING BREAKS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 14, 2017Steering, Service brakesODI 11046007
“THERE WAS A RECALL ON FUEL SYSTEM MY ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND HAD IT DIAGNOSED AND ITS READING I NEED A FUEL PUMP CANT UNDERSTAND WHY WHEN WORK WAS ALREADY DONE SOMETIMES WHEN I ACCELERATE TO 25-30 STUTTERS AND PUTTS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 27, 2016Service brakes, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 10888863

Showing 6 of 39 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.