Two problems related to dashboard failed have been reported for the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu based on all problems reported for the 2004 Malibu.
We bought the car used with 34,000 miles on it in 3/2006. There was a clunking in the steering when the steering wheel was turned. The dealership replaced the steering column on 12/2007 with 66,000 miles. The clunking was still there and we were told that this is normal. Since then the steering has gotten worse. The dealership has tried to find the problem but says it can find nothing wrong. Yet sometimes the steering will lockup at low speed when backing up or turning while stopped. It has not done this while driving at road speed (or I would not drive it). However at road speed the steering is very vague. It requires an almost quarter turn of the steering wheel to get the car to respond to a steering input to turn left or right. This is not safe. There is also warning lights that come on the dash, and warning bells that sound, and sometimes they go back off other times car needs to shut off and restarted and it is ok then. Check engine light stays on most of the time, again dealership can not find the problem. Sometimes the whole dash cluster goes out, the car stays running and they come back on after a time and again if you cut off and restart the car it is ok again for a while. The car currently has 150,000 on it and I have an independent mechanic checking it over to see if he can find the problem. The Chevrolet dealership can't find what is wrong to fix it, or so they say.
While driving at 35 mph all gauges failed. Consumer didn't know the speed. Dealership inspected vehicle several times, and could not duplicate or correct the problem . Wanteds to buy the vehicle from the consumer.