Front Seat Power Adjust problems of the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu

Front drivers power seat frame weld broke right side causing the seat to drop and wobble. Not safe with a seat not properly attached to seat track.

Power drivers seat frame weld broke causing the seat to wobble and not attached to mounts. Crash would not be safe because seat could separate. A real safety issue that needs a recall. Seat broke lose entering car.

Noticed driver seat was tilted to the right when sitting on it recently. Inspected underneath and saw a weld that looks broken. Broken metal bar (image attached). Looked online and see many others have complained. . Read more...

Driver seat rail broke. . . I barley move the seat. . I'm 5'3" and my daughter is 5'2" she just started driving and tried to move the seat up just a little then we heard a loud screeching sound the seat did move up, but it was slow. . That's when I check to see what was wrong and the rail the seat is on was broke. There are several complaint about this same problem, so clearly it's not our fault. . Read more...

The track weld and brace on driver side power seat is fractured/broken causing extreme uneven sloping in seat. The seat moves while driving. Multiple complaints about this issue with this car, why no recall on a faulty framing design?.

Upon entering the vehicle, the driver's side power seat collapsed, leaving the seat leaning backward and to the right. There appear to be broken frame welds on the right side where the up and down motor is located. As the seat is no longer attached to the frame, this is an extreme safety risk were there to be an accident; the driver would not be secure in the vehicle even with a seat belt engaged.

While adjusting drivers power seat, heard a loud snap and the right side of the seat frame seemed to fall down as the left side continued upward. . . The seat frame broke, apparently at a weld, and now I cannot adjust the seat upward at all as it just tilts to the right as it raises. The seat belts are attached to seat frame and in the event of a crash, there is no reason to expect them to work properly either. I have read lots of complaints of this happening on all Malibu maxx's but, for some reason, the recall that I read about only covers 2005 and 2006 vehicles but the 2004 is identical and suffers the same problem. . . . When is the recall going to be enlarged to cover this problem as the powersteering recall has just been? I just received notice of the power steering recall being expanded to the 2004 and just in time as the car has started alerts.

I sat down in the front driver's seat and heard a loud snap. The seat immediately dropped down and to the right. The weld on the seat frame just snapped causing the power seat functions to no longer work. Since the seat was moved as far back as possible at the time the frame broke, the bolts that remove the seat from the vehicle are completely covered and not accessible. I am stuck with driving a broken/ unsafe/ unmovable seat or paying over $1000 at the dealership to have this fixed. Because of the safety issue I would be willing to spend the money at the dealership for a new seat but I have absolutely no faith that the new seat will work for long, especially after reading about some people having their seat repaired by the dealership multiple times (spending over $2000 total) and they're still driving around on a broken seat. When are we getting a recall?? the posts describing this issue go all the way back to 2005 and it seems that gm just doesn't care.

Upon raising my power seat something broke. The motor is really loud and when it went up the left side did not go up right and the seat leans to the right into the center console, doesnt feel as though I have any support under right side of seat. I am short and I need to sit up to see over the steering wheel and I now cannot. Seat belt is connected to seat frame and if im in an accident I feel the seat belt will not help. This issue needs to be recalled! read other people have this same issue on this same year.

The drivers seat frame broke on my 2004 Chevrolet Malibu maxx causing it to lean and tilt back to the right toward the center console. It has the 6-way power seat. The 58,795 is less than average for the age of the car. I feel that this is a safety issue since the seat belt attaches to the frame of the seat. I feel that gm should have this on a recall to fix the problem.

Electric power seats frame broke. Seats won't adjust, and leans to the side.

Heard a thump and power seat sagged on right side. Checked under seat and found weld had broken that holds a tube to a bracket. I could see that where the weld pulled loose from the tube it pulled metal from the tube. The weld did not break but pulled metal from the tube. The tube was made from thin gage metal.

Upon entering the vehicle, the driver's side power seat collapsed, leaving the seat leaning backward and to the right. There appear to be broken frame welds. As the seat is no longer attached to the frame, this is an extreme safety risk were there to be an accident; the driver would not be secure in the vehicle even with a seatbelt engaged.

Power drivers seat frame broke at a weld. This occurred while I was travelling at 65mph on the highway. I startled me and I swerved almost hitting another car. I have seen many people complain of the seat frame breaking in the exact same spot at a weld. This is obviously a manufacturing defect and because this can be a safety issue a recall should be issued. Also - I believe the seatbelt is connected to the seat. Definitely a safety issue. I have seen complaints from many people of varying sizes/weights. Even a smaller, 125lb woman had the same thing happen.

On February 28, 2013 I took my 2004 chevy Malibu maxx to a local dealer to have the power seat fixed. The frame broke at the weld during normal use causing the seat to rock, it could not be adjusted, and was a safety hazard since the seat was not anchored. I spoke with a local chevy dealer before having this fixed and they confirmed that it was a problem, a safety issue, and that chevy had decided to not take any action on it July 16, 2013--spoke with someone in customer service at chevy. They said that the problem would have to be documented by a chevy dealer, although documentation could be provided by the shop that fixed the problem. Chevy said they would of course want to know if there was a safety hazard with the vehicle. But they have no knowledge that this exists, even though the internet posts shows this to be quite a common complaint. Imagine if one were in an accident and the entire seat was ejected.

I got into my car and sat down and something under the driver side power seat broke. Looks like a support bar weld cracked. Now the seat is tipped to the right. If I raise or lower the seat, only the left side goes up and down. I'm not sure if there is enough strength holding the rest of the seat together. I've been waiting for a recall, since I believe this is a safety issue. I can find many complaints on line, so my case is far from isolated.

Front driver's seat is completely loose on right side. Not secured down, cannot adjust and tilts when you make a turn or go around a curve. Have to drive with seat all the way down which is hard because I am a short person. When I get out of the car the whole seat acts like it is just connected on left side and comes up on right side. I had someone lift the seat while I looked underneath. Something is broke. Bracket will not hold seat up, just falls back down and seat will not stay in place. Also a safety issue with seat moving and not secure. In reading other complaints, I feel that I have the same issue of a broken frame which is a definite defect. I am not real heavy and that seat should not have broke. I have had this car for over three years and this has been my personal vehicle. However, I do not feel it is safe to drive like this, but have no choice! OH! these are power seats. Thank you. ## VIN passed ## Chevrolet Malibu lt 2004 ##.

One day, I was adjusting the power seat while sitting in it and the seat suddenly dropped down on the right side, so that I was tilting back and right. The frame weld had broken, so now adjusting the seat up/down only affects the left side. Since the seatbelt is attached to this frame, it strikes me as a serious safety hazzard; in a crash, more stress would be put on the intact left weld and if it failed then the seat would come free from the rest of the car. . . I have not sought to get this fixed yet as I am weighing my options on a potential $1,000+ repair/replacement.

The front drivers seat rail is broken. This is a safety concern since the seat belt is connected to the frame. I have searched online and found this is a common problem for many owners of the 2004 Malibu maxx. The broken frame cause the seat to fall and shake while driving. I had a mechanic try to fix it and he said it is not possible and chevy has discontinued the car. I have been unable thus far to find a new seat but suspect even if I buy a new one the same faulty issue with the weld will occur. . Read more...

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu maxx. While driving approximately 10 mph over a speed bump, the front driver seat collapsed three to four inches into a tilted position. The contact adjusted the power seat to the lowest level to secure the seat and the contact was able to resume driving the vehicle with caution. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the dealer where they informed the contact that the driver seat mounting bracket was fractured. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

My 2004 Malibu maxx front power drivers seat suddenly tilted to the right causing an uncomfortable uneven drivers position. If you raise the seat it tilts more to the right & gets mostly even when all the way lowered, from reading other peoples description I believe my right front drivers seat mounting brackets weld broke. Which will require a seat replacement instead of a part. Hearing this is a $1,000 repair is distressing to say the least. Appears there is a defective weld on this vehicle that gm should fix. Thank goodness it didn't break while I was driving.

Power dirver seat on 2004 chevy Malibu maxx broke causing the seat to lean to the right.

Bought a certified used 2004 Malibu maxx in August 2007 with 19000 miles. Currently have 68000 miles. Drivers seat frame cracked. Was not in any accident or any incident which could have caused the frame to crack. The driver seat is 4 way electric powered seat.

Driver's side power seat. Steel frame is broken causing seat to rock front to back and side to side. Noticeable rust. Unable to weld, only fix is to replace seat. Not a safe seat if there is an accident.

I have not been able to drive my 2004 chevy Malibu due to the supports under the drivers seat breaking on one side. It is a 6-way power seat and the breakage is causing the one side of the seat to "float. " it is not secure when you have the seat raised off the floor. The seat will move when you shift in your seat, make a turn, or go over any bumps. New parts to fix the seat cost $500 (not including labor), for a few screws and some metal bars. Searched junk yards for a replacement seat and noticed the same issue starting to occur on several seats that were there. Also inquired with a mechanic who stated that this is a common occurrence in the 2004 and later Malibu sedans, he knew the exact part numbers that needed to be replaced without even seeing the car. I would like for Chevrolet to recognize this as a real safety concern.

While making a left turn the right side of my driver power seat dropped and rocked in an unstable condition. I was unaware the problem is a common one and have attempted to have the weld repaired twice, howerer it would require for the seat to be totally removed and at great expense since the car is out of warranty.

Was driving on exit ramp on local expressway when drivers seat lurched to the left. When I got home and inspected the seat I observed that a weld had broken in the lower seat frame component associated with vertical height adjustment for power seat.

Was driving when drivers seat lurched to the left. When I got home and inspected the seat I observed that a weld had broken in the lower seat frame component associated with vertical height adjustment for power seat.