general problems of the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu - part 2

Sliding & leaning back to adapt to a comfortable position in the drivers seat, the very comfortable and electrically adjustable drivers seat listed to the right and slightly rotated to the right. Now, sitting on an angle as if the car is on a hill I continue driving. I eventually got a flashlight and while parked and resting my head on the floor mat I could see the rusted bar that runs horizontal to the seat and welded on the left side next to the drivers door, is hanging on the right side dropped below where the weld was holding it; I imagine in a circular pattern since I see half a circumference remaining behind the dropped bar. I can lift the bar back to the remaining half weld, and when I let go it drops back down moving the seat snug with the center consiole. I was told by a company that welding it would not be wise and would put them in jeopardy if an accident occurred. A new frame would be aboout $600, then add labor; we're looking at approx. $900+. . Read more...

Front drivers seat frame rod severed at the weld joint causing the front seat to not remain in place and shift around during driving.

While turning to the left the drivers seat suddenly shifted and was leaning to the right. The weld which holds the base together had broken. This is the second occurrence of this happening. The first time it was under warranty so it was repaired by the dealer. At that time we were told that it was a $1000 repair because the whole unit had to be replaced. This to me seems a dangerous situation since when the seat jerks there seems to be a period when there is a loss of control of the vehicle. I went on the computer when I got home and this seems to be a common problem. Why is there no recall to fix this problem?.

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the right side of the driver's seat suddenly collapsed to the floor. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection where they advised the contact that the seat needed to be welded or replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 34,000. The VIN was not available.

Right rear of power operated driver's seat failed to raise. Removed seat for inspection and found two broken welds on seat frame - right side front and rear. Disassembled seat and had frame welded locally.

Driver's seat weld failed and seat shifted down and dropped to the right. Also effected seat adjustment. Rocked back and forth on the frame. Seat had to be replaced, could not be repaired.

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the driver seat leaned to the side when the driving. The contact stated that the bracket that held the seat to the frame was fractured and caused the seat to lean. The contact did not take the vehicle to a dealer or call the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 151,000.

Safety issue with driver's seat. Tilts and leans, broken weld. This is a safety warranty and should be fixed by the manufacturer.

Was backing out of parking space and heard a metallic clank from under the driver seat. The seat tipped back and to the right, as if the right rear corner of the seat is no longer supported. The car is not safe to drive, as the seat moves around freely and would not be as safe in an accident. After a very short internet search, I found this is a very common problem to this model and year.

While adjusting the seat up, it suddenly dropped and leaned to the right. After inspecting under the seat, I found that the welds on the front frame bar broke loose also twisting the frame bar. This could have been very dangerous while driving as the seat really leaned over violently. Also, it apears the seat belts are attached to these support bars. This issue still has not been repaired as the cost is over $1000. Should we be involved in an accident, the seat will very easily tear away from the remaining welds possibly ejecting the driver along with the seat. The seat shifts and tilts drastically when turning vehicle. After researching this issue online, I find that several Malibu maxx owners from several different years are having the exact same issue. This should be a safety recall issue as the seat will come loose along with the seat belts should vehicle be involved in an accident.

The drivers seat right side dropped suddenly. My inspection revealed a weld to a structural member failed. The structural member actually failed in the weld heat affected zone. The wall thickness of the structural member was a tube with inadequate wall thickness for the design. I am a civilian nuclear engineer for the dod (navy) and can send a digital image of the failed part. It appears from an internet search that this is not an uncommon failure as I would expect from my inspection.

Weld broke on front frame of drivers seat causing the seat to tilt to right and not go up and down properly. Looks like it is broke at a weld point.

The driver seat leans due to the fact that the welds break. The front and the rear supports broke. I have read this happens to most of the seat. They don't make a replacement frame and therefore want me to buy a whole seat at a cost of 800 just for the seat. So here I am to say this isn't right and I'd like to have this fix at there expense since they want to make me buy the whole thing and not just a frame.

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving 65 mph the drivers seat snapped out of place and leaned to the right. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who performed a diagnostic test and stated the failure was caused by the drivers seat brackets. The VIN was unknown. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 102,000.

When seat was moved, it became very loose and rocks back and forth as well as side to side. Dealer tech said there was in inferior weld which connects the seat to the base and it is broken. Told me if we weld it back together it cancels the warranty on it as we're putting a new weld on top of an inferior one and it may not hold. Have not done anything to fix it. Cost is too much and not guaranteed. I have the seat propped up with wooden blocks and it is always moving so needs continual adjusting which is difficult to get just right. This is a serious safety issue as this seat will move in a sudden stop or sharp turn. Only seat belt will hold me and seat in place. Could cause serious injury to me. I listed the part above but it wouldn't stay there. I believe it is the driver seat assembly. This change is urgent - don't know why gm won't fix it since it was a mistake in the assembly process and is extremely dangerous to drive with the seat constantly moving. It's like sitting on a ball.

The drivers seat frame welds broke, leaving the seat unstable and leaning to the right. The vehicle had 50,000 miles on it and was driven primarily by one person and maintained well. The primary driver was @ 200 lbs.

The seat beat do not lock in case of an accident. The drivers seat rocks while you are driving an adjusts by itself you can not keep the seat still. The welding has come apart from the base. The head lights are melting the bulbs for the signal and running light. I just caught that last weekend the lights stopped working when I look at the bulb it was melted which could have started an fire. I am waiting for the letter for the recall on the stern now. This would be the second time for it. I keep my car up to date with everything oil and whatever need to be done I am on top of it. But I have to many safety issue with it right. Seat belt, stern,drivers seat, headlights. Not only that the rotor whorppes every six months.

The 2004 chevy Malibu maxx has a faulty drivers seat. The base and frame fracture and cause the seat to lean to the right and prohibit it from rising. This happened once and we had it replaced at a cost of $900. It has happened again. I searched online and found a number of other with this vehicle with the exact problem. My wife cannot even drive the car with the seat so low and it is a safety issue. Chevy needs to do a recall and stop those of us who have tried multiple fixes and it continues to break.

Bought my 2004 chevy maibu in June of 2010 and just recently the support beam on the right side of the seat gave way. I don't jerk around in my seat I just get in and drive my car. Never had this happen before and I was heavier when I bought the car! I have a warranty which I hope covers it. However, I have noticed other people have made complaints about this very same thing happening on the right side of the seat and documented it online. I want it to be checked out as a safety issue for possible recall by chevy.

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving 75 mph the right drivers seat detached from the metal base. The vehicle will be taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The manufacturer filed report 71937106775 but would not assist with the repair cost, because of the age of the vehicle and since the warranty expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 131,000.

The passenger front seat went to adjust it and it started going up at an angle. It got tilted and loose, the only way to correct was to put it all the way down to the floor but can feel it rock. All I can think of is I am screwed in an accident. Also the power steering indicator comes on all the time and when you get an oil change, then it diappears for a little while, then comes on again everytime you start the car.

The driver seat on this car has come off the rails on right side causing it to tilt. If the seat is not moved to the lowest setting the tilts with the movement of the car. I had the seat repaired once; it failed again after about 6 months. At the same time I had the emergency brake repaired. When setting the brake, I heard a loud bang. The repair failed about 2 months ago for the second time. I am also going through new brakes on this car at an alarming rate - three brake replacements already and the car has 90,000 miles. The car is again beginning to shimmy/shudder when going down steep hills and the brakes are applied. The car seems not to slow down at all (I. E. Shifting gears) when going down hill other than by the brakes - it feels like a free fall. The signals, headlights, taillights and brake lights also need frequent replacement. I typically have to replace at least one of these at each oil change and have on several occasions needed to make replacements between oil changes. I would estimate the headlights/blinkers have been replaced at least a dozen times. The rear lights have been replaced perhaps ten times. Currently the third brake light is out and cannot be repaired without taking off the interior cover of the car to access the wiring - the bulb is not the problem.

The driver's seat frame failed at a weld joint. The seat rocks backward to the right. Dealer says entire frame must be replaced at a cost of $1200.

Driver's side seat suddenly shifted forward and down while driving. Inspection revealed broken weld on seat frame.

Tl- the contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu maxx. The contact stated that his driver side seat was defective. The dealer repaired the seat previously, but the failure reoccured. The current failure was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 45,000 and the current mileage was 85,000. Nw.

My 2004 Malibu maxx has a broken weld of the seat component. The car is out of warranty, has approximately 55,000 miles on it, and the repair is close to $1000 as the entire seat frame has to be replaced. There are numerous complaints by others on the same car, same year, same model, same make. . Read more...

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while sitting in the driver seat, she noticed a discomfort and that the seat would move as she was driving. She took the vehicle to an authorized dealer who advised her that the welding had fractured and that she needed to replace the entire driver side seat. The manufacturer was contacted and advised her that they would not assist due to the mileage on the vehicle. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000. Updated 04/15/lj.

I noticed the driver seat was "rocking" to the right when I sat down. When I looked under the seat I noticed that the crossbar was broken at the weld joint on the right side of the seat.

Out of the blue one day I noticed that I could not elevate the driver's seat height on the right side. (the left side continued to work as it should. ) I took it in to the chevy dealer for repair and it cost me $120. 00 for them to weld the front edge of the seat frame back together. On Feb 28, 2012, the same problem occurred again. My local repairman examined the seat and said the front edge of the seat frame had broken in a different spot. The cost to replace the seat (the only way to fix it) will be approximately $850 plus taxes, etc. I'm looking for a replacement at a local salvage yard but, thus far, I have been unsuccessful in locating a seat.

First noticed driver seat woul lean to one side in 2005, dealer welded seat bracket to repair bracket. Noticed same problem in 2007. Dealer replaced bracket. Noticed problem again in 2010. With warranty expired we've been driving ever since. Bracket is now completely off track and will not adjust, finally decided to see what it would cost too replace. Am now finding out its a common problem with this model. Looks like buying a new bracket would only be a temporary fix.

2004 chevy Malibu maxx - 55k miles, driven by small woman in her 70's. Crossmembers in the driver's seat frame failed, along with welds on both sides of the rear crossmember. The seat tilted significantly to the right, preventing the driver from sitting properly & safely. After failure, the seat would shift noticeably in turns, and the repair shop said in the event of an accident, it was highly unlikely the seat would remain anchored. The fact that the driver's seat belt was anchored to the seat caused further concern, as it would not stop a driver from being thrown forward in the event of an accident. Cost to repair is $1000 - outrageous for what is clearly a manufacturer defect, given it is such a common problem. Chevy should be recalling these vehicles or offering to repair the problem at no cost to the vehicle owner.

Front drivers seat. 2004 Malibu maxx. Seat became 'pitched' to the right. Dislodged of assembly. We took to dealership and were told that it was 'broken' and needed to be replaced. . . . . This happened 2 times totaling 1200. 00. Upon research this appears to be an all to common problem with the Malibu seat assembly.

The support rail under my drivers seat in a 2004 chevy Malibu maxx broke. The weld completely separated.

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. While traveling at 5 mph, the driver side seat suddenly shifted backward without warning. The dealer re-welded the driver side belt frame to the base. There were no prior warnings of the failure. The current and failure mileages were 74,000.

2004 Chevrolet Malibu max - the driver's seat frame has failed at the bottom resulting in the seat leaning to the right, moving around during cornering, and the seat generally being not anchored entirely to the floor of the car. The vehicle has less than 41000 miles and this failure was not due to any incident other than normal driving. Currently awaiting backordered parts from the dealer at significant cost. Continuing to drive car in unsafe condition. Other owners report similar issues on several websites. This appears to be a manufacturers defect.