2004 Chevrolet Malibu Classic: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 144 complaints
144
Total Complaints
90,000mi
Median Mileage
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Top Issue
12
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

65,000 25th Percentile
90,000 Median Mileage
120,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
51
STEERING
23
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
8
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
8
ENGINE
6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
5
POWER TRAIN
5
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
4
AIR BAGS
4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
3

Severity Assessment

12
Crashes
4
Fires
19
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"I AM A FORMER STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WITH EXTENSIVE SAFE DRIVING TECHNIQUES FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS. I NOW WORK WITH UPS AND HAVE EXTENSIVE SAFE HABITS WITH THIS CORPORATION. TODAY WAS A CLEAR, COOL AND CRISP DAY WITH NO WATER OR OIL SPOTS ON THE HIGHWAY. MY 15 MONTH OLD WAS IN HER CHIL..."
"I AM A FORMER STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WITH EXTENSIVE SAFE DRIVING TECHNIQUES FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS. I NOW WORK WITH UPS AND HAVE EXTENSIVE SAFE HABITS WITH THIS CORPORATION. TODAY WAS A CLEAR, COOL AND CRISP DAY WITH NO WATER OR OIL SPOTS ON THE HIGHWAY. MY 15 MONTH OLD WAS IN HER CHIL..."
"I AM A FORMER STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WITH EXTENSIVE SAFE DRIVING TECHNIQUES FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS. I NOW WORK WITH UPS AND HAVE EXTENSIVE SAFE HABITS WITH THIS CORPORATION. TODAY WAS A CLEAR, COOL AND CRISP DAY WITH NO WATER OR OIL SPOTS ON THE HIGHWAY. MY 15 MONTH OLD WAS IN HER CHIL..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28