2004 Chevrolet Malibu Seats Problems
139 owner-reported seats complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Owner Complaints (139)
THE 6 WAY FRONT DRIVERS SEAT HAS FAILED 6 TIMES SINCE 2006. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT WAS 3/15/2019. THE FIRST FAILURE WAS IN 2007. THE WELDS THAT SUPPORT THE FRAME BREAK AND I HAVE REPLACED THE SEAT 3 TIMES, WELDED 3 TIMES. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE AS IT HAS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AFTER HITTING A BUMP AND CAUSED ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. I AM REPORTING THIS NOW AS THE DEALERS IGNORE THIS AS AN ISSUE AND JUST WANT OVER A $1000 TO REPLACE THE SAME DEFECTIVE PART WHICH WILL FAIL AGAIN. NHTSA IS MY LAST HOPE THAT LIVES WILL BE SAVED. THIS IS NOT AN UNUSUAL PROBLEM AS THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF THIS DEFECT.
THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS BROKEN AND DIPS DOWN IN FRONT AND TO THE RIGHT. IT'S LIKE A BRACKET UNDER THE SEAT IS BROKEN. IT'S DANGEROUS BECAUSE EVERY TIME I LEAN FORWARD, MY SEAT DROPS DOWN IN THE FRONT WHICH COULD AFFECT MY DRIVING. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT THERE ARE MANY MALIBUS WITH THE SAME EXACT ISSUE. *TR
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
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
THE WELD ON THE DRIVERS SEAT BROKE.
THE DRIVER'S SEAT FRAME IS BROKEN. THE ADJUSTER ONLY RAISES THE LEFT SIDE. IN SPEAKING WITH OTHER MALIBU OWNERS, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN BOTH THE SEDAN AND MAXX VERSIONS OF THIS VEHICLE.
HAD BEEN NOTICING PROGRESSIVELY WORSENING SAG IN SEAT OVER PAST WEEK. GOT IN CAR THIS EVENING AND FELT SEAT KIND OF POP. SEAT NOW SAGS TO BACK AND TO RIGHT. FOUND BROKEN BRACKET ON RIGHT FRONT OF DRIVER SEAT FRAME; PARTLY BROKEN WELD AND PARTLY "RIPPED" METAL.
SIDE OF THE SEAT FRAME IS BROKEN. HAPPENED WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION.
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.
THE FRONT DRIVER ELECTRIC SEAT SAGS TO DOWN AND TO THE RIGHT. BAR ACROSS THE BOTTOM OF FRONT SEAT NEAR MOTOR AS BROKEN RIGHT NEAR THE WELD.RIGHT BEFORE WHERE IT BOLTS DOWN. CAR WAS PURCHASED AND THEY THIS ISSUE WAS FOUND.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SEAT FRAME WELDS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN VERIFIED THE FAILURE AND REPLACED THE SEAT FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,360. UPDATED 02/26/16*LJ
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. HTTP://WWW.AUTOMOTIVEFORUMS.COM/T919217-DISCUSS2004_CHEVY_MALIBU_MAXX_BROKEN_POWER_SEAT.HTML HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/CHEVROLET/MALIBU_MAXX/2004/ACCESSORIES-INTERIOR/SEATS-4.SHTML DEALER SAYS IT WILL COST ABOUT $1000 BUT THIS SEEMS LIKE A SAFETY ISSUE IF I'M IN A CRASH AND THE SEAT IS NOT PROPERLY FASTENED TO THE CAR.
ATTEMPTING TO ADJUST THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK IT SNAPPED AND DROPPED ON THE RIGHT SIDE, CLOSEST TO THE CENTER COLUMN. DRIVER;S SEAT NOW TILTS TOWARDS THE RIGHT. MECHANIC SAID IT WILL NOT PASS A SAFETY INSPECTION. UPON READING NHTSA REVIEWS BY OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME MODEL THERE ARE MULTIPLE REPORTS OF THE SAME INCIDENT. THIS REALLY SHOULD BE RECALLED.
THE DRIVER'S SEAT FRAME WELD ON THE FRONT RIGHT CORNER HAS BROKEN AND THE SEAT TILTS TO THE SIDE.
UNDERNEATH THE FRONT SEAT WHERE A SMALL PIPE CONNECTING THE SEAT TO THE RAILS BROKE OFF AT THE WELD. THIS MADE THE DRIVER SEAT TO LEAN TO THE RIGHT AND MOVES FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHILE DRIVING. IT'S VERY UNSTABLE! IT WILL BE A CAUSE OF DEATH OR INJURY SINCE THE SEAT BELT IS PART OF THE SYSTEM. UPON CLOSER LOOK, IT APPEARS THE JOB WAS NOT DONE PROPERLY. POOR WELDING AND POOR WORKMANSHIP IS VERY OBVIOUS UPON INSPECTION. A QUICK SEARCH IN THE INTERNET SHOWS IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM ON CHEVY MALIBU. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AS IT POSES DANGER TO THE DRIVING PUBLIC.
DRIVER'S SEAT RAIL BROKE. SEAT TILTS TOWARDS CONSOLE, NOT ALLOWING PROPER SEAT POSITIONING AND ROCKS BACK AND FORTH.
FRAME ON DRIVERS SEAT FAILED WHILE ADJUSTING SEAT. SEAT NO LONGER FIRMLY ATTACHED TO FRAME, RISK OF GOING THROUGH WINDSHIELD IN FRONT END CRASH SINCE SEAT NO LONGER ATTACHED.
I HAVE OWNED A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX FOR A COUPLE YEARS. RECENTLY THE DRIVERS SEAT STARTED WOBBLING AND NOW SITS UNCOMFORTABLY CROOKED LEANING TO THE RIGHT. I HAD MY MECHANIC TAKE THE WHOLE SEAT OUT TO DETERMINE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND HE SAID THAT THE FRAME HOLDING THE SEAT TO THE FLOOR HAD BROKEN IN 2 PLACES. HE SAID THAT THERE WAS NO WAY TO FIX IT SAFELY FOR SEVERAL REASONS. HE SAID THAT THE MATERIALS FOR THE FRAME WERE WEAK AND INADEQUATE. HE SAID THAT IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO WELD BECAUSE THERE WAS NO WAY TO DO IT WITHOUT POSSIBLY STARTING THE SEAT ON FIRE. HE ALSO BROUGHT UP THE FACTS THAT IF A SEAT WASN'T SECURELY BOLTED TO THE FLOOR AND WAS LOOSE THAT IN A FRONT END CRASH THE SEAT WOULD THROW THE DRIVER FORWARD INTO THE WINDSHIELD. THE AIR BAG "MIGHT" HELP SLIGHTLY. OR - IF YOU WERE HIT FROM THE REAR WITH THE SEAT LOOSE THE SEAT WOULD COLLAPSE BACKWARD AND THROW THE DRIVER TO THE REAR OF THE CAR OR POSSIBLY THROUGH THE REAR WINDSHIELD. EITHER SITUATION COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO A DRIVER WITH THIS SITUATION. MY MECHANIC SUGGESTED REPLACING THE WHOLE SEAT BUT WHY WOULD I SPEND THE POSSIBLE $900 AND END UP WITH A SEAT WITH THE SAME INADEQUATE, WEAK FRAME ONLY TO BREAK AGAIN. THE SEAT BROKE BECAUSE OF CHEAP, WEAK, INADEQUATE MATERIALS THAT WERE USED. IT DID NOT HAPPEN FROM WEAR AND TEAR OR ABUSE. IT IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE THAT GM NEEDS TO RECALL AND FIX AT THEIR EXPENSE. I HOPE OTHERS READING THIS COMPLAINT WILL PURSUE THIS ISSUE WITH GM UNTIL A RECALL HAPPENS, AND BEFORE ANY OF US ARE KILLED!
I OWN A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE FRONT DRIVERS SEAT RECENTLY HAS STARTED UNCOMFORTABLY LEANING TO THE RIGHT AND SHIFTNG BACK AND FORTH. I WAS JUST INFORMED BY MY MECHANIC THAT THE FRAME ON THE FRONT SEAT DRIVERS SIDE IS BROKEN. HE DID NOT RECOMMEND TRYING TO FIX IT DUE TO THE FACT THAT BY BREAKING IT HAS AFFECTED THE WHOLE INTEGRITY OF THE FRAME. HE ADVISED ME TO GET A NEW SEAT DUE TO SAFETY ISSUES IF BEING IN ACCIDENT OR CRASH. HE SAID THE SEAT COULD COME ALL THE WAY LOOSE AND CAUSE THE DRIVER TO FLY FORWARD AND SUSTAIN SERIOUS INJURY. ALSO, IT COULD CAUSE THE AIR BAG TO INFLATE PREMATURELY. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE GM DO A RECALL DUE TO THIS BEING A SAFETY ISSUE. AND BY DOING RESEARCH ON THE COMPUTER I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF MALIBU OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THEIR CAR SEAT FRAMES BREAK. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT DUE TO ABUSE OR EXTENDED WEAR. IT IS DUE TO AN INADEQUATE, DEFECTIVE PART. I NEED ADVICE AS TO HOW TO PROCEED WITH ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE WITH GM. THANK YOU.
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.
THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT FELL DOWN OFF THE TRACK ON THE RIGHT SIDE. LIKE WHERE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN WELDED BETTER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT MOVED INTERMITTENTLY AND LEANED TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME SECTION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 5/29/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED AN INSPECTION REVEALED TWO WELDS WITHIN THE DRIVER'S SEAT FRAME BROKE AWAY CAUSING THE SEAT TO WOBBLE. UPDATED 06/04/15*JB
I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH ON FLAT STRAIT ROAD WHEN THE DRIVERS SEAT SUDDENLY DROPPED DOWN, BACK AND TOWARD THE RIGHT. UPON INSPECTION I SEE THAT THE WELD ON THE BRACE/FRAME OF THE SEAT HAS BROKEN. THE SEAT IS NOW UNSTABLE AND SLOPING TO THE RIGHT. I FEAR THE OTHER SIDE MAY SNAP AS WELL. I SEE SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEBODY IS SERIOUSLY HURT. *TR
NOTICED SEAT MOVED AND TENDED TO LEAN DRIVER TOWARD CENTER CONSOLE. UPON INSPECTION THE SEAT FRAME BROKE AT THE RIGHT REAR. WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATES THE SEAT ROCKS BACKWARD FOR SEVERAL INCHES. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM THE DEALER. *TR
NOTICED THE DRIVER'S SEAT NO LONGER ALIGNED PROPERLY: RIGHT SIDE IS DOWN AND BACK. INSPECTION SHOWS A SEAT FRAME WELD BROKEN AT THE FORWARD CROSS BAR WHERE IT IS WELDED TO THE SIDE FRAME. THE METAL CROSSBAR TUBE BROKE AWAY LEAVING THE WELD INTACT ON THE FRAME, INDICATING INSUFFICIENT STRENGTH IN THE DESIGN AND MATERIALS, BASED ON MY PROFESSIONAL MECHANICAL ENGINEERING BACKGROUND. INTERNET RESEARCH INDICATES BROKEN WELDS ON THESE DRIVER SEATS TO BE A GROWING PROBLEM, OFTEN LEAVING THE SEAT UNSTABLE, AND NEGATIVELY AFFECTING THE DRIVER'S CONTROL ON THE VEHICLE. THIS SHOULD BE A PRIME SAFETY RECALL ISSUE! *TR
WHEN SEAT WAS MOVED, IT BECAME VERY LOOSE AND ROCKS BACK AND FORTH AS WELL AS SIDE TO SIDE. DEALER TECH SAID THERE WAS AN 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. *JS
FIRST OFF, EVERYWHERE I LOOK ONLINE SOMEONE HAS PROBLEMS REGARDING THE CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX'S SEATS. I WAS GOING ABOUT 30MPH AND I HEARD A POP CONE FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT FRAME WHEN I TURNED A CORNER. THE WELD ON ONE OF THE SUPPORTING BARS POPPED OFF AGAIN AFTER TRYING TO WELD IT AGAIN WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE METAL BAR THAT BROKE WAS TO WEAK AND SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN PUT IN AT THE FACTORY.I BELIEVE VERY STRONGLY THAT THESE SEATS SHOULD BE FIXED BECAUSE IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD AND A FINANCIAL BURDEN ON THOSE SEEKING TO GET IT FIXED. THANK YOU FOR READING MY CONCERNS. *TR
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? *TR
ELECTRIC POWER SEATS FRAME BROKE. SEATS WON'T ADJUST, AND LEANS TO THE SIDE. *TR
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. AND WHY DOES IT COST SO MUCH TO GET FIXED? HTTP://WWW.AUTOMOTIVEFORUMS.COM/T919217-DISCUSS2004_CHEVY_MALIBU_MAXX_BROKEN_POWER_SEAT.HTML. *TR
NOTICED THE SEAT TILTED TO THE RIGHT AND LOOKED UNDERNEATH TO DISCOVER A BROKEN WELD ON THE FRONT CROSS MEMBER OF THE SEAT FRAME. MY WIFE IS A PETITE WOMAN AND DRIVES IT MOST OF THE TIME. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR INCIDENT, IT WAS JUST A POOR WELD. *TR
MY DAUGHTER PURCHASED THIS CAR ABOUT A YEAR AGO, SHE STATED THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT WOULD NOT ADJUST. I ASSUMED A BAD ADJUSTMENT MOTOR. WHEN I EXAMINED THE SEAT I DISCOVERED THAT THE WELDS ON THE FRONT CROSS-BAR AND THE REAR CROSS BAR WERE SEPARATED BETWEEN THE SEAT AND LOWER ADJUSTMENT FRAME, THIS CAUSES THE DRIVERS SEAT TO LEAN TOWARD THE CENTER CONSOLE AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE. UPON FIRST EXAMINATION I THOUGHT THE WELDS HAD BROKEN, BUT ON CLOSER EXAMINATION IT APPEARS THAT THE WELD DID NOT PENETRATE THE METAL FAR ENOUGH AS THE WELD AND BAR WERE BOTH INTACT, EXCEPT FOR SOME SUPERFICIAL SCARING ON THE TUBING. THIS RESULTS IN A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM AS THE SEAT BELT IS ATTACHED TO THE SEAT AT THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE DRIVERS SEAT, NOT TO THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE. SHOULD THIS VEHICLE BE INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL CRASH THESE BROKEN WELDS RENDER THE SEAT BELT INEFFECTIVE AT BEST OR USELESS, DEPENDING ON THE WEIGHT OF THE DRIVER. IF THE AIR BAGS DO NOT DEPLOY THE DRIVER WILL BE THROWN FOREWORD ALONG WITH THE SEAT WITH THE APPEARANCE THAT THE DRIVERS WEIGHT BROKE THE SEAT, WHEN IN-FACT THE SEAT WAS EITHER BROKEN ALREADY OR SEVERELY WEAKENED BY INADEQUATE WELDS. A CURSORY ON LINE SEARCH REVEALED THAT THIS DEFECT EXISTS IN THE CHEVY MALIBU, MONTA CARLO, PONTIAC GRAND PRIX, PONTIAC G6, SATURN AURA AND ION. MODEL YEARS 1999 THROUGH 2009. I CONTACTED GM REF#[XXX] AND AS WITH MANY OTHER ON LINE COMPLAINTS WERE TOLD IN ESSENCE TOO BAD OUT OF WARRANTY YOUR PROBLEM NOT OURS. I AM FULLY CAPABLE OF WELDING THIS FRAME MY SELF, AND WILL DO SO HOWEVER, GM DEALERS CHARGE APP $1000. FOR THE REPAIR AND IF USING THE SAME STOCK FRAMES, WILL INSTALL A FAULTY FRAME. IN MY OPINION THESE FAULTY WELDS EXPOSE PEOPLE WITHOUT A PASSING FAMILIARITY TO MECHANICS, TO UNNECESSARY EXPENSE AS WELL AS AN UNNECESSARY SAFETY HAZARD. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
DRIVER SEATS TILTS TO THE RIGHT AND CAN NOT ADJUST FORWARD OR BACKWARD. HAD IT REPAIRED AT MY LOCAL MECHANIC (RE-WELD) AT A COST OF $214.00. NOW IT IS BROKEN AGAIN. *JS
POSSIBLE DEFECT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FRONT SEAT. SEATBELT ATTACHED TO SEAT; NOW USELESS. NOTICED OTHER DRIVERS HAVE POSTED THE SAME ISSUE. FRONT SEAT TIPS TO THE RIGHT. WHILE DRIVING ,THE SEAT WOBBLES; SEAT APPEARS TO MOVE AS ACCELERATING AND MOVES WHEN BRAKING. POSSIBLE DEFECT IN SEAT. HAVE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS; SAME ISSUE; WHERE IS THE RECALL LETTER? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SEAT MOVED BACK AND FORTH INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS FOUND THAT DRIVERS SEAT ONLY HAD THREE METAL BRACKETS INSTEAD OF THE STANDARD FOUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
I HAD SPUN OUT ON A TURN THE DAY AFTER XMAS DOING A 180 DEGREE TURN. I SAW A ROAD SIGN TO MY LEFT WHICH WAS DIRECTLY INLINE WITH MY DRIVERS DOOR. I SHOULD OF HIT THE SIGN AND ROLLED MY CAR BUT AS FATE WOULD HAVE IT, THE CAR TURNED AND JUST BACKED INTO THE ROAD DITCH....HOWEVER I DID SLIDE SIDEWAYS FOR A FEW FEET. MY TWO YEAR OLD WAS IN THE BACK SEAT.....SHE HIT HER HEAD ON A WATER BOTTLE, SO ONCE WE CAME TO A STOP I GOT OUT TO ACCESS THE DAMAGE. MY LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS OFF THE CAR AND LAYING SIDEWAYS UNDER IT. MY BACK DRIVER TIRE WAS GOING FLAT. WE MISSED THE ROAD SIGN BUT STOPPED ONLY FIVE FEET FROM A LIGHT POLE THAT WOULD OF KILLED MY DAUGHTER. BEHIND THAT POLE WAS A SET OF RR TRACKS. THE GARAGE FIXED MY CAR AND ALL SEEMED WELL BUT I KEPT HAVING BACK PROBLEMS....I WAS RELEASED A MONTH AGO BUT HAVE RELAPSED. TURNS OUT MY SEAT FRAME IN MY DRIVERS SEAT IS BROKE BUT INSURANCE WON'T COVER CAUSE ITS BEEN NINE MONTHS. I WAS QUOTED 750 FOR PART ALONE AND 300 SOME FOR LABOR. ITS NOT SAFE AND IT SHOULD OF BEEN CAUGHT. THEY DIDN'T HESITATE REPLACING A CAR SEAT. NOW I SEE MANY PEOPLE HAVING SAME ISSUES AND QUESTION GMS SAFETY. I AM A SINGLE MOM, ANYTHING HAPPENS TO ME WHO TAKES CARE OF MY GIRL? *TR
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. *TR
MY WIFE'S 2004 CHEVY MALIBU DRIVER'S SEAT IS BROKEN AND BOBBLES UP AND DOWN AND TOWARD THE RIGHT. ACCORDING TO INFO I'VE BEEN READING ON WEBSITES, MANY OTHER DRIVERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. IT APPEARS THAT THE WELDING HAS BROKEN LOOSE AND CAUSES THE SEAT TO BOBBLE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY GM. THE FOLLOWING LINK WILL SHOW ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS MODEL MALIBU. HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2004/CHEVROLET/MALIBU/SEAT
DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE AT WELDS ON TWO SUPPORT BARS. SEAT LEANED TO THE RIGHT. BECAME VERY DANGEROUS SINCE SEAT BELT IS ATTACHED TO THE SEAT NEAR THE BREAKS. IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION SEAT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BROKEN LOOSE AND CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. CONTACTED GM ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND WERE ADVISED TO FIX SEAT OURSELVES SINCE IT WAS NOT A RECALL ITEM. (WE DID HAVE THE SEAT REPLACED.) WE DO HAVE THE BROKEN SEAT IN CASE SOMEONE FROM THE NHTSA WOULD LIKE TO INSPECT IT. I NOTICED THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER DRIVERS WHO HAVE COMPLAINED OF THE SAME PROBLEM. SEAT REPLACEMENTS RUN ABOUT $1000.00 AT A DEALERSHIP. *TR
I WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN WHEN SOMETHING UNDER MY SEAT POPPED AND FLUNG ME TO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. WHEN I GOT TO MY DESTINATION, I LOOKED UNDER THE SEAT TO FIND THE HORIZONTAL METAL BAR ON THE SEAT FRAME SNAPPED AT THE WELD. *TR
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, HOWEVER IT WOULD REQUIRE FOR THE SEAT TO BE TOTALLY REMOVED AND AT GREAT EXPENSE SINCE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR
THE WELD ON THE SEAT BROKE AND THE SEAT LEANS RIGHT AND BACK, VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND A REAL SAFETY HAZARD IF YOU ASK ME. THE SEAT DOES NOT MOVE UP AND DOWN CORRECTLY OR FRONT TO BACK EITHER.WE HAD FIXED AT TODD WENZEL IN HUDSONVILLE MI A USED SEAT COST US $472.95 WE FEEL THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE SEAT AND A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ALONG A WINDING CURVY ROAD IN MY AREA AND REALIZED MY SEAT KEPT ROCKING TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT EVERY TIME I WOULD GO AROUND A CURVE. IT HAS NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE. AFTER GETTING HOME MY HUSBAND TOOK A LOOK AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING BUT IT APPEARS ONE OF THE BOLTS IN THE SEAT ADJUSTMENT MUST BE BROKEN OR GONE AS THE SEAT WILL NOT MOVE IF LOWERED ALL THE WAY DOWN BUT ROCKS EXTENSIVELY THE HIGHER WE RAISE THE SEAT. THIS BECOMES A ISSUE FOR ME BOTH WAYS AS I NEED THE HIGHER SEAT TO SEE CLEARLY AND IF I DO RAISE IT THEN I AM AFRAID I WILL GET INTO AN ACCIDENT WHILE TRYING TO DRIVE AROUND CORNERS ETC DUE TO THE ROCKING OF MY SEAT. TRYING TO GET INTO CHEVROLET DEALER TO HAVE THEM LOOK AND FIX BUT SERVICE DEPT IS BACKED UP. *TR
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70MPH I HIT A DIP IN THE ROAD HEARD A LOUD POP FROM UNDER THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT. THE SEAT DROPPED TO THE RIGHT CAUSING ME TO NEARLY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I REALLY THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE AS THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SEAT INCIDENT. FIRST SEARCH ON GOOGLE BROUGHT UP THIS WEBSITE WHICH MAY BE OF CONCERN TO YOU. PLEASE LOOK AT THIS SINCERELY AND CONSULT WITH GM AND ISSUE A RECALL OR SOMETHING. THIS IS GOING TO GET SOMEONE KILLED IF ITS NOT FIXED NOW. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW AS WHEN I INSPECTED THE SUPPORT BAR IT WAS ONLY WELDED ON EITHER CORNER OF THE BRACKET HOLDING IT ON. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A FULL AND PROPER WELD PLACED IN THIS LOCATION AS THEY HAD TO KNOW IT WOULD BE A HEAVY STRESS POINT. *TR
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. *JS
SOMETHING IN THE SUPPORT BRACKETS OF THE FRONT SEAT SNAPPED, AND THE SEAT NOW TILTS TO THE SIDE AND ROCKS WHEN TURNING IN CORNERS. *TR
UP UNTIL ALL THESE RECENT GM RECALLS CAME OUT, I HAD NEVER HAD THE NEED TO READ WHAT OTHER OWNERS HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT. NOW I AM AMONG THOSE WHO NOW HAVE A BROKEN DRIVER'S SEAT FRAME THAT DRASTICALLY LEANS TOWARD THE CENTER CONSOLE. I AM THE SOLE DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE, SO THE SEAT DOES NOT GET MOVED TO ACCOMMODATE OTHER DRIVERS. I WEIGH ABOUT 175#, SO MY WEIGHT SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE EITHER. SINCE THIS SEAT FRAME FAILURE HAS HAPPENED TO SO MANY OTHER MALIBU OWNERS, PERHAPS THIS SHOULD BE TREATED AS A SERIOUS ISSUE. (MY WIFE HAS A 2005 MALIBU MAXX LT AS WELL, SO NOW I'M WONDERING IF THIS SUDDEN POTENTIAL BREAKAGE IS GOING TO PLAGUE HER VEHICLE AND CATCH HER OFF GUARD AS IT DID TO ME). *TR
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. *TR
THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS BROKEN AND ROCKS TO THE REAR RIGHT. IT APPEARS THE WELD BROKE IN THE SEAT FRAME. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THE SEAT HAS BROKEN. THE FIRST TIME, IT WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THIS IN THE CHEVY MALIBU AND AM REQUESTING THAT GM ISSUE A RECALL. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD AS THE SEAT IS NOT STABLE, ESPECIALLY DURING TURNING MANEUVERS. *TR
THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS BROKEN AND ROCKS TO THE REAR RIGHT. IT APPEARS THE WELD BROKE IN THE SEAT FRAME. I HAVE READ MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS OF THIS IN THE CHEVY MALIBU AND WONDER WHY A RECALL HASN'T BEEN ISSUED. *TR
THE WELD ON THE SUPPORT BEAM UNDERNEATH MY DRIVER'S SEAT SNAPPED AND BROKE. MY SEAT IS NOW TILTED TO THE RIGHT AND BOBBLES EVERY TIME I GO OVER A SPEEDUP OR TURN. I'M ALREADY DEALING WITH THE DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING FAILURE IN WHICH THE WHEEL BECOMES UNABLE TO TURN FOR A FEW SECONDS. AND PARTS UNDER RECALL WON'T BE AVAILABLE TILL OCTOBER...WORST PURCHASE EVER, GET IT TOGETHER GM. *TR
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. *TT
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. *TT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN UNKNOWN BAR THAT WAS UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT BECAME FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE SEAT TO BECOME UNSTABLE AND WOBBLE WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 05/28/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BRACKET BROKE. UPDATED 06/30/14
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. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY SEAT COLLAPSED. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND TRIED THE UP AND DOWN SWITCH TO NO AVAIL. THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY SEAT WOULD NOT RAISE AND I HAVE TO DRIVE IN AN AKWARD POSITION. WENT TO THE DEALER AND WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF $1050 WHICH I COULD NOT AFFORD. I AM CONTINUING TO DRIVE THIS WAY. I JUST RECENTLY LOOKED ON THE COMPUTER AND SEE THAT THEIR ARE MANY, MANY COMPAINTS AND I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT YOU PEOPLE, NHTSA, HAVE NOT CONSIDERED THIS A PROBLEM AND ISSUE A RECALL NOTICE. IS GM TOO BIG OR DO THEY OFFER A GOOD SPIFF. TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE. BECAUSE OF YOU MANY PEOPLE MAY GET INJURED OR DIE. *TR
THE DRIVERS SEAT UPON ADJUSTING SAGGED TO THE LEFT AND THE SEAT BASE MOVED UNEVENLY CAUSING THE SEAT TO ROCK. THE SEAT WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM APPROXIMATELY 4 YRS AGO. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE I BELIEVE THE SEAT WOULD NOT HOLD UP TO EVEN A SMALL CRASH. *TR
WELD BROKE ON SEAT AND FELL TO THE RIGHT. ONLY WAY TO DRIVE WAS TO PUT THE SEAT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR 2 YEARS FOR A REPLACEMENT SEAT IN THE JUNK YARD. I HAVE FOUND 4 MATCHING SEATS OVER THE 2 YEARS, BUT EVERY ONE HAD THE FRAME BROKEN. PROBLEM IS THAT IN A SEVERE ACCIDENT THE SEAT COULD COME UNHOOKED FROM THE CAR. 2ND PROBLEM IS THAT THE SAFETY BELT HOOKS TO THE SEAT NOT THE CAR OR FRAME RENDERING THE SEATBELT USELESS. HAD IT WELDED 3 TIMES AND BREAKS IN LESS THAN A MONTH. IT IS SHAME THAT CHEVROLET WILL NOT DO A RECALL. PROBABLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO SOLUTION AS IT WAS A POOR DESIGN. I OWN 5 CHEVROLET VEHICLES INCLUDING 3 MALIBU'S, 2004, 2005 AND 2011. NONE WITH PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. *TR
ON THURSDAY OCTOBER 17TH WHILE DRIVING THE SEAT ALL OF A SUDDEN DROPPED DOWN ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, I BROUGHT TO A REPAIR SHOP ON MONDAY OCTOBER 21ST TO HAVE THE SEAT LOOKED AT IT. THE WELDS ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE SEAT FRAME ARE BROKEN, THE COST TO FIX THIS IS GOING TO BE OVER $1100 BECAUSE IN ORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM I NEED AN ENTIRE NEW SEAT. AFTER A LOT OF RESEARCH I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE IN THE 2004 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX, I FOUND A WEBSITE THAT HAD OVER 50 COMPLAINTS OF THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. I FEEL THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A RECALL ISSUE SINCE THE WELDING HAD BROKEN AND SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL CAR THIS SOUNDS LIKE A MANUFACTURING ERROR SINCE IT HAS OCCURRED FREQUENTLY WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL. *TR
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 GAUGE METAL. *TR
WHILE MAKING A TURN AT 15 MPH DRIVERS SEAT DROPPED TO FLOOR. NOW DRIVERS SEAT ROCKS BACK AND IN TOWARDS CENTER CONSOLE. ADJUSTING THE HEIGHT TWISTS THE DRIVERS SEAT TO A DANGEROUS ANGLE. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SEAT FRAME WELDS BROKE ON THE BACK RIGHT CORNER OF SEAT. AN INTERNET SEARCH HAS PROVIDED A VAST NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. WITH THE SEAT ATTACHED AT THE SEAT THIS WILL NO DOUBT FAIL IN A MODERATE IMPACT CRASH AND LEAVE THE DRIVER UNSECURED. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL BY CHEVROLET. *JB
I RECENTLY ENCOUNTER AN INCIDENT WITH MY 2004 CHEVY MALIBU DRIVER SIDE FRONT SEAT, OUT OF NO WEAR THE STEEL WELDED BAR UNDER THE SEAT BROKE ON THE RIGHT SIDE CAUSE THE SEAT TO TILT TO THE RIGHT, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE THE CARS IN A SAFE MANNER. TO THE NHTSA TEAM THIS PROBLEM IS DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE IT RESORT IN A LIFE AND DEATH SITUATION. *TR
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. *TR
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. *TR
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 CONSOLE. 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 ABOUT $600, THEN ADD LABOR; WE'RE LOOKING AT APPROX. $900+. YES, AS OTHERS HAVE SAID ON WWW.AUTOMOTIVEFORUMS.COM IT'S A SHAME NO RECALL, BUT AFTER 140K MILES... GUESS I'LL ASK IF I SHOULD USE WD-40 ON THE BAR AFTER INSTALL. SINCE THIS IS THE ONLY ELECTRIC SEAT IN THE CAR I DON'T EXPECT THE OTHER SEATS TO BE EFFECTED. *TR
FRONT DRIVERS SEAT FRAME ROD SEVERED AT THE WELD JOINT CAUSING THE FRONT SEAT TO NOT REMAIN IN PLACE AND SHIFT AROUND DURING DRIVING. *TR
AS I SAT DOWN IN DRIVERS SEAT THE SEAT SEEMED TO LEAN TO THE RIGHT AND TILTED BACK SLIGHTLY. I LOOKED UNDER SEAT TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG AND NOTICED A BAR ACROSS FRONT SIDE OF SEAT WAS BROKE AWAY FROM IT'S ORIGINAL WELDED POSITION. AFTER REMOVING SEAT I NOTICED THAT THE BAR HAD INDEED BROKEN FREE FROM WELD. NOT ONLY WAS THE WELD BROKEN BUT THE BAR WHICH WASN'T REALLY A BAR BUT A PIPE SLIGHTLY THICKER WALLED THAN A PIECE OF TYPE M COPPER PIPING BROKE OFF WITH A PIECE MISSING. ALSO NOTICED SAME PROBLEM WITH THE PIPE THAT ENCASES THE BAR AT REAR OF THE SEAT THAT ALLOWS THE SEAT BACK TO TILT BACK OR FORWARD. THE PIPE HAS ALSO BROKEN THE WELD AND MISSING A PIECE OF THE PIPE.WE BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND MY WIFE IS THE PRIMARY DRIVER .WEIGHT AVERAGE 155 LBS. SO I DON'T BELIEVE WEIGHT PLAYS A PART OF THIS POORLY DESIGNED WORK OF FAILURE. MILEAGE IS LESS THAN 10,000 PER YEAR OWNED. THIS IS EXTREMELY UPSETTING. IS CHEVROLET RESPONSIBLE OR SINCE WARRANTY IS OVER THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH THIS POOR DESIGN AND SAFETY ISSUE? *TR
DRIVER SEAT FRAME BROKE AND SEVERELY LEANED TO THE RIGHT. DEALER FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. MARCH, 2008 - INCIDENT REPEATED - NO WARRANTY OFFERED! *TR
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? *TR
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. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. 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 54,000. UPDATED 1/17/13 *CN UPDATED 01/24/13
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. *TR
TL* 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.
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. *TR
SAFETY ISSUE WITH DRIVER'S SEAT. TILTS AND LEANS, BROKEN WELD. THIS IS A SAFETY WARRANTY AND SHOULD BE FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR
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. *TR
FOR THE SECOND TIME MY DRIVERS SEAT HAS BROKEN ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE AT A WELD JOINT ON THE FRONT CROSS ROD. THE FIRST TIME IT FAILED AROUND 30,000 MILES AND THE SECOND TIME AROUND 71,000 MILES. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS A RECALL. NOT ONLY IS CHEVROLET GETTING AWAY WITH THIS, BUT THE FIX IS COMPLETE SEAT FRAME REPLACEMENT THAT COST THE CONSUMER ABOUT $1000. CHEVY WINS AGAIN AS THEY GET TO SELL A DEFECTIVE PART AT A PROFIT. A GREAT DEAL FOR CHEVY UNTIL I BUY MY NEXT CAR. TIME TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND DO A RECALL. *TR
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. *TR
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. *TR
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. *TR
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. *TR
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. *TR
THE DRIVER'S SEAT TILTS TO THE RIGHT. IF I PULL THE SEAT UP BEFORE GETTING IN THE CAR IT IS OKAY UNTIL I HIT THE BRAKES OR THE GAS, THEN THE SEAT WILL JUST DROP. WHICH CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF A LESS EXPERIENCED PERSON WAS DRIVING. THE SEAT HAS BEEN LIKE THIS FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS. I FINALLY GOT FED AND ASKED MY MECHANIC TO SEE IF HE COULD POSSIBLY PUT IT BACK ON TRACK BUT HE ADVISED THAT THE FRAME IS BROKEN. AFTER GOING TO ASK.COM, I FIND THAT THIS IS A DEFECT THAT IS PREVALENT IN THE CHEVY MALIBU. I BELIEVE THIS IS NOT ONLY A DEFECT BUT ONE THAT PRESENTS A SAFETY ISSUE. *KB
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. *KB
DRIVERS SEAT BROKEN. APPEARS A METAL WELD UNDER THE SEAT BROKE AND CAUSES THE SEAT TO LEAN BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. *TR
AS I TURNED MY 04 MALIBU TO THE LT MY DRIVERS SIDE FRONT SEAT BROKE ON RT SIDE CAUSING ME TO LEAN HARD TO THE RT AND REARWARD ALMOST LOOSING CONTROL OF CAR. I HAVE 81371 MI. ON CAR. APPEARS TO ME TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. I THOUGHT GM STOOD BY THEIR PRODUCTS. LOOKING AT ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE AND GM REFUSING TO FIX THIS SAFETY ISSUE,I AM WORRIED ABOUT HOW SAFE THIS CAR REALLY IS. I ALSO HAD MY HEATED SEATS COME ON ALL BY THEIR OVER 300 DOCUMENTED TIMES WHILE UNDER WARRANTY AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE SEATS CAME ON EVEN WHEN NO ONE WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT. *TR
DRIVERS SEAT UNSTABLE. DEALER REPORTS THAT TWO WELDS ON SEAT RAIL ARE BROKEN. RIGHT SIDE OF SEAT TILTS BACK WHEN SEAT IS RAISED ABOVE LOWEST POSITION. *TR
WE NEEDED THE DRIVERS SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR RE-SET. AFTER GETTING THE CAR BACK FROM THE SERVICE CENTER WE NOTICED THE SEAT DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. IT WOULD GO BACK AND FORTH BUT NOT UP AND DOWN. THE SEAT ROCKS WHILE SITTING IN IT. WE TOLD THE SERVICE CENTER AND THEY SAID IT COULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED WHEN THEY REPAIRED THE SENSOR AND IT WOULD COST APPROX $700 TO REPAIR. IT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *TR
TL* 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.
THE DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE CAUSING ME TO FALL/ROTATE TO MY RIGHT AND TO THE REAR OF THE CAR. SEAT FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A STRUCTURAL FAILURE OF 2 WELDS ON THE BOTTOM SEAT FRAME. WELDS LOCATED AT THE RIGHT BOTTOM REAR AND RIGHT BOTTOM FRONT OF THE MAIN SUPPORT MEMBERS. THE SEAT FRAME HAS BEEN REPLACED BY A LOCAL SERVICE REPAIR SHOP. I KEPT THE FRAME AFTER SEEING WHAT CAUSED THE SEAT TO FAIL. I CAN PROVIDE PICTURES IF YOU NEED THEM. *KB
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 DISAPPEARS FOR A LITTLE WHILE, THEN COMES ON AGAIN EVERYTIME YOU START THE CAR. *KB
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. HTTP://WWW.AUTOMOTIVEFORUMS.COM/T919217-DISCUSS2004_CHEVY_MALIBU_MAXX_BROKEN_POWER_SEAT.HTML *KB
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. *TR
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 OTHERS 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. *KB
WHILE DRIVING OUR 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX WITH A 6 POSITION DRIVER SEAT, I HIT A POTHOLE AND THE DRIVER SEAT BROKE LOOSE. THIS CAUSED THE SEAT TO DROP DOWN, BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. THIS RESULTED IN A MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL CAUSING ME TO PULL THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND ENDING UP OFF THE ROAD AND HITTING A SMALL TREE. THE CONTACT TO THE TREE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE TRIM AROUND THE HEADLIGHT AND THE LENS. INSPECTION FOUND 2 WELDS ON THE SEAT FRAME HAD BROKEN. THE 1ST WELD IS ON THE FRONT CROSS BAR AND RIGHT FRAME RAIL. THE 2ND WELD HAD BROKEN ON THE REAR CROSS BAR AND THE FRAME WHERE THE SEATBELT RECEPTACLE IS ATTACHED. WE CALLED THE CHEVY CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE AND WE WERE TOLD THAT CHEVY HAD NOT HAD RECEIVED COMPLAINTS ABOUT BROKEN WELDS ON THE SEAT FRAME BUT WOULD BE HAPPY TO RECORD OUR CONCERN. WE TALKED TO THE DEALER AND WE WERE INFORMED THAT THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I ASKED ABOUT RECALLS AND TSB'S REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND WAS INFORMED THERE HAD BEEN NO RECALLS OR TSB'S REPORTED ON THE SEAT FRAME. IN FACT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME OUR LOCAL DEALER HAD EVER SEEN THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. REPAIR FOR THE SEAT ALONE WILL BE OVER $1,000 NOT TO MENTION THE OTHER DAMAGE CAUSED BY RUNNING OFF THE ROAD.I CALLED IN OUR AREA AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THEY COULD NOT KEEP SEATS IN STOCK. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT
DRIVER'S SEAT WELD IS BROKEN CAUSING SEAT TO TILT TO THE RIGHT. *TR
THE FRONT DRIVER'S BECOME LOOSE AND ROCKET TO THE RIGHT SIDE. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO SAID THE SEAT FRAME BROKE. DEALER STATES FRAME MUST BE REPLACED - COST $1200.00 I ASKED IF IT COULD BE WELDED AND HE SAID NO BECAUSE IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE. I'VE NEVER HAD A CAR WHOSE FRAME BROKE FROM NORMAL USE. I SEE ON THE INTERNET THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND FEEL THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FOR A RECALL. I ONLY FOUND OUT ABOUT OTHER BECAUSE OF A AUTOMOTIVE FORUM. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS LIKE THIS WHO I'M SURE DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOUR WEBSITE. *TR
DRIVER SEAT BROKEN AT WELD MOUNT. *TR
THE DRIVERS FRONT SEAT LEANS TO RIGHT WHEN TILTED HAVE TO KEEP ALL THE WAY DOWN SO IT DOESN'T WOBBLE. THE WELD ON THE SEAT FRAME BROKE CAUSING IT TO LEAN TO THE RIGHT AND BE UNSTABLE. ALSO POWER STEERING WILL RANDOMLY STOP WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. YOU HAVE TO SHUT THE CAR OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON TO GET POWER STEERING BACK. DEALER SAID THEY RECALLED THE ISSUE BEFORE WE BOUGHT THE CAR AND IT IS BACK AGAIN SAME ISSUE NOW ITS APPARENTLY NOT COVERED SINCE THEY SAID THEY FIXED IT BEEN HAPPENING FOR A FEW YEARS NOW. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS DRIVERS SIDE SEAT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE SEAT PREVIOUSLY, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CURRENT FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
BOUGHT MY 2004 CHEVY MALIBU 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. *TR
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 HAZARD; 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. *TR
WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY WAS ADJUSTING THE SEAT FOR ME TO DRIVE THEN THE SEAT DROPPED DOWN AND NOW LEANS TO THE RIGHT AND ROCKS BACK AND FORTH WHEN GOING OVER ANY BUMPS AT ANY SPEED. FRONT WELD OF THE DRIVER SEAT BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO SOMETIMES LEAN TOWARDS THE FRONT RIGHT. WE TOOK IT TO CHEVY, ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE SEAT AND DO A STATE INSPECTION. THEY SAID THAT THEY DIDNT KNOW WHAT IT WAS AND HAD TO PULL THE SEAT OUT. THEY THEN TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD BE $1,000 TO REPAIR THE SEAT, THEN TOLD ME IT WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION WITHOUT REPAIRING THE SEAT. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR, MORE WELDS HAD BROKEN AND THE SEAT WOBBLED A LOT. THEY TOLD ME THAT IF I PUT THE SEAT IN THE TOTALLY DOWN POSITION THAT IT WOULD NOT WOBBLE. NOW I AM LOOKING ONLINE AND SEE THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT BROKEN WELDS ON THE SEAT. I HOPE THAT THERE WILL BE AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS ISSUE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE DRIVER IF CAR WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. JM
CHEVY MALIBU DRIVER SIDE SEAT FRAME BROKEN WELDS. THE WELDS IN THE FRAME HAVE BROKEN CAUSING THE SEAT TO BECOME UNSTABLE. IF THE CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR ACCIDENT THE SEAT WOULD FALL APART. I AM AVERAGE SIZE AND WEIGHT AND BELIEVE THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT. *TR
TL*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. UPDATED 07/08/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE WELD BROKE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH. THE SEAT TILTED BACK TO THE RIGHT REAR. UPDATED 07/20/11
BROKEN WELD ON DRIVERS SIDE FRONT SEAT. *TR
BROKEN DRIVERS SIDE CAR SEAT FRAME TO A 2004 CHEVY MALIBU. BROKEN FRAME CAUSES SEAT TO ROCK UP AND DOWN AND LEAN TO ONE SIDE.THIS FRAME BROKE UNDER NORMAL USE. TO REPAIR THIS YOU NEED TO BUY A NEW SEAT FOR ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM A CHEVY DEALER OR YOU CAN TRY TO WELD THE FRAME BACK TOGETHER. THE MAIN PROBLEM IS THE POOR DESIGN AND ENGINEERING OF THE SIZE OF METAL USED TO BUILD THE FRAME. *TR
TL*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 04/15/11*LJ THE CONSUMER CONTACTED GM AND WAS INFORMED THAT DUE TO THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICE, THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE COST. UPDATED 10/12/11
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT SUDDENLY SHIFTED FORWARD AND DOWN WHILE DRIVING. INSPECTION REVEALED BROKEN WELD ON SEAT FRAME. *TR
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. SEE HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2005/CHEVROLET/MALIBU_MAXX/SEATS/PROBLEM.ASPX. *TR
TL* 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.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE DRIVERS SEAT FRAME THAT SUPPORTS THE SEAT WAS BROKEN SINCE 2008. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED HIM THAT IT WOULD COST HIM $1000 FOR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
DATE: 11/15/10. 2004 MALIBU MAXX LT. WHILE EXITING A LIMITED ACCESS HIGHWAY AT 25 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SEAT SUDDENLY DROPPED TWO OR THREE INCHES DOWN AND TO THE RIGHT, NEARLY CAUSING THE OPERATOR TO CRASH INTO THE SAFETY BARRIER. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, AN INSPECTION REVEALED THE SEAT FRAME WELD HAD SEPARATED. RESEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE NHTSA ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS WITHOUT CORRECTIVE ACTION. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE DAMAGE AND CLAIMS THIS IS A RECURRING ISSUE. REPAIR IS OVER $1,000. THE RESULTING LITIGATION WILL RUN IN THE 10'S OF MILLIONS AS THE DEALERSHIP NOTES THAT IN A COLLISION THE SEAT MAY NOT STAY ANCHORED. THE SAFETY RESTRAINT IS ALSO ATTACHED TO THE SEAT, SO IT WILL BE INEFFECTIVE AS WELL. INVESTIGATE AND ISSUE THE RECALL! *TR
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. *TR
FRONT WELD OF THE DRIVER SEAT BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO SOMETIMES LEAN TOWARDS THE FRONT RIGHT. WE TOOK IT TO CHEVY, ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE SEAT AND DO A STATE INSPECTION. THEY SAID THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS AND HAD TO PULL THE SEAT OUT. THEY THEN TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD BE $1,000 TO REPAIR THE SEAT, THEN TOLD ME IT WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION WITHOUT REPAIRING THE SEAT. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR, MORE WELDS HAD BROKEN AND THE SEAT WOBBLED A LOT. THEY TOLD ME THAT IF I PUT THE SEAT IN THE TOTALLY DOWN POSITION THAT IT WOULD NOT WOBBLE. WE COMPLAINED TO THE MANAGER, AND HE HAS AGREED TO CALL GM TO SEE ABOUT GETTING AN ALLOWANCE TO GET IT REPAIRED. NOW I AM LOOKING ONLINE AND SEE THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT BROKEN WELDS ON THE SEAT. I HOPE THAT THERE WILL BE AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS ISSUE. *TR
THE WELDING UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT IS BROKEN CAUSING THE SEAT TO TILT TO ONE SIDE AND SOMETIMES ROCK. IF A COLLISION OCCURS THE SEAT WILL NOT HOLD THE DRIVER SECURELY IN THE SEAT. *TR
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. *TR
2004 MALIBU MAXX DRIVER'S SEAT WELD BROKEN MAKING THE SEAT ROCK DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. *TR
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. *TR
THE SUPPORT RAIL UNDER MY DRIVERS SEAT IN A 2004 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX BROKE. THE WELD COMPLETELY SEPARATED. *TR
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. *TR
FRONT AND REAR 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, INTERFERING WITH THE OPENING OF THE REAR SEAT ENTERTAINMENT UNIT AND PLACING A STRAIN ON THE SEAT ADJUSTMENT MOTOR. 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. SEVERAL LOCAL GM DEALERS SAID THAT THEY HAVE NO RECOURSE AND THAT THE SEAT IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. I HAD TO HAVE THE SEAT COMPLETELY STRIPPED DOWN AND HAVE SEVERAL PARTS AND WELDS REPLACED AT A LOCAL METAL SHOP. *TR
TL* 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.
DRIVER'S SEAT FRAME BROKE AT RIGHT FRONT WELD JOINT. SEAT THEN LEANED TO THE RIGHT AND MOVED FORWARD AND BACKWARD. THIS OCCURRED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AT LOW SPEED. MECHANIC SAID THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE SINCE DURING HARD BRAKING OR IMPACT THE SEAT WOULD NOT HOLD AND WOULD LIKELY BREAK ENTIRELY LOOSE AND SLAM THE DRIVER INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. $850 TO REPLACE THE SEAT FRAME. GM WOULD NOT PAY TO FIX THIS OBVIOUS DESIGN/MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR
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. *TR
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. *TR
MY 2004 MALIBU - THE FRAME TO THE DRIVERS SEAT CAME UNWELDED SO THE SEAT TILTS TO THE RIGHT. THIS CAUSED STRAIN ON THE MOTOR THAT MOVES THE SEAT BACK AND FORTH SO NOW THAT IS OUT AS WELL. I HAVE SEEN MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE. I'M VERY SURPRISED THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL. CHEVY WANTS $500 JUST FOR PARTS!!!! INSANE. *TR
2004 MALIBU MAXX DRIVER SEAT FRAME BREAKS UNDER NORMAL USE. *TR
1. A SUPPORT/ADJUSTMENT BAR FOR THE DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE CAUSING THE DRIVERS SEAT TO SUDDENLY DROP TO THE RIGHT. 2. SUPPORT/ADJUSTING BAR IS BROKEN AND WILL REQUIRE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT. CAN NOT ADJUST THE SEAT CORRECTLY FOR COMFORTABLE AND PROPER DRIVING POSITION. ALMOST PUT THE CAR INTO A GUARD RAIL IN WHEN IT HAPPENED. GOOD THING MY 16 YEAR OLD WAS NOT DRIVING IT AT THE TIME. 3. DEALER WANTS $1000 FOR REPAIR, NO REPLACEMENT PART AVAILABLE, REQUIRES ENTIRE SEAT FRAME TO BE REPLACED AT $400+. *TR
POWER DIRVER SEAT ON 2004 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX BROKE CAUSING THE SEAT TO LEAN TO THE RIGHT.
2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU LT SEDAN FAILURE: WELD UNDER DRIVER SEAT BROKE IN TWO PLACES. CAUSES SEAT TO SET LOWER ON ONE SIDE PLACING DRIVER AT AWKWARD POSITION TO CONTROLS. IF A COLLISION OCCURRED, THE SEAT WOULD FAIL CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BE THROWN WHO KNOWS WHERE. CORRECTION: SEAT REMOVED FOR INSPECTION, MUST BE REPLACED AS UNABLE TO REPAIR. *TR
MY ELECTRIC DRIVERS SEAT WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, SO I SET IT TO MY POSITION AND LEFT IT THAT WAY FOR OVER A YEAR. MY WIFE COMPLAINED ABOUT IT SO I REMOVED IT TO FIND THE BAD MOTOR ( ASSUMED) BUT FOUND THE MAIN CROSS MEMBER WELD BROKE. IF I HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, I MAY HAVE GONE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. CONTACTING GM AND THE LOCAL DEALER RESULTED IN NO CORRECTION. I PERSONALLY REPAIRED THE WELD, BUT SINCE THE TUBING WAS ALSO TORN, IT MAY NOT HOLD. MY CONCERN IS THAT OTHERS ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS WELD ISSUE AND BELIEVE LIKE ME THAT IT IS AN ELECTRIC FAILURE. *TR
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. *TR
DRIVERS SEAT FRAME BROKE AT WELD. SEAT WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO VEHICLE. ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. $843 TO REPLACE THE FRAME. *TR
THE WELD BROKE ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT MOUNTING BRACKET. THERE WAS NO ABUSE OF THE SEAT TO CAUSE THIS TO FAIL. IT DID NOT CAUSE CRASH OR INJURY. THE DRIVERS SEAT MOUNTING BRACKET WAS REPLACED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SEAT DROPPED APPROXIMATELY 3 TO 4 INCHES ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THE CONTACT ARRIVED HOME AND DISCOVERED THAT THE BRACKET FAILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,678 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,653. UPDATED 09/10/08. *LJ THE SEAT FRAME WELD BROKE. UPDATED 09/12/08. *JB
SEAT BRACKET BROKE WHILE DRIVING CAUSING SEAT TO SUDDENLY DROP TO ONE SIDE. AS A RESULT, DRIVER NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. INSPECTION OF THE SEAT MOUNT REVEALED TWO FAILED WELDS. CONTACTED GM THE NEXT DAY, THEN BROUGHT VEHICLE TO NEAREST DEALER AT GM'S REQUEST. DEALER INITIALLY REPORTED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A CLEAR FACTORY DEFECT AND SUGGESTED THAT GM SHOULD REPAIR IT AT NO COST TO US. AFTER TWO WEEKS OF "CONSIDERING OUR REQUEST," GM DENIED THE CLAIM AND SUGGESTED THAT WE SHOULD HAVE PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED AT THIS TIME. *TR
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. *TR
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. *TR