2004 Chevrolet Malibu Classic Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 4about this part
- Share
- 3%of 116 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 195,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the air bags of the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Classic, 3% of the 116 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 195,000 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Air bags did not deploy in a 2004 chevorlet malibu in 2 accidents. The first accident was on 8/29/05 in which I was t-boned by an SUV that ran a stop sign in which in court the SUV was found guilty. The second accident was on 1/8/09 in which my daughter gabrielle threadgill slid into the back of a huge van due to weather conditions and slid into the van going at least 30 miles per hour, no citation was given due to the ice. My daughter and I were both injured in both accidents due to the air bags not deploying.”
NHTSA complaint #10255018, filed 2009-01“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 child restraint seat in the rear and I was in the driver seat. While coming to a stop my brakes locked up and the ABS did not work. The seat belt I was wearing did not work properly causing me to break my glasses as my head hit the steering wheel. The airbags failed to work also. …”
NHTSA complaint #10146020, filed 2005-12“The contact owned a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Classic. The contact stated that the driver lost control of the vehicle, drove down an embankment, and crashed into a creek. During the crash, the front end of the vehicle sustained significant damage. The air bags did not deploy and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was destroyed. A police report was filed. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 195,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10789884, filed 2015-11, 195,000 miles“The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Classic. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed and coming to a stop, another vehicle rear ended the contact's vehicle while driving at approximately 60 to 70 MPH. The air bags did no deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained minor injuries and the other driver sustained unknown injuries that required medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.”
NHTSA complaint #10747412, filed 2015-08Air bags: other model years
Other parts of the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Classic
59 complaintsSteering
24 complaintsExterior lighting
11 complaintsOther or unknown
8 complaintsEngine
6 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
5 complaintsFuel system
4 complaintsBrakes
3 complaintsEngine cooling
3 complaintsEquipment
3 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
3 complaintsElectronic stability control
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Classic
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology