Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (seat frames, recliners, heated seats and seat tracks).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. …
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. …
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. …
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.
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!
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.
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.
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
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.
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?
Seat complaints in other Malibu Maxx years
Frequently asked questions
How common are seat problems on the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx?
NHTSA has 92 complaints about the seats of the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx, 21% of the model year's 434 complaints. The component named most often is front assembly › power adjust (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx seat problems?
No. NHTSA lists no seats recall for the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx seat problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 95,000 miles, and 2% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to seats problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.