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 2005 Chevrolet Malibu owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The driver side front seat rails have failed and the dealer wants almost $1000 to repair (which I don't have right now). I am afraid that the seat will completely fail while driving and result in injury or death. It appears that this failure of the front seat railing weld is fairly common on this vehicle and I am surprised that the NHTSA would allow a manufacturer (general motors) to not fix this apparent serious design and manufacturing flaw. I purchased this car new, weigh less than 130 lbs, have never been in an accident, and have always been gentle with the car. I am disappointed that GM and the Chevrolet dealer want to make a profit from me to repair their design and manufacturing defect. I offered to pay the out of pocket costs to repair the defect (I thnk this would be about of the quoted price for the actual mechanic time/wages and wholesale parts price), but was turned down.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the power seat shifted to the left and the frame rails became fractured. The contact mentioned that the seat would independently move which ever way the weight of the driver was shifted. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle had not been taken to the dealer for a diagnosis. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000. The VIN was unavailable.
The seat is no longer attached to the seat track on the right side of the driver's seat. The seat leans to the right even without a driver in the seat. The factory weld has given out on the track. We feel this vehicle is not safe if it was to be involved in a crash. There was no incident that caused the weld to fail other than going around a corner at normal speeds. When researching repair for the vehicle we have noted many others with the same complaint.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the driver seat fractured causing it to move back and forth. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the seat needed to be welded or replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
Drivers powered seat lower front support tube broke and separated from the seat right hand side bracket link, at the weld attachment, attaching to the seat bottom. This breakout of material leaves the seat unattached to the track on the right hand side.
Vehicle was in motion traveling straight at about 10 MPH when seat weld on right side broke and detached from rail. There's now nothing holding the seat in place on that side so it wobbles up and down and side to side.
Driver's seat frame assembly mount is broken. Appears to be a safety issue since seat tilts to the right. If involved in an accident, there is no way the seat would remain in the car. The factory welds have broken.
Drivers seat frame failure, frame on drivers seat is cracked causing seat to become uneven and unstable, car has 65K miles, I am of average weight and vehicle has not been driven on rough/pothole strewn roads (fl). Contacted dealership where car was bought new, was told "out of warranty, sorry". There is no way a seat frame on a 51/2 year old car should be cracked and a quick google search shows many others having the same problem, Malibu (new style) years 2004-2007. Price to repair from dealer was over $1000, please help those of us who cannot get help from GM regarding this issue by issuing a recall, if affected vehicles get into a collision the drivers seat will likely become detached from car with obviously detrimental consequences to the driver. …
First I have had nothing but steering issues and have had parts replaced previously on this vehicle. Now I have to replace struts, axles and needless to say new tires because of the wear on them due to the steering issues. However, I have a recalled shift cable and have been waiting since last year in August or September. I asked isn't this a safety issue and they stated , they all are. So I am still waiting for the call that they have this shift cable and can only pray nothing happens, like a bad accident. If something were it probably wouldn't be good for you all. Anyway when will this part be in so I can get it taken care of. Went to [redacted] in kansas city ks. Bought the vehicle from them and have had nothing but issues with the car. Please advise. By the way the seat broke, the automatic locks stopped working and I'm not real happy. …
I bought a use Chevy 2005 Malibu and the front rail for the frame of the drivers seat broke. After looking around I found it is a very common issue and feel it's a major safety issue! I was told by the old owner that it broke a year after buying the car and the dealer wanted way to much to replace it? If it's a matter of safety should they not fix it for free? Should their not be a recall on it? Again after looking around on the web and asking around to many dealer shops it is a very known issue that Chevy has not ever addressed. I just know that not only is it very hard to sit in, it also feels like it's going to come up off the floor every time I hit the brakes. I'm sure if I even got into the smallest fender bender it would eject me. Please do something to make GM repair this issue! …
Seat complaints in other Malibu years
Frequently asked questions
How common are seat problems on the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu?
NHTSA has 62 complaints about the seats of the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu, 6% of the model year's 975 complaints. The component named most often is mid/rear assembly (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Chevrolet Malibu seat problems?
No. NHTSA lists no seats recall for the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu, 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 2005 Chevrolet Malibu seat problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 89,000 miles, and 2% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 1 injury 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.