2004 BMW 525I vs 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2004 BMW 525I | 2004 Chevrolet Malibu |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 84 | 1,147 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 6 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 49 | 629 |
| Investigations | 1 | 4 |
| Crash reports | 0 | 47 |
| Fire reports | 17 | 7 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–22 | 23–25 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 89,627 mi | 80,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | BMW 525I | Chevrolet Malibu |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 2 | 798 |
| Electrical System | 21 | 151 |
| Seats | 17 | 69 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 84 |
| Power Train | 7 | 64 |
| Air Bags | 33 | 26 |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 30 |
| Suspension | 0 | 31 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Airbag warning light | 10 | 0 |
| Steering problems | 0 | 184 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 82 |
| Stalling | 0 | 51 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 46 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 46 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 38 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 13 |
2004 BMW 525I
2004 Chevrolet Malibu
Compare all BMW 525I vs Chevrolet Malibu years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.