2004 Chevrolet Malibu vs 2004 Nissan Altima
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 Chevrolet Malibu | 2004 Nissan Altima |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 1,147 | 276 |
| Recall campaigns | 6 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 629 | 91 |
| Investigations | 4 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 47 | 14 |
| Fire reports | 7 | 3 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 23–25 | 20–23 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 80,000 mi | 74,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Chevrolet Malibu | Nissan Altima |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 798 | 11 |
| Electrical System | 151 | 32 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 20 | 109 |
| Exterior Lighting | 84 | 6 |
| Power Train | 64 | 17 |
| Seats | 69 | 2 |
| Structure | 8 | 42 |
| Engine | 17 | 30 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Steering problems | 184 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 82 | 8 |
| Stalling | 51 | 73 |
| Check engine light | 46 | 28 |
| Clunking / rattling | 46 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 38 | 9 |
| Won’t start | 13 | 0 |
| Overheating | 12 | 0 |
2004 Chevrolet Malibu
2004 Nissan Altima
Compare all Chevrolet Malibu vs Nissan Altima 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.