2004 Acura TL 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 Acura TL | 2004 Chevrolet Malibu |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 551 | 1,147 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 6 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 123 | 629 |
| Investigations | 1 | 4 |
| Crash reports | 13 | 47 |
| Fire reports | 6 | 7 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21 | 23–25 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 90,000 mi | 80,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Acura TL | Chevrolet Malibu |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 34 | 798 |
| Structure | 232 | 8 |
| Air Bags | 199 | 26 |
| Electrical System | 11 | 151 |
| Power Train | 56 | 64 |
| Exterior Lighting | 10 | 84 |
| Seats | 9 | 69 |
| Suspension | 30 | 31 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Vibration / shaking | 44 | 38 |
| Airbag warning light | 29 | 0 |
| Stalling | 13 | 51 |
| Check engine light | 5 | 46 |
| Shifting problems | 5 | 0 |
| Steering problems | 0 | 184 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 82 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 46 |
2004 Acura TL
2004 Chevrolet Malibu
Compare all Acura TL 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.