2004 Cadillac CTS 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 Cadillac CTS | 2004 Chevrolet Malibu |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 224 | 1,147 |
| Recall campaigns | 6 | 6 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 566 | 629 |
| Investigations | 2 | 4 |
| Crash reports | 25 | 47 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 7 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19 | 23–25 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 53,376 mi | 80,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Cadillac CTS | Chevrolet Malibu |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 14 | 798 |
| Electrical System | 34 | 151 |
| Power Train | 52 | 64 |
| Exterior Lighting | 7 | 84 |
| Seats | 2 | 69 |
| Air Bags | 26 | 26 |
| Service Brakes | 21 | 30 |
| Suspension | 16 | 31 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 11 | 51 |
| Vibration / shaking | 7 | 38 |
| Brake problems | 6 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 6 | 0 |
| Steering problems | 0 | 184 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 82 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 46 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 46 |
2004 Cadillac CTS
2004 Chevrolet Malibu
Compare all Cadillac CTS 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.