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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
26 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
12 / 0
Average Mileage:
72,654 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2004 Chevrolet Malibu steering problems

steering problem

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2004 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 10 of 36)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #529

Apr 122014

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 120,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Had driven car with no issues previous. Had parked car in parking lot. About 30 minutes later went to start the car and immediately the service wrench light came on and noticed the power steering was not working. After a minute or so, turned the car off, then turned it back on. Wrench light was off and the power steering was working, but now when applying a slight right turn motion on the steering wheel, the wheel shakes/chatters/bounces. This happens either in gear or not. It does not do this when turning the wheel left or when applying increased pressure turning right. It seems to be getting worse and wondering if this has something to do with the upcoming power steering recall.

- Carpentersville, IL, USA

problem #528

Apr 192014

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 110,000 miles
While the car was turning out of a driveway something broke inside the rack and pinion. This left the car with no steering. I think if this is a common problem with these cars there should be a recall. If this happened at highway speeds, people could get hurt or worse.

- Mayville, NY, USA

problem #527

Apr 052010

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 140,000 miles
As I was driving down the highway all of a sudden my steering wheel locked. Then my power steering light came on. So lucky I was on a straight away. I pulled over and shut the car off and turned it back on and was back to normal.

- Ruther Glen, VA, USA

problem #526

Mar 042014

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 111,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

At first the warning light would come on then the car began to lose the power steering, then it finally went out completely. I had the car repaired, then my daughter and son in law found out the car had been recalled. I would just like to be reimbursed for the cost of the repair. I have called tom bannan Chevrolet in madison Tennessee. Who does not return my call. Thank you

- Old Hickory, TN, USA

problem #525

Apr 242013

Malibu

  • 115,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the power steering assist failed sporadically. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for inspection or repairs. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 115,000 and the current mileage was 143,932.

- Shreveport, LA, USA

problem #524

Mar 052014

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 111,454 miles
The power steering went out very hard to steer. Happened a couple of times do not know dates, then finally would go out each time it was driven. Was replaced by a mechanic. I do not see the lt listed, is it in the recall?

- Old Hickory, TN, USA

problem #523

Apr 052006

Malibu

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving at various speeds the power steering would suddenly malfunction making the steering wheel very difficult to turn. When the failure occurred the check engine, ABS and tc (traction control) sensor lights illuminated. The failure was not diagnosed nor was the vehicle repaired. The manufacturer was notified and no solution was offered. The contact also indicated that while driving various speeds the vehicle would drift from side to side. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the control arms were faulty. The control arms were replaced but the defect was not remedied. While driving the headlights, turn signal lights and rear lights would intermittently shut on and off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the defect was caused by an electrical short. The defect was not repaired. The failure mileage was 17,000.

- Jackson, MI, USA

problem #522

Sep 102009

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 66,355 miles
Power steering failure due to faulty electronic components in the power steering column. I had to pay nearly $500 to have the power steering column replaced. General Motors would not provide any assistance or reimbursement.

- South Saint Paul, MN, USA

problem #521

Apr 022014

Malibu

  • 68,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving 25 mph, the power steering stop working and the air bag warning lamp illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 68,000.

- Albany, NY, USA

problem #520

Mar 292014

Malibu

  • 206,000 miles
I was driving down interstate, and the steering locked up. It ding about 2 seconds before it went out. It was good I was on a straight stretch of the highway and not going into a curve or passing another vehicle. Or if my wife or kids were driving, it could have been an major incident. I was reading up on it afterwards on line, say Chevrolet had problems with the electronic powersteering, but no recall was performed. I just want to let other drivers/owners aware it could go out anytime.

- Clarksville, AR, USA

problem #519

Mar 312014

Malibu 6-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was driving the car through an intersection approaching the ramp onto the interstate. I lost steering control for about 2 seconds, just missing the guard-rail and having an accident. The next morning, there was a recall for the 2004 Malibu. I contacted the dealership for a loaner car, only to be told the car VIN number is not an approved model for the recall. I need to know why it is not if it is having the same issues. I have reported to this site at least twice about issues with this car.

- Port Wentworth, GA, USA

problem #518

Mar 312014

Malibu

  • 50,000 miles
A chiming noise came on, then a light with a wrench on it. My steering did not feel right so I pulled over. That night I heard about my recall. I'm afraid to drive my car. Its been parked since then.GM will not pay for a rental car, so I had to pay for my own last night at $200 a week.

- Wallingford, PA, USA

problem #517

Mar 012010

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 67,987 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the drivers side seat frame was fractured. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician verified the failure and stated that the seat frame needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 67,987 and the current mileage was 95,000. Updated 09/26/2014 updated 02/27/2015

- Greensboro, NC, USA

problem #516

Feb 182010

Malibu

  • 67,568 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving 30 mph the vehicle stalled without any warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician diagnosed that the steering column assembly needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 67,568. The current mileage was 95,000.

- Greensboro, NC, USA

problem #515

Feb 282014

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 90,000 miles
Daughter was turning the corner and the steering wheel stop turning and she ran into a snow bank. Car is inoperable now. The car had been difficult to turn since I purchased it. I took it to a mechanic who couldn't find anything wrong with it. I also took it back to the dealership where I purchase and they would not honor the warranty, and this was only a couple of weeks after I purchased it.

- Eastpointe, MI, USA

problem #514

Feb 112014

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 134,000 miles
I was backing out of my driveway and the power steering light came on and I lost power steering. I shut the car off and it reset and the power steering came back on. This has happened numerous times since where the power steering goes out by it self with no warning. Seems like it happens more at slower speeds, but what happens when I do not expect it and I need the power steering. My young daughter drives it sometimes also.

- Mt. Pleasant, MI, USA

problem #513

Mar 012014

Malibu

  • 55,000 miles
Steering quits working while driving the car.

- Puyallup, WA, USA

problem #512

Sep 272011

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 15,520 miles
The service steering warning light/chime illuminated while driving the car. No loss of steering. Drove the car to the local Chevrolet dealer the next day without incident. They replaced the steering column at a cost of $777.22. The owner (my mother) was responsible for the bill. I'm reporting it now on her behalf as it appears General Motors might finally recall the 2004 models given their renewed Focus on safety in light of the current cobalt/G5/ion fiasco. ** was the 2004 Malibu exempt from the 2005 and up recall when it uses the same electric steering unit?*** thank you.

- Weymouth, MA, USA

problem #511

Feb 042014

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that after starting the engine, the power steering assist malfunctioned making the steering wheel very difficult to turn. The contact indicated that the failure was recurring. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic, who determined that the power steering module was faulty. The power steering module was replaced but the vehicle continued to exhibit the failure. The manufacturer was notified but no solution was offered. The failure mileage was 100,000. Updated 04-23-14

- Gilmer, TX, USA

problem #510

Jul 262012

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 120,000 miles
The power steering will randomly go out. Most often it happens at low speeds, ex. Backing out of a parking space, starting from a stop sign etc. It has also happened at 20 miles per hour around a curve in the road which very nearly ended in a crash. Turning the car off and back on again has resolved the issue temporarily but I am very concerned that sooner or later this will end in a crash.

- Cottage Grove, MN, USA

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