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.
While driving home from work. I was turning into my apartment complex and my steering wheel tightened up. I ran into the median that divides the entrance and the exit of a complex. Due to not being able to turn the steering wheel. There was a message on my radio display that said power steering. After I hit the median, I turned my car off to get out and see the extent of the damage to my car and the property. When I got back into my car and started it again the steering was fine again. A few days later I experienced it the same problem again while drive on the highway during rush hour. After further research I have found that there are many others who have experienced the same problem and there seem to be no fix if the dealership can't find the problem. The dealership told me that if they were to take my word and fix the steering column and that did not fix the problem I would be out of $1000+ dollars. This is the only problem that I have ever had with this vehicle and there needs to be something done about this problem. Fast!!
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized and became hard to turn. The power steering warning light was also illuminated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 111,000.
While out driving doing regular errands, I needed to make a right turn at an intersection and realized that the wheel would not move. I had to force the steering wheel to move in order to make the turn. I was afraid to go any further because I was on a relatively busy street and did not want to have an accident. I pulled over and called my son who told me that it sounded like the power steering failed. After I calmed down, I drove the car approximately two miles back to my home. I have informed Chevrolet of the problem.
2004 Chevrolet Malibu; steering problems; I had electrical power steering replaced 8/2011. Did ok until spring 2012, when weather became warmer. From spring to late fall, I have no power steering. This is dangerous. I never know when it will be going out. My car only had @45000 miles on it when it happened. This is just uncalled for. I have a young son; this is my only means of transportation; and it is dangerous. My car only has 64,000 miles on it now. I have contacted every Agency I am aware of, and cannot get a recall in place nor any advice on how to fix the problem. Please...need a recall!
I was driving and when I went to turn the corner my steering went out. I could barely turn it. I ended up pulling over and sat for a while but then when I started driving again it didn't do it but than it happened again on 9/08/2013.
- Cleveland, OH, USA
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The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving 40 mph, the power steering assist failed. The vehicle was restarted and performed normally. The vehicle had a power steering motor replacement previously but the problem had since recurred. The vehicle was not repaired or inspected since the recent failure. The manufacturer was notified of the incident. The approximate failure mileage was 61,000.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving 10 mph and attempting a turn, the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was pulled over and the contact allowed the vehicle to sit for several hours before the power steering assist resumed normal function. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection or repairs. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 125,000.
Power steering light has been coming on intermittently over the last 5 months. Today my power steering failed completely. Was very difficult to steer. After turning vehicle off then back on it started working again, then failed again. Apparently this is a common problem with this car.
I was driving to a doctors appointment when all of a sudden my power steering went out while I was driving during rush hour traffic. Very scary incident considering the fact that there was no warning and I was in mid-turn. I have been researching and apparently this has been an issue. I turn the car off and looked it over and nothing seemed to be obviously wrong, so I restarted the car and the service lights on the dash disappeared and the vehicle was running as if nothing had happened and the power steering was back to proper function. I am now a little nervous driving the car, because I have read a lot of peoples input and stories and it repeats itself frequently once it happens for the first time. There has been a motion for a recall, but they still have not recalled this model. This is a very serious issue and could very easily cause injury or death depending on the situation you are in when the malfunction happens. I appreciate your time researching this matter.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving 10 mph, the power steering failed as the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis where it was stated that the internal steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired and the manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 27,000.
Entering expressway from ramp and merging onto expressway, then with left turn signal on I had a clear lane to merge left and when I did this the steering column locked up. Luckily, I was in the lane I intended to be it, but it scared me half to death. Still driving forward, and unsure if the steering would be ok again, then the steering column seemed to ease up and "unlocked" and I was able to steer it and turn it normally again. It was only for a few minutes the first time it happened and I was able to drive it normally and eventually turned back into the right-hand lane to exit the expressway to get to my destination. Unfortunately, this same issue with the steering wheel/column "locking up" happened again about a week later, when I was again entering an expressway from a ramp and trying to merge onto the expressway and trying to merge left to get into the moving traffic. I took the car to a Chevy dealership but they couldn't find a "code" registered for the steering wheel/column locking up and the mechanic drove the car and it didn't happen with him. Is anyone at GM or the Chevy engineers or the NHTSA looking in to this" I'm just now checking the NHTSA website to find out if anyone else is having this problem. I see a few reports, but no real answers for owners who are experiencing this serious and very dangerous problem. A steering wheel/column locking up even for a few seconds can cause a very serious accident and possibly a fatality. Please let me know what is being done to correct this and what can I tell my Chevy dealership to get them to "fix" my car so I feel safe in it again?"
I was driving heard a pop and then the airbag light came on. I then noticed the wheel was turned half way and I was still going straight. This was very dangerous thank god I was on a street alone. I took it to the dealer (hove) they told me my extended warrant had expired due to mileage and it was $1300 to fix. On top of the issue of safety I also don't have the cash and I need my car. I have seen all the reports from this problem and strongly feel this should be a recalled piece.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel became very loose. The failure recurred several times before the steering wheel seized. The contact mentioned that the power steering and the wrench warning icon illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic however, the technician was unable to diagnosed the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was not available. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 110,000.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 mph, the steering wheel seized and it became hard to turn. The power steering warning light illuminated as the failure occurred. The contact stated that the front drivers seat became lower and they were unable to adjust the front or back. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for both failures where the failures were unable to be replicated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 93,000. The current mileage was 95,000.
Driving down the interstate and all of a sudden, steering got stiff and my dash light (wrench) lit up and chimed. I'm glad I had both hands on the steering wheel or else it could have taken me for a joy ride. Had my wife and my infant son at the time with me. This definitely needs to be attended to because it's a serious safety issue. Now, I have 100,000 miles on the car and it's still doing the same thing. I don't have the money to replace such a thing. This needs to pushed with GM to have recalled!
We bought the car used with 34,000 miles on it in 3/2006.there was a clunking in the steering when the steering wheel was turned. The dealership replaced the steering column on 12/2007 with 66,000 miles. The clunking was still there and we were told that this is normal. Since then the steering has gotten worse. The dealership has tried to find the problem but says it can find nothing wrong. Yet sometimes the steering will lockup at low speed when backing up or turning while stopped. It has not done this while driving at road speed (or I would not drive it). However at road speed the steering is very vague. It requires an almost quarter turn of the steering wheel to get the car to respond to a steering input to turn left or right. This is not safe. There is also warning lights that come on the dash, and warning bells that sound, and sometimes they go back off other times car needs to shut off and restarted and it is ok then. Check engine light stays on most of the time, again dealership can not find the problem. Sometimes the whole dash cluster goes out, the car stays running and they come back on after a time and again if you cut off and restart the car it is ok again for a while. The car currently has 150,000 on it and I have an independent mechanic checking it over to see if he can find the problem. The Chevrolet dealership can't find what is wrong to fix it, or so they say.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the vehicle exhibited a strange noise when driving at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis where it was advised that the steering shaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired and the manufacturer was notified. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while parking, the steering wheel failed with the illumination of the power steering warning light. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for a diagnosis where it was advised to the contact that the motor and the power steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 28,000.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized and became hard to turn. The power steering warning light illuminated as the failure occurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to have a diagnostic performed, which located the failure at the power steering motor and column. The steering rack and pinion were previously repaired, however the failure was not corrected. The vehicle was not repaired for the recent failure. The approximate failure mileage was 28,900 and the approximate current mileage was 29,000.
While pulling out of a business parking lot with my mother in the vehicle, I turned the steering wheel to back out and it wouldn't turn at first. I cut the car off and restarted it once again, this tie the steering wheel turned for about half a turn and the just kept on turning with a knock every full rotation. The wheels were not moving at all.no matter how many times I restarted the car it never worked. So I was forced to block half of the parking lot until my car was flat-bedded back to my house. Previous to this incident I had experienced the wheel stiffen up at low speeds but it always went right away, I have seen countless people online posting stories about this happening to them, and I was just driving on the freeway minutes earlier and this could've happened then and been a tragedy, why has this not been recalled"???"
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Pooler, GA, USA