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.
The power steering went out on my 04 Malibu while driving, almost causing an accident. Took it to two different repair places. Spent over $600 for it to not be fixed. I google my car and find a website with hundreds of people who are having the same problem. I don't understand why the 05 has been recalled for the same problem, yet not the 04. I'm a single mother with two kids, I can't afford to spend money on a maybe fix or a new car. Will it really take one of us dying before the problem is taken care of" and why is GM not being held responsible for it's quality issues"
I was driving my sons 2004 Malibu when suddenly there was a few dings followed by the car symbol light with the wrench inside it on the dash light up. The wheel immediately became difficult to turn. It's as if the power steering stopped working. I drove to a safe location, turned off the car and the problem was gone. This does not seem right to me. Please have GM rectify this issue.
2004 Malibu ls-driving down the highway today and the bell goes off, the yellow wrench appears and the radio shows power steering. The power steering just went out all at once and I almost ran into a truck. Called the Chevrolet dealership and they stated there is not a recall on this and it is also not covered under the powertrain warranty. NHTSA please issue a recall on this power steering problem before it causes someone to loose their life. I have a 1998 Malibu ls and a 2004 Malibu ls and they both have gave me problems. I will never purchase another one. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
I was driving home from work and I lost power steering the wheel got so hard and the radio said power steering but I pulled over and turn the car off and when I turn the car backon it goes back to normal..... know I'm at a red light and the steering wheel shakes and it gets hard on me all the time I'm tired of this happening to my car I asked my dads mechanic and told me it would cost me....1500.00 to fix it I don't have that kind off money and the dealership and said it was something normal...... what can I do.....
I was driving my daughter to a doctors appointment, and my car dinged 3 times and "power steering" came across on the radio face, and I lost power steering. I shut the car off and when I started it again it was fine. Today (1-23-13) I was driving with my daughter in the car, and I was driving around a curve, when the car dinged 3 times again and power steering displayed across the radio screen. I lost power steering in mid turn, and had to fight to keep the car under control. Does someone have to die for this to ne corrected? ## VIN failed ##
- Martinsville, IN, USA
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As for the lighting I cannot count how many light bulbs I have replaced on this vehicle to the point that I had the auto shop replace them since I thought I was doing something wrong. They only last about a month or two and burn out which is really dangerous when you don't know if will work or not. The steering issue is a much more dangerous problem, this is my wife's car and she got stuck leaving the house and physically could not turn the steering wheel which she described as locking up. I can not imagine if she were to be turn down a busy intersection on not been able to turn the vehicle to the proper lane. This is dangerous and should be a recall item as the 2005's were!!!
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5-10 mph, the power steering assist failed as the steering wheel became extremely difficult to maneuver. The contact moved off the roadway and restarted the vehicle. The vehicle was not inspected by a dealer or an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was contacted and offered no assistance. The failure and current mileages were approximately 85,000. The VIN was unavailable.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 mph and completing a turn, the power steering assist failed and the steering wheel became very difficult to maneuver. In addition, the power steering warning light illuminated immediately after the failure. The contact shut off and restarted the vehicle, as it performed normally. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis where they advised that the they could not get the vehicle to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure and current mileages were approximately 93,000.
One morning last month, I was driving my kid to school at speed 30 miles per hour, when suddenly the electronic power steering problem light turned on again, and the steering power was gone and the steering was totally locked, I could not make any turns. Because this is the 4th time it happened, I knew what to do. I stopped the car at the middle of the road ( I am lucky it is happened during local not highway driving). I turned off the engine, then turn on the engine again, and everything back to normal. So far it happened at least 5 times to me. The current mileage of my car is 116000.
I am having the same problem as half the 2004 Malibu owners. I have a 2004 Malibu my power steering just stops working. This has happened several times. I have almost had several accidents because of this. I found 176 people on one website that is also having this problem and several other website with the same complaint on. Chevy has not recalled the 2004 for it. However that did recall the 2005 for the same problem. That only because someone died in the car due to the power steering problem. Wow now I feel safe. I am a single mom I cant pay $600 for a maybe fix. They cant promise after replacing the steering column it will even fix the problem. I cant buy a new car. They need to take responsibility for there mess up. Guess I have to wait till someone dies in the 2004 before they fix it and who knows I might be the one that does. Facebook connect
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 mph, the steering became difficult to maneuver. The vehicle regained steering on its own. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician stated that the tie rod end needed to be replaced. After the repair the failure continued. The driver was traveling approximately 45 mph when she lost control of the steering and crashed into a telephone pole. The driver was transported to the hospital by ambulance. The contact stated that the driver sustained injuries to her neck, head and back. The vehicle was destroyed. The approximate failure mileage was 84,000.
2004 Chevrolet Malibu lt. Consumer writes in regards to power steering problems. The consumer stated each time he turned the steering wheel, the warning light would illuminated. It locked up on one occasion and the consumer was unable to turn the steering wheel. The consumer discovered a recall had been issued for the electric power steering starting with the 2005 models.
First time it happened we were pulling out of a parking lot. Power steering message came up and steering wheel got stiff and we could not turn the wheel, my husband turned off the car and restarted it and the power steering came back. It has happened more than a few times since. My concern, I am a very small person I do not have the strength to turn the wheel when it happens and eventually I will not be able to get the car pulled over to a safe place to stop it and restart it. The last time that it happened to me was November 5 2012 taking my grandson to school going about 40 miles per hour, I was just driving along and the power steering just went out. I will tell you Chevy Malibu or any Chevy is not on my list for my next car.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving 10 mph the power steering failed. The contact mentioned that after turning off the vehicle for 10 minutes the steering resumed normal function. Also, the contact stated that the wrench symbol illuminated on the instrument panel when the failure occurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was told that the eletronic power assist failed. The failure mileage and the current mileage was 80,985.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 mph the power steering warning light illuminated and the steering wheel became very stiff. The contact was able to pull over and check under his hood to see if the fluid was low. After lifting the hood the driver noticed that there was no reservoir for the power steering fluid. The contact then called the dealer and informed them of the situation. They advised him that the vehicle had an electronic motor and there was no where for him to place the power steering fluid. The driver waited a while and then restarted the vehicle, which temporarily repaired the steering failure. The manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. The failure and current mileage was approximately 186,000. The VIN was unavailable.
While driving home from work my power steering light came flashed on the radio and the dashboard, I tried to make a right hand turn and the wheel was very hard to turn. I pulled over to the side of the road turned the car off and waited about 5 minutes started it back up and it was ok. I drove for about 1 mile and it did it again. This happened my whole drive home, I had to keep turning the car off at each intersection just to make it home. This happened again yesterday October 25th, I had to keep turn the car off in order to make it home. Since I drive about 8 miles each day to and from work I am concern that this is a very dangerous situation. I went on line and have found that this is a serious problem with the 2004 Malibu, why in the world has there not been a recall on this problem.? I am just thankful that I was not on the highway when this happened, because this could have been a disaster. I live in an area of the country that can be very bad in the winter and with this happening someone can be seriously hurt if you cannot maneuver in bad weather. I hope that there have been enough complaints that this will call for General Motors to do a recall before something terrible happens.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the steering failed without warning while turning left. The steering became hard to turn and caused the contact to lose control of the vehicle. The steering resumed normal function for a brief moment and the mechanical warning light illuminated after the failure occurred. The failure was experienced several times. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to have a diagnostic performed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 62,000 and the approximate current mileage was 64,000. Updated 3/5/13 the consumer stated the steering issue, was intermittent.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the power steering assist failed while approaching a stop light. The contact was able to coast into a parking area. The power steering warning light illuminated after the failure occurred. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to have a diagnostic performed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 163,000.
Couldn't get out of my drive way. This is the first time this happens, went online to find a solution and found out it was a manufacturers error. I can see its not on the recall list even though there has been some complaining done, even after getting it "fixed".
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Niles, MI, USA