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.
I have a 2004 Chevy Malibu and lost power steering on the highway almost crashed into the divider. My pregnant wife was in the car with me at the time. After doing research on the web I find that this is a very common problem with all Chevy Malibu's why is there no recall!!! someone is going to get killed in one of these cars lucky enough it wasn't my pregnant wife or I !!!! the power steering light came on the dash and lost all steering abilities pulled over the vehicle and shut the car off and then turned it back on and it was as if the problem had gone away drove about another mile and it happened again. This is not the first time this problem has occurred. We have already replaced the steering column once already, now it looks like we will have to do it again. Why is the auto maker not required to have a recall for this problem as stated above it continues to be an on going problem in all Chevy Malibu"S regardless of the year!!!
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 5 mph in the driveway, there was a sudden loss of power steering. The contact turned the engine off and restarted it, the vehicle resumed normally for ten minutes before the failure occurred again. The failure continued to occur at various speeds on numerous occasions. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who stated that the steering column needed to be replaced due to a faulty sensor. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 92,000. The VIN was unavailable.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact was driving approximately 20- 60 mph when the steering wheel suddenly locked and then releases independently within seconds. The vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic and they advised her that the steering column would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000. The VIN was unavailable.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the power steering failed sporadically with the illumination of the service engine and power steering warning lights. The contact stated that the power steering would reset once the vehicle was turned on and off. The vehicle was not inspected at the time of the complaint. The failure and current mileage was 128,000.
The electronic steering has failed while turning or accelerating. This has happened several times. The steering returns once the RPM S settle out. The steering systems has been replaced twice and worked on several times. Chevy has issues being able to supply replacement parts and resolving this issue.
- Beverly, MA, USA
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The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact was driving approximately 35 mph around a curve and the steering wheel failed to respond while making a turn for approximately five seconds. The failure occurred sporadically. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where they replaced the steering shaft. The failure mileage was 129,123.
The first incident happened driving down the road at 45 mph the steering wheel all the sudden dropped all the way down and the whole steering column slid in causing the car to swerve some. I pulled over and after attempting to lock the steering column back into place was finally able to get it to lock into place. This has happened several times over the past month. It doesn't matter if I'm driving or backing it just all the sudden does it. If you touch the steering wheel while the car is turned off it will drop down. And if it is in a down position it will slide in and out. This is very dangerous and I fear that the next time I might not be so luck to keep control. I almost hit another car yesterday when I was backing out of a parking space because as I was turning to wheel it moved out of position causing the turn to go another direction.
I have a 2004 Malibu, driving down freeway and steering wheel whould not move. I had no control of my car. My radio displayed power steering. I took to the shop to check issue. The shop stated that the power steering sensor was defective and would have to replace and reset. The car shop did tell me and the warranty that it was not safe to drive. I called GM and car dealer not there issue to fix! this is a defect? please help!
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. While the contact was driving approximately 30 mph, the power steering warning indicator illuminated until the engine was turned off. There was a slight loss of power steering for a few seconds. On a separate occasion, the engine warning indicator illuminated and a message displayed on the instrument panel indicating that the fuel cap was open. The failure would occur sporadicly. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic three different times for diagnosis however, they were unable to locate the problem and the failure persisted. The failure mileage was approximately 114,000.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 40 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver and would not allow the contact to make a left or right turn. The vehicle then started to jerk violently. The contact did not inform the dealer or manufacturer nor was the vehicle diagnosed or repaired. The current and failure mileage was 50,000. The VIN was unavailable.
While exiting parking lot onto highway the driver information panel dinged and complete loss of power steering occurred. Car was parked and towed home next morning restarted car and system reset.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the power steering suddenly failed; the contact had to use extra force to keep the vehicle under control. The contact turned the vehicle off and restarted which reset the power steering. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was 100,000 and the current mileage was 104,957.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 45 mph, the power steering warning light illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis but they were unable duplicate the problem. The failure continued to occur. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was unavailable. Updated 03/29/11 updated 03/30/11
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. While the contact was driving approximately 5 mph, the power steering warning light illuminated suddenly. The contact turned the vehicle off which reset the warning indicator. The failure occurred at various times and was more frequent when making a turn. The vehicle was in the process of being taken to the dealer for diagnosis. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Power steering pump fail I didn't know that this cars have the power steering problem and there is no liquid or pump I am not sure if there is any so I guess is electric but is not functioning right.
The power steering intermittently goes out and when turning there are loud clunking sounds. This has happened numerous times and has almost caused multiple accidents. Currently we do not drive the car often because of the safety concerns.
My 2004 Malibu has a intermittent loss of power steering control. The first time this happened I took it to the dealer and was told " nothing shows up on the computer ". now the problem is occurring every day. A check on line shows that this is a major problem that G.M. will not address. Latest failure was this morning at startup prior to driving the car or even turning the wheel !
I have a 2004 Chevy Malibu lt. Without warning one day while driving the car the dash tool light came on, chimes started ringing and my dash board read power steering. I lost control of the car. Could not steer it any longer. Thankfully I was not traveling fast stopped the car. Turned it off and restarted it again. The car drove fine for about one mile. I stopped at a stoplight and the steering wheel starting a jerking motion on it own. I finally got the car home and the lights and chimes went off again and I lost steering again. I can not drive the car any longer because I am terrified I will be driving and lose steering again. When I just start the car now the wheel will start the jerking motion again while just sitting there and if I put the car into drive the warning light and chimes come back on and it displays power steering again on the dash. I have read tons of complaints about the same issue and nothing is being done about it. I have contacted our local dealership in town about the problem and just for the part that might fix it is $738 and this morning I was quoted $455 just for the eps, $177 rackon pinion and $115 for the diagnostic. I paid almost $10,000 for this car about 6 months ago. One of the dealerships here won't even touch the car because they have seen too many that have come back 6 months later with the same problem. So I ask GM now, what am I suppose to do with a 2000 lb. Paper weight parked in my garage" some one is going to be killed because of this issue and no one wants to do a thing about it!!! how many lives need to be lost before GM or dot does something? my tax dollars bailed out GM and this is the way I am going to be treated now? not only me but the other thousands of complaints I have read on this car? why isn't someone doing something about it" if need be I will file a lawsuit to try to recoup some of my money. I am not a wealthy person by no means and I can't just go buy another car and when I can believe me it will not be a GM!!!
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 mph the power steering failed, which caused the contact to lose control of the vehicle and crash into a parked vehicle. The driver was not injured. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who confirmed that the steering column was faulty and had to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted but offered no assistance. The vehicle was repaired. The failure and current mileage was 70,000.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 to 50 mph the steering wheel would suddenly lock without warning. In order to unlock the steering wheel he had to stop and restart the vehicle on an intermittent basis. The vehicle was not inspected; yet, after speaking with the dealer they advised him that the sensor in the electric steering column failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 128,000. The VIN was unavailable.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- St.James, NY, USA