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 steering wheel vibrated out control to the point it felt like the steering wheel was going to jump out of the window. When making right turns consumer could hear a clicking sound. Took the vehicle to the dealer. They repaired the steering problem. However, . the noise problem recurred. Ea04018_cat steering wheel jerking back and forth.
While driving power steering pump failed. The consumer took the vehicle to dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the power steering pump needed to be replaced. Ea04018_cat currently the vehicle still does not steer properly. The vehicle was taken four times before the service dealer to say it was okay. The headlights shined too high, there was a vibration when the vehicle was in motion and was unable to be duplicated.
While driving consumer lost power steering. Consumer pulled over and restarted the vehicle. Dealership was notifed, but did not resolve the problem. Ea04018_cat the consumer stated that the power steering is electric not hydraulic on this vehicle.
Steering problem. Steering in the morning was erratic seemed to hunt. Took the car to the dealer and was told it was a sensor problem, dealer had to order part, car still drivable. Next morning the steering was the same, after work I came out started the car, steering was still shaky, after pulling out onto the road I lost all power steering, service alarm light came on and power steering failure notification on console. I took car directly to the dealer, received loaner while they repair car. Was told all parts must be returned to determine failure mode. Ea04018_cat
Our 2004 Chevrolet Malibu lt (V6, loaded with all options except for onstar) has between 5500 and 6000 miles on it now. Recently, my wife reported an issue with the steering wheel brating "nervously" while idling in line to drop my daughter off to school. This vibration / movement did not actually move the wheels, and she returned home safely.the problem was intermittent, but one morning as she prepared to leave, she noticed the vibration problem again, and wishing to show it to me, called me to the garage. I witnessed the palsy-like movement of the steering wheel and again noted that the tires didn't move with the wheel. After this occurred, I returned to the house (making a note to myself for our next visit to the dealership's service department). Less than five minutes later, I heard a knock at the door, which turned out to be my 8 year old daughter (who had gone with my wife). She told me that the steering had "broken" and that my wife was trying to maneuver the car back to the house. I went out to the end of the drive, to find my wife attempting to fight to get the car back onto our street. I stopped her, took over the car, turned off the ignition, then restarted the car. This restored the power steering, at which point I parked the car in the garage, and the wife took our other vehicle. I had already read of this issue on several bulletin boards around the web, and my car is a relatively early 2004 build Malibu. However, there has as yet been no official recall from Chevrolet, and as I see that there is an ongoing investigation by the NHTSA into this issue, I felt I should report yet another instance of the same problem as was experienced by the other 8 drivers mentioned by the investigation. I consider the twitching steering wheel to be a single failure, and combined with the actual loss of power assist once so far, have indicated 2 failures. My car is currently scheduled to be looked at by the local dealership later today. Ea04018_cat
Vehicle 3 times would not start. Took into dealer and was told they could not find anything. On 9/5/04 was driving and the car made a ding ding and steering wheel locked. Stopped and turn car off and back on and was okay. Two days later was making a left hand turn and again the ding ding and steering wheel locked. Had car towed to dealer. Dealer called and said they had to replaced steering column and would call when complete. Dealer called and said steering column was replaced but new steering column during same thing. Currently I have a rental from dealer ship. Ea04018_cat
Loss of power steering while vehicle is in motion. Vehicle has just reached 10K miles. Steering the vehicle during failure is difficult. Reported failure to dealership on the afternoon of failure. Instructed to immediately return vechicle to dealership for repair. Ea04018_cat.
Fax ltr fm james ballou wadford (va) owner of a my 2004 Malibu reporting loss of steering capabilities suggest NHTSA recall vehicle safety defect. While driving the consumer lost all steering capability. The service engine light illuminated on the dash as the driver attempted to pull the vehicle over onto the side of the road. The vehicle was taken tot he dealer where they indicated that he received a service bulletin on this problem in May. The consumer feels the problem should be recalled. Ea04018_cat
While makeing a right turn onto major street wrench icon lit upon on instrument panel, information panel indicated power steering failure, had to manhandle car to parking lot of K-mart. Restared engine, drove to chev dealer, left car with them, they replaced steering column. Do not feel safe with this car as there other reports of failure after the steering column had been replaced. Ea04018_cat
I was traveling at highway speeds to work on the expressway when the second occurrence of (epa) steering failure. The first occurrence was on 8/30/04 and the second occurance was on 9/2/04. The car was taken to dealer on 8/31/04 for repair they connected the computers and found no code errors. Today when power steering stopped working I found a safe place to pull onto exit ramp shoulder to park car and shut down. I waited a few minutes restarted no problems. But my car is at dealership for service the second time. Ea04018_cat
Stopped at red light after driving approximately 45 miles per hour on the way to work. Steering whell "jiggled" a bit. When I accelerated, the power steering was gone. Car was hard to steer; was able to drive approximately four miles to the dealership. Dealership said there was a part in the steering column that needed replaced, and that they would replace the steering column. They ordered the part (from Michigan), but due to hurricane frances, they could not fix the car until next week. The dealership was very nice and gave me a loaner car at no charge; but my car is now sitting out in the open at the dealership with the possibility of hurricane force winds damaging the car. The fact that the part was not readily available concerns me. Ea04018_cat
While the consumer was pulling into his driveway the vehicle's power steering unit failed and caused loss of steering control. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who replaced the electric power steering unit per a service bulletin issued by GM. The vehicle has been working properly since repaired. Ea04018_cat
Power steering. While driving at various speeds the steering wheel jerks up to 45 degrees, side to side, in both directions. No loss of control. No steering has been lost as of yet. Appointment set with valley cheverlot, carson city, nv on August 31, 2004. Ea04018_cat
While driving steering wheel locked up and the consumer lost power steering. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. Ea04018_cat (duplicates voq 10089025- same VIN/driver)
A knocking/clicking noise came from the steering wheel/column when turning. Vehicle had been to the dealer, and dealer replaced steering shaft, but problem recurred. Ea04018_cat deleted EA04018 annotation - have not validated this is second power steering loss incident cat
While driving service message indicated to consumer that power steering column failed. As result, consumer had to restart the vehicle. The dealership reset the computer three times, but problem recurred. Ea04018_cat
1) first failure at 4589 miles. While driving 60 mph on winding two lane road at night. Warning chime sounded, "wrench" and "power steering failure" appeared. Within a few seconds the ps completely failed making vehicle very hard to drive. Dealer contacted factory rep then ordered and installed new column. 2) second failure at 9870 miles. Turning as I backed out of driveway, ps failed. Stopped and turned engine off. Called dealer. Started car and it was fine. Dealer replaced column again. 3) third failure at 10167 miles. While driving up a steep, winding two lane mountain road near here with heavy Saturday afternoon traffic, ps became stiff and then there was some involuntary movement back and forth. I do not know whether warnings sounded, I was too busy trying to avoid traffic while looking for a place to get it off the road. Called dealer and was towed to shop some 20 miles away. Subsequent checks and extensive test driving found no stored codes and no malfunctions. Dealer said he could not help me any further and suggested I call GM customer satisfaction, which I did and the formal complaint process is in progress. The tow truck driver also noticed that the steering was very stiff while loading the car. Since my wife and I feel strongly that the car is not safe, she does not drive it and I drive it carefully and slowly only as necessary. Ea04018_cat
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- District Heights, MD, USA