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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 8 of 36)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #569

Mar 102014

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 received NHTSA campaign id number: 14V153000 (steering). The contact stated that the repair exceeded a reasonable amount of time. The dealer stated that the part was not available. The contact did not experience a failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue.

- Archie, MO, USA

problem #568

Jul 182014

Malibu

  • miles
I received two recalls: 13036 and 14116. Both indicating potential dangerous situations if the affected part malfunctions. Both recalls indicated that while GM was notifying me per the national traffic and motor vehicle Safety Act, that neither one has any parts available. There is no estimated date of availability for these parts for either recall, just that we will receive another letter when the parts are available. I called the my dealer and the 1 (800)222-1020 Chevrolet number and received the same information. Sadly, the dealer did not have any more information than I did and didn't even know about the 13036 recall yet. This is not acceptable. GM should know when we can expect parts to be available and include that information in the first letter, so we know when to expect the second letter. Also, a recall should be uploaded to their dealers before or at the same time one is sent to consumers so they can be prepared for calls.

- Annapolis, MD, USA

problem #567

Jul 102014

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 138,860 miles
The power steering stopped working 5 times in 4 hours on Thursday, July 10, 2014 and it is now at faulkner in trevose, pa with no expected time to receive the new GM part. This is unacceptable; therefore, contact GM and insist that they proceed immediately with the manufacture of this part. Thanking you in advance for your attention to this matter.

- Bensalem, PA, USA

problem #566

Jul 102014

Malibu

  • 202,337 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 that while reversing, the power steering failed as the steering wheel seized. As a result, the contact crashed into another vehicle. A police report was not filed and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 202,337.

- Fairburn, GA, USA

problem #565

Jul 192013

Malibu 6-cyl

  • miles
I contacted the NHTSA last year (2013) and I contacted GM, Chevy, and my Chevy dealership at that time to report that my steering column in my 2004 4-door Chevy Malibu had locked up when I was trying to merge onto an expressway. Since then, all the news about not only this defect, but other defects as well, have been found in these GM vehicles. I finally rec'd. a safety recall ltr., but it only indicates the "part is not available" to fix my car and that I will have to wait on addl. Notification as to when I can schedule a time to take my car in for the repair, since supposedly the dealership is waiting on the manufacturer of the parts in question to actually "make" the part. "??? why is it taking so long to get what the recall # 14116 indicates the part needed to repair my car is a "torque sensor assembly." I would say that before any more new cars are produced and sold that the "defective & dangerous" vehicles need to be repaired so people are not "at risk of a crash or injuries or possibly even death, " due to the power steering assist going out. Why are we having to wait so long on the parts needed to repair our vehicles and why isn't the highway transportation safety Agency putting more pressure on the manufacturers and the dealerships to get our vehicles fixed and/or getting us temporary "replacement vehicles" until the parts are in?" one of the incidents where the steering column locked up occurred 07/19/13 (last yr.), but it has happened several more times, and once when my oldest son was driving us to and from dinner one night. So, I'm not the only one who has experienced this dangerous problem with the steering column. Here's my previous complaint NHTSA id number (ODI #) : 10537050. I registered addl. Complaints to the NHTSA since then, and "verbal" calls/complaints to GM & Chevy, but I'm still getting the run-around. Please help!

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #564

Jul 252013

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 150,000 miles
I was making a turn when the power steering in my vehicle locked up, making it hard to complete the turn and leading me into the oncoming lane, striking the bumper of another vehicle. I had the car towed to a private mechanic who diagnosed the issue and replaced the steering column at my cost. Less than a year later, the power steering has once more failed! I received a recall notice and took the car into the dealership. I was informed that in fact it was the recalled parts that had failed but since they were unsure of when the parts would be available, there was nothing they could do. When inquiring about a rental car, was told it is safe to drive!

- Santa Fe, NM, USA

problem #563

Jun 302014

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 received notification of NHTSA campaign id number: 14V153000 (steering) and stated that the parts were not available. The dealer did not give a specific date for when the parts would become available. The manufacturer was also contacted and could not provide an estimated date for when the contacts vehicle would receive the recall repairs. The contact had not experienced a failure.

- Staten Island, NY, USA

problem #562

Jun 182014

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 66,000 miles
Power steering went out while driving. It was almost impossible to try to steer the car. I contacted dealer and was advised a recall from GM on this car with the steering problem however no parts available. I just contacted GM today and was advised no estimate on when parts will become available however vehicle is safe to drive" I mean seriously? how is it safe to drive when you can't steer it?? I can't believe GM would say it is safe to drive. My wife normally drives this car and if it went out while she was driving, there is no way she could turn the steering wheel. I don't want her driving it now so what is she going to do about a car while GM figures out how to get the parts" they need to make this right to the customers. At least offer to pay for a rental while they get the parts to fix it. Instead, they will wait for more people to die first.

- O Fallon , IL, USA

problem #561

Jul 312007

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 33,000 miles
I purchased this vehicle used from crane Chevrolet, clifton, New Jersey, within six months after purchase I observed that the power steering would suddenly stop operating while the engine was running. I discovered that the only corrective was to shut the car off and restart the engine. The power steering would then reengage. This failure has persisted for nearly the entire time I've owned the vehicle. During that entire time, crane Chevrolet has claimed there was/is no defect in the power steering, and no recall notice outstanding. I just received a GM safety recall notice 14116, which claims, among other things, that "previously, you had the steering column replaced under customer satisfaction program 04050". that is false! neither crane Chevrolet, nor GM has ever contacted me concerning the steering column, or made any attempt to replace it! I also notified crane Chevrolet that the front headlamp assembly turn signal lamps repeatedly burned out, and that the bulb housings were burnt and completely melted through!! both GM and crane Chevrolet denied there was any defect in the lamp/housing design or function. I have to replace the front turn signal lamps about every six months. Finally, the undercarriage support struts, shocks, and springs are woefully underdesigned. The car runs like it has stone tires. I now have to replace the entire strut, shock, and spring undersupports for the second time. And I just run the vehcile on asphalt smooth roads in a develped Suburban city!! this was serious underdesign. Fortunately, these parts are available on the web and I've got a good mechanic that charges fairly for this difficult work. Go to crane and GM and you'd need to mortgage your home to do the work!!

- Clifton, NJ, USA

problem #560

Jun 152010

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 55,000 miles
Power steering light has been coming on in car every time driven since 2010. I have lost power steering multiply times while driving in the city and highway. It has been taken to the dealership twice about this problem, and I was told there was nothing wrong with the vehicle. Now, it is making a terrible squealing noise. My husband called the dealership and was told they didn't have the part to fix it. We did not receive the recall information until June 7th. My husband has spoken to the dealership and GM because we feel it is not safe to drive. We feel they should supply us with a rental car until they are able to supply the part to fix the problem. We received no satisfaction from GM.

- South Abington Twp, PA, USA

problem #559

Oct 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 starting the ignition, the power steering warning indicator illuminated with the loss of power steering. There was a recall related to the failure under NHTSA campaign id number 14V153000 (steering) however, the remedy part was unavailable to perform the repair. The dealer was unable to provide an expected date for the part to become available. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The failure mileage was unavailable.

- Pontiac , MI, USA

problem #558

Apr 282014

Malibu 4-cyl

  • miles
2004 Chevrolet Malibu. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle power steering issues. The consumer stated the power steering loss occurred intermittently. He was informed the vehicle was not included in the recall, and the best thing to do, was to sell it, or give it to a junk yard, as the cost to repair it, exceeded the value of the vehicle. The consumer received a second opinion, and it was determined there were no leaks and there was nothing wrong with the vehicle. A few weeks prior, the inner and outer rods were replaced.

- Valley Stream, NY, USA

problem #557

Jun 102014

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 136,000 miles
My car has had interior electrical problems since the day that I bought. I have had things like the cd deck and the brakes and alloy rims fixed after having problems with them however I have had the front left blinker fail to work and then an hour later it works, the next hour does not work. The interior lighting all stopped working and the dealership says that it is electrical, at the same time that the lights stopped working I started to be unable to shift my car from low into 1 or 2. I have had my power steering go out multiple times and then after pulling over, shutting off my car and turning it back on it worked again. I have almost go into an accident multiple times because the front left blinker stops working mid drive, or the power steering stops working. This car clearly has multiple electrical problems that should be recalled and fixed because they are very dangerous.

- North Branch , MN, USA

problem #556

Jun 152014

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 80,555 miles
As I turned onto an exit ramp my power steering went and the engine light came on and chime sounded. No warning, just no power. There seems to be a recall, but I never received any information. This vehicle also has a problem with headlights and directional lights blowing out constantly. The most recent directional light blew out, I replaced it, and within minutes blew out again. It seems they are overheating and melting the plastic cover.

- Johnston, RI, USA

problem #555

Jun 042014

Malibu

  • 100,163 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while turning at 40 mph, the power steering failed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the electrical rack pinion system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 100,163.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #554

Jun 052014

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 66,000 miles
Through the years we have had off and on episodes of the car not starting even when we had a good battery and in the middle of driving the power steering giving out. We finally took the vehicle to a mechanic after being advised to replace the battery. The mechanic, GM dealer, advised we need a whole new steering column, this was 6-25-13. In less then a year the car continues to not start and today the power steering again went out on my 15 year old son as he was driving home. We have left E-mails with Chevrolet with no return. The last aforementioned GM dealer said that we would get a call about the recall on the steering but appears there is no recall on the ignition, despite several news articles saying there was. We are now out of a vehicle due GM not responding.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

problem #553

May 082014

Malibu

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 mph, the power steering failed causing the steering wheel to become difficult to turn. The vehicle was restarted and was able to function normally. The contact stated that the failure occurred on multiple occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 100,000.

- Coon Rapids, MN, USA

problem #552

May 072014

Malibu

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 mph, the power steering suddenly malfunctioned making the steering wheel very difficult to turn. After turning the vehicle off and restarting it, the vehicle began to function normally. The contact indicated that the defect recurred multiple times. The failure was not diagnosed nor was the vehicle repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the defect. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 100,000.

- Coon Rapids, MN, USA

problem #551

Feb 082014

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 167,357 miles
Recall was announced months ago for the steering, but still have not received any recall notice or information. I had to have it replaced and paid for it because it failed. Was told by GM 800 service number that I would be getting a notice, which would have instructions on how to be reimbursed. As of today,06/03/14, I have received nothing.

- Reisterstown, MD, USA

problem #550

May 222014

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 95,000 miles
This is the 5th time this had happened with my 2004 Malibu, but the scariest. Similar to the other times, but this time on a curve. I heard a chime& "power steering" appeared in the message box. My car veered to the ieft into traffic and I could barely steer it. It took all my 66 yea old strength to turn the wheel & get into my lane. I pulled off asap & turned car off in a safe location. Shaking for 15 min. I don't understand why this car is safe to drive. It does not revert to manual steering. The CEO is lying. I have owned manual steering cars and this does not steer that way. I am afraid to drive it it has also stalled with numerous lights coming on. ABS, engine, and one I think is another steering light, yellow with a line through it. Why aren't they pulled?cruise control comes on by itself & won't shut off.

- Binghamton, NY, USA

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