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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
17 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
20 / 1
Average Mileage:
88,299 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.

2005 Chevrolet Malibu steering problems

steering problem

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2005 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 13 of 23)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #204

Jul 012011

Malibu 6-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The drivers seat frame broke and I had to replace. Also the car makes a popping noise when steered. Currently trying to get that into the dealer because it has been doing it for almost a year.

- Buckhannon, WV, USA

problem #203

Mar 142012

Malibu

  • 155,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 20 mph, a chime sounded inside of the vehicle as the power steering warning indicator illuminated. Immediately, there was a complete loss of power steering. The vehicle was maneuvered to the side of the road where the engine was turned off. The failure recurred four times. The engine was restarted and the vehicle resumed as normal. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated the power steering column and intermediate shaft would need to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the malfunction. The approximate failure mileage was 155,000.

- Canton, OH, USA

problem #202

Sep 012011

Malibu

  • miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized while driving at various speeds. The power steering light illuminated on the instrument panel when the failure occurred. The contact would stop and restart the vehicle to correct the failure. The failure also corrected itself on a few occasions and the steering wheel began to function normal as the contact continued to drive. The failure occurred intermittently. The vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered no assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Hayward, CA, USA

problem #201

Apr 162012

Malibu 6-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The steering wheel became very tight for about 3 mins. And the power steering light flashed on the radio panel. When the steering wheel loosing up it was too loose. The next day the check engine light came on and I went and had a mechanic check it out and he said that it was coming up as an electronic steering failure.

- Spartanburg, SC, USA

problem #200

Apr 162012

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 115,000 miles
During a freeway exit during a decelerating 35mph right turn, the power steering stop operating. Continued on home for 3 blocks without any power to steering system. Next day, system work good. Scary ! ! google problem for info and found a lot of people has had the same problem with no 'fix' available. Anyway you could shed some help or information on this scary problem?

- Milpitas, CA, USA

problem #199

Oct 102011

Malibu

  • 140,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the power steering failed, fuel would not pump properly into the vehicle, the fuel gauge displayed improper readings, and the speedometer was inoperative. The local mechanic repaired the fuel system. Neither the dealer, nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000 and the current mileage was unavailable.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #198

Jan 102012

Malibu 4-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the power steering assist would fail sporadically. The power steering assist would reset independently once the vehicle was shut off and restarted. The vehicle had not been taken to the dealer for inspection or repairs. The current mileage was 125,007 and the failure mileage was unknown. Updated 05/08/12

- Newport, KY, USA

problem #197

Dec 032011

Malibu

  • 112,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the power steering assist failed while driving 35 mph. The power steering light illuminated as the failure occurred. The steering wheel became hard to turn and the contact was able to avoid a crash. The vehicle had to be turned off for a moment in order for the power steering assist to return to normal function. The failure was experienced numerous times. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to have a diagnostic performed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 112,000 and the current mileage was 116,000.

- South Bend , IN, USA

problem #196

Mar 032010

Malibu

  • miles
As I'm turning a corner my power steering will go out, it really doesn't have a set time at which it goes out, I can be parallel parking, driving straight, cold out, hot out, I have tried turning my car off and back on but it just goes out unexpectedly again. I received a letter from Chevy but my mileage is over 100,000 miles so they would not pay to have it fixed. I plan to take it to a shop, but how is this not a dangerous problem? there should be a recall on this before someone gets seriously hurt in an accident.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #195

Jan 132010

Malibu

  • 127,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving 30 mph the power steering system failed, making the vehicle difficult to steer. The contact did not take the vehicle to a dealer or a local mechanic for a diagnostic testing or repairs. The failure mileage was 127,000.

- Fort Collins, CO, USA

problem #194

Aug 012011

Malibu

  • 150,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that when accelerating at 30 mph and merging onto the highway, the steering wheel and wheels seized. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the steering column failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The failure recurred a few days later. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Hannibal, MO, USA

problem #193

Jan 022012

Malibu

  • 105,000 miles
As other owners have experienced, the steering alarm light went off in my Malibu. I have seen that other Malibu in my cars VIN range experienced the same issue as issued by a GM warning. This seems to me to be an unsafe vehicle and GM should stand behind your vehicle as I could not allow my child to drive to co with the possibility that the steering would go out. While I did not get to the point where we had steering failure, the motor was diagnosed with major issue as did the electronic control which appears to be the root cause of the issue. This car would have steering failure if we did not got to the dealership and replace the motor and steering column.

- Collierville, TN, USA

problem #192

Jun 302009

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 84,900 miles
Cars steering momentarily locked up while on a slight curve in the road, I was able to pull over and checked under the hood for a broken belt or something obvious. After starting the car up again the problem was not present. About 3 weeks later the car was taken in for service and a "lube kit"was installed. The problem has reoccured on several occasions since and each time after stopping the car then restarting it the problem is no longer present. There are many reports of this problem on the internet. It is a very scary and potentially dangerous situation to be in. There is a knocking or clunking noise in the front end seemingly associated with the occurrences.

- Woodstock, MD, USA

problem #191

Jan 042012

Malibu

  • 120,000 miles
Turning left at about 5 mph, power steering went out and made it hard to turn the corner, almost caused an accident in the middle of an intersection. Power steering light came on radio display and buzzer went off. Pulled into gas station and restarted engine. Problem went away. Waiting for it to happen again. Judging by the same complaint from others, this will by my last GM.

- Johnson City, NY, USA

problem #190

Nov 252011

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 108,000 miles
Ding sound and then power steering light came on. Took to dealership and was told power steering sensor was the cause of the problem. I have read where there have been several complaints on problems with the power steering with this vehicle. I have contacted GM and they proclaim they are not aware of any problems yet there is a letter that was sent out in 2007 extending the warranty on the vehicle. I purchased the vehicle in 2009. I am told the steering column may need to be replaced.

- Fair Oaks , IN, USA

problem #189

Nov 242011

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 88,000 miles
Check engine/power steering light came on when starting down the road. Rpms shot up to 4 and 5, car won't shift (automatic car), mph stopped reading, all the info I get through my radio screen went blank, there is only an error sign where my mileage is.

- Fulton, NY, USA

problem #188

Sep 012011

Malibu

  • 150,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving 10 mph, the steering wheel seized. The contact also stated that after turning the vehicle off and letting it warm up the power steering began to function as normal again. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 150,000. The VIN was not available.

- St Paul , MN, USA

problem #187

Feb 102009

Malibu

  • miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 10 mph, there was a sudden loss of power steering. The engine was turned off and restarted, and the vehicle was able to resume normally. The manufacturer issued a voluntary recall pertaining to the power steering failure however, the vehicle was ineligible due to the mileage exceeding 100,000. The manufacturer was made aware of the problem. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was unavailable.

- Freeman, VA, USA

problem #186

Sep 222010

Malibu

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns 2005 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while attempting to park, the power steering failed without warning. The contact mentioned that after turning the vehicle off and restarting, the power steering was operating as normal. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 60,000 and the current mileage was 81,000.

- Erie, PA, USA

problem #185

Apr 072006

Malibu

  • 20,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that when first starting the vehicle, the steering wheel would seize and there was a severe resistance in the steering wheel. The failure occurred on an intermittent basis. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they advised him that they were unable to diagnose the failure. A few months later the contact received notification of a manufacturers voluntary recall for vehicle with 100,000 miles or fewer. The contact stated that the vehicle was over the mileage limitation and when contacting the manufacturer, no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.

- Hornell, NY, USA

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