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.
My 2005 Malibu started making a 'thumping' sound coming from the steering column when turning left or right. It seems to occur as the steering wheel returns to center. I have researched this enough to know that if it gets worse I probably will need to replace the steering column. I called GM customer service and told them that I considered this to be a very serious safety problem (based on my research of numerous vehicles with failed steering components) they were very sympathetic but totally unconcerned about the problem. I was told that they would not pay for any repairs because the vehicle was out of warranty. My car has just over 42,000 miles. I strongly believe that this is a safety related defect in the steering column.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that there was a popping noise in the steering when hitting a rough spot or bump in the road. The mechanic replaced the tie rods but that did not resolve the issue. A new steering unit was installed and this seemed to resolve the failure. The current and failure mileage was 20,000. Updated 12/22/10 the outer tie rod was replaced. Updated 12/30/10
I was driving at about 40mph and a warning "power steering "showed up on the drivers information center. The steering wheel became very hard to steer. I pulled over shut off the car and restarted it and everything worked fine. This has happened 2 other times under similar conditions.
Steering issues with the car since I bought it, brand new. Took it to a garage twice and was told that these particular cars were having electrical problems with the electronic steering. Today my power steering system failed as I was driving to work. I see numerous complaints about the same issue on the internet but still not recall.
I received a letter from Chevy about electric power steering loss on Chevy Malibu. The letter said that not to take to dealer unless you are experiencing problems. I wasn't until yesterday. While taking my children to school, there was loss of steering, it locked down, and power steering was displayed in the information center. I call Chevy and now they say it don't apply to me because my car is over 100,000 miles on it. This is a safety concern as after researching this problem online there are many reported cases of loss of steering but Chevy will not fix because of being over mileage. I thought with it possibly endangering the lives of people riding in the car that it would be fixed regardless. The steering locks down and the vehicle can not be controlled.
- Marble, NC, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
I have a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu and the electrical power steering went out on my car exactly one week after Chevrolet sent me a letter informing me of this exact problem. They are refusing to cover this repair because my car has 130,000 miles, although they are all highway miles because I work an hour away from my home and my car is only 5 years old. I am a loyal General Motors customer, despite the fact that I work for Ford Motor Company, and this is my third brand new General Motors car that I have purchased, my husband has as well purchased at least 10-15 brand new cars through General Motors. I am a very unhappy customer and I will no longer be purchasing any cars from your company in the future if this is how loyal customers are treated.
The driver owned a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 67 mph the steering wheel became very stiff resulting in a single car crash. The vehicle was destroyed. A police report was filed. The driver was injured. The vehicle was towed to an insurance company and she does not know if the vehicle was examined to determine the cause of failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 109,000.
My wife has a 2005 Chevy Malibu. She was driving it the other day and the power steering went out on it almost causing an accident. She got the car under control and pulled to the shoulder. When she turned the car off and restarted it the problem disappeared. This has happened again since the 1st incident, but now the car pulls to the left all of the time. I have researched this online and there seems to many complaints about the same issue with steering. Something needs to be done about this before someone gets killed.
The car began shaking at speeds over 55 and pulled a bit to the left. The car was parked and a couple of hours we returned to the car to find that the power steering was not working. Tried it this morning and the power steering is now working but with dash board warning light. This should be the same issue with the eps that the 2005 cobalts are being recalled for. They should extend the recall to all eps vehicles during those year including the 2005 Malibu.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu. While the contact was driving approximately 30 mph, a sudden loss of power steering occurred without warning. The vehicle was driven with difficulty turning the steering wheel. The failure occurred three different times. The vehicle was taken on two separate occasions to an independent mechanic for diagnosis. An unknown repair was performed on the vehicle. The failure continued after the first repair. The second inspection the technician informed that the failure was related to the power steering system with an estimated repair cost of $1,500. There had been no additional repairs at the time of the complaint. The failure mileage was 40,200.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving 60 mph the steering wheel locked when the speed decreased. The rack and pinion was replaced four times and the failure continued to occur. A crash nearly occurred on two occasions while driving. The contact stated that the vehicle was unsafe and could cause a crash to occur. The failure mileage was 150,000.
The power steering on the car-stopped working and the power steering light came on, on the dashboard. The car was very hard to steer. I have taken it to my mechanic and he says that he has seen many problems with steering problems on this GM model of car.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving at approximately 30 mph, the steering wheel became extremely stiff and the power steering warning light illuminated on the dashboard. The vehicle was pulled over and upon restart, the vehicle operated as normal for approximately one half mile before the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and was not examined for the cause of failure. The contact also stated that she was experiencing a recurring failure in which her front turn signal would not stop working and she would have to replace the bulbs approximately once a month. The failure and current mileages were 87,000. Updated 10/27/10.
My 2005 Chevy Malibu is having this very loud noise coming from the steering column. There is no where to put or check the power steering fluid. This is a piece of [xxx] car...I am scared that something is going to happen and it is not going to be pretty if the steering issues in Malibu are not resolved. I have seen a lot of complaints online about the steering in Chevy Malibu. With all the complaints on line, that should be enough to GM to call a recall..... this is dangerous and lives can be lost. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
2005 Chevy Malibu ls steering began to lock up on slow turns. There was no warning, just a sudden locking of the steering column. (it would not turn. Literally lock the steering wheel until additional speed could be maintained. The problem started intermittently 2 weeks ago & steadily worsened. Happening 10-12 times a day this week. Hit 2 curbs, nearly jumped one curb & nearly hit a car. We had to put the car in reverse to straighten the steering prior to completing the turn. Car has 85000 miles on it. Mechanic shop replaced rack/pinion steering & both front end rear tie rod rings. This defect is apparent on Malibu's according to the numerous complaints seen on the internet.
My son was driving my 2005 Chevy Malibu to work & the "power steering" light came on & was having troubles getting the car to turn corners. He called me; I told him to get fluid. Upon getting fluid & reading the manual, he discovered that it was an "electric" power steering & get to your GM dealer immediately. We did so & was told the power steering column was shorting out & needed replaced. There had been no recall on this for the Malibu but had for the Pontiac G6, cobalt & others. The dealership we went to replaced & I had to pay out of my pocket $644.86. I feel this should have been a recall & that the safety of my son driving at the time put his life in danger. I would like reimbursed by GM for this expense & a recall done so that other Malibu owners do have incur any injuries and/or expense for replacement. I am sending a letter to GM as well as a copy of the letter to NHTSA even though I am submitting an email complaint. Thank you for your attention in this matter.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Monroe, WA, USA