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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
11 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 1
Average Mileage:
77,330 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.

2008 Chevrolet Malibu steering problems

steering problem

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2008 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 14 of 22)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #175

Feb 062014

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 100,100 miles

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

I was driving my vehicle at 35mph when all of a sudden my steering wheel started to shake uncontrollably and the power steering was cutting in and out. Being a mother of 3 small children I feared for our lives! my car within the last 24 hrs now has no power steering at all! it was a nightmare for me to drive my vehicle with my 3 small children in the car to get to a mechanic. I decided to do some research on the internet and have found millions of complaints about the same problem!!! why hasn't GM done anything about this problem"??? do they not care about the people driving their vehicles" I will never drive a GM again for this reason. I can't take the responsibility of knowing there is such an awful problem that exists with these vehicles that I can get my family or someone else's loved one very seriously hurt!!! wake up GM!!! notify the americans about this problem!! make it a recall!!! shame on you!!!

- Center Moriches, NY, USA

problem #174

Jan 232014

Malibu

  • 167,866 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving approximately 3 mph and making a left turn the power steering suddenly malfunctioned making the steering wheel difficult to turn. The contact turned the vehicle off and then restarted it and the steering defect was corrected. Throughout the day she restarted the vehicle and the power steering failed to function normally. The contact indicated the failure was diagnosed and repaired by the dealer. The contact was informed that the steering column was replaced which corrected the defect. The manufacturer was notified and no solution was offered. The failure mileage was 167,866.

- Talking Rock, GA, USA

problem #173

Jan 302014

Malibu

  • 21,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that when turning, the turn indicator switch automatically activated but failed to automatically disengage when the steering wheel returned to the normal position. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 21000.

- New Orleans, LA, USA

problem #172

May 012013

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 70,000 miles

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

Having trouble with the steering, jerking, shaking while driving, last year ice cause the car to slide off road and the steering locked up causing a crash without injury. I have called the main Chevrolet branch and the said they would contact our local dealership to have them order the parts. (their is a recall) that has been months no one has called us. We have checked up on the part and the dealers ship tells us that they will call us when part is in. Its been almost a 6 months. I am basically sick of paying for a unsafe car we cannot drive.

- Morgantown, WV, USA

problem #171

Nov 192013

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 98,000 miles
I was driving home from work at about 6 pm when my power steering went out and caused my steering wheel to turn by itself. When the steering wheel turned by itself I lost control of the vehicle and almost crashed into a stop sign and a curb in the incoming traffic lane. When I purchased the car I was so excited, it was my first car and I thought it was decent, I was wrong. Since the power steering has gone out I have not drove my car I am scared to, this is a safety issue I was just lucky to have not been on the highway at the time of the incident. The power steering is all electrical, so everything has to be replaced.

- Parma, OH, USA

problem #170

Dec 232013

Malibu

  • 66,000 miles
Was going around a corner after a red light steering locked up and got a message power steering problem with another message cant remember what it said. It looks like im not the only one. I do believe this is a safety issue and Chevrolet should fix it....updated 01-10-14 the consumer stated she found her extended warranty on the power steering. Updated 01/13/14

- Minnetoka, MN, USA

problem #169

Nov 292012

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 65,500 miles

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

First time it happen sitting at a red light and the steering wheel jerked out of my hands and a message came a crossed the dash reading power steering it was very hard to steer but I managed to get it off the road turned the car off and let it sit then started the back up and it was working again.it has happen 4 more times since the first time and I was moving those times and you can not steer the car it is very difficult to handle when the power steering stops working I took it back to the dealer ship where I bought it from they told me it was covered on a recall but they had to take it to a GM dealer to have it fixed. Now the GM dealer said it is not covered. But I have found the same problem with alot of Chevy owners with the same year & make & model as mine it is a big safety issue and I have found were GM has sent out recall letters with extended coverage on the power steering for up to 100,000 miles.they know it exist why are they picking and choosing which ones to fix and not to fix. I am afraid to drive it not only put my family in it.they should be held accountable for there product.

- Loves Park, IL, USA

problem #168

Dec 092013

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 72,000 miles
My 2008 Chevy Malibu ltz 4 cylinder lost complete power to the power steering today while driving 10 mph. Luckily I'm young and strong and was able to turn the car into a parking lot and safely exit it. I saw that this model does not have power steering fluid so now I need to contact the dealer and fix this problem as this was very scary. I saw that many many others have had this problem so a recall needs to be made.

- Carol Stream, IL, USA

problem #167

Oct 062013

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 87,000 miles
After turning the car on while still in park, the wheel would jerk from left to right by itself. Also occurred while driving at both low and high speeds. The power steering was failing without warning! it was particularly frightening at high speeds and would happen with no warning. This happened multiple times on many different occasions before the chime sounded and the words power steering appeared on my dash information. After bringing the car to the dealership they fixed it citing the problem as "code 0475 - power steering motor shorted internally, replaced power steering motor and set up new module". the total cost was $847.87. After doing further research I found out that many 2008 Chevrolet Malibu had been recalled for the same exact issue. In two different recall letters released by GM it was stated "2008 model year Chevrolet Malibu...equipped with electric power steering, may have a condition where there is a loss of power steering assist". the letter further stated "for 2008 model year vehicles, dealers will replace the power steering motor control module". which is exactly what needed to be replaced on my vehicle as per my dealership receipt. The letter said "if this condition occurs on your 2008 model year Chevrolet Malibu vehicle within 10 years of the date your vehicle was originally placed in service or 100,000 miles, the condition will be repaired for you at no charge". I contacted GM with my information attempting to be reimbursed. After multiple phone calls and everyone telling me my VIN # was not included in the recall and there was nothing they could do I finally gave up. To add insult to injury Chevrolet sent me a letter stating "please accept this letter worth up to $100 towards your next maintenance service or repair on your 2008 Chevrolet Malibu". I will never buy another car from GM and will spread the word about this issue.

- Howell, NJ, USA

problem #166

Oct 012012

Malibu

  • 92,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the power steering assist intermittently failed without warning. In addition, the door locks for all four doors failed to engage when using the key fob remote. Also, when shifting the vehicle into park the doors failed to unlock. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 92,000.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #165

Nov 032013

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 76,277 miles

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

I was driving on Sunday 11-03-2013 and was pulling out of a driveway onto a busy street when, all of a sudden I had no power steering and the words power steering appeared on my dashboard. It took 2 men to help steer the car out of the middle of the road. I had the car towed to the Chevrolet dealer where I bought this car, paul masse Chevrolet, East providence ri. I told them I had received a letter from Chevrolet dated June 2012 addressing this problem, but the letter stated if you do not have this problem, you should not bring the car in for replacement part. The dealer looked at the car and stated the problem was with the torque sensor not the electrical input signal mentioned in the letter, therefore, the repair would be greater than $900. They told me if the module goes out then bring it back and that would be covered. No one seems to care that this is a safety hazard because the car does not have steering with no warning and anyone could get hit or hit me as I am stuck in the middle of some busy street. The dealer would not replace the module mentioned because they said Chevrolet would not reimburse them. I hope you can look into this because looking at complaints on your site there are over 80 complaints regarding this very problem. I also learned Canada recalled these Malibu's for this very same reason. I spoke to someone at your office and she gave me a confirmation # 10551103 however I felt she could not understand my situation and I felt the need to explain it in writing. I hope someone can look into this because it is a safety issue to abruptly loose the ability to control the steering.[xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Somerset, MA, USA

problem #164

Nov 032013

Malibu 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 76,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving about 5 mph, the power steering failed without warning. The vehicle was towed to a dealer for inspection and it was repaired. The contact was advised that the steering column needed to be replaced and the torque and steering sensor had to be recalibrated. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 76000...updated 12-26-13 the consumer stated while turning out of a driveway, onto a busy street a message appeared on the dashboard that read power steering. It took two men to push the vehicle out of the middle of the road.

- Somerset, MA, USA

problem #163

Apr 282012

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 74,000 miles
While test driving the vehicle on April 28, 2012, I was sitting still on an incline and the wheel began to turn back and forth on its on. The car lot assured me it was motor mounts, an easy fix, and I bought the car. Within a month or two, the steering became increasingly worse. Today, November 5, 2013, I was driving the vehicle and without warning, the power steering went out on the freeway and I am a petite woman(weighing in at around 110 lbs.) so it was very hard for me to regain control of the vehicle. The ending cost for my vehicle is around 15,000 and it has only been a year and a half since the time I purchased it. I can't afford to replace the entire steering column.

- Little Rock, AR, USA

problem #162

Nov 022013

Malibu

  • 115,508 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving 30 mph, the power steering failed without warning. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or dealer for diagnosis. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 115,508.

- Louisburg, TN, USA

problem #161

Aug 012013

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 69,800 miles
Steering wheel shakes while car is idling and driving. Problem was intermittent. Power steering would fail while driving, pulling vehicle to the left.GM had recalled many 2008 Malibu vehicles for the same problem. Steering wheel warning light would emit. I checked with my local dealer and they said it was covered. Replaced defective part, problem solved. 2 weeks later received a bill for the repair, the bill stated it wasn't covered since my VIN didn't fall in the brackets of vins for repair.GM doesn't seem to want to do anything about it either. The dealer didn't contact me concerning the non coverage, just sent me a bill. This failure could have caused an accident as it would pull the car into oncoming traffic.this is a known problem and not sure why GM won't cover my vehicle.their attitude seems that since the VIN doesn't fall in the category, it's not their problem.

- Diller, NE, USA

problem #160

Oct 212013

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 136,194 miles
Car steering wheel shakes while in park also shakes uncontrollably while driving. Very hard to control vehicle while driving! power steering light comes on. This problem has been recalled in Canada. This problem is very unsafe and will cause a serious accident! please help! this needs to be recalled in the United States! took the car to dealer and said the problem is caused by the power steering motor being defaulted.

- Tulsa, OK, USA

problem #159

Aug 102013

Malibu

  • 110,000 miles
Driving on straight road and car suddenly pulled right onto the shoulder. It felt like the car lost its steering capacity. Tried to correct the steering onto the road and then car spun 180, then hit ditch. Car rolled over 100 ft. In air and landed on wheels. The front, nor side air bags deployed even when car struck the side on the ground. Canada has recalled 67,000 vehicles due to power steering motor control module defective. GM needs to recall these in the us before someone gets killed. (it almost killed us if we didn't have our seatbelts on!)

- La Junta, CO, USA

problem #158

Sep 062013

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 42,000 miles
I reported this problem in Nov of 2011, and Chevy fixed my car at no charge because it had under 12K miles. The problem has returned and now because it is no longer under warranty, I am expected to pay for a defect which is so severe that Canada has recalled 67K vehicles that have the exact same problem. www.autoblog.com/2012/10/03/GM-recalling-67K-Chevy-Malibu-Pontiac-G6-and-Saturn-aura-models/ the steering module that was installed on my car in Nov 2011 is just as defective as the original part that failed on my Malibu when it was made in 2008. There is no recall or recourse for owners of these vehicles in the usa, so we are forced to either trade in our car or pay hundreds of dollars to replace parts that Chevy knows is defective. Please help before someone gets killed driving these cars!

- Inglewood, CA, USA

problem #157

May 032013

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 35,000 miles
Like some of the other Malibu owners, my 2008 started shimmying while idling, and also sticking while driving. I took the car to a local shop and they had to replace the steering shaft, steering column assembly, and the ps module. They called GM to see if there was a recall issued, and there is none. My car has 37,000 miles on it; I should not have to be dealing with a steering issue at this point, especially to the tune of $1600! by all rights, GM should do the right thing and issue a recall on the steering system.

- Pottstown, PA, USA

problem #156

Dec 012012

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 42,000 miles
Steering wheel shakes back and forth uncontrollably 3/4 of the time while driving. It also does it when the vehicle is idle and in park. There has been numerous complaints about this issue. This is a safety issue and needs to be recalled immediately. Families lives are at stake. Many people have posted videos on youtube and have filed complaints about the problem. Here is an example www.youtube.com/watch?V=eoh5mq4X4cg GM needs to take care of its people considering the people took care of them a.K.a. "bailout".

- San Diego, CA, USA

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