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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 22 of 36)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #289

Dec 012009

Malibu

  • 59,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 5 mph the contact stated that the steering wheel became stiff and she was unable to maneuver the vehicle. The engine light came on and there was also an alert that indicated a problem with the power steering. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or a mechanic to be repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 59,000.

- Middle River , MD, USA

problem #288

Nov 112010

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 9,225 miles
2004 Malibu purchased 04/05/04 steering column failure 01/10/05 9,225 miles replaced again 06/16/05 13,430 miles 01/30/06 intermittent shaft needed replacement but no "good parts available" finally replaced 08/24/06 24,636 miles rack & pinion steering gear 04/17/07 31,846 miles replaced intermediate steering shaft 09/14/09 54,841 miles replaced rack & pinion steering gear. Car now has 3rd rack gear. On 11/11/10 at 68,209 miles we were told it needs replacement of rack & pinion steering gear. It has only been 14 months and 13,368 miles since last time replaced.

- Hopkinsville, KY, USA

problem #287

Oct 222010

Malibu 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at lower speeds, he heard a thumping noise while making a turn. The vehicle was inspected and repaired three times by a local dealer. The current failure was within the rack and pinion component; the vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was unknown. Updtated 2/17/11 updated 11/30/2011

- Hopkinsville, KY, USA

problem #286

Nov 182010

Malibu

  • 135,000 miles

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

Traveling at 45 kph in heavy traffic, power steering warning light came on and power steering assist was lost making vehicle very, very difficult to steer. This is a safety issue and should result in a product recall. After vehicle was parked and ignition turned off and back on again, power steering resumed.

- Calgary, 00, USA

problem #285

Nov 192010

Malibu

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 30 mph, the steering wheel locked and the power steering warning indicator illuminated. The contact continued to turn the steering wheel with extreme difficulty. The vehicle was driven to the side of the road and the engine was turned off. When the engine restarted the steering wheel unlocked and functioned properly. A diagnostic test will be performed on the vehicle by an independent mechanic. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

- Wichita Falls , TX, USA

problem #284

Nov 122010

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 101,656 miles
We purchased the car in 2006. Its a 2004 Chevy Malibu. The first time we had a problem with the steering was about 4 years ago when we went to turn the wheel and the horn started honking. The dealer told us to bring it in and couldn't make it happen. It did it again and then they determined it was the steering column and replaced a part. The 2nd time it did it, the car/wrench light came on and the steering locked up and was making an odd noise. They stated they replaced steering component. I was driving the car just last week and all of a sudden my steering locked up, the car/wrench came on and my panel said steering. I am fearful to even drive the car or allow my daughter to drive it and have found thousands of the same issues on line. It gives you no warning and just goes out.

- Marysville, OH, USA

problem #283

Nov 062010

Malibu

  • miles

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

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. While the contact was driving approximately 25 mph, a sudden loss of power steering occurred without warning causing the vehicle to wander into the next lane. The contact was able to gain control and drive onto the side of the road. The engine was turned off and restarted. The vehicle resumed normally. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where they informed her that the steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was in the process of being repaired. The failure mileage and VIN were unavailable.

- Dickenson, AL, USA

problem #282

Oct 222010

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 99,954 miles
2004 Chevy Malibu power steering randomly goes out. Started at under 100,000 miles.

- Cambridge, MA, USA

problem #281

Feb 152010

Malibu

  • 6,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving 2 mph, the steering wheel suddenly locked. The contact turned the vehicle off and restarted it; it performed normally after. The failure was intermittent. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where it was replaced (repair details were not given). The failure mileage was approximately 6,000 and the current mileage was 7,730.

- San Dimas, CA, USA

problem #280

Oct 132010

Malibu

  • miles
2004 Chevy Malibu lt 74,000 miles. I have had problems with the remote start not working. The cruise will not work all the time, bearings in steering column, check gas cap and anti theft light. It also will not start unless I give it gas. And when I take it in they find nothing. Fuel pump has been replaced and that is not the problem. I did some research and found hundreds of people with the same complaints. There needs to be a recall same yr of cars all with the same issue something is not right.

- Ladysmith, WI, USA

problem #279

Oct 012010

Malibu

  • 44,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact was driving approximately 30 mph when the steering wheel locked without warning. The speed rate was reduced and the engine was turned off. The contact restarted the vehicle and after three attempts, the steering wheel reset independently. The vehicle resumed normal operation yet the failure recurred four separate times. The contact was in the process of taking the vehicle to the dealer for diagnosis. There was concern of the potential safety hazard involved with the failure. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was approximately 44,000.

- Bradenton, FL, USA

problem #278

Oct 062010

Malibu 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 136,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. While the contact was driving approximately between 55-60 mph, there was a complete loss of the power steering. The check engine and wrench symbol warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road. The engine was turned off and restarted. The contact resumed cautiously with a permanent loss of power steering. The contact discovered that there was a related defect associated with the NHTSA campaign id number 10V073000 (steering: Electric power assist system). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 136,000. The VIN was unavailable. Updated 05/04/11 updated 06/06/11

- Westwood, NJ, USA

problem #277

Jul 242010

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 85,000 miles
2004 Malibu has intermittent power steering failure. It goes out in the middle of a turn and almost make you wreck. Dealer says there is not problem. Comes and goes at will. Sometime turning the key off then back on fixes it but not always.

- Bluffdale, UT, USA

problem #276

Jan 142005

Malibu

  • 4,206 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that on several occasions, the power steering would suddenly fail and he was unable to steer or turn. The vehicle was able to be maneuvered to the side of the road with much difficulty. The power steering light would illuminate immediately after the failure. At times, he would turn the vehicle off and restart it which would remedy the problem temporarily. Most recently, the steering was unable to be reset by restarting and had to be towed. It was repaired under warranty three times. However, the failure continued. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer after the warranty expired and the contact paid for repairs at his expense. However, the failure continued to occur. The contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. The current mileage was approximately 55,000. The failure mileage was 4,206.

- Odebolt, IA, USA

problem #275

Sep 242010

Malibu

  • 143,264 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 30 mph, the power steering suddenly failed. The check engine light and the power steering light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact pulled and noticed that the steering wheel was difficult to turn. The contact turned the vehicle off and restarted it; the failure continued. The contact drove home. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 143,264 and the current mileage was 143,266.

- Detroit, MI, USA

problem #274

Sep 252010

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 38,154 miles
Power steering warning light comes on intermittently. Goes off after restart. Power steering unit replaced once under factory warranty.

- Jeannette, PA, USA

problem #273

Aug 042010

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 58,000 miles
My steering had gone in my 2004 Chevy Malibu 2 months ago. The column has been replaced 2 times now and is still not fixed. I am also being told that there are no steering columns left in my area. My car is a danger to everyone on a road including myself and I have no idea why Chevy hasn't recalled these.

- Lansdale , PA, USA

problem #272

Sep 032010

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 50,000 miles
My 2004 Malibu has a power steering problem. I took it in today to see about repair and it is going to cost almost $700 to fix. The power steering just stops working sometimes. It has been doing it for a while now. It is progressively getting worse. It somehow resets when you turn the car off and turn it back on sometimes. I started having problems with this when the vehicle had 50,000 miles on it. I now have 70,000 miles on it and it is to the point where it has to be fixed. I don't understand how it is not a recall situation knowing how important the power steering is on a vehicle. This situation comes after having to have the stereo replaced in the vehicle 3 times and now it is not working again. I am very disappointed in GM for not taking care of either of these problems satisfactorily.

- Covington, IN, USA

problem #271

Aug 102010

Malibu 6-cyl

  • miles
The power steering alarm and the service engine sign in the dashboard of my 2004 Chevrolet Malibu ls has been going off every time I turn on the car. This has been happening for 3 weeks now. My brothers are having the same issue with their 2005 and 2007 Chevrolet cars. However, since I did not get a recall notice, my dealer wants to charge me an upwards of $150 to just look at the issue I am being told that the 2004 Malibu's are not on the recall list, hence I have to pay for the diagnostics. I am scared of the safety of driving my car to and from work but I am left with no choice but to take a chance and use my car with the alarm going off. I cannot afford the price the dealership is wanting to charge me, especially if it is a known issue within the Chevrolet models. Please, please, please... ask the dealers to fix this issue with Chevrolet cars before someone gets hurt.

- Addison, IL, USA

problem #270

Aug 302010

Malibu

  • 20,000 miles
2004 Chevy Malibu "electric steering" repeated failure of the steering unit and steering column. Steering wheel clunks and becomes loose. Chevy fixed it twice or so but now says its up to me. I expect the steering assy of any car to be bullet proof and not have safety problems.

- Ramona, CA, USA

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