2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx complaints

2005 MALIBU MAXX, STARTER ASSEMBLY: SOMETIMES DIFFICULT TO START, ESPECIALLY AFTER RUNNING THE AIR CONDITIONER.PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO, OCCURRED SINCE THEN ABOUT 40 TO 50 TIMES. I RETIRED 18 MONTHS AGO AND DO NOT DRIVE AS MUCH NOW THAN I DI WHILE WORKING. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS DESPITE NEW BATTERY AND NOT RUNNING CONCURRENTLY THE FOLLOWING:AIR CONDITIONER DISK PLAYER, WINDSHIELD WIPERS,LIGHTS. ALL THE SYSTEMS ALWAYS CHECKED OUT OK, NO PROBLEM WAS DETECTED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TURN SIGNAL BULB FAILED. ONE WEEK LATER, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TURN SIGNAL BULB ALSO FAILED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE CAUSED THE LIGHT HOUSING ASSEMBLY TO MELT. THE ESTIMATED COST FOR REPAIR WAS $1,000. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 78,000.

DRIVER OF A 2005 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX SUDDENLY LOST ALL ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE WITHOUT WARNING MAKING THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE DEFECT IS INTERMITTENT AND IS SOMETIMES ACCOMPANIED BY A WARNING CHIME BUT WITHOUT ANY MALFUNCTION INDICATOR ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PARKING LIGHT HAD BLOWN OUT. SHE ALSO FOUND THAT THE FRONT PARKING LIGHTS WERE MELTED DUE TO THE LIGHT BULBS. THE BULB WAS REPLACED WITH A SYLVANIA BULB. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LIGHT HAD A LARGE HOLE IN THE ORANGE AREA OF THE FIXTURE. THE ENTIRE FRONT LIGHTING ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF OVER $100. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 60,000. THE ORIGINAL BULB MELTED THE ORANGE COVER INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY FOR THE PARKING LIGHTS. HOT PLASTIC DRIPPED ON THE BULB AND BURNED A HOLE IN THE BULB. UPDATED 06/22/09.*JB

VEHICLE MADE A LOUD POP NOISE. STEERING SHAFT WAS REPLACED AT 35,000 MILES DUE TO A DEFECTIVE STEERING SHAFT. VEHICLE IS NOW AT 70,000 MILES AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. I CONTACTED CHEVY AND WAS ISSUED A CASE NUMBER. THEY ADVISED ME A CHEVY DEALER DIAGNOSTIC WAS REQUIRED. CHEVY DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED STEERING SHAFT AGAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, HOWEVER HEAD OFFICE DENIED MY REQUEST. A STEERING SHAFT ALMOST NEVER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED IN A VEHICLE, SINCE THE TIME OF MY REPLACEMENT AT 35,000 MILES ALTERATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THEIR REPLACEMENTS. THIS WOULD INDICATE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. *TR

I HAVE A 05 MALIBU MAXX MY TURN SIGNAL HAVE MELTED I SEE MANY COMPLAINTS IS THIS A RECALL? *TR

2005 CHEVY MALIBU, 95000 MILES. FOR 60000 MILES HAVE HAD LIMITED IF ANY POWER STEERING. IT GENERALLY GOES OUT RIGHT AWAY WHEN OUTSIDE TEMP IS ABOVE 60 DEGREES. OTHERWISE WITHIN 20 MILES OF DRIVING IT GOES OUT. WHEN IT GOES OUT I AM USUALLY GOING AROUND A CORNER OR CLOVERLEAF. WHEN POWER STEERING GOES OUT STEERING BECOMES EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN AND USUALLY TRIES TO GO BACK TO A FORWARD DIRECTION. NOT CONVENIENT WHEN TRYING TO TURN. MY WIFE IT TOTALLY UNABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR, FOR IT WOULD LEAD TO A CRASH. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE, AFTER INVESTIGATING THIS PROBLEM ONLINE, THAT CHEVY HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A HUGE ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. THE COUPLE OF TIME I HAVE TAKEN IT INTO A CHEVY DEALER I WAS TOLD THERE IS NO WARRANTY ON THIS CAR. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT IN THERE WAS ONLY 38,000 MILES ON THE CAR. NEEDLESS TO SAY CHEVY HAS LOST A CUSTOMER. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT STARTED AROUND THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR 2007. *TR

WHEN THE CAR WAS NEW, IT SHOOK WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM BY SMOOTHING THE BRAKE PADS. A FEW MONTHS AGO, THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AT SPEEDS ABOVE 35 MPH. THIS PROBLEM HAS GRADUALLY BECOME WORSE AND THE CAR NOW SHAKES EXCESSIVELY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT SPEEDS AT OR ABOVE 55 MPH, MAKING DRIVING IN ANYTHING BUT A STRAIGHT LINE IMPOSSIBLE. STOPPING DISTANCE HAS ALSO SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED. I NO LONGER CONSIDER THE CAR SAFE FOR USE AT SPEEDS ABOVE 55 MPH. *TR

THE CONNECTING FOUNDATION FOR THE POWER DRIVERS SEAT BROKE LOOSE AT THE WELD POINT. THE DRIVERS SEAT IS NOT PROPERLY GROUNDED TO THE VEHICLE AND IT MOVES UP AND DOWN WHILE I AM DRIVING. I WROTE THE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY DECLINED MY REQUEST TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE REPAIR. *TR

I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE STARTER TURNING OVER EVEN WHEN THE CAR STARTS AND SOMETIMES IT STILL WONT START. THE DEALER SAYS IT NORMAL AND AFTER IT GETS MILES ON IT THEN IT WILL STOP... IT NOW HAS 52,000 MILES ON IT AND STILL DOES IT. I ALSO HAVE HAD TO HAVE IT IN THE SHOP EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS TO HAVE IT LUBED IN THE FRONT AXLE WHICH I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER MECHANICS AND THEY STATED THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE NEEDING IT EVER FEW MONTHS, IF I DON'T DO IT THEN EVERYTIME I TURN LEFT OR RIGHT THERE IS THIS HORRIBLE POPPING SOUND FROM THE FRONT END. I ALSO AM HAVING WIRING TROUBLE WITH THE CAR, THE FRONT BLINKER WONT WORK NO MATTER HOW MANY LIGHT BULBS I PUT IN IT, IT WONT WORK AND EVEN KEEPS MELTING THE PLASTIC ON THE BULB ITSELF. *TR

STEERING RACK FAILURE DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION BY DESIGN. HAVE NOT HAD ACTUAL FAILURE, BUT SYMPTOMS OF STEERING RACK FAILURE PRESENT W/IN ONE YEAR OF REPLACEMENT. FAILURE OF STEERING RACK COULD RESULT IN STEERING FAILURE, WHICH WOULD LIKELY RESULT IN A CRASH. *TR

AMBER LENS ON TURN SIGNALS AND DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS HAS MELTED AND BURNED DOWN ONTO BULB. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT TURN SIGNALS. *TR

BALL JOINT WORN OUT IN VEHICLE AT LITTLE OVER 50K MILES--HAD TO REPLACE LOWER BALL JOINT AND CONTROL ARM. VERY LIGHT AND SMALL IN SIZE FOR SUCH A POWERFUL V6 FWD---I SUSPECT NOT HEAVY ENOUGH FOR THIS VEHICLE--HAVE FOUND MANY OTHERS WITH SAME PROBLEM. LUCKY THAT AS A FORMER SERVICE MGR. I RECOGNIZED STEERING PROBLEM OR COULD HAVE BEEN AN UNCONTROLLED CRASH POSSIBLE---CALLED GM---THEY SAID NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR---I HAVE HAD SEVERAL OTHER GM PRODUCTS AND ALL BALL JOINTS LASTED ABOUT 100K MILES. *TR

ON A COLD (-20 C) WINTER MORNING I FOUND I COULD NOT STEER THE CAR LEFT MORE THAN 10 DEGREES. I HUNG FROM THE WHEEL AND IT SIMPLY WOULD NOT TURN FURTHER. I DROVE IT THE SHORT DISTANCE TO MY MECHANIC WHO PUT IT IN HIS SHOP TO WARM UP. AFTER IT WAS WARMED UP THE CAR TURNED JUST FINE, BUT THEY SENT IT TO A DEALER JUST IN CASE. IT TURNED OUT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THEY REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN. I HAVE NOT HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE. ANOTHER MECHANIC FRIEND TOLD ME I SHOULD NOT HANG ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN ENTERING OR LEAVING THE VEHICLE AS DAMAGE MAY RESULT TO THE POWER STEERING. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR IN A SCHOOL ZONE AT ABOUT 20MPH AND I STARTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, ABOUT MIDWAY THROUGH THE TURN MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON MY CAR AND IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. BECAUSE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A LEFT TURN GOING ACROSS TRAFFIC WHEN THIS HAPPENED I DRIFTED IN TO ON COMING TRAFFIC. I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT IF I OR THE OTHER DRIVES INVOLVED HAD BEEN GOING MORE THEN 20 MPH THAT THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A HEAD ON ACCIDENT. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO A NUMBER OF LOCAL SHOPS AND I HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP BUT NOONE SEAMS TO BE ABLE TO PINPOINT THE PROBLEM. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS ON THE CAR AS OF YET AND I AM CURRENTLY NOT DRIVING THE CAR BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED EVERYTIME I HAVE TRIED TO DRIVE THE CAR SINCE THIS HAS HAPPENED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX . WHEN DRIVING LOW SPEEDS RANGING FROM 0 TO 10MPH THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. WHEN HE MADE A LEFT AND RIGHT TURN OR DROVE IN REVERSE THE NOISE WAS PRESENT. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO DIAGNOSIS THE FAILURE AND PERFORM A POSSIBLE REPAIR. AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED FOR THE END OF DECEMBER 2008. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

MY 2005 MALIBU MAXX LT HAS HAD A RECURRING PROBLEM BESIDES THE "ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILURE" WHICH HAS SO FAR NOT FAILED AGAIN (DID TWICE ONCE WHEN BRAND NEW, AND AGAIN AT ABOUT 20,000 KM. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 45,000 KM ON IT NOW! WE LIVE IN WINNIPEG WHERE WINTER TEMPERATURES OFTEN ARE BELOW FREEZING FROM MID NOVEMBER TO MID APRIL. TODAY IT IS -25 C WITH WINDCHILL OF -44 C. EVERY WINTER WE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.....THE IGNITION KEY WILL NOT COME OUT OF ITS SLOT...TRY WIGGLING IT AND AT THE SAME TIME WIGGLING THE SHIFT LEVER IN PARK....SOMETIMES IT WORKS SOMETIMES NOT. THE GM DEALER (VICKARS COMMUNITY CHEVROLET) WHERE WE GO FOR SERVICE HAS TRIED TO FIX IT TWICE, BUT IT ALWAYS RECURS WHEN IT IS VERY COLD. WE HAVE HAD TO REMOVE THE "REMOTE DOOR UNLOCK AND LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AT TIMES. THIS IS NOT A GOOD THING IN THE CANADIAN CITY WITH THE HIGHEST CAR THEFT RATE! WE THINK IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE ANTI-THEFT PASS LOCK SYSTEM. BY THE WAY ALL CARS IN MANITOBA MUST HAVE AN APPROVED ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM TO BE INSURED OR REGISTERED. THE MANITOBA PUBLIC INSURANCE CORP. DOES APPROVE THE FACTORY SYSTEM ON THE MALIBU MAXX. IT IS JUST TOO FINICKY AND INCONVENIENT. BUT AT LEAST WE WERE NOT FORCED TO PUT IN A "THIRD PARTY" FOB WHICH MANY PEOPLE HAVE FOUND CAUSES ALL KINDS OF OTHER PROBLEMS ESPECIALLY WITH "COMMAND START" SYSTEMS (MALIBU HAS A FACTORY COMMAND START.) WONDER IF OTHERS HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEM?? *TR

TURN SIGNAL & 4-WAY FLASHER OPERATION, COMPLETE FAILURE, INTERMITTENT. HOT, COLD, KEY/ENGINE/HEADLAMPS ON/OFF. DRL REMAINS FUNCTIONAL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS, THE CONTACT HEARD A HISSING NOISE EACH TIME THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. ON A SEPARATE OCASSION, WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 65 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE AND REACH A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM PUMP FAILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,239.

CLUNK, KNOCK OR RATTLE NOISE FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING OR TURNING OVER BUMPS AT LOW SPEEDS. DEALER FIXED CLUNK. THE CLUNK CAME BACK. DEALER DID NOT MENTION WHAT PARTS WERE REPLACED OR FIXED. *TR

LEARNED OF A POWER STEERING SERVICE NOTICE AFTER THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE ENTERING TRAFFIC. GM AUTHORIZED THE REPAIR AND THE DEALER FAILED TO COMPLETELY REPAIR THE STEERING OR OTHER ISSUE THAT WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FAILED STEERING. THE DEALER DID NOT INFORM ME THAT THE CAR WAS NOT COMPLETELY REPAIRED. THE STEERING NOW ALTERNATES BETWEEN TOO MUCH PLAY OR PARTIAL FAILURE WHEN TURNING. I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT GM DID NOT WANT TO COMPLETELY REPAIR THE POWER STEERING. THE STEERING IS WORSE SINCE THE REPAIR. AT LEAST BEFORE I ONLY LOST IT TWICE BUT WHEN IT WORKED IT WORKED FINE. NOW I PARTIALLY LOSE STEERING EVERY LEFT HAND TURN AND RIGHT TURNS ALTERNATE WITH A REAL LOT OF PLAY AND ALMOST NORMAL. DRIVING STRAIGHT THE CAR PULLS TO THE RIGHT. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE TURNING LEFT INTO TRAFFIC. THE LED READ OUT SAID "POWER STEERING". TURNED CAR OFF. SEARCHED INTERNET AND FOUND A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE CAR #07126. CALLED GM AND ASKED WHY I WASN'T INFORMED OF THIS BULLETIN SINCE I COMPLAINED OF SIMILAR BUT LESS INTENSE OCCURRENCES SINCE PURCHASE. *TR

I OWN A 2005 MALIBU MAXX AND AFTER ONE YEAR OLD IT BEGAN MAKING CLUNKING NOISES IN THE FRONT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY HAD TO REPLACE A PART OF THE STEERING SHAFT. THEY DID WHAT THEY DID AND THE NOISE WAS GONE. THEY ALSO REPLACED STRUTS. A FEW MONTHS LATER IT DID IT AGAIN. THIS TIME THEY REPLACED TIE ROD ENDS. BY THIS TIME MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THEN 2 MONTHS LATER IT DID IT AGAIN! THEY LUBED SOMETHING AND NOW IT HAS BEEN 8 MONTHS AND IT HAS NOT RETURNED YET. NOW MY ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND I KEEP GETTING A MESSAGE TO CHECK MY GAS CAP. I CHECK IT AND NOTHING IS WRONG. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHENEVER THE CONTACT TURNS THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION, HE HEARS A CLUNKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 40,050.

UNDER WARRANTY MY 2005 MALIBU MAXX DEVELOPED A CLUNKING NOISE THAT YOU ALSO FEEL IN THE STEERING. MOSTLY TURNING LEFT. GOING FORWARD OR REVERSE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE STEERING GEAR AND IT FIXED THE PROBLEM. NOT A SOUND TURNING LEFT ,RIGHT OR WHATEVER. I WAS VERY SATISFIED BUT 10 MONTHS AND 12,500 MILES LATER GUESS WHAT ! IT'S BAAACK ! INCLUDE ME IN THE LIST ! *TR

2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THUMPING NOISE FROM FIREWALL AREA WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL AT LOW SPEEDS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHEN THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AT 65 MPH, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE REAR ROTORS WERE RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR THE FAILURE SEVERAL DIFFERENT TIMES, BUT IT STILL PERSISTS. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,500. UPDATED 09/10/08 *BF UPDATED 09/15/08*JB

2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX - RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY FAILURE AT 37,000 MILES (JUST BEYOND WARRANTY). INTERNET SEARCH REVEALS SEVERAL DOZEN SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, AND SOLUTIONS DO NOT LAST VERY LONG. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THE "POWER STEERING" GOES OUT. GENERALLY RIGHT AWAY OR AFTER 30 MINUTES OF DRIVING. PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR 25000+ MILES. MY MECHANIC CLAIMS THE FIX IS IN THE STEERING COLUMN. CHEVROLET WANTS $200.00 TO "LOOK" AT THE PROBLEM AND WE WILL GO FROM THERE. I HAVE NOT HAD IT FIXED AS OF YET BECAUSE I AM NOT MADE OF MONEY. I AM THE ONLY ONE IN MY FAMILY THAT IS PHYSICALLY ABLE TO STEER THE CAR WHEN IT GOES OUT. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. IT DOES GO OUT ON THE HI=WAY AS WELL AS SIDE STREETS. THERE IS NO RHYME OR REASON TO THE FREQUENCY. *TR

WE OWN A 2005 MALIBUMAX, RECENTLY THE RIGHT FRONT TURN SIGNAL BULB DIED SO I REPLACED IT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OWNERS MANUAL. WHEN I OPENED THE LIGHTING UNIT TO REMOVE THE BULB I FOUND THE BULB HAD MELTED THE AMBER PLASTIC ENCLOSURE THAT SURROUNDS THE BULB. I THOUGHT THIS WAS ODD HOWEVER I THOUGHT MAYBE THE BULB HAS SHORTED OUT AND BURNED SINCE THE GLASS WAS SHATTERED. I THAN CHECKED THE RIGHT FRONT TURN SIGNAL WHICH WAS FUNCTIONING, I FOUND THAT THE BULB HAD MELTED THE AMBER ENCLOSURE AS WELL. THIS SEEMS LIKE A DEFECTIVE DESIGN THAT COULD CAUSE A FIRE. *TR

BOUGHT OUR 2005 MALIBU MAXX IN NOVEMBER OF 2006. A COUPLE MONTHS LATER WE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE POWER STEERING ASSIST. RECEIVED THE LETTER THAT IF THE PROBLEM WAS OCCURRING WITH OUR VEHICLE TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, OUR CAR WAS AND IS EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM AND SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT THE CAR WAS DOING EXACTLY LIKE THE LETTER STATED, SO THEY TOOK THE VEHICLE AND CALLED ME WITHIN THE HOUR SAYING THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. CALLED GM AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING UNLESS THE CAR WAS PRODUCING A DUPLICATE CODE SO THEY COULDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. THE POWER ASSIST HAS GONE OUT ON MY NUMEROUS TIMES AND THIS IS OUR ONLY VEHICLE. NO ONE WILL REPLACE THE PART OR FIX THE PROBLEM SO I AM STILL HAVING THE PROBLEM. IT HAS DONE IT SO MUCH I LOST COUNT. *TR

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING MY 2005 MALIBU MAXX, A CLUNK DEVELOPED IN THE FRONT END WHEN TURNING. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT IN, THEY REPLACED THE GEAR BOX. THE SECOND TIME I TOOK IT IN THEY REPLACE THE RACK & PINION STEERING. NOW IT HAS DEVELOPED A THIRD TIME. I WILL BE TAKING IT IN AGAIN. AFTER IT IS FIXED THIS TIME I AM SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING TRADING IT IN. I BOUGHT A NEW CAR TO DRIVE, NOT TO SPEND MY TIME TAKING IT BACK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT FIXED. *TR

I BOUGHT MY CAR IN 2006. IT IS A 2005 MALIBU MAXX. THE FIRST WEEK THAT I BOUGHT IT I HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE REPAIRS MADE ON THE FRONT END. I WAS TOLD THE STRUTS AND CV JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FINE...IT WAS STILL UNDER MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. AFTER A FEW MONTHS, ANOTHER SOUND FROM UNDERNEATH THE FRONT END. THIS TIME I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY. THEY REPLACED THAT AGAIN UNDER WARRANTY. THEN ONE YEAR LATER I RETURNED DUE TO MORE NOISES COMING FROM THE FRONT END. THIS TIME...NO WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM IN THE STEERING BUT THEY WOULD COVER IT SINCE IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. ALSO THEY TOLD ME A TIE ROD END WAS ABOUT TO SNAP SO THEY REPLACED IT. I HAD TO PAY. NOW, ONLY A FEW MONTHS AFTER THAT, THE NOISE IN THE STEERING IS BACK AGAIN. WILL THIS EVER END????? *TR

REPLACE A C/S L/F PARKING LAMP BURNED AND MELTED L/F HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY B C/S R/F PARKING LAMP BURNED AND MELTED R/F HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY. *TR

2005 CHEVY MALIBU ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE. CONSUMER STATES THAT GM STATED NOT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN UNLESS YOUR VEHICLE HAS ALREADY EXPERIENCED THIS FAILURE. *KB THE LETTER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL INPUT SIGNALS WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY. IF THE POWER STEERING ASSIST IS LOST, A CHIME WILL BE HEARD AND THE DIC WILL DISPLAY A POWER STEERING WARNING MESSAGE. *JB

I PURCHASED MY 2005 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX LS AS A "PROGRAM CAR" THINKING IT WAS THE NEXT BEST THING TO A NEW CAR. I GUESS I WAS WRONG. SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN APRIL 2006 I HAVE HAD CONSISTENT TROUBLE WITH MY FRONT END. I HAVE HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER FOR WARRANTY REPAIRS FOUR TIMES! NOW AT 50,500 MILES MY FRONT END IS ACTING UP AGAIN. THE LAST TIME I HAD MY REPAIRS DONE I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND CALLED GMAC AND ASKED FOR A REPURCHASE. GMAC CONTACTED MY DEALER AND RETURNED A CALL TO ME STATING THAT I SHOULD TRY ANOTHER DEALER THEY COULD NOT GET ANYWHERE WITH MY CURRENT DEALER. I WAS NOT SURPRISED AFTER BEING TOLD BY THE SHOP LEADER THAT"HIS WIFE'S CAR DID THE SAME THING AND THAT THE BEST THING I COULD DO IS DRIVE IT TILL ITS PAID FOR! I HAVE HAD IT WITH THIS CAR AND THE SERVICE MY LOCAL DEALER . I LOVE GMAC AND I WISH THEY WOULD BE MORE AGGRESSIVE AT DEALING WITH BAD DEALERSHIPS. MY DEALERSHIP MADE ME FEEL STUPID AND LIKE I WAS BOTHERING THEM. I AM STILL PAYING ON MY MALIBU BUT AM LOOKING TO TRADE BUT I AM SO SCARED THAT I WILL JUST GAIN A WHOLE NEW PROBLEM FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE...WHAT DO I DO? *TR

2005 CHEVY MALIBU HEADLIGHT OVER HEATING. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FRONT COVER OF THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS MELT. WHEN THE COVER DRIPS ONTO THE LIGHT BULB IT PUTS A HOLE IN THE BULB. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE PLASTIC COVERINGS WERE DISCOLORED ABOVE THE BULB DUE TO EXTREME HEAT WHICH WAS AN OBVIOUS DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND /OR IMPROPER BULB. NOT ONLY DID THE HEADLIGHTS FAIL, BUT THE RIGHT FRONT PARK AND SIGNAL LIGHT HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. *JB

2005 MALIBU MAXX AT 35,504 MILES. THUMPING NOISE FROM STEERING AND STEERING REQUIRED MORE EFFORT. DEALER REPLACED INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT PER CHEV. BULLETIN #06-02-32-007. COST WOULD HAVE BEEN $174 BUT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

LOUD "CLUNKING" SOUND IN STEERING COLUMN AND LOSS OF POWER ASSISTED STEERING WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIR 5 TIMES. STEERING COLUMN HAS BEEN REPLACED AND ELECTRIC STEERING GEAR. STILL GET A LOUD "CLUNK" WHEN STEERING AS WELL AS LOSS OF POWER ASSIST. CAR PULLS TO THE RIGHT AND I HAVE TO CONSTANTLY STEER LEFT TO STAY STRAIGHT. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THE STEERING IS ALIGNED AND THAT THEY CAN NO LONGER WORK ON THE VEHICLE, EXCEPT TO GREASE THE STEERING COLUMN. *TR

AFTER THE FIRST 200 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, THE CAR HAD FRONT ROTOR PROBLEMS. THE DEALER TRIED TO FIX IT 2 TIMES BY TURNING THE ROTORS, ONLY TO RETURN IN LESS THAN 2,000 MILES EACH TIME. THEY FINALLY CHANGED OUT THE ROTORS FOR BRAND NEW ONES AFTER I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER OWNER AND MANAGEMENT ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE SECOND ISSUE WAS LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. THIS WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AT THE FUSE BOX, WHICH I TOOK IT UPON MYSELF TO REPAIR AND THE PROBLEM NEVER RETURNED. THE THIRD PROBLEM STARTED IN JANUARY 2007, JUST ONE AND A HALF YEARS OF OWNING THE CAR. STEERING ASSEMBLY NOISES IDENTICAL TO ALL PREVIOUS REPORTS WAS CORRECTED BY A RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT. IN JULY 2007 (JUST 6 MONTHS LATER) IT WAS CHANGED AGAIN. NOW IN OCTOBER (3 MONTHS LATER) IT IS SCHEDULED TO RETURN TO THE DEALER FOR YET ANOTHER REPLACEMENT, MAKING THIS THE 4TH RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY TO DATE (INCLUDING THE ORIGINAL). THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE FOR A VEHICLE OF THIS PRICE RANGE... AND THE ONLY SOLUTION TO DATE IS TO CONTINUE TO CHANGE OUT THE ASSEMBLY. *TR

I JUST PURCHASED A 2005 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX LS AND IM HAVING INTERMITTENT STARTING PROBLEMS. IT APPEARS TO HAPPEN MORE WHEN I'VE BEEN DRIVING WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON AND I STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CAR WILL CRANK FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME LIKE ITS GOING TO START BUT WILL NOT START INITIALLY. AFTER A WHILE IT DOES START AND THEN APPEARS TO BE NORMAL. I'VE CHECKED THE STARTER, ALTERNATOR, AND THE BATTERY ALL CHECKS OUT GOOD. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT'S FIVE AND SEVEN YEAR OLD CHILDREN OPENED THE REAR DOOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE HAS NO CHILD SAFETY LOCKS ON THE REAR DOORS. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCKS ARE TOO LONG. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.

MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A USED CERTIFIED 2005 MALIBU MAXX IN JULY OF 2006, BY THE TIME THE WEATHER GOT COLD, I NOTICED A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT END. IT WAS TAKEN IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE STEERING BOX. THE SECOND TIME WAS IN MARCH 07, THEY COULD NOT VERIFY THE NOISE, THEN AGAIN IN APRIL I TOOK THE CAR BACK AND THEY REPLACED A FRONT SWAY BAR LINK. THE NOISE IS STILL THERE. IT GETS SO MUCH WORSE IN COLD WEATHER IT CAN BE REALLY SCARY ON THE HIGHWAY, IT ALSO HAS A INCONSISTENT PULL TO THE LEFT AND HAS BEEN ALIGNED, AND TIRES ROTATED TO NO AVAIL. WHY CAN'T THEY FIX THIS PROBLEM? I AM LOSING MY FAITH IN GM AFTER NEARLY 20 YEARS OF BEING A FAITHFUL GM OWNER. *TR

2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAX, POWER STEERING FAILURE - TOTAL LOSS, LOCKED UP OF STEERING CONTROL AT LOW SPEED. DURING LOW SPEED TURN DRIVER COULD NOT TURN WHEEL AND LOST ALL STEERING CONTROL OF VEHICLE. THIS FAILURE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A POWER STEERING WARNING ON THE CAR'S INFORMATION PANEL. VEHICLE WAS STOPPED SUCCESSFULLY WITH OUT ACCIDENT. DRIVER TURN OFF IGNITION, RESTARTED, AND STEERING CONTROL RETURNED BUT SEEMED HESITANT. ALTHOUGH THIS WAS BEING REPORTED AS OF THIS DATE 5/15/0) IT ALSO OCCURRED A WEEK EARLIER BUT RETURNED TO NORMAL OPERATION. PREVIOUSLY THIS CAR HAD WARRANTY SERVICE ON A STEERING SYSTEM "NOISE" COVERED UNDER A TSB AND HAD BEEN WORKING NORMALLY UNTIL THIS ISSUE OCCURRED. VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO CHEVROLET DEALER SERVICE TODAY. *AK

LAST FEBUARY I BOUGHT THIS CAR "CERTIFIED USED" FROM A CHEVY DEALERSHIP. LESS THAN A WEEK LATER THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH. SOME HOW I MANAGED TO PULL OVER WITHOUT WRECKING THE CAR. I TURNED IT OF AND BACK ON AGAIN AND IT SEEMED FINE. THEN IT HAPPED AGAIN AND AGAIN SO WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. AT FIRST I REALLY REGRETTED BUYING THE CAR BUT THEY FIXED IT AND IT SEEMED OKAY. NOW A YEAR LATER AND AFTER THE WARRENTY HAS EXPIRED THERE IS A CLICKING AND THUMPING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING AND I'M SURE THAT I WILL HAVE TO PAY PLENTY TO GET THAT FIXED LUCKY FOR THEM THE WARRENTY IS GONE. MEANWHILE I'M WITHOUT A CAR. I WILL NEVER BUY ANIOTHER CAR FROM GM AGAIN. THIS CAR WAS A HUGE MISTAKE!

2005 MALIBU MAXX STEERING--RACK AND PINION MAKING A THUMPING SOUND DURING SHARP TURNS AND AS YOU DRIVE OVER BUMPS. A SECOND SOUND IS HEARD DURING THE TURNING OF THE WHEELS WHILE PARKING--SOUNDS LIKE A SPRING BEING STRECHED.

STEERING RACK HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES ON MY 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE STEERING WAS ACTING ERRATIC AND "THUNKING" WHEN STEERING. 3 TIMES THE POWER STEERING HAS QUIT ON ME. THE CAR BECOMES EXTREMELY HARD TO STEER. I KNOW MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION. THE FIRST TIME THE POWER STEERING FAILED, I DROVE IT DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER. WHEN I TOOK THE SERVICE ADVISOR OUT, THE SYSTEM HAD RESET ITSELF AND THE STEERING WAS FINE. THE NEXT 2 TIMES, I PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF FOR A SHORT TIME AND RESTARTED IT AND THE SYSTEM RESET ITSELF AGAIN. AS MENTIONED, THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE STEERING RACK 3 TIMES, EACH TIME SAYING THIS IS AN IMPROVED PART, AND WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. BUT IT DOES. *NM

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING HER 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU ON THE HIGHWAY OR IN THE CITY THE POWER STEERING DID NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY. THE STEERING GOT ROUGH ,AND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL SHE HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE, BUT NOT SURE IF IT WAS FROM THE WHEEL OR THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP IN SEPTEMBER 2006 AND THEY REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION STEERING. ALSO, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER IN NOVEMBER 2006 FOR THE SAME FAILURE ,AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND THE FAILURE ON THE VEHICLE. *AK

2005 MALIBU MAXX WAS SENT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SOME WARRENTY SERVICE WORK ON PROBLEMS WITH FRONT END NOISES. THE CAR WAS RETURNED 30 MINUTES AFTER BEING DROPPED OFF. THE DEALER SAID THE CAR HAD A BAD STEERING RACK AND SHAFT. THE PARTS WERE ORDERED AND THE CAR RETURNED FOR DRIVING UNTIL THE PARTS WERE RECIEVED. LESS THAN 100 MILES LATER THE CAR LOST STEERING CONTROL AND SLAMMED INTO A SEMI TRUCK ON A MAJOR FREEWAY. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM OTHERS HAVE EXPECIENCED. *NM

AFTER ALLOWING VEHICLE TO WARM UP APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES, PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF DRIVEWAY. VEHICLE'S STEERING FAILED, WAS UNABLE TO TURN STEERING WHEEL FOR DURATION OF ABOUT ONE MINUTE, THEN STEERING ASSIST BEGAN TO WORK AGAIN AND I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL. SEVERAL TIMES PREVIOUSLY OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS STEERING HAS SEEMED VERY STIFF ON OCCASIONS, BUT NOT TO THE DEGREE THAT STEERING FAILED. *NM