2004 Chevrolet Malibu complaints

THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING FOR NO REASON, I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTED WHICH RESET THE POWER STEERING. IT HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES SINCE THEN, NOW IN THE LAST WEEK TWICE IT WILL NOT RESET AND HAVE TO HAD TO DRIVE IT HOME MANUALLY. I AM TAKING IT A DEALER TODAY, THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM SAID THEY FIXED THE STEERING RACK BUT IT OBVIOUSLY DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. GM HAS NO RECALL ON THIS EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS VERY SERIOUS ISSUE. *TR

I'VE HAD ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS HAD MY POWER STEERING LIGHT COME ON AS THE VEHICLE LOCKS UP. IT HASN'T HAPPENED IN A WHILE HOWEVER AFTER GETTING MY CAR ALIGNED RECENTLY THE AUTO TECH SAID I SHOULD GET MY POWER STEERING LOOKED AT AND I WANTED TO LOOK INTO.THE RECALL AGAIN. *TR

APPROX 1-3 PRIOR TO MY POWER STEERING LOCKING UP, THE POWER STEERING MESSAGE APPEARED ON MY DASHBOARD. I HAD TRIED TO LOCATE THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR WHEN THE ALARM FIRST DISPLAYED ONLY TO LEARN BEING LOW ON POWER STEERING FLUID WASN'T THE SITUATION THAT IT I OWNED A 2004 CHEVY MALIBU LS THAT HAD ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. BY THIS TIME IT WAS TOO LATE, I QUICKLY LEARNED THAT SITUATION RESULTS IN YOUR STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME COMPLETELY LOCKED! AS I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY STALL AT A PACKED PARKING LOT. I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL, IT HAD COMPLETELY LOCKED UP, I BELIEVE MY CAR WAS ONLY SLIGHTLY MOVING BECAUSE I WAS PARKED AT A SLANT. I THEN PUT THE CAR IN PARKED, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, SAID A PRAYER AND STARTED THE CAR AGAIN. THIS TIME THE STEERING WHEEL WORKED COMPLETELY FINE. THE NEXT DAY AS I WAS DRIVING MY CAR TO MY AUTO MECHANIC I FELT MY STEERING WHEEL BECOME TIGHT AGAIN AFTER GOING OVER THE RAILROAD TRACKS, I PULLED OVER RIGHT AWAY SINCE THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC AND I DIDN'T WANT TO LEARN THE HARD WAY MY STEERING WHEEL GAVE OUT AGAIN. I THEN TURN THE CAR BACK OFF AND ON EVEN THO IT WASN'T LOCKED LIKE THE NIGHT BEFORE, JUST FOR PEACE OF MIND I GUESS AND THE WHEEL RETURNED BACK TO NORMAL. AFTER TALKING WITH MY MECHANIC, INFO I LEARNED ON LINE I AM TAKING MY CAR TO A CHEVY DEALERSHIP BECAUSE APPARENTLY THIS IS A PROBLEM THEY ARE FAMILIAR WITH AND ARE THE ONLY AUTO MECHANIC SHOP THAT CARRIERS A SPECIAL TOOL TO "FIX" THE SITUATION. IF IT IS EVEN FIXABLE, BASED ON WHA

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN I LOST POWER STEERING. THE LIGHT ON THE DASH CAME ON AND THE INFORMATION PANEL SAID "POWER STEERING" I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE TO THE ROAD AND TURN OFF THE CAR. ONCE I STARTED IT AGAIN I HAD POWER STEERING. I DRIVE FOR A LIVING AND THIS SCARED ME TO DEATH. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ABUNDANT NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FOR THIS PROBLEM. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DOES IT TAKE TO HAVE SOMEONE FIGURE THIS OUT?!!!! *TR

I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WHEN MY ELECTRONIC CONSOLE STATED "CHECK POWER STEERING". AS I PULLED AWAY FROM THE TRAFFIC LIGHT TO MAKE MY LEFT TURN, I QUICKLY NOTICED THAT MY VEHICLE HAD NO POWER STEERING, AS THE VEHICLE WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. I PULLED THE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING LOT AND TURNED IT OFF AND REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. AFTER ABOUT A MINUTE, I STARTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN, AND THE POWER STEERING WAS FINE AND WORKING PROPERLY. LATER THAT WEEK, I HAD THE POWER STEERING RACK REPLACED AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. *TR

BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON FOR NO REASON , SHUT OFF CRUISE CONTROL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE WITH A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. AFTER RESTARTING THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TWICE AND EACH TIME THE POWER STEERING MODULE WAS REPLACED. IN ADDITION, A CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE POWER STEERING MODULE TWICE. THE STEERING MALFUNCTION RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000.

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. CAR POWER STEERING WENT OUT. ALMOST WRECKED BECAUSE I COULD NOT STEER VEHICLE. NOW THE POWER STEERING GOES IN AND OUT AS IT WISHES. THE STEERING WHEEL JERKS TO THE LEFT WHEN IT DOES DECIDE TO WORK. SOMETIMES TURNING THE CAR ON AND OFF WILL MAKE THE POWER STEERING COME BACK ON. *TR

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE RADIO PANEL STARTED BLINKING WITH POWER STEERING. I THEN LOST MY POWER STEERING AND MY CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE THIS FAILURE OCCURS WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND SOMETIMES THE POWER STEERING LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE AND IT WILL SHOW IN THE RADIO PANEL. AS A WOMAN, DRIVING WITHOUT POWER STEERING WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED TO ME IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, AND AFTER RUNNING DIAGNOSTICS, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE 2004 MALIBU'S HAVE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING, AND THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE POWER STEERING MOTOR AND THAT IT OVERHEATS, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE CAR SEAT BELTS ARE FROZE AND THE HAZARD LIGHT BUTTON FELL INSIDE ITS HOLE AND THE HEADLIGHT COVERS DON'T ALLOW THE LIGHTS TO FULLY ILLUMINATE . THIS CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED BECAUSE IT POSES LIFE THREATENING ISSUES. MY RESEARCH SHOWS A HIGH VOLUME OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS 2004 MODEL BUT THE 2005'S AND ABOVE WERE RECALLED, I ALSO COLLECTED STATEMENTS FROM FACTORY WORKERS WHO LEFT THEIR PERSONAL INFO ON THE INTERNET AND I FOUND THIS : DURING MY EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT WITH DELPHI AUTOMOTIVE (DELPHI SAGINAW STEERING SYSTEM, 3900 E. HOLLAND AVE., SAGINAW, MICHIGAN 48601), I WAS INSTRUCTED TO CONDUCT A SCREW "STRIP-OUT" STUDY ON THE ELECTRIC MOTOR/CONTROLLER ASSEMBLY OF THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING (EPS) SYSTEM OF THE GENERAL MOTOR'S EPSILON PLATFORM (MY 2003.5 - 2006 MALIBU). THIS STUDY WA

AS I WAS TURNING A CORNER THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. THIS IS THE THIRD INCIDENT IN A WEEK, EACH ONE AS THE VEHICLE WAS TURNING. *TR

ATTEMPTED TO EXECUTE A TURN INTO PARKING LOT DRIVEWAY AND THE STEERING WOULD NOT RESPOND. AFTER PASSING DRIVEWAY, ATTEMPTED TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION AND STEERING WOULD NOT RESPOND MORE THAN A FEW DEGREES (< 10) OF DIRECTION. TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY ANOTHER HALF MILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN AROUND AND RETURN HOME BEFORE ENOUGH STEERING WAS RESTORED TO COMPLETE A TURN AROUND. AFTERWARD, STEERING HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT AND DIFFICULT TO IMPOSSIBLE. THIS CONDITION IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY GM BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED, IF THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ALREADY. *TR

MAKING LEFT HAND TURN POWER STEERING FAILED,ALMOST CAUSED ME TO RUN UP OVER CURB,VERY HARD TO STEER,HAPPENS FAST LIGHT ON DASH STEERING GONE! BOUGHT CAR USED ON 2/16/13 STEERING FAILED FIRST TIME ON 2/17/13 TOOK BACK TO DEALER ON 2/18/13 DEALER SAID THEY REPLACED POWER STEERING MOTOR.CAR SEEMED OK FOR ABOUT A WEEK,THEN POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN ON 2/24/13 TURNING LEFT LOW SPEED IN MY DRIVEWAY.CAR GOING BACK TO DEALER TODAY 2/25/13. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AFTER SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE FAILURE LIGHT TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT LATER, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

MY WIFE RECENTLY EXPERIENCED A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING UNIT IN HER 2004 MALIBU WHILE DRIVING WITH THE KIDS. SHE SAYS ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE 'WRENCH' LIGHT CAME ON, THE RADIO DISPLAY READ "POWER STEERING" AND SHE LOST ALL POWER STEERING IN THE CAR, NEARLY CAUSING HER TO CRASH. THIS MORNING, I TOOK HER CAR AS I WORK MUCH CLOSER TO HOME. SURE ENOUGH, THERE IS NO POWER STEERING IN THE CAR AT ALL. AFTER READING ONLINE, I AM CONFUSED AS TO WHETHER THERE IS OR IS NOT A RECALL ON THIS UNIT, AS THERE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN ALOT OF TROUBLE WITH THE POWER STEERING IN THIS YEAR OF VEHICLE, AND EVEN HAVE A RECALL ON THE 2005 MODEL. WE HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND HAD LITTLE TROUBLE WITH IT UNTIL RECENTLY. MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP TELLS ME IT WOULD COST $96 JUST TO LOOK AT THE CAR AND THEN WHATEVER IT WOULD COST TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT UNABLE TO GUARANTEE THE PROBLEM WOULD REMAIN FIXED. I AM IN A SIMILAR POSITION AS MANY, UNABLE TO AFFORD A NEW CAR OR EVEN PAY AN EXORBITANT AMOUNT FOR REPAIRS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT FIX THE ISSUE. *TR I NEED CLEAR ANSWERS. CAN YOU PLEASE LET ME KNOW MY OPTIONS. IS THERE A RECALL I CAN LOOK FOR? IF THERE ISN'T, WHY NOT, SINCE THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY ISSUE WITH THE POWER STEERING IN THIS MODEL? NEEDING HELP,

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE POWERED OFF THE VEHICLE AND ONCE RESTARTED, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED HOWEVER, WAS UNABLE TO GENERATE A FAILURE CODE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,528 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,588.

THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILS UNEXPECTEDLY. THE STEERING RESETS ITSELF AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING IT BUT THEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN SPORADICALLY. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER BUT THE PROBLEM IS RECURRING OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS. IT HAPPENED 3 TIMES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. AFTER DIAGNOSIS, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE ANY FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE TO THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. ...UPDATED 04/25/13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE POWER STEERING SENSOR FAILED. THE WAS A RECALL BUT, THE CONSUMER'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. *JS

PULLING OUT OF THE GARAGE THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I DROVE IT WITHOUT POWER STEERING FOR ABOUT 3 MILES, PARKED THE VEHICLE AND SHUT IT OFF. WENT INSIDE THE BUSINESS & CAME OUT ABOUT A HALF HOUR LATER & THE STEERING WORKED FINE. I'VE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE ON LINE AND HAVE FOUND THAT GM HAS RECALLED VEHICLES FOR THIS ISSUE BUT NOT THE 2004 MALIBU. THIS VEHICLE HAS ALSO BEEN SERVICED 3 TIMES IN PAST YEARS FOR STEERING RELATED PARTS INCLUDING A RACK & PINION UNIT. MY DAUGHTER HAS A 2005 CHEVY COBALT & HER VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR THIS VERY SAME ISSUE. *TR

POWER STEERING WENT OUT UNEXPECTANTLY. NEARLY ADVERTED A WRECK. *TR

MY SON, AT COLLEGE, WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN A CHIME SOUNDED,POWER STEERING WENT OUT, AND WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. HE PULLED OVER AND CALLED ME. FIRST TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED SINCE WE BOUGHT CAR IN 2008. I TALKED TO A MECHANIC, A COUPLE OF SERVICE MANAGERS, AND LOOKED THIS COMPLAINT UP ON THE WEB. FOUND OUT THAT HUNDREDS OF MALIBU OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. GM HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE 2004, BUT HAS FOR LATER YEARS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING PROBLEM THAT COULD LEAD TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF IT OCCURS WHILE DRIVING ON A CURVY, BACK-ROAD HIGHWAY OR DURING A QUICK EVASIVE TURN. IT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL BE AN EXPENSIVE FIX THAT EACH OWNER MUST PAY THEMSELVES. GM SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND ISSUE A RECALL. *TR

THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON MY 04 MALIBU WHILE DRIVING, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. TOOK IT TO TWO DIFFERENT REPAIR PLACES. SPENT OVER $600 FOR IT TO NOT BE FIXED. I GOOGLE MY CAR AND FIND A WEBSITE WITH HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE 05 HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, YET NOT THE 04. I'M A SINGLE MOTHER WITH TWO KIDS, I CAN'T AFFORD TO SPEND MONEY ON A MAYBE FIX OR A NEW CAR. WILL IT REALLY TAKE ONE OF US DYING BEFORE THE PROBLEM IS TAKEN CARE OF? AND WHY IS GM NOT BEING HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR IT'S QUALITY ISSUES? *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY SONS 2004 MALIBU WHEN SUDDENLY THERE WAS A FEW DINGS FOLLOWED BY THE CAR SYMBOL LIGHT WITH THE WRENCH INSIDE IT ON THE DASH LIGHT UP. THE WHEEL IMMEDIATELY BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN . IT'S AS IF THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. I DROVE TO A SAFE LOCATION, TURNED OFF THE CAR AND THE PROBLEM WAS GONE. THIS DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT TO ME. PLEASE HAVE GM RECTIFY THIS ISSUE. *TR

2004 MALIBU LS-DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY TODAY AND THE BELL GOES OFF, THE YELLOW WRENCH APPEARS AND THE RADIO SHOWS POWER STEERING. THE POWER STEERING JUST WENT OUT ALL AT ONCE AND I ALMOST RAN INTO A TRUCK. CALLED THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON THIS AND IT IS ALSO NOT COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. NHTSA PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS POWER STEERING PROBLEM BEFORE IT CAUSES SOMEONE TO LOOSE THEIR LIFE. I HAVE A 1998 MALIBU LS AND A 2004 MALIBU LS AND THEY BOTH HAVE GAVE ME PROBLEMS. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER ONE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND I LOST POWER STEERING THE WHEEL GOT SO HARD AND THE RADIO SAID POWER STEERING BUT I PULLED OVER AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND WHEN I TURN THE CAR BACKON IT GOES BACK TO NORMAL..... KNOW I'M AT A RED LIGHT AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND IT GETS HARD ON ME ALL THE TIME I'M TIRED OF THIS HAPPENING TO MY CAR I ASKED MY DADS MECHANIC AND TOLD ME IT WOULD COST ME ....1500.00 TO FIX IT I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OFF MONEY AND THE DEALERSHIP AND SAID IT WAS SOMETHING NORMAL ...... WHAT CAN I DO ..... *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY DAUGHTER TO A DOCTORS APPOINTMENT, AND MY CAR DINGED 3 TIMES AND "POWER STEERING" CAME ACROSS ON THE RADIO FACE, AND I LOST POWER STEERING. I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND WHEN I STARTED IT AGAIN IT WAS FINE. TODAY (1-23-13) I WAS DRIVING WITH MY DAUGHTER IN THE CAR, AND I WAS DRIVING AROUND A CURVE, WHEN THE CAR DINGED 3 TIMES AGAIN AND POWER STEERING DISPLAYED ACROSS THE RADIO SCREEN. I LOST POWER STEERING IN MID TURN, AND HAD TO FIGHT TO KEEP THE CAR UNDER CONTROL. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE FOR THIS TO NE CORRECTED? *TR ## VIN FAILED ##

AS I SAT DOWN IN DRIVERS SEAT THE SEAT SEEMED TO LEAN TO THE RIGHT AND TILTED BACK SLIGHTLY. I LOOKED UNDER SEAT TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG AND NOTICED A BAR ACROSS FRONT SIDE OF SEAT WAS BROKE AWAY FROM IT'S ORIGINAL WELDED POSITION. AFTER REMOVING SEAT I NOTICED THAT THE BAR HAD INDEED BROKEN FREE FROM WELD. NOT ONLY WAS THE WELD BROKEN BUT THE BAR WHICH WASN'T REALLY A BAR BUT A PIPE SLIGHTLY THICKER WALLED THAN A PIECE OF TYPE M COPPER PIPING BROKE OFF WITH A PIECE MISSING. ALSO NOTICED SAME PROBLEM WITH THE PIPE THAT ENCASES THE BAR AT REAR OF THE SEAT THAT ALLOWS THE SEAT BACK TO TILT BACK OR FORWARD. THE PIPE HAS ALSO BROKEN THE WELD AND MISSING A PIECE OF THE PIPE.WE BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND MY WIFE IS THE PRIMARY DRIVER .WEIGHT AVERAGE 155 LBS. SO I DON'T BELIEVE WEIGHT PLAYS A PART OF THIS POORLY DESIGNED WORK OF FAILURE. MILEAGE IS LESS THAN 10,000 PER YEAR OWNED. THIS IS EXTREMELY UPSETTING. IS CHEVROLET RESPONSIBLE OR SINCE WARRANTY IS OVER THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH THIS POOR DESIGN AND SAFETY ISSUE? *TR

AS FOR THE LIGHTING I CANNOT COUNT HOW MANY LIGHT BULBS I HAVE REPLACED ON THIS VEHICLE TO THE POINT THAT I HAD THE AUTO SHOP REPLACE THEM SINCE I THOUGHT I WAS DOING SOMETHING WRONG. THEY ONLY LAST ABOUT A MONTH OR TWO AND BURN OUT WHICH IS REALLY DANGEROUS WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW IF WILL WORK OR NOT. THE STEERING ISSUE IS A MUCH MORE DANGEROUS PROBLEM, THIS IS MY WIFE'S CAR AND SHE GOT STUCK LEAVING THE HOUSE AND PHYSICALLY COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH SHE DESCRIBED AS LOCKING UP. I CAN NOT IMAGINE IF SHE WERE TO BE TURN DOWN A BUSY INTERSECTION ON NOT BEEN ABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE TO THE PROPER LANE. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM AS THE 2005'S WERE!!! *TR

UPON SLOWING DOWN THE CAR TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE POWER STEERING FAILED CAUSING THE CAR TO VEER INTO AN ONCOMING LANE OF TRAFFIC. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND COMPLETING A TURN, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. IN ADDITION, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AS IT PERFORMED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE THEY COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 93,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5-10 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED AS THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT MOVED OFF THE ROADWAY AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 85,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

ONE MORNING LAST MONTH, I WAS DRIVING MY KID TO SCHOOL AT SPEED 30 MILES PER HOUR, WHEN SUDDENLY THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING PROBLEM LIGHT TURNED ON AGAIN, AND THE STEERING POWER WAS GONE AND THE STEERING WAS TOTALLY LOCKED, I COULD NOT MAKE ANY TURNS. BECAUSE THIS IS THE 4TH TIME IT HAPPENED, I KNEW WHAT TO DO. I STOPPED THE CAR AT THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD ( I AM LUCKY IT IS HAPPENED DURING LOCAL NOT HIGHWAY DRIVING). I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, THEN TURN ON THE ENGINE AGAIN, AND EVERYTHING BACK TO NORMAL. SO FAR IT HAPPENED AT LEAST 5 TIMES TO ME. THE CURRENT MILEAGE OF MY CAR IS 116000. *TR

I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS HALF THE 2004 MALIBU OWNERS. I HAVE A 2004 MALIBU MY POWER STEERING JUST STOPS WORKING. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE ALMOST HAD SEVERAL ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS. I FOUND 176 PEOPLE ON ONE WEBSITE THAT IS ALSO HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND SEVERAL OTHER WEBSITE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT ON. CHEVY HAS NOT RECALLED THE 2004 FOR IT. HOWEVER THAT DID RECALL THE 2005 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THAT ONLY BECAUSE SOMEONE DIED IN THE CAR DUE TO THE POWER STEERING PROBLEM. WOW NOW I FEEL SAFE. I AM A SINGLE MOM I CANT PAY $600.00 FOR A MAYBE FIX. THEY CANT PROMISE AFTER REPLACING THE STEERING COLUMN IT WILL EVEN FIX THE PROBLEM. I CANT BUY A NEW CAR. THEY NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THERE MESS UP. GUESS I HAVE TO WAIT TILL SOMEONE DIES IN THE 2004 BEFORE THEY FIX IT AND WHO KNOWS I MIGHT BE THE ONE THAT DOES. FACEBOOK CONNECT *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE REGAINED STEERING ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TIE ROD END NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING AND CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THE DRIVER WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER NECK, HEAD AND BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU EQUIPPED WITH TOYO VERSATO TIRES, SIZE: 205/55/16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE RECENTLY INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE AND WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, ATTEMPTING A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO PULL IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE DID NOT EXPERIENCE A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE TIRES WERE INSTALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE TIRES WAS 15,000. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.

2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU LT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO POWER STEERING PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED EACH TIME HE TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL, THE WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATED. IT LOCKED UP ON ONE OCCASION AND THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING STARTING WITH THE 2005 MODELS. *JB

FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WE WERE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT. POWER STEERING MESSAGE CAME UP AND STEERING WHEEL GOT STIFF AND WE COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL, MY HUSBAND TURNED OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTED IT AND THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK. IT HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN A FEW TIMES SINCE. MY CONCERN, I AM A VERY SMALL PERSON I DO NOT HAVE THE STRENGTH TO TURN THE WHEEL WHEN IT HAPPENS AND EVENTUALLY I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE CAR PULLED OVER TO A SAFE PLACE TO STOP IT AND RESTART IT. THE LAST TIME THAT IT HAPPENED TO ME WAS NOVEMBER 5 2012 TAKING MY GRANDSON TO SCHOOL GOING ABOUT 40 MILES PER HOUR, I WAS JUST DRIVING ALONG AND THE POWER STEERING JUST WENT OUT. I WILL TELL YOU CHEVY MALIBU OR ANY CHEVY IS NOT ON MY LIST FOR MY NEXT CAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE FOR 10 MINUTES THE STEERING RESUMED NORMAL FUNCTION. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WRENCH SYMBOL ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ELETRONIC POWER ASSIST FAILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,985.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY STIFF. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND CHECK UNDER HIS HOOD TO SEE IF THE FLUID WAS LOW. AFTER LIFTING THE HOOD THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THERE WAS NO RESERVOIR FOR THE POWER STEERING FLUID. THE CONTACT THEN CALLED THE DEALER AND INFORMED THEM OF THE SITUATION. THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE HAD AN ELECTRONIC MOTOR AND THERE WAS NO WHERE FOR HIM TO PLACE THE POWER STEERING FLUID. THE DRIVER WAITED A WHILE AND THEN RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, WHICH TEMPORARILY REPAIRED THE STEERING FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 186,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK MY POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME FLASHED ON THE RADIO AND THE DASHBOARD, I TRIED TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN AND THE WHEEL WAS VERY HARD TO TURN. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WAITED ABOUT 5 MINUTES STARTED IT BACK UP AND IT WAS OK. I DROVE FOR ABOUT 1 MILE AND IT DID IT AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED MY WHOLE DRIVE HOME, I HAD TO KEEP TURNING THE CAR OFF AT EACH INTERSECTION JUST TO MAKE IT HOME. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN YESTERDAY OCTOBER 25TH, I HAD TO KEEP TURN THE CAR OFF IN ORDER TO MAKE IT HOME. SINCE I DRIVE ABOUT 8 MILES EACH DAY TO AND FROM WORK I AM CONCERN THAT THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I WENT ON LINE AND HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE 2004 MALIBU, WHY IN THE WORLD HAS THERE NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM.? I AM JUST THANKFUL THAT I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED, BECAUSE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER. I LIVE IN AN AREA OF THE COUNTRY THAT CAN BE VERY BAD IN THE WINTER AND WITH THIS HAPPENING SOMEONE CAN BE SERIOUSLY HURT IF YOU CANNOT MANEUVER IN BAD WEATHER. I HOPE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN ENOUGH COMPLAINTS THAT THIS WILL CALL FOR GENERAL MOTORS TO DO A RECALL BEFORE SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAPPENS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE TURNING LEFT. THE STEERING BECAME HARD TO TURN AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE STEERING RESUMED NORMAL FUNCTION FOR A BRIEF MOMENT AND THE MECHANICAL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000. UPDATED 3/5/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING ISSUE, WAS INTERMITTENT.

I CAME TO A STOP AT A RED LIGHT AND 3 SECONDS LATER I HEARD A CHIME AND A CAR WITH A WRENCH THROUGH IT APPEARED ON MY DASH. MY WHEEL LOCKED UP AND THE ONLY WAY TO UNLOCK IT WAS TO TURN THE CARE OFF AND BACK ON. THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED WHILE APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO A PARKING AREA. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 163,000.

COULDN'T GET OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENS, WENT ONLINE TO FIND A SOLUTION AND FOUND OUT IT WAS A MANUFACTURERS ERROR. I CAN SEE ITS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST EVEN THOUGH THERE HAS BEEN SOME COMPLAINING DONE, EVEN AFTER GETTING IT "FIXED". *TR

CAME HOME FROM WORK ON 9/10/12 AND PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY. WHEN I PLACED THE CAR IN PARK IT DID NOT GO INTO PARK AND THE CAR KEPT ON ROLLING ALMOST HITTING MY OTHER VEHICLE. I TRIED PUTTING INTO OTHER GEARS BUT THEY WERE OFF (SHIFT TO DRIVE IT MIGHT BE IN NEUTRAL, SHIFT TO REVERSE IT MIGHT BE IN NEUTRAL TOO). IT'S LIKE IT DOESN'T KNOW WHAT GEAR IT IS IN AND YOU HAVE TO KINDA PLAY WITH IT TO GET IT INTO THE RIGHT GEAR. ALSO, SINCE IT'S NOT READING THAT IT'S IN PARK I CANNOT PULL THE KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION. THANK GOD MY KIDS WERE NOT IN FRONT OF MY CAR WHEN I GOT HOME....PRETTY DANGEROUS AS YOU DON'T KNOW IF IT'S IN PARK OR NOT AND THE CAR WILL JUST ROLL. *TR

IN JULY 2011 THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. ABOUT A WEEK LATER IT STARTED GOING OUT WHILE DRIVING. HAD THE STEERING COLUMN, AND RACKET AND PINION REPLACED, AND THE THEN THE RADIO STOPPED PLAYING CDS, AND THE SEAT BELT LIGHT CONSTANTLY STAYS ON EVEN IF YOU HAVE THE SEAT BELT ON. *TR

AS MY SON WAS DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. AFTER TURNING OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTING, THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AS THE FAILED POWER STEERING MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE STEREO DISPLAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A VOLUNTARY RECALL FOR THE FAILURE BUT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SEAT LEANED TO THE SIDE WHEN THE DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRACKET THAT HELD THE SEAT TO THE FRAME WAS FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE SEAT TO LEAN. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER OR CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000.

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MILES WHEN THE CAR CUT OFF WITH NO WARNING,WHEN THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR .THIS HAS HAPPENED 7 DIFFERENT TIMES . MY SON THOUGHT I NEEDED A TUNE UP, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER,I WAS TOLD IT WAS ELECTRICAL BUT DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS CAUSING IT. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO RESET THE STEERING AND CORRECTED THE FAILURE FOR THREE WEEKS BEFORE RECURRING. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,356.