Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2004 record →
COMPLETE AND SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING WHICH IS ONLY REMEDIED BY TURNING OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. THIS CONDITION HAS LED TO DANGEROUS SITUATIOS ON THE ROAD. WHEN THE POWER STEERING DOES WORK, THE STEERING WHEEL TENDS TO JERK ON ITS OWN CAUSING UNINTENDED SWERVING OF THE VEHICLE. EA04018_CAT
ON SATURDAY, 16 OCT 2004, WHILE RUNNING ERRANDS, THE ELECTRIC ASSIST POWER STEERING BEGAN PULSATING/VIBRATING THE STEERING WHEEL AND PULLING THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. THE PULSATION/VIBRATION CONTINUED EVEN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK. IT ONLY STOPPED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF. UPON RESTARTING THE ENGINE THE SYMPTOMS DISAPPEARED FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, ONLY TO RETURN AS BEFORE. THE VIBRATION IS NO BETTER OR WORSE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THAN AT LOCAL SPEEDS, OR STANDING STILL. ON MONDAY, 18 OCT 2004, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JIM REED CHEVROLET, NASHVILLE, TN, WHERE THE SYMPTOMS PRESENTED THEMSELVES IN FRONT OF THE SERVICE MANAGER. HE SAID THAT HE HAD "JUST RECEIVED A TSB" CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. HE KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR THE DAY AND REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT YET REOCCURRED. EA04018_CAT. *AK
STEERING WHEEL OFTEN "JUMPY". MOVES BACK AND FORTH WHILE AT A STAND STILL. 2 DAYS AGO, POWER STEERING WENT OFF, WAS ABLE TO STEER CAR WITH DIFFICULTY, BUT HAD NO POWER STEERING. POWER STEERING WARNING MESSAGE CAME ON. SERVICE WARNING CAME ON. *AK EA04018_CAT
ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO I NOTICED COG-WHEELING OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN RIGHT. IT WAS INTERMITTENT, BUT BEGAN TO INCREASE IN FREQUENCY WITH VIBRATION THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. TODAY, WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING COMPLETELY. I WAS ABOUT 25 MILES FROM HOME, AND HAD TO DRIVE WITH NO POWER STEERING THE ENTIRE WAY. I WILL CONTACT THE DEALER ON THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. WE OWN TWO 2004 MALIBU'S, THE OTHER MALIBU HAD THE SAME PROBLEM SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND HAD TO HAVE THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED. THE REPAIR TOOK ALMOST 3 WEEKS DUE TO BACK-ORDERED PARTS. *JB EA04018_CAT
WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING INTO HIS DRIVEWAY THE VEHICLE'S POWER STEERING UNIT FAILED AND CAUSED LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING UNIT PER A SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED BY GM. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN WORKING PROPERLY SINCE REPAIRED. *AK *NM EA04018_CAT
WHILE DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONSUMER HAD GREAT DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO COMPLAINTS ON THIS DEFECT.*AK EA04018_CAT. *JB
WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MECHANIC TOLD THE CONSUMER NOT TO PANIC, BECAUSE IT WAS NORMAL. *AK THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WAS PERMANENTLY LOCK FROM THE OUTSIDE. *JB
THE POWER STEERING FAILED ON MY 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU ON 3 OCCASIONS DURING THE WEEKEND OF OCT. 2 2004. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND I HEARD A CHIME. I LOOKED AT THE DIC AND SAW "POWER STEERING". THERE WAS ALSO A SERVICE LIGHT ON THE IP. THERE WAS NO POWER ASSIST AT ALL, AND IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. I SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED. IT SEEMED OK. IT THEN FAILED TWO MORE TIMES WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS, BUT THIS TIME I WAS IN A BUSY INTERSECTION. I AM TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ASAP. I SAW MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE ABOUT THE VERY SAME ISSUE, SO I THOUGHT I WOULD LET YOU KNOW ABOUT MINE. *NM EA04018_CAT
VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING ASSIST WHILE COMING TO A STOP LIGHT. THEVEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. DEALER REPLACED A COLUMN KIT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *JBB EA04018_CAT *TC
ON OCTOBER 2, 2004, THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING FOR THE SECOND TIME. STEERING WAS VERY DIFFICULT AND EVEN MORE DIFFICULT SINCE I AM 4 MONTHS PREGNANT. I HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR ABOUT 10 MILES TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN. THEY HAD TO KEEP OVER THE WEEKEND. THE SERVICE ADVISOR TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN TO SEE WHAT WOULD HAPPENED AND THE POWER STEERING BEGIN TO WORK AGAIN. FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE STEERING ON THIS MALIBU AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO RESOLVE THOSE ISSUES. EITHER THE PROBLEM HAD TO BE DUPLICATED BY THE TECHNICIAN OR THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FIND THE CODES IN THE DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I WAS JUST INFORMED BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT THE CAR IS READY AND THE POWER STEERING COLUMN MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THAT SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. I HOPE SO. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR A LITTLE WHILE NOW. *AK EA04018_CAT
A KNOCKING/CLICKING NOISE CAME FROM THE STEERING WHEEL/COLUMN WHEN TURNING. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED STEERING SHAFT , BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK *TC EA04018_CAT DELETED EA04018 ANNOTATION - HAVE NOT VALIDATED THIS IS SECOND POWER STEERING LOSS INCIDENT CAT
WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE IN REVERSE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. ALSO,STEERING WHEEL SHOOK AND VIBRATED, EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN MOTION. *AK EA04018_CAT
WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT THE VEHICLES TILT STEERING UNLOCKED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL FORWARD EVEN WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED. *JB THE VEHICLES ABS LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. THE LIGHT WOULD GO OFF ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, TURNED OFF THEN TURNED BACK ON. *NM
ON 4 OCCASIONS DURING THE PAST WEEK THE POWER STEERING FEATURE FAILED WHILE CAR WAS IN OPERATION. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED COLLISIONS. EA04018_CAT
STEERING PROBLEM. STEERING IN THE MORNING WAS ERRATIC SEEMED TO HUNT. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A SENSOR PROBLEM, DEALER HAD TO ORDER PART, CAR STILL DRIVABLE. NEXT MORNING THE STEERING WAS THE SAME, AFTER WORK I CAME OUT STARTED THE CAR, STEERING WAS STILL SHAKY, AFTER PULLING OUT ONTO THE ROAD I LOST ALL POWER STEERING, SERVICE ALARM LIGHT CAME ON AND POWER STEERING FAILURE NOTIFICATION ON CONSOLE. I TOOK CAR DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER, RECEIVED LOANER WHILE THEY REPAIR CAR. WAS TOLD ALL PARTS MUST BE RETURNED TO DETERMINE FAILURE MODE. EA04018_CAT
OUR 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU LT (V6, LOADED WITH ALL OPTIONS EXCEPT FOR ONSTAR) HAS BETWEEN 5500 AND 6000 MILES ON IT NOW. RECENTLY, MY WIFE REPORTED AN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL BRATING "NERVOUSLY" WHILE IDLING IN LINE TO DROP MY DAUGHTER OFF TO SCHOOL. THIS VIBRATION / MOVEMENT DID NOT ACTUALLY MOVE THE WHEELS, AND SHE RETURNED HOME SAFELY.THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT, BUT ONE MORNING AS SHE PREPARED TO LEAVE, SHE NOTICED THE VIBRATION PROBLEM AGAIN, AND WISHING TO SHOW IT TO ME, CALLED ME TO THE GARAGE. I WITNESSED THE PALSY-LIKE MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND AGAIN NOTED THAT THE TIRES DIDN'T MOVE WITH THE WHEEL. AFTER THIS OCCURRED, I RETURNED TO THE HOUSE (MAKING A NOTE TO MYSELF FOR OUR NEXT VISIT TO THE DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT). LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES LATER, I HEARD A KNOCK AT THE DOOR, WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE MY 8 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER (WHO HAD GONE WITH MY WIFE). SHE TOLD ME THAT THE STEERING HAD "BROKEN" AND THAT MY WIFE WAS TRYING TO MANEUVER THE CAR BACK TO THE HOUSE. I WENT OUT TO THE END OF THE DRIVE, TO FIND MY WIFE ATTEMPTING TO FIGHT TO GET THE CAR BACK ONTO OUR STREET. I STOPPED HER, TOOK OVER THE CAR, TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, THEN RESTARTED THE CAR. THIS RESTORED THE POWER STEERING, AT WHICH POINT I PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE, AND THE WIFE TOOK OUR OTHER VEHICLE. I HAD ALREADY READ OF THIS ISSUE ON SEVERAL BULLETIN BOARDS AROUND THE WEB, AND MY CAR IS A RELATIVELY EARLY 2004 BUILD MALIBU. HOWEVER, THERE HAS AS YET BEEN NO OFFICIAL RECALL FROM CHE
AFTER DRIVING 2004 MALIBU ABOUT 5 MINUTES, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE WAITING AT A STOP LIGHT. THE ORANGE WARNING SYMBOL WAS FLASHING ON THE INSTRUMENT DISPLAY. GOT CAR TO A SAFE AREA AND SHUT OFF ENGINE AND CHECKED OWNERS MANUAL FOR MORE INFORMATION. *AKRESTARTED ENGINE AND STREERING RESUMED WORKING. DROVE HOME WITHOUT ANYMORE PROBLEMS. CALLED CHEVROLET TOLL FREE ASSISTANCE NUMBER FOR ADVISE AND THEY ADVISED HAVING THE CAR TOWED TO A DEALER FOR REPAIRS - THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY SERVICE BULLETINS OR RECALLS. LOCAL DEALER FOUND A SERVICE BULLETIN AND ORDERED PARTS TO CORRECT PROBLEM - CHANGED DEFECTIVE PART AND TESTED. NO FURTHER PROBLEMS TO THIS TIME. I WAS INFORMED BY NHTSA THAT A IMPROVED PART WAS MADE AVAILABLE IN JULY TO CORRECT THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION FROM CHEVROLET THAT AN "IMPROVED' WAS USED IN THE REPAIR AND THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN IN THEIR OPINION CORRECTED.
VEHICLE 3 TIMES WOULD NOT START. TOOK INTO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. ON 9/5/04 WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR MADE A DING DING AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. STOPPED AND TURN CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND WAS OKAY. TWO DAYS LATER WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND AGAIN THE DING DING AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER CALLED AND SAID THEY HAD TO REPLACED STEERING COLUMN AND WOULD CALL WHEN COMPLETE. DEALER CALLED AND SAID STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED BUT NEW STEERING COLUMN DURING SAME THING. CURRENTLY I HAVE A RENTAL FROM DEALER SHIP.*AK EA04018_CAT
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
AT APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES, MY 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU DEVELOPED A STEERING PROBLEM. UPON STARTING THE CAR, THE STEERING WHEEL VISIBLY SHOOK AND PULLED WHEN I TRIED TO TURN RIGHT. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAD TO ORDER A REPLACEMENT PART. WHEN THE PART CAME IN A WEEK AND A HALF LATER, THEY REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN. EA04018_CAT. *AK
AFTER HAVING THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED IN MY 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU, I NOTICED THE BRAKE PEDAL IS NOT RELEASING ALL THE WAY. THIS ONLY HAPPENS ON THE FREEWAY, SO FOR SOME REASON ONLY WHEN THE CAR EXCEEDS 50 MILES. I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. NOW I AM CONCERNED THAT MY BRAKES WITH BE HARMED IF THEY ARE NOT RELEASING LIKE THEY SHOULD. *AK
LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. VEHICLE HAS JUST REACHED 10K MILES. STEERING THE VEHICLE DURING FAILURE IS DIFFICULT. REPORTED FAILURE TO DEALERSHIP ON THE AFTERNOON OF FAILURE. INSTRUCTED TO IMMEDIATELY RETURN VECHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. EA04018_CAT. *AK
WITHOUT WARNING THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILED TWICE MAKING THE VEHICLE TO HARD TO STEER, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED TWICE WITHIN TWO WEEKS BECAUSE THE FIRST REPLACEMENT ALSO FAILED. EA04018_CAT THIS IS LIKE AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. *JB
STOPPED AT RED LIGHT AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MILES PER HOUR ON THE WAY TO WORK. STEERING WHELL "JIGGLED" A BIT. WHEN I ACCELERATED, THE POWER STEERING WAS GONE. CAR WAS HARD TO STEER; WAS ABLE TO DRIVE APPROXIMATELY FOUR MILES TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WAS A PART IN THE STEERING COLUMN THAT NEEDED REPLACED, AND THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN. THEY ORDERED THE PART (FROM MICHIGAN), BUT DUE TO HURRICANE FRANCES, THEY COULD NOT FIX THE CAR UNTIL NEXT WEEK. THE DEALERSHIP WAS VERY NICE AND GAVE ME A LOANER CAR AT NO CHARGE; BUT MY CAR IS NOW SITTING OUT IN THE OPEN AT THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF HURRICANE FORCE WINDS DAMAGING THE CAR. THE FACT THAT THE PART WAS NOT READILY AVAILABLE CONCERNS ME.*AK EA04018_CAT
I WAS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS TO WORK ON THE EXPRESSWAY WHEN THE SECOND OCCURRENCE OF (EPA) STEERING FAILURE. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS ON 8/30/04 AND THE SECOND OCCURANCE WAS ON 9/2/04. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER ON 8/31/04 FOR REPAIR THEY CONNECTED THE COMPUTERS AND FOUND NO CODE ERRORS. TODAY WHEN POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING I FOUND A SAFE PLACE TO PULL ONTO EXIT RAMP SHOULDER TO PARK CAR AND SHUT DOWN. I WAITED A FEW MINUTES RESTARTED NO PROBLEMS. BUT MY CAR IS AT DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE THE SECOND TIME. *AK EA04018_CAT
WHILE MAKEING A RIGHT TURN ONTO MAJOR STREET WRENCH ICON LIT UPON ON INSTRUMENT PANEL, INFORMATION PANEL INDICATED POWER STEERING FAILURE,HAD TO MANHANDLE CAR TO PARKING LOT OF K-MART. RESTARED ENGINE, DROVE TO CHEV DEALER, LEFT CAR WITH THEM, THEY REPLACED STEERING COLUMN. DO NOT FEEL SAFE WITH THIS CAR AS THERE OTHER REPORTS OF FAILURE AFTER THE STEERING COLUMN HAD BEEN REPLACED. *AK EA04018_CAT
FAX LTR FM JAMES BALLOU WADFORD (VA) OWNER OF A MY 2004 MALIBU REPORTING LOSS OF STEERING CAPABILITIES SUGGEST NHTSA RECALL VEHICLE SAFETY DEFECT.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER LOST ALL STEERING CAPABILITY. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH AS THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER WHERE THEY INDICATED THAT HE RECEIVED A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM IN MAY. THE CONSUMER FEELS THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE RECALLED. *MN EA04018_CAT
POWER STEERING. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE STEERING WHEEL JERKS UP TO 45 DEGREES, SIDE TO SIDE, IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. NO LOSS OF CONTROL . NO STEERING HAS BEEN LOST AS OF YET. APPOINTMENT SET WITH VALLEY CHEVERLOT, CARSON CITY, NV ON AUGUST 31, 2004.*AK EA04018_CAT
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH ALL GAUGES FAILED. CONSUMER DIDN'T KNOW THE SPEED. DEALERSHIP INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM . WANTEDS TO BUY THE VEHICLE FROM THE CONSUMER. *AK
WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND THE CONSUMER LOST POWER STEERING. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK EA04018_CAT (DUPLICATES VOQ 10089025- SAME VIN/DRIVER)
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND HAD THE WORK DONE ON JULY 1, 2004. VEHICLE HAD ONLY 100 MILES. ON AUGUST 13,2004 THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS FAILED, AND THE TAIL LIGHTS WERE OUT. ON AUGUST 23, VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. CONSUMER PARKED THE VEHICLE AND THE LOCKS AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCKED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL RUNNING. ALSO, THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS RUNNING WHEN THE KEY WAS NOT IN THE IGNITION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING SERVICE MESSAGE INDICATED TO CONSUMER THAT POWER STEERING COLUMN FAILED. AS RESULT, CONSUMER HAD TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP RESET THE COMPUTER THREE TIMES, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK EA04018_CAT
WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED. WITHOUT CONSUMER HAD SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS OF BEING REAR ENDED. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILED AND STEERING COLUMN WAS DEFECTIVE. THERE WAS A FIVE SECOND WARNING THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. *AK *NM EA04018_CAT
FIRST TWO OCCURRENCES I WOULD BE COMPLETELY STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT AND MY MALIBU WOULD GO COMPLETELY DEAD. NO WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH WOULD LIGHT UP. THE THIRD OCCURRENCE MY HUSBAND WAS BACKING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT AT HOME AND THE CAR WENT DEAD AGAIN. ALSO, AT TIMES WHEN TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION THE CAR WOULD TAKE 3 TIMES TO START. THE FIRST TIME THE ENGINE WOULD JUST CLICK LIKE THE ENGINE WASN'T TURNING OVER SO TO SPEAK, THEN THE OTHER ATTEMPTS OF TRYING TO TURN THE CAR ON IT WOULD JUST MAKE THIS GOD AWFUL NOISE LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO START BUT NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN. I AM CURRENTLY FILING THE FLORIDA LEMON LAW ON THIS VEHICLE.*AK
WHEN DRIVING, THE VEHICLE TO CUT OFF. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY DEFECTS. *JB
1) FIRST FAILURE AT 4589 MILES. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON WINDING TWO LANE ROAD AT NIGHT. WARNING CHIME SOUNDED, "WRENCH" AND "POWER STEERING FAILURE" APPEARED. WITHIN A FEW SECONDS THE PS COMPLETELY FAILED MAKING VEHICLE VERY HARD TO DRIVE. DEALER CONTACTED FACTORY REP THEN ORDERED AND INSTALLED NEW COLUMN. 2) SECOND FAILURE AT 9870 MILES. TURNING AS I BACKED OUT OF DRIVEWAY, PS FAILED. STOPPED AND TURNED ENGINE OFF. CALLED DEALER. STARTED CAR AND IT WAS FINE. DEALER REPLACED COLUMN AGAIN. 3) THIRD FAILURE AT 10167 MILES. WHILE DRIVING UP A STEEP, WINDING TWO LANE MOUNTAIN ROAD NEAR HERE WITH HEAVY SATURDAY AFTERNOON TRAFFIC, PS BECAME STIFF AND THEN THERE WAS SOME INVOLUNTARY MOVEMENT BACK AND FORTH. I DO NOT KNOW WHETHER WARNINGS SOUNDED, I WAS TOO BUSY TRYING TO AVOID TRAFFIC WHILE LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD. CALLED DEALER AND WAS TOWED TO SHOP SOME 20 MILES AWAY. SUBSEQUENT CHECKS AND EXTENSIVE TEST DRIVING FOUND NO STORED CODES AND NO MALFUNCTIONS. DEALER SAID HE COULD NOT HELP ME ANY FURTHER AND SUGGESTED I CALL GM CUSTOMER SATISFACTION, WHICH I DID AND THE FORMAL COMPLAINT PROCESS IS IN PROGRESS. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER ALSO NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WAS VERY STIFF WHILE LOADING THE CAR. SINCE MY WIFE AND I FEEL STRONGLY THAT THE CAR IS NOT SAFE,SHE DOES NOT DRIVE IT AND I DRIVE IT CAREFULLY AND SLOWLY ONLY AS NECESSARY.*AK EA04018_CAT
WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON. AS A RESULT STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK EA04018_CAT
POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. SPEED APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, TRAVELLING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE (2004 CHEV MALIBU LT) HOME, BUT EXIT RAMPS AND CORNERS VERY DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE. PROBLEM CLEARED WITH TURNING OFF AND RESTARTING MOTOR. THIS WAS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE. EA04018_CAT
THE INCIDENT HAPPENED TWICE. THE FIRST TIME OCCURRED IN A LOW SPEED TURN. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED 2 MONTHS AGO. THE SECOND OCCURRED WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. IN THE SECOND INCIDENT, ALL ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE WAS LOST SUDDENLY MAKING THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO STEER. A WARNING INDICATOR "WRENCH/CAR" SHOWS, AUDIO ALARM SOUNDS, AND A MESSAGE IS DISPLAYED ON THE RADIO MESSAGE DISPLAY "POWER STEERING OFF". I PUT THE CAR IN PARK. SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED. WORKED OK. *AK EA04018_CAT
BOTH FRONT SIDE WINDOWS DID NOT ROLL DOWN. ALSO, A STEERING COLUMN PROBLEM. VEHICLE PULLED TO LEFT. DEALERSHIP INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND COULD NOT FIX IT. *AK EA04018_CAT
WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, I NOTICED A "SCRAPING" SOUND FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND ON THE DATE THAT I WAS TAKING THE CAR TO HAVE THE PROBLEM INVESTIGATED, THE ENTIRE POWER STEERING WENT OUT (WHILE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 35 MPH) AND I HAD EXTREME DIFFICULTY MANAGING THE VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY ARRIVE IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE DEALERSHIP. I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR 3 DAYS FOR THIS PROBLEM TO BE REMEDIED AND HAVE YET TO RECEIVE MY CAR. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THEY WILL PROBABLY NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN, ETC. I'M STILL WAITING FOR THE RESULTS. I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY GM HASN'T NOTIFIED CUSTOMERS THAT THERE IS THIS POTENTIAL SINCE IT SEEMS THAT IT COULD BE DANGEROUS. *AK EA04018_ CAT
MY DAUGHTER'S 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU ACCELERATES AT DIFFERENT TIMES WHILE DRIVING. (THE CRUISE CONTROL IS NOT ENGAGED!). MOST TIMES IT HAS BEEN SITTING IN A HOT PARKING LOT AND IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY (35 - 50 MPH). SHE HAS HAD TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, PUT BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE, PUT IT IN PARK - IT STILL ACCELERATES. SHE HAD HER CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING. IT OCCURED AGAIN A FEW MORE TIMES SINCE THEN. IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON JULY 30 WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. SHE IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, HAD IT TOWED THERE, AND ALSO CONTACTED GM. THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG AGAIN AND MADE HER FEEL LIKE SHE WAS IGNORANT. THE SERVICE MANAGER HAD A BLACK BOX INSTALLED, WHERE IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN, SHE CAN PUSH THE BUTTON AND IT WILL RECORD THE INSTANCES. SHE HAS HAD PEOPLE RIDING WITH HER WHEN IT HAPPENS AND THEY ALSO WILL ATTEST TO THAT THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. SHE IS AFRAID TO CONTINUE DRIVING HER CAR AND WE DON'T WANT HER TO EXPERIENCE OR CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. SHE MAY NOT BE AS LUCKY THIS TIME EVEN THOUGH SHE HAS THE"BLACK BOX" TO RECORD THE INCIDENT. WE DON'T WANT TO RISK OUR DAUGHTER'S LIFE FOR A MACHINE. PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. CONNIE CRONIN (MOTHER). *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND WOULDN'T TURN IN ANY DIRECTION. WHEN THIS OCCURRED A WRENCH ICON ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER VEERED OFF THE HIGHWAY, TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, AND RESTARTED IT. THIS UNLOCKED THE STEERING WHEEL. A SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE INDICATED THAT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES,THAT RESULTED IN ACCIDENTS. *AK EA04018_CAT
ISSUES THAT AROSE WITH MY 2004 MALIBU JULY 7, 2004. THESE ISSUES ARE STILL WORRISOME TO ME EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE FORT WAYNE KELLEY CHEVROLET SERVICE PEOPLE. EA04018_CAT. *AK I ENCOUNTERED SEVERAL DANGEROUS ISSUES WITH THE AUTOMOBILE. THE FIRST ISSUE OCCURRED AT A STOP SIGN. I WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED AT THE STOP SIGN WHEN MY STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO PULSATE UNCONTROLLABLY. UPON ACCELERATION IT SEEMED TO SUBSIDE UNTIL I TRIED TO TURN LEFT AND AT THAT TIME I HAD NO CONTROL OVER MY STEERING. I WAS ABLE TO GET INTO THE CORRECT LANE FINALLY AND THANKFULLY I WAS ONLY 1 MILE FROM MY HOME. AS I TURNED INTO MY NEIGHBORHOOD THE STEERING ONCE AGAIN BEGAN TO PULSATE LEAVING ME WITHOUT STEERING POWER AND I HAD TO BREAK UPON SOMEONES YARD IN ORDER NOT TO HIT A CHILD PLAYING IN THE STREET. THIS IS A HUGE CONCERN. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED KELLEY CHEVROLET. WE WERE ADDRESSED COURTEOUSLY YET I WAS STILL VERY ANXIOUS ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED&ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING MY DAUGHTER HAD A MALIBU JUST LIKE OURS. I HAVE A GRANDDAUGHTER WHO RIDES IN THAT CAR AND I WAS VERY NERVOUS ABOUT THE FACT THAT THIS MAY ALSO HAPPEN TO MY DAUGHTER. KELLEY DID ADDRESS THE PROBLEM PROMPTLY AND GAVE US INFORMATION CONCERNING DOCUMENT ID# 1521111 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU SERVICE INFORMATION ( NOISY STEERING COLUMN, LACK OF POWER STEERING ASSIST, DTCS C0460 AND C0545, STEERING WHEEL MOVES SLIGHTLY BY ITSELF #04-02-35-009-MAY 24, 2004) MY STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT JUST NOISY, IT WAS PULSATING TO THE POINT
THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHEN CAR WAS FIRST STARTED IN THE MORNING, THE CAR HAD 1,000 MILES AT THAT TIME. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND WHEN HE CAME TO PICK IT UP THE POWER STEERING WORKED FINE, HE SAID THAT THE COMPUTER MIGHT HAVE BYPASSED IT WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED, I CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CAR HAD TO BE MALFUNCTIONING AT THE TIME THEY CHECKED IT OR THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE SECOND TIME THE POWER STEERING FAILED THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN AROUND 6 MI., THE CAR WAS IDLING AT THE TIME AND SHE TURNED THE MOTOR OFF AND TOOK THE KEY OUT AND THEN RESTARTED THE CAR THE STEERING WORKED OK THEN. THE THIRD TIME THE POWER STEERING FAILED WAS WHEN I WAS BACKING THE CAR IN THE GARAGE, AT THIS TIME THE CAR HAD 2,000 MILES ON IT. WHEN I RESTARTED IT THE POWER STEERING WORKED OK. I CONTACTED MONTGOMERY CHEVROLET AND TALKED TO THE SERVICE MAN THERE AND HE SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T DO ANY THING ABOUT IT UNLESS IT WAS ACTING UP AT THE TIME AND IT WASN'T. HE SAID THAT I COULD LEAVE IT. IT WAS 1,000 MILES BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED AND AROUND 100 MILES MORE ON THE THIRD TIME. WE WERE LUCKY THAT ALL OF THE FAILURE HAPPENED IN OUT DRIVEWAY OR IN THE GARAGE. *AK PE04031_CAT *SC
THE VEHICLE ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILED PRIOR TO THE CONSUMER ACTING ON THE NOTICE RECEIVED ON JUNE 21 ( NHTSA#04V190000). THE FAILURE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT ON JUNE 28, 2004 WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 20 TO 25 MPH. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE BUT THE ABS DID NOT ACTIVATE. AS A RESULT THE DRIVER HIT THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. *NM *NM
THE LIGHT WITH A WRENCH CAME ON MANY TIMES. HAD CAR SERVICED THREE DIFFERENT TIMES (2/19/04, 3/04/04, AND 03/11/04). AFTER THE THIRD SERVICE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT LOOSE GROUND AT LEFT CORE SUPPORT WAS THE PROBLEM.*AK
WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE STEERING COLUMN WAS HARD TO STEER. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT. THE STEERING LIGHT DID NOT APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MECHANIC RECOMMENDED THAT THE CONSUMER CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR TESTING. THE CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE. *AK PE04031_CAT GM RECOMMENDED THAT THE CONSUMER REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN. *SC *JB
RECALL NOT COMPLETELY FIXED BY DEALER! THE ABS CONTROLLER WAS REPROGRAMMED, BUT THE INSTALLATION OF A RETAINER IN THE FRONT SAFETY BELT CONNECTORS WAS NOT REPAIRED! THE DEALER SAID THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY SUCH PART TO INSTALL!*AK
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
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