2004 Chevrolet Malibu Steering

DRIVING THROUGH A RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT THE CHECK POWER STEERING MESSAGE FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THEN THE POWER STEERING JUST STOPPED FUNCTIONING. CAR WAS VERY HARD TO MANEUVER AND STEER. ONCE RESTARTED, POWER STEERING RESUMED. SINCE THAT INCIDENT, THE POWER STEERING FAILED ONCE AGAIN WHILE CAR WAS IN PARK ON 6/20/2011. THEN ONCE CAR WAS RESTARTED THE POWER STEERING RESET ITSELF. VERY VERY DANGEROUS!!!

WHILE DRIVING, THE SERVICE WARNING LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WOULD GO AWAY. I AM LEFT WITH NO POWER ASSISTED STEERING. THIS IS A VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM TO HAVE. MOST OF THE TIME I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PULL OVER, SHUT OFF THE CAR, AND THEN STEERING WOULD COME BACK. THIS MORNING, THE STEERING WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING ON A CURVY ROAD. FIRST THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK WHILE ENTERING A TURN, THEN I ALMOST LOST CONTROL AND HIT ANOTHER CAR HEAD-ON WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR. AS I SEARCHED THE INTERNET I DISCOVERED THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED THOUSANDS OF TIMES. HOW CAN THIS NOT BE A RECALL? IS IT BECAUSE ENOUGH PEOPLE HAVEN'T DIED YET? *TT

ELECTRIC ASSIST POWER STEERING UNIT FAILED. NEARLY CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING A RECURRING FAILURE IN WHICH THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. WHENEVER THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE WOULD BE NAVIGATED TO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND SHUT OFF. AFTER ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO COOL DOWN IT WOULD RESTART AND FUNCTION NORMALLY. DURING THE FAILURE, A POWER STEERING SERVICE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED DURING WARM WEATHER AND THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED THE BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

MY 2004 CHEVY MALIBU IS HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THE POWER STEERING ASSIST SYSTEM. YOU LOSE POWER STEERING WITHOUT WARNING. I CONTACTED CHEVY OVER THIS AND THEY PRETTY MUCH SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. BUT THERE IS NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THIS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED ABNORMALLY AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL. HE ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE, STATING THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND THE STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING MOTOR. AFTER THE REPAIR THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 260,000.

WAS MAKING A SHARP RIGHT TURN FROM A FULL STOP AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE POWER STEERING CEASED WORKING AS WE TURNED INTO TRAFFIC. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED (5/3/2011), BUT WE HAVE ONLY OWNED THE CAR SINCE 3/11/11. I HAVE A MECHANIC LOOKING INTO THE ISSUE, BUT ONLINE SEARCHES REVEAL THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH 2004 CHEVY MALIBU'S AND WAS PART OF THE REASON FOR RECALLS OF THE 2005 MODEL. HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AS THE STEERING BECOMES ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE AND THE ONLY KNOWN REMEDY IS TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTART AFTER WHICH THE POWER STEERING COMES BACK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERMITTENT FAILURE IN WHICH THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. DURING THE FAILURES, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IN ORDER TO REGAIN POWER STEERING, THE VEHICLE WOULD BE RESTARTED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED A MODULE WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNAVAILABLE.

MY MALIBU MAXX POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVER INTERMITTENTLY. I HAD THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED IN 2008 FOR ANOTHER ISSUE. I KNOW SOME DAY THE STEERING WILL FAIL AT A MOST CRITICAL TIME. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS AND OTHER STEERING COLUMN PROBLEMS CONTINUE TO OCCUR. I CAN NOT BUY ANOTHER CHEVY WITH THIS KIND OF WORKMANSHIP. NOT LOOKING GOOD FOR THE BAILOUT REPAYMENT PROMISE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING STOPPED FUNCTIONING WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO APPLY EXTREME FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND MANEUVER THE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY MALIBU. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ITS 48K SERVICE AND HAD STEERING TROUBLE EVER SINCE. THE PROBLEM STARTED OUT EASY TO TURN ONE WAY AND HARD TO TURN THE OTHER, THEN THE DIFFICULTY WOULD GO AWAY. AFTER A WEEK OF THIS, IT WENT OUT COMPLETELY WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT. I HAD NO POWER ASSISTED STEERING AT ALL AND ALMOST HIT A PARKED CAR. AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE AND STARTING IT BACK UP AGAIN, IT STARTED WORKING. DID BILL GATES HELP BUILD THIS CAR??? SEARCHING THE WEB I FOUND MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME TYPE OF CONCERN. ONE PERSON LOST CONTROL AND HIT A GUARDRAIL. THIS HAS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. THANK YOU! *TR

I BOUGHT MY 2004 CHEVY MALIBU ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO FROM A USED CAR LOT. A DAY AND A HALF AFTER I GOT THE CAR I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING. IT WOULD JUST LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. IT IS ALL I CAN DO TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I COULD BE KILLED AND SO COULD MY KIDS WHILE RIDING WITH ME. I HAD A USED POWER STEERING MOTOR PUT ON, NOW I FIND OUT THAT I REALLY SHOULD HAVE HAD THE WHOLE POWER STEERING STUFF REPLACED. ALL TOGETHER THE POWER STEERING HAS DONE THIS ABOUT 6 TIMES SINCE I GOT THE CAR. AFTER DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH ONLINE, I FIND THAT THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. HOW LONG DO WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THERE TO BE A RECALL. DOES THERE HAVE TO BE A LOT OF DEATHS BEFORE SOMEONE WILL DO SOMETHING. IT IS A SHAME THAT GM DOES NOT CARE MORE ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS THAN THEY DO THEMSELVES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTING MOVING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD ALSO OCCUR WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE STEERING RACK WAS REPLACED BUT THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BECOMING UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND HE WAS FEARFUL THAT THE FAILURE WOULD CAUSE A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY MALIBU AND LOST POWER STEERING ON THE HIGHWAY ALMOST CRASHED INTO THE DIVIDER. MY PREGNANT WIFE WAS IN THE CAR WITH ME AT THE TIME. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON THE WEB I FIND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL CHEVY MALIBU'S WHY IS THERE NO RECALL!!! SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED IN ONE OF THESE CARS LUCKY ENOUGH IT WASN'T MY PREGNANT WIFE OR I !!!! THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH AND LOST ALL STEERING ABILITIES PULLED OVER THE VEHICLE AND SHUT THE CAR OFF AND THEN TURNED IT BACK ON AND IT WAS AS IF THE PROBLEM HAD GONE AWAY DROVE ABOUT ANOTHER MILE AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED. WE HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN ONCE ALREADY, NOW IT LOOKS LIKE WE WILL HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN. WHY IS THE AUTO MAKER NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AS STATED ABOVE IT CONTINUES TO BE AN ON GOING PROBLEM IN ALL CHEVY MALIBU"S REGARDLESS OF THE YEAR!!! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH IN THE DRIVEWAY, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTED IT, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY FOR TEN MINUTES BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR AT VARIOUS SPEEDS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A FAULTY SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

I HAVE A 2004 MALIBU MAXX AND I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND LOST MY POWER STEERING IN THE VEHICLE WHILE EXITING ON A RAMP THAT TURNED 360 DEGREES... I SUDDENLY HAD TO FIGHT WITH ALL MY MIGHT TO KEEP THE CAR ON THE ROAD AND NEARLY CRASHED. I'VE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE AND IT IS A HIGHLY KNOWN ISSUE ON THE INTERNET. IF I TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT MOMENTS LATER IT WILL WORK FOR A WHILE THEN FAIL AGAIN UNEXPECTEDLY... DANGEROUS!!! VERY DANGEROUS! I'M IN THE PROCESS OF CONTACTING A GM SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR A FIX... BUT PLEASE HELP THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DRIVERS ON THE ROAD WHO ARE UNSUSPECTING OF THIS KNOWN ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20- 60 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY LOCKED AND THEN RELEASES INDEPENDENTLY WITHIN SECONDS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED SPORADICALLY WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE SERVICE ENGINE AND POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD RESET ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

THE ELECTRONIC STEERING HAS FAILED WHILE TURNING OR ACCELERATING. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. THE STEERING RETURNS ONCE THE RPM S SETTLE OUT. THE STEERING SYSTEMS HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND WORKED ON SEVERAL TIMES. CHEVY HAS ISSUES BEING ABLE TO SUPPLY REPLACEMENT PARTS AND RESOLVING THIS ISSUE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED PREVIOUSLY BUT THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER OR THE DEALER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD RESULT IN A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WILL QUIT WITH LITTLE TO NO WARNING MAKING THE CAR EXTREMELY HARD TO STEER SAFELY. THE PROBLEM ONLY SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN MOVING, I'VE NEVER LOST STEERING IN SAY A PARKING LOT, IT HAS BEEN ON THE ROAD EVERY TIME. USUALLY THE LIGHT ON THE DASH WILL LIGHT UP AND WARN YOU AND MOST TIMES NOTING HAPPENS, OTHER TIMES YOU'LL LOSE ALL POWER STEERING ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. TWICE I HAVE LOST STEERING FIRST, THEN THE LIGHT CAME ON LATER. NO RHYME OR REASON TO WHEN IT HAPPENS, IT CAN BE WHEN MAKING A TURN AND I ONCE A FEW WEEKS AGO LOST IT 4 SEPARATE TIMES WHILE ON A FREEWAY NOT MAKING TURNS. TURNING THE CAR OFF, THEN BACK ON HAS FIXED IT ALMOST EVERY TIME THOUGH TWICE IT TOOK MORE THAN ONE TRY. THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED I DID RUN OFF THE ROAD AS IT WAS AFTER A LARGE TURN AND I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE WHEEL STRAIGHTENED UP IN TIME TO NOT RUN BOTH RIGHT SIDE TIRES OFF THE ROAD, THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I LOST STEERING AND DID NOT GET A WARNING LIGHT. WHEN THE STEERING IS OFF IT IS MUCH, MUCH WORSE THAT A CAR WITHOUT NORMAL POWER STEERING. I HAVE DRIVEN OLD CARS THAT HAD NO POWER STEERING AND CAN HANDLE THOSE FINE, I WOULD SAY THE EFFORT REQUIRED AFTER LOOSING THE ELECTRIC STEERING IS OVER TWICE WHAT IS NEEDED FOR NORMAL CARS. I AM A LARGE MAN AND IT IS QUITE A STRUGGLE FOR ME, MY WIFE CANNOT HARDLY MOVE THE WHEEL AT ALL AND CERTAINLY NOT SAFELY. THIS APPEARS TO BE A PRETTY WIDESPREAD PROBLEM, SEE THIS LINK FOR A FEW EXAMPLES. HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/CHEVROLET/MALIBU/2004/STEERING/POWER_STEERING_GOING_OUT_INTERMITTENTLY I FEEL THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO THE TIMES IT HAPPENS, AND THE SEVERE IMPACT ON DRIVE-ABILITY WITH LITTLE, TO AT TIME NO WARNING AT ALL. THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME! *TR

THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 45 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL ALL THE SUDDEN DROPPED ALL THE WAY DOWN AND THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN SLID IN CAUSING THE CAR TO SWERVE SOME. I PULLED OVER AND AFTER ATTEMPTING TO LOCK THE STEERING COLUMN BACK INTO PLACE WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET IT TO LOCK INTO PLACE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST MONTH. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF I'M DRIVING OR BACKING IT JUST ALL THE SUDDEN DOES IT. IF YOU TOUCH THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE THE CAR IS TURNED OFF IT WILL DROP DOWN. AND IF IT IS IN A DOWN POSITION IT WILL SLIDE IN AND OUT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I FEAR THAT THE NEXT TIME I MIGHT NOT BE SO LUCK TO KEEP CONTROL. I ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR YESTERDAY WHEN I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE BECAUSE AS I WAS TURNING TO WHEEL IT MOVED OUT OF POSITION CAUSING THE TURN TO GO ANOTHER DIRECTION.

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY,MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT MY CAR OFF AND STARTED IT UP AGAIN AND IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN.GM HAS RECALLED OTHER MODELS FOR DOING THE SAME THING,BUT NOT THE 2004 MALIBU. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET KILLED UNLESS GM TAKES CARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE 2004 CHEVY. MALIBU HAS ELECTRIC ASSISTED POWER STEERING. THE THING IS THAT GM,THE DEALERS AND NHTSA ALL KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM,BUT ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING UNTIL PEOPLE ARE HURT AND KILLED. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW AND HAVE TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WHILE MAKING A TURN, THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN INTO THE MEDIAN CAUTIOUSLY AND TURNED OFF. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THERE WAS NO RECALL RELATED TO THE DEFECT. THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN NHTSA ITEM NUMBER 10018531 (STEERING: ELECTRIC POWER; ASSIST SYSTEM). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000. UPDATED 09/21/11*LJ UPDATED 10/03/11