2004 Chevrolet Malibu Steering
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
THE STEERING ASSIST STOPS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. I AM AN ELDERLY PERSON AND IT MAKES IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER AT TIMES. IT DOESN'T NORMALLY DO IT WHEN GOING OVER 35 MPH. WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE IT SEEMS TO DO IT MORE. I MAY JUST NOTICE IT MORE IN THE COLD BECAUSE I DRIVE SLOWER IN THE BAD WEATHER.
WHEN I'M DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE POWER STEERING JUST GOES OUT ON ME. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID IT WAS UNDER THE RECALL AND SENT ME TO A CHEVROLET DEALER (BECKLEY BUICK GMC AUTOMALL) THEY LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THE RECALL WAS FIXED ON 04/18/2017 AND THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. THEY TOLD ME IT NEEDED A NEW POWER STEERING MODULE, COLUMN. I TOOK IT BACK TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT IT WAS COVERED UNDER THE RECALL AND TO CONTACT CHEVROLET AND IF THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING TO CONTACT NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. I HAVE TWO CHILDREN AND THIS IS A CONCERN FOR ME BECAUSE IT JUST GOES OUT WHILE I'M DRIVING AND IF I WRECK AND KILL US OR HURT SOMEONE ELSE BECAUSE I CAN'T TURN THE STEERING WHEEL.
AS I BEGAN TOO TURN WHILE DRIVING MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT CAUSING ME TO ALMOST HAVE AN ACCIDENT , IT HAS HAPPEN OTHER TIMES AS WELL . WHEN WE SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT THE POWER STEERING IS FINE FOR A WHILE . IT WAS ON RECALL FOR POWER STEERING FAILURE AND WAS REPAIRED BACK IN 2015 , NOW IT'S A PROBLEM AGAIN , SO GM IS FREE OF THE PROBLEM SINCE THEY REPAIRED IT ONCE !!!!! SO PLEASE HELP US ! WE CAN'T AFFORD THESE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS FOR A PROBLEM THEY CLAIMED TO HAVE REPAIRED !!!!!
I PURCHASED MY USED 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU NOVEMBER 23, 2016, THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS. I WAS IN MOTION MERGING INTO PHILADELPHIA'S SCHUYKILL EXP WHEN MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN PLACE FOR 2-3 SECONDS AS I WAS GOING OVER 55 MPH ON A SLIGHT TURN. I REMEMBER THE WRENCH LIGHTING UP IN THE TOP LEFT CORNER OF THE DASHBOARD AND READING 'POWER STEERING' MESSAGE ON MY THE SCREEN. THE STEERING WHEEL STIFFENS AS IF YOU HAVE THAT CAR THAT RUNS OUT OF STEERING FLUID. ANOTHER INCIDENT HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE IN MOTION, WHEN I WAS COMING DOWN PHILADELPHIA PIKE MERGING ON THE I-95 SOUTH. AGAIN, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS FOR A FEW SECONDS, READS POWER STEERING ON THE SCREEN WITH THE ORANGE WRENCH IN THE BOTTOM LEFT CORNER OF THE DASHBOARD. IT'S FRIGHTENING BECAUSE MY CAR COULD GO IN ANOTHER LANE AND HIT AN INCOMING CAR, OR VICE VERSA. THE FIRST TIME I COULDN'T PULL OVER TO RECOOPERATE BECAUSE THERE ARE NO SHOULDER LANES. I'M STILL HAVING THIS ISSUE AND IT HAS BEEN TWO YEARS. EVEN WHEN I AM PARALLEL PARKED SOMETIMES, MY STEERING WHEEL TIGHTENS AND I CAN'T FULLY TURN THE WHEEL. WHEN I CALLED CHEVROLET THE FIRST TIME, THE REPRESENTATIVE ASSURED ME THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS SHOWN FOR MY VIN NUMBER. I WAS DIRECTED TO GO TO CHEVY AND TOLD ME IT WAS A STEERING COLUMN ISSUE. THE COST AND LABOR ITSELF IS STEEP. I CALL TO FOLLLOW UP AND THEY BASICALLY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF THE TIME FRAME FOR THE WARRANTY WHICH DOESN'T MAKE SENSE BECAUSE NO MANUFACTURER EXPECTS TO RECALL TO HAPPEN.. AND PAYING FOR THAT REPAIR IS NOT EVEN A GUARANTEE THAT IT WILL FIX THE ISSUE BASED ON THE OTHER COMPLAINTS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. ALSO, 'POWER STEERING' DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO BILLION AUTOMOTIVE (600 W. 41ST, SIOUX FALLS, SD) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE SENSOR WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
WHEN MAKE A SLOW OR HARD TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION POWER STEERING SEEMS TO STOP WORKING AND STEERING WHEEL REQUIRES MORE EFFORT TO TURN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING AT A STOP SIGN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON TO ALLOW THE STEERING TO RETURN TO NORMAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND POWER STEERING WON'T WORK
THIS CAR HAS TOTAL STEERING LOSS THAT IS NOT PREDICTABLE. THE STEERING RECALL DID NOT FIX THIS VEHICLE. DASH BOARD LIGHT COMES ON DURING THE INTERMITTENT ELECTRIC STEERING FAILURE. THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE CAR IS MOVING AT CRUISING SPEED AND USUALLY LASTS ABOUT 2-4 SECONDS RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE STEERING ABILITY SEIZED AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN TO MCCURLEY CHEVROLET (1325 N AUTOPLEX WAY, PASCO, WA 99301) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V153000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
MY ELECTRIC STEERING SOMETIMES LOCKS UP AND CANT STEER ANYMORE
THE ELECTRONIC STEERING ASSIST WOULD FAIL WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOOSE STEERING AND HAVE TO COME TO A STOP AND TURN VEHICLE OFF TO AVOID A CRASH. IT IS SCAREY AND DANGEROUS. MINE ISN'T THE ONLY MALIBU MAXX THAT HAS HAD THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM.
CONTINUED LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING AND PARKED POSITIONS ON HIGHWAY, TOWN AND DRIVEWAY. RECALL WAS SAID TO HAVE BEEN DONE. PROBLEMS CONSIST ERROR MESSAGE ON RADIO, DASH, ERRATIC SHAKING OF STEERING COLOMN, LOSS OF POWER STEERING.
POWER STEERING KEEPS GOING OUT EVEN AFTER IT GOT FIXED DURING THE FIRST RECALL
I LOSE POWER STEERING ASSIST WHEN I'M DRIVING. USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED OR RANDOMLY WHILE I AM DRIVING.
THERE WAS A RECALL AN THEY CLAIM IT WAS FIXED BUT EXACT THING ACCURSED AGAIN AN WE HAD PAY SEVEN HUNDRED AN SOME DOLLARS THE WOULDN'T COVER IT FOR POWER STERN
WAS TURNING INTO PARKING LOT LOST STEERING SYMBOL CAME ON DASH FOUND OUT FROM SOME ONE THAT WAS HELPING YOU CANT ADD FLUID IT IS ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING ASSIST SYSTEM SOMETHING IS WRONG I LOOKED UP IT SAID THERE WAS A RECALL AT ONE TIME FOR THIS BUT WHEN I CHECKED MY VIN IT DID NOT HAVE A RECALL THIS IS DANGEROUS I CANT BE IN TRAFFIC AND THIS HAPPEN MY PHONE NUMBER IS ([XXX]) I NEED THIS FIXED SO I CAN DRIVE I HAVE READ A LOT ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON LINE MINE NEEDS TO BE FIXED I CANT AFFORD AN ACCIDENT OR THE REPAIRS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CHAPMAN CHEVROLET (6925 ESSINGTON AVE, PHILADELPHIA, PA); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE STEERING WHEEL FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AS IF THE POWER STEERING IS EMPTY WHEN I MAKE FULL WIDE TURNS. I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON TO GET FULL ACCESSIBILITY TO THE STEERING WHEEL.
MY MALIBU WOULD LOSE POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. IF I SHUT OFF THE CAR AND STARTED IT BACK UP, THE POWER STEERING WOULD BE BACK. I THEN GOT A RECALL NOTICE ABOUT THE ISSUE SO I TOOK IT IN. THE POWER STEERING WORKED FOR A COUPLE YEARS THEN SUDDENLY WENT OUT COMPLETELY. I CAN NOW NO LONGER GET THE ISSUE FIXED. IT'S WORSE THAN IT WAS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT OPTIONS I HAVE.
POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT. WHILE IN PARK.
THE PROBLEM STARTED AS THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD CONTINUOUSLY BOUNCE TO THE LEFT AND TO THE RIGHT, ALSO COULD BE DESCRIBED AS A WOBBLE WHEN THE CAR WOULD BE SITTING STILL. IF AND WHEN THIS WOULD HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING, IT WOULD PULL THE CAR TO THE LEFT OR TO THE RIGHT. ON TOP OF THIS "WOBBLE" THE POWER STEERING ONLY WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO AND WILL QUIT WHILE DRIVING OR NOT BE WORKING WHEN YOU START THE CAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON THE PRETENCE THAT THE CAR SHOULD FALL UNDER RECALL 14V153000 RELEASED IN 2014. HOWEVER THE DEALER AND GM DISAGREES, EVEN THOUGH THE DEALER HAS CONFIRMED THE EPS IN THE STEERING COLUMN HAS GONE BAD AND THE POWER STEERING MOTOR/MODULE IS ALSO BAD AND NEEDS REPLACED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE STARTED TWO DAYS AGO. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,389. *TT CONSUMER STATED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THERE IS NO STEERING PUMP ON TOP.*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, THE STEERING ABILITY SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V153000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
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Quick Summary
The 2004 Chevrolet Malibu has 870 Steering complaints on file. 30 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.