2004 Chevrolet Malibu Classic Steering Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL INDEPENDENTLY TURNED TO THE LEFT WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON BUT FAILED TO FIX THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RACK AND PINION DETACHED FROM THE SUBFRAME AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONLY THE BUSHING WAS REPLACED AND NOT THE RACK AND PINION. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED ON ANOTHER OCCASION THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT TO REVERSE OR GO INTO FORWARD GEAR WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFT CABLE WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,000.

NHTSA ID

11311038

Incident

Apr 3, 2019

Mileage

157,000 mi

FOR SOME REASON THE ENTIRE INTERIOR TRIM ON THE DOOR PANELS HAVE COME UNGLUED AND DETACHED FROM THE DOORS. IT LOOKS TERRIBLE. I RECENTLY RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE STEERING. OF COURSE, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS AND NOW THE NOTICE SAYS MY CAR MUST HAVE LESS THAN 150K MILES ON IT. I DARE SAY THERE ARE NOT MANY 2004 VEHICLES WITH LESS THAN 150K MILES? MINE IS AROUND 164K. WE USE TO SPRAY GREASE ON THE JOINT WHERE IT HITS WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. I HAD BEEN TOLD A DEALER WOULD WANT TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE RACK N PINION ON THE VEHICLE, BUT THAT WOULD NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. GUESS I AM JUST OUT OF LUCK.

NHTSA ID

10716363

Incident

Sep 24, 2013

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SENSOR AND THE SERVICE ENGINE SENSOR KEPT RANDOMLY ILLUMINATING AND THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT ALSO EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY REMOVING THE KEY AND GETTING THE KEY TO TURN OVER INTO AN ON POSITION TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HEARD A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH OCCURRED FREQUENTLY AND THE NOISE CONTINUED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND INDICATED THAT THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED FOR MONTHS AND WAS NOT ABLE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10659331

Incident

Oct 1, 2014

Mileage

100,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND MY CAR CHIMED AND LOST ALL POWER STEERING FOR APPROXIMATELY 3-4 SECONDS AND THEN THE POWER CAME BACK. THIS TYPE OF POWER LOSS HAS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE SINCE I HAVE OWNED MY VEHICLE WHICH I PURCHASED IN 2008. *TR

NHTSA ID

10615561

Incident

Jun 19, 2013

Mileage

49,000 mi

STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO CONTROL FELT MY CAR MOVING IN OUTSIDE LANES, THE NEXT MORNING I BEGAN TO PULL MY CAR OUT STEERING WHEEL WAS SO HARD TO TURN IT JUST BROKE AND STARTED SPINNING AROUND. I WAS IN TOTAL SHOCK AND HAPPY TO BE ALIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10605579

Incident

Feb 2, 2012

Mileage

109,000 mi

THE STEERING HAS GONE OUT TWICE ON ME NOW. SO I DID SOME RESEARCH AND IT SHOWS THERE IS A RECALL FOR STEERING PARTS BUT NOT FOR MY VIN # OF MY MALIBU? WHAT IS THE DEAL? *TR

NHTSA ID

10578030

Incident

Apr 3, 2014

Mileage

105,000 mi

AT FIRST, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AT RANDOM INTERVALS. THEN ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE CAR WAS MOVING. THE PROBLEM HAPPENED MORE FREQUENTLY AS TIME PROGRESSED. THEN THE CAR WOULD NOT START INTERMITTENTLY. FINALLY IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL. THE SHOP FOUND THE BAD PART WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH. TOTAL COST TO REPLACE THE SWITCH AND DO THE ASSOCIATED WORK WAS $900. *TR

NHTSA ID

10577110

Incident

Mar 1, 2013

Mileage

55,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND TOTALLY LOST POWER STEERING. I PULLED MY CAR INTO A PARKING LOT AND LET THE CAR SIT FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME WHERE I LOST POWER STEERING AGAIN WHILE PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR TO THE REPAIR SHOP A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER WHERE I HAD TO HAVE THE ENTIRE STEERING SYSTEM REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10569068

Incident

Feb 28, 2014

Mileage

163,000 mi

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD TO DROP OFF THE KIDS AT MY MOTHERS HOUSE AND POWER STEERING FAILED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10511747

Incident

May 13, 2013

Mileage

121,510 mi

I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE ROAD, AND THE YELLOW WRENCH POPPED UP,THE WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. ALSO, WHILE TURNING THE CAR THE WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS AT LEAST 3-4 TIMES A YEAR. MY BRAKE PEDDLE ACTS UP IN THE SNOWY MONTHS. WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE PEDDLE-THE PEDDLE JUMPS PUSHES UP AND DOWN INTO MY FEET. WHEN IT SNOWS, I WORRY ABOUT RUNNING INTO A CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10499314

Incident

Nov 25, 2010

Mileage

65,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RODE, STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO RESTART IGNITION- AS IF THE CAR IS RESETTING, IN ORDER FOR THE STEERING WHEEL TO TURN PROPERLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 1-2X/MONTH SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT. I OFTEN DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY AND ITS HAPPENED WHILE OTHER CARS ARE DRIVING AROUND ME. THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT TURN OR IT TAKES A GOOD AMOUNT OF FORCE TO MAKE THE WHEEL TURN. ITS QUITE DANGEROUS AND VERY SCARY. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE ARE NO WARRANTY'S OR RECALLS. CHECKED ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT OTHERS ARE HAVING A SIMILAR ISSUE. NOW I HAVE TO PAY MECHANIC TO FIX THE PART. *TR

NHTSA ID

10483594

Incident

Jul 19, 2012

Mileage

80,000 mi

1ST TIME:DRIVING IN THE DROP OFF AREA OF SON'S SCHOOL AND POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON MY WIFE. WE HAD TO SIGNAL THE OTHER CARS AROUND OUR CAR (2004 CHEVY MALIBU). MY WIFE COULD NOT MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL SO I HAD TO BACK THE CAR UP OUT OF THE CHILDREN' DROP OFF AREA WITH NO POWER STEERING INTO A PARKING SPACE AFTER ALL THE CHILDREN WERE DROPPED OFF. SECOND TIME:PER THE MESSAGE ON SERVICE INDICATOR POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON A MAIN ROAD IN OUR TOWN AFTER REPAIRS BY CERTIFIED CHEVROLET MECHANICS AT DON HEWLETT CHEVROLET WAS A YEAR LATER RIGHT AFTER THE WARRANTY WENT OUT. I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS SINCE THE WARRANTY WAS UP. THERE HAVE BEEN 46 COMPLAINTS ON A WEBSITE CALLED WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE AND THE 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU WAS RECALLED FOR THIS SAME ISSUE OF THE POWER STEERING FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10444081

Incident

Jan 6, 2011

Mileage

13,400 mi

THE POWER STEERING CONSTANTLY GOES OUT ON THIS CAR. I CAN BE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND IT WILL GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL, YET THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES. THE QUOTE I'VE BEEN GIVEN TO REPAIR IS OVER $500 AND SEVERAL PEOPLE HAD TO GET THE REPAIR DONE MORE THAN ONCE. CHEVY SHOULD DO A RECALL AND COMPENSATE THE CONSUMERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10430823

Incident

Oct 17, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. IN APRIL 2011, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE RACK AND PINON HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10425411

Incident

Feb 1, 2011

POWER STEERING GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING, TWICE IN THE LAST TWO DAYS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10413196

Incident

Jul 16, 2011

Mileage

19,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10392403

Incident

Mar 2, 2011

Mileage

80,000 mi

ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10386093

Incident

Feb 28, 2011

Mileage

115,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT IT WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,030.

NHTSA ID

10379729

Incident

Jan 31, 2011

Mileage

86,000 mi

2004 CHEVY MALIBU AT 30,000. MILES THE STEERING WENT OUT CLUNKING NOISE WHEN I TURN AT 42K IT DID IT AGAIN AT 68K IT DID IT AGAIN THIS TIME CHEVY WOULD NOT PAY FOR REPAIRS NO MORE WARRANTY IT HAPPENED AGAIN IN 2009 AND NOW IT'S IN THE SHOP FOR ANOTHER STEERING PROBLEM COST 1622.00 TO REPAIR PLUS RENTAL AR FOR THREE DAYS. CHEVY SAYS MY FAULT THE PROBLEMS ARE NOT RELATED. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND IT'S NOT ONE TWO OR EVEN THREE TIMES IT MANY TIMES.. *TR

NHTSA ID

10340879

Incident

Jun 29, 2010

Mileage

30,000 mi

WHILE COMING OFF THE HIGHWAY, I NOTICED I NO LONGER HAVE POWER STEERING. THE ENTIRE REST OF THE WAY HOME, NO POWER STEERING. I SEARCHED ON LINE TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RESERVOIR TO PUT MORE POWER STEERING FLUID IN, AND THERE APPEARS TO BE NONE AND I WILL HAVE TO FORK OUT OVER $500 FOR A NEW STEERING COLUMN. I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF ANY PROBLEM WITH THE 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU AND A POWER STEERING PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10333953

Incident

May 31, 2010

Mileage

49,364 mi

STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHIMMY WHILE IN MOTION, OFTEN ACCOMPANIED BY KNOCKING THAT IS HEARD AND ALSO FELT THROUGH THE STEERINGWHEEL WHILE APPLYING BRAKES, AND WOULD STOP ONLY WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO AN NEAR OR COMPLETE STOP. OTHER NOTABLE EVENTS INCLUDE A ROUGH VIBRATION WITH AN AUDIBLE REPETITIVE THUMPING THAT WAS FELT FROM THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL THAT WOULD SLIP ON REGULAR INTERVALS WHILE APPLYING BRAKES. THE FAILURE HAPPENED SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING MY 2 SPECIAL NEEDS BOYS TO SCHOOL. THE FAILURE STARTED WITH LITTLE WARNING IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL WHICH IS LOCATED RIGHT OFF THE BOULEVARD. I WAS ABLE TO BRING THE CAR SAFELY TO A STOP DUE TO THE 25MPH SCHOOL ZONE RULE. THE MAXIMUM SPEED LIMIT IS 35 DURING NON SCHOOL HOURS AND 40 MPH FURTHER DOWN THE BOULEVARD. THE POWER STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER WITH IN SECONDS BEFORE THE SERVICE (WRENCH) LIGHT CAME ON. I PARKED MY VEHICLE, AND CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO AN REPUTABLE CARE REPAIR SHOP BECAUSE THE CAR WASN'T SAFE FOR ME TO DRIVE. AFTER 50 MINUTES THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED AND WHEN THE DRIVER STARTED MY CAR, THE CAR WAS AGAIN STEER-ABLE AND THE MAINTENANCE LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ON. THE MECHANICS WERE UNSUCCESSFUL IN REPRODUCING THE STEERING MALFUNCTION. SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2009 , THE SAME FAILURE REPEATED ITSELF, SAME LOCATION SAME TIME AS BEFORE, THE MAINTENANCE LIGHT TURNED ON AND THEN UNLIKE THE FIRST EVENT ON SEPTEMBER 8TH, THE RADIO DISPLAYED AN POWERSTEERING FAILURE MESSAGE ON ITS' SCREEN. THE MECHANIC AT THE AUTO SHOP TOOK A LOOK AT MY CAR IMMEDIATELY AFTER HE SAW THE MAINTENANCE LIGHT, AND THE POWERSTEERING FAILURE MESSAGE. AFTER THE POWERSTEERING PART FROM BOB STALL CHEVROLET WAS DELIVERED, THE PART WAS THEN INSTALLED. I PAID OUT OF POCKET, AND DIDN'T FIND OUT UNTIL AFTER SERVICE WAS RENDERED, THAT A DISCOVERY WAS MADE BY THE SHOP WHILE SEARCHING FOR INFORMATION ABOUT MY CAR, THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL. I NEVER RECEIVED GM'S NOTICE. I HAVE THE OLD PART. PART INSTALLED IS NEW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10284892

Incident

Sep 8, 2009

2004 MALIBU CLASSIC WITH POWER STEERING PROBLEMS. **CC THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE POWER STEERING WENT COMPLETELY OUT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10182669

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

I KEPT HEARING A RATTLING IN MY CAR COMING FROM THE FRONT TIRES AREA. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING A "STEERING GEAR". MY CAR IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD, THOUGH IT HAS RELATIVELY HIGH MILEAGE. AFTER CONSULTING WITH OTHERS MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT CARS, I FOUND OUT THAT GM HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH STEERING GEARS IN THE PAST, AND THAT MY CAR IS DEFINITELY TOO "YOUNG" TO HAVE THAT PART NEEDING REPLACEMENT. IT'S A 2004 CHEVY MALIBU WITH 64K+ MILES ON IT.*JB

NHTSA ID

10165972

Incident

Aug 17, 2006

Mileage

60,001 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING ON THE VEHICLE LOCKS MOMENTARILY. THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WERE THE VEHICLE WAS TEST DRIVEN. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED.

NHTSA ID

10149045

Incident

Jun 1, 2005

Mileage

25,000 mi