RoadVitals

2005 Chevrolet Malibu Classic Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
20
Latest Sep 4, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
22%
of 92 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Classic submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 20 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming steering

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

AirbagsEngineSteering
Filed Sep 4, 2023

driving the car it just shuts off which results in no power no steering and no brakes possibly an ignition switch problem.

NHTSA ID
11542461
Incident
Sep 2, 2023
Driver assistanceOther / unspecifiedSteering
Filed Jun 2, 2018

I CAN'T USE POWER STEERING FLUID IN MY CAR BECAUSE I'VE BEEN TOLD IT'S ELECTRICAL. I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY APARTMENT BUILDING AND I CAME UP TO A RED LIGHT UP THE ROAD TO TURN LEFT. I STOPPED AT THE LIGHT FOR A MINUTE, AS THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I CONTINUED AN THATS WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. I COULDN'T BARELY TURN MY STEERING WHEEL AND ITS HARD AN THATS WHEN "POWER STEERING" POPPED UP ON MY DASH. MY STEERING WHEEL SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY AND I'M SCARED TO DRIVE IT AND ITS MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM MY JOB.

NHTSA ID
11099322
Incident
May 25, 2018
Mileage
208,029 mi
Steering
Filed May 15, 2018

2 YEARS AGO I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER REGARDING STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTION I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS REPLACED, LESS THAN A YEAR LATER THE ISSUES CONTINUED TO OCCUR. I'VE CALLED CAMELBACK CHEVROLET MULTIPLE TIMES AND LEFT MESSAGES FOR THE GENERAL MANAGER WITH NO RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEABLE DUE TO THIS RECALL.

NHTSA ID
11093984
Incident
Feb 2, 2017
Steering
Filed Oct 25, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO TURN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE TURNED SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO TURN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. WHILE DRIVING TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE RACK AND PINION WAS RUSTED AND DETACHED FROM THE FRAME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS REPLACED BY THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 153,000. *TT UPDATED 9/12/18*JB

NHTSA ID
11039645
Incident
Oct 13, 2017
Mileage
153,000 mi
Driver assistanceFuel systemSteering
Filed Dec 6, 2016

THE POWER STEERING KEEPS GOING OUT WHILE I'M DRIVING. THE BRAKES FELL WHEN ALL OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON.. WHEN I TRY TO PUMP GAS THE GAS COMES BACK OUT AT ME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10930106
Incident
Jan 2, 2016
Steering
Filed Sep 12, 2016

WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN, THERE WAS NO ABILITY TO TURN THE CAR. THE CAR DROVE ONTO A SIDEWALK. THE CAR WOULD NOT STEER. TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT TURN THE WHEELS. THERE WAS A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. I'M AFRAID OF WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I WAS ON THE FREEWAY OR IF THERE WERE PEOPLE ON THE SIDEWALK.

NHTSA ID
10905757
Incident
Sep 9, 2016
Mileage
130,000 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 28, 2015

STEARING MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS MY RAC N PINION AND SEVERAL COMPLAINT WERE REPORTED TO HIGHWAY SAFETY ABOUT THIS MATTER,

NHTSA ID
10778085
Incident
Sep 28, 2015
Driver assistanceSteering
Filed Mar 6, 2015

IGNITION KEY ISSUE IN MY 2005 CHEVY CLASSIC MALIBU WHEN THE CAR IS ON IN THE RUN POSITION WHEN THE CAR IS IN DRIVE AND PARK THE KEY CAN COME OUT BY TAKING IT OUT AND THE CAR IS STILL RUNNING. THE KEY IS ALSO LOOSE IT TENDS TO FALL OUT OF THE IGNITION AND THE CAR IS STILL RUNNING. THE CAR SHIFT GEAR FOR PARK AND DRIVE AND NEUTRAL WHEN YOU PULL IT BACK IT GETS STUCK ALL THE TIME SOMETIMES I ABLE TO MOVE IT FORWARD AND BACKWARDS WITHOUT HAVING TO PRESS THE BUTTON. THE CAR ALSO SHAKES DURING HIGH WINDS IT GOES LEFT AND RIGHT FROM HIGH WINDS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10692675
Incident
Jun 1, 2014
Steering
Filed Nov 19, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL NOTIFICATION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THE STEERING ABILITY SEIZED. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ID
10659282
Incident
Nov 7, 2014
Mileage
160,000 mi
BrakesElectricalSteering
Filed Jun 20, 2014

WHILE CHECKING OUT MY DAUGHTERS 2005 MALIBU CLASSIC FOR COMPLAINTS ABOUT INTERMITTENT AIRBAG LIGHT I HAPPENED TO SLIGHTLY TUG ON HER KEYCHAIN WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. I LOST POWER STEERING. I LOST POWER BRAKES. I COULD NOT RESTART THE CAR WHILE IT WAS MOVING. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL IT OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT WOULD NOT RESTART UNTIL I PUT THE SHIFT LEVER INTO PARK. I INVESTIGATED THIS ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND OTHER GM VEHICLES BEING RECALLED BUT NOT THIS ONE. I CALLED GM'S RECALL LINE. THEY SAID TO CONTACT MY DEALER. I ASKED THE DEALER TO MAKE SOME KEYS WITH A CENTER HOLE RATHER THAN A SLOT (AT MY EXPENSE) TO PREVENT THE IGNITION SWITCH FROM ROTATING TO ENGINE OFF WHEN A KEYCHAIN IS ATTACHED. THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DO IT WITHOUT GM AUTHORIZATION. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY FAMILY MEMBERS USING THIS VEHICLE. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10604868
Incident
Jun 12, 2014
Mileage
88,000 mi
Steering
Filed Apr 29, 2014

THE PROBLEM STARTED WITH THE POWER STEERING NOTE IN THE DASHBOARD (RADIO DISPLAY) Y WENT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID ME, THE POWER STEERING IS OK, I KEEP DRIVING THE CAR AND THE SIGN FOR POWER STEERING CONTINUED ON THE DASHBOARD AND I WENT TO ANOTHER EXPERT MECHANIC AND HE SAIDTO ME IF IT CONTINUE AND THE DRIVING AND CONTROL THE CAR BECAME SO HARD, THE PROCEDURE TO FIX IS JUST STOP THE ENGINE FOR A WHILE AND START AGAIN, THIS CONDUCT I FOLLOWED FOR A LONG TIME BUT RECIENTLY BECAME SO HARD AND VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE PROBLEM NOW IS RANDOM, SOME TIME EVERY FEW SECONDS OR EVERY HOUR OR A FEW TIME, SOME TIME AT THE MOMENT I TURNED VERY I WAS VERY CLOSE TO CRASH AGAINST OTHER VEHICLES AND DRIVING IN THE EXPRESS WAY I-95 FOR FORT LAUDERDALE HEADING SOUTH, I NEEDED TO BRAKE ABRUPTLY BECAUSE A LANDSCAPING TRAILER LEAVE GARDEN TOOL AND TRESS, MY VEHICLE TURNED WILD AND OUT CONTROL BETWEEN THE OTHER VEHICULE, ONLY GOD SAVED ME. I WENT TO THE OTHER MECHANIC AND SAID ME THAT IS A RECALL FOR GM AND I WENT TO LOCAL ROGER DEAN GM IN WEST PALM BEACH AND THEY SAID ME THAT FIX IT MATTER I NEED TO PAY, AFTER A FRIEND OF MINE SENT TO ME A WEBSITE WHERE I FOUND THE RECALL FOR POWER STEERING IN MY CHEVY MALIBU 2005. REALLY I APRECIATE IF YOU HELP BECAUSE ROGER DEAN THE LOCAL GM DEALER IN WEST PALM BEACH REJECTED MY CASE. *JS

NHTSA ID
10585492
Incident
Dec 6, 2011
Mileage
145,000 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 17, 2014

I BOUGHT A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU NEW IN 2005. SINCE THEN, WE REPEATEDLY LOST STEERING WITH THE CAR. I WAS ONLY RECENTLY MADE AWARE THAT THERE WERE ISSUES WITH THE POWER STEERING MOTOR ON THESE VEHICLES. THEY DO NOT HAVE THE CONVENTIONAL POWER STEERING PUMP, BUT HAVE AN ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING MOTOR. NO RECALL WAS ISSUED. GM KNEW. I VISITED MY LOCAL JUNKYARD THE OTHER DAY. THERE ARE MANY OF THESE CARS WITH FRONT END DAMAGE. I CAN ONLY SURMISE HOW MANY ACCIDENTS/INJURIES/FATALITIES WERE THE RESULT OF THIS STEERING FLAW. GM NEVER INFORMED ME OF THE POTENTIAL RISKS. (I DID NOT MOVE OR CHANGE ADDRESS.) I FOUND OUT VIA THE INTERNET. I NOW SEE WHERE GM IS INVOLVED IN YET ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE, IGNITION SWITCHES. IS THERE AN INVESTIGATION ONGOING ON THESE STEERING ISSUES? SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10572753
Incident
Mar 7, 2005
Mileage
20,000 mi
Steering
Filed Dec 12, 2013

STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10555804
Incident
Dec 4, 2013
Mileage
150,000 mi
EngineFuel systemSteering
Filed Aug 18, 2012

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER CAR AND FOR NO REASON THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST WEEKS. THE CAR ALSO ON 6 OCCASIONS WOULD NOT START(HAS BRAND NEW BATTERY) WON'T TURN OVER, MY DAUGHTER HAS BEEN STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES. AFTER A $400. 00 FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT , WHICH AFTER IT WAS REPLACED THE CAR , OTHER CARS WHICH ARE JUST SHUTTING OFF WHILE THEY ARE BEING DRIVEN.THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS TO LOSE ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING!. AND AS WELL THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS CAR OWNERS WHO HAVE REPLACED FUEL PUMPS, WHICH DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CAR NOW HAS HAD THE IGNITION REPLACE AS THE MECHANICS "THINK:"ITS THE SECURITY SYSTEM!. TO DATE THE REPAIRS ARE HITTING $1,000. ALSO THE TURNING SIGNALS, RADIO AND A/C ALL WORK INTERMITTENTLY. I AM NO MECHANIC BUT SEEMS THERE IS ELECTRICAL/SECURITY SYSTEMS ISSUES WITH THESE CARS. THE FORUMS ARE LOADED WITH CAR OWNERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES! BUT OF COURSE THEY ARE SO VARIED THAT MOST NOT REPORTED TO YOU!AND WE ALL KNOW THE GARAGES DON'T REPORT ALL ISSUES! THANKS FOR YOUR HELP! *TR

NHTSA ID
10471360
Incident
Aug 2, 2012
Mileage
150,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 28, 2011

2005 CHEVY MALIBU STEERING IS A PROBLEM AFTER 47,000 MILES TRAVEL. STEERING WHEEL MAKES NOISE AS IT TURNS TO RIGHT OR LEFT. MAYBE STEERING MECHANISM PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10379455
Incident
Jan 28, 2011
Mileage
47,000 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 18, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING AT LEAST 60-70 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY. THE FAILURE DID NOT OCCUR WHEN DRIVING LESS THAN 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

NHTSA ID
10350239
Incident
Aug 16, 2009
Mileage
63,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jun 10, 2010

POWER STEERING PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10335719
Incident
Jun 10, 2010
Mileage
92,000 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 2, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHENEVER HE MADE A TURN WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEEL LOCKED COMPLETELY AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE TURNED IN ANY DIRECTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ID
10315841
Incident
Feb 10, 2009
Mileage
45,000 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 24, 2009

LOST POWER STEERING WITHOUT ANY NOTICE OR INDICATOR ERROR LIGHTS. PREVIOUSLY WHEN TURNING WOULD MAKE SOME SQUEALING NOISE LIKE LOW ON POWER STEERING FLUID, BUT IS ELECTRONIC POWER ASSISTED TURNING. CAR IS CHEVY MALIBU CLASSIC 2005 WITH 76,000 MILES ON IT. SAFETY ISSUE AS I COULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING 55 - 65 MPH ON HIGHWAY WHEN THE POWER STEERING QUIT! *TR

NHTSA ID
10285095
Incident
Sep 22, 2009
Mileage
76,784 mi
Steering
Filed Jun 26, 2009
Crash reported

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO WORK AT ABOUT 8:00 IN THE MORNING WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL "STIFFENED" UP ON A TURNAROUND BY OUR HOUSE. THEN SHE MADE THE FIRST LEFT TURN AT A STOP SIGN IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD..THAT'S WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY LOCKED UP AND SHE CRASHED INTO A PARKED CAR. THE POLICE ARRIVED AND FILED A REPORT. SHE HIT A BIG TRUCK THAT FORTUNATELY WASN'T DAMAGED BUT OUR CAR WAS LEFT UNDRIVABLE AND COMPLETELY TOTALED IN THE FRONT!! WE WERE GOING TO JUST PAY TO GET THE CAR FIXED BUT I LOOKED INTO IT FURTHER AND FOUND A LARGE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP ON PEOPLE WHO OWNED A CHEVY MALIBU EACH WITH VARIOUS TYPES OF CONSEQUENCES. MY WIFE COULD HAVE BEEN EASILY KILLED OR KILLED SOMEONE ELSE!!! THIS ISSUE REALLY NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH BEFORE ANY FURTHER HARM IS DONE TO MORE INNOCENT VICTIMS!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID
10275007
Incident
May 20, 2009
Mileage
70,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .