Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Chevrolet Malibu submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 80 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.
The 25 most recent of 80, in the owner's own words
1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION SWITCH CUT OFF ISSUES. *TGW THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $400.00 AND IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT. ALSO, THE OUTER AND INNER TIE RODS WERE REPLACED. *JB
I WAS DRIVING ON MY WAY HOME, AND I MADE A RIGHT TURN INTO MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND WHEN I BEGAN TO TURN LEFT INTO THE CURVE MY STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNING BUT MY CAR CONTINUED TO GO STRAIGHT INTO A NEIGHBOR'S YARD CAUSING ME TO SLAM ON BRAKES AND HIT A HILL! I GOT MY CAR CHECKED OUT THAT NEXT MORNING AND FOUND THAT IT WAS MY RACK AND PINION THAT HAS CAUSED THIS. I KNEW MY CAR HAD A RECALL SO I DECIDED TO SEARCH RECALLS FOR MY CAR (YEAR MAKE AND MODEL) I SAW WHERE THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE RACK AND PINION WHERE IF IT WENT OUT YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO TURN LEFT ONLY RIGHT. I CONTACTED THE GM CORPORATE OFFICE AND STATED AS SUCH AND THEY SAID THAT WAS A RECALL BUT NOT ON MY SPECIFIC VIN # SO THERE IS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. IS THIS POSSIBLE SEEMING AS THEY HAVE ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS PARTICULAR PART ALREADY ON 97 AND 98 CHEVY MALIBU'S? *TR
TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V527000 (STEERING), RECEIVED THE RECALL REPAIR AND WEEKS LATER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A TURN, EXTREME FORCE HAD TO BE APPLIED TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSTABLE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER INDICATED THAT SOMEONE DAMAGED THE SUBFRAME AND BOLTS ALONG WITH THE QUARTER PANELS BEING RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO INDICATED THAT THE AUTHORIZED DEALER NEEDED TO REPLACE THE BOLTS, SUBFRAME AND THE QUARTER PANELS WHICH WERE RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER PROVIDED AN INTERIM FIX OF WELDING THE BRACKETS TO THE FRAME AND WITHIN WEEKS THE COMPONENTS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION, DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. THE BOLTS WERE BROKEN AND THE ENGINE WAS SITTING ON TOP OF THE STEERING RACK DUE TO THE FRACTURE. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR APPROVAL FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,160. DYD
INTAKE MANIFOLD ON MY 1997 CHEVY MALIBU HAS STARTED TO GO BAD I KNOW ITS THE LOWER GASKET I CALLED CHEVY AFTER SEEING SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM I WAS TOLD CHEVY WOULD NOT REPLACE IT DUE TO IT BEING OVER TEN YEARS OLD WELL IT SEEMS LIKE WITH WAS A PROBLEM WAITING TO HAPPEN AS SOON AS THEY SEALED THE MANIFOLD AT THE FACTORY I THINK GM SHOULD REPLACE THIS ITEM ONCE FREE OF CHARGE PER CAR ALSO MY RACK AND PINION SEEMS TO STICK ON MY LEFT SIDE I'VE REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND CHECKED THE RACK AND PINION SEEMS THE BALL BEARING WANTING TO COME OUT OR IS GONE I TOLD GM I DON'T THINK THEY REPLACED IT WHEN THEY RECALLED IT AND THEY TOLD ME THE FIRST OWNER DID BUT WONT SEND ME PAPERWORK ON THE REPAIR OR THE DEALERSHIP THAT DID THE WORK. *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON THE BYWAY AND TOOK THE INTERSTATE MERGE LANE WHILE INCREASING MY SPEED TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC I FELT A SNAP IN MY STEERING WHEEL AND GAS PEDAL, I THEN LOST THE DASH AND THE CAR IMMEDIATELY OVERHEATED, I HAD NO REAL POWER TO TURN THE WHEEL AND THE GAS PEDAL WAS A LOOSE PUSH. BEING THAT I HAD MERGED ONTO THE INTERSTATE WHEN THIS OCCURRED I HAD TO DRIVE AN ADDITIONAL 5 MILES TO THE NEXT EXIT. NOT EVERYONE HAS A CELL PHONE. WHEN I GOT TO THE NEXT EXIT I WAS ALMOST UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL ENOUGH TO GET IT INTO THE NEAREST PARKING LOT, IT WAS HARDER TO TURN THAN MY FIRST TRUCK A 1959 FORD TWIN I BEAM PICKUP. I FORTUNATELY DIDN'T HIT ANY ONE OR ANYTHING. UPON RAISING MY HOOD AFTER PARKING THE CAR I AM APPALLED TO SEE THAT THE TENSIONER PULLEY AND ONE OF THE IDLER PULLEYS ARE GONE AND MY SERPENTINE BELT IS SHREDDED. I HAVE REPLACED THE PARTS BUT SINCE THEN I ALSO FOUND THAT WITHIN 5 MILES THE "DREADED" GASKETS THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT, AND MINE WE ALREADY EATING FLUIDS IN SIPPS BEFORE THIS, WERE GONE. I HAVE REPLACED THE BROKEN PULLEYS SERPENTINE BELT ALTERNATOR WATERPUMP AND GASKETS NOT A MONTH LATER THE OTHER IDLER PULLEY THAT WAS UNAFFECTED IN THE FIRST INCIDENT WENT. WHEN THE FIRST TWO WERE REPLACED THAT DREADED SQUEAKING STOPPED FOR ABOUT 3 DAYS AND STARTED BACK UP AGAIN. SOMETHING MUST NOT BE STRAIGHT FOR ME TO HAVE TO KEEP REPLACING THE MOVING PARTS THAT RUN ON THE SERPENTINE BELT AND EVERYTIME ONE OF THEM GOES YOU LOOSE YOUR POWER STEERING AND THE CAR IS HARD TO TURN. NOT ONLY THAT BUT THE TAIL LIGHTS WOULD BE A BETTER PLACE FOR A GOLD FISH THAN A LIGHT BULB. EVERYTIME IT RAINS, OR SNOWS I HAVE TO REPLACE TAIL LIGHTS. THIS CAR IS THE BANE OF MY EXISTENCE. I HAVE THE FIRST IDLER PULLEY PART STILL THE REST OF THEM WERE LOST TO THE HIGHWAY THE THING IS MELTED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING RACK AND PINION FAILS TO TURN PROPERLY. SHE COULD NOT EXPLAIN THE FAILURE ANY FURTHER; HOWEVER, IT IS THE SAME FAILURE STATED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V527000 (STEERING:RACK AND PINION). THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 125,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN FEBRUARY OF 2004 REGARDING THE LOWER RACK AND PINION STEERING. HE HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY FAILURES AT THE TIME; HOWEVER, HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. SIX MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL THE WHEEL BACK TO THE RIGHT AND STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DROVE HOME AND HIS FATHER, A MECHANIC, INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DECLARED THE CAUSE OF FAILURE TO BE THE LOWER RACK AND PINION. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE RECALL REPAIR HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 243,831. UPDATED 01/11/08. *LJ UPDATED *JB
MY FIANCE AND I HAVE HAD A 1997 CHEVY MALIBU FOR A YEAR AND A HALF. ABOUT A MONTH AFTER PURCHASING IT, THE VEHICLE STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE PASSLOCK THEFT SYSTEM THAT WOULD LEAVE US STRANDED FOR 10 MINUTES BECAUSE THE CAR WOULDN'T CRANK. GRADUALLY IT STARTED DOING IT MORE AND MORE. WE'VE HAD INCIDENTS WHERE THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT WOULD GO OFF AFTER 10 MINUTES BUT WHEN TRYING TO START IT AGAIN; IT WOULD DO THE SAME THING. I'VE ACTUALLY HAD TIMES OF BEING STRANDED FOR 2 HOURS BECAUSE IT WOULD KEEP DOING IT! RIGHT NOW OUR CAR IS AT MY FIANCE'S WORK BECAUSE IT WON'T CRANK AND WE GOT TIRED OF TRYING AFTER 3 HOURS. THIS IS SO ANNOYING! CHEVROLET SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES! I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM(NOT COUNTING ALL THE OTHER PROBLEMS LIKE THE BRAKES AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS). WITH SO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM..THAT MEANS THEY SHOULD RECALL IT AND FIX IT. WE DON'T HAVE MONEY LIKE THEY DO AND CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP PUTTING IT IN THE SHOP TO BE WORKED ON. I'M CURRENTLY A COLLEGE PELL GRANT RECIPIENT THAT IS GOING TO LOSE MY GRANTS BECAUSE OF THIS LEMON CAR! I WAS ADOPTED BY MY GRANDPARENTS THAT ARE ON SSI AND DISABILITY AND THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO SEND ME TO SCHOOL. I HOPE THE PEOPLE AT CHEVROLET ARE HAPPY WITH RUINING MY FUTURE! PLEASE HELP ME!!!I NEED MY CAR FIXED BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!*JB
THE TURN SIGNALS ARE NOT RELIABLE THEY MIGHT WORK ONE TIME AND THE NEXT TIME THEY WONT WORK. THERE IS A LOT OF RATTLING SOUNDS COMING FROM THE REAR WHEELS, THE STEERING COLUMN MAKES A WEIRD SOUND WHEN BEING TURNED. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO STEER FOR THE FIRST 10 MINUTES AFTER TURNING ON THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING RACK AND THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE WERE LEAKING. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL #03V527000, REGARDING THE STEERING: RACK AND PINION. THE SERVICE DEALER PERFORMED THE RECALL, HOWEVER THE GEAR ASSEMBLY WAS NOT REPLACED. UPDATD 01/30/07. *JB
WE BOUGHT THIS 1997 MALIBU FROM MY DAD LESS THAN A YEAR AGO FOR MY SON TO DRIVE TO COLLEGE. MY DAD IS METICULOUS IN CARING FOR HIS VEHICLES SO ALL THE SCHEDULED AND ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WORK HAS BEEN DONE AND IT STILL ONLY HAS 70XXX MILES ON IT. MY COMPLAINT IS THIS : LAST NIGHT MY SON WAS PARKING THE CAR WHEN IT SUDDENLY BECAME VERY HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. HE FINISHED PARKING, BUT A SHORT TIME LATER AS HE STARTED TO DRIVE HOME, HE REALIZED THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS COMPLETELY GONE. THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY INCIDENTS LIKE THIS ONE THAT THERE WAS FINALLY A SAFETY RECALL ISSUED IN 2004. THE PAPERWORK I HAVE STATES THAT THE DEALER "REPLACED STEERING GEAR PINION BEARING AND RESET TOEIN". OBVIOUSLY,THAT REMEDY FAILED SINCE THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT ANYWAY. I'M SO THANKFUL THAT NO ONE WAS HURT, THAT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN WHILE HE WAS DRIVING TO OR FROM SCHOOL, AND THAT HE WAS HOME FOR CHRISTMAS BREAK WHEN IT HAPPENED. WE'LL BE TAKING THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER ON TUESDAY AND, BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY OF THESE INCIDENTS IN THE '97 MALIBU (AND OTHER '97 GM MODELS) THAT THEY HAD TO ISSUE THE RECALL, I EXPECT THEM TO FIX IT FREE OF CHARGE. *NM
STEERING WHEEL MADE AN IRRITATING SOUND WHEN TURNED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED. UPON INSPECTION THEY INDICATED THAT THE STEERING GEAR HAD AN INTERNAL FAULT, AND REPLACED IT. CAUSE OF THE INTERNAL FAULT WAS NOT DISCLOSED TO THE CONSUMER. *AK RECALL CAMPAIGN# 03V527000. THE STEERING WAS REPAIRED. A YEAR LATER THE ENTIRE STEERING ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE CHECK EMISSIONS LIGHT WOULD COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. THERE WERE NOISES WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED LEFT DUE TO THE STEERING GEARS INTERNAL FAULT AND THE GEAR WAS REPLACED, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD A STEEL BELT SHOWING ON THE INSIDE. *SC *JB
DT: THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING RACK AND PINION STEERING. THIS HAS BEEN REPAIRED AND REPLACED TWICE. THE VEHICLE STILL HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING SYSTEM. CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A SERVICE DEALER, AND THEY CONCLUDED THAT IT WAS A POWER STEERING PUMP PULLEY. THE CONTACT HAS NOT HAD THIS REPAIRED, THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERSHIP AT THIS DATE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING STEERING/ FRONT WHEELS LOCKED UP. CONSUMER CONTACTED HIS PERSONAL MECHANIC, AND WAS TOLD THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING SIMILAR. CONTACTED THE DEALER. HOWEVER, THE PRIBLEM RECURRED. *AK
WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING SPACE POWER STEERING FAILED. *AK *NM
RE: GENERAL MOTOR CORPORATION DECLINES TO MAKE ADJUSTMENT OF COMPLAINT. *BF GM HAD A RECALL FOR THE RACKET PINION STEERING PART ON THE CAR CONSUMER OWNED. THE CONSUMER HAD THIS PART REPLACED 6 TIMES IN A 2 YEAR PERIOD. CONSUMER WANTS TO BE REPAID FOR MONIES SPENT. *TC
RECALL 03V527000 CONCERNING STEERING GEAR BEARINGS: CONSUMER STATES AFTER TAKING THEIR VEHICLE FOR THIS RECALL REPAIRS, VEHICLE COMMENCED TO MAKE NOISE AFTER STARTING AND WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS NOT HAVING ANY PROBLEMS UNTIL THIS REPAIR WAS DONE. DEALER REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING CONCERNING THIS ISSUE.*AK
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON A RECALL FOR RACK AND PINION. DEALER REPLACED THE BUSHINGS AT A MANUFACTURER'S EXPENSE AFTER CONSUMER REFUSED TO PAY. *AK
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS. AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER STEERING WHEEL AND THE BRAKES LOCKED. DEALER CHECKED VEHICLE, AND STATED THAT IT WAS OKAY. HOWEVER, VEHICLE WAS STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA RECALL 03V527000 CONCERNING STEERING GEAR BEARING. THREE WEEKS AFTER HAVING RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED THE LOWER PINION BEARING FAILED WHILE TURNING LEFT AND CONSUMER LOST POWER STEERING. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE LOWER PINION BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
THE DEALER WOULD NOT HONOR RECALL #03V527000 CONCERNING THE LOWER PINION BEARINGS. THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. *AK *SC *JB
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH CONSUMER LOST STEERING POWER. COASTED VEHICLE TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. CONSUMER TURN OFF THE VEHICLE, AND RESTARTED IT. THEN, DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT WHILE TURNING THE STEERING COLUMN IT WAS HARD TO STEER, AND THAT THE STEERING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WORN OUT PARTS. *AK
AFTER RECEIVING A RECALL LETTER, CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GM DEALERSHIP BUT NO CORRECTIONS WERE MADE. *PH THE STEERING WAS HARD WHEN THE CONSUMER TURNED LEFT. *SC RECALL #03V527000 *JB
CONSUMER DENIED REIMBURSEMENT FOR POWER STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT. *PH ALSO, AS CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO PERFORM RECALL REPAIR SINCE STEERING RACK WAS REPLACED RECENTLY. *LA
CONSUMER'S GRANDMOTHER WAS SEVERELY INJURED IN A CRASH WHEN SHE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST RECALL. *PH AS STATED ON THE RECALL THAT THERE'S AN INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS AT LOW SPEED. CONSUMER TRIED TO FIND OUT THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. HOWEVER, SINCE CONSUMER'S GRANDMOTHER (THE DRIVER) SUFFERED SEVERE BRAIN HEMORRHAGE AND PERMANENT SHORT TERM MEMORY LOSS DUE TO ACCIDENT, THE ONLY INCIDENT THE CONSUMER FOUND OUT IS THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AT LOW SPEED. *LA
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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