Chevrolet Malibu Classic Steering Problems

Steering complaints by model year

Which parts fail

• Hydraulic power assist system
  1

Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  36%
• 25k–50k
  816%
• 50k–75k
  816%
• 75k–100k
  1020%
• 100k–150k
  1428%
• 150k+
  714%

What owners report

I lost power steering when I was driving on a semi curve while raining lightly. The car kept going to the left and I could not steer. I pressed brakes and car spun. I almost hit a sign on the opposite direction. Thank god nothing happened to me nor my son. There were no other cars involved either. There was a truck coming on the opposite direction but he stopped. Otherwise, we would have collided. I got on the ditch. I was able to get back on road and drive to nearest GM/Chevrolet dealership. They kept the car for 2 days and found out that the power steering motor control module had to be replaced for $703 including labor. There was a recall in Canada for the same part (transport Canada recall # 2012331: manufacturer recall number 12221) but as of now I have not found the recall in USA. Why??

I feel that I experienced the same power steering failure that affected other malibus (and chevrolets) and that my repair should have been covered under Chevrolet special bulletin #10183. However, something about my vehicle's build kept my VIN from being included in the range for this extended coverage. I first experienced problems on February 13, 2014. My vehicle had 97,600 miles on it. After I started the vehicle, the car made a dinging sound and the words "power steering"' flashed on my radio information screen. I tried to drive a few feet but found I had no power steering assist. I had to stop and start the car a couple times before getting power steering back. On February 16, I experienced the same loss of power steering (audible ding, display read "'power steering" and I had no power steering). After restarting, the assist returned. …

I was just driving along in my town killeen. I was getting on the freeway and the steering wheel started to shake. I thought it was the street. I was again on the freeway two days later coming from temple texas and the steering wheel started to shake again. I read that there was a recall for my vehicle for steering problems. After entering my VIN with general motors, I learned it was not so. I only have 48000 miles on my car. I cannot pay for steering repairs please advise. [redacted]. I inherited this vehicle from my aunt: [redacted] upon her death in 2017.

I own a 2007 Chevy Malibu that the electric power steering stops working intermittently. The power steering will quit working while the vehicle is in motion without warning. The ignition has to be turned off and turned on for it to start working. The symptoms it has are all consistent with the GM recall for other 2006 and 2007 malibus, but currently the VIN number of my vehicle is not included in this recall. This vehicle should be included with the recall because it is a known issue and a safety risk to the driver of this vehicle and others operating in the general area of this vehicle.

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!!!!!

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. Updated 9/12/18

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.

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 investigations