2004 Chevrolet Malibu Complaint Log

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 55-60 MPH, THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF THE POWER STEERING. THE CHECK ENGINE AND WRENCH SYMBOL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE CONTACT RESUMED CAUTIOUSLY WITH A PERMANENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A RELATED DEFECT ASSOCIATED WITH THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V073000 (STEERING: ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 05/04/11 *BF UPDATED 06/06/11

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH OVER A SPEED BUMP, THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT COLLAPSED THREE TO FOUR INCHES INTO A TILTED POSITION. THE CONTACT ADJUSTED THE POWER SEAT TO THE LOWEST LEVEL TO SECURE THE SEAT AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESUME DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH CAUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE DEALER WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE DRIVER SEAT MOUNTING BRACKET WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE SPEED RATE WAS REDUCED AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS, THE STEERING WHEEL RESET INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION YET THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR SEPARATE TIMES. THE CONTACT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THERE WAS CONCERN OF THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD INVOLVED WITH THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 44,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILED AND CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO SEIZE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT AN ELECTRICAL MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE EXACT PART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX THAT I BOUGHT IN MAY, 2006. ABOUT A YEAR AGO, WHILE DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I SEARCHED FOR RECALLS AND CALLED A CHEVROLET DEALER. IN MY RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. NOT LONG AFTER THIS, GM RECALLED THE CHEVY COBALT AND SOME PONTIAC MODELS FOR THE SAME THING. EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE READ SAYS THAT YOU CAN STILL STEER AT THE SPEED CONSISTENT WITH BEING ON THE INTERSTATE. MY PROBLEM IS, I LIVE AND WORK IN A SMALL TOWN. IT HAS NOW DONE THIS ON ME SEVERAL TIMES AND AT THE SLOW SPEEDS FOR A SMALL TOWN, I HAVE TROUBLE STEERING. TWO OF THESE TIMES THAT THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT I WAS AT AN INTERSECTION. TRYING TO TAKE OFF AND CROSS THE INTERSECTION WHEN THIS HAPPENS IS VERY DIFFICULT. THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT GM IS GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *TR

POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. GOES OFF AFTER RESTART. POWER STEERING UNIT REPLACED ONCE UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. *TR

FAILURE OF POWER STEERING WHILE ACCELERATING VEHICLE. STEERING DIRECTION BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE TO CHANGE UNTIL ACCELERATION CEASES. THIS HAS SUPPOSEDLY BEEN FIXED BY THE DEALERSHIP TWO TIMES PREVIOUS TO TODAY. THE LAST TIME IT WAS FIXED WAS ONLY TWO WEEKS AGO AND WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE KIDS INTO SCHOOL THIS MORNING, THE STEERING LOCKED UP, THE DINGING SOUND TURNED ON, AND THE MESSAGE BOARD READ POWER STEERING ALONG WITH A TOOL THAT LIT UP ON THE DASHBOARD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT PULLED AND NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT; THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT DROVE HOME. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,264 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 143,266.

2004 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX - 55K MILES, DRIVEN BY SMALL WOMAN IN HER 70'S. CROSSMEMBERS IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT FRAME FAILED, ALONG WITH WELDS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE REAR CROSSMEMBER. THE SEAT TILTED SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE RIGHT, PREVENTING THE DRIVER FROM SITTING PROPERLY & SAFELY. AFTER FAILURE, THE SEAT WOULD SHIFT NOTICEABLY IN TURNS, AND THE REPAIR SHOP SAID IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, IT WAS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THE SEAT WOULD REMAIN ANCHORED. THE FACT THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WAS ANCHORED TO THE SEAT CAUSED FURTHER CONCERN, AS IT WOULD NOT STOP A DRIVER FROM BEING THROWN FORWARD IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. COST TO REPAIR IS $1000 - OUTRAGEOUS FOR WHAT IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT, GIVEN IT IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM. CHEVY SHOULD BE RECALLING THESE VEHICLES OR OFFERING TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM AT NO COST TO THE VEHICLE OWNER. *TR

THE FRONT PASSENGER BULB STOPPED WORKING. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO REPLACE THE BULB, NOTICED THAT THE LIGHTING ASSEMBLY WAS MELTED AND INOPERABLE. WAS ADVISED BY A MECHANIC THAT THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING AND A FUEL SMELL IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND IT WOULD COST A $1000 TO REPAIR IT. THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE WAS MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

INTERMITTENT TURN SIGNAL FAILURE. THERE IS NO CAUSE OR EFFECT. SOME DAYS THEY WORK SOME DAYS NOT. SOMETIMES THEY WORK OR NOT IN THE SAME DAY. WE HAVE FOUND NO SHORTS IN THE SYSTEM AND EVERYTHING ELSE WORKS FINE ON THE SELECTOR SWITCH WITHOUT FAIL. WE TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC TWICE WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS MALFUNCTION. *TR

I WAS DRIVING BACK HOME AT NIGHT AFTER WORK A HOUR AWAY TO BOWIE TX I WORK IN FORT WORTH. GOING ON HWY 287 WHICH IS A BIG HWY FOR TRAVELING RIGS, I WAS GOING 65 MPH AND I CAME TO A TURNING THE HWY AND MY POWER STEERING JUST GOES OUT WITH ANY WARNING. I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES TAPPING THE WALL IN THE MEDIAN. LOOKED ON THE INFORMATION BOARD AND IT SAID POWER STEERING. THE NEXT MORNING I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND AROUND 10 TO 15 WEBSITES THAT HAD THIS COMPLAINT WITH THE CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. I CALLED GM CHEVROLET IN NORTH RICHLAND HILLS AND THE ON IN DECATUR AND THEY BOTH TOLD ME THAT THE KNOW THIS IS A BIG DEAL THE KNOW ABOUT IT BUT AT THIS TIME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME. THIS IS MY WIFE'S CAR AND LUCKY THIS DAY I TOOK IT INSTEAD FOR HER AND MY 3 YEAR OLD SON. *TR

I'VE HAD ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS HAD MY POWER STEERING LIGHT COME ON AS THE VEHICLE LOCKS UP. IT HASN'T HAPPENED IN A WHILE HOWEVER AFTER GETTING MY CAR ALIGNED RECENTLY THE AUTO TECH SAID I SHOULD GET MY POWER STEERING LOOKED AT AND I WANTED TO LOOK INTO.THE RECALL AGAIN. *TR

2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR STEERING COLUMN RECALL NOTICE REPAIRS. *SMD THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND RACK AND PINION WERE REPLACED. *JB

I HAD DRIVEN THE CAR A MILE FROM HOME, AND WHILE SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT THE CAR ALERT SOUND HAPPENED, I LOOKED DOWN AT THE RADIO, AND THE DISPLAY READ "POWER STEERING". I TURNED INTO THE NEXT BUSINESS PARKING LOT, AND HAD A GREAT DEAL OF DIFFICULTY CRANKING THE WHEEL TO TURN THE CAR. I DECIDED TO RETURN HOME WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY. I TURNED THE CAR OFF, ENLISTED SOME HELP TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND WHEN I STARTED THE CAR, THE POWER STEERING WORKED PROPERLY AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS REPLACING. CAR WILL BE REPAIRED WHEN PART COMES INTO DEALERSHIP - ON BACKORDER. *TR

2004 MALIBU MAXX DRIVER'S SEAT WELD BROKEN MAKING THE SEAT ROCK DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. *TR

FRONT DRIVERS SEAT. 2004 MALIBU MAXX. SEAT BECAME 'PITCHED' TO THE RIGHT. DISLODGED OF ASSEMBLY. WE TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS 'BROKEN' AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.....THIS HAPPENED 2 TIMES TOTALING 1200.00. UPON RESEARCH THIS APPEARS TO BE AN ALL TO COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MALIBU SEAT ASSEMBLY. *TR

MY 2004 MALIBU HAS A POWER STEERING PROBLEM. I TOOK IT IN TODAY TO SEE ABOUT REPAIR AND IT IS GOING TO COST ALMOST $700 TO FIX. THE POWER STEERING JUST STOPS WORKING SOMETIMES. IT HAS BEEN DOING IT FOR A WHILE NOW. IT IS PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE. IT SOMEHOW RESETS WHEN YOU TURN THE CAR OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON SOMETIMES. I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD 50,000 MILES ON IT. I NOW HAVE 70,000 MILES ON IT AND IT IS TO THE POINT WHERE IT HAS TO BE FIXED. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW IT IS NOT A RECALL SITUATION KNOWING HOW IMPORTANT THE POWER STEERING IS ON A VEHICLE. THIS SITUATION COMES AFTER HAVING TO HAVE THE STEREO REPLACED IN THE VEHICLE 3 TIMES AND NOW IT IS NOT WORKING AGAIN. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN GM FOR NOT TAKING CARE OF EITHER OF THESE PROBLEMS SATISFACTORILY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A TURN WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS AND THE STEERING SERVICE LIGHT WOULD OCCASIONALLY ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT WOULD SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AFTER THE FAILURE AND UPON RESTART THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU . WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH A CHIMING SOUND ALERTED HER THAT THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WITHIN A FEW SECONDS THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, BACK ON AND BEGAN TO DRIVE NORMALLY. AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,000.

THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING IN MY VEHICLE IS FAULTY. THE STEERING WHEEL WILL MOVE BY ITS SELF WHILE DRIVING OR IN PARK. ALSO MY POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP DUE TO POWER STEERING I HAVE A VERY HARD TIME TURNING AND CONTROLLING CAR. I HAVE BARELY AVOID SEVERAL ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. I HAVE TAKEN CAR TO DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF CAN BE FIXED BECAUSE WHEN I CALLED GM I WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE WARRANTY THAT WOULD HAVE FIXED ISSUE BUT BECAUSE IT WAS PAST THEIR RECALL TIME THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST ME AND THE DEALER WANTS 800.00 TO FIX AND THEY SAY THAT EVEN FIXING THE STEERING COLUMN AND OR THE ASSIST MOTOR THAT I WILL MORE THEN LIKELY HAVE THE SAME ISSUES! MY CAR IS A 2004 WITH ONLY 44,462 MILES ON IT. I GOT THE CAR USED FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR (2010) AND DIDN'T KNOW THAT IT WOULD BE A NIGHTMARE AND A DEATH TRAP FOR MY FAMILY! I HAVE VIDEO OF THE WHEEL MOVING BY ITS SELF AS WELL AS VIDEO SHOWING THAT WHEN I LOSS POWER STEERING THE CAR IS HAZARDOUS. I AM REALLY AFRAID THAT I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THIS ISSUE AND WILL ONE DAY LOSS COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE CAR AND HURT MYSELF AND POSSIBLY OTHERS! CHEVROLET NEEDS TO FIX THIS ISSUE FOR GOOD OR REPLACE THE CARS ALL TOGETHER BECAUSE ITS REALLY ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS ISSUE BITES THEM IN THE BUTT! I REALLY LIKE MY MALIBU BUT I REALLY THINK THAT I SHOULD HAVE NEVER GOT IT BECAUSE OF ALL THE ISSUES LOSING POWER STEERING, PULLS BAD TO LEFT AND RIGHT, LOOSE SHIFTER KNOB, & THE REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY DOESN'T WORK RIGHT. I HOPE BY FILING THIS COMPLAINT WITH YOU THAT MAYBE IT WILL BE RESOLVED. I WANT TO HAVE PIECE OF MIND WHILE DRIVING MY FAMILY IN CAR NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE CAR BEING A DEATH TRAP ON 4 WHEELS THAT WILL LOSS CONTROL WHEN IT FEELS LIKE IT AND KILL MY FAMILY AND MYSELF. I KNOW THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THESE ISSUES WITH THE MALIBU AND CHEVROLET REALLY NEEDS TO STEP UP AND MAKE THESE ISSUES RIGHT FOR US THE CONSUMERS FAST! *TR

2004 CHEVY MALIBU "ELECTRIC STEERING" REPEATED FAILURE OF THE STEERING UNIT AND STEERING COLUMN. STEERING WHEEL CLUNKS AND BECOMES LOOSE. CHEVY FIXED IT TWICE OR SO BUT NOW SAYS ITS UP TO ME. I EXPECT THE STEERING ASSY OF ANY CAR TO BE BULLET PROOF AND NOT HAVE SAFETY PROBLEMS. *TR

MY FRIEND HAS A 2004 CHEVY MALIBU, SHE ASKED ME TO CHECK HER FRONT TURN SIGNALS AS THEY WERE NOT WORKING. I NOTICED THE LIGHT BULBS WERE COVERED BY A ORANGE PLASTIC GLOBE. I WAS AMAZED TO SEE THE PLASTIC GLOBES HAD BURN HOLES IN THEM AND THE MELTING PLASTIC WAS DRIPPING ON THE LIGHT BULBS AND DESTROYING THEM. I ALSO NOTICED BURN MARKS ON THE HEADLAMP LENSES ON BOTH SIDES. I REMOVED THE PLASTIC GLOBES AND PUT NEW BULBS IN. THE GLOBES ARE WAY TOO CLOSE TO THE HOT BULBS WHICH ARE BURNING THE PLASTIC. IT IS HAPPENING ON HIGHER MILEAGE MALIBUS THAT HAVE HAD TIME TO MELT THE PLASTIC. I FEEL THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. I CHECKED ON THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM. GM HAS NO BULLETINS ON THIS MATTER. *TR

ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILS RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE. *TR

ALMOST DAILY, THE WRENCH LIGHT TURNS ON AND THE DISPLAY IN THE CENTER READS "POWER STEERING." OCCASIONALLY, THIS IS ACCOMPANIED BY A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN AT LOW SPEEDS. TURNING OFF THE MALIBU USUALLY RESETS THE LIGHT AND ERROR MESSAGE; HOWEVER, THIS PROBLEM USUALLY RECURS SHORTLY AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR. I WAS TOLD BY A DEALERSHIP THAT THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE TO HAVE THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. *TR

2004 CHEVY MALIBU POWER STEERING GOES OUT WITHOUT WARNING AND FREQUENTLY. WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL LOCKS UP MAKING TURNING IMPOSSIBLE TO DO. I ALMOST CAUSED A HEAD ON COLLISION DUE TO THIS. NOW WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TIRES DO NOT MOVE AT ALL. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON-LINE ABOUT THIS EXACT ISSUE AND GM WANTS TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WE WERE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT. POWER STEERING MESSAGE CAME UP AND STEERING WHEEL GOT STIFF AND WE COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL, MY HUSBAND TURNED OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTED IT AND THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK. IT HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN A FEW TIMES SINCE. MY CONCERN, I AM A VERY SMALL PERSON I DO NOT HAVE THE STRENGTH TO TURN THE WHEEL WHEN IT HAPPENS AND EVENTUALLY I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE CAR PULLED OVER TO A SAFE PLACE TO STOP IT AND RESTART IT. THE LAST TIME THAT IT HAPPENED TO ME WAS NOVEMBER 5 2012 TAKING MY GRANDSON TO SCHOOL GOING ABOUT 40 MILES PER HOUR, I WAS JUST DRIVING ALONG AND THE POWER STEERING JUST WENT OUT. I WILL TELL YOU CHEVY MALIBU OR ANY CHEVY IS NOT ON MY LIST FOR MY NEXT CAR. *TR

2004 CHEVY MALIBU STANDARD CLUNKING NOISE WHEN STEERING. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ON ME WHEN SHIFTED IN REVERSE. POWER STEERING DISPLAYING ON DASHBOARD, VIBRATION COMING FROM STEERING AT 65MPH. *TR

THE SUPPORT RAIL UNDER MY DRIVERS SEAT IN A 2004 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX BROKE. THE WELD COMPLETELY SEPARATED. *TR

POWER ASSIST STEERING PROBLEMS. *TR

UPON ACCELERATION USING THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR LOSES TOTAL CONTROL OF ITS STEERING. ALL ENGINE LIGHTS AND FAILURE LIGHTS GO ON.SOMETIMES JUST MAKING A SIMPLE TURN AT AN INTERSECTION, THE CAR LOSES COMPLETE STEERING CAPABILITY. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, INCLUDING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH ACCELERATING OVER A SLIGHT INCLINE OR AT 10 MPH AT AN INTERSECTION WHILE MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. I NOTICED TROUBLE WITH THE STEERING WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT MY CAR UNDER WARRANTY BUT IT WASN'T AS SEVERE. JUST WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE THE STEERING WAS TIGHT, BUT THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD THE SHORT RACK STEERING GEAR, STEERING RACK, INTERMEDIATE SHAFT, AND SERPENTINE BELT REPLACED BUT TO NO AVAIL. ON THE WEBSITE WWW.LEMONLAWCLAIMS.COM THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST 42 STEERING COMPLAINTS OF SIMILAR NATURE REGARDING THE SAME YEAR MAKE FOR THE MALIBU. AN NHTSA INVESTIGATION WAS PERFORMED PE04-031 BASED ON EIGHT REPORTS OF ALLEGED POWER STEERING FAILURES. THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS BASED ON THE REPORT I PRINTED UP IN 2010, HOWEVER I AM NOT CERTAIN OF THE CURRENT STATUS OF THIS INVESTIGATION. I'M SURE THERE ARE A LOT MORE FAILURE REPORTS THAT HAVE BEEN OPENED, THOUGH I CANNOT FIND A RECALL REGARDING THIS FAILURE. AS A SIDE NOTE, SOMETIMES THE CAR HAS TROUBLE STARTING - IT ALWAYS HAS AND THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DETERMINE THE FAILURE. WHEN TRYING TO START IT UP, HITTING THE GAS PEDAL WILL CAUSE THE ENGINE TO KICK OVER AND NOT STALL. THERE IS ALWAYS THE SMELL OF FUEL. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS IS PART OF THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION WHEN THE STEERING FAILS OR THE STEERING WHEEL JERKS UPON ACCELERATION, A CLICKING SOUND CAN BE HEARD. THE ORIGIN OF THIS CLICKING IN UNKNOWN. I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL ON THIS OR BETTER YET A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. *TR

THE POWER STEERING ALARM AND THE SERVICE ENGINE SIGN IN THE DASHBOARD OF MY 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU LS HAS BEEN GOING OFF EVERY TIME I TURN ON THE CAR. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR 3 WEEKS NOW. MY BROTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR 2005 AND 2007 CHEVROLET CARS. HOWEVER, SINCE I DID NOT GET A RECALL NOTICE, MY DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ME AN UPWARDS OF $150 TO JUST LOOK AT THE ISSUE I AM BEING TOLD THAT THE 2004 MALIBU'S ARE NOT ON THE RECALL LIST, HENCE I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSTICS. I AM SCARED OF THE SAFETY OF DRIVING MY CAR TO AND FROM WORK BUT I AM LEFT WITH NO CHOICE BUT TO TAKE A CHANCE AND USE MY CAR WITH THE ALARM GOING OFF. I CANNOT AFFORD THE PRICE THE DEALERSHIP IS WANTING TO CHARGE ME, ESPECIALLY IF IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITHIN THE CHEVROLET MODELS. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE... ASK THE DEALERS TO FIX THIS ISSUE WITH CHEVROLET CARS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR

MY DAUGHTERS 2004 STEERING LOCKED UP NEED TO LOOK IN TO THIS AS I LOOKED IT UP ON INTERNET AND THERE ARE 200 + COMPLAINTS JUST FOR THAT REASON. *TR

I OWN A CHEVROLET MALIBU 2004 LS V6. RECENTLY I HAVE BEEN NOTICING SOME REPEATED INCIDENTS OF SUDDEN LOSS OF THE POWER ASSISTED STEERING, AND THE CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER IN THE DESIRED DIRECTION, WHICH MAKES IS SCARY TO DRIVE IT. ONCE THE CAR ENGINE IS SHUT DOWN AND THE CAR IS RESTARTED, THE POWER STEERING COMES BACK TO NORMAL AND THEN THIS HAPPENS AGAIN AT ANY POINT IN TIME. I HAVE DEFINITE SAFETY CONCERN WITH THE VEHICLE RIGHT NOW. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE TRAVELING 10 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECAME STIFF AND IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000. UPDATED 12/14/2011 *CN UPDATED 11/28/2011 *LN

MY STEERING HAD GONE IN MY 2004 CHEVY MALIBU 2 MONTHS AGO. THE COLUMN HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES NOW AND IS STILL NOT FIXED. I AM ALSO BEING TOLD THAT THERE ARE NO STEERING COLUMNS LEFT IN MY AREA. MY CAR IS A DANGER TO EVERYONE ON A ROAD INCLUDING MYSELF AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHY CHEVY HASN'T RECALLED THESE. *TR

2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU STEERING BECAME JERKY WHILE ON INTERSTATE AT 63 MPH. STEERING WHEEL TRAVEL APPOX. 1 INCH LEFT AND RIGHT WITH NO EFFECT THEN IMMEDIATE TURN WITH SWERVE WHEN STEERING 'KICKED IN'. VEHICLE PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD. CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND INSPECTED FOR POSSIBLE TIRE PROBLEM. NONE FOUND. CAR STARTED AND STEERING WAS BACK TO NORMAL. AFTER APPROX. 7 MORE MILES, STEERING EXHIBITED A 'NOTCHED' AREA OF 1/4 INCH STEERING WHEEL TRAVEL WITH NO STEERING CONTROL. TURNING WAS NORMAL PAST THE NOTCHED AREA WITH NO SWERVE. ANOTHER 2 MILES DRIVEN UNDER THIS CONDITION WITH NO CHANGE (1/4 INCH NOTCH) CAR DRIVEN TODAY TO CHECK OUT STEERING A TOTAL OF 15 MILES WITH NO PROBLEMS AT ALL. COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. NOTE: HAD ANOTHER CAR BEEN IN THE PASSING LANE NEXT TO US, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT BY US DUE TO THE SWERVE EXPERIENCED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY VEERED OFF TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE UP A SIDEWALK, BARELY MISSING A MAILBOX. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND WHEN RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 110,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WHEN MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V153000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU LSD6. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 15-20 MPH, ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING CLICKED INTO THE OFF POSITION UNEXPECTEDLY. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BUMP UP AGAINST THE CURBSIDE. THE POWER STEERING THEN CLICKED BACK INTO THE ON POSITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED REPEATEDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, HOWEVER A TROUBLE CODE WAS NOT DETECTED. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A SECOND OPINION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 11/03/10. *LJ UPDATED 12/7/10 *CN

SPORADIC POWER STEERING /SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMING ON AND NO ERROR CODES IN COMPUTER. FINALLY ON JULY 31 I GOT IN THE CAR AND SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT AND "POWER STEERING" CAME ON BUT STEERING WAS FINE UNTIL I WENT TO TAKE A LEFT TURN AT A BUSY INTERSECTION AND POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING AND HAD TO TURN THE CAR BY MAIN FORCE !! IF MY WIFE HAD BEEN DRIVING NO WAY SHE COULD HAVE CONTROLLED IT !! GM NEEDS TO ISSUE RECALL ON THIS ALL TOO COMMON PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED !!! *TR

2004 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX 60000 MILES- POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAD REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN TWICE ALREADY AS WELL AS THE STEERING RACK TWICE. CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AND STEERING FROZE UP AGAIN AND ALMOST CAUSED MAJOR ACCIDENT. DEALER SAYS ITS $700 TO REPAIR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE TURNING LEFT AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL RATTLE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMNS. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR WHENEVER SHE WOULD ATTEMPT A TURN AT ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. ON A LATER DATE WHILE REVERSING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, TWO LOUD POP NOISES WERE HEARD AND THE STEERING WHEEL IMMEDIATELY BECAME STIFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS TO THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 132,000

2004 MALIBU HAS INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURE. IT GOES OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN AND ALMOST MAKE YOU WRECK. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOT PROBLEM. COMES AND GOES AT WILL. SOMETIME TURNING THE KEY OFF THEN BACK ON FIXES IT BUT NOT ALWAYS. *TR

2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU - BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHTS ASSEMBLIES ARE MELTING FROM THE HEAT COMING OFF OF THE TURN SIGNAL/MARKER LIGHT. THE PLASTIC BULB HOUSING IS ACTUALLY MELTING ENOUGH TO DRIP ONTO THE BULB CAUSING THEM TO BREAK AND NEED REPLACED. THIS IS DEFINITELY A FIRE HAZARD. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH ON INTERSTATE, POWER STEERING FAILED WHICH MADE VEHICLE EXTREMELY HARD TO STEER. FORTUNATELY, VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE PULLED OFF THE PAVEMENT. ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF AND VEHICLE RESTARTED. POWER STEERING THEN OPERATED NORMALLY. ON SECOND INCIDENT, POWER STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME INOPERATIVE WHILE TURNING AND VEHICLE CAME VERY CLOSE TO HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE TURNING. AGAIN, AFTER TURNING OFF ENGINE AND RESTARTING, POWER STEERING OPERATED NORMALLY. A THIRD INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT MODERATE SPEED. VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN OFF PAVEMENT AND ENGINE RESTARTED. AFTER RESTART, POWER STEERING OPERATED NORMALLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER REPAIR FACILITY AND THE PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED TO BE AN INTERNAL FAILURE OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $664. THE VEHICLE MILEAGE WAS 82,707. *TR

FRONT AND REAR CROSSMEMBERS IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT FRAME FAILED, ALONG WITH WELDS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE REAR CROSSMEMBER. THE SEAT TILTED SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE RIGHT, INTERFERING WITH THE OPENING OF THE REAR SEAT ENTERTAINMENT UNIT AND PLACING A STRAIN ON THE SEAT ADJUSTMENT MOTOR. AFTER FAILURE, THE SEAT WOULD SHIFT NOTICEABLY IN TURNS, AND THE REPAIR SHOP SAID IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, IT WAS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THE SEAT WOULD REMAIN ANCHORED. THE FACT THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WAS ANCHORED TO THE SEAT CAUSED FURTHER CONCERN, AS IT WOULD NOT STOP A DRIVER FROM BEING THROWN FORWARD IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. SEVERAL LOCAL GM DEALERS SAID THAT THEY HAVE NO RECOURSE AND THAT THE SEAT IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. I HAD TO HAVE THE SEAT COMPLETELY STRIPPED DOWN AND HAVE SEVERAL PARTS AND WELDS REPLACED AT A LOCAL METAL SHOP. *TR

STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE EMANATING FROM THE REAR OF VEHICLE, CHECKED INTERNET ABOUT PROBLEM AND HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER MALIBU OWNERS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND THE WHEEL WOULD BECOME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE STEERING ROD WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE DEALERS POSSESSION WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,730. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,365.