2004 Chevrolet Malibu Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, A CLANKING NOISE SOUNDED AND THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE FIRST REPAIR WAS AT DEALERS EXPENSE. THE SECOND REPAIR THE MANUFACTURER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR HALF OF THE REPAIR COST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON A THIRD OCCASION FOR THE CLANKING NOISE FAILURE AND THE STEERING SHAFT WAS REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 61,000.

MOST RECENT INCIDENT WAS SUNDAY MARCH 21. NOTICED THE STEERING PROBLEM FOR THE FIRST TIME ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO, BUT THE DOUBLE CLICK SOUND HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT 5 MONTHS. WHILE TURNING LEFT FROM A STOP LIGHT THE STEERING STOPPED WORKING. I STARTED FROM A STOP, ACCELERATED THRU THE INTERSECTION TURNING LEFT. ABOUT HALFWAY THRU THE TURN MY STEERING WHEEL TRIED TO GO BACK STRAIGHT. IT NEARLY JERKED THE WHEEL OUT OF MY HANDS. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS AND A SECOND LATER THE STEERING CAME BACK. I HAVE SINCE BEEN ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE EFFECT SEVERAL TIMES. I ALSO NOTICED THAT IT IS ACCOMPANIED BY A DOUBLE "CLICK" SOUND COMING FROM SOMEWHERE UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN, AND IS USUALLY ACCOMPANIED BY A BING BING AND EITHER/OR THE BATTERY LIGHT AND THE CAR WITH A WRENCH LIGHT. THIS ALSO OCCURS WHEN ACCELERATING UP HILL ON THE FREEWAY. *DT

LOST POWER STEERING IN MY LATE MODEL YEAR 2004 MALIBU LT. NO PERSONAL INJURY OR DAMAGE. TURNED CAR OFF AND RESTARTED - POWER STEERING RESTORED. TOOK TO DEALER SINCE LOCAL MECHANIC HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. DEALER SAID HE HAS HAD TO REPLACE MANY OF THESE BUT NO RECALLS HAD BEEN ISSUED. RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF STEERING COLUMN ($641.59) AND ALIGNMENT ($59.95) ALONG WITH OTHER NON-RELATED ISSUES. MULTIPLE NHTSA ACTION NUMBERS AND DEFECT INVESTIGATIONS WERE STARTED IN 2004. A MORE RECENT SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: 7126; NHTSA NUMBER: 10023644 WAS STARTED ON THE 2005 MODELS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT GM SHOULD HAVE SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR CORRECTING.

FIRST STARTED IN MARCH 2013, MY POWER STEERING WILL OCCASIONALLY GO OUT WHILE DRIVING, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE ONLY TO GET IT TO WORK IS TO SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT. I FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING MYSELF AND MY CHILDREN! *TR

2004 MALIBU. STEERING WAS HARD ON ONE SIDE AND SOFT ON THE OTHER. TOO IT TO DEALER. DEALER FIXED IT BY COMPUTER. NOW BOTH SIDES OF STEERING RE EQUAL - BUT - IT CONTINUALLY WANTS TO STEER ON ITS OWN TO THE RIGHT. IT WILL NOT HOLD A STRAIGHT LINE, UNLESS I KEEP MY HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. IF I HOLD IT LOOSELY, IT WILL VEER RIGHT INTO WHATEVER IS ON MY RIGHT SIDE. DEALER SAID THIS IS NORMAL. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON A COUNTY HIGHWAY WITHOUT WARNING MY POWER STEERING LOCKED, AND IT SCARED THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF ME. I HAD ALL I COULD DO TO STEER MY CAR AND IT WAS VERY SCARY. I MADE IT TO MY DESTINATION AND WHEN I LEFT MY DESTINATION IT WAS FINE. THEN ON THE WAY HOME ON UNIVERSITY AVE IN DOWNTOWN MADISON WHICH IS A VERY BUSY STREET, THE POWER STEERING LOCKED UP AGAIN. A VERY HORRIFYING MOMENT. AGAIN I REALLY HAD TO STRUGGLE WITH THE STEERING. I FEEL THIS IS VERY BIG SAFETY ISSUE AND LIFE THREATINGA TO ME AND MY PASSENGERS AND ALSO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. I HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT THE LAST 3 DAYS. I BELIEVE GM NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. *TR

POWER STEERING TURN OFF. AROUND 50KM/H. WARNING LIGHT END BELL CAME ON. VERY HARD TO KEEP THE CAR ON THE ROAD. STOP THE CAR AND TURN ON AGAIN EVERY THING CAME BACK TO NORMAL. BUT UNTIL WHEN? CHEVROLET MALIBU 2004 LS, 66800 KMS. *TR

MY 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX LEAKS FROM THE ROOF AREA BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND THE SUNROOF. WHEN WE HAVE HEAVY RAIN. SUCH AS WHAT WE HAD ON SATURDAY 3/13/10, WATER WAS LEAKING FROM THE OVERHEAD LIGHTS ONTO THE CONSOLE. IT ALSO LEAKS FROM UNDER THE DRIVERS AREA. PUDDLES IN THE LEFT REAR PASSENGER AREA. IT HAPPENS IN MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN FALL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. UPON RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE DIFFERENT TIMES. ALSO INTERMITTENTLY, THE FOUR POWER WINDOWS AND POWER DOOR LOCKS FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN THE CONTROL MECHANISM WAS ENGAGED. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION THE THE KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH UNTIL AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE VEHICLE AT 10 MPH THE POWER STEERING WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF MAKING THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO STEER. THIS HAS CAUSE THE CONTACT TO ALMOST DRIVE THE VEHICLE INTO A DITCH. THE CONTACT HAS NOT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THIS ISSUE. THE CONTACT STATED THE POWER STEERING WILL CAUSE A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

CHEVY MALIBU MAXX 04 STEERING CATCHES IN HARD LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS WITH SHIFTING AND GRATING SOUNDS. COMPLAIN SINCE NEW WITH STEERING SHAFT REPLACED (ABOUT 40,000) AND OTHER WORK. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. CAR HAS 90,0000 NOW AND THE NOISE AND STEERING ISSUES HAVE BEEN GETTING WORSE. DEALER SAYS ABOUT $300 TO REPLACE WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT IT WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. I FEEL IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHEN THE CONTACT DRIVES THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED HE NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY. A LOUD NOISE COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT HAD THE TRANSMISSIONS COMPUTER UPDATED AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE LEFT AND RIGHT OUTPUT SHAFT SEALS WILL ALSO NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 53600.

WE WERE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 84 WESTBOUND AT CASCADE LOCKS WHERE THERE IS CONSTRUCTION. WE HAD A SIDEWATT BLOWOUT ON THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. THE TIRE WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM LES SCWAB TIRES IN PORTLAND OREGON. WE ARE TAKING THE CAR THERE TOMORROW MARCH 8, 2010 FOR THE TIRE TO BE REPLACED. THE INFORMATION OFF OF THE INVOICE IS A FOLLOWS. 205/65R-15 94T TOUREVO ALL SEASONS BLACKWALL. WE HAD THE TIRES REPLACED ON JUNE 9, 2008 JUST PRIOR TO A VACATION. WE DID NOT SEE ANYTHING HIT THE CAR OR THE TIRE, AND THERE DID NOT APPEAR TO BE ANY CUTS ON THE TIRE PRIOR TO THE TRIP. THE TREAD THAT IS LEFT ON THE TIRE IS ABOUT 3/16TH OF AN INCH OR MORE. THE TREAD LOOKS FAIRLY GOOD. *TR

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME MY 2004 MALIBU LTZ POWER STEERING LOCKED UP ON ME. THE FIRST TIME IT LOCKED UP WAS NOV 2009, AS I WAS DRIVING DOWNS MADISON ST. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE RACK N PINION, THIS APPEARED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY. THE SECOND TIME THE PROBLEM HAPPEN WAS MARCH 3RD, 2010, I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY GARAGE, MADE A RIGHT TURN ONTO OHIO AND ALMOST HIT KIDS GETTING OUT OF SCHOOL BECAUSE THE CAR KEPT MOVING IN A STRAIGHT DIRECT EVEN THOUGH I WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN. I SPOKE TO THE DEALER SHIP TODAY AND THEY SAID THEY DO NOT KNOW OF A RECALL BUT ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH MALIBU. *TR

A FEW MONTHS AGO, MY POWER STEERING LIGHT BEGAN TO COME ON. I TOOK IT TO SEVERAL PLACES ONLY FOR EVERYONE TO TELL ME THAT THE CAR DOES NOT TAKE POWER STEERING FLUID AND THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO HOOK THE CAR TO A COMPUTER TO SEE WHAT IS WRONG. EVERY SO OFTEN, I WOULD CRANK THE CAR AND HAVE A HARD TIME STEERING. I LEARNED THAT WHEN THAT HAPPENS, I COULD TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTART THE CAR AND THE POWER STEERING WOULD RETURN. I HAVE HAD MY CAR SERVICED AND TWICE, I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY ARE NOT GETTING ANY CODE READINGS ON THE COMPUTER. NOW, JUST RECENTLY, I WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING COLUMN HAS ISSUES. I READ TODAY ABOUT THE RECALL ON GM CARS, BUT THE 2004 MALIBU ISN'T LISTED BUT I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS DESCRIBED IN THE ARTICLE. I DO NOT WANT TO WAIT UNTIL I HAVE AN ACCIDENT FOR MY CAR TO BE ON THE RECALL LIST. I HAVE ALREADY PAID MONEY TO HAVE THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED ON MY CAR, I DO NOT WANT TO HAVE TO SPEND MORE FOR THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND MY INFANT SON, AS WITH OTHERS ON THE ROAD, IS OF CONCERN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE TECHNICIAN DETECTED SLIGHT DIFFICULTY WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AND A SQUEAKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE DID NOT REQUIRE SERVICE REPAIR FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS A MINOR DEFECT. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 25000.

I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 4 TIMES FOR THE ELECTRONIC POWER ASSIST ON MY 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU FOR REPAIR, REPLACEMENT, AND/OR ADJUSTMENTS. MY VEHICLE IS NOW OVER 110,000 MILES AND A POWER STEERING NOTIFICATION LIGHT IS COMING ON AGAIN. THIS TIME THE LIGHT IS NOT IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED WITH FAILURE. NO CHANGE TO MY ABILITY TO STEER HAS BEEN OBSERVED. IT COMES ON USUALLY AFTER I START THE CAR AND MAKE MY FIRST SIZABLE TURN OF THE WHEEL. I CAN SOMETIMES AVOID THE LIGHT GOING ON IN THE MORNING IF I MAKE SLOW GRADUAL MOVEMENTS OF THE WHEEL BUT IT WILL ALWAYS COME ON WHEN I START THE CAR LATER IN THE DAY. DUE TO THE HIGH COST OF THE DEALER FIXING IT AND THEIR REPEATED COMPLETE INABILITY TO FIX THE PROBLEM LONG TERM, I AM LEFT TO TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE ISSUE MYSELF. *TR

BROKEN DRIVERS SIDE CAR SEAT FRAME TO A 2004 CHEVY MALIBU. BROKEN FRAME CAUSES SEAT TO ROCK UP AND DOWN AND LEAN TO ONE SIDE.THIS FRAME BROKE UNDER NORMAL USE. TO REPAIR THIS YOU NEED TO BUY A NEW SEAT FOR ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM A CHEVY DEALER OR YOU CAN TRY TO WELD THE FRAME BACK TOGETHER. THE MAIN PROBLEM IS THE POOR DESIGN AND ENGINEERING OF THE SIZE OF METAL USED TO BUILD THE FRAME. *TR

FIRST STARTED AS AN OCCASIONAL STEERING PROBLEM AT LOW SPEEDS. THEN PROGRESSED TO MORE FREQUENT STEERING PROBLEM AT LOW SPEED. NEXT A BAD VIBRATION STARTED IN THE FRONT WHEN BREAKING. NOW A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. DIAGNOSIS BY MECHANIC IS DEFECTIVE RACK AND PINION, STEERING BOX, AND POSSIBLY POWER STEERING FAILURE. RESEARCH INDICATES THERE HAVE BEEN MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS, AND THAT THE 2005 MALIBU WAS RECALLED FOR EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM LAST SUMMER.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT FRAME WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN VERIFIED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE SEAT FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,987 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000. UPDATED 09/26/2014*LJ UPDATED 02/27/2015 *JS

THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER WOULD RESET THE TIME. IT ALSO DISPLAYED "SERVICE AIR BAG" AS SOON AS THE CAR TURNS ON. WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, MY STEERING WHEEL LOST ITS POWER STEERING AND THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER DISPLAYED "POWER STEERING" ALONG WITH A CAR AND WRENCH LIGHT FLASHING FROM THE GAUGE WINDOW. THIS HAS NOT BEEN FIXED DUE TO READING A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM THAT AFFECTED CERTAIN 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU'S. SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A DEFECT THAT THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF. A REAL SCARE WHEN DRIVING ON THE ROAD, LET ALONE ON THE FREEWAY. *TR

MY 2004 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX IS SHOWING THE POWER STEERING NEEDS FIXED. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT I NEED TO REPLACE IT RIGHT AWAY. I AM GETTING FIXED NOW SO THAT I DO NOT HAVE ANY MORE PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING. *TR

HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. IT JUST FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING. *TR

TL* CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 50 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK. HE WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE ROAD AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE POWER STEERING RESET ITSELF AND WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEED OF AN ALIGNMENT DESPITE THE FACT THAT HE HAD RECENTLY RECEIVED ONE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 55,000.

WHILE TRAVELING ON ROUTE 128 IN WELLESLEY, MA AT A STEADY UNACCELERATION SPEED OF 65 MPH, I EXPERIENCED A NEAR TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, ACCOMPANIED BY AN ANNUNCIATOR LIGHT ON THE ODOMETER DISPLAY, A REPEATING BELL SOUND, AND A "POWER STEERING" MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE RADIO. WITH GREAT EFFORT I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. IT IS MY OPINION THAT HAD MY GIRL FRIEND OR AN ELDERLY PERSON BEEN DRIVING THAT THE OUTCOME COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL ONE. USING SIGNIFICANT STRENGTH I WAS ABLE TO STEER TO A SAFE AREA. I REVIEWED THE OWNER'S MANUAL WHICH ADVISED GOING TO THE DEALER. AFTER ABOUT 12 MINUTES, I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND EVERYTHING APPEARED NORMAL. I THEN DROVE TO THE DEALER (BANKS CHEVROLET IN CONCORD, NH) FROM WHOM I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND RECOUNTED THE EXPERIENCE TO THEM. THEY WERE VERY RESPONSIVE AND ASSIGNED A TECHNICIAN TO OBTAIN THE (OBD-II) ERROR CODES, IF ANY HAD BEEN RECORDED. THE READOUT OBTAINED WAS CODE 545, WHICH THEY RESEARCHED AND, ALTHOUGH IT DID PERTAIN TO THE POWER STEERING, IT REFERRED TO AN "INTERMITTENT" LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST, NOT A FULL AND CONTINUOUS LOSS. SINCE IT WAS NEARING CLOSING TIME, AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE FOR THE FOLLOWING THURSDAY, 3/4/10. ON THAT DATE, THE BANKS TECHNICIAN (JIM WATHEN) RESEARCHED THE ISSUE FURTHER AND MADE SOME ELECTRICAL ADJUSTMENTS. THE VEHICLE HAS PERFORMED NORMALLY SINCE. I AM REPORTING THIS HEART-STOPPING EVENT BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT A VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE A FAIL-SAFE STEERING SYSTEM. I HOLD AN AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT CERTIFICATE AND A LOT OF OUR TRAINING, BOTH IN AIRPLANES AND HELICOPTERS, IS DEDICATED TO THE PROPER RESPONSE TO A TOTAL FAILURE IN THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM. THIS EVENT REQUIRED MORE STRENGTH THAN ANY I HAVE EXPERIENCED IN AVIATION AND DECIDEDLY COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL, ESPECIALLY IF THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE SLIPPERY OR THE ROADWAY ITSELF TWISTY (AS IN THE MOUNTAINS). A HARD TURN TO EITHER THE LEFT OF THE RIGHT JUST COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MADE. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX, ON SEVEN TIMES NOW THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT (INOPERATIVE WITH A CHIME AND AMBER LIGHT) THIS HAS ONLY HAPPENED BELOW 15 MILES AN HOUR AND WHILE IN A SHARP TURN. THE CAR BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN ESPECIALLY FOR MY WIFE AND IMPOSSIBLE FOR MY DAUGHTER. CHEVY COULD NOT FIND ANY FAULTS, I HAD THE SHOP REPLACE THE ELECTRIC MOTOR AT A COST OF $700.00 AND TWO WEEKS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I NOW ANY HAVING THE STEERING COLUMN WITH A SENSOR REPLACED FOR ANOTHER $600.00. AGAIN CHEVY REFUSES TO HELP. THEY HAVE A SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT THIS EXACT SCENARIO BUT STILL THEY REFUSE. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS THAT I HAVE FOUND ON THE INTERNET. *TR

EXPERIENCING LOSS OF FUNCTION OF FRONT AND REAR, TURN, STOP OR DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS (DRL). HAVE REPLACED OR REPOSITIONED BULBS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS OVER THE YEARS. RECENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT FRONT TURN SIGNAL LENS IS MELTING ON BOTH SIDES. *TR

LOSS OF POWER STEERING, ON MY 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,568. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

THE POWER STEERING JUST GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND CAR SAYS POWER STEERING AND I LOSE ALL STEERING. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY LOCKED. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT; IT PERFORMED NORMALLY AFTER. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPLACED (REPAIR DETAILS WERE NOT GIVEN). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,730.

VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL WAS TWITCHING TO THE RIGHT AT ALL SPEEDS AND WHILE STOPPED I HAD ALSO LOST POWER ASSIST A COUPLE TIMES. I TOOK THE 2004 MALIBU TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON 14 FEBRUARY 2004. THEY REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN AT A COST TO ME OF $594.20 ON 17 FEBRUARY 2010. *TR

2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU TIMING CHAIN FALLING APART DUE TO ROTATING COLLARS ON THE CHAIN WHICH GO BETWEEN GEAR TEETH FALLING OFF. MECHANIC SAID I PROBABLY HAVE 30 - 40 PIECES IN MY OIL PAN. THIS WERE MADE WITH A SLIT INSTEAD OF SOLID WITH JUST A HOLE TO SLIDE A PIN THROUGH FOR ATTACHMENT. GM HAD A RECALL OF THE SATURN WITH THE SAME ENGINE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT GM CLAIMS THAT ALL RECALLS ARE VIN SPECIFIC AND MY CAR DIDN'T FALL UNDER THE RECALL. I'VE READ OF OTHER INCIDENTS WHERE THIS HAS CAUSED BREAKAGE, RESULTING IN ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE ENGINE STOPPING AND BEING DESTROYED. *TR

2004 MALIBU MAXX DRIVER SEAT FRAME BREAKS UNDER NORMAL USE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AND THE VEHICLE CAN NOT STEER. *TR

AFTER HEARING AN ODD SPARK-ELECTRICAL SOUND THAT SEEMED TO COME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN POWER STEERING FAILED DURING ROUTINE DRIVING CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. STEERING COLUMN WOULD NOT LOCK INTO PLACE MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT TO STEER WITHOUT POWER ASSIST. THIS HAS ONLY HAPPENED ONE TIME AS VEHICLE USE HAS BEEN RESTRICTED SINCE THE FAILURE. *TR

2004 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX LS. THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT WHEN TRAVELING AT SLOW SPEEDS OR STOPPED. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 OR 4 TIMES. NO ACC OR INJURY. POWER STEERING GOES BACK ON AFTER TURNING OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTARTING THE CAR. THIS APPEARS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE OTHER GM AUTOS THAT WERE RECALLED TODAY, MARCH 2, 2010. TSB'S HAVE BEEN ISSUED, BUT NO RECALL. THE INCIDENT DATE LISTED IS APPROX THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED. *TR

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) I HAVE 2004 CHEVY MALIBU AND I AM OCCURRING HAVE POWER STEERING PROBLEMS, I TOOK MY DEALER AND THE DIAGNOSTIC MY I NEED TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN, STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT, THAT S IS NOT AND CUSTOMER WEAR AND TEAR THAT AN MANUFACTURE PROBLEM, I WENT AN ALITTLE HIGHER I CONTACT GM FILE [XXX] AND THE SAID THERE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE STEERING GO BAD, WILL YOU PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS ISSUE FOR ME CONTACT INFO [XXX], IF THERE OTHER CAR HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM SO IS MALIBU 2004 THE WASN'T AND ACCIDENT BUT IT COULD BE IF THIS DOESN'T GET FIX. *TR

THE WELDS ON THE DRIVER SEAT FRAME BREAK. I FIRST NOTICED THIS IN FEBRUARY 2010 WHEN MY SEAT WOULD RAISE AT AN ANGLE. RECENTLY I WAS CLEANING MY CAR AND I NOTICED THE SEAT BELT WAS NOT ATTACHED SECURELY. THE WELD HOLDING THE SEAT BELT TO THE SEAT FRAME HAD CRACKED AND BROKEN FREE. I FOUND A USED SEAT AND WHEN IT WAS DELIVERED, THIS SEAT HAD THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS, MULTIPLE WELDS ON THE SEAT FRAME THAT ARE CRACKED AND BROKE. THIS FRAME IS CRITICAL TO THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER. THIS WEBSITE SHOWS THAT THERE ARE MANY MORE COMPLAINTS OF REGARDING THE SAME DEFECT. HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2005/CHEVROLET/MALIBU_MAXX/SEATS/PROBLEM.ASPX THERE ARE MORE PLACES ONLINE TALKING ABOUT THIS VERY ISSUE. MY CAR HAS 55000 MILES ON IT. I AM 150LBS. THESE WELDS SHOULD NOT BE BREAKING SO EASY, AND SO PREMATURELY. *JS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH SHE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN THE AND THE STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTIONED WITHOUT WARNING. SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE STATION. SHE STATED THAT AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED THE WARNING LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE SERVICE STATION TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF TO RESET THE POWER STEERING.SHE WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 65,000.

STEERING COLUMN DEFECTIVE ON THE CHEVY MALIBU. I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY MALIBU AND THE STEERING LOCKS ON TURNS, MERGING AND ACCELERATION. VERY DANGEROUS! *TR

I HAVE A 2004 CHEVROLET- MALIBU MAXX LT. THE POWER STEERING KEPT ON GOING OUT WITH OUT WARNING. FIRST TIME IT DID IT, IT ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I PULLED OVER. I SHUT OFF THE CAR AND TURNED IT BACK ON. I WAS THINKING MAYBE IT WAS JUST A ONE TIME PROBLEM. IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN FOR 2 WEEKS. THEN THE SECOND TIME HAPPENED. IT WAS WITHOUT WARNING AS WELL. SO, I DID THE SAME AS BEFORE SHUT IT DOWN AND RESTARTED IT. IT WORKED FOR A MINUTE. RIGHT WHEN I WAS GETTING READY TO DRIVE IT DID IT AGAIN. SO, SHUT IT OFF THEN TURNED IT ON. IT HAPPENED ABOUT 5 TIMES IN ONE DAY. SO, I TOOK IT TO A DRIVE TRAIN PLACE SINCE I WAS TOLD THAT MY POWER STEERING WAS IN MY TRANSMISSION. THEY SAID THAT IT WAS MY POWER STEERING AND TOLD ME HOW ITS NOT LIKE IT WAS BEFORE. THAT MY POWER STEERING WAS IN MY STEERING COLUMN. SO, IT QUIT DOING IT FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I COULDN'T EVEN GET IT RESET WHEN I WAS SHUTTING IT OFF AND BACK ON. SO, I TOOK IT TO A PLACE I ALWAYS GO AND THEY LOOKED AT IT AND KNEW THE EXACT PROBLEM. I SPENT $643.65 GETTING IT FIXED. THEY TOLD ME TO LOOK ONLINE AND SEE IF THERE ARE OTHER COMPLAINTS. HERE ARE A FEW SITES HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/CHEVROLET/MALIBU/2004/STEERING/POWER_STEERING_GOING_OUT_INTERMITTENTLY.SHTML , HTTP://CARBLOG.CLASSIFIEDS1000.COM/RECALL_ISSUES/20090114-133923-POWER_STEERING_PROBLEMS_ON_CHEVY_MALIBU_SEEKING_RECALL , HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/CHEVROLET/MALIBU/2004/INVESTIGATIONS.SHTML THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THAT IT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED BEFORE IT TAKES SOMEONES LIFE. *TR

THE POWER STEERING LOCKS UP FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 10 SECONDS. IT OCCURS AT SLOW SPEEDS ON SURFACE STREETS, HIGH SPEEDS ON THE INTERSTATE, GOING FORWARD AND EVEN WHEN I'M IN THE MIDST OF A TURN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL FLASH, THE LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF AND THE NOTICE BELL RINGS "DING, DING, DING." WHEN IT FINALLY STOPS THE, IF ITS SUMMER THE AC WILL STOP FUNCTIONING UNTIL I STOP AND RESTART THE CAR. IT IS A VERY SCARY 5 TO 10 SECONDS AND I'M VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE NOT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AS OF YET. THIS HAS ALSO COMPROMISED THE EASE OF THE POWER STEERING WHEN IT HAS NOT LOCKED UP. PARKING IS VERY DIFFICULT AS THE TURNING RADIUS AND NOT GOOD AND ITS JUST DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE CARS STEERING. *TR

DURING NORMAL DRIVING, DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER DISPLAYED "POWER STEERING" AND ALL POWER STEERING ASSIST STOPPED. CAR WAS VERY HARD TO STEER, BUT WAS ABLE TO STEER TO SIDE OF ROAD. AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR, POWER STEERING RETURNED. THIS CAR WAS SERVICED BY GM IN 2004 TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM (UNDER THE ORIGINAL ODI COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION) BUT THE PROBLEM HAS RECURRED AND GM INSISTS THAT WE NEED TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN AGAIN. *TR

OWN A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU THAT HAS BEEN DRIVEN NORMALLY OVER THE COURSE OF OWNERSHIP. INEXPLICABLY THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON THE DRIVERS INFORMATION CENTER. SHORTLY AFTER THE STEERING LOCKED UP. IT TOOK SEVERAL TIMES TURNING THE VEHICLE ON AND OFF TO GET THE POWER STEERING TO COME BACK ON. THE FAILURE OCCURS 4 TO 5 TIMES A WEEK AND WE ARE AFRAID THAT IT MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. ALSO, THE STEERING COLUMN HAS BEEN REPLACED BUT IT HAS NOT RESOLVED THE ISSUE. I HAVE ALSO NOTED THAT GM HAS INITIATED A RECALL FOR THE SAME SAFETY ISSUE BUT FOR DIFFERENT MODELS/YEARS OF VEHICLES. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE RADIO PANEL STARTED BLINKING WITH POWER STEERING. I THEN LOST MY POWER STEERING AND MY CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE. AS A WOMAN, DRIVING WITHOUT POWER STEERING WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO A PARKING LOT (BARELY), AND SAFELY PARK THE CAR. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED TO ME, AND THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, AND AFTER RUNNING DIAGNOSTICS, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE 2004 MALIBU'S HAVE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING, AND THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE POWER STEERING MOTOR AND THAT IT OVERHEATS, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING.*CW

I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX. ON JAN. 26, I GOT INTO THE CAR. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE INFORMATION CENTER SAID TO CHECK POWER STEERING. THE STEERING WAS A LITTLE HARD. MY FRIEND WAS GOING TO CHECK IT WHEN I GOT HOME. BY THE TIME I GOT HOME THAT NIGHT, THE PROBLEM WAS NOT OCCURRING AND THE LIGHTS WERE OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED A COUPLE TIMES SINCE. THEN TODAY, 3/2/2010, I GOT IN THE CAR. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER UNTIL ABOUT 15 MPH. IT WAS LESS DIFFICULT BETWEEN 15 AND 30 MPH, AND O.K., BUT NOT NORMAL, OVER 30 MPH. WHEN I GOT TO WORK, I HAD TO MOVE MY CAR AFTER A FEW MINUTES. WHEN I GOT INTO IT AND MOVED IT, THE STEERING WAS FINE. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE OF THE SIMILARITY WITH THE COBALT STEERING ISSUE THAT HAS CAUSED A RECENT RECALL. THE SYMPTOMS SOUND EXACTLY LIKE THE NEWS REPORTS, BUT THE MALIBU ISN'T ON THE LIST YET. *TR

2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILURE. POWER STEERING HAS FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES, ESPECIALLY UNDER ACCELERATION. VEHICLE EXTREMELY HARD TO STEER. LIGHTS AND WARNING BELLS GO OFF ON DASH OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HUDIBURG CHEVROLET TWO TIMES AND THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO REPAIR PROBLEM AND DID NOT EVEN LOOK AT CAR. WANTED TO CHARGE ME JUST TO LOOK AT IT. VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AT THE TIME. *TR

POWER DIRVER SEAT ON 2004 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX BROKE CAUSING THE SEAT TO LEAN TO THE RIGHT.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS THE "POWER STEERING" WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IMMEDIATELY, THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHICH REQUIRED HIGHER EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY TWO DIFFERENT AUTHORIZED DEALERS. THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.