Steering Rack And Pinion problems of the 1998 Chevrolet Malibu

While backing out of my drive way to the right I heard loud clunking and then finally a pop as I turned the steering to the left. Immediately following, while driving in residential area left turns became extremely difficult to make, and I noticed the steering wheel seemed to be off center. I decided to make a 3-point turn to return home, and while backing to the left there seemed to be little actual movement before I felt as if the front end of the car raised a bit followed by another lout pop. Returning the wheels right saw little movement at first before turning as normal. Left turns the rest of the way home difficult, while right turns are made with ease. Upon inspection when getting to my garage rack and pinion mount on passenger side that appears to be welded had broken. Perhaps rusted? I live in CA, so I didn't expect rusted parts to be an issue. I have researched other Malibus that have experienced incredibly similar behavior, and there is even a recall regarding the rack and pinion in my my Malibu, however mine is not included due to VIN. I find this to be absolutely appalling that gm can receive so many complaints for this issue, and request for a fix, and so boldly tell these customers that they will not service their vehicles when this is clearly a manufacturer defect.

I purchased new tires today and the technicians noticed there was excessive play in the steering link via the rack and pinion. Upon further investigation it was discovered that the welds (which are both factory and most likely robotic) holding the nut through the rack and pinion have failed. These welds are not a consumable or an otherwise replaceable part of the car and unacceptable for them to fail. Currently if the nut that was originally welded in place comes off I will completely lose steering on the drivers side. At even slow speeds this could be fatal to the driver and occupants. The car has been owned by one family for the life of the vehicle and immaculately maintained. For Chevrolet to design and manufacture such a critical piece in this fashion is appalling. I am trying to get in touch with Chevrolet recalls department and safety but no one will return my calls. The one person that answered at a dealership said they would absolutely fix it if as a failed weld signals a fabrication defect. I gave them my number so they could call to schedule an appointment but no one has called!.

The contact owns a 1998 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel would suddenly malfunction and became very difficult to turn. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the rack and pinion was faulty and needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 180,000.

I was parking the car in my drive way and all of sudden a loud noise comes from underneath and the car stears by itself in the wrong direction where the other car was already parked. I managed to stear due to the slow speed the car was moving but I realized how bad this could have been while driving the car in traffic and at high speed rates. When I checked what happened, I noticed that the front end cradle that the steering rack mounts to, has rusted out and the whole rack and pinion became lose in one of the mounting points. I am very disappointed with the quality and workmanship they put in one of the most important parts of the car, where steering, suspension, in fact the whole power train seats on and it failed so easy. The manufacture was trying to save some dollars at the cost of peoples lives.

While driving my 1998 Chevrolet Malibu at slow speed (luckily), the steering make a crunching noise and completely failed. This cause the complete loss of control of the vehicle. The steering wheel would simply spin, with no effect on the actual steering gearbox. There was no longer any mechanical connection between the steering column and the rack and pinion gear. The vehicle was towed to my mother's home about a mile away and there was an initial inspection by my stepfather (a 25 year veteran of the automobile business). He stated that he had never seen a failure like this and suggested that a contact Chevrolet to see if there were any recalls on this, which I did. He also checked and there was one in the steering column bearing and it was completed in 2004 on this vehicle. I contacted gm by e-mail and they called and told me that they were not going to participate in any repairs. I subsequently had the vehicle towed to a local garage and they did a preliminary diagnosis and advised me of the nature of the failure (along with a $900 extimate to repair it). They also stated that they had never seen a failure like this. The main concern was that we were extremely lucky that this happened in a parking lot and not on the highway, as the resultant loss of control would likely have cost us our lives.

On August 21, 2008, I was driving the car on a level, straight road and heard a snap. The steering of the car got really loose and squirrelly. I pull over to check for loose components under the wheel wells. Everything looked tight. Later I looked under the hood at the rack and pinion and had a helper turn the steering wheel left and right because it was difficult to maintain control to the left. Once the wheel was turned left, I saw the whole rack move up and down from the frame of the engine cradle. From the looks of it a part that held it down broke.

Having trouble when turning vehicle. Sometimes there is a major delay when turning left followed by a jerk to the left. Sometimes it feels as though it is to hard to turn to the left then extremely easy to turn to right as though unassisted. I have a recall for 98 Malibu but have been told it did not include my vehicle . I find this hard to believe considering the trouble I am having which is just like other 98 Malibus the campaign # is 03v527000 eff. 12/11/03 gm recall# 03062.

: the contact stated while driving at various speeds and turning there is a noise coming from the steering. The noise is more noticeable while driving at lower speeds. The dealership determined the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. There have been no repairs made. There is a NHTSA recall, # 03v527000, regarding the rack and pinion. The vehicle has the same problems as indicated in the recall; however it is not included in the recall due to the VIN. Updated 4/6/2006 - repairs have been made.

While driving vehicle, steering became very difficult, mechanic determined that rack and pinion needed to be replaced. This is the second incident. I have had it replaced once before. I called the dealership and was told that my vehicle identification number was not included in the recall. D. F.

Consumer stated that this vehicle experienced the same problem as mentioned in recall 03v527000. However, this vehicle was not included in the recall due to VIN. Updated 12/12/2006 -.

While vehicle was parked consumer noticed liquid leaking onto the ground. Consumer drove vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that rack and pinion steering needed to be replaced. A recall notice 03082 was issued, but mechanic informed consumer that the recall did not affect this vehicle.

While driving at low speeds, the consumer heard a clunking noise coming from the front end of the vehicle while turning. The consumer had difficulty maintaining control of the vehicle while turning left. The consumer took the vehicle to firestone and was informed that the lower pinion bearing needed to be replaced and possibly the gear assembly. The vehicle's steering rack and pionion was recalled but the consumer's vehicle was not included due to VIN.

Consumer received recall 03v527000 regarding steering gear bearings failure. Consumer felt that the dealer treated the recall unfairly. Consumer had been put off several times when trying to have recall repairs done .

Power steering failure. Took it to the dealership they said I need a new rack and some hoses. Estimated price is $1,300. I called gm service and they said my VIN was not included in the recall issued in the past few months concerning steering failure in chevy Malibu. What's up with that.

The vehicle was taken to the dealer to have recall no. #03v527000(steering gear bearings) performed. The consumer feels that the vehicle runs worse now than it did before the recall work was done. The consumer stated that the vehicle's is making a loud noise while idling.

Rack and pinion broke, causing steering to fail.

Was driving approximately 25mph when vehicle started pulling to the right. Vehicle sounded as if in neutral. No control of vehicle. Managed to pull over and parked. Checked vehicle. Noticed right front passenger side wheel caved inwards. Towed to dealer. Was informed by mechanic that rack and pinion had snapped completely in half.

No summary listed for above vehicle.

I have talked to Chevrolet and asked them to repurchase my car. They informed me that they would not. I do not feel safe for my family in this car any more. I also feel that Chevrolet misrepresents the Malibu as a care free car.

Chevrolet refused to pay ferry expense so consumer could get her vehicle repaired at the nearest chevy dealership, 100 miles away by water.

This vehicle experienced the same problem as described in steering gear bearings recall 03v527000. But this vehicle was not included in the recall due to VIN.

There is a knocking noise in steering wheel. Dealer has replaced rack and pinion steering and problem still exists. Manufacturer has been notified.