Lose Power Steering problems of the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu - part 1

I lose power steering assist when I'm driving. Usually happens when the car is parked or randomly while I am driving.

Power steering repeatedly goes out while driving. Blinkers only work sometimes. Cruise control does not engage. I lost power steering going down a busy highway.

My Malibu would lose power steering while driving. If I shut off the car and started it back up, the power steering would be back. I then got a recall notice about the issue so I took it in. The power steering worked for a couple years then suddenly went out completely. I can now no longer get the issue fixed. It's worse than it was. I don't know what options I have.

I lost power steering and got a message in the driver information center telling me that there was a problem with the power steering. I was driving on route 1 in new jersey and going about 45-50 mph. I pulled off the road and restarted the car, hoping it was just an electronic glitch. That solved the immediate problem. However, I learned reading the nytimes that this is a common problem with the maxx and in fact there had been a safety recall on the car. I called a local chevy dealer to have it fixed and found there are three outstanding safety recalls on my car. In addition to the power steering problem, there are also problems with the transmission shift cable and the brake lamp. All these recalls were made in April and may of last year after all the bad publicity about covering up defects that resulted in deaths. I have an appointment to take care of all three problems, but this is my larger concern: I don¿t know why, but I received only one recall notice (not three) and that one notice (which was about the transmission cable) said that the parts weren¿t available and they would notify me when they were available. I was never notified, but apparently the parts are available and have been for some time. My question for you: what is NHTSA doing to make sure that individual consumers receive accurate information about safety recalls? I was lucky. I was driving on a straight road in an urban area -- and not taking a curve on a mountainside -- when my power steering suddenly stopped working. Why wasn't I told about this problem earlier? why did I have to wait till reading about it in the nytimes? and why didn't I receive a followup letter when the part became available for the transmission cable? thank you.

Tl-the contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving 40 mph, there was a sudden lost of power steering. The contact was able to maneuver the vehicle to the side of road and regained the power steering. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer nor an independent mechanic and there was no diagnostic test performed. The contact received safety recall notification NHTSA campaign number 14v153000(steering). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufactured was notified about the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 72,000. Lb.

At first the warning light would come on then the car began to lose the power steering, then it finally went out completely. I had the car repaired, then my daughter and son in law found out the car had been recalled. I would just like to be reimbursed for the cost of the repair. I have called tom bannan Chevrolet in madison tennessee. Who does not return my call. Thank you.

While driving, the check engine light randomly came on, and then about 30 seconds later I lost power steering. Power steering came back on its own about 40 minutes later, after letting the car sit.

I was driving on the highway and totally lost power steering. I pulled my car into a parking lot and let the car sit for a couple of hours. I was able to drive the car home where I lost power steering again while pulling into my driveway. I was able to drive my car to the repair shop a couple of days later where I had to have the entire steering system replaced.

I was backing out of my driveway and the power steering light came on and I lost power steering. I shut the car off and it reset and the power steering came back on. This has happened numerous times since where the power steering goes out by it self with no warning. Seems like it happens more at slower speeds, but what happens when I do not expect it and I need the power steering. My young daughter drives it sometimes also.

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu maxx. The contact stated while driving in various weather conditions, speed and with out warning his vehicle lost all power steering. When the vehicle was restarted the vehicle resumed normal function until the failure recurred. The dealer was notified and stated that the steering column needed to be replaced at the contacts expense. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage 46,000 miles.

I had just gotten into town and passed my road I needed so I pulled into the next road to turn around and it was extremely hard to turn. I thought I lost my power steering so I turned the car off only to realize it was still running. I started it back up and it seemed to loosen up so I pulled back out on the main road and again could not get the wheel to turn either way at all. If this had happened at a speed higher than 20mph, there would be no way to avoid a wreck. I was stuck on the main road with nowhere to go and was completely blocking traffic in not great road conditions. If this had happened on my way to the destination, I would have had no control and would have went off the road and probable death on the road I was traveling. After reviewing several sites online, this is a common problem with this car. I feel it should be a priority 1 recall. There were a couple of people who wrecked because of it. If this cannot be fixed, we will have no other option than to get rid of the car and warn others of this safety risk. Please consider looking into this as I really do like my car but I have a family of 4 to consider and one child that will be getting his license in a few months.

I was driving down the road heading to work, and went around a curve and all the sudden the service engine light came on and I completely lost my power steering. I managed to pull over and shut my car off, turn it back on and went on my way. The power steering came back at this point. The next morning, I was driving to work, and was getting ready to make a right turn. As I rounded the corner, I lost my power steering yet again. I once again killed the engine and it came back. Both times, I later drove the car home from work with no incidents. This is very dangerous and could cause serious accidents.

I was traveling on the interstate and went to make an exit, turn and lost the power steering after the wrench displayed on the dashboard. Per the dealer they advised the sensor is bad/faulty. I reviewed the other complaints similar to my experience per chevy my VIN was not included in the investigation # pe04031 I would like to see the matter further researched if im having the exact issues as the other Malibus im not understanding why gm would repair the issue especially considering the safety issue.

Power steering malfunction flashed on the instrument panel and within seconds I lost all power steering until I stopped the vehicle shut it off and restarted engine. I have had this happen before but in the parking lot and random malfunction indicators since I purchased the vehicle. This is a malfunction that these cars rolled off the assembly line with. Gm chooses not to do anything about it and if I end up paying over $1,000. 00 for the repair I vow to never purchase another general motors vehicle again.

I was driving on highway and my car chimed and lost all power steering for approximately 3-4 seconds and then the power came back. This type of power loss has happened to me twice since I have owned my vehicle which I purchased in 2008.

I was driving on the interstate and all of the sudden I lost power steering. The light on the dash came on and the information panel said "power steering" I was able to pull to the side to the road and turn off the car. Once I started it again I had power steering. I drive for a living and this scared me to death. I have never had anything like this happen before. There seems to be an abundant number of complaints for this problem. How many complaints does it take to have someone figure this out?!!!!.

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 this failure occurs without any warning and sometimes the power steering light will illuminate and it will show in the radio panel. As a woman, driving without power steering was extremely difficult. This is not the first time this happened to me it has happened several times 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. The car seat belts are froze and the hazard light button fell inside its hole and the headlight covers don't allow the lights to fully illuminate . This car should have been recalled because it poses life threatening issues. My research shows a high volume of complaints on this 2004 model but the 2005's and above were recalled, I also collected statements from factory workers who left their personal info on the internet and I found this : during my employment contract with delphi automotive (delphi saginaw steering system, 3900 e. Holland Ave. , saginaw, michigan 48601), I was instructed to conduct a screw "strip-out" study on the electric motor/controller assembly of the electric power steering (eps) system of the general motor's epsilon platform (my 2003. 5 - 2006 Malibu). This study was conducted in may of 2004 at delphi's plant 1, assembly. The study included ten production motor and ten production controller assemblies that were assembled on the production equipment and process(ES). The controller is attached to motor by three m 5. 0x 0. 8 screws. The result of that study concluded that four of the ten motor/controller assemblies had at least one of the screws fully strip.

I started the car, put the car in drive and accelerated. When I went to turn the wheel, a light appeared on the dash (looks like a wrench) and on the radio display said power steering. I lost all power steering. This has now happened multiple times in the last month. I pulled out on to another road and while in the process of turning, I lost my power steering. I had to pull over into a parking lot, which was very difficult to do since I did not have power steering. Turned the car off and restarted the car. The light went away and my power steering came back. The car is very unsafe because the failure happens while driving. My husband called chevy dealer and they stated that this car is not covered under the service recall notice!!.

My wife recently experienced a major problem with the power steering unit in her 2004 Malibu while driving with the kids. She says all of a sudden, the 'wrench' light came on, the radio display read "power steering" and she lost all power steering in the car, nearly causing her to crash. This morning, I took her car as I work much closer to home. Sure enough, there is no power steering in the car at all. After reading online, I am confused as to whether there is or is not a recall on this unit, as there appears to have been alot of trouble with the power steering in this year of vehicle, and even have a recall on the 2005 model. We have had the car for several years and had little trouble with it until recently. My local dealership tells me it would cost $96 just to look at the car and then whatever it would cost to fix the problem, but unable to guarantee the problem would remain fixed. I am in a similar position as many, unable to afford a new car or even pay an exorbitant amount for repairs that may or may not fix the issue. I need clear answers. Can you please let me know my options. Is there a recall I can look for? if there isn't, why not, since there have been so many issue with the power steering in this model? needing help,.

I was driving on the highway and an engine light came on and it said power steering across my radio. I thought that meant I need power steering fluid but after doing google searches, I find that means I lost my power steering control. Luckily, I was going straight and at a high speed so I didn't lose control based upon what I read. However, I have two little girls and will sue in a heartbeat if anything happens to them as a result of this issue. Especially, since this is a known issue since 2004. Why the heck haven't you forced chevy to recall these vehicles. I don't care that in most cases steering is not affected and that it can be reset by turning the car off and on. I have read about so many incidents of near crashes and some injuries. This is ridiculous and needs to be fixed before someone dies.

I was driving my daughter to a doctors appointment, and my car dinged 3 times and "power steering" came across on the radio face, and I lost power steering. I shut the car off and when I started it again it was fine. Today (1-23-13) I was driving with my daughter in the car, and I was driving around a curve, when the car dinged 3 times again and power steering displayed across the radio screen. I lost power steering in mid turn, and had to fight to keep the car under control. Does someone have to die for this to ne corrected? ## VIN failed ##.

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu maxx. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the power steering malfunctioned making the steering wheel very difficult to turn. The contact indicated that the lost power steering warning message display on the instrument panel. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no solution was offered. The contact indicated that he received a notification for recall NHTSA campaign number 14v153000 (steering). The dealer and manufacturer were contacted on several occasions the contact the was informed that the parts were not available and no estimated availability date could be provided. The failure mileage was 250,000.

Lose of power steering ## VIN passed ## chevy Malibu ##.

Beginning my day, I started my vehicle, put the car in reverse, backed up, and put my car in drive. I went approx. 10 feet when my vehicle lost power steering and my car almost went off our steep driveway. There was an orange wrench that illuminated in the dash and power steering alert came on my information display on the radio. I turned the car off and restarted. All warning lights went out and the steering came back. Thankfully, I was home, and not hurt, but I am having fears of a much worse situation if this were to occur again.

The electric power steering will quit with little to no warning making the car extremely hard to steer safely. The problem only seems to happen when moving, I've never lost steering in say a parking lot, it has been on the road every time. Usually the light on the dash will light up and warn you and most times noting happens, other times you'll lose all power steering almost immediately. Twice I have lost steering first, then the light came on later. No rhyme or reason to when it happens, it can be when making a turn and I once a few weeks ago lost it 4 separate times while on a freeway not making turns. Turning the car off, then back on has fixed it almost every time though twice it took more than one try. The second time this happened I did run off the road as it was after a large turn and I was unable to get the wheel straightened up in time to not run both right side tires off the road, this was the first time I lost steering and did not get a warning light. When the steering is off it is much, much worse that a car without normal power steering. I have driven old cars that had no power steering and can handle those fine, I would say the effort required after loosing the electric steering is over twice what is needed for normal cars. I am a large man and it is quite a struggle for me, my wife cannot hardly move the wheel at all and certainly not safely. This appears to be a pretty widespread problem, see this link for a few examples. . Read more...

2004 Malibu maxx has lost power steering. Weeks prior the steering to the left is loose and steering to the right is tight. Mechanic cannot find an issue. Found over 40 complaints in online car blogs of the same issue. Several had replaced steering column only to find the issue occurred again.

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at any speed, the vehicle would suddenly lose power steering without warning. The vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000 and the current mileage was 85,188.

I have a 2004 chevy Malibu and lost power steering on the highway almost crashed into the divider. My pregnant wife was in the car with me at the time. After doing research on the web I find that this is a very common problem with all chevy Malibu's why is there no recall!!! someone is going to get killed in one of these cars lucky enough it wasn't my pregnant wife or I !!!! the power steering light came on the dash and lost all steering abilities pulled over the vehicle and shut the car off and then turned it back on and it was as if the problem had gone away drove about another mile and it happened again. This is not the first time this problem has occurred. We have already replaced the steering column once already, now it looks like we will have to do it again. Why is the auto maker not required to have a recall for this problem as stated above it continues to be an on going problem in all chevy Malibu"s regardless of the year!!!.

My 2004 chevy Malibu lost power steering while driving. The power steering goes on and off (working some days and not on others). The power steering is currently out and I cannot drive the vehicle. The chevy dealership states this is a problem with the Malibu but since it is not under warranty I will have to cover the cost.

I have a 2004 Malibu maxx and I was driving on the freeway and lost my power steering in the vehicle while exiting on a ramp that turned 360 degrees. . . I suddenly had to fight with all my might to keep the car on the road and nearly crashed. I've been researching this issue and it is a highly known issue on the internet. If I turn off the car and restart it moments later it will work for a while then fail again unexpectantly. . . Dangerous!!! very dangerous! I'm in the process of contacting a gm service department for a fix. . . But please help the tens of thousands of drivers on the road who are unsuspecting of this known issue.

My 2004 chevy Malibu is having an issue with the powere steering assist system. You lose power steering without warning. I contacted chevy over this and they pretty much said there was nothing they could do. But there is numerous issues with this.

Power steering failure. Warm startup, after rest stop on highway trip, vehicle lost power steering and the "power steering malfunction" light came on dash. Pulled over and checked fuses - all ok. Restarted, problem still there. Restarted again in an hour, problem went away.

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while traveling 65 mph the vehicle lost power steering. The contact stated that after regaining control of the vehicle and starting the vehicle, the power steering began to function normally. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic who stated that they could not find a problem with the vehicle. The contact stated that this was the only time the power steering failed. The failure mileage was 100000 and the current mileage is 117,000. Updated 12/22/10 updated 12/29/jb.

Power steering light has been coming on in car every time driven since 2010. I have lost power steering multiply times while driving in the city and highway. It has been taken to the dealership twice about this problem, and I was told there was nothing wrong with the vehicle. Now, it is making a terrible squealing noise. My husband called the dealership and was told they didn't have the part to fix it. We did not receive the recall information until June 7th. My husband has spoken to the dealership and gm because we feel it is not safe to drive. We feel they should supply us with a rental car until they are able to supply the part to fix the problem. We received no satisfaction from gm.

2004 Malibu: Feb 2005 vehicle chimed; power steering displayed on driver information center, lost power steering while making a left turn. Dealer replaced steering column because I had a letter from gm saying that my vehicle may have been built with a steering column sensor that can wear unevenly and produce an erratic electrical signal. Dealer said that my VIN number was not part of the recall but I insisted that I had experienced the problem and didn't care if my number was on the list I wanted it replaced. May 2010: three days in a row chime sounded and power steering displayed on driver information center; stopped vehicle and restarted it, reset itself. Took in to dealer and had a diagnostic test run ($100. 00). Test indicates that I need the steering column replaced and a shaft kit (clunking) cost $990. 65, not covered under warranty. . Read more...