Steering Column problems of the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu - part 2

Power steering column is about to fail for the third time. First time at 45,000 miles, second time at 83,000, now at 169,000.

The power steering went out last year and I had the steering column replace (that's what they said was wrong) now here it is 14 months later and it's out again. I am afraid to drive it even to the shop. It has to be some kind of defective part by chevy based on the massive number of complaints I see on the web about this. I should not have to shell out money to have this fixed again. This is a dangerous problem and should be addressed by the factory!.

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact was driving approximately 20- 60 mph when the steering wheel suddenly locked and then releases independently within seconds. The vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic and they advised her that the steering column would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000. The VIN was unavailable.

We purchased the car in 2006. Its a 2004 chevy Malibu. The first time we had a problem with the steering was about 4 years ago when we went to turn the wheel and the horn started honking. The dealer told us to bring it in and couldn't make it happen. It did it again and then they determined it was the steering column and replaced a part. The 2nd time it did it, the car/wrench light came on and the steering locked up and was making an odd noise. They stated they replaced steering component. I was driving the car just last week and all of a sudden my steering locked up, the car/wrench came on and my panel said steering. I am fearful to even drive the car or allow my daughter to drive it and have found thousands of the same issues on line. It gives you no warning and just goes out.

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. While the contact was driving approximately 25 mph, a sudden loss of power steering occurred without warning causing the vehicle to wander into the next lane. The contact was able to gain control and drive onto the side of the road. The engine was turned off and restarted. The vehicle resumed normally. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where they informed her that the steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was in the process of being repaired. The failure mileage and VIN were unavailable.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact was driving 25 mph when the steering wheel froze and would not respond. The contact was unable to control the vehicle as it abnormally pulled to the left across several lanes and crashed into a ditch. The contact sustained bruising on the shoulder and neck from the seat belt. A police report was available. The vehicle was towed to a local auto body repair facility where the steering column was ruled as the cause of the crash. The steering column was replaced. The failure mileage was 120,000 and the current mileage was 122,000. Updated 12/09/10 according to the police report, the consumer stated the power steering failed. Updated 12/13/jb.

Driving down the highway and power steering warning and chime start, then power steering goes out. After stopping for a while and starting the car it worked. Brought it to a chevy dealer and they said the steering column needed to be replaced to the tune of $650. 00. After researching this problem I discovered hundreds of Malibu owners with the same issue. An obvious design and engineering flaw from gm. I can't understand that this has not been a recall item due to the number of complaints.

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving 65 mph the contact lost control of the vehicle while trying to avoid a crash. The power steering locked causing the vehicle to crash into a guard rail and roll over. The contact suffered an injury to the arm. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact was taken to the hospital for further examination. Before the crash occurred the steering column was replaced twice. The contact was concerned that steering column caused the crash to occur. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 83,000.

While coming off the highway, I noticed I no longer have power steering. The entire rest of the way home, no power steering. I searched on line to see if there was a reservoir to put more power steering fluid in, and there appears to be none and I will have to fork out over $500 for a new steering column. I was never informed of any problem with the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu and a power steering problem.

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the power steering would lock making it impossible to steer the vehicle. The dealer was contacted who stated that the steering column would need to be replaced. The manufacturer was not contacted to report the failure and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 75,000 and current mileage was 99,500.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. . Read more...

Steering column defective on the chevy Malibu. I have a 2004 chevy Malibu and the steering locks on turns, merging and acceleration. Very dangerous!.

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.

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving 30 mph, the steering system malfunctioned, making it difficult to steer the vehicle. The contact had the steering column replaced previously but the repair did not remedy the issue. The contact did not call the manufacturer or the dealer. The contact took the vehicle to a local mechanic where the mechanic advised that the steering column needed to be replaced again. The contact was concerned that the failure would result in a crash. The failure mileage was 102,000.

I was driving my 2004 Malibu maxx to work yesterday and my steering locked up on me while driving down a busy road during rush hour. The steering wheel pulled to left before locking up. I hope someone will force gm to recall this and fix this problem. There may have not yet been a death, but there will be in time. How many complaints need to be reported before this is taken seriously. My dealer had to completely replace the entire steering column and power steering motor. My car only has 55k miles on. This situation is extremely unsafe! do something about it!!!.

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving 45 mph the steering column locked on the vehicle. She was able to safely restart the vehicle, and after 5 minutes the vehicle resumed normal operation. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the technicians could not identify the cause of the failure. The current and failure mileages were 117,000.

The power steering on my 2004 Malibu LS failed while making a turn. I nearly had an accident. My local garage diagnosed the problem as a module in the steeringcolumn and said it's a fairly common problem. This is extremely dangerous and should be considered for a recall or manufactures service bulletin.

While driving my 2004 Malibu LS power steering will go out it is all you can do to steer car. I can not steer car when this happens. You have to stop car turn ignition off then start car again to get your power steering back. You may have to do this several times steering will quiver as you turn. This is very dangerous and will result in deaths there should be a recall to correct this problem. Steering column has been replaced once for this problem. Libby b. Chaney.

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The entire steering column was replaced at 17,000 miles for power steering failure. Two weeks ago she paid $1000. 00 to replace the steering column. The manufacturer was notified, but because the warranty expired no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 132,000.

I own a 2004 chevy Malibu and the electronic power steering quit. The wrench light came on and the display said power steering. It has happened several times. The last time it happened was right after I had picked my son up from day care. I was on my home and the power steering went out. I could barely steer the car. I had to pull hard on the steering wheel to get the car to steer. It started working again on my way to work, but now it over steers to the right. If the power steering had come back on while I was pulling on the steering wheel I would have went into the other lane and caused and accident (with my son in the car). I took it to the chevy dealer and they said the steering column was already replaced due to a recall. The dealer said they could replace the steering column at my expense. If the steering column was already replaced, then why is the same problem still happening. I will not pay to have a new one put in when it only temporarily fixes the problem. I have read many complaints on this same issue. Some have caused accidents. I will not drive the car with my son in the car. I cannot believe that gm does not admit that there is a problem. What will it take for gm to correct the problem a "death".

I was driving my 2004 Chevrolet Malibu this summer when the steering wheel column locked up and wouldn't let me turn the wheel thankfully I was on a county road so I was able to pull my car to the side. I took it to the dealership and I had to get my steering wheel column replaced and then it happened again this time it only partially locked up, but when I took it to the dealership the steering wheel column had to be replaced again and I fear that something like this could possible happen again.

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu maxx. The contact stated that while reversing from a residential garage, the power steering warning lamp illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician diagnosed that the steering column was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was previously repaired under a manufacturer's recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 69,500 and the current mileage was 162,790.

Loss of power steering while driving 2004 chevy Malibu. No accident resulted as going down a straight road. Heard a noise when turning the vehicle for the past week and now no power steering thought it had to be a bad ball joint but after research it turns out to have to deal with the electronic power steering. Shut vehicle off and started again and the power steering was normal. Will need to replace the entire steering column. Very dangerous if I wasn't going down a straight road as I most likely would have been unable to turn.

Turning left at a major intersection the power steering went dead. The orange service indicator came on, and power steering came on the center display. I was able to glide into a gas station parking lot. The service dept said the whole steering column would need to be replaced but I needed to have that done at a dealer. I had the car towed to the dealer who then found the car to be operational. There were error codes in the system but they are so far unable to recreate the problem. They will try again tomorrow but if they can't recreate it I am supposed to come pick up the car and drive it as normal. This is very serious as had it could have resulted in a bad accident had I not been going very slowly at the time.

2004 chevy Malibu. Numerous dealership visits on 'noisy' steering. After warranty goodyear found $610. 00 intermediated steering shaft problem. Noisy again in steering : steering column went out! another $900. 00 bill. I want reimbursed and a recall on this problem.