Steering Rack And Pinion problems of the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu

The rack and pinion went out when making left turns in city setting. Steering wheel turned but wheels did not. Felt a jumping in the wheel. Gears in rack were stripped when making a hard left turn. Steering wheel spun 3/4 and ruined air bag and no cruise control. Ive had to get a new rack and pinion.

Tl- the contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu classic. The contact stated that the steering wheel turned to the left while the vehicle in motion. No warning light illuminated. The contact powered off the engine and restarted the vehicle but was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the rack and pinion detached from the sub frame and that the whole rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The contact stated that only the bushing was replaced and not the rack and pinion. In addition, the contact stated on another occasion the vehicle failed to reversed and go forward while in the middle of the road. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed that the shift cable was fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 157,000. Aw.

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. Whenever the vehicle was driven, the power steering failed and the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering and the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The repairs were done, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 115,000.

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving at approximately 10 mph and turning the steering wheel, the tires failed to turn. The failure recurred once. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the rack and pinion fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 168,000.

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while turning at 40 mph, the power steering failed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the electrical rack pinion system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 100,163.

I lost complete control in the steering column as I was turning left at an intersection in traffic. The steering wheel freely turned 360 degrees, but the tires did not move. I had no way of controlling the vehicle as it was moving in traffic. Had I been on a highway or traveling at a higher speed, I could have been seriously injured and injured other drivers! the mechanic my vehicle was towed to stated that it was the rack and pinion component of the vehicle and there is currently a technical service bulletin for that component. Steering function is a vital component of any vehicle and I find it scary and appalling that this occurred and is not covered by a gm recall. Driving a car at any speed, not to mention highway speeds, without any steering control is extremely dangerous.

While the car was turning out of a driveway something broke inside the rack and pinion. This left the car with no steering. I think if this is a common problem with these cars there should be a recall. If this happened at highway speeds, people could get hurt or worse.

Pulling out of the garage the power steering went out. I drove it without power steering for about 3 miles, parked the vehicle and shut it off. Went inside the business & came out about a half hour later & the steering worked fine. I've researched this issue on line and have found that gm has recalled vehicles for this issue but not the 2004 Malibu. This vehicle has also been serviced 3 times in past years for steering related parts including a rack & pinion unit. My daughter has a 2005 chevy cobalt & her vehicle was recalled for this very same issue.

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 5 mph and making a right turn, there was an abnormal noise coming from the vehicle without warning. The failure recurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the rack and pinion assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 31,000.

Heavy snapping sound (hard enough to be felt) upon turning wheels in either direction. It has been noted to me that this is a "quirk" of the steertng for this model and can not be remedied. The car was bought used and told that the rack and pinion steering had been replaced but did not remedy the situation and was not a safety consideration. In my opinion, when something makes a snapping sound and can be felt, this is surely a safety factor. Can you advise if this is a safety factor or not? I'm not really comfortabe driving this car.

My wife was driving to work when her check engine light came on and power steering flashed across her information screen. When she was attempting to make a left hand turn, the steering wheel locked up on her. Fortunately she was able to get the car pulled into a parking lot. We had to have the vehicle towed to a mechanic, who looked at it and said that the only thing he thought it could be was the rack and pinion. We had that replaced and everything was fine for a few days, and then the same thing happened again. It has been a constant annoyance, and you have to constantly restart the car to get the power steering to come back on. Just recently it was taken back to a mechanic who stated he had to replace fluid? I picked the car up from him on 9/19/2011 and today 9/20/11 with my 11 week old daughter in the car it happened again. From what I've read, this is a very common problem on these vehicles, and had I known that at the time I would not have purchased this vehicle. It is unsafe not only for the driver and passenger of the cars, but also anyone that just happens to be around when it happens!! I consider myself to be a strong person, and I have been driving on several occasions when this has happened, and I could barely get the car safely pulled to the side of the road. I cannot afford to spend $600 for a repair when it is a faulty part that the manufacturer should take responsibility for!!.

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at lower speeds, he heard a thumping noise while making a turn. The vehicle was inspected and repaired three times by a local dealer. The current failure was within the rack and pinion component; the vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was unknown. Updtated 2/17/11.

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving at approximate speeds of 20 mph in a parking lot. The contact attempted a turn when the steering wheel failed and would not move. The air bag warning light illuminated on the instrument panel and the vehicle was towed to his residence. The dealer advised the rack and pinion would need to be replaced. The contact inquired about NHTSA campaign id number 10v073000 (steering: electric power assist system) but was advised his VIN was not included with the recall. The vehicle had not yet been repaired. The failure mileage was 104,000.

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.

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.

I have a 2004 Malibu max. I have had problems with the steering column for the past 1 1/2 years. The rack and pinion and steering column was replaced last year after the power steering kept going out. A year later and the rack and pinion as been replaced again! the steering column is going to have to be replaced again as well! the power steering goes keeps going out, but if I turn the car off and back on it corrects the problem temporarily. There is no warning before it goes out. The 2005 has a recall out on it but not the 2004 and it is the same problem!.

Brought car in for maintenance of other sorts and mechanic noticed clicking in steering wheel. A clicking that had been present since I purchased the car and was told that it is normal in the Malibu by two dealerships and an outside mechanic (whom I no longer go to). The noise had gotten worse over time, but was reassured that it was no issue. My new mechanic determined that it was a failure of the rack and pinion system and continuing to drive with it would be dangerous. I had it replaced (12-4-2008). It has been slightly over a year now and the noise is back and progressively getting worse than before. It costs nearly $1000+ to repair and doesn't last a year?! it is a late model 2004 Malibu, meaning it is the 2005 Malibu made in 2004. I've read many reports/complaints on the internet about the same problem. This needs to be taken care of ASAP.

The part in question is the rack and pinion assembly part # 25902150 of a chevy Malibu maxx 2004. The first part was replaced July 8 2008, that part failed and was replaced again on October 3 2008. That part is now failed again and it has not been 3 moths since it was replaced. So the part has failed by making extreme noise, clicking or thumping heard in the front end. My mechanic told me that the gm dealer that provided the part told him they keep many in stock because they have this problem a lot. My mechanic also tells me that gm refused to pay his labor cost even though they admitted the part failure in such a short time. My mechanic tells me that not replacing the part can result in my losing control of my vehicle and possibly at risk of causing serious injury to me or others.

2004 chevy Malibu was taken in due to power steering column and service car light coming on and clunking coming from car. Had it in the first dealership first time notified me that it was the steering column $1500 later and it wasn't repaired. Took back to same location. Then they notify me that the same steering column was bad again and now my rack and pinion had to be replaced. $650. 00. Light again now loosing power steering had to take to another dealer. The first one notifies me by letter that I can not come back with my car. Now I had to pay $52. 00 to have the senor that are part of the steering column adjusted. That when I found out about the service notices. Because this is not a recall the owner has to continue to pay. My car is a salvage however, that has nothing to do with the genuine GMC parts that have been installed not once but twice and guess what. The light has come on again. $2400. 00 later and its not fixed. I have talked directly to gm and they are not going to help. The government needs to protect consumer from being taken to the cleaners from a manufacturer that knows there is a problem.

Car has had rattle noise from front end since car was bought from a chevy dealership with 32k on it. The car currently has 61k on it. Steering rack has worn to the point where it jams and the wheel will not turn. Rattle noise has turned in to clunking noise. When car was brought to dealer 3 times for noise it was returned "no problems found".

2004 chevy Malibu maxx has major front end problem. Hard to steer, always pulling hard to the right, seems like power steering is not working at times, clunking noise when stationary and turning wheels and when moving going over bumps. At 33k miles have been told the rack and pinion needs to be replaced. Repairs haven't been done yet waiting on other estimates.

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. Within 60 days of purchasing the vehicle, the contact heard a loud thud coming from the front end of the vehicle. She took the vehicle to firestone and they discovered that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The dealer stated that the bushings were failing. The contact was adamant about having the vehicle further investigated. The dealer confirmed that the rack and pinion failed and made the replacement. In less than a year after the replacement, the rack and pinion failed again. The independent dealer stated that the manufacturer was aware of the failure with the rack and pinion; however, nothing could be done. A second replacement was also recommended at the contact's expense. The failure mileage was 41,200 and current mileage was less than 54,000.

I have had the same issue with my car a clunking sound in the tire area when making turns. This is the 4th time I have had my car in for service on this same issue.

Around 40,000 miles on odometer, a thunk could be heard when turning steering wheel left. Dealership where car was purchased could not determine cause. At 45,000 miles on odometer, took vehicle to 2nd dealership who knew of a technical bulletin - rack and pinion steering unit was failing.

Power steering keeps failing. Some days it works fine the next time it is jerky, loss of power steering. Have had it looked at 4 times each time the replaced steering gear, stabilizer bars, rack and pinion steering. This last a few months then same issue over and over. No its gone again and have lack of power, power failure, clunking in steering column. This is a safety and recall issue in my books. Was told by one dealership until they design new parts nothing can be done well its 5 fives of this now.

Noisy, grinding sound + stiffness in steering. Have had to dealer (john kennedy Chevrolet, southampton, PA) 3 times beginning 2/15. 1st diagnosis: underinflated tires. Result: no change. 2nd diagnosis: worn steering column. Action: replaced column. Result: no change. 3rd diagnosis: problem with steering rack. Action: replace rack. Result: no change. This problem only happens when the air temperature is warm (won't happen on a cool morning, but is present after sitting in the sun all day). It seems that when the metal heats up, it expands & causes binding.

Gear shift locked up and would not move. Had to be towed to dealer for repair. Front turn lights constantly loose connection and go out. Have replaced them on average every three months. Within 6 mo of purchase, steering felt loose and would lock up a slow speed turns. Steering column was replaced. At the same time, thumping can be heard with left hand turns. Dealer says the problem is recognized by Chevrolet and is a design defect of the rack and pinion, but Chevrolet says they have no reports of the problem. The shop just greases the rack and pinion and sends me on my way. After the 5th time of having in the shop and chevy refusing to do anything but give me free oil changes, I have traded in the car for a Ford.

Since I purchased the car in 2004, it has been at the Chevrolet dealer 4 times for the steering column and rack and pinion. The last time I brought it in was round 2007 and it started going out again in 2008. I was fed up with taking it to the dealer, so filed a complaint and was hoping it would get recalled. I checked the recall list for this year and found my vehicle was not on the steering recall list. I am very upset and will never purchase another gm car again. I refuse to pay out of my pocket for this ongoing issue.