Lose Power Steering problems of the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu - part 2

My 2006 Malibu maxx loses power steering randomly at various speeds. The wheel tightens, is impossible to steer, the warning bell sounds and the phrase "power steering" flashes on the display. Car must be stopped and turned off repeatedly sometimes to reset. Car has done this in traffic, on highways and freeways, and in parking lots. The failure occurs randomly and at random driving speeds. The replacement cost is over $1000 at the dealership. Chevy claims the problem can only be corrected by replacement parts that can only be issued and installed at a chevy dealership. The failure has occurred since the car reached 40,000 miles. After the corresponding recall of chevy cobalts and pontiac pursuits, I expected the recall to eventually cover Malibu maxx.

While driving, I accelerated and turned right to switch lanes, it was fairly hard acceleration. Suddenly during the acceleration I lost the power steering assist, it almost felt like the steering locked up and fought my turning the steering wheel. After I let up on the accelerator the power assist returned. This is the second time this has occurred, the first time in June 2009. At that time a warning chime went off and a power steering warning flashed briefly on the dic display.

The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet mailbu. The contact stated that the steering wheel started making a clicking noise when the vehicle was turned. Also a power steering alarm light illuminated and the vehicle lost power steering. The failure normally occurred when the contact was driving at 15 mph and turning. The contact would turn off the vehicle and restart and the vehicle would function properly. The failure continued to get progressively worse. The contact called the manufacturer and filed a complaint. She was advised to take the vehicle to the dealership for repair. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000. The current mileage was approximately 37,900.

While driving my 2006 Chevrolet Malibu maxx, I was backing out of my driveway when I lost power steering. I parked the car, shut it off, turned it back on and the power steering was working properly. A few days later I was driving down the road and again lost power steering. I pulled over and shut the car off and restarted and gained power steering back. It happened again nearly right away after doing the last restart. I again pulled over, shut the car off and turned it back on and power steering was back. This has happened 6 to 10 times in the last 1 to 2 months and there is no rhyme or reason to when the power steering gives out. This makes every trip in the car a potential hazard.

I purchased my Malibu in Dec '06. By June, my power steering light came on, but my mechanic couldn't find the source of the problem. I started noticing trouble turning the wheel at low speeds, but it was only when I turned left. Initially I didn't think it was still power steering, but the problem continued for over a year periodically. Then in Aug '08 on my way home with my newborn in the car. . . . I turned left to pull into my driveway, and lost the power steering. I had to take it to the dealer and the repair cost over $1,000 and the dealer said it could happen again in a year or so. The entire steering column and power steering motor was replaced. After the dealer's 12/12 warranty expired, I started having the same symptoms all over again. So far it hasn't gone out, but the "popping" noise and "loose" steering down the highway, plus the more difficult steering when driving at low speeds is back again. When the original incident happened, I had just turned off a main street. If it had happened just two blocks earlier, I would have been "t-boned" with my daughter in the car.