Chevy 2004 Malibu. Constant warning concerning power steering, but it goes on and off and on and off. Have checked and nothing found wrong, but they do not really know. Suggest replacing elect pump, but then off the record say they would not. On line at least 100 or more people have experienced the same. Some have replaced, but warning still comes on. I do not know who to trust. I guess since Chevy has no real answer I will just take my chances. This needs to be looked into more seriously.

- N Charleston, SC, USA

My 2004 Malibu sedan with only 29330 miles on it had the power steering go out suddenly while driving and became almost impossible to steer it. The GM dealership I took it to said it's been investigated but not recalled although they have corrected the problem in newer cars because of the problem. I was fortunate to be in town and moving slow but this could have been a major problem if I had been going 50-60 mi per hour down the highway. It's a $600 repair to have it fixed. I think if cars with low use like mine have this problem then GM should recall and reimburse the repair.

- Saint Marys, OH, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 25 mph, the steering wheel became very stiff and a steering light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was pulled over and shut down. Upon restart, the contact was able to operate the steering wheel. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop where they were unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 77,300.

- Fontana, CA, USA

The car had been driving fine for the whole day. I maybe have put about 15 miles on when I went to make a turn going about 30 - 35 mph. The steering wheel tightened up. I drove about 3 miles straight with no turns and the steering wheel went back to normal. This has been happening to me on the freeway also. Once I get over 60mph the steering wheel tightens up on me. I pulled over once before and it returned to it normal self again and started acting up when I got back on the freeway. This is very dangerous and GM should look at fixing this problem. It almost caused an accident here once. Nothing has been done to fix this problem yet. I just bought the car a week ago with no warranty and it was not happening when I test drove the car. I don't have the money to fix this problem right now.

- Chesterfield, MI, USA

I have a 2004 Chevy Malibu (new body style). I have been have problems with the power steering. Last week I was driving and about to turn and the steering wheel locked up on me. I was in the middle of the road and had to turn the car off and restart it to unlocked it. Then today I started the car and the steering wheel would not move I have to turn it off and restart it to unlock it. This is a major safety concern and my dealer says their is nothing wrong with my car. I have as on today 45484 miles on this car and never been in a wreck. When I am driving straight on a road the power steering message displays on the dic. This is the same problem that the owners of the 2005 and later models are and have had.

- Lafayette, LA, USA

The power steering stopped working while I was driving on a highway at 60miles and hour. Has been intermittently lossing power steering since 1/11/11.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

Twice in the last 3 weeks power steering failed while making a right turn at the bottom of a hill. Fortunately I had not yet pulled out into traffic or I would have been forced into oncoming traffic.

- Springvale, ME, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving 45 mph the power steering locked and the vehicle became difficult to control. After turning the vehicle off and then back on the steering reset itself. The contact was able to control the steering wheel and drive the vehicle home. The dealer nor manufacturer were notified. The failure mileage was 150,000.

- Hustonville, KY, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 mph, she noticed that the power steering warning light illuminated on the instrumental panel followed by a loss of power steering. The vehicle was inspected by a dealer who informed the contact that she needed to replace the power steering column. The power steering column was replaced. The failure mileage was approximately 46,000.

- Salem, IN, USA

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.

- Buffalo, NY, USA

2004 Chevy Malibu steering locks up turn car off and restart car and power steering comes back when it locks up it can happen at any time while driving or sitting still, had power steering motor and shaft replaced when car was under warranty feel this is a safety issue and Chevy must resolve. Have not had E response from Chevy.

- Sunrise, FL, USA

12/24/2010 while driving a 2004 Chevy Malibu my engine light came on and then the steering wheel locked up while driving and it made a sudden jerking stop. This was the first time this happened but it scared both my daughter and I. then in addition to keep replacing my headlights and tail lights pretty much every other month they blow out and need to be replaced. For both incidents a local mechanic was consulted and he recommended that I contact a GM dealer ship to check for recalls. I did that and received information that there has not been a recall for the current situations but there has been many similar complaints with the same make and model car and was referred me to the nearest dealership to be checked.

- Racine, WI, USA

I have a 2004 Chevy Malibu and the power steering light comes on and my steering system is inoperable and makes it very hard for me to steer in traffic. I have to turn my car off to reset it. This is very scary while driving and could be a hazard.

- Lithia Springs, GA, USA

I have a 2004 Malibu, 6-cylinder, with 97,000+ miles. Recently, the service vehicle light started coming on with a computer display indication of a power steering problem. They have since appeared especially in wet weather, with low rpms (about 600) and on making slow-speed right turns. My not-yet-year-old, 75-month battery also just gave out, but replacing it did not stop the fault indications. Turning off the car and restarting to reboot the system usually did, but the problem recurred. Two days ago, while driving on a highway, fault indications were not displayed and steering response was normal. However, on negotiating an S-shaped exit ramp, the power assist failed and the indicators came on. Steering became extremely difficult and I only managed to stay on the road at the expense of a wrenched shoulder. The 2004 Malibu has an electric power steering assist system (eps) - which was the subject of NHTSA action number EA4018. The door sticker on my car shows a manufacture date of 5/04. So, according to your report, the "newly designed torque and position sensor" in vehicles produced after 2/4/04, should have been installed. (I'll be emailing GM to confirm whether that's the case.) in any event, judging by the spate of complaints from other Malibu owners, it does not seem that the problem has been resolved'or that GM has even cared to seriously look into it. Please see car complaints link for a sampling: www.carcomplaints.com/Chevrolet/Malibu/2004/steering/power_steering_going_out_intermittently.shtml I also take issue with your report that driver impact would be insubstantial as the car is relatively small and light. Based on my experience, there is a clear safely hazard. The Malibu obviously is not a car for 20-somethings. People who actually drive it would not have sufficient strength to steer without the power assist to avoid an accident. As alluded to at the end of your report, I firmly believe that circumstances now warrant further action.

- Dix Hills, NY, USA

Driving in city traffic. Power steering warning light engaged suddenly. Power steering not effected. Car shut off. Restart and drives normally then light goes on again. I have found other complaints about the power steering suddenly going out, so I am adding my voice to those to request Chevy recall.

- Mankato, MN, USA

I have a 2004 Malibu ls, when I first purchased the car during the winter of 04 I had problems with the steering. It was under warranty, I took it back every winter for 4 years and the dealership always repaired the car. In 2010 my power steering light came on and I lost power trying to turn into a parking spot. The next time it occurred, I was driving 50 mph I went to change lanes the power steering light came on and I could not turn the wheel. I was pulling out from a parking spot the power steering light came on and I could not steer the car. This year the seat belt light stays on when my seat belt is on. It happens every day the light stays on. The dealer that I use to use went out of business and did not notify the customers. I found out when I went to have some work corrected that they did. This problem is scary because I never know when the power steering light is going to come on. That is very very scary. My check engine light comes on and they can never find anything wrong. I recently had my car inspected they would not pass it because of the check engine light.I had to drive the car for 300 miles and the light went off and they passed it for inspection. The original brakes were replaced 3 times in the first 2 years of having the car. I only have 45, 000 miles. Purchased 2 batteries from GM the 2nd one lasted less then 2 years and died. An authentic GM battery.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 35 mph, the contact stated that the vehicle lost powering steering making it difficult to turn. The dealer was not notified. The contact did not inform the manufacturer. The vehicle was not repaired. The current and failure mileages were approximately 139,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Dolphin, IL, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact was attempted to exit a parking space when the steering wheel locked abnormally. The power steering warning light illuminated following the failure. The contact turned the vehicle off for moments and when restarting, the steering returned to normal. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed. The dealer located the failure at the steering computer and advised that it would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 115,000.

- National City , CA, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that when driving at any speed, the steering wheel would become extremely stiff and the power steering warning light would illuminate on the dashboard. After the failure, the contact would stop and restart the vehicle to continue driving. The failure occurred intermittently and during some of the failures, the power steering light did not illuminate. The failure was never diagnosed and the vehicle was never repaired. The failure mileage was 20,000 and the current mileage was 109,000.

- Florissant, MO, USA

This in regards to NHTSA case # [xxx] 2004 Chevy Malibu. Power steering is cutting out intermittently with no warning. My daughter was driving to school and while making a turn on school grounds near buses and kids walking, the steering cut out. She almost hit a number of kids as the sudden unexpected loss of power steering caused her to lose control as the car jerked in the other direction and almost winding upon the sidewalk. This is a major safety concern and not only should GM take care of this at their expense, I am also worried that GM has not come up with a 100% proven fix for this problem. Someone is going to be killed if something isn't done right away. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Dunmore, PA, USA