10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
11 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 1
Average Mileage:
77,330 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #115

May 082012

Malibu

  • 17,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving 35 mph, the power steering failed. The contact tried to maneuver the steering wheel but had a difficult time doing so. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis but the technicians were unable to determine the failure. The vehicle was repaired however, but the failure recurred. The second time the failure happened, the brakes failed as well. The vehicle was repaired again and the fail still recurred. The contact was unaware of the specific repairs made to the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they would assist in her purchasing a replacement vehicle. The failure mileage was 17,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Inez, KY, USA

problem #114

Nov 012011

Malibu

  • 34,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the steering wheel was loose and was able to move freely without demand. The failure recurred intermittently. The dealer advised the contact that the vehicle would need to have a diagnostic performed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 34,000 and the current mileage was 51,000.

- Hallwood, VA, USA

problem #113

Oct 032011

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 91,985 miles
While driving or not driving the steering wheel shakes vigorously and the power steering warning light comes on. Then the brake lights come on when I'm not touching them.when I do apply the brakes the lights go out. Then have to apply a generous amount of pressure to get them to come on. I constantly keep getting the light service ESC then it says it is off. I turn off car and it resets but after 2 or 3 minutes it comes back on. I also keep getting a seatbelt light as to buckle up and I'm already wearing seatbelt. The steering gets hung while driving pulling to either side of the road.

- Boiling Springs, SC, USA

problem #112

Oct 032011

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 91,985 miles
While driving or not driving the steering wheel shakes vigorously and the power steering warning light comes on. Then the brake lights come on when I'm not touching them.when I do apply the brakes the lights go out. Then have to apply a generous amount of pressure to get them to come on. I constantly keep getting the light service ESC then it says it is off. I turn off car and it resets but after 2 or 3 minutes it comes back on. I also keep getting a seatbelt light as to buckle up and I'm already wearing seatbelt. The steering gets hung while driving pulling to either side of the road.

- Boiling Springs, SC, USA

problem #111

Oct 032011

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 91,985 miles
While driving or not driving the steering wheel shakes vigorously and the power steering warning light comes on. Then the brake lights come on when I'm not touching them.when I do apply the brakes the lights go out. Then have to apply a generous amount of pressure to get them to come on. I constantly keep getting the light service ESC then it says it is off. I turn off car and it resets but after 2 or 3 minutes it comes back on. I also keep getting a seatbelt light as to buckle up and I'm already wearing seatbelt. The steering gets hung while driving pulling to either side of the road.

- Boiling Springs, SC, USA

problem #110

Mar 202012

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 51,700 miles
I just pulled on and started to drive on a winding dangerous mountain road -not yet accelerating 40mph- when all of a sudden my steering wheel would not let me turn, almost frozen, and I am into a right curve! I was fighting the wheel to gain control for what seemed minutes but was actually seconds as I slowly put on my brakes while I tried to regain control of the wheel (mind you I am in rush hour traffic on a mt. Curve, a concrete wall to my left, a rock outcropping on my right, no shoulder, guardrail begins where the rocks end. When I finally regained control, I still had a hard time steering; steering was unpredictable...intermittent shaking of the steering wheel/sometimes felt like I had lost a bolt on my right rim (for those who did at one time you know what I am talking about)/I had a shimmy on the right like something was not connected/all of a sudden I felt like there was no power steering or control at all (hard to turn the wheel-took some muscle), just not right. My car used to have such control- turn on a dime barely touching the wheel. This steering issue has happened before and mentioned to my mechanic at an oil change but they didn't find anything, even hooked up to the diagnostic machine and everything checked out, wallet lighter. I actually thought I was going out of my mind then read other people were having the same kinds of problems. If this is a known problem, why has it not been recalled" for the mountain that I have to drive every day to and from work, this could prove very dangerous-life threatening... I do not feel safe in my own car I have only had nearly a year now nor have the funds to spend on costly repairs. I am ready to take the bugger back and demand my money back and get a more dependable vehicle. I am done spending money- why this is happening? why no answers or fixes" worse yet, "everything check out okay" when it keeps happening!

- Poughkeepsie, NY, USA

problem #109

Mar 012012

Malibu 4-cyl Diesel

  • 110,000 miles
While driving down the highway at a speed of about 45 miles per hour, the steering wheel on my 2008 Malibu began to shake or vibrate while building speed. A power steering warning light came on. After pulling over, I turned the engine off and then turned it back on which seemed to reset the warning light. I knew about pulling over to reset the car due to an "airbag warning" light that has randomly come on ever since I purchased my car. Upon resuming driving, the power steering warning light came on again. It took pulling over and resetting it four times to get twenty miles down the road. It came on at various speeds. Upon heading home, the steering wheel in my car moved while sitting still with the motor running. It looked like someone was turning the wheel back and forth and up and down, but I was not touching the wheel. The power steering warning light came on while sitting still, so I shut the car off to reset it. It took three tries of starting and starting the engine to reset the warning light. I drove home on a curvy county road. The same power steering warning light came on five time in less than twenty miles at various speeds - no certain speed seemed to prompt it.sometimes I was going 20 mph and sometimes I was going 55 or 65 mph when the system failed. I had to stop in the roadway to reset the car. Each time, the steering became nearly impossible to turn and maneuvering the corners was not safely possible and since there was no shoulder, I had to stop in the roadway to try to reset the steering. The steering wheel shakes at various speeds and the power steering warning light continues to come on at various speeds or while sitting in park with the engine running.

- Cambridge, KS, USA

problem #108

Jul 012011

Malibu

  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 55 mph, the steering wheel began to shake vigorously. The failure recurred intermittently when driving at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostics where the technicians were unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.

- Lafayette, LA, USA

problem #107

Jul 112011

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 52,000 miles
Problems with my 2008 Chevy Malibu. Upon starting the vehicle the steering wheel shutters and noise comes from steering column. The "power steering" display message comes up. The owners manual refers to seeing the dealership for this issue, but they can seem to fix it for me. It can be cleared, but is very annoying to happen to your car everyday. This issue started roughly 3 months after I purchased the vehicle in March of 2011. There's no speed range that the issue occurs in. It happens randomly at any speed. While driving steering wheel shutters randomly, and steering becomes dangerous. Seems that you can only turn the wheel in exact 5 degree increments, which has almost cause several collisions with other vehicles. It seems this problem is evident in other Malibu models equipped with electric power steering, but I haven't seen a recall or service publications to remedy the issue. GM knows about this, but is deliquent in taking any action to fix permanently. Please help!

- Waverly, IA, USA

problem #106

Dec 132011

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 65,500 miles
The steering wheel turns on its own causing a very dangerous situation while traveling at highway speeds. There has been many complaints on this with the 2008 Malibu and others with the electric steering motors. I know a few other vehicles with this same problem have been recalled and it is time for GM to recall the Malibu before someone is killed. You tube has a fine example of this problem if anyone cares to watch. The vehicle doesn't have to be moving for the wheel to move erratically back and forth. This should be a recall asap.

- Portland, IN, USA

problem #105

Jan 012011

Malibu

  • 90,000 miles
The front of the car shakes when driven over 45 mph. When the steering wheel is turned the oil pressure light blinks and an alert sound briefly chimes. The car is not easy to steer. The service power steering alert appears randomly and goes away when the car is restarted. I have had the car realigned multiple times because the right front tire always wears quickly. There is an undiagnosed oil leak causing the car to smoke from the front passenger side.

- Euless, TX, USA

problem #104

Nov 012010

Malibu 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 11,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact was driving 30 mph when the steering wheel began to vibrate violently. The power steering light illuminated prior to the failure. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 11,000 and the current mileage is 22,732. Updated 12/29/11 the consumer stated the incident happened again while driving 10 mph. The consumer stated she pulled over and parked, shut the vehicle off and waited 10 minutes before restarting it. She then noticed the power steering light was on. The steering wheel stopped shaking. Updated 12/30/11

- Inglewood, CA, USA

problem #103

Oct 072010

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 50,000 miles
The E-brake stripped out to a unable state after 50,000 miles. Now if the brakes fail I have no alternative to stop the car. The steering pops when turning from left to right and from start off after a stop this started at the same time.

- Winder, GA, USA

problem #102

Nov 132011

Malibu

  • 68,245 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 45 mph, the contact noticed that the steering wheel began to shake slightly. The contact approached a stop sign and attempted to brake but the steering wheel began to shake vigorously. The failure was constant. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the technician stated that the steering motor and module assembly was defective and would have to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 68,245.

- Castro Valley, CA, USA

problem #101

Oct 122011

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 0 miles
I purchased a 2008 Chevy Malibu at matt blatt in egg harbor township in New Jersey approximately 5 month (March or may of 2011) with approximately 28,500 miles. I spoke with a service representative [xxx] in regards to the power steering problem that my vehicle was having. My steering was shaking out of control and I almost got involved in two vehicle accidents this week 10/19/11. I explained this situation to don, who stated that because I did not purchased an extended warranty on the vehicle I will had to pay for the service. I then proceeded to speak to the manager [xxx], who kindly sent me to the bennett Chevrolet on the same date and the problem was corrected. I own a 2008 Chevy Malibu with 30,700 miles. I also have a problem with the power locks which I was advised that I will have to pay for this. I believe that my complaint was handled very unprofessional by [xxx], because I was very specific that I was afraid to drive the vehicle and he stated we can towed your vehicle, but you will have to pay the fee. Again I was afraid because the power steering motor was damage and my vehicle was driving out of control. I'm requesting some type of compensation and I will like the power locks to be fixed free of charge. Remember my car only has 30,700 miles and when I purchased the vehicle I was advised by the salesman [xxx] that I had warranty for 100,000 miles or 5 years bumper to bumper. I will like someone to investigate this. Thank god I didn't have an accident due to the electronic power steering motor. I purchased in the past a 2 Chevy Impala and now a Chevy Malibu and I will never purchase a Chevy again. Again, this was a safety issue and was handle wrong by service representative [xxx]. the steering wheel shakes when vehicle is in motion and the the vehicle is not moving. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Pleasantville, NJ, USA

problem #100

Jun 012011

Malibu

  • 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel would jerk abnormally. The contact mentioned that the vehicle would become hard to steer once the failure occurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the steering wheel had to be re learned. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 70,000 and the current mileage was 75,000.

- West Heaven , UT, USA

problem #99

Oct 142011

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 101,000 miles
I have made this complaint before. It concerns the front wheel shakes, vibration. After getting tired of this I put the car on jacks removed the wheel and found the tie rod end ball nut to be loose and the ball joint to be frighteningly worn. I replaced the lower control arm and tightened the tie rod ball nut myself. The problem has completely disappeared. Funny the dealership couldn't figure this out.I think that other owners should be warned of this potentially fatal condition!

- Bowler, WI, USA

problem #98

Mar 012011

Malibu

  • 35,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu lt. The contact was driving 55 mph when the steering wheel turned independently and the vehicle traveled into another lane unexpectedly. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer but the manufacturer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 35,000 and the current mileage was 44,000.

- Danville, VA, USA

problem #97

Sep 022011

Malibu

  • 103,487 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving 35 mph and at any speed the steering wheel began to shake violently causing the vehicle to move to the right and left instead of remaining inside the lane. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated the motor/module assembly for the electric steering was faulty. The repair cost was $800; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified and stated that they would notify her and let her know if they would repair the vehicle. The failure mileage was 103,487.

- Rockwood, MI, USA

problem #96

Jun 132011

Malibu

  • 57,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that when driving various speeds, the steering wheel would wobble from left to right and would occasionally become extremely tight. The contact was concerned that the steering wheel would eventually fail and seize. The vehicle was not repaired and neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 57,000 and the current mileage was 66,000.

- Miami, FL, USA

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