I have read all of your complaints about the popping in the steering wheel when you turn it. My car has done it since the day I bought it brand new back in 2005. Every time I asked about it at the dealer - they said they couldn't find anything wrong. It used to do it every now & again, especially when you turned sharply. Now it does it all of the time, even on small turns. It seems to vibrate a little too, especially on rough roads. I got a letter from Chevrolet about a problem with the power steering - it's not a recall, but they will fix it up to 10 years and 100,000 miles (I'm on the phone with them now and they are trying to tell me 70,000 miles--even though I have the letter in hand, funny).. What I'm wondering is this the same problem? Has anyone had this part replaced and it fixed the popping sound? My son drives this car daily and I'm really worried after reading all of what is happening with the steering. Thanks.

Update from Nov 5, 2010: Update: Dealer replaced the part. So far, no more noise. I am hoping this has fixed my situation. I'll keep you posted on any other changes.

I have a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu LT with 105,000 miles requiring a second replacement intermediate steering shaft, as per Arroway Chevrolet, Mt. Kisco N.Y. The knocking, when steering at slow speed, occurred previously and the same shaft was replaced, at the same dealer, under the extended 100,000 mile warranty I had purchased. I contacted Arroway Chevrolet and informed "Joe" the service rep. that the replacement shaft they had installed was knocking again and that the vehicle had 105,000 miles and was out of warranty. "Joe" told me that he had to check the vehicle. I asked him TWICE what the charge would be for diagnosing the problem. He would not respond except to say ":dont worry" and in regard to the warranty issue he said they could take care of it and he would talk to "Vinnie". I still do not know who "Vinnie" is! After inspecting the car, "Joe" called me and said that it needed another intermediate shaft, the car was out of warranty, I had to pay the entire cost of the shaft, there is no way to address the problem with General Motors, and now the diagnosing fee was $55.00. I called Chevrolet Customer Assistance and they contacted the dealer and spoke to "Joe". He told them that the bad shaft was due to wear. The representative at Chevrolet was very polite, but told me that wear was the problem and I was not covered. Apparently, General Motors and their Dealers want their customers to believe that they are unaware of the lubrication problem with the steering shaft. Even more astounding is that General Motors thinks that three steering shafts in 105,000 miles is normal wear. I dont expect people to perform services for nothing. However, I do expect HONESTY and PROFESSIONALISM from General Motors and their Dealers. I RECEIVED NEITHER!!!!!

For the past few months my car, when turning left (usually as I am just pulling out of a parking space) with make popping sounds and the warning light of the car with the lock in it will come on, followed by the car's steering locking up. Only way to fix it is to turn car off, put in park, wait a few seconds and try to restart the car. Up to now it has only happened when pulling out of a parking space. Last week it happened while driving and taking a left turn. Had I been on the hwy, I would have NOT been able to bring my car safely to a stop without an accident. Once locked up, car will only continue in that direction!! Dealer hesitated when asked about any recalls. Solution: For $1080.00 replace entire steering column, which they just happen to have on hand for a 2005, replace tie rod ends, balance and rotate tires (must do this when tie rods replaced?). I find it odd that there seems to be so many like complaints, yet NO RECALL? I could have been seriously injured had this happened on they HWY>

I began hearing and feeling a popping noise in the front end when turning left in July 2007 (35,460 miles), and the dealer lubed the intermediate steering shaft under warranty. The popping noise started again in October 2007 (38,774 miles), and this time the intermediate steering shaft was replaced under my extended warranty. The noise started once again in July 2010 (49,000 miles), and this time I'm just going to trade the car in for something else. Too bad, because otherwise this Malibu has been a terrific car. I'm simply not willing to put up with a re-occurring and expensive problem that GM is unwilling or unable to fix.

I have read all these complaints and i am having the same problem for the third time. I have a 2005 chevy malibu maxx i bought with 15K miles when i got to 38K i started hearing the popping noise in my steering colum while turning...they relpalced the steerign shaft then....then in 2008 the same problem this time they replaced the lower control arm at 56K and now the problem is back again...its been going on for a while now but ive decided to file a complaint with chevy on this matter i am in the process of getting it looked at again, this time i will deal with complaint dept. and let them know how much this is costing and see if i can get a waiver of some sort on this matter seeing this is a bad design problem. i called the following number to file a complaint and now i am writting a letter and printing out all these complaints and send along with my letter to chevy...they need to look into this matter seriously!!! this is frustrating...cuz now i have to pay $120 for a diagonostic test to be done to tell me the same thing over again!! but now i am not under warranty...here is the info for anyone who wants to know Customer Assistance Center chevrolet Motor Division, GM Corp PO Box 33170 Detroit, MI 48232-5170 1-800-222-1020

i specifically spoke with Shantonya at x20989 866-790-5700 please let her know u got this info off internet and u want to maybe add a complaint with them. I figured we could try to do some type of ongoing complaint with Chevy because this could become a very big problem!!

Everytime you turn the steering wheel it makes a loud poopping sound. I took it to several mechanic shops and they said it is in the electronic steering. I feel GM should have recalled the vehicles and fixed this part a long time ago. I refuse to spend any money on this vehicle for this problem when they can remedy the situation since it has been reported to them many, many times. I guess those of us with the continuous problem should get together and file a class action lawsuit against them and maybe we can get something done. Looks like that's the only way they will acknowledge the problem and issue a recall.

i heard this popping sound when i turned the wheel.. it wasn't to bad then it got real bad. this tues i'm taking it to get fixed if they don't fix it right they better give a car that don't make noise, if not i'm trading it in else where i'll make them squirm by saying if it's not fix i'll trade it in, rides nice love the cruise control, you tell a dealer your gonna do something they'll jump they knew what was wrong but didn't fix it. GM needed to recall the car or replace it, they get the bail out money from bush and screw us i'll tade it for a foreign car. or i'll tell them i want a different car

I bought this car with a great maintenance record. I have taken exceptional care and maintenance since I've owned it.

Around 22,000 miles the steering started making a popping sound and I can feel it slightly when making a turn, even at low speeds.

I t is very aggravating and sad that a vehicle so new in this day of technology should develop a safety issue and worry. I went to the dealer and they said there is no recall and they wouldn't own up to it. They would just take it in if I paid.

I have heard of many complaints on Chevy's steering problems. I think the Chevrolet Co. and dealership should own up to their poor design and engineering defects. I am disappointed in the quality of this cars steering and the Chevrolet Co. not owning it.

My wife bought a new Toyota Carola in 2006 and has had not one problem.

We bought the used 2005 Chevy Malibu in the summer of 2006. By that fall, before 30,000 miles, the steering made popping noises when we make turns. Took it back to where we bought it and they took it to a Chevy dealer. The dealer did something called "repacking" the steering column. It was free, so I didn't think nothing of it. A year later, the popping noise came back. Took the car back to where I bought it and they had it "repacked" again for $150. They (where I bought the car) paid the other half of the cost. This problem has been a reoccuring annoyance up until now. Each time I get it "repacked", it's money that is spent unnecessarily. In the State of Maine, the car will fail inspection with this problem, so I have to get it "repacked" each time. This is $300 a year that I could be using the money for more important things.

I love the car, it get phenomenal gas mileage, but I am at the end of my rope. I need to buy tires, but this steering problem, which has recently resurfaced, is gonna force me to delay purchasing new tires. Why doesn't GM fix this problem? I just checked a recall list and the recall is for exterior lighting? Come on GM!!!! Fix the steering issue so I can use the $300 for more important things... like food!

This problem started in late 2007 at around 30,000 miles with a slight popping niose when I turned left. The popping noise grew louder as time progressed and when I turned left or right.. I took it to the Chevy dealer where I bought the car new in Mar 2005. They told me it was a bad design in the intermediate steering shaft and the new shat was the fix. My car now has around 53,000 miles and the popping noise has come back.

I am sure that every one who has bought this rattle trap has this problem. I am sure GM knows about the problem, too. My next car, which I will buy in the next 12 months, will not be a GM car.

Bought this car used with 30,000 miles on it. Shortly after returned to dealer because of "clunk" when turning which was felt as vibration in feet. Dealer said it was steering and replaced steering part (can't remember which one and can't find receipt). Problem was fixed for a few months and then returned after warranty expired. Have been living with this POS ever since. I bought a Chevy after 20 years of swearing off them and I guess I'm done with them for good after this. Anybody know how to start a class action suit?