I was actually relieved to see that there are so many people out there who have had the same problem. The sound has just recently gotten worse. The popping only used to be when I turned left and now it's when I turn both ways!!! I was scared that my axel was about to break or I needed a new CV joint. I now have about 80k on my car and I don't think I should have to fix it considering how many of you have posted that the problem continues even after you've had it fixed. GM DOES need to do something about it!!!!

Here's a number you can call to complain or at least ask them to have a recall. Maybe if we ALL call then they will do something about it!

1-800-462-8782

I owned a Chevy Impala 2003 which I had to sell because I could not take anymore a clunking steering wheel noise.. I had the dealer repair this clunking steering noise several times and also an independent shop but the noise persisted and even when I thought it was fixed it came back!!

I wanted to buy American so I also purchased a Chevy Malibu 2005 for my wife and now Iwe both use it. At about 9,400 miles the steering wheel clunking noise started on this one too! It usually happens when making slow turn or parking the car. I would like to know if I should start going to the dealer and repeat the same thing I did with the Impala or I should wait until it gets worst.I would like to know if this can be dangerous in some driving conditions especially when I drive on the Tollway.

Thanks

Francesco M

I bought this 2005 Chevy Malibu in February of 2006. By Feb of 2007 I took it in the shop because my mom had noticed a weird popping noise from the steering wheel. I was almost having my baby in April when I noticed the same popping again. I took it in again, and it was the same thing. The dealer said the steering wheel axle (or shaft) would have to be replaced again!! I then asked why this would be if this had just been fixed a couple of months ago, and if it would happen again.

This guy didn't mention anything about other complaints being done about the same problem! He said it was just the defected steering wheel, and that it would be fixed.

Well people I have been reading about the clunks in your 2005 Malibus and I want to add my beef to yours. I bought it in the fall of 2006 from a dealer. It had been used as a demo. The car is 4cly automatic and is the first almost new car I've owned. I was tickled pink but not any more. A couple of months after I got it there was a bit of a clunk in the steering. When I took it into the dealer in my town I discovered the problem had already started before I had bought it. About two months before I purchased the car work had been done on the steering wheel clunk. My car is now in the garage for the sixth time for the same problem. They have greased, turned, tightened and changed parts. It's now getting a new steering column for the second time. This has all been done under warranty but this runs out in July,what then? As you can see I am not as tickled pink as I used to be. General Motors and I...

Ok. So this problem is real and has been going on and is a known problem by GM. I have a lease vehicle that has been greased once but is doing it again. I have to turn it in and they send the vehicle out for inspection. They do not do it while you are there. This concerns me since I will not have a recourse when they say they have to replace the whole damn front end!

I looked at the listed TSB's and am not sure which one is the one that applies. My clunk comes when I am stopped or moving slow and turn the wheel. I will get the TSB when the correct one is identified so that I have ammo when I turn it in.

Has anyone turned in a lease with this problem on it?

We bought a 2005 Chevy Malibu new. At around 20,000 miles, the steering started popping when turning. We entered in the shop 3 total times since then for the same problem. The first two times were under warranty, they replaced some steering components. The third time is out of warranty. The dealership told me that it was a lubrication problem that would have to be maintained every 18,000 miles at a cost of 112.00 dollars. I was told it was a defect that was not under any recalls. I think of a known defect as being a prime candidate for a recall and one that owners should not be responsible for. Chevy should not only list this as a recall, but they should reimburse expenses related to past repairs.

Purchased the car in 06 seemed like a nice car, but then the steering noises began and has not stopped. Was taking in to the dealer that I purchased it from, was told they were waiting for GM to come up with a fix for the problem, service bulletins were out. The service department would tighten something up in the steering area, popping would and around 10,000 miles popping came back. Nothing has been replaced to date and warranty is out. GM should step up to the plate and place a RECALL IMMEDIATELY.!!!

What are they waiting for?? How many complaint do they need?

bought car in 2006, 13000 miles shortly after developed bumping noise noise in front end. took it to local dealer, said they had a bulletin from from gm defect in steering rack, changed, was not the problem. took back to dealer got jacked around took to another dealer changed left left

strut. problem solved car now has 50k miles and now the dam steering rack is making a popping noise when turning either left or right, driving me batty refuse to take it to the dealer i was thinking of trading for a 2008 Malibu(love the body style) but i think i'd better trade for another Toyota

Thinking to support domestic product and economy by remaining loyal to America vehicle. Plus, we had a good experience with Chevy -- family purchased a 2000 Chevy Corsica and, after 17 years, it's still running like a bull, except its interior showed signs of abuse from uses as a sedan truck. I was hoping the Malibu would follow the same legacy as the Corsica. What a disappointment!

My sister is the one who discovered the clunk, at around 25K. At first, I dismissed her finding. I thought the noise came from the break extension; the car is installed with an extensible break for short drivers. I thought the clunk was from when the break retracted. The clunk became louder and more frequent. Bless my sister! She is a smart owner; she stuck to her 6th sense.

Oct 12, 2006 Mileage: 25970. My sister took the car in. The service rep immediately knew about the problem as she gave the description. The dealer replaced the intermediate shaft for free given the car was still under warranty. During her wait in the lounge, she talked to a Malibu owner returning to repair the clunk problem for the second time. My sister learned the clunk is a ubiquitous problem. The car drove for many miles without any noise. The story doesn't end here.

The clunk is back! I talked to the service rep on the phone regarding the clunk. After he talked to the service manager, service rep called me and told me to bring it in ASAP.

July 26, 2007 Mileage:36406 I dropped off the vehicle at the dealership. By mid-day, the service rep called me. The dealer repositioned intermediate shaft. Rep said sometimes the shaft comes loose after certain amount of driving. He said some cars need the adjustment after shaft installation and some never do. The repair cost me nothing because the dealer did it out of Goodwill-ness and the part is still under warranty. I was unconfident about their repair. When asked about possible re-occurrence, the rep said the charge would be my responsibility given both the car and part are out of warranty. The clunk was definitely gone after the repair.

Around late Nov, clunking is an occasion. By Dec 13, 2007 Mile:42500 clunking is more obvious. I called the service rep today and expressed my concern. The rep said it imposes no safety issue but more like an annoyance. What! Is that true? Will the steering wheel lock up? The service then told me one customer still experience clunking after replacing new shaft, steering rack and structs. What! What! What! I'm taking the car in for oil change tomorrow; service rep and I will talk more this issue.

I am losing patience on this issue and have no trust on the"American Revolution". I feel revolution has engineered crappy, low-quality cars. America is the founder of quality and America fails at quality. Recalled toys are made by China; American car giants make problematic vehicles. If Matel's designing led to the massive toy recall, wrongfully accused of Chinese toy manufacturers for recalled (how do you distinguish bed design from low-quality production?), bad design has cost us, the loyalites, our trust on Made In USA and domestic products. No wonder domestic car sales is losing ground to Japanese cars. No wonder U.S. cars are not as popular as Japanese overseas. I defended American cars before but no longer. I, for sure, will not buy another American -made vehicle! What a let-down!

The car worked great, until it hit the 10,000 mile mark, then anytime you made a right turn and turned the wheel more than a half turn rotation it would clunk when bringing back to center. Then a 1,000 miles later started on left turns too. I took it to the dealer and they said they have heard of such problems in Impalas and Silverados, but not the Malibu. Offered to take a look at it and sure enough tech heard and felt it in the wheel. Diagnosed it as a Intermediate Steering Shaft. Fixed under warranty, but here's the deal, TSB's that cover it tell the tech's/dealers to pull the shaft and lube it up. Well, here's the problem with that, after 10,000 miles the lube breaks down and since the real problem of a badly designed shaft (And GM knows it) the problem is still there. And here I am 10,000 miles later and it's back! Well, fortunately GM has a new fix, and newly redesigned shaft part number 19153614. So, if you have a popping/clunking noise and it sounds like it is coming from the steering wheel/column and you can feel any vibration in the wheel to go along with it, it is more than likely the Intermediate Steering Shaft, not anything else. Don't let them tell you there is nothing they can do, there are Technical Service Bulletins that go back at least 7 years with this problem documented and with temporary fixes and now a permanent fix. Be diplomatic and assume a "hey I have this problem (here it is, explain it to them) and ask if hey can you help me out on this? If not go to the service manager and do the same routine. Don't rant and rave at them, that will honestly get you nowhere, because why would they want to help you. If someone did this to you, nice and polite and assumed a non-threatening behavior or an aggressive angry posture, who would you be more likely to help?

Trying to do my part for the US economy by buying domestic cars. Had driven Mazdas, Honda, etc. for a few years and decided to give the General a try. Gotta say, not too impressed so far with only 30K on the clock. Replaced the intermediate steering shaft, resurfaced the warped rotors at 12K and they're warped again at 30K (if my other cars did this I'd say it's because of my driving, but out of the 20 or so cars I've owned in my life, this is the first one that warps rotors every 15K). Anti-theft system locked the car down tight at 9 pm after leaving a movie with the kids - called roadside assistance, but even their advice failed to get the car started. Had to have it flat-bedded to the dealer...and it fired right up for them the next day. Front seat heater comes on by itself....

Each problem on its own is not a big deal, but add it up and draw your own conclusions about the quality behind the "American Revolution".