6.4
fairly significant- Typical Repair Cost:
- $580
- Average Mileage:
- 53,250 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 94 complaints
Most common solutions:
- not sure (46 reports)
- replaced intermediate steering shaft (17 reports)
- replaced steering rack (9 reports)
- burn the car up / toss off nearest cliff (4 reports)
- lube & reposition steering shaft (4 reports)
- Chevrolet dealer found a bulletin for this problem (3 reports)
This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Chevrolet dealer.
I have had this Mailbu since 2005 and it has only 50,000 miles. The steering problem scares the heck out of me. The other day I was driving out of my driveway and the car just stopped and I could not steer it at all. It makes this popping sound when you turn the wheel. It scared the heck out of me. I started the car again and then I was able to move it. If this happens on one of our expressways or causes an accident someone can get killed, including me. I'm going to contact GM about this problem. I will sue them if I have to. This should not be happening and I have always had GM cars and have never had this problem. I'm a Senior Citizen and cannot afford another car. I do not drive that much, but I do have to take my grandchildren to school and pick them up.
- conovo, Miami, FL, US
Just annoying. I will look into it. It's my daughter's car and, after looking at the complaints from other vehicle owners, I need to get it fixed.
- Cipriano A., Brazoria, TX, US
about 6 months ago we had this problem of popping in the steering shaft. Before this we took it to our local mechanic and he just greased the shaft and the noise went away. Today, we were leaving a parking lot and tried to turn. I turned the wheel, and heard a pop noise. Then I could turn the steering wheel round and round but the wheels wouldn't turn. I had to call a tow truck ($88.00) to our local dealer. They told me the bolt on the intermediate shaft broke and also the sensor for the airbag needed to be replaced. From looking at the site, there are many complaints about this problem. So far I have replaced the power steering motor (reimbursed) from GM after I paid for the repair of $950.00. the front wheel bearings at 35,000 miles, and now this. I have never heard of having to replace the steering intermediate shaft under normal driving conditions. Hopefully GM will do something about this and reimburse me for this repair. The bolt on the steering shaft should never fail under any conditions. I guess I was lucky it failed in a parking lot and not on the highway going 65 MPH.
- philipn, Olathe, KS, US
When I turned or accelerated the car made a clunking noise. My car really isn't that old. Why me?
- Amie L., Austin, TX, US
The steering column has been replaced, greased, repacked multiple times and needs it again. Mostly it pops when turning left. I'm thoroughly disgusted with GM and Chevrolet. How long have they known these issues existed? They don't worry about the government forcing a recall, not as long as they continue to make contributions to political coffers. It's a shame GM has no integrity. Heck, when GM was in trouble, I bought a small amount of stock in the naive hope of helping them out and saving jobs. Then GM put that stock into bankruptcy and now my money's gone but they're applauding themselves for turning the company around (thanks to the taxpayer bail out). Considering all the problems we're having with the 2001 Impala, too, GM will not get another dime from us. A mechanic once told us that all GM has to do is make a car to last 7 years according to some back-room deal with the government. If true, then Americans have been sold out by the very people who are supposed to work for us. Don't forget to vote in November. Toss out an incumbent or two or several hundred.
- terryva, Ashland, VA, US
I bought my Malibu used in 2007 before moving away to college. After a little while, I had noticed a popping sound every darn time I would turn the wheel. I had mechanic after mechanic look/listen. I've had the Tierods (sp?) replaced, and then the Steering shaft replaced after that. Those things would only temporarily fix the popping sound.
Also the powered-steering would go out on me every now and then, like when I was backing out of a parking space. I would just turn the car off and restart it with no problem. Then the powered-steering went out on me in the middle of an intersection - and I decided that I wasn't taking NO for an answer from any stupid mechanic. Turns out the powered steering pump-thing is filed under a Special Case and was replaced by my local Chevy dealer at no cost to me.
It's been a year since I've had that replaced, and the haunting popping sound is back. I recently just had new tires put on and I was told that I needed the Tierods replaced - again. WHAT?! that sh*t ain't cheap! I'm to the point where I'm just going to let it go, and ignore the damn sound until my car falls apart (literally.)
- meghancopas, Arlington Heights, IL, US
I bought this car in July of 2011 and as the same as everyone else here have had the popping sound when stearing. I have taken it into several shops and get told different things. Its the steering shaft, or you just need and alignment. I have not gotten the problem fixed as of yet for the simple fact that I dont want to keep putting money into this car if its not going to fix the problem. It also has a play in the stearing. I am very unhappy with this purchase and plan to never purchase a Chevy again.
- Chastity S., Oak Harbor, WA, US
We just bought this car only 3 weeks ago. For the first 3 weeks everything with the steering was fine. Now it's popping each time the steering wheel is turned to either side. The car fax report says the Steering shaft was replaced at 35,000 miles. I have read a lot on this car since this has started and now I wish we had never bought it. I have put in a call to GM and they have scheduled a return call to see if we can come up with a solution for tomorrow. I will keep everyone updated.
- Amy M., Jacksboro, TN, US
After I bought my 2005 Malibu in 2006 I started having the problem with the pooping noise. At first the dealer claimed there was not a problem. I took it the vehicle to 2 different repair shops before I finally found a mechanic that knew what he was doing. I had the steering box repacked and the problem went away for a few months. It came back once again and had it repacked to stop the noise.After the next time I just put up with the popping noise. Every now and then I have the steering box repacked so I do not have to listen to the noise. I am trying to trade the car on a newer vehicle, so I will have the steering box repacked to avoid stupid questions by a dealer.
- Jerry Z., Kalispell, MT, US
I bought this car August used and it was fine for about 2 months. then I noticed it was pulling a little and the popping noise and now when ever I go over a bump it seems like i hit a mountain. the noise is horrible so my husband looked at it and the two front tires are bald on the inside almost to wire. All these people are complaining of the same problem and Chevy has no recall on it. does anyone have an answers for me?
- tammyz, Stittville, NY, US
I have a 2005 and the Power steering keeps locking on me they need to get this recalled before someone gets hurt! I have two children and i have no desire for this to go out and cause me not to be able to get out of the way if needed. I have to turn off my car and restart1 I gets annoying!
- justwhittonca, Fresno, CA, US
There's a noise coming from the left side of my car when turning. I took my car in for regular oil change and was told that the intermediate steering shaft need replacing, Recently had an alignment but was told i would have to have another after replacing the intermediate steering shaft. I have always heard this noise no one knew what the problem was. Now i see that this problem has happened to many of Chev malibu owners, I want to support American car but not at the cost of my life. Chevrolet step up to the plate and take care of this problem before someone is hurt or even killed!
- pholden, Memphis, TN, US
chevy needs to fix these problem plus let us know when there is a recall on anything for the year and model
- Richard Z., Cartersville, GA, US
Had popping noise and lost steering about December 09. Had steering column replaced (55,000 miles). Started hearing popping noise again at 68,000 miles. Figured it was steering column again. Took it to dealer who said it was not the steering column, but was the struts and upper strut mounting had failed. Said it would cost over 900$. Found someone to do it for $685. Still way too much. Clearly there's a problem there that the steering and suspension parts keep failing so easily in these cars.
- Glen B., Pittsburgh, PA, US
The popping sound is joined by an odd delay in maneuverability. I have to adjust the steering wheel to compensate for the jolt in the steering column. this is mostly at speeds from 0-45mph but then again I've never turned sharp at 60mph. please recall and fix this potentially dangerous problem BEFORE someone looses steering and dies or kills someone...
- awickar2, Ashland, NE, US
Ok so I have had the Steering gear box replaced 4 times now, and the Steering Shaft replaced 3 times now. They are both not covered under any warranty!!! Guess what they need to be replaced again, one part is 600 and the other is 400.. Thats not including the 75 an hour and its calling for 16 hours of Labor!!!! WTF GM??? Do something about this! Yet when i spoke with GM they will not help me in any way what so ever!!!! NEVER AGAIN WILL I BUY A GM PRODUCT!!!!!
- hm77, Elko, NV, US
I bought my 2005 Malibu in Sept 2010.It also had the popping noise.I also had the power steering problem.I was getting off the ramp of the interstate.When I came to a stop,my power steering quit working! I pulled the car over.Got out and looked under the hood,found nothing unusual.Got back in,thought I would give it a try to start it,and power steering was working again! It hasn't done it since then,but I what would you do if you are driving down the road and it does the same thing?It scares me to think what would happen!!! I cant afford to buy another car! You could get hurt or hurt someone else if that happens!
- brendajb, Lexington, KY, US
My fiance's car is the problem matter, I'm a Ford guy but can respect other makes....but when it comes to Chevy I think they should back there customers a weeeeee bit better. And just fix the engineering mistake. Me being a mechanical engineer working on chemical engineering degree, I have yet to see a problem like the knocking while turning in the Malibu. I adore Chevy wants to improve design and work with alternate means of technology, but they fail to take in account the flaw the steering system has. Its simply unsafe. They use a electronic motor on some models to aid in the "power steering" rather than a traditional system with the pump assembly and rack and pinion.....simply they do this to save money by eliminating extra parts and improve driver feel. But again they didn't engineer it to the spec. which the original system was designed to do. I hear in some cases the system entirely fails and is about 1000 to 2000 dollars to fix...but it doesn't stop there. It will eventually fail again do to design error. So I wish GM would recall this system before it starts taking human lives do to the failure it causes. Can you imagine if your driving going 45 on a off ramp and it fails to turn since the system gives out?..............Where I live there's a 30 foot drop off which would cause quite a bump....if not death. So I will be looking to sell this Malibu and leave it for someone else to play hookie with. I wont trust Chevy again with mine nor my friends and familys life. Guess thats why I trust Ford. And thats the bottom line! I hope you feel the same as I do.
- Casey M., Warren, IN, US
Just bought this car, and when on the test drive I heard the steering popping, it wasn't that loud. I asked the sales rep about this and he said, "hmmm, well I've never heard of that." So I left it at that. I'm still noticing the slight popping noise, when turning left at slow speeds. I am definitely glad I found this website, it sounds like a very serious problem. I'll be trying to fix the steering soon hopefully, as apparently it has not been addressed as it should have been. Do I regret my decision in buying my Chevy? Yes I do. Will I ever buy from them again, after hearing about how they have addressed this problem? Definitely not.
- James F., Barnes, KS, US
Yes I have a horrible noise in the steering now every time I turn to the left or right. I think GM should have recalled this vehicle for this steering problems and it should be recorded with the recent lawsuit. I am not happy. I have a feeling that my dealership knew about this.
- deanmi, Mayville, MI, US