10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 17 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 20 / 1
- Average Mileage:
- 87,269 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
Have had numerous warranty work done. Purchased car 4 months ago with 24,000 miles now has 28,000. 6 warranty replacements. Around 25,000 started car and steering wheel was turning violently. Shut car off and it was fine. Later noticed steering was looser and thumping noise. Chevy replaced steering gear. Now at current mileage did the same thing has happened and replacing another component in steering. This is very dangerous. When driving around turns it felt like I had no control over car. Now that my warranty is out my when I put my car into D half the time it will jump into gear and sometimes it gets stuck or wants to stop at R. a car with 28,000 miles should not be having this kind of trouble. I can only imagine what it will be like with 75,000 miles on it.
- Shelbyville, TN, USA
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the steering column makes random knocking noises. He discovered tsb number 1973984, which is identical to the failure he is experiencing. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on three occasions and the recommended solutions in the tsb were heeded; however, the failure persists. The contact is concerned that his steering column will eventually fail completely. The failure mileage was 18,000 and current mileage was 48,000.
- Salina, KS, USA
We have a 2005 Chevy Malibu with 39,000 miles. My wife drives the car normally but I drove the car for a few weeks and noticed a clunking in the steering at low speeds when turning. Taking the car into our mechanic it was diagnosed as a issue with the intermediate steering shaft which had to be replaced. I don't think this part should ever go out let alone at 39,000 miles. It is a safety issue with the car. The mechanic told us that Chevy has had this issue with may cars and trucks and has known about the issue.
- Saint Michael, MN, USA
According to the dealer this vehicle has a defective rack and pinion that is based upon engineering and could cause a loss of control steering while driving the vehicle. A loud popping noise is heard while turning left or right and a snapping is heard when slowing down and breaking. A loose rattle also occurs in front end while driving on primary or secondary roads. Car jumps and steering jerks when hitting a bump on paved roadways. Car has been taken in for repairs three times.
- Leroy, MI, USA
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu. When turning the steering wheel, the contact heard a popping sound. The failure began six months ago and now it is causing the power steering to fail. The failure was very subtle at first, but now the power steering fails for days at a time. The air conditioning would activate on and off, but now it does not work at all. The dealer stated that the power steering module and air conditioning resistor needed to be replaced. The contact also stated that the control panel is warm to the touch after driving for some time. The vehicle is currently with the dealer and the repair will cost over $900. The current mileage was 70,000 and failure mileage was 50,000. Updated 09/10/08. The consumer stated the shocks went bad, the tie rod ends had to be replaced, the cd became stuck in the cd player. The rear calipers had to be replaced and the starter worked intermittently. Updated 09/12/08.
- Columbus, GA, USA
A friend of mine has a 05 Chevy Malibu. I see an investigation was done on the 04's #peo4031 electric power assist system. I have personally had it go out on me twice. And I could barely steer the car and almost got into a wreck...... I weigh 190 lbs. My girl friend weighs 130 lbs.... people are going to get in wrecks and die because of the eps system. And you are aware of it....... does the S in NHTSA stand for safety "?" thank you for your time.
- Charlotte, NC, USA
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu. On approximately 100 occasions, the power steering light would illuminate on the instrument panel while driving various speeds. The steering wheel would become difficult to turn as if it were locked. The contact would have to shut off and restart the vehicle to correct the issue. The current mileage was 102,000 and failure mileage was 93,000.
- Grenada , MS, USA
My steering has been going out, it has been noted that it starts when the weather get warmer. The first time it went out it as 97F, the next time it was 94F, when the temp cools off (90F) I have noted that I can turn the car off and the power steering will come back. I was searching the internet for answers and came across the website www.carcomplaints.com. everyone on there described the same problems with their vehicles. As of yesterday 05/28/08 I have not injured my shoulder due to manually steering the vehicle. I have to drive approx. 50 miles to get home from my office.
- Dayton, TX, USA
It has been noted that when the temp warms up 92F+ that the power steering goes out and will not reset itself. It has been noted that one the temp goes down to 90F and I turn the car off that I have power steering. This issue started last year but do not remember dates.
- Dayton, TX, USA
My steering gear went out at 35,000 miles the car was still under warranty so GM replaced it. The same part is going out again at 56,000 called the dealer, this part only has a 12,000/12 month warranty. My mechanic says he has seen this alot on the 2005 Chevy mailbu model.
- Waukee, IA, USA
Power steering fails with only a beep as warning(as it happens...not before) extremely dangerous.
- South Jordan, UT, USA
When starting and/or driving the car for a short time at speeds between 5-45 power steering fails. This has not happened with highway driving yet but I am concerned it will. I am taking car in the nearest Chevy dealer for service. I did receive a notice in the mail in December 2007 regarding problems but was not experiencing the problem at the time and did not keep the notice; soon thereafter I did experience referenced steering problem.
- Ferguson, MO, USA
Grinding, popping noises come from front end and squeaking noise from rear. You can feel the entire car shift when turning or traveling over bumps in the road. Sounds like the whole body of the car is going to slide off of the chassie. January 2007, dealer replaced steering rack and set toe, hooked chassie ears to the front suspension, and replaced rear sway bar bushings. Vehicle had 26,080 miles on it. 11 months later, now 38,800 miles, same issue. Having to take vehicle back to dealership again and it is no longer under warranty, to have steering and suspension assessed again. GM needs to assess this problem before someone gets killed in these Malibu. Another local dealer states they see this same problem in other Malibu, yet no recall. What is GM waiting for? they need to own up to a design flaw.
- Hamilton, OH, USA
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu. While turning the steering wheel at 5 mph, the contact heard a thumping noise coming from the steering column. The dealer stated that the steering gear failed and made the replacement. Three months later, the failure recurred. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. Three months later, the dealer inspected the vehicle again and stated that they tightened it up, but did not state what they tightened. The contact stated that the thumping sound continued to occur and was louder than before. As of October 29, 2007, the dealer had not repaired the vehicle. The failure mileage was 28,000 and current mileage was 42,000. There was a noise when the vehicle was going into 2nd gear. U[dated 11/21/07.
- Somerset , KY, USA
Intermediate shaft had to be replaced at 40,000 miles. I had already had it into the dealership before and they "lubed it" of course the replacement was out of the warranty period. Now the clunking sound is back and I hate to go back to the dealership and pay again. Sounds like Chevy has a real problem they don't want to deal with.
- Pickerington, OH, USA
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 40 mph in the rain, the power steering failed. The instrument panel displayed "power steering", but the service engine light never illuminated. She was driving on the left side of a three lane road when the failure occurred. The vehicle continued to veer to the right as she depressed the brake pedal. As a result, she struck the right guardrail, which caused axle failure, body work, and damage to the passenger side tire. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it currently remains. The current and failure mileages were 55,000.
- Riviera Beach, FL, USA
Power steering will lock and car is hard to turn.
- Hepz9ibah, GA, USA
2005 Chevy Malibu lt I have had numerous problems with the steering. There has been a thumping noise from the front end when turning left or right. Noise can be plainly heard at low speeds. The steering rack has been replaced 3 times and the steering shaft once.
- Niles, OH, USA
I have a 2005 Malibu with 50000 miles on it and the power steering randomly shuts off. The car is equipped with electronic power steering and sometimes the steering is real tight and sometimes its really loose. It becomes very dangerous when this happens and the Chevy dealership I brought it to doesn't know what is wrong. I know what is wrong - my steering doesn't work 100% of the time. I have a safe driving record and drive resposibly and do not beat on my cars. I know it is not my driving stlye, rather it is a flaw in design and construction of the power steering.
- Loveland, CO, USA
- Bremerton, WA, USA