I purchased a used 2006 Chevy Malibu with just 34,000 miles on it in 2016. Because of the low mileage, I thought this was a great deal. At the time of purchase, the dealer mentioned there was an open recall on the vehicle, so he took the car to Chevy to replace the recalled part: a steering shaft torque sensor that reportedly was causing 2006 Malibus to occasionally and randomly lose power steering.

After the recall part was replaced, I thought, "All good. At least I won't have to worry about wrestling with any power steeling failures going forward." Later that same year, I started the car and there was no power steering. I turned the car off and on again; suddenly the power steering had returned. I called the local Chevy dealer and mentioned the issue. I asked if perhaps the recalled part was bad and needed to be replaced again under the parts warranty? But I was told that they couldn't diagnose the problem if it wasn't occurring at the moment they were inspecting it - so essentially I would be wasting $120 on the diagnosis because the issue had only occurred once.

From that moment forward, I feared for my life while driving this vehicle. I feared being on the highway, possibly losing power steering, and driving off a cliff.

Now, two years later, the power steering is constantly failing. To date, the problem only occurs at startup. I turn on the car, and it's a game of Russian roulette as to whether I will be able to drive the car or not - because without the power steering, I cannot get out of my parking space... or turn a corner at a stop sign... I can only go forward.

The power steering fails at least once every day when the car is started. In the beginning, for a few weeks the power steering would suddenly turn back on if I restarted the car, but that's not the case anymore.

Once, the power steering re-engaged as I sat in the car with the engine running for 10 minutes; I had been stuck in a parking lot, wrestling with the car and frantically trying to figure out how I would get the car home - then the car suddenly chimed and "Power Steering" displayed across my radio as the power steering re-engaged (lot of good that does - warning me that there's no power steering AFTER the car has fixed the problem).

Now, only my husband will drive the car. He's the only one who can drive it without power steering - usually, if he drives it this way for 10 minutes, the power steering eventually re-engages, accompanied by the same chime noise and the radio displaying "Power Steering."

At my wit's end, I took the car to Chevy and paid the $120 diagnosis fee. Supposedly, they tested it throughout the day, but the power steering always worked for them - go figure. They pulled some codes off the car's computer, but somehow they're not sure what the problem is. Their guess is that the Electronic Power Steering Module and the Motor Assembly should be replaced - for a lousy $950. That's a lot of money to shell out on a hunch, but I have no other choice at this point. I just want a safe, functioning vehicle.

Shame on Chevy for manufacturing this unreliable death trap. I've been a "Chevy girl" all my life, and I've owned two Malibus over the past 15 years. Never again. My husband has great luck with his Toyota Camry, and we'll probably just go Toyota from here on.

I am extremely upset with Chevy Malibu and the entire GM company. It saddens me that they will fix only certain power steering for particular models but not the 2006 model as if they were made special or something. It makes absolutely no sense that this car has this many complaints and this many problems. You have to be a dang body builder just to turn the car when the power steering light decides it wants to come on.

I took the car to the dealer only for them to tell me they want almost $2,000 for my car to get fixed. They don't care that they made a car that can practically kill people. It's bad enough I live in Arizona and they already don't know how to drive, but add a car that losses its power steering to the mix and it's a huge problem. Had my car four years and never had a problem outside of oil changes and tires, but this doesn't make any sense. Great Car minus the fact... If you get in it, you have to play Russian Roulette with your life to get to work.

Several times, usually while entering the highway, as I try to get up to speed the power steering shuts down. At this point I am on a curve. All the bells and whistles go off on the dash briefly. I am pretty sure it has something to do with reaching 3-4 RPM's. Therefore I try not to do that. The initial shut down causes my car to quickly yank to the left. Probably because I am on a right hand bend in the road. Twice I have made it out of the ditch without a problem. I went to the Chevy dealership after hearing of the recall. April 23, 2014. I was told there is no recall. I read online that there is a recall, however there are no parts to fix the problem. I am very frustrated and disappointed in Chevrolet.

MY CAR'S POWER STEERING FAILED ON ME WHEN I WAS DRIVING 55 TO 60 MPH ON THE DAN RYAN EXPRESSWAY IN CHICAGO IL AT MIDNIGHT AFTER WORK ON 02/2010. THE CAR DINGED THREE TIMES GAVE AN ERROR MESSAGE CHECK POWER STEERING ACROSS THE MONITOR AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. THE TRAFFIC WAS VERY HEAVY, A LOT OF TRUCKS ON THE ROAD AT THE TIME.

I ALMOST DID NOT MAKE IT TO AN EXIT SAFELY, I JUST PRAYED A LOT AND TRIED TO STAY CALM AND GET TO AN EXIT. HAD TO PAY ALMOST $1700.00 TO FIX THE CAR. THEN SAW A RECALL FOR THE CHEVY MONTE CARLO IN MARCH OF 2010 AND CALLED GM AND SPOKE WITH AN EXECUTIVE NAMED STEVEN. HE SAID HE OPENED A CLAIM AN AFTER ABOUT THREE MONTHS STEVEN TOLD ME HE CLOSED THE CLAIM BECAUSE MY CAR WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL., FIRST LIE ,SO I HAD TO PAY THE COST OF THE DEATH TRAP THE GM BUILT FOR THE CONSUMER (PEOPLE) .IN 2010 A REIMBURSEMENT WOULD HAVE BEEN ACCEPTABLE THAT WAS ALL I ASKED FOR, BUT I WAS TOLD IT WAS BECAUSE OF POOR MAINTENANCE.

BUT THERE WAS NO WARNING. I WAS ALMOST NUMBER 14 ON THE DEATH TOLL WHEN FOR A DECADE CHEVY KNOWINGLY MADE CARS WITH FAULTY POWER STEERING SWITCHES.AND IS ONLY ADMITTING BECAUSE OF A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION. THERE SHOULD BE A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION BECAUSE THIS WAS DONE WITH INTENT.

I was crossing a hwy. when my steering wheel locked up on a left hand turn, i went into the ditch, regained control and started hearing a noise as if my tire was rubbing. i made it home and 2 days later the read out said "Power Steering" and i lost all power steering, my husband is a truck driver and he had a hard time getting it home. On the way to the mechanic shop it went out, this time i ended up in on coming traffic, i pulled over in tears and just shut the car off. After deciding i was going to get it there i started and suddenly had power steering again, but still felt funny in the wheel and still hearing the "tire rubbing noise". made it to the mechanic who told me there was a recall and to take it to a chevy dealer to get it fixed. So i had my husband drive it there, only for them to tell me i was 600mi over the coverage of this "speciality recall" I explained i would have brought it in if i had KNOWN ABOUT THE RECALL! Having never been notified by letter or any indication i had no idea untill it about killed me! The dealer made a deal that they would pay half- very Nice! And advised me to get Chevrolet Corp. to pay other half- Chevrolet Corp. refuses to, this is an on going battle with them. They argue that its not there fault if my recall got lost in the mail. Yet a "speciality recall" is for SAFETY PROBLEMS, yET THEY WILL NOT HELP IN ANY WAY BECAUSE IM 600MI OVER THE LIMIT! I am extremely unhappy with the way i have beeen treated by Chevrolet corporation- you would think they would stand behind there word, much less there product that could kill- the auto dealership said they would pay half, Chevrolet corporation would ONLY have to pay 280.00 to fix this- yet they refuse! I will be talking to the BBu, and ago.mo.gov, and the divistion of National highway transportation safety. And anyone elce i can!! I suggest anyone with these problems do the same!

Just had a repair for this same problem in October 2012 and here it is July 2013 and it is failing again. Well done GM, can't wait to try to deal with your customer service department again end sarcasm.

Pulling out of a parking lot, alarm ding sounds and the driver information center says "Power steering". Get on the highway and within 3 minutes of the alarm, lose power steering (several lights on the dash go on simultaneously until power steering returns) for about a full minute. Luckily, was going ~ 60-65 mph on a straight-away so no physical harm done but scary as hell... AGAIN. At least my kids weren't with me this time.

I have had the same problem others have mentioned. I got a letter from GM this past spring 2012 saying this may be an issue but not to bring it in until I experience problems. I started experiencing them and called the local dealer to set up a time to get it fixed. As I read the letter it said that it has to be less then 10 years old, which it is and also less then 100K miles. Well now I am out of luck. This is a pain in the ass and hard for my female family members to drive when it goes out. I can reset it by turning the car off and starting it again. However it will go out again and display on the "Dic" appropriately named, Power Steering. Only on left hand turns. My concern is if it goes out before I hit a highway as if I had to make an evasive maneuver it would be difficult for me, not to mention my wife and daughter. I should have just brought in the thing when I got the letter. This should be fixed as it is a safety issue. This happens almost daily. Some days better than others.

After purchasing our 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx in January of 2007 we started having the power steering go out when turning to the left. This started occurring in October of 2007. It was only intermittent at first then gradually got worse. We checked on what it was and about getting it fixed but found out it would cost around 1400.00 to fix it. It was a manufacturer's goof and they should fix it at no cost to the consumer. They finally sent us a letter stating there was a problem with the electrical steering and would fix it if it didn't have anymore than 100,000 miles on it. By the time we got the letter we already had a little over 100,000 miles on it. It is the manufacturer that put in a bad part and they should fix it. Our car is now all paid for, but we still have the same problem and will never buy another Chevrolet product of any kind because they will not take care of their goof ups. Phooey on Chevrolet company. We have more problems with the steering in hot weather than cold, which is a real mystery. Shouldn't have any steering problems at all. It is hard to steer and never know when it will go out.

Brilliant GM decided to use "Electrical Power Steering" (EPS) Mechanisms in a few sedans (Malibu; Malibu Maxx; Pontiac G6) which fails, a lot, generally on the 2005 and 2006 models. (Makes you wonder why they switched to Hydraulic (liquid) Power steering in 2007 huh?!) Basically, the long and short and simple is The steering can/will lock up on the vehicle making it hard or impossible to turn the steering wheel/car. Obviously making accidents a 100% surety and saftey not. GM refuses to fix the cars in the 2006 year (2005 was issued a recall, still trying to find out why the 2005 got a recall and not the 2006) Have complained to National Highway Admin, BBB, and GM. GM told me to go to the dealer....why?! why?! they didnt build the car, not their problem.

I first noticed the power steering problem a few month ago. I made a right turn on to a two lane street. I merged over to the far left lane, my steering wheel froze and a beeping noise came on. I tried to keep control of my car by turning the steering wheel to the right but it wouldn't budge. I got scared, my car was about to hit the center divide, so I let up off the gas, at that time my steering wheel loosened. I was able to prevent my car from crashing into the center divide. This has happened many times afterward. Today I was at a red light waiting to turn left. The light turned green, I proceeded to make a left, my steering wheel locked up, again I was about to hit the center divide to my left, but this time there where cars there waiting at the light, once again, I began to panic. Not only could my car hit the center but I could possible hurt someone else. So, I let up off the gas and regained control of my vehicle. I decided today, I'm fed up!!! So I went online to see if I possibly got robbed when I purchased this vehicle 7 months ago. Did I buy a lemon or is there a recall on my car. After reading the comments from this site, I'm furious that this has been happening with other people. And there's no recall???? Are you kidding me?? Is it going to take someone to get into an serious accident before someone takes action??

When I drove to Church my steering wheel felt like it was "wobbly". After leaving it for the hour and coming back out I started the vehicle and a message appeared on the computer "power steering". Guess what? I had no steering I checked the mfg.'s book and it said I could drive in a standard mode. I made it home with very much difficulty when turning. The next day my son tried the car and the power steering was back on. When I took the car out the following day, it was fine but while idling to warm it up, it went back out. I shut off the engine and restarted the car and it worked. What will happen if I drive on a highway at a speed of 60 mph and my power steering quits?

So I took it to the dealer after opening a case # with GM. The GM rep said they wouldn't rule on any assistance witht this repair until after having the repair done. So $800 plus later they said no assistance would be given. I explained that I bought the car 1 year old from a GM dealer as a GM Certified car. The rep said that because it was in a rental fleet before the dealer sold it they wouldn't cover anything.

My advice? Dont buy GM, or at least dont think that the "GM Certified" moniker actually means anything. Maybe it means "GM Certified not to be covered".