The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu maxx. The contact stated that the power steering light came on and then the vehicle had to be turned off and back on so that the steering wheel would function normally. The failure occurred intermittently at various speeds without a warning. The steering shaft was replaced and the vehicle was functioning properly when the complaint was filed. The failure mileage was 79,000. The failure mileage was 89,000. Updated 03/14/10 updated 05/06/10.

- Louisville, TN, USA

Power steering became inoperative, wouldn't turn.

- Dublin, VA, USA

I have a 2006 Chevy Malibu, I purchase this car used last February 2009 and about two months ago, the power steering light begin to come on. A couple of times I needed to turn the car off and restart it. I took it back to the dealership and I was told that it would cost about $600 for them to replace the steering wheel, or fix the problem. I was also told that this problem would not cause any problem at that time. Today 03-02-2010 I read an article concerning recalls on GM cars 2005-2010 cobalt, but due to the information that is provided, this is the exact same problem I am having with my 2006 Chevy Malibu. My concern is how do I go about having the power steering problem rectified as well for this car.

- Huntsville, AL, USA

2006 Chevrolet Malibu maxx - 1st incident was turning into a parking lot, the wheel was extremely hard to turn "power steering" flashed on the console display, parked the car and turned it off and on, and it was working fine; about 12 times since may, I start the car and the wheel will not turn, the check engine light comes on and the "power steering" display on the center console flashes, it sometimes takes about 10 tries, but it eventual starts correctly; about 4 of the 12 incidents have been while driving, it usually happens on turns, switching lanes, all at relatively slow speeds; it has been in a Chevrolet dealership five times with expensive repair bills (a sensor module replaced/repaired, steering column was replaced, sensor modules/solenoids replaced, a relay/sensor replaced in the column, last visit there was no code, so the mechanic said he could not do anything and to wait until it does it again and keep it running and they would come tow it, however the last time it happened, I was on business 2 hours away and it wasn't possible for them to do it) and the problems continues and appears to be getting worse (more frequent and takes more restarts to work properly); even more disheartening is that the dealership claimed to have never heard of this problem, but I've found many blogs with owners with the same problem.

- Thibodaux, LA, USA

My 2006 Chevrolet Malibu's power steering went out twice on 02/05/2010. I was driving on a straight away and at low speeds at the time of the incident so this did not cause me to crash. However I'm concerned this will happen again at higher speed or a more unsafe time. This appears to be much like the cobalt investigation PE10005.

- Billings, MT, USA

Power steeering failure while car is in motion-when car slows down it is almost impossible to control. Happened 2X-car towed to dealer they replaced power steering motor. Happened again 2 weeks later-dealer replaced steering column-$1400 total repairs! GM will not help because car is out of warrenty

- Wirtz, VA, USA

The power steering freezes up on my 2006 Malibu maxx. It seems to happen when the rpms are way up, like when passing. When this happens there is no steering at all!!! the wheel is locked right tight. The dealer said that it could not happen that way. The car also looses steering at low speeds. The steering wheel turns but the tires do not.

- Onaway, MI, USA

I have a 06 Malibu maxx and the power steering keeps going out. When I first got the car, it was driving fine and the all of a sudden I lose power steering and the words "power steering" is displayed. I have to turn of the car and turn it back on so it can reset. It has been doing it more and more lately, and a few times I almost have hit someone. I called Chevy to see if there was any recalls on this problem and they said no. There was a recall on the 2004 and 2005 Chevy Malibu with electronic power steering, but nothing on the 2006. Chevy also told me to take it to the dealer and let them inspect. Which I did and they can find no problem.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

I have a 2006 Chevy Malibu maxx that has been knocking near the front end, indicating possible cv joint issues or some other suspension or steering problems. I have had the tie rods replaced once but the symptoms later returned. Most recently, the power steering failed, locking during a right turn and causing me to drive out of my lane. This has happened on at least 3 occasions in January 2010 and thankfully has not resulted in an accident. Had my wife been driving with her bad back, she would not have had the strength to control the car and avoid a potential accident. I took it to my local mechanic who told me it was the electronic steering system and the column needed to be replaced. He also told me that there are literally hundreds of forums discussing this exact problem in the same model vehicle over about 4 model years but there was no recall. There is an obvious problem with the steering in this model vehicle and needs to be fixed and recalled before someone gets seriously hurt or killed.

- Oxford, MS, USA

My 06 Malibu maxx has a steering problem. The steering wheel will not turn easily at low speeds. It makes a clunking noise when I turn. I have read and this seems to be a problem with my electronic steering and it seems to be a problem for many of these vehicles. I am worried that this will happen at a higher speed.

- Franklin, WI, USA

The power steering assist in my 2006 Chevy Malibu maxx has suddenly stopped working twice. I had my mechanic look into it and it was a confirmed problem for the 2005 models but not the 2006. I feel this is a huge liability issue that needs to be addressed immediately, regardless of mileage. If the manufacturer knows its an issue, it needs to get fixed before someone gets hurt. I've found numerous complaints on the internet about this problem and we need your help to fix it.

- Hammond, WI, USA

Power steering goes out when I accelerate and the reading on my radio says power steering and the alarm is activated as well to let me know there is a problem. When I take my foot off of the gas, I get my power steering back. This happens regularly.

- Troy, NY, USA

Power steering went out abruptly in 2006 Chevy Malibu maxx making it difficult to drive on crowded roadway. Condition did not improve until car was brought to a complete halt, turned off and restarted. This condition has occurred previously and was addressed by my Chevrolet dealer's service department at no cost. Apparently the "fix" didn't last. When I reported this recurrence to the same service manager he quoted me a substantial estimate cost for repairing the condition. When I mentioned the growing number of complaints that I've monitored he told me that there have been no recalls only bulletins and that I will have to pay to get this dangerous condition repaired again.

- Lancaster, PA, USA

I have a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu maxx. It currently will shut down the power steering and reduce engine power without warning. This is a unsafe condition and I have read about alot of these incidents on the web that results in the whole steering column to be replaced.

- Sturgeon Bay, WI, USA

The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu maxx. While driving approximately 10 mph she lost power steering without any prior warnings. She was able to safely restart the vehicle and resume normal vehicle operation. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle has not been inspected to determine the cause of the failure. The failure and current mileages were 80,500. The vehicle identification number was unavailable.

- Ocala, FL, USA

Loss of power steering! driving less than 1 mile I loss all power steering! I made a left hand turn down a cul-de-sac street and when turning around at the end of the road I lost my power steering! I was shocked that after driving to the same bus stop morning after morning with my child in the car that I had lost control of the steering wheel due to the power steering system that failed! it was very hard to make the simplest turn. The difficulty that I had experienced took me by surprise. I put the car in park and shut the car down as soon as I was in a safe area. I waited then re-started the car and the power steering had come back. I could feel that it came back in the steering wheel as I barely accelerated forward worried that I might lose the control of the wheel again I waited for all the kids at the bus stop to board the bus before I drove back home! I immediately looked online about recalls for my car incase there was a known problem, not sure that there was actually a problem with my make & model & somewhat surprised I found alot of similar situations on the NHTSA website. There seems to be others that without warning like myself loss the power steering. I even found a suggestion that read to turn the car off if possible then re-start to have power steering come back. Even though that's what I did for the safety for the kids & others. I thought are you kidding me" turn the car off to re-gain power steering should I lose it again" I sure hope that I am not on a busy highway or where kids are close to the road should this happen again. I called GM to complain of this safety issue seeing as how I did find posted bulletins about power steering loss I had believed that GM would want to inspect the safety of my car. Since it is an known problem of safety.. I was told by GM to bring the car in & pay for an inspection to look at the power steering system. GM said the cost to look at my car could start at $65-$95 maybe be higher depends on what they do!!!

- Ocala, FL, USA

The power steering failed during a turn and caught me by surprise. This almost caused me to hit another car in the turn because the steering got really hard to turn.

- Cullman, AL, USA

I was driving (with my daughter in the car). I turned the corner to pull into the parking lot at my place of employment and the steering wheel locked up. I could get it into the garage and into a spot but only with a great deal of effort. I had the car towed to a repair shop. He told me that it was an electric steering system and that it had to be replaced -- the cost would be in the vicinity of $640 plus. I took the car to a GM dealer to have it diagnosed. They confirmed that it was the steering column and it needed to be replaced. The car has approx. 52K miles. I think there needs to be a recall on this model. I am reading a great deal about many other instances similar to mine. I see there is a bulletin about the 2005 model but not the 2006. This is an extreme hazard. GM do right by the people trying to support american cars. Please.

- Denver, CO, USA

Electric power steering does not work sometimes when you start the car. If you shut the car off and restart the car and it starts working again.

- East Northport, NY, USA

Filing a complaint regarding my 2006 Chevy Malibu maxx...what is a safety-related defect? the United States code for motor vehicle safety (title 49, chapter 301) defines motor vehicle safety as ?the performance of a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment in a way that protects the public against unreasonable risk of accidents occurring because of the design, construction, or performance of a motor vehicle (the steering column is a genuine GM defective part(s), and against unreasonable risk of death or injury in an accident, and includes nonoperational safety of a motor vehicle." A defect includes ?any defect in performance, construction, a component, or material of a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment." Generally, a safety defect is defined as a problem that exists in a motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment that: Poses an risk to motor vehicle safety, and may exist in a group of vehicles of the same design or manufacture, or items of equipment of the same type and manufacture. Examples of defects considered safety-related steering components that break suddenly causing partial or complete loss of vehicle control. * the above listed united state vehicle safety code is the reason for this complaint being file. I understand that Chevy used the same column unit in its 2004, 2005 and 2006 Malibu models and all three years are experiencing the same problem. Once odometer reaches a certain mileage reading the steering column electronic assisted steering column fails, it turns off, leaving the driver at the mercy of a manually hard to steer vehicle, in my wife and mine's case it is a metal death trap on the road when making a right hand turn. I have written directly to Chevy/GM motor corporation with out recognition of my complaint. This car is a large road safety issue and needs to be addressed immediately. I want Chevy to buy my car back of replace this vehicle. Please help!! I don't want to die in this vehicle, nor loose my wife.

- San Pedro, CA, USA