2004 Chevrolet Malibu Classic: loss of power steering

Filed Mar 13, 2014 · Steering · 163,000 miles · MD

I was driving on the highway and totally lost power steering. I pulled my car into a parking lot and let the car sit for a couple of hours. I was able to drive the car home where I lost power steering again while pulling into my driveway. I was able to drive my car to the repair shop a couple of days later where I had to have the entire steering system replaced.

Filed May 13, 2013 · Steering · 121,510 miles · OH

Driving down the road to drop off the kids at my mothers house and power steering failed.

Filed Jan 17, 2012 · Steering · 13,400 miles · TX

1st time:driving in the drop off area of son's school and power steering went out on my wife. We had to signal the other cars around our car (2004 chevy malibu). My wife could not move the steering wheel so I had to back the car up out of the children' drop off area with no power steering into a parking space after all the children were dropped off. Second time:per the message on service indicator power steering went out on a main road in our town after repairs by certified chevrolet mechanics at don hewlett chevrolet was a year later right after the warranty went out. I was told I would have to pay for the repairs since the warranty was up. There have been 46 complaints on a website called www.carcomplaints.com regarding this same issue and the 2005 chevrolet malibu was recalled for this same issue of the power steering failure.

Filed Mar 21, 2011 · Steering · 80,000 miles · PA

While driving down the expressway,my power steering went out. I pulled over to the side of the road and shut my car off and started it up again and it started working again.gm has recalled other models for doing the same thing,but not the 2004 malibu. This is very dangerous and somebody is going to get killed unless gm takes care of this problem. The 2004 chevy. Malibu has electric assisted power steering. The thing is that gm,the dealers and the federal safety agency all know about the problem,but are not doing anything until people are hurt and killed. I bought the car new and have taken very good care of it.

Filed May 31, 2010 · Steering · 49,364 miles · MI

While coming off the highway, I noticed I no longer have power steering. The entire rest of the way home, no power steering. I searched on line to see if there was a reservoir to put more power steering fluid in, and there appears to be none and I will have to fork out over $500 for a new steering column. I was never informed of any problem with the 2004 chevrolet malibu and a power steering problem.

Filed Sep 22, 2009 · Steering · CA

Steering wheel would shimmy while in motion, often accompanied by knocking that is heard and also felt through the steeringwheel while applying brakes, and would stop only when the vehicle came to an near or complete stop. Other notable events include a rough vibration with an audible repetitive thumping that was felt from the left front wheel that would slip on regular intervals while applying brakes. The failure happened suddenly while driving my 2 special needs boys to school. The failure started with little warning in front of the school which is located right off the boulevard. I was able to bring the car safely to a stop due to the 25mph school zone rule. The maximum speed limit is 35 during non school hours and 40 MPH further down the boulevard. The power steering became extremely difficult to steer with in seconds before the service (wrench) light came on. I parked my vehicle, and called my insurance company to have my car towed to an reputable care repair shop because the car wasn't safe for me to drive. After 50 minutes the tow truck arrived and when the driver started my car, the car was again steer-able and the maintenance light was no longer on. The mechanics were unsuccessful in reproducing the steering malfunction. September 9th, 2009 , the same failure repeated itself, same location same time as before, the maintenance light turned on and then unlike the first event on september 8th, the radio displayed an powersteering failure message on its' screen. The mechanic at the auto shop took a look at my car immediately after he saw the maintenance light, and the powersteering failure message. After the powersteering part from bob stall chevrolet was delivered, the part was then installed. I paid out of pocket, and didn't find out until after service was rendered, that a discovery was made by the shop while searching for information about my car, that there had been a recall. I never received gm's notice. I have the old part. Part installed is new.

Filed Sep 30, 2008 · Electrical · TX

Car wouldn't start so took it to a local mechanic and removed battery and then replaced it and car started. Informed us he has worked on others that had same problem and it was a problem with the anti-theft device that had to be taken to the dealer to be taken care of. The car started and ran for 3 days then it won't start again. So had it towed to the chevy dealer. Mechanic talked to on the phone instantly knew the problem. They have had to repair it on many cars. Told us it was the anti-theft device and the only way around it was to replace the ignition switch. The car is still currently at the dealers so cant give a total account yet of what was done to correct the problem. I've had to miss days at work because of this and wondering if it is such a common problem why something isn't being done about it. Had a problem with the anti-theft device before but caused a different problem. It went off while I was driving and didn't let me use cruise control, and the power steering went out. It also was very difficult to stop. I had to pull over on the side of the road and turn the car off and wait a few minutes. Then it started back up and had no problems till now.