2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx: harsh or hard shifting

Filed Feb 1, 2015 · Electrical, Steering · 57,635 miles · OH

July 18 - driving to work, heard and felt a clunk. On the radio display power steering was now displayed and the mechanics symbol illuminated on the dashboard. July 28- mccluskey is unable to duplicate trouble with car, they do not have parts anyway. Aug. 6 - vm car is ready. When we arrived told us there is a problem, they have used non-approved gm parts, they need to take those parts out and put in approved gm parts to be paid. Rear quarter of the car was damaged. Aug.14 - passenger side lower front bumper is now damaged aug. 21 - picked up malibu from the body shop, realize seat is broken call the body shop back within 5 min. Of leaving the lot, I went around a corner and I am thrown into the door. In oct. Received the recall letter again, dealerships now have parts, take your vehicle in and have the repair completed. If this was done in august why did I just receive a letter? Nov. 27, while my husband was driving the car the power steering would not work again, making a turn at slow speed the car would not respond and acted as if he had his foot on the brake and the accelerator at the same time, as if he was power braking, the car would not move, the car was not drivable, completely unsafe. Dec. 3 borcherding buick calls me and tells me the recalls are not the issue and cannot be completed until the steering column issue is fixed.the car had 57635 miles on july 18th the day the car was towed to mccluskey chevrolet, on august 22nd the morning after I picked up the car from mccluskey chevrolet the car has 58135. The car became un-drivable with 60890 miles. I have a receipt the power steering was replaced in 2005 under a recall/warranty and then again the power steering was repaired in 2009 with gm paying half we paid half due to the low miles on the vehicle.

Filed Mar 28, 2012 · Steering · 47,000 miles · MA

I just exited the highway and was turning into a parking lot and heard a loud clunk and the steering failed. The dealership informed me that the steering rack and gears to the steering column needed to be replaced along with the spring and sensor for airbag on the steering column. The steering column would then have to be re-centered and the car realigned.

Filed Dec 14, 2011 · Steering · 33,000 miles · ME

I bought this car in 2010. The steering problem has been intermittent since the car passed 33k. I haven't had this happen on the road, but usually after I park and turn the car back on. There will be no power steering making it almost impossible to drive. If I shut it off and turn it back on again, the problem isn't there. Quite unnerving. The car also has a clunk sound in the left front under the steering wheel. The warning for power steering is on more than it is off. I wish there was a recall on this. There have been so many complaints on the internet and my mechanic says there should be a recall on this. I haven't had it fixed because I can't afford it.

Filed Aug 1, 2011 · Steering · 65,000 miles · WI

First started as an occasional steering problem at low speeds. Then progressed to more frequent steering problem at low speed. Next a bad vibration started in the front when breaking. Now a loud clunking noise. Diagnosis by mechanic is defective rack and pinion, steering box, and possibly power steering failure. Research indicates there have been many, many complaints about this, and that the 2005 malibu was recalled for exactly the same problem last summer.

Filed Feb 9, 2009 · Steering · 24,000 miles · MS

I have had an ongoing complaint about a clunking noise in the steering wheel of my 2004 malibu maxx. Almost as soon as I got the vehicle I felt a faint vibration in the steering wheel and have taken it to chevrolet on numerous occasions each time they claim they could not duplicate the problem. This knocking happens everytime I turn the steering wheel and it is getting louder and louder. Now that it is out of warranty gm is telling me to once again go and have it diagnosed, which cost about $90 and they do not guarantee to fix it at no cost. I talked to a csr and she does not admit or admit to knowing about this problem. I referred to campaign # 04050a 12/2004 posted on your website.

Filed Oct 28, 2008 · Steering · 19,557 miles · OH

Tl*the contact's spouse owns a 2004 chevrolet malibu maxx. While driving at various speeds and making a turn, the contact heard a clunking noise coming from the steering column. The vehicle has been to the dealer three times and they replaced the steering column under warranty, the ps gear, and the intermediate steering shaft; however, the clunking noise still persists. The current mileage was 45,523 and failure mileage was 19,557. Updated 2/23/09 *cn updated 02/27/09.

Filed Apr 3, 2008 · Steering · 60,746 miles · MN

Car has had rattle noise from front end since car was bought from a chevy dealership with 32k on it. The car currently has 61k on it. Steering rack has worn to the point where it jams and the wheel will not turn. Rattle noise has turned in to clunking noise. When car was brought to dealer 3 times for noise it was returned "no problems found".

Filed Mar 6, 2008 · Steering · CO

2004 chevy malibu maxx has major front end problem. Hard to steer, always pulling hard to the right, seems like power steering is not working at times, clunking noise when stationary and turning wheels and when moving going over bumps. At 33k miles have been told the rack and pinion needs to be replaced. Repairs haven't been done yet waiting on other estimates.

Filed Jul 20, 2006 · Steering · 14,000 miles · NY

When slowing down and sometimes when accelerating there is a clunk sound from the bottom left of the steering column. At first we could hardly hear it and as the months passed on it got worse. Brought it to the dealer on march 31, 2004. They said gm is aware of the problem and are manufacturing parts to repair the defect. They gave me a gm document with id#1764730 and stating that the part will be available in the second quarter. I think I may have a lemon because earlier the power steering stopped and they replaced the whole steering system. It is now five months since I have been to the dealer and I have not heard anything. The car now sounds like the front end is going to fall off whenever we slow down and it sounds very dangerous. The car does not have more than 23,000 miles, which I consider fairly new, and sounds like it has 500,000 miles on it. My wife and I are both in our 60's and believe me we are not hot rodders. Please help us to solve this problem.

Filed Jul 3, 2006 · Steering · 11,406 miles · FL

1. Power steering failure 2. Noise in steering 3. Noise in steering steering column was replaced in each incident, now making clunking noise again. Dealer said its "normal characteristic of vehicle. Noise is getting worse.

Filed Feb 23, 2006 · Steering · 33,000 miles · NY

Dt*: the contact stated while the vehicle was in motion at any speed, there is a clunking noise in the steering shaft. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection and repair. However, after the vehicle was inspected and the dealer determined the problem was the steering shaft, the dealer informed the contact currently no repairs could be made to the vehicle. This was due to the manufacturer not having a remedy or tsb to the problem, but they were aware the problem existed. The dealer recommended the contact should continue driving the vehicle and no repairs were made.