2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx: jerking or lurching

Filed Jun 23, 2016 · Steering · 120,000 miles · CA

My malibu maxx 2004 was bought new. It has the power steering issue ever since it was new. Under acceleration on highways (e.g. Driving uphill in mountains etc. ) when steering left around a curve, the power steering locks up and jerks, and dash lights flash for a few seconds. This has happened ever since it was new. The issue can't be reproduced by dealership and auto repair stores. Gm has a recall in 2014 regarding power steering but the problem is not fixed, the issue is life threatening!!

Filed Feb 19, 2014 · Driver assistance, Steering · 159,900 miles · TN

I turned my car on, and the power steering light came on. Couldn't steer. Turned car off and on, then my steering wheel jerks like crazy for a week. Now driving home from work my steering died completely. Reading about this and I see this is a huge problem for the malibu and malibu maxx. Chevy needs to do a recall!!!

Filed Apr 7, 2013 · Electrical, Engine · 100,000 miles · NH

Upon acceleration using the gas pedal, the car loses total control of its steering. All engine lights and failure lights go on.sometimes just making a simple turn at an intersection, the car loses complete steering capability. This has happened at various speeds, including on the highway at 50 MPH accelerating over a slight incline or at 10 MPH at an intersection while making a left or right turn. I noticed trouble with the steering when I first bought my car under warranty but it wasn't as severe. Just when backing out of a parking space the steering was tight, but the dealership could not find the problem. I have had the short rack steering gear, steering rack, intermediate shaft, and serpentine belt replaced but to no avail. On the website www.lemonlawclaims.com there have been at least 42 steering complaints of similar nature regarding the same year make for the malibu. An the federal safety agency investigation was performed pe04-031 based on eight reports of alleged power steering failures. The preliminary evaluation has been upgraded to an engineering analysis based on the report I printed up in 2010, however I am not certain of the current status of this investigation. I'm sure there are a lot more failure reports that have been opened, though I cannot find a recall regarding this failure. As a side note, sometimes the car has trouble starting - it always has and the dealership could not determine the failure. When trying to start it up, hitting the gas pedal will cause the engine to kick over and not stall. There is always the smell of fuel. I am not sure if this is part of the failure. In addition when the steering fails or the steering wheel jerks upon acceleration, a clicking sound can be heard. The origin of this clicking in unknown. I really don't understand why there hasn't been a recall on this or better yet a class action lawsuit.

Filed Jan 2, 2013 · Seats · 134,639 miles · NY

While turning to the left the drivers seat suddenly shifted and was leaning to the right. The weld which holds the base together had broken. This is the second occurrence of this happening. The first time it was under warranty so it was repaired by the dealer. At that time we were told that it was a $1000 repair because the whole unit had to be replaced. This to me seems a dangerous situation since when the seat jerks there seems to be a period when there is a loss of control of the vehicle. I went on the computer when I got home and this seems to be a common problem. Why is there no recall to fix this problem?

Filed Aug 1, 2011 · Electrical, Steering · 106,772 miles · MO

In the middle of making turns, right and left, the electronic power steering will deactivate causing car to jerk, then steering will be extremely difficult. Car can be turned off and then restarted and the issue will stop for a short time. There has been recalls for this issue on other gm models but not my model. This issue first occurred while my 16 yr old daughter was driving and almost resulting in an accident. I am extremely concern for my daughter safety will driving this vehicle. I took the car out shortly after this happen to her and within 3 turns the steering wheel jerked, light on dash light, display showed power steering and steering reverted to what can best be described as prepower steering x 2. I am a muscular 300 pound male and I had a difficult time getting the car to turn safely into the lane and later off the road. This is a safety issue that was no covered by gm and should be addressed before someone is injured. Please reopen your investigation into this issue. Thank you for your time.

Filed Mar 22, 2010 · Steering · 48,000 miles · CA

Most recent incident was sunday march 21. Noticed the steering problem for the first time about 2 weeks ago, but the double click sound has been going on for about 5 months. While turning left from a stop light the steering stopped working. I started from a stop, accelerated thru the intersection turning left. About halfway thru the turn my steering wheel tried to go back straight. It nearly jerked the wheel out of my hands. I took my foot off the gas and a second later the steering came back. I have since been able to reproduce the effect several times. I also noticed that it is accompanied by a double "click" sound coming from somewhere under the steering column, and is usually accompanied by a bing bing and either/or the battery light and the car with a wrench light. This also occurs when accelerating up hill on the freeway.

Filed Sep 9, 2008 · Steering · 82,000 miles · AL · 1 injury

When driving, the power steering will jerk side to side and several times has completely failed making the vehicle extremely difficult to steer. The failure caused me to lose control on the interstate slamming me against the door of the vehicle, thankfully I was able to regain control although it was nearly impossible to steer. The driver information console displayed "power steering." after doing some research I saw that there are hundreds if not thousands of people who have experienced the same failure. That is why I decided to file a complaint.

Filed Jun 16, 2008 · Seats · 130,000 miles · MD

Was driving when drivers seat lurched to the left. When I got home and inspected the seat I observed that a weld had broken in the lower seat frame component associated with vertical height adjustment for power seat.

Filed May 13, 2008 · Seats · 56,000 miles · NY

Was driving on exit ramp on local expressway when drivers seat lurched to the left. When I got home and inspected the seat I observed that a weld had broken in the lower seat frame component associated with vertical height adjustment for power seat.

Filed Feb 17, 2005 · Steering · IN

As my family and I were driving down the road in our new malibu maxx the check engine light came on and the radio stated power steering. I tried to steer the maxx but it had no power steering. I stopped turned the car off and restarted it and it started working. I called the dealer and they said that they were having major trouble with the new malibu's electric assist steering. They replaced the column and motor. That lasted about three months. I was driving down a major interstate early on a sunday morning when the power steering went out again. This time severely jerking the steering wheel to the left pushing me into the left lane of traffic. Had this been my wife on her way to work monday morning in heavy traffic on this interstate there would have been a terrible accident. We are now on the third steering column, now the heating and defrost control unit is bad, leaving us with no heat or defrost. Not to mention the rear seatbelt got stuck and wouldn't move. All but the heating control have been fixed (at dealer now) but where will it stop???? My family works for gm and I think I will buy a ford!!!!!!!! Gm better stand up and admit there is a problem! Ea04018_cat