2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx: jerking or lurching

Filed Feb 6, 2018 · Driver assistance, Steering · 176,000 miles · KS

I was driving and a warning signal sound came on and the "power steering" message appears on the screen then the power steering went out. I was on on on the highway so that was the scary part. I started to go home because I knew it was not safe. The car would shake and make noises while I was stopped at a stoplight and the steering wheel would jerk and move and continue to rattle. I was able to pull over and turned the car off. I started it back up and it was okay. I started to drive and again the signal sound and the power steering message came on and it went out while I was turning which was a scary moment because an accident would've happened had another car been in the way. It was very difficult to drive and I was worried about an accident happening. I was told to take it to the shop and did so. Was told it was probably a sensor. I looked up recalls and that was a recall on my car. I called the gm/chevy consumer line and they recommended it take it to my local chevy dealer and stated the recall had been fixed. Local chevy dealer calls to tell me that there is a "bulletin" and the steering column needs to be replaced at a cost of $1,100. The steering column is listed on the previous recall but they only replaced a sensor. I was told I had to pay to have it fixed. I find it very disturbing that millions of cars have this issue and nothing is being put out to fix the problem. It is dangerous.

Filed Apr 25, 2017 · Steering · 80,000 miles · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet malibu maxx. While driving various speeds, an abnormal noise was heard from the steering wheel. The contact mentioned that the steering wheel vibrated and caused the vehicle to jerk. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000. Updated 06/23/17*lj the contact had been informed by an independent mechanic that the strut miunts wewre rusted and were part the reasonfor vibration in the steering column.

Filed Oct 23, 2015 · Steering · 130,000 miles · GA

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet malibu maxx. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle veered to the right and the steering wheel jerked violently to the right. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

Filed Oct 19, 2015 · Fuel system, Seats · 95,000 miles · KS

Issue one is the drivers seal welds brake on the rear and front from the floor mount base to the elevated control thus in the case of a crash the seat is compromised to separate completely from the floor mount due to these welds being broke. Second issue fuel pumps begin to leak at the seal of the pump at the fuel tank leaking heavy amounts of fuel from the tank and onto the exhaust. Third issue which I have seen multiple reports of recalls but the dealership denies there is an issue with the maxx that only the base model is effected but while driving the power steering will fail and the car has no control and will violently jerk in one direction throwing the vehicle in to oncoming lanes or even into the ditch. Happens periodically the power steering message appears on main control message screen and car will sound an alarm, other times the entire dash board warning lights from check engine, oil, air bag, seat belt, so on so all come on and the power steering goes out. I have found that this issue usually occurs while accelerating whether slowly or even while trying to speed up more aggressively to merge unto expressway traffic. I have nearly wrecked into numerous cars due to steering going out and wheel will violently jerk one direction or to the other. Not sure why this site shows a recall for power steering but dealership denies there is a active recall for the maxx but they have one for the 2005 base malibu

Filed Jul 21, 2014 · Electrical, Steering · 117,500 miles · MI

While accelerating onto an expressway the warning chime sounded, a click was heard under the instrument panel, and the (electric) power steering assist quit. Also a battery symbol illuminated momentarily on the instrument panel. Reducing acceleration caused the power steering assist to return to normal. Upon further testing it was determined that this happens repeatedly at any speed when under heavy acceleration (often at about 4000 RPM) and while hill climbing under load at about 2100 RPM. It was noted that simultaneously the battery voltage went excessively high (16v, sometimes 17v) and occasionally multiple (all?) instrument panel warning lights illuminate. If the power steering assist quits while turning the steering wheel tends to jerk hard towards going straight, a decided safety issue. This may be the same issue detailed in the june 2010 technical service bulletin: tsb # 08-02-32-005a and it appears to not be covered under warranty.

Filed Aug 8, 2011 · Electrical · 72,000 miles · MI · crash

I have a 2005 malibu maxx. Approximately 2 1/2 weeks ago, I was pulling into a parking space -very, very slowly, there were a series of red pole about 3 feet high, I saw them. I was turning right and my car jerked to the left accelerated and I hit a pole damaging my front end. Car was towed and repaired by state farm insurance for about $2500.00. I got my car back and drove it for about two weeks, I was again pulling into a parking space only I was completely in and parked, I was braking and shutting off my car when this happened. The brake went completely loose, the steering wheel started to spin and the car surged, it surged and flew over the curb about 6 feet into an ice machine at a speedway gas station on 15 mile and dodge park in sterling heights. This was about 8:15 - 8:30 a..m. . That car surged and flew at about 60 MPH my foot never left the brake. This car was towed to buff whelan chevrolet on 18 and van dyke in sterling heights michigan and they are fixing the bumper. I have reported this problem to general motors, to the president of buff whelan and to keith armstrong in the uk who wrote an article about cars that surge in 2010 for the USA today. I received after contacting the sterling heights police a ticket for reckless driving, which I have requested a hearing over. I am going to be picking up my car on tuesday 8/9/2011 "fixed" but I will have it towed somewhere, probably home. It will not be driven, this car scared me to death. You would have to experience a "surge" to be able to comprehend what could happen during one. This car must never be driven, I don't think gm knows what to do or how to identify this, they haven't responded.