I have a 2004 chevy malibu. In january 2007 I noticed a clunking noise which could be felt in the steering wheel when I was turning. On 02/07/2007 I took the car to a chevy dealer and they replaced the steering gearpart number: 15858368, and another gear, part number: 06508. About 2 weeks ago I noticed the problem had returned, the car now has 39,000 miles on it. Something should be done about this as I have seen multiple complaints about this and numerous people, such as myself, reporting multiple failures. Now that the car is out of warranty I will have to pay for it out of pocket to fix a chevrolet defect, not to mention the obvious safety issue.
2004 Chevrolet Malibu steering complaints
Page 22 of 28: complaints 611 to 640 of 799, newest first, as owners wrote them.
I was taking my daughters 2004 chevy malibu for a test ride after she complained about the power steering going out on her. I drove several miles, then the mechanical light on the lower left part of the display came on. I pulled in to a parking lot to park when the power steering completely went out, causing me to almost collide with another parked car. I finally got the car parked after struggling with the steering, shut off the car and restarted, the mechanical light stayed on but the steering recovered. After driving again the steering went out again. Now I'm concerned that whenever she drives this, serious injury could happen to her. It was hard enough for me to steer without p/s, I can't imagine that she can handle it any better if it inadvertently goes out again, which it no doubt will!
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet malibu. While making a right or left turn at any speed, the steering would make a grinding or grating noise. The dealer could not find or hear any failures. The contact stated that the steering wheel is now making a very loud grating and grinding noise. She scheduled an appointment to take the vehicle to the dealer. The purchase date was unknown. The current mileage was 23,836 and failure mileage was 12,000.
2004 chevy malibu steering column has been replaced 3 times and now the steering goes out again and the car is out of warranty. I paid over 100.00 to the chevy dealership to figure out the steering problem and an eletrical problem just for them to tell me there is nothing wrong. However both problems still exist. Chevy does not want to pay for any repairs, but they say they stand by their cars.
Vehicle started to drive hard/loud after the first year. Vehicle at dealer for problems with lights found problem with steering rack and leaking seal at the axel shaft. Replaced steering rack and fix seal also replace brakes. Problem with gas cap which lead to a series of problems including need to replace a throttle body and then the transmission. Traded vehicle december 2007 will never buy another chevrolet. 2004 malibu was purchased new in february 2004 with only 7 miles.
A clunking in the steering wheel when turning at low speed. Took my 1st chevy to the mechanic with the same noise and was told I bought a lemon because gm can't resolve issues with the steering column so I was bummed. I went out and purchased another gm thinking that the last car was a lemon and it couldn't happen again. I was sadly mistaken! I've bought 2 gm cars in the last 3 years and now regret it, I owned foreign cars before and it's the first and last time I'm buying gm unfortunately....
Since I purchased my lemon malibu 2004, I have been experiencing problems with the steering column, the rack and pinion, the car suspension, the power window. The dealer replaced the rack and pinion twice. They removed three times the steering column to place some grease in the system. My husband had a bad experience while driving the car, the steering system got stuck.
Got power steering warning. Had diagnostic check with no results. Ignored the warning for a month. Power steering failed while in a parking lot. Shut off engine, restarted and had power steering again. Happened a second time this time with my wife driving. She managed to pull over and shut off car. Power steering worked when the car was re-started.
Power steering was replaced back in 2005, as of today car is back in shop for the same problem supposedly that was fixed in 2005. 1) light comes on "power steering" 2) car is hard to steer (this problem happened right on the highway and I was very scared for my life as to no other warning but the light coming on and immediately being unable to turn). 3) currently the car is in the shop.
Power steering light repeatedly going on and off,steering getting tight off and on,went to mechanic they reset light, power steering light off and on yet again, then he had lost power steering 3 x,but if he was able to pull over shut off and restart, he could drive for a while, finally got it to chevrolet they had it 2 days, replaced steering column $796.00, no warranty no recall, only a service bulletin out about the problem, which when I talked to gm they said they have had no complaints! Are they waiting for dead bodies to start piling up before they send out a recall?
Bought 6 cylinder 2004 malibu with 2000 miles from dealer. Within two months, steering failed. Steering column was replaced. Since then steering column has been replaced a total of four times for continued "clunking" noise in front steering area. Last time car was still in warranty. Car now has 62,000 miles and continues to clunk just as when new and as each column was replaced.
I own a 2004 malibu sedan lt (80k) and a 2004 malibu maxx lt (50k). Both cars have the clunking noise in the rack and pinion. I am issuing this complaint because I was told by the dealer that chevorlet has no repair to eliminate the noise. I consider any part of my steering a very safety sensitive issue. If it were only one car I would not be as concerned. But I believe it should be corrected (on gm's nickel of course) asap!
2004 chevrolet malibu with noise in the steering wheel customer states that this problem has been going for 2 years without correction from the dealership**cc the dealer replaced various parts in the steering, however the problem remained the same. The battery was replaced. The vehicle hesitated to start. The dealer found the ignition switch had shorted out internally. The horn was replaced. The cd player made a clicking sound.
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet malibu. While driving at various speeds, the steering locked up and was unable to maneuver properly. The contact took the vehicle to a local mechanic and they found nothing wrong. She took the vehicle to another mechanic who claimed to know the cause of failure, but did not have time to make the repair. The powertrain was unknown. The current mileage was 50,000 and failure mileage was 48,000.
Problems with the:"rack and pinion steering , brakes, front suspension.
In september 2005 I took the 2004 chevrolet malibu to the dealer to check a problem in the steering column . The dealership fixed the problem and the manager as much as admitted that there was something defective in the steering column of that particular vehicle. I paid for the repairs, but I immediately called general motors, and told some one there that I didn't think it was right to be charged for a repair on something in the vehicle that was known to be defective. That office then called the dealership and spoke to the manager and they reimbursed me for the repair. Well, now the steering was acting up again. This time the vehicle pulled strongly to the left when being driven. It also made a strange noise when turning the wheel, similar to the one it made previously when repairs had to be done. I had the vehicle checked several times ,and have been told that they could not find anything wrong. Tomorrow I am going to ask them to check into the actual steering mechanism to see if that was where the problem was coming from. If I am right I would like to know if I will be able to get the manufacturer of this vehicle to approve of paying for the repair.
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet malibu. While making a left turn at 10 MPH, the power steering failed. The failure occurred three times. The engine size and purchase date were unknown. The current and failure mileages were 40,500.
Car was making clunking noise in the steering wheel/tire area when making turns. Dealer replaced intermediate steering shaft. This was the third time involving a steering issue. Replaced steering gear assembly and rack & pinion.
I have had the same issue with my car a clunking sound in the tire area when making turns. This is the 4th time I have had my car in for service on this same issue.
There was a cluncking sound every time I turn the wheel to the left or the right. I took the car to the dealer on two occasions for repair, and they replaced the steering column both times, the car still cluncked. .the dealer said the cluncking sound was okay and not to bring it back.the right wheel bearing was replaced, and now the gas gauge did not work. Also, I was told when the gas gauge failed it wa s an early warning that the fuel pump will soon need to be replaced.
There wa sa cluncking sound every time I turned the wheel to the left or the right. I sent the car to the dealer on two occasions for repairs, and they replaced the steering column both times, the car still cluncked. .the dealer said the cluncking sound was okay and not to bring it back.the right wheel bearing was replaced, and now the gas gaug efailed. 1 was told when the gas gauge failure was an early warning that the fuel pump will soon need to be replaced.
Tl-caller is leasing a 2004 chevrolet mailbu. Current and failure mileage 48000. While driving at 3mh and attempting to enter traffic,the car died with no warning. Steering froze. She was able to restart the vehicle and took it to dealer later that day. The steering was replaced however the engine problem was a mystery to them. Weather was dry temperature unknown. The vehicle has both manual and automatic. Ktf
Power steering was displayed on message center and a light with vehicle and wrench came on for a short period. Diagnostics were performed and found code cc0460. This was traced to a shorted steering sensor. They had to replace the whole steering column because the sensor is part of the assembly. I have read numerous complaints about the power steering light being displayed on the message center and then the power steering went out on the car. My power steering did not go out on the car because I drove it to the dealership right away. I was wondering if there is a recall or service bulletins on this problem to off set the cost of repairs for the sensor, which has to be replaced with a whole steering column, for a total of $850.12 in parts and labor. Thank you.
2004 malibu customer has had problems with loss of electric power steering and wants out of the lease without penalty**cc the radio was inoperative, the cruise control was inoperative at times, it would turn off, but not engage. The PCM was replaced. The passenger side directional lights and brake lights were inoperative. The dealer replaced the bulbs. The heated seats came on by themselves. The intermediate shaft was replaced, because the consumer stated there was a noise when turning the steering wheel. The transmission cooling lines were leaking, the rear defogger on the passenger side was inoperative. When the windshield wipers were on intermittent, they would go full speed by themselves.
Tl* - the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that while driving on 09/23/06 the steering became very hard. The contact was just able to steer the vehicle and park it. The vehicle was towed, and it was found that the steering module did not work. The steering module was replaced on 09/27/06. However, because the vehicle owner believed this was a hazard he was afraid to drive the vehicle. The current and failure mileage were both 10905 miles.*ak update 4/9
Tl * - the contact stated that he received recall letter 04050. The contact had a computer chip in the power steering module replaced in jan 2005 because of the recall. The contact stated the power steering failure returned three months later. The contact took the vehicle back to the dealer ,and the vehicle was diagnosed with needing another computer chip for the power steering. The dealer would not replace the chip for free because it had already been replaced under the recall. The power steering failed intermittently for the past two years. The power steering warning light came on when the power steering was not working. *ak updated 1/31/2007 -
Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle lost power steering control nearly causing an accident. The vehicle was taken to a service dealer could not duplicate the issue.
Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle's power steering locked up. The service dealer determined the vehicle needed a new steering column to resolve the issue. Updated 12/15/2006 -
Loss of power steering in my 2004 malibu. Had steering system replaced by recall 05, since then, the steering starting making noise, had to have steering rods adjusted, now I had to replace the steering gear at cost of $495.00. It still makes some noise when turning to right, need gm to compensate for these expenses, had nothing but steering problems from on set. Help.
The steering column was replaced in april of 2005 as a result of a recall stating that the power steering assist can fail without warning. Up to this time, no actual failure had occurred. In september of 2006 the power steering assist failed for the first time as described in the recall notice. Simultaneous with the failure, an audible beeping occurred and a failure message was displayed on the console. Re-starting the car will correct the problem temporarily, but it recurs on a regular basis. Both the dealer and manufacturer refuse to replace the steering column at their expense because it was done once in 2005.
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