2009 chevrolet malibu. Consumer writes in regard to loss of power steering.
2009 Chevrolet Malibu steering complaints
Page 4 of 27: complaints 71 to 100 of 769, newest first, as owners wrote them.
The power steering just stopped working. Not really safe to drive. I did research and found that many GM cars have had this problem. No warning messages came on prior to the problem happening. I think this is a sensor problem with this car.
Bought a 2009 Malibu (2.4 engine with electric power steering) a few weeks ago. Pulled into my driveway today and the power steering goes out and the traction control light comes on and service ESC message comes across the message center. Turn the car off and back on and the light goes out, power steering comes back for a second then the light trips again and it's out again as soon as I turn the wheel. It’s absolutely insane and I can’t even drive it half the time. I’m a nurse and a mother of two. This is the same recall in many of the same year and vehicle type, and we have snow. Severe snow. It can kill me. The ESC LIGHT TRACTION CONTROL ABS POWER STEERING AND CHECK ENGINE LOGHT ARE ALL ON BECAUSE OF THIS DEATHTRAP OF AN electronic steering system you have
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH and exiting a highway exit ramp, the steering wheel and column started to shake and vibrate abnormally. The contact stated she drove the vehicle to a nearby independent mechanic. The contact was able to place the vehicle in park P) and turned off the vehicle. The contact returned to the vehicle to drive to a maintenance bay however, the power steering function was unavailable. The contact stated she observed an unknown warning light. The vehicle was diagnosed, and the independent mechanic determined that the steering motor and the steering angle sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was driven back to the same mechanic who diagnosed that the u-joint on the steering shaft had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The independent mechanic researched online and related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 14E044000 (Steering). The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 129,000.
At the time I bought my Chevy Malibu Hybrid in 2009, I was not aware nor was it made known to me by the dealership or the Sales Rep. that the steering mechanism was electronically controlled and not hydraulic. Had I known that to be the case, I would have reconsidered the purchase. In September of 2015 GM issued a notice informing me and those who were owners of my particular vehicle equipped with electric power assist (EPS): "... the steering column torque sensor or the EPS motor/controller may cause the vehicle to suddenly lose EPS ...The vehicle will revert to a manual steering mode, which requires greater driver effort to operate at low vehicle speeds." GM's resolution: 10 year warranty from date of purchase or 105,000 mile whichever occurs first. About two years after the warranty was issued, I started experiencing an intermittent failure with the steering upon starting on extremely cold mornings though not while driving. Once the car warmed up the steering problem went away. But because it was not continuous and difficult to replicate and thus to diagnose, the dealership as well as GM found that it would be hard for my unique problem to be covered by the warranty. I verbalized my complaint to GM on Oct. 15, 2016. Additionally, I was told by the dealership, if a diagnostic code (ESP) could not be found at the time the vehicle was bought in, a fee of $119.00 for diagnostics would be owed at that time. Note: A total failure of the torque sensor is the only time a code is present therefore I was reluctant to bring the vehicle in. The warranty expired for my vehicle in 2019. Recently, within a year or two, the steering has failed me while driving - twice, intermittently. When failure does occur on a car with this type of steering it is extremely difficult to steer and very dangerous especially at low speeds. Therefore, my plea is for the federal safety agency to issue a recall, not a limited warranty for this kind of safety issue. The estimated cost to repair: $1,500.
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving 5 MPH and making a turn, the vehicle lost power steering functionality with an alarm engaged. Additionally, the message "Service ESC" was displayed. The contact pulled into his driveway and turned off the vehicle. The contact stated upon restarting the vehicle, the power steering responded as needed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle could not repair the vehicle under the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 14V153000 (Steering) because an unknown TSB had expired. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 81,230. The dealer diagnosed the defect as the torque sensor and along with the power assist motor needed to be replaced to fix the power steering loss issue. The manufacturer informed the consumer that since the repairs were not made by the dealer, they could not even offer the minimal remedy of a loyalty certificate.
I have lost power steering multiple times while driving! I was able to turn the car off and turn it back in to regain steering! It is a reoccurring issue! The issue has not been taken to a dealer, as they told me if it was the Steering shaft torque sensor that it would be roughly 700$ to fix it! (This is what was fixed in both my sister and cousins 2009 Malibu’s and I can provide the Vins if requested! As they had the exact same issues! I believe the code it throws is a EPS code on the dash! This issue seems to Happen more so when it is cold as it has happened in the past as well and finally quit giving me problems after it got warm again! But now that it is cold again it is starting to act up again as it has reoccurred 7 Times in the last 200 miles
Driving at around 40MPH last night the power steering quick working. The EPS light and traction lights came on as well. Luckily I was only about 1/2 mile from home. Now this morning looking into it by checking fuses etc, trying to figure what is wrong, I turn it on and the steering is working again.
My power steering suddenly stopped working in a very unsafe location. This has happened several times. In the past, I've been able to shut the car off, wait for a couple minutes, start the car back up, and the warning lights are no longer lit (the road hazard light and the check engine light come on during this episode, which has happened on more than one occasion, both times in unsafe locations. This model with this specific 2.4L motor has not been recalled but I have been told that these malibus with the larger motors have at least had bulletins issued for the same exact characteristic. My fear is that one of my daughters will be driving this car and the power steering pump will go out when they are on the highway. So even though my car has 156,000 miles on it, this has happened since I bought the car with 48,000 miles on the odometer.
my transmission is slipping when there was a recall and my car went in to get fixed for both my power steering and my transmission and my power steering does not work and my transmission is slipping.
when It gets colder my cars power steering goes out and my no traction light turns on, I can’t turn my vehicle properly and have no traction it’s dangerous in the winter time. I have noticed other malibu’s from 2009 were recalled for the same exact issue yet mine was not. If i can’t turn or break properly it puts others on the road in risk especially in the snow. The problem always appears when it is cold.
Steering has become increasingly stiff and harder to turn, as if the power steering doesn't work. My granddaughter hit a curb in a tight turning entrance to a 4 lane highway and broke the wheel and other component parts.
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while pulling out of a parking space, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The power steering assist warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who informed the contact that they could not duplicate the failure. The battery was replaced; however, the failure reoccurred while pulling out of a parking space. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the power steering torque sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 77,227.
The vehicle loses power steering at random moments while driving. I have had to stop and turn off the vehicle in order to regain power steering function in the middle of intersections several times and lost control while driving around corners barely avoiding accidents.
After exiting the highway, I came to a four-way stop sign, started a left-turn when I heard a chime, I think a light came on & suddenly my power steering went out completely in the middle of the turn. I had to fight to complete the turn without hitting other cars as well as a biker who was crossing the lane I was leaving. I had just left I-40, traveling highway speeds, with my daughter & 2-year-old granddaughter in the car with me. The car has NEVER done anything like this before. I am terrified to think what would have happened if it had done this while we were traveling at 70 MPH with the cruise control engaged. I called the dealership & they can't repair my car until 6/24/22, over a week after this event. I REFUSE to drive this car again until they fix it. I thank God no one was hurt.
After I’ve been driving the car for a while, the steering wheel doesn’t just shakes, it jerks violently very quickly in the left/right direction as if it’s trying to turn. It happens so fast to where I couldn’t stop the wheel if I wanted to without injuring myself. It also places grave danger while driving anywhere. I’ve turned the car off & back on, it’s fine for maybe 20-30 mins. But now it’s worsen to where immediately once I start the car, the steering wheel spins left and right as if it’s trying to find a direction to turn. No one (mechanic) seems to be able to identify the issue leaving me with a vehicle I’m unable to drive or fix.
Lost power steering while driving on the highway. The display board is reading power steering, service ESC, and the traction control symbol is on.
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the power steering failed to operate with the electronic stability control and power steering warning lights illuminated. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The approximate failure mileage was 144,000.
The contact's son owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while his son's wife was driving 45 MPH, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact stated that the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) warning light was illuminated. The driver parked on the side road, restarted the vehicle, and was able drive to her residence. The contact's son called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Upon further investigation, the contact associated the failure with the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 14E044000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The contact attempted to call the manufacturer but was unable to speak to a representative. The failure mileage was approximately 152,000.
Power steering shut off
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the power steering warning light and the message to "Service ESC" illuminated. The contact stated he turned off and restarted the vehicle, the warning light and warning message were no longer illuminated; however, the vehicle lost power steering while driving and making a turn. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and assisted the contact with setting up an appointment with the dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering assist control motor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring daily while driving. The failure mileage was approximately 149,450.
experience a sudden loss of electric power steering assist. If power steering assist is lost, a message displays on the Driver Information Center and a chime sounds to inform the driver. Steering control can be maintained because the vehicle will revert to manual steering, but greater driver effort would be required at low vehicle speeds, which could increase the risk of a crash. the power steering motor, the steering column, the power steering motor control unit or a combination of the steering column and the power steering motor control unit.
I was diving when my power steering stops working. Stop the car, turn it off restart it and it works again. It's been happening for the past few weeks and is happening more often as time goes on.
While driving my car my steering wheel locked up and I could not steering my car at all.
I OWN A 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. I noticed a few times while stopped at a traffic light, the steering wheel started to vibrate. On start up, intermittently the power steering assist and traction control warning light will illuminate. I also noted no power steering when this happened. I shut the vehicle off. Upon restart the problem was solved.
Electric power steering randomly shuts off
Power steering intermittently fails.
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light, the steering wheel started to vibrate. The contact stated that the power steering assist and traction control warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed her that the vehicle needed further diagnostic testing and should be taken to an authorized dealer. The dealer was contacted and informed her of an unknown recall however, the recall had expired. The contact stated that she then contacted the manufacturer who referred her to the federal safety agency for assistance. The failure mileage was 103,967.
Steering affected, unable to control direction of vehicle. Luckily I was not on highway driving at high speed ....it very well had caused a serious accident. Warning lights on : dashboard monitor messaged " power steering " traction control light First time it happened was on December 22, 2021 . The most recent time was on February 21, 2022.
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the steering wheel suddenly seized. The power steering warning light and the traction warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted however, the vehicle failed to regain power steering functionality. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 123,025.
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