I bought my '04 Malibu with 25k miles on it and noticed a loud clunking at slow speeds while turning. Why didn't I detect this during the test drives?? Seems that I'm getting different answers from steering column to rack n pinion box being replaced which puts the cost at over $600. I am no longer under warranty and will just have to live with it unless it gets worse. At least the steering wheel hasn't locked up on me. I'm reading where other owners are on their 3rd column already and the clunking issue keeps returning so I'll grin and bear it until I own the car outright.
We like our malibu ,except for this low speed steering clunk. Dealer wants to replace the steering box with a new improved one, which recently came in after a two month wait.The warranty is no longer in effect, but dealer will cover part cost and will charge me the labor. What I dont understand is why this widespread problem is not by now a recall. Oh yeah , labor will come to at least $200.00.
There was an occasional "knock" when turning the steering wheel. It didn't seem like it was harming anything but i took it to GM anyway, it was a power steering problem.
I have a 2004 Malibu that first went in for a front end noise, a few adjustments were made and it was ok for a while. Since then 3 steering racks have been installed and the car has just under 36000 miles on it. Other minor problems but all were taken care of. I have 1 year to go on the current lease, and this will probably be my last American made car. Unfortunate.
Love the car, the manufacture has a MAJOR problem & won't yet admit it. The car had developed a clunking noise in the front end anytime you turn the wheel at low speed. The dealer replaced the steering rack, we drove it, still a problem, then the dealer replaced the steering column, clunk was gone, it drove horribly. The dealer then replaced the rack again and resolved the problem (Dealer says the first replacement rack was faulty). The car now has 46,000 on it and the exact same problem has returned. GM says they will pay half, so they must realize they have a problem. My dealer is investigating deeper & says he will take care of it.
When I bought my Malibu in 2002 I right away felt something was wrong. I heard and felt a clonk when turning. I told the dealer, took it in and they said there was no problem. I again took it in and told them it is getting worse about 3 months later. They say--Nothing wrong.
Then in Sept. last year I went to a different dealer and they said--they can not find a problem. Then in Jan. this year, after me "Over stating" the problem they replaced the rack and pinion and the clonk was almost gone.
Now in June I complained even more because something did not feel right with the steering. They said it was a recall and fixed :Lack of Lubrication between Inner and outer Shaft. The I-shaft had to be repositioned to correct noise at steering gear rack.
I bought the car certified, but the dealer I bought it from "forgot" to put it in the computer therefore my Warranty stopped in May. However, as of today, after threatening with further actions I am receiving a letter in the mail that the dealer will pay for all repairs till August of this year.
I guess I will buy an extended Warranty to be on the safe side in case more problems come up.
had malibu in shop 4 times for steering noises, clunking, sounds like front end will fall out when driving across rail road tracks, small bumps, etc. dealer replaced rack & pinion 3 times, noise stopped for about 3,000 miles then started in again, sick of this sh*t. CAR IS IN DEALERS SHOP AT THIS TIME!! It will run out of warranty in January! Thinking of calling GM to complain.. will not buy another GM and I have had nothing but GMs all my life
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
maybe one of these days chev will admit they have a problem in the 04 malibu
steering,looks like i'm not the only one reporting this problem of the loud clunk
from left wheel area when making turn.
- David L., Whitehouse, TX, US