This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver and the brake warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact mentioned that the failure occurs intermittently. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 44,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that when driving approximately 10 mph and attempting a turn, the contact could hear a popping noise in the steering wheel as the steering wheel would become difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The mechanic advised that the steering column was fractured and would have to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 72,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 25 mph, the steering wheel began to vibrate in a violent jerking motion. The contact maneuvered to the side of the road for a few seconds and then resumed with the steering malfunction. The failure recurred at least three times a week. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for diagnosis. The technician did not repair the vehicle under the extended service warranty. The defect persisted with the engine and power steering warning indicators illumination. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 93,435. Updated 10/26/12
While pressing the brake to slow to turn to the right the ESC servicing comes across the dash. I call the service department the next day (cause the incident happened after hours) they tech says next time the light comes on bring it in without turning the car off. For the next several times it happens of course was after hours. I took it in for a oil change, and when leaving the light came on again. I automatically turned around and went back. Upon diagnostic testing it shows nothing is wrong and the tech says my car doesn't have anything that would set off this code. Can anyone tell me what ESC stands for on this model car"???"
- Maylene, AL, USA
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The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the steering wheel became abnormally loose and extremely sensitive. The failure recurred for years. Over time, the contact noticed that a jerk or catch developed in the steering. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis and the contact was informed that the steering column needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified by the dealer and offered a 50 percent discount for repairs. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 478 and the current mileage was 22,000. Updated 7/23/12 the consumer stated he began to experience problems with the replacement steering column. The consumer stated the vehicle pulled to the left and the steering wheel continued to shake. Updated 07/30/12
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving 35 mph, the power steering failed. The contact tried to maneuver the steering wheel but had a difficult time doing so. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis but the technicians were unable to determine the failure. The vehicle was repaired however, but the failure recurred. The second time the failure happened, the brakes failed as well. The vehicle was repaired again and the fail still recurred. The contact was unaware of the specific repairs made to the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they would assist in her purchasing a replacement vehicle. The failure mileage was 17,000. The VIN was unavailable.
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the steering wheel was loose and was able to move freely without demand. The failure recurred intermittently. The dealer advised the contact that the vehicle would need to have a diagnostic performed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 34,000 and the current mileage was 51,000.
While driving or not driving the steering wheel shakes vigorously and the power steering warning light comes on. Then the brake lights come on when I'm not touching them.when I do apply the brakes the lights go out. Then have to apply a generous amount of pressure to get them to come on. I constantly keep getting the light service ESC then it says it is off. I turn off car and it resets but after 2 or 3 minutes it comes back on. I also keep getting a seatbelt light as to buckle up and I'm already wearing seatbelt. The steering gets hung while driving pulling to either side of the road.
While driving or not driving the steering wheel shakes vigorously and the power steering warning light comes on. Then the brake lights come on when I'm not touching them.when I do apply the brakes the lights go out. Then have to apply a generous amount of pressure to get them to come on. I constantly keep getting the light service ESC then it says it is off. I turn off car and it resets but after 2 or 3 minutes it comes back on. I also keep getting a seatbelt light as to buckle up and I'm already wearing seatbelt. The steering gets hung while driving pulling to either side of the road.
While driving or not driving the steering wheel shakes vigorously and the power steering warning light comes on. Then the brake lights come on when I'm not touching them.when I do apply the brakes the lights go out. Then have to apply a generous amount of pressure to get them to come on. I constantly keep getting the light service ESC then it says it is off. I turn off car and it resets but after 2 or 3 minutes it comes back on. I also keep getting a seatbelt light as to buckle up and I'm already wearing seatbelt. The steering gets hung while driving pulling to either side of the road.
I just pulled on and started to drive on a winding dangerous mountain road -not yet accelerating 40mph- when all of a sudden my steering wheel would not let me turn, almost frozen, and I am into a right curve! I was fighting the wheel to gain control for what seemed minutes but was actually seconds as I slowly put on my brakes while I tried to regain control of the wheel (mind you I am in rush hour traffic on a mt. Curve, a concrete wall to my left, a rock outcropping on my right, no shoulder, guardrail begins where the rocks end. When I finally regained control, I still had a hard time steering; steering was unpredictable...intermittent shaking of the steering wheel/sometimes felt like I had lost a bolt on my right rim (for those who did at one time you know what I am talking about)/I had a shimmy on the right like something was not connected/all of a sudden I felt like there was no power steering or control at all (hard to turn the wheel-took some muscle), just not right. My car used to have such control- turn on a dime barely touching the wheel. This steering issue has happened before and mentioned to my mechanic at an oil change but they didn't find anything, even hooked up to the diagnostic machine and everything checked out, wallet lighter. I actually thought I was going out of my mind then read other people were having the same kinds of problems. If this is a known problem, why has it not been recalled" for the mountain that I have to drive every day to and from work, this could prove very dangerous-life threatening... I do not feel safe in my own car I have only had nearly a year now nor have the funds to spend on costly repairs. I am ready to take the bugger back and demand my money back and get a more dependable vehicle. I am done spending money- why this is happening? why no answers or fixes" worse yet, "everything check out okay" when it keeps happening!
While driving down the highway at a speed of about 45 miles per hour, the steering wheel on my 2008 Malibu began to shake or vibrate while building speed. A power steering warning light came on. After pulling over, I turned the engine off and then turned it back on which seemed to reset the warning light. I knew about pulling over to reset the car due to an "airbag warning" light that has randomly come on ever since I purchased my car. Upon resuming driving, the power steering warning light came on again. It took pulling over and resetting it four times to get twenty miles down the road. It came on at various speeds. Upon heading home, the steering wheel in my car moved while sitting still with the motor running. It looked like someone was turning the wheel back and forth and up and down, but I was not touching the wheel. The power steering warning light came on while sitting still, so I shut the car off to reset it. It took three tries of starting and starting the engine to reset the warning light. I drove home on a curvy county road. The same power steering warning light came on five time in less than twenty miles at various speeds - no certain speed seemed to prompt it.sometimes I was going 20 mph and sometimes I was going 55 or 65 mph when the system failed. I had to stop in the roadway to reset the car. Each time, the steering became nearly impossible to turn and maneuvering the corners was not safely possible and since there was no shoulder, I had to stop in the roadway to try to reset the steering. The steering wheel shakes at various speeds and the power steering warning light continues to come on at various speeds or while sitting in park with the engine running.
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 55 mph, the steering wheel began to shake vigorously. The failure recurred intermittently when driving at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostics where the technicians were unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.
Problems with my 2008 Chevy Malibu. Upon starting the vehicle the steering wheel shutters and noise comes from steering column. The "power steering" display message comes up. The owners manual refers to seeing the dealership for this issue, but they can seem to fix it for me. It can be cleared, but is very annoying to happen to your car everyday. This issue started roughly 3 months after I purchased the vehicle in March of 2011. There's no speed range that the issue occurs in. It happens randomly at any speed. While driving steering wheel shutters randomly, and steering becomes dangerous. Seems that you can only turn the wheel in exact 5 degree increments, which has almost cause several collisions with other vehicles. It seems this problem is evident in other Malibu models equipped with electric power steering, but I haven't seen a recall or service publications to remedy the issue. GM knows about this, but is deliquent in taking any action to fix permanently. Please help!
The steering wheel turns on its own causing a very dangerous situation while traveling at highway speeds. There has been many complaints on this with the 2008 Malibu and others with the electric steering motors. I know a few other vehicles with this same problem have been recalled and it is time for GM to recall the Malibu before someone is killed. You tube has a fine example of this problem if anyone cares to watch. The vehicle doesn't have to be moving for the wheel to move erratically back and forth. This should be a recall asap.
The front of the car shakes when driven over 45 mph. When the steering wheel is turned the oil pressure light blinks and an alert sound briefly chimes. The car is not easy to steer. The service power steering alert appears randomly and goes away when the car is restarted. I have had the car realigned multiple times because the right front tire always wears quickly. There is an undiagnosed oil leak causing the car to smoke from the front passenger side.
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact was driving 30 mph when the steering wheel began to vibrate violently. The power steering light illuminated prior to the failure. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 11,000 and the current mileage is 22,732. Updated 12/29/11 the consumer stated the incident happened again while driving 10 mph. The consumer stated she pulled over and parked, shut the vehicle off and waited 10 minutes before restarting it. She then noticed the power steering light was on. The steering wheel stopped shaking. Updated 12/30/11
The E-brake stripped out to a unable state after 50,000 miles. Now if the brakes fail I have no alternative to stop the car. The steering pops when turning from left to right and from start off after a stop this started at the same time.
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 45 mph, the contact noticed that the steering wheel began to shake slightly. The contact approached a stop sign and attempted to brake but the steering wheel began to shake vigorously. The failure was constant. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the technician stated that the steering motor and module assembly was defective and would have to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 68,245.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Freeman, VA, USA