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.
On a periodic basis, the power steering light will come on when the car is slowing to a stop. Thereafter, the power steering fails. Power steering can be restored by turning off power to the car and then restarting. There is no identifiable consistency to when this problem occurs.
2005 Malibu maxx have a "power steering motor (electrical)" versus a power steering pump. The vehicle losses power steering due to electrical issues (3500 RPM see tbs 08-02-32-005) my vehicle had this happen dealership said it was due to time/mileage failure of steering column sensor.....I had to pay $1200 for new column and motor for what I believe is a safety and design flaw.
Power assisted steering failed. Steering became hard so I pulled off the interstate at the nearest exit, stopped vehicle and turned it off. After the vehicle sat for a while I restarted it and it worked fine.
The 2005 Chevy Malibu maxx is well known for having power steering problems. The power steering goes out when you accelerate quickly. It also has an audible chime when this occurs. This is a serious safety issue that GM is well aware of and should be a recall warranty item. The power steering also goes out occasionally when moving slowly. This vehicle has numerous issues, including steering, rotors and struts (steering gear). I have already had to have the struts and rotors replaced at my own expense. It seems unfair and unconscionable to sell a product line with such a serious defect and then expect the customer to pay for the repair. When a few deaths occur perhaps GM will step up the plate and put our bailout money to good use ' buy fixing the defective vehicles they have sold to their loyal customers. I am reporting a recent date, but this power steering failure occurs quite often.
- Cape Coral, FL, USA
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The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu maxx. While entering a parking space, the power steering failed. As a consequence steering became difficult. The dealer and the manufacturer were contacted, but because the warranty expired they would not provide a free remedy. The failure mileage 80,600.
Since purchasing my 2005 Chevy Malibu maxx in September of 2006, the vehicle has required an inordinate amount of maintenance time., especially for a conservative driver like myself. In three years, both lower control arms with ball joints (the arms are of aluminum construction) have had to be replaced twice. In the same time, the car has twice needed tie rod replacement my garage mechanic indicates that other Malibu maxx customers, even with a newer model year, are experiencing identical problems.
While driving vehicle the electronic assisted steering stopped working. The second time this has happened in less than 12,000 miles and 8 months. This time mechanic advised it was the steering box not the column so it was not covered by warranty (surprise). I was advised the labor and part would cost nearly $598 ($597 and change).
Electronic assisted steering stopped working while driving. Mechanic advised it was sensor but they had to replace the entire column. Cost was $571.99.
Today, while driving straight, felt a tug, steering lost. This was the third occurrence. The first two times this occurred in 2008, the first time power steering was partially lost. Brought it to the dealer who stated that they could not recreate the loss. Lost the steering again and the dealer replaced the module. There were no parts returned to me. This time, the vehicle sustained damage. The tow company informed me that the car is not drivable - no steering.
Driver of a 2005 Chevy Malibu maxx suddenly lost all electric power steering assistance without warning making the vehicle difficult to steer. The defect is intermittent and is sometimes accompanied by a warning chime but without any malfunction indicator on the instrument panel.
Vehicle made a loud pop noise. Steering shaft was replaced at 35,000 miles due to a defective steering shaft. Vehicle is now at 70,000 miles and needs to be replaced again. I contacted Chevy and was issued a case number. They advised me a Chevy dealer diagnostic was required. Chevy dealership confirmed steering shaft again needed to be replaced, however head office denied my request. A steering shaft almost never needs to be replaced in a vehicle, since the time of my replacement at 35,000 miles alterations have been made to their replacements. This would indicate a manufacturer defect.
2005 Chevy Malibu, 95000 miles. For 60000 miles have had limited if any power steering. It generally goes out right away when outside temp is above 60 degrees. Otherwise within 20 miles of driving it goes out. When it goes out I am usually going around a corner or cloverleaf. When power steering goes out steering becomes extremely difficult to turn and usually tries to go back to a forward direction. Not convenient when trying to turn. My wife it totally unable to drive the car, for it would lead to a crash. I find it hard to believe, after investigating this problem online, that Chevy has not issued a recall for this problem. This is a huge accident waiting to happen. The couple of time I have taken it into a Chevy dealer I was told there is no warranty on this car. The first time I took it in there was only 38,000 miles on the car. Needless to say Chevy has lost a customer. This has been an ongoing problem that started around the beginning of the year 2007.
Steering rack failure due to insufficient lubrication by design. Have not had actual failure, but symptoms of steering rack failure present w/in one year of replacement. Failure of steering rack could result in steering failure, which would likely result in a crash.
Ball joint worn out in vehicle at little over 50K miles--had to replace lower ball joint and control arm. Very light and small in size for such a powerful V6 fwd---I suspect not heavy enough for this vehicle--have found many others with same problem. Lucky that as a former service mgr. I recognized steering problem or could have been an uncontrolled crash possible---called GM---they said normal wear and tear---I have had several other GM products and all ball joints lasted about 100K miles.
On a cold (-20 C) winter morning I found I could not steer the car left more than 10 degrees. I hung from the wheel and it simply would not turn further. I drove it the short distance to my mechanic who put it in his shop to warm up. After it was warmed up the car turned just fine, but they sent it to a dealer just in case. It turned out there was a service bulletin for this problem and they replaced the steering column. I have not had this problem since. Another mechanic friend told me I should not hang onto the steering wheel when entering or leaving the vehicle as damage may result to the power steering.
I was driving my car in a school zone at about 20mph and I started to make a left turn, about midway through the turn my power steering went out on my car and it became very difficult to control. Because I was in the middle of a left turn going across traffic when this happened I drifted in to on coming traffic. I can honestly say that if I or the other drives involved had been going more then 20 mph that there would have been a head on accident. I have taken the car to a number of local shops and I have spoken with the local Chevrolet dealership but noone seams to be able to pinpoint the problem. There have been no repairs on the car as of yet and I am currently not driving the car because of this problem. The problem has occurred everytime I have tried to drive the car since this has happened.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu maxx. When driving low speeds ranging from 0 to 10mph there is a clunking noise in the steering wheel column. When he made a left and right turn or drove in reverse the noise was present. The manufacturer informed him to take the vehicle to the dealer to diagnosis the failure and perform a possible repair. An appointment was scheduled for the end of December 2008. The failure mileage was 43,000.
My 2005 Malibu maxx lt has had a recurring problem besides the "electric power steering failure" which has so far not failed again (did twice once when brand new, and again at about 20,000 km. Vehicle has only 45,000 km on it now! we live in winnipeg where winter temperatures often are below freezing from mid November to mid April. Today it is -25 C with windchill of -44 C. every winter we have the same problem.....the ignition key will not come out of its slot...try wiggling it and at the same time wiggling the shift lever in park....sometimes it works sometimes not. The GM dealer (vickars community Chevrolet) where we go for service has tried to fix it twice, but it always recurs when it is very cold. We have had to remove the "remote door unlock and leave the key in the ignition at times. This is not a good thing in the Canadian city with the highest car theft rate! we think it has something to do with the anti-theft pass lock system. By the way all cars in manitoba must have an approved anti-theft system to be insured or registered. The manitoba public insurance Corp. Does approve the factory system on the Malibu maxx. It is just too finicky and inconvenient. But at least we were not forced to put in a "third party" fob which many people have found causes all kinds of other problems especially with "command start" systems (Malibu has a factory command start.) wonder if others have similar problem??
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Indianapolis, IN, USA