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.
Clunk, knock or rattle noise from front of vehicle while driving or turning over bumps at low speeds. Dealer fixed clunk. The clunk came back. Dealer did not mention what parts were replaced or fixed.
Learned of a power steering service notice after the power steering failed while entering traffic. GM authorized the repair and the dealer failed to completely repair the steering or other issue that was directly related to the failed steering. The dealer did not inform me that the car was not completely repaired. The steering now alternates between too much play or partial failure when turning. I brought the car back to the dealer who stated that GM did not want to completely repair the power steering. The steering is worse since the repair. At least before I only lost it twice but when it worked it worked fine. Now I partially lose steering every left hand turn and right turns alternate with a real lot of play and almost normal. Driving straight the car pulls to the right.
Power steering failed while turning left into traffic. The led read out said "power steering". turned car off. Searched internet and found a service bulletin for the car #07126. Called GM and asked why I wasn't informed of this bulletin since I complained of similar but less intense occurrences since purchase.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu maxx. Whenever the contact turns the steering wheel in either direction, he hears a clunking noise. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that the steering shaft needed to be replaced. The failure has occurred three times. The current and failure mileages were 40,050.
I own a 2005 Malibu maxx and after one year old it began making clunking noises in the front. I took it to the dealership and they said they had to replace a part of the steering shaft. They did what they did and the noise was gone. They also replaced struts. A few months later it did it again. This time they replaced tie rod ends. By this time my warranty had expired. Then 2 months later it did it again! they lubed something and now it has been 8 months and it has not returned yet. Now my engine light is on and I keep getting a message to check my gas cap. I check it and nothing is wrong.
- Johns Island, SC, USA
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Under warranty my 2005 Malibu maxx developed a clunking noise that you also feel in the steering. Mostly turning left. Going forward or reverse. The dealership replaced the steering gear and it fixed the problem. Not a sound turning left, right or whatever. I was very satisfied but 10 months and 12,500 miles later guess what ! it's baaack ! include me in the list !
2005 Chevrolet Malibu maxx - rack and pinion assembly failure at 37,000 miles (just beyond warranty). Internet search reveals several dozen similar complaints, and solutions do not last very long.
While driving the car the "power steering" goes out. Generally right away or after 30 minutes of driving. Problem has been occurring for 25000+ miles. My mechanic claims the fix is in the steering column. Chevrolet wants $200 to "look" at the problem and we will go from there. I have not had it fixed as of yet because I am not made of money. I am the only one in my family that is physically able to steer the car when it goes out. This is a huge safety issue. It does go out on the hi=way as well as side streets. There is no rhyme or reason to the frequency.
Bought our 2005 Malibu maxx in November of 2006. A couple months later we had trouble with the power steering assist. Received the letter that if the problem was occurring with our vehicle to take it to the dealership, our car was and is experiencing the problem and so I took it to the dealership and explained to them that the car was doing exactly like the letter stated, so they took the vehicle and called me within the hour saying that there was nothing wrong with my car. Called GM and they said they couldn't do anything unless the car was producing a duplicate code so they couldn't fix the problem. The power assist has gone out on my numerous times and this is our only vehicle. No one will replace the part or fix the problem so I am still having the problem. It has done it so much I lost count.
Shortly after purchasing my 2005 Malibu maxx, a clunk developed in the front end when turning. The first time I took it in, they replaced the gear box. The second time I took it in they replace the rack & pinion steering. Now it has developed a third time. I will be taking it in again. After it is fixed this time I am seriously considering trading it in. I bought a new car to drive, not to spend my time taking it back to the dealer to have it fixed.
I bought my car in 2006. It is a 2005 Malibu maxx. The first week that I bought it I had to take it to the dealership to have repairs made on the front end. I was told the struts and cv joints needed to be replaced. Fine...it was still under manufacturer's warranty. After a few months, another sound from underneath the front end. This time I was told it was the steering column assembly. They replaced that again under warranty. Then one year later I returned due to more noises coming from the front end. This time...no warranty. I was told that there was a problem in the steering but they would cover it since it was a known problem with these cars. Also they told me a tie rod end was about to snap so they replaced it. I had to pay. Now, only a few months after that, the noise in the steering is back again. Will this ever end"???"
2005 Malibu maxx at 35,504 miles. Thumping noise from steering and steering required more effort. Dealer replaced intermediate steering shaft per chev. Bulletin #06-02-32-007. Cost would have been $174 but was covered under warranty.
My husband and I purchased a used certified 2005 Malibu maxx in July of 2006, by the time the weather got cold, I noticed a clunking noise in the front end. It was taken in to the dealership and they replaced the steering box. The second time was in March 07, they could not verify the noise, then again in April I took the car back and they replaced a front sway bar link. The noise is still there. It gets so much worse in cold weather it can be really scary on the highway, it also has a inconsistent pull to the left and has been aligned, and tires rotated to no avail. Why can't they fix this problem? I am losing my faith in GM after nearly 20 years of being a faithful GM owner.
Last febuary I bought this car "certified used" from a Chevy dealership. Less than a week later the power steering failed while I was driving on the highway at 65 mph. Some how I managed to pull over without wrecking the car. I turned it of and back on again and it seemed fine. Then it happed again and again so we took it to the dealership. At first I really regretted buying the car but they fixed it and it seemed okay. Now a year later and after the warrenty has expired there is a clicking and thumping noise coming from the steering and I'm sure that I will have to pay plenty to get that fixed lucky for them the warrenty is gone. Meanwhile I'm without a car. I will never buy aniother car from GM again. This car was a huge mistake!
2005 Malibu maxx was sent to the dealership for some warrenty service work on problems with front end noises. The car was returned 30 minutes after being dropped off. The dealer said the car had a bad steering rack and shaft. The parts were ordered and the car returned for driving until the parts were recieved. Less than 100 miles later the car lost steering control and slammed into a semi truck on a major freeway. The car is a total loss. I did an internet search and this seems to be a problem others have expecienced.
After allowing vehicle to warm up approximately 5 minutes, put vehicle in reverse to back out of driveway. Vehicle's steering failed, was unable to turn steering wheel for duration of about one minute, then steering assist began to work again and I was able to turn the wheel. Several times previously over the last six months steering has seemed very stiff on occasions, but not to the degree that steering failed.
Malibu maxx with 24,000 miles I started hearing a popping or clunking noise when turning steering wheel. I took it into the dealer and they told me that it was something to do with the gears in the steering column and said they fixed. A week later the same noise was back. I took the car back to the dealer and they then said that they had to order a new rack for the steering. The rack was replaced a few days later. These repairs (along with a long list of other repairs including replacing the gas take) were completed on 7/18/2006. Now December 3rd 2006 I am hearing the same noise and will have to take the car back this week. I drive this car 60 miles everyday and am very concerned with the safety of this vehicle.
: the contact stated the vehicle pulled to the left at various speeds. The dealership replaced the rack and pinion and steering column, but the problem persisted. Updated
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Northville, MI, USA