2004 Chevrolet Malibu Steering Problems
- 684
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 684 stored complaint records:
- 25 indicate a crash
- 9 indicate injury
- 0 indicate fire
What owners report
- Electric Power Assist System · 110 records
- Column · 14 records
- Rack And Pinion · 2 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 168 |
| 1–30k mi | 137 |
| 100–150k mi | 137 |
| 30–60k mi | 85 |
| 150–400k mi | 56 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet malibu. The contact was driving approximately 10 mph when the power steering failed without warning. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where they advised that power steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and they offered to cover fifty percent of the cost of the part. The failure and the current mileages were…
ODI 10440168
Steering
My power steering has went out on my vehicle on its on with out warning i was driving when it happened. In the beginning i could power the car off and then turn it back on the check engine light would disappear. But now the light stays on. Its absolutely hard to make turns and i get stuck in parking lots and turns that are narrow i need space to turn like i am driving a 18 wheeler. I have had my car read and no…
ODI 10441000
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 mph, the steering became difficult to maneuver. The vehicle regained steering on its own. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician stated that the tie rod end needed to be replaced. After the repair the failure continued. The driver was traveling approximately 45 mph when she lost…
Crash reported · 1 injury
ODI 10486045
Steering
Beginning my day, i started my vehicle, put the car in reverse, backed up, and put my car in drive. I went approx. 10 feet when my vehicle lost power steering and my car almost went off our steep driveway. There was an orange wrench that illuminated in the dash and power steering alert came on my information display on the radio. I turned the car off and restarted. All warning lights went out and the steering came…
ODI 10438148
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that while driving, the power of steering failed and the steering wheel seized. The power steering warning lamp was also illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 44,000.
ODI 10438147
Steering
I was driving home from work and i lost power steering the wheel got so hard and the radio said power steering but i pulled over and turn the car off and when i turn the car backon it goes back to normal..... Know i'm at a red light and the steering wheel shakes and it gets hard on me all the time i'm tired of this happening to my car i asked my dads mechanic and told me it would cost me ....1500.00 to fix it i…
ODI 10494829
Electrical System · Steering
Purchased vehicle for daughter on 8/17/2011 from asset recovery dealership colorado. While she was driving on a major road (approx. 40 mph), a warning light on dash went on and the power steering went away (almost to the point of feeling like it was totally locked). She was in rh lane, put on flashers, turned off car and restarted car. Warning light went off and power steering was back. This happened two other times…
ODI 10437293
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet malibu. The contact was driving approximately 35 mph and suddenly the steering wheel locked with the illumination of the wrench symbol. The contact pulled onto the side of the road and turned the engine off. Upon restarting the vehicle, the warning symbol remained illuminated and the steering continued to malfunction. The contact resumed with caution. The failure was not…
ODI 10435465
Steering
After being at a full stop i slowly entered onto another road taking a left turn. A powering steering message showed up on my radio screen and my steering was extremely difficult! On about 5 or 6 other occasions the same message appeared on my radio screen and my power steering failed. One time was while backing my car up, other times where when i turned my car on. After all incidents so far i was able to turn off…
ODI 10592957
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated while driving 60 mph the power steering failed and the check engine lamp illuminated. The contact was able to merge onto the side of the road. When he restarted the vehicle, the power steering began to function normally. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who diagnosed that the power steering sensor was defective and as a result the steering column…
ODI 10432730
Steering
Steering wheel locked up. Could not turn the wheel. Second time this happened in 3 months. *tr
ODI 10430724
Steering
Making a right turn power steering chimes went off no power steering. It has happened multiple times. When it happens it is very difficult to steer the car. *tr
ODI 10432360
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet malibu. The contact was driving 20 mph when the power steering light illuminated, and the power steering failed making it difficult to make a right turn. The steering wheel became hard to turn. The failure occurred on three previous occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who confirmed there was condensation in the wiring. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The…
ODI 10435463
Fuel System, Gasoline · Steering
Power steering recall 04050 and replaced in 2005 with 9,296 miles under warranty and need it again at 26,000 miles today. Front bracket replaced in 2006 with 19,217 miles and needs it again at 26,000 miles today. Fuel leak twice once in 2006 at 19,102 miles and replaced tank in 2007 at 20959. *tr
ODI 10430261
Steering
The service steering warning light/chime illuminated while driving the car. No loss of steering. Drove the car to the local chevrolet dealer the next day without incident. They replaced the steering column at a cost of $777.22. The owner (my mother) was responsible for the bill. I'm reporting it now on her behalf as it appears general motors might finally recall the 2004 models given their renewed focus on safety in…
ODI 10573056
Steering
This car is operated by the original retired female owner who drives it 3 times per week to perform local errands. At 13,265 miles the intermediate steering shaft was replaced to eliminate, unsuccessfully, a rattling from the front suspension. At 15,520 miles, the service engine soon and service power steering warnings appeared on the dashboard and dic respectively. Researching the internet showed clearly that…
ODI 10432579
Steering
The power steering went out on my 04 malibu while driving, almost causing an accident. Took it to two different repair places. Spent over $600 for it to not be fixed. I google my car and find a website with hundreds of people who are having the same problem. I don't understand why the 05 has been recalled for the same problem, yet not the 04. I'm a single mother with two kids, i can't afford to spend money on a…
ODI 10496297
Steering
One morning last month, i was driving my kid to school at speed 30 miles per hour, when suddenly the electronic power steering problem light turned on again, and the steering power was gone and the steering was totally locked, i could not make any turns. Because this is the 4th time it happened, i knew what to do. I stopped the car at the middle of the road ( i am lucky it is happened during local not highway…
ODI 10487376
Steering
Bought this veh. Brand new 2004. Had steering issues from the beginning. The vehicle had less than 65k on it. Always had vehicle serviced at the dealer or dealership i worked for. Had steering shaft replaced, had steering shaft bolt replaced,had rack and pinion replaced.. Son drove the veh., making a left hand turn in the outer left turning lane left him with lots of room to turn, wheel locked up and he crashed !…
Crash reported
ODI 10430241
Steering
The electric power steering will quit with little to no warning making the car extremely hard to steer safely. The problem only seems to happen when moving, i've never lost steering in say a parking lot, it has been on the road every time. Usually the light on the dash will light up and warn you and most times noting happens, other times you'll lose all power steering almost immediately. Twice i have lost steering…
ODI 10428413
Engine And Engine Cooling · Steering
My car has always had little quirks that didn't seem right about it since i purchased it from my chevy dealer. It was under warranty at the time so my level of concern wasn't as high as it is now. Things like a sporadic start to the engine while trying to crank the car and the car shimming or quivering when driven faster then 70 mph (highway). I have taken the car back to the dealership for assessment which all came…
ODI 10422422
Steering
The first time the power steering intermittently went out i was just parking. The malibu has electronic steering so there is no warning when the steering is about to fail like with a normal power steering pump. I checked some connections and thought i had it fixed because it worked when i started the car again. A few weeks later i was in the city and the steering quit working again if i wouldn't have had a good hold…
ODI 10428214
Steering
Power steering quit while driving. Went on line and saw lots of similar complaints for the same vehicle-2004 chevy malibu. *tr
ODI 10420830
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet malibu. While the contact started the ignition, the power steering warning indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. The warning light remained illuminated until the engine was turned off. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 164,000. The vin unavailable.
ODI 10420984
Steering
I have a 2004 malibu and the power steering will stop working and be extremely hard to handle.i went online to see if anyone else had a problem also, to find multiple owners of the same vehicle complaining of the same steering issues.we have been pleased with our malibu and have had this problem for the past 6 months, i certainly would hope gm would recall this problem,i am a gm buyer, now owning a 2010…
ODI 10420839