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
While driving home from work. I was turning into my apartment complex and my steering wheel tightened up. I ran into the median that divides the entrance and the exit of a complex. Due to not being able to turn the steering wheel. There was a message on my radio display that said power steering. After i hit the median, i turned my car off to get out and see the extent of the damage to my car and the property. When i…
Crash reported
ODI 10549479
Steering
While out driving doing regular errands, i needed to make a right turn at an intersection and realized that the wheel would not move. I had to force the steering wheel to move in order to make the turn. I was afraid to go any further because i was on a relatively busy street and did not want to have an accident. I pulled over and called my son who told me that it sounded like the power steering failed. After i…
ODI 10546791
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that while driving 10 mph and attempting a turn, the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was pulled over and the contact allowed the vehicle to sit for several hours before the power steering assist resumed normal function. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection or repairs. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was…
ODI 10542573
Steering
Power steering light has been coming on intermittently over the last 5 months. Today my power steering failed completely. Was very difficult to steer. After turning vehicle off then back on it started working again, then failed again. Apparently this is a common problem with this car.
ODI 10542202
Steering
I was driving to a doctors appointment when all of a sudden my power steering went out while i was driving during rush hour traffic. Very scary incident considering the fact that there was no warning and i was in mid-turn. I have been researching and apparently this has been an issue. I turn the car off and looked it over and nothing seemed to be obviously wrong , so i restarted the car and the service lights on the…
ODI 10542026
Power Train · Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that while traveling on an off ramp at an unknown speed, the steering wheel seized. The contact mentioned that the vehicle was previously repaired under an unknown recall but the failure recurred. Also, the contact received notification for recall nhtsa campaign number: 14v252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting,…
ODI 10636976
Steering
Steering failed as i was making a left hand turn. The steering warning system has been giving false indication that something is wrong with the car until it did fail. Also please check out the following http://www.edmunds.com/chevrolet/malibu/2004/consumer-discussions.html
ODI 10567196
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that while driving 10 mph, the power steering failed as the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis where it was stated that the internal steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired and the manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 27,000.
ODI 10537541
Air Bags · Steering
I was driving heard a pop and then the airbag light came on. I then noticed the wheel was turned half way and i was still going straight. This was very dangerous thank god i was on a street alone. I took it to the dealer (hove) they told me my extended warrant had expired due to mileage and it was 1300.00 to fix. On top of the issue of safety i also don't have the cash and i need my car. I have seen all the reports…
ODI 10535450
Electrical System · Steering · Wheels
I got in my car and tried to crank it and it made a clicking noise. It took hours before it started, on another incident; several times i couldn't shift my car from park. My power steering light came on and when i was coming to a stop at a light the car list control serving left to right until i came to a complete stop. I always have to gas the car to get gas to the engine for the car to start. When i took it to the…
ODI 10593392
Steering
I was driving and when i went to turn the corner my steering went out. I could barely turn it. I ended up pulling over and sat for a while but then when i started driving again it didn't do it but than it happened again on 9/08/2013. *js
ODI 10545410
Steering
I was making a turn when the power steering in my vehicle locked up, making it hard to complete the turn and leading me into the oncoming lane, striking the bumper of another vehicle. I had the car towed to a private mechanic who diagnosed the issue and replaced the steering column at my cost. Less than a year later, the power steering has once more failed! I received a recall notice and took the car into the…
ODI 10609191
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel became very loose. The failure recurred several times before the steering wheel seized. The contact mentioned that the power steering and the wrench warning icon illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic however, the technician was unable to diagnosed the failure. The…
ODI 10534907
Steering
I contacted the nhtsa last year (2013) and i contacted gm, chevy, and my chevy dealership at that time to report that my steering column in my 2004 4-door chevy malibu had locked up when i was trying to merge onto an expressway. Since then, all the news about not only this defect, but other defects as well, have been found in these gm vehicles. I finally rec'd. A safety recall ltr., but it only indicates the "part…
ODI 10609645
Steering
Entering expressway from ramp and merging onto expressway, then with left turn signal on i had a clear lane to merge left and when i did this the steering column locked up. Luckily, i was in the lane i intended to be it, but it scared me half to death. Still driving forward, and unsure if the steering would be ok again, then the steering column seemed to ease up and "unlocked" and i was able to steer it and turn it…
ODI 10537050
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet malibu. The contact was driving 55 mph when the power steering assist malfunctioned and the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact stated that the power steering warning light was also illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed and the contact was informed that the power steering column was defective. The manufacturer was not notified of the defect. The failure mileage…
ODI 10556550
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.
ODI 10651489
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Steering
While pulling out of a business parking lot with my mother in the vehicle, i turned the steering wheel to back out and it wouldn't turn at first. I cut the car off and restarted it once again, this tie the steering wheel turned for about half a turn and the just kept on turning with a knock every full rotation. The wheels were not moving at all.no matter how many times i restarted the car it never worked. So i was…
ODI 10519599
Electrical System · Steering
While driving my battery light will flash on and chirp and my steering wheel sort of locks up, the display on my radio says power steering and the wrench light lights up on the panel. It is quite scary considering i have young children in my car about 95% of the time. I have been very close to crashing into other cars more than once. I would love to get rid of this car but am afraid this will happen to the next…
ODI 10585942
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 3 mph, there was a complete loss of powering steering with an illumination of a warning message. The engine was turned off and then restarted in order to reset. The vehicle was able to resume normally. The failure occurred sporadically. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of…
ODI 10515157
Steering
Power steering stops intermittently. Warning light comes on. Then goes away if the car is re-started. Near accident because i couldn't steer. *tr
ODI 10514415
Power Train · Steering
My daughter was driving to school this morning, and everything seemed to be fine. She pulled out of our neighborhood and into the turning lane on a fast moving street to turn into her school parking lot. As she went to turn, the steering wheel locked up right as she was turning into oncoming traffic. She said it took everything in her to turn the steering wheel enough just so she could get onto the curb and out of…
ODI 10513274
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that while making a turn at 45 mph , the power steering malfunctioned and it extremely difficult to steer the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the power steering column and the power steering modular was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not…
ODI 10515321
Steering
POWER STEERING LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING. *TR
ODI 10512532
Steering
This happened a few times throughout may, happened a few times this week (may 29- june 5, 2013), and happened almost twenty times today - within a half hour period! I will be driving and then out of nowhere the steering wheel locks up, making it unable to turn in either direction. The screen reads 'power steering' when this happens. This is incredibly dangerous. It has happened to me most frequently either right…
ODI 10515365