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Chevrolet Malibu Steering/Suspension

239 messages,  Last post on May 28, 2013 at 1:33 PM

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What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Malibu, Chevrolet Malibu SS, Steering, Suspension, Sedan

    
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Messages Page 18 of 24

#170 of 239 Re: Malibu Steering - Recall by GM? [eileen7] by anywho71

Mar 03, 2010 (3:11 pm)

Replying to: eileen7 (Mar 03, 2010 1:13 pm)
Senator Schumer,
Recently it was announced that GM was recalling 1.3 million cars that have a potentially dangerous steering defect where the power steering will without warning quit functioning. I am writing to inform you that the recall is in no way complete. The first vehicle to experience this problem to a large extent was the 2004 Chevy Malibu. This is a known problem with this car and needs to be fixed. The NHTSA opened and subsequently closed the investigation on this issue before many of the cars that were to experience this reached the necessary life. Since the repair for this is around $1000 dollars and it is clearly a design flaw, I would kindly urge you to look into the matter and see if GM can be persuaded to assist the many customers who have had to pay for their error. If you web search 2004 chevy malibu steering, you will find an unending supply of testimonials to support my claims. I will include one as reference http://www.lemonlawclaims.com/malibu_brake_and_steering_problem.htm
Thank you for your assistance.
 
Sincerely,

#171 of 239 Re: Malibu Steering - Recall by GM? [anywho71] by pao

Mar 04, 2010 (6:32 am)

Replying to: anywho71 (Mar 03, 2010 3:11 pm)
The power steering in the Malibu is more an electronic assist vice the old power steering we were accustomed too.
 
from what I can find....the voluntary recall is for the replacement of a motor in the power steering system....and the issue occurs in older vehicles generally pass warranty
 
on the Malibu the NHTSA did open an investigation in the power steering failures in May 2004,transitioning it to an engineering analysis on July 04 and closing the investigation in May 05 based on GM ISSUED CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN (CSC) 04050A IN DECEMBER 2004 TO ADDRESS THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN APPROXIMATELY 58,700 SUBJECT VEHICLES, ENCOMPASSING AT LEAST 97 PERCENT OF THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY CLAIMS POPULATION. VEHICLES OUTSIDE THE CSC 04050A POPULATION CONTAIN A NEWLY DESIGNED TORQUE AND POSITION SENSOR AND HAVE EXPERIENCED A RELATIVELY LOW COMPLAINT RATE. (this was cut and pasted from the NHTSA website).
 
there were no further investigations for other MY mailbus other than the 04.....with that said....make your own conclusions.....Im not sure the malibus have the same power steering systems as the Cobalts being recalled....most repairs for the malibu are for steering column replacement due to these sensor failures, vice an actual motor failure...is my understanding.....once replaced they have to be calibrated as well.....just want to make sure we are comparing the same cause and effect....
 
04 Malibu Maxx LT with 160K on it...and never a steering issue......

#172 of 239 Re: Malibu Steering - Recall by GM? [pao] by e_net_rider

Mar 05, 2010 (2:51 pm)

Replying to: pao (Mar 04, 2010 6:32 am)
Lucky you.
With old style power steering, hydraulic, you had few parts. You had a pump, a couple of hoses, and a hydraulicly assisted gear box or rack and pinion. And in all cases I'm aware of there was an isolator, often corded rubber, between the steering wheel and the gearbox to isolate vibration, noise, etc. from the cabin. It was fairly reliable. You did not have to do special adjustments or fine tuning if anything in the system was touched or an alignment was done.
Compare that to this EPS system and don't forget the intermediate shaft is part of this steering system.
The number of issues I've seen on my own vehicle, many of them stupid design mistakes, I'd say this is Chevy's Edsel.

#173 of 239 squeeking by peachy84

Mar 13, 2010 (1:31 pm)

i have an 06 malibu ss... i havent noticed a prob with rattling in the steering colomn but i have noticed a squeeking from time to time while im driving. i honestly hate my car... i think its evil... i bought it brand new and ive had a lot of things go wrong with it... my driverside handle on the outside of my door broke off, the steering squeeks, i think i have an exhaust leak thats been there since i bought the car, and now my stereo is eating my cds lol... im told the band or something went bad so it wont push the cd out. fun fun...

#174 of 239 2005 Malibu Max LT by ihatemymalibu

May 25, 2010 (1:27 am)

Just found out that I have to have the assist motor replaced on my 2005 Malibu at the cost of $760! The power steering comes and goes. When it first went out, I was in the middle of a turn onto a busy highway and barely avoided hitting someone head-on. Wasn't sure what was happening and THEN the chime went off & the alert showed up on the screen.(wished it had been BEFORE that happened!) When I notified GM last week, they told me I HAD to take it to a GM dealer to be diagnosed in order for them to consider any assistance on the bill. I did ( the tune of $80) and now they tell me they will not offer ANY assistance at all! I called the NHTSA and filed a complaint. They said if enough people file complaints with them that GM will be forced to make a recall. So if you (or anyone you know of) have a Malibu with steering issues in the past that have already been paid for or are currently dealing with this situation, please file a complaint with NHTSA.

#175 of 239 Re: 2005 Malibu Max LT [ihatemymalibu] by chevsharon

May 25, 2010 (2:33 am)

Replying to: ihatemymalibu (May 25, 2010 1:27 am)
Thanks for the infoon the 2005 Chev. Malibu steering power steering problem. I also experienced the same thing and it cost a LOT of money to repair. I will definitely notify the NHTSA right away. They definitely need a recall here!

#176 of 239 Re: 2005 Malibu Max LT [chevsharon] by pao

May 25, 2010 (7:15 am)

Replying to: chevsharon (May 25, 2010 2:33 am)
I would keep after GM...did you work just with the dealer..or with GM customer service....this is a know problem with the 04-05 MY Malibus....many failed during the warranty period....if you do a search at the NHTSA website you will see they issue an engineering study directive on the issue, however there was no recall issue due to GM handling most if not all the cases under warranty...
 
steering column replacements were running 700-900 for replacement and a few on the board had mulitiple columns replaced.....Ive been fortunate...(knock on wood) not to have had the problem in my 04 Maxx with 165K on it....
 
make sure when they replace the column that it is calibrated correctly as well....there was a customer service rep monitoring edmunds threads for a while....dont know is she still is or not....do a search for Maria at GM...and see if something comes up...I would try contacting her through here.....as this steering column issue is a documented problem

#177 of 239 Re: 2005 Malibu Max LT [pao] by gmcustsvc

May 25, 2010 (8:43 am)

Replying to: pao (May 25, 2010 7:15 am)
Hello Pao,
Thank you for bring this to my attention. To "Chevsharon", please email me more information about your situation so I can look into this further. You can get my email by clicking on my name. Thank you,
Mariah GM Customer Service

#178 of 239 "Power Steering" by darkndknight

Jun 12, 2010 (4:37 am)

I have a 2007 Malibu with the electric assist steering. I keep getting a message on the radio display saying "Power Steering". Looking to find out if anyone else has seen this message and if there is a solution.

#179 of 239 Re: "Power Steering" [darkndknight] by chevsharon

Jun 12, 2010 (6:20 am)

Replying to: darkndknight (Jun 12, 2010 4:37 am)
I have a 2005 Chev Malibu and the power steering failed while going down the highway. The message also appeared on my radio screen at the same time as the power steering failed. I had to replace the entire steering column. However, I have since found out that others have had this same problem and even after replacing the steering column it happens again - only to have to replace the column again. This is a major defect and I feel that GM needs to do a recall and correct the problem. At the advice of another owner with the same problem, I notified the NSTSA - you can email them - and if they get enough complaints they can force a recall. I highly recommend you do this.

Messages Page 18 of 24

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