60 of the 406 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Malibu Classic are about the steering — 15% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2004.
60
Complaints
15%
Share of all complaints
4
Crashes
0
Fires
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driving the car it just shuts off which results in no power no steering and no brakes possibly an ignition switch problem.
NHTSA complaint #11542461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL INDEPENDENTLY TURNED TO THE LEFT WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON BUT FAILED TO FIX THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RACK AND PINION DETACHED FROM THE SUBFRAME AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONLY THE BUSHING WAS REPLACED AND NOT THE RACK AND PINION. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED ON ANOTHER OCCASION THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT TO REVERSE OR GO INTO FORWARD GEAR WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFT CABLE WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,000.
NHTSA complaint #11311038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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I WAS JUST DRIVING ALONG IN MY TOWN KILLEEN. I WAS GETTING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE STREET. I WAS AGAIN ON THE FREEWAY TWO DAYS LATER COMING FROM TEMPLE TEXAS AND THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE AGAIN. I READ THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE FOR STEERING PROBLEMS. AFTER ENTERING MY VIN WITH GENERAL MOTORS, I LEARNED IT WAS NOT SO. I ONLY HAVE 48000 MILES ON MY CAR. I CANNOT PAY FOR STEERING REPAIRS PLEASE ADVISE. [XXX]. I INHERITED THIS VEHICLE FROM MY AUNT: [XXX] UPON HER DEATH IN 2017. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #11222692 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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I CAN'T USE POWER STEERING FLUID IN MY CAR BECAUSE I'VE BEEN TOLD IT'S ELECTRICAL. I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY APARTMENT BUILDING AND I CAME UP TO A RED LIGHT UP THE ROAD TO TURN LEFT. I STOPPED AT THE LIGHT FOR A MINUTE, AS THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I CONTINUED AN THATS WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. I COULDN'T BARELY TURN MY STEERING WHEEL AND ITS HARD AN THATS WHEN "POWER STEERING" POPPED UP ON MY DASH. MY STEERING WHEEL SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY AND I'M SCARED TO DRIVE IT AND ITS MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM MY JOB.
NHTSA complaint #11099322 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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2 YEARS AGO I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER REGARDING STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTION I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS REPLACED, LESS THAN A YEAR LATER THE ISSUES CONTINUED TO OCCUR. I'VE CALLED CAMELBACK CHEVROLET MULTIPLE TIMES AND LEFT MESSAGES FOR THE GENERAL MANAGER WITH NO RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEABLE DUE TO THIS RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #11093984 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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I PURCHASED A 2007 MALIBU FROM JD BYRYDER IN MAY 2017, JAN.04, WHILE DRIVING THE WHEEL LOCKED AND THEN REDUCED TO MANUAL STEERING, I COULD NOT TURN BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE THE STRENGTH TO TURN WHEEL. I RESEARCHED AND FOUND A RECALL ON POWER ASSIST FAILURE FOR THIS VEHICLE, I HAVE GONE TO GM DEALER WHO PROMISED TO FIX AND 30 MINUTES INTO REPAIR I WAS TOLD WARRANT EXPIRED AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE POWER ASSIST ISSUE OUT OF POCKET.
NHTSA complaint #11062929 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO TURN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE TURNED SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO TURN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. WHILE DRIVING TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE RACK AND PINION WAS RUSTED AND DETACHED FROM THE FRAME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS REPLACED BY THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 153,000. *TT UPDATED 9/12/18
NHTSA complaint #11039645 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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I OWN A 2007 CHEVY MALIBU THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. THE POWER STEERING WILL QUIT WORKING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION WITHOUT WARNING. THE IGNITION HAS TO BE TURNED OFF AND TURNED ON FOR IT TO START WORKING. THE SYMPTOMS IT HAS ARE ALL CONSISTENT WITH THE GM RECALL FOR OTHER 2006 AND 2007 MALIBUS, BUT CURRENTLY THE VIN NUMBER OF MY VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED WITH THE RECALL BECAUSE IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND A SAFETY RISK TO THE DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE AND OTHERS OPERATING IN THE GENERAL AREA OF THIS VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10967073 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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THE POWER STEERING KEEPS GOING OUT WHILE I'M DRIVING. THE BRAKES FELL WHEN ALL OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON.. WHEN I TRY TO PUMP GAS THE GAS COMES BACK OUT AT ME.
NHTSA complaint #10930106 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN, THERE WAS NO ABILITY TO TURN THE CAR. THE CAR DROVE ONTO A SIDEWALK. THE CAR WOULD NOT STEER. TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT TURN THE WHEELS. THERE WAS A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. I'M AFRAID OF WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I WAS ON THE FREEWAY OR IF THERE WERE PEOPLE ON THE SIDEWALK.
NHTSA complaint #10905757 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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STEARING MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS MY RAC N PINION AND SEVERAL COMPLAINT WERE REPORTED TO HIGHWAY SAFETY ABOUT THIS MATTER,
NHTSA complaint #10778085 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN STARTED MAKING A CLICKING SOUND. EVENTUALLY, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT, A MECHANIC, DISCOVERED THAT THE UP AND DOWN GEAR BOX THAT ALLOWED THE STEERING COLUMN TO ADJUST UP AND DOWN, FRACTURED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.
NHTSA complaint #10723371 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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FOR SOME REASON THE ENTIRE INTERIOR TRIM ON THE DOOR PANELS HAVE COME UNGLUED AND DETACHED FROM THE DOORS. IT LOOKS TERRIBLE. I RECENTLY RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE STEERING. OF COURSE, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS AND NOW THE NOTICE SAYS MY CAR MUST HAVE LESS THAN 150K MILES ON IT. I DARE SAY THERE ARE NOT MANY 2004 VEHICLES WITH LESS THAN 150K MILES? MINE IS AROUND 164K. WE USE TO SPRAY GREASE ON THE JOINT WHERE IT HITS WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. I HAD BEEN TOLD A DEALER WOULD WANT TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE RACK N PINION ON THE VEHICLE, BUT THAT WOULD NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. GUESS I AM JUST OUT OF LUCK.
NHTSA complaint #10716363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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IGNITION KEY ISSUE IN MY 2005 CHEVY CLASSIC MALIBU WHEN THE CAR IS ON IN THE RUN POSITION WHEN THE CAR IS IN DRIVE AND PARK THE KEY CAN COME OUT BY TAKING IT OUT AND THE CAR IS STILL RUNNING. THE KEY IS ALSO LOOSE IT TENDS TO FALL OUT OF THE IGNITION AND THE CAR IS STILL RUNNING. THE CAR SHIFT GEAR FOR PARK AND DRIVE AND NEUTRAL WHEN YOU PULL IT BACK IT GETS STUCK ALL THE TIME SOMETIMES I ABLE TO MOVE IT FORWARD AND BACKWARDS WITHOUT HAVING TO PRESS THE BUTTON. THE CAR ALSO SHAKES DURING HIGH WINDS IT GOES LEFT AND RIGHT FROM HIGH WINDS.
NHTSA complaint #10692675 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL NOTIFICATION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THE STEERING ABILITY SEIZED. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
NHTSA complaint #10659282 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SENSOR AND THE SERVICE ENGINE SENSOR KEPT RANDOMLY ILLUMINATING AND THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT ALSO EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY REMOVING THE KEY AND GETTING THE KEY TO TURN OVER INTO AN ON POSITION TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HEARD A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH OCCURRED FREQUENTLY AND THE NOISE CONTINUED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND INDICATED THAT THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED FOR MONTHS AND WAS NOT ABLE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
NHTSA complaint #10659331 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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THIS VEHICLE HAD A CRASH WITH FATALITIES IN 2006. GENERAL MOTORS NEVER ISSUED A UNINTENDED IGNITION TURNOFF ON THIS VEHICLE UNTIL AUG2014. THE CRASH BEGAN WITH AN UNCONTROLLABLE AND UNEXPECTED SPINOUT, THERE WAS NO ABILITY TO STEER, BRAKE AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THESE ARE THE EXACT CONDITIONS LISTED IN THE GM RECALL. GM WILL NOT ACCEPT A FILING FOR THIS MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE AND SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE GM IGNITION CLAIM PROGRAM. AN INNOCENT PERSON HAS A BEEN CONVICTED OF MANSLAUGHTER AND THIS SHOULD BE CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY AND COMPENSATION PROVIDED BY GM. THIS IS THE EXACT WORDING ON THE GM RECALL WEBSITE: THE FOLLOWING RECALLS HAVE BEEN FOUND FOR YOUR 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU RESULTS LAST UPDATED: SEP 16, 2014 GM RECALL #: N140350 NHTSA RECALL #: 14V400 DATE ISSUED: AUG 12, 2014 UNINTENDED IGNITION KEY ROTATION RECALL DESCRIPTION: GENERAL MOTORS HAS DECIDED THAT A DEFECT WHICH RELATES TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXISTS IN 2000-2005 MY CHEVROLET IMPALA AND MONTE CARLO, 1997-2005 MY CHEVROLET MALIBU, 1999-2004 MY OLDSMOBILE ALERO, 1998-2002 MY OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE, 1999-2005 MY PONTIAC GRAND AM, AND 2004-2008 MY PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES. IF THE KEY RING IS CARRYING ADDED WEIGHT AND THE VEHICLE GOES OFF ROAD OR EXPERIENCES SOME OTHER JARRING EVENT, IT MAY UNINTENTIONALLY MOVE THE KEY AWAY FROM THE RUN POSITION. IF THIS OCCURS, ENGINE POWER, POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKING MAY BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. SAFETY RISK DESCRIPTION: THE TIMING OF THE KEY MOVEMENT OUT OF THE RUN POSITION, RELATIVE TO THE ACTIVATION OF THE SENSING ALGORITHM OF THE CRASH EVENT, MAY RESULT IN THE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR OCCUPANT INJURY IN CERTAIN KINDS OF CRASHES.
NHTSA complaint #10637270 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND MY CAR CHIMED AND LOST ALL POWER STEERING FOR APPROXIMATELY 3-4 SECONDS AND THEN THE POWER CAME BACK. THIS TYPE OF POWER LOSS HAS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE SINCE I HAVE OWNED MY VEHICLE WHICH I PURCHASED IN 2008.
NHTSA complaint #10615561 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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UPON ACCELERATING AND WITH A SLIGHT TURN OF THE STEERING WHEEL, THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT AND ACTUALLY THE STEERING WHEEL PULLS BACK THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THIS HAPPENS DAILY AND OCCURS MOST FREQUENTLY UPON TURNING WHILE ACCELERATING. WE HAVE HAD SOME VERY SCARY SITUATIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN PULLING ONTO A ROAD AND THE STEERING DOES NOT GO THE DIRECTION INTENDED. I BELIEVE THIS IS PART OF THE RECALL FOR THE POWER STEERING, BUT EVIDENTLY PARTS ARE NOT READY FOR THE RECALL. ??
NHTSA complaint #10615082 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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CAR STARTED NORMALLY BUT WHEN PUT IN GEAR THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKS UP. HAVE TO RE-START CAR TWO OR THREE TIMES BEFORE DRIVING NORMALLY.
NHTSA complaint #10611117 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.