Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING | |||||
| 060232007 | 03/01/2008 | 060232007C | 10020816 | Clunk, knock or rattle noise from front of vehicle while driving or turning over bumps at low speeds. *kb (diagnose noise - lubricate inner and outer steering shaft, reposition i-shaft, add foam to radiator surge tank mounting bracket | 01/23/2007 |
| 060232002 | 12/01/2006 | 060232002B | 10019478 | Normal operating characteristics of electric power steering (eps) system during extended lock-to-lock (maximum steering wheel rotation) usage. *tt | 03/16/2006 |
| STEERING - COLUMN | |||||
| SB-09-02-35-006 | 08/01/2009 | 10032292 | Chevrolet/pontiac/saturn: steering column tilt wheel release lever inoperative/broken (replace tilt wheel release lever kit and/or release lever retainer (tilt teeth)). *pe | 03/01/2010 | |
| STEERING - ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | |||||
| SB-10183 | 07/01/2010 | 10033624 | Saturn/pontiac/chevrolet: special coverage adjustment-power steering assist. some vehicles equipped with electric power steering may experience a loss of power steering assist caused by electrical input signals within the steering column | 08/30/2010 | |
| 3797 | 10018531 | Intermittent steering wheel dither after front end alignment was performed. *tt | 01/05/2006 | ||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST - POWER STEERING FLUID | |||||
| 08-02-32-005 | 05/01/2008 | 10025672 | Loss of power steering assist, power steering warning message displayed in dic, ipc/radio displays erratic, dtc c0900, b1325 set (replace ignition coil/module assembly and add ground strap). vehicles with 3.5l engine. *pe | 08/28/2008 | |
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | |||||
| 4127 | 4127D | 10020217 | Loss of power steering assist at high engine rpm. *tt updated 08-15-07. *kb updated on 10/03/07. *nj | 08/18/2006 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING | |||
| 01/07/2013 | 59550 | ||
| My first occurence was while driving across a railroad track at a speed of 35 mph....while driving i heard a dinging and looked to see my power steering light came on at the same time that i was crossing the tracks....tracks where uneven so i kinda went around the uneven part and couldnt handle my steering so i almost hit a car coming in the opposite direction...second occurence has even more life threating....while drivin on the highway at speeds of 65mph...i heard the dinging sound and my steering locked up completely(like when the car is turned off) i could not use steering at all and i had a semi right behind me ....i was approaching a curve in the highway so i slow down so the the traffic would go around me to hopefully get a chance to turn off the car and restart it to reset power steering....i had read about this problem online and that was the solution..i took the car to a mechanic where he did a road test and of course nothing happened....i only have 2 more payment on this car and to find out that the situation when fixed always reoccurs is very disappointing....please recall this vehicle before this problem kills somebody...my family is already aware of this problem and if i get into a accident they will be looking closely into this problem | |||
| 01/13/2013 | 105000 | 1 | |
| While driving a warning chime appeared thru the radio display power steering and the vehicle lost power steering. with great difficulty vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road and turned off. upon restarting the car the power steering came back only to go out again. had the computer reset and problem hasn't happened again, yet! check online and this vehicle and other models with the same power assist steering have been recalled as recent as 1212 in canada, but not in the usa. everything on the internet, including gms website say the steering column has to be replaced. we checked with the local chevrolet dealer and there is no recall for this vin #. this vehicle is driven on major highways everyday, so i am having the steering column replaced at a cost of $550 out of pocket.gm's website says it is not a safety problem because it can still be steered off the road. this is my daughter's car and she can barely handle this car without the power assist. i drove it and lost the power assist and i bumped a curb trying to turn it into a parking lot. how can this not be a safety issue? can i be reimbursed for the cost of fixing this problem? *tr | |||
| 01/13/2013 | 105000 | ||
| While driving a warning chime appeared thru the radio display power steering and the vehicle lost power steering. with great difficulty vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road and turned off. upon restarting the car the power steering came back only to go out again. had the computer reset and problem hasn't happened again, yet! check online and this vehicle and other models with the same power assist steering have been recalled as recent as 1212 in canada, but not in the usa. everything on the internet, including gms website say the steering column has to be replaced. we checked with the local chevrolet dealer and there is no recall for this vin #. this vehicle is driven on major highways everyday, so i am having the steering column replaced at a cost of $550 out of pocket.gm's website says it is not a safety problem because it can still be steered off the road. this is my daughter's car and she can barely handle this car without the power assist. i drove it and lost the power assist and i bumped a curb trying to turn it into a parking lot. how can this not be a safety issue? can i be reimbursed for the cost of fixing this problem? | |||
| 07/20/2010 | 89000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. the contact stated that while driving the steering failed without warning. the contact mentioned that steering wheel became hard to maneuver. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who decided to replace an unknow part within the steering. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 89,000 and the current mileage was 139,000. pmb | |||
| 07/20/2010 | 89000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. the contact stated that the vehicle steering failed without warning while driving. the steering was hard to turn. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the failure. the dealer replaced a component the contact did not have the name of the component that was replaced within the steering. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 89,000 and the current mileage was 139,000. li | |||
| 08/01/2008 | 20000 | 1 | |
| Power steering failure while driving at high speeds in highway traffic. intermittent failure. several months of driving it would sporadically fail and then return back to normal. eventually it failed completely. went to have the ps module replaced only to discover the column is to be replaced with it. the vehicle is drivable, but feels unsafe and puts others at risk. vehicle is not easily maneuverable at low speeds. needs large space to turn around. seems to be a common problem among this vehicle as i have seen many many complaints. why is there not yet a recall on the ps module/column failure of the malibu?? *tr | |||
| 09/04/2012 | 147000 | 1 | |
| While accelerating on to the freeway, more while hitting the passing gear, power steering is all of a sudden lost or even correcting itself back to center. the power steering message appears on the radio display and a clicking sound is made. it has since happened at slower speeds as well. it feels like a very unsafe problem and it seems very common among chevrolet owners of various models around that year. *tr | |||
| 09/04/2012 | 147000 | ||
| While accelerating on to the freeway, more while hitting the passing gear, power steering is all of a sudden lost or even correcting itself back to center. the power steering message appears on the radio display and a clicking sound is made. it has since happened at slower speeds as well. it feels like a very unsafe problem and it seems very common among chevrolet owners of various models around that year. | |||
| 09/30/2012 | 111800 | 1 | |
| Turned left onto an uphill road and gave it a good amount of gas to accelerate up to speed. had the rpms up and in the middle of the turn the steering wheel just locked up. i immediately let off the gas and the steering returned to normal. it was quite unnerving but i worked on many cars years ago and react accordingly to things like stuck throttles, and this. i just bought the car so i don't know the history of it other than the carfax check was clean. it appear that i should have done my research on this vehicle with this steering problem before buying it. there are so many people with the same issue that i cannot believe a recall has not been performed. however, there is a service bulletin that extends the warranty on this item, to any owner, to ten years and 150 k miles. do a search for it online. gm will replace the entire steering column. this is probably what i will end up doing. *tr | |||
| 09/30/2012 | 111800 | ||
| Turned left onto an uphill road and gave it a good amount of gas to accelerate up to speed. had the rpms up and in the middle of the turn the steering wheel just locked up. i immediately let off the gas and the steering returned to normal. it was quite unnerving but i worked on many cars years ago and react accordingly to things like stuck throttles, and this. i just bought the car so i don't know the history of it other than the carfax check was clean. it appear that i should have done my research on this vehicle with this steering problem before buying it. there are so many people with the same issue that i cannot believe a recall has not been performed. however, there is a service bulletin that extends the warranty on this item, to any owner, to ten years and 150 k miles. do a search for it online. gm will replace the entire steering column. this is probably what i will end up doing. | |||
| 07/14/2012 | 88000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu maxx. the contact stated that while driving 15 mph, the steering wheel seized violently, causing the contact's hands to be thrown from the steering wheel. the steering wheel regained normal function as the contact decelerated. the failure recurred numerous times, only lasting momentarily. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis where the contact was informed that the failure was caused by faulty electronics in the steering column. the vehicle had not been repaired. the failure and current mileages were 88,000. | |||
| 07/14/2012 | 88000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu maxx. the contact stated that while driving 15 mph, the steering wheel seized violently, causing the contact's hands to be thrown from the steering wheel. the steering wheel regained normal function as the contact decelerated. the failure recurred numerous times, only lasting momentarily. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis where the contact was informed that the failure was caused by faulty electronics in the steering column. the vehicle had not been repaired. the failure and current mileages were 88,000. kmj | |||
| 07/14/2012 | 88000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu maxx. the contact stated while driving 15 mph the steering wheel locked up violently causing the contacts hands to come off of the wheel. when he slowed down the steering wheel unlocked. the failure had recurred numerous times. each time it only locked up for a few seconds. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis and was informed it was faulty electronics in the steering column. the vehicle had not been repaired. the failure and current mileages were 88,000. dt | |||
| 08/01/2012 | 126141 | 1 | |
| While i am driving the steering wheel will lock up and my dash board will start blinking then the message center will say power steering now everytime i am get to 45 mph the message center will start blinking. *tr | |||
| 08/21/2012 | 85000 | 1 | |
| Was making a right hand turn to enter onto the expressway and steering either locked up or became very hard to steer (it all happened quickly) causing the car to hit the curb and severely damaging the wheel, alignment, etc. gm replaced the faulty power steering box (recall) but has found themselves not liable for the collateral damage sustained because of the faulty power steering. gm says i have no proof that the damage that is visible on the vehicle was directly caused by steering failure. really??!! i've always been a big chevy fan, but this leaves a very bitter taste that may never go away!!!!! ## vin failed ## chevy malibu maxx 2006 ## *tr | |||
| 08/01/2012 | 126141 | 1 | |
| While i am driving the steering wheel will lock up and my dash board will start blinking then the message center will say power steering now everytime i am get to 45 mph the message center will start blinking. *tr | |||
| 08/21/2012 | 85000 | 1 | |
| Was making a right hand turn to enter onto the expressway and steering either locked up or became very hard to steer (it all happened quickly) causing the car to hit the curb and severely damaging the wheel, alignment, etc. gm replaced the faulty power steering box (recall) but has found themselves not liable for the collateral damage sustained because of the faulty power steering. gm says i have no proof that the damage that is visible on the vehicle was directly caused by steering failure. really??!! i've always been a big chevy fan, but this leaves a very bitter taste that may never go away!!!!! ## vin failed ## chevy malibu maxx 2006 ## *tr | |||
| 08/01/2012 | 126141 | ||
| While i am driving the steering wheel will lock up and my dash board will start blinking then the message center will say power steering now everytime i am get to 45 mph the message center will start blinking | |||
| 08/21/2012 | 85000 | 1 | |
| Was making a right hand turn to enter onto the expressway and steering either locked up or became very hard to steer (it all happened quickly) causing the car to hit the curb and severely damaging the wheel, alignment, etc. gm replaced the faulty power steering box (recall) but has found themselves not liable for the collateral damage sustained because of the faulty power steering. gm says i have no proof that the damage that is visible on the vehicle was directly caused by steering failure. really??!! i've always been a big chevy fan, but this leaves a very bitter taste that may never go away!!!!! ## vin failed ## chevy malibu maxx 2006 ## *tr | |||
| 08/01/2012 | 126141 | ||
| While i am driving the steering wheel will lock up and my dash board will start blinking then the message center will say power steering now everytime i am get to 45 mph the message center will start blinking | |||
| 06/10/2006 | 6000 | ||
| We purchased our 2006 mailbu maxx in november 2005. two months later there was a violent shake in the front end, the dealerhip turned the rotors because they were warped. then we started having trouble with the electrical system right after the warranty ran out.the rear wiper comes on by itself, interior lights blow constantly as well as headlights. door locks work when they want to. keyless has not worked for three years even with new remote batteries. since the car has had 40,000 miles on it the power steering has been acting up. my wife has hit our garbage cans and even my truck pulling into the driveway. we cant even trade this piece of crap in because everybody knows the problems with this car. our malibu has 78,000 miles on it and we have put 4 sets of brakes on the front with heavy duty rotors and three sets on the rear. gm is not concerned with the safety of thier customers. this car is crap and they know it. we should at least get 200 percent over trade in value to purchase another vehicle. like a rock....more like a terd!!!!! | |||
| 03/06/2012 | 85000 | ||
| Power steering intermittently fails on vehicle. resets after turning car off. | |||
| 03/08/2012 | 85800 | ||
| I was taking my granddaughter to school and the power steering went out as i was pulling in to the school. i turn off the car to locate the power steering pump but could not locate it.when i started the car it was fine so when i got home i found out that this is a big problem and gm is not doing anything about it.what is it going to take for somebody does something about it. i believe gm was one of the companies that was help by the government with tax payers money the same ones that are having this problem,please you need to do something about this big problem that gm is ignoring before is to late for some body or family. thank you | |||
| 10/15/2008 | 24536 | ||
| Knocking noise in the steering column. had to have iit fixed twice and it now does it again. this is a repetative problem and it appears that this car has a design issue. | |||
| 12/12/2011 | 34000 | ||
| I have been reading over some of the 30 pages of steering complaints for the 2006 chevrolet malibu. i found out that i am not alone with this car problem. i just bought my car in august 2011 - it was a one owner with 31,000 miles in excellent condition. i thought i did my homework when buying but was not aware of the steering problems that existed. there was no recall listed . i would never have bought this car knowing what i know now and experiencing the problem first hand. i heard the two dings then the words power steering appeared on the instrument panel. i immediately had no power steering and was driving in heavy traffic. the car was extremely hard to steer and i was lucky to make it home. since then, i have experienced this two other times. i am scared to death to drive this car. do i have to get killed in a car accident before you will do something? i can't afford to pay these costly repairs and shouldn't be responsible for the manufacturer's defects. please save my life and everyone else by taking action now!!! | |||
| 05/01/2011 | 89000 | ||
| For the past several months power steering failure with left turns. yesterday complete failure, fortunately it locked up in my driveway. steering wheel jamed up with the slightest turn. | |||
| 10/01/2011 | 69789 | ||
| Steering- when making left turns steering collumn pops as if linkage is slipping. apparently a known defect at chevrolet. steering column should be replaced. loss of power sterring in the past at higher speeds, one complete lockup of steering wheel while vehicle was in motion. brakes- increasingly difficult over time to slow vehicle to a stop safely. brakes were completely replaced at 51k miles due to an issue of wear at rates exceeding mechanical estimates. dealership inspection yields no damages or problem yet test drive shows how difficult vehicle is to stop effectively. | |||
| 05/27/2008 | 68000 | ||
| We started having trouble with the power steering going out at very low speeds, especially in warm weather, only occasionally. then the problem worsened with the power steering going out frequently when turning to the right. only after we had obtained 100000 miles on the car did we receive a letter from the gm company stating there was a problem with the electrical power steering and upon contacting gm company they refused to fix their factory installed defective problem stating it was our problem. they refuse to fix the steering problem and it has caused us to have close encounters with crashes. the car is extremely hard to turn for my wife and is a real crash hazard. it was their mistake, but they refuse to honor their committment to car safety like they advertise on tv. it is their problem and they should honor their safety committment to their customers. we would like to have the car fixed at their expense not ours since it is their mistake. | |||
| 08/14/2011 | |||
| Intermittent loss of power steering that occurs under two different scenarios. upon hard acceleration (as when entering a highway), steering will periodically lock-up with a series of 4 chimes coming from the information display panel on the dashboard. power steering assist returns upon deceleration. also, i've have had several instances of power steering loss when backing up in colder winter temperatures. power assist returns after turning off and restarting the vehicle. dealer has been unable to recreate either scenario as it happens intermittently, the vehicle has not been repaired for this defect nor has it been in an accident but let's not wait for one. it's quite obvious from thousands of internet posts that this is a known problem that gm refuses to acknowledge. an nhsta recall would be nice. secondly, the vehicle has had numerous repairs to front suspension, steering and brake components that should not fail within the first the 60k miles of ownership (some were replaced with less than 35k). components replaced include; strut tower assembly, both tie rods (inner and outer), steering column, right rear caliper (snapped parking brake cable), all four brake rotors replaced. for the folks who spent their hard earned money on thier malibu maxx and are reading this online, please take the time to post your stories. gm should be held accountable for their inaction and refusal to acknowledge serious steering related defects. it won't happen until the nhtsa receives enough complaints to force a recall. | |||
| 04/25/2011 | 89000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu maxx supersport. the contact stated that while driving approximately 40 to 50 mph the steering would become very loose and hard for her to keep control of the vehicle. also, when making left or right turns she would hear a popping noise in the steering column. the vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic and they advised her that the steering column needs to be replaced. the manufacturer was contacted and they advised her to take it to a dealer. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 89,000. tb | |||
| 06/01/2011 | 56700 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu maxx. while driving at any speed, the contact stated that she would lose power steering making it difficult to control the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to a dealer who advised the contact that the vehicle was operating as normal. the manufacturer was not aware of the failure. no repairs were performed. the current mileage was 57,000 and the failure mileage was 56,700. | |||
| 06/01/2011 | 56700 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu maxx. while driving at any speed, the contact stated that she would lose power steering making it difficult to steer the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to a dealer who advised the contact that the vehicle was operating as normal. the manufacturer was not aware of the failure. no repairs were performed. the current mileage was 57,000 and the failure mileage was 56,700. | |||
| 04/22/2011 | 38500 | ||
| Steering wheel failure caused car accident. while driving through a freeway tunnel, the power steering went out and made it impossible to steer causing my car to hit the tunnel wall. the car had less than 40,000 miles, yet the power steering indicator went on. the power steering reset and went back on, after the car was restarted. please initial a defect investigation or a safety recall before this happens to someone else. | |||
| 03/16/2011 | 61000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu maxx. while driving approximately 30 mph the power steering locked and it became difficult to maneuver the steering wheel. the contact stated the vehicle was driving to an independent mechanic. after the vehicle was restarted the power steering functioned. the mechanic was unable to diagnose the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 61,000. ds | |||
| 03/01/2011 | 82978 | ||
| The intermediate shaft which is connected to the steering column was replaced in 2007 when the vehicle had less than 30,000 miles and was under warranty. it has to be replaced again at 83,00 miles. this is definitely a gm design issue. the electronic power steering module has been replaced, the rack/pinion has been replaced and neither part should have to be replaced when the vehicle is under 80,000 miles.. gm customer service refuses to accept that this is not normal wear and tear of a vehicle even though this will be the second replacement of this part. hundreds of owners of this 2006 malibu maxx have the exact same issue therefore it can not be the driver but is definitely a engineering design issue. gm needs to be honest and own up to the failures of their vehicle designs. there are losing loyal customers because of their inability to provide a recall on this vehicle. it is their responsibility to provide the consumers with safe vehicles. steering issues are definitely a serious hazard. gm must be held accountable for their vehicle failures. this vehicle needs to be recalled and at the very least gm should pay for the repairs. | |||
| 12/13/2010 | 85000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu maxx. the contact was driving 2-3 mph in reverse when the steering wheel locked abnormally. the vehicle was turned off. the vehicle was restarted several minutes later and the steering wheel had returned to normal. the failure recurred intermittently while driving at any speed. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnosis or repairs. the failure mileage was 85,000 and the current mileage was 92,000. | |||
| 12/13/2010 | 85000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu maxx. while driving in reverse 2-3 mph the contact stated the steering wheel locked up. he stated he turned the vehicle off and attempted to inspect the vehicle but could not check the power steering. he restarted the vehicle and the vehicle started as normal. the failure had happen seven times and today he was driving 60 mph and the failure happen again. he stated he was able to coast to the side of the road and turned the vehicle off and it restarted again as normal. the vehicle had not been taken to the dealer yet for the failure. the failure mileage was 85,000 and the current mileage was 92,000. vwb | |||
| 11/27/2010 | 53000 | ||
| While on the road, my steering wheel started jamming up and then struck, dash board light illuminated. after restarting engine, it worked fine. for having this problem repeated for several times, i got the appointment with dealership and called chevy customer service. i was told of the problem being known and common in all the 2006 malibu and other make and model in which such power steering module/ parts have been used. when i asked, why i was not informed of such problem, i was told that it will repair at no cost if only the problem is duplicated at the shop. after repair on (feb 01 20011), in a phone call, i was told that there is no paper work for problem/recall/ warranty/ what so ever, but the work is covered for 12 months and/or 12000 miles altogether. this particular car has been brought to department of transportation | |||
| 06/10/2007 | 30000 | ||
| The power steering column started to clunk when turning when car was a year old..took it to a dealership and they greased the column...didnt work...took it back,l they greased it again... same thing....now i get a messages - power steering and reduced engine power when driving. this is very dangerous coz i have little power so i lose speed on the highway and its very hard to turn the wheel | |||
| 11/27/2010 | 53000 | ||
| While on the road, my steering wheel started jamming up and then struck, dash board light illuminated. after restarting engine, it worked fine. for having this problem repeated for several times, i got the appointment with dealership and called chevy customer service. i was told of the problem being known and common in all the 2006 malibu and other make and model in which such power steering module/ parts have been used. when i asked, why i was not informed of such problem, i was told that it will repair at no cost if only the problem is duplicated at the shop. after repair on (feb 01 20011), in a phone call, i was told that there is no paper work for problem/recall/ warranty/ what so ever, but the work is covered for 12 months and/or 12000 miles altogether. this particular car has been brought to department of transportation | |||
| 06/10/2007 | 30000 | ||
| The power steering column started to clunk when turning when car was a year old..took it to a dealership and they greased the column...didnt work...took it back,l they greased it again... same thing....now i get a messages - power steering and reduced engine power when driving. this is very dangerous coz i have little power so i lose speed on the highway and its very hard to turn the wheel | |||
| 09/20/2010 | 36000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu maxx. while driving approximately 50 mph the power steering light illuminated on the dash board and the power steering was not functioning. the failure occurred intermittently and occurred for a few seconds and then function properly. also the contact stated sometimes the ignition would have to be turned off in order for the power steering to function. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for repair but there was an appointment set. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was unavailable. the approximate failure mileage was 36,000. ds | |||
| 01/13/2011 | 104000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu maxx. while driving 50 mph the power steering fails. the steering would reset itself right away when the vehicle was turned off and then on. the steering would be very difficult to maneuver before resetting itself. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was not contacted. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 104,000..-mw | |||
| 12/20/2010 | 160000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu max. the contact stated that while driving approximately 65 mph the power steering suddenly failed and the power steering illuminated on the instrumental panel. she recieved a recall notice later on in reference to the steering, but the stipulation is that you cannot be over a certain mileage. the vehicle has not been repaired due to her not being within the mileage stipulated. the failure mileage was approximately 160,000. tb | |||
| 12/26/2010 | 101000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu maxx. while driving approximately 40 mph a power steering error message displayed on the dashboard and the steering wheel became very stiff and difficult to turn. the vehicle was pulled over and shut off. upon restart the vehicle operated as normal. the contact also stated the steering wheel would involuntarily turn to the left and right while the vehicle was stopped or in motion. the manufacturer and an authorized dealer were notified and the contact was told this was a known failure. the vehicle was not yet repaired. the failure and current mileages were 101,000. sm. | |||
| 12/20/2010 | 160000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu max. the contact stated that while driving approximately 65 mph the power steering suddenly failed and the power steering illuminated on the instrumental panel. she recieved a recall notice later on in reference to the steering, but the stipulation is that you cannot be over a certain mileage. the vehicle has not been repaired due to her not being within the mileage stipulated. the failure mileage was approximately 160,000. tb | |||
| 12/26/2010 | 101000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu maxx. while driving approximately 40 mph a power steering error message displayed on the dashboard and the steering wheel became very stiff and difficult to turn. the vehicle was pulled over and shut off. upon restart the vehicle operated as normal. the contact also stated the steering wheel would involuntarily turn to the left and right while the vehicle was stopped or in motion. the manufacturer and an authorized dealer were notified and the contact was told this was a known failure. the vehicle was not yet repaired. the failure and current mileages were 101,000. sm. | |||
| 12/20/2010 | 160000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu max. the contact stated that while driving approximately 65 mph the power steering suddenly failed and the power steering illuminated on the instrumental panel. she recieved a recall notice later on in reference to the steering, but the stipulation is that you cannot be over a certain mileage. the vehicle has not been repaired due to her not being within the mileage stipulated. the failure mileage was approximately 160,000. tb | |||
| 12/26/2010 | 101000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu maxx. while driving approximately 40 mph a power steering error message displayed on the dashboard and the steering wheel became very stiff and difficult to turn. the vehicle was pulled over and shut off. upon restart the vehicle operated as normal. the contact also stated the steering wheel would involuntarily turn to the left and right while the vehicle was stopped or in motion. the manufacturer and an authorized dealer were notified and the contact was told this was a known failure. the vehicle was not yet repaired. the failure and current mileages were 101,000. sm. | |||
| 09/11/2010 | 83740 | ||
| The powersteering unit in this car has quit working several times. the information center reads powersteering. and the wheel jerks back and forth. the wheel is very hard to turn and is dangerous to drive. sometimes the steering wheel while sitting at a stop light the wheel will turn to the left by itself. if you shut the car off and leave it sit for five minutes it will reset itself and be alright for awhile and then it happens again. general motors knows of this problem and has done nothing about it. i have read several complaints about this and wonder if someone has to be killed first before anything is done. this auto belongs to my stepson and he has a 8 month old daughter, i won't sit and watch anybody get killed because a stupid mistake like this electric power steering. | |||
| 05/01/2010 | 60000 | ||
| Power steering quits working on a 2006 chevrolet malibu | |||
| 08/01/2010 | 100000 | ||
| Clunking in the steering column of my 06 chevy malibu maxx lt. persistent issue is worsening. | |||
| 05/01/2010 | 60000 | ||
| Power steering quits working on a 2006 chevrolet malibu | |||
| 08/01/2010 | 100000 | ||
| Clunking in the steering column of my 06 chevy malibu maxx lt. persistent issue is worsening. | |||
| 10/01/2009 | 40000 | ||
| My 2006 malibu maxx loses power steering randomly at various speeds. the wheel tightens, is impossible to steer, the warning bell sounds and the phrase power steering flashes on the display. car must be stopped and turned off repeatedly sometimes to reset. car has done this in traffic, on highways and freeways, and in parking lots. the failure occurs randomly and at random driving speeds. the replacement cost is over $1000 at the dealership. chevy claims the problem can only be corrected by replacement parts that can only be issued and installed at a chevy dealership. the failure has occurred since the car reached 40,000 miles. after the corresponding recall of chevy cobalts and pontiac pursuits, i expected the recall to eventually cover malibu maxx. | |||
| 10/29/2010 | 69000 | ||
| I have a chevrolet malibu maxx and the power steering has failed on 2 separate occasions. the first incident was when i was taking a left turn and the power steering failed half way through the turn. luckily i was able to pull off into a parking lot and turn off the vehicle. there was a ding and the front displayed power steering. the next day when reversing out of a parking lot i had the same thing happen although this time the steering wheel shimmied, then the ding, failure of power steering, and the display. i was once again able to turn off the vehicle and restart. upon restarting the power steering resumed. since these two incidents i have noticed that the steering wheel jerks a little with any turns. i am so glad i was not going at a fast speed or in heavy traffic as an accident definitely could have been caused. i have called and reported it to chevrolet and set up an appt with a dealer on monday. chevrolet stated that it is infact a special coverage on power steering and in other cases have involved replacing the entire steering column. i am shocked that this has not been a recall and that other customers are put in this danger. thank you for looking further into this. | |||
| 10/01/2009 | 40000 | ||
| My 2006 malibu maxx loses power steering randomly at various speeds. the wheel tightens, is impossible to steer, the warning bell sounds and the phrase power steering flashes on the display. car must be stopped and turned off repeatedly sometimes to reset. car has done this in traffic, on highways and freeways, and in parking lots. the failure occurs randomly and at random driving speeds. the replacement cost is over $1000 at the dealership. chevy claims the problem can only be corrected by replacement parts that can only be issued and installed at a chevy dealership. the failure has occurred since the car reached 40,000 miles. after the corresponding recall of chevy cobalts and pontiac pursuits, i expected the recall to eventually cover malibu maxx. | |||
| 10/29/2010 | 69000 | ||
| I have a chevrolet malibu maxx and the power steering has failed on 2 separate occasions. the first incident was when i was taking a left turn and the power steering failed half way through the turn. luckily i was able to pull off into a parking lot and turn off the vehicle. there was a ding and the front displayed power steering. the next day when reversing out of a parking lot i had the same thing happen although this time the steering wheel shimmied, then the ding, failure of power steering, and the display. i was once again able to turn off the vehicle and restart. upon restarting the power steering resumed. since these two incidents i have noticed that the steering wheel jerks a little with any turns. i am so glad i was not going at a fast speed or in heavy traffic as an accident definitely could have been caused. i have called and reported it to chevrolet and set up an appt with a dealer on monday. chevrolet stated that it is infact a special coverage on power steering and in other cases have involved replacing the entire steering column. i am shocked that this has not been a recall and that other customers are put in this danger. thank you for looking further into this. | |||
| 10/01/2009 | 40000 | ||
| My 2006 malibu maxx loses power steering randomly at various speeds. the wheel tightens, is impossible to steer, the warning bell sounds and the phrase power steering flashes on the display. car must be stopped and turned off repeatedly sometimes to reset. car has done this in traffic, on highways and freeways, and in parking lots. the failure occurs randomly and at random driving speeds. the replacement cost is over $1000 at the dealership. chevy claims the problem can only be corrected by replacement parts that can only be issued and installed at a chevy dealership. the failure has occurred since the car reached 40,000 miles. after the corresponding recall of chevy cobalts and pontiac pursuits, i expected the recall to eventually cover malibu maxx. | |||
| 10/29/2010 | 69000 | ||
| I have a chevrolet malibu maxx and the power steering has failed on 2 separate occasions. the first incident was when i was taking a left turn and the power steering failed half way through the turn. luckily i was able to pull off into a parking lot and turn off the vehicle. there was a ding and the front displayed power steering. the next day when reversing out of a parking lot i had the same thing happen although this time the steering wheel shimmied, then the ding, failure of power steering, and the display. i was once again able to turn off the vehicle and restart. upon restarting the power steering resumed. since these two incidents i have noticed that the steering wheel jerks a little with any turns. i am so glad i was not going at a fast speed or in heavy traffic as an accident definitely could have been caused. i have called and reported it to chevrolet and set up an appt with a dealer on monday. chevrolet stated that it is infact a special coverage on power steering and in other cases have involved replacing the entire steering column. i am shocked that this has not been a recall and that other customers are put in this danger. thank you for looking further into this. | |||
| 10/10/2010 | 62000 | ||
| There have been multiple times since i have bought my 2006 chevy malibu maxx lt that the power steering locks up causing me to temporarily lose control of my car. this usually happens when accelerating. the steering wheel locks up and it stays in its last position and the car dings. i have no message on my dash or radio. usually letting off the gas corrects the issue within a couple seconds. in those seconds before i regain control of my car, i have no control to keep me from hitting something. i've seen many reports online for the same issue. i've read some that have said it caused an accident or almost caused an accident. there was a recall for the chevy cobalt for the same issue. | |||
| 10/01/2009 | 40000 | ||
| My 2006 malibu maxx loses power steering randomly at various speeds. the wheel tightens, is impossible to steer, the warning bell sounds and the phrase power steering flashes on the display. car must be stopped and turned off repeatedly sometimes to reset. car has done this in traffic, on highways and freeways, and in parking lots. the failure occurs randomly and at random driving speeds. the replacement cost is over $1000 at the dealership. chevy claims the problem can only be corrected by replacement parts that can only be issued and installed at a chevy dealership. the failure has occurred since the car reached 40,000 miles. after the corresponding recall of chevy cobalts and pontiac pursuits, i expected the recall to eventually cover malibu maxx. | |||
| 10/29/2010 | 69000 | ||
| I have a chevrolet malibu maxx and the power steering has failed on 2 separate occasions. the first incident was when i was taking a left turn and the power steering failed half way through the turn. luckily i was able to pull off into a parking lot and turn off the vehicle. there was a ding and the front displayed power steering. the next day when reversing out of a parking lot i had the same thing happen although this time the steering wheel shimmied, then the ding, failure of power steering, and the display. i was once again able to turn off the vehicle and restart. upon restarting the power steering resumed. since these two incidents i have noticed that the steering wheel jerks a little with any turns. i am so glad i was not going at a fast speed or in heavy traffic as an accident definitely could have been caused. i have called and reported it to chevrolet and set up an appt with a dealer on monday. chevrolet stated that it is infact a special coverage on power steering and in other cases have involved replacing the entire steering column. i am shocked that this has not been a recall and that other customers are put in this danger. thank you for looking further into this. | |||
| 10/10/2010 | 62000 | ||
| There have been multiple times since i have bought my 2006 chevy malibu maxx lt that the power steering locks up causing me to temporarily lose control of my car. this usually happens when accelerating. the steering wheel locks up and it stays in its last position and the car dings. i have no message on my dash or radio. usually letting off the gas corrects the issue within a couple seconds. in those seconds before i regain control of my car, i have no control to keep me from hitting something. i've seen many reports online for the same issue. i've read some that have said it caused an accident or almost caused an accident. there was a recall for the chevy cobalt for the same issue. | |||
| 10/29/2010 | 69000 | ||
| I have a chevrolet malibu maxx and the power steering has failed on 2 separate occasions. the first incident was when i was taking a left turn and the power steering failed half way through the turn. luckily i was able to pull off into a parking lot and turn off the vehicle. there was a ding and the front displayed power steering. the next day when reversing out of a parking lot i had the same thing happen although this time the steering wheel shimmied, then the ding, failure of power steering, and the display. i was once again able to turn off the vehicle and restart. upon restarting the power steering resumed. since these two incidents i have noticed that the steering wheel jerks a little with any turns. i am so glad i was not going at a fast speed or in heavy traffic as an accident definitely could have been caused. i have called and reported it to chevrolet and set up an appt with a dealer on monday. chevrolet stated that it is infact a special coverage on power steering and in other cases have involved replacing the entire steering column. i am shocked that this has not been a recall and that other customers are put in this danger. thank you for looking further into this. | |||
| 10/10/2010 | 62000 | ||
| There have been multiple times since i have bought my 2006 chevy malibu maxx lt that the power steering locks up causing me to temporarily lose control of my car. this usually happens when accelerating. the steering wheel locks up and it stays in its last position and the car dings. i have no message on my dash or radio. usually letting off the gas corrects the issue within a couple seconds. in those seconds before i regain control of my car, i have no control to keep me from hitting something. i've seen many reports online for the same issue. i've read some that have said it caused an accident or almost caused an accident. there was a recall for the chevy cobalt for the same issue. | |||
| 09/15/2009 | 86000 | ||
| Electric power steering in the 2006 chevy malibu maxx is defective. it goes out while driving. i have read on several blog and community websites that several others that own 2006 chevy malibu maxx have the same problem. the company shoudl recall this at once and fix all impacted vehicles before someone dies. | |||
| 01/08/2009 | 85000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu maxx . the contact stated that while driving various speeds the power steering will go out and will cause the steering wheel very hard to turn . the contact will have to put the vehicle into neutral and restart it to be able to drive . the dealer was informed about the failure and they stated that want to diagnose the vehicle. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the failure mileage was 85000 and the current mileage was 117000.cv | |||
| 09/17/2010 | 67000 | ||
| My 2006 chevy malibu maxx has lost power steering three times. it has been to the mechanic twice. driving at any time, but especially at higher speeds on the highway, is frightening because the power steering my go out unexpectedly. | |||
| 08/01/2010 | 60000 | ||
| I have a 06 malibu maxx and the steering keeps locking up. why this issue has not been recalled i do not know. this is a common issue with the malibu and am very upset that the issuse has not been addressed!!! someone will be killed because of this and will be headed to court before it is taken seriously!!! | |||
| 12/23/2009 | 80000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu maxx. the contact stated that the power steering goes in and out on the vehicle. the steering locks up and then the power steering light comes on the dashboard. the contact called the dealer and was told that the failure comes from the electronic power assist module and that is a very common problem, but the part is not under recall. the failure mileage was 80000 and the current mileage was 104000.rl | |||
| 08/26/2010 | 83659 | ||
| While driving to school yesterday, my malibu 2006 maxx, the power steering locked up causing me to run off the road and into a ditch. the power steering has locked up before but only while it was in park, and i turned off the car and restarted the car. it reset itself and i was able to drive. luckily i was not hurt this time but this is a safey issue if there was ever one. i have done some research of this subject and understand that this has been an on going issue with malibu. after all the complaints what are they waiting for.....a fatality???? | |||
| 08/24/2010 | 67810 | ||
| My 2006 malibu maxx has been have issues with the steering system. started out with an intermiten clunking noise several months ago. the car has only 67,000 miles on it. now it clunks every time you turn the steering wheel. the front end has always road ruff like a steering vibration but thought it was just the make of the car. our 00' monte carlo and 00' impala in comparison never road like this. thought it was the tires so we upgraded to a better riding tire, did not make a difference. over the last couple weeks steering noise getting worse, sensor light came on indicating power steering. check with mechanic and cannot find anything that appears wrong on vehicle. just this weekend on the entrance ramp on the interstate the wheel just jerked to the right. was able to bring it back to central position quickly but was concerned. happened today to my wife on the way to the store on a two lane road. luckily it jerked her to the right and she was able to steer it back to the center position. concerned of potential for serious accident and will not be so lucky next time. after plugging in steering issues with malibu maxx's, i was shocked to see hundreds of complaints on forums and consumer sites regarding a range of years with the maxx. gm needs to wake up, does it take people dying or seriously getting hurt before they will pay attention to all these people and their issues and serious ones at that. my husband is a ford mechanic and wanted me to buy a ford because of quality issues, but i love the style of the maxx, the cargo capacity and now i'm having second thoughts as no one seems to be getting help other than gm has some solutions that are costing the consumer lots of money and there are still issues after the fixes. i'm seriously considering getting rid of it and settling for a car that will insure me a safe ride and keep my passengers safe. wise up to this before people are seriously hurt. thank you. | |||
| 06/13/2010 | 25000 | ||
| 2006 maliibu maxx lt. power steering failure while hard acceleration. had the problem since the first day it was purchased. dealership cant duplicated the problem. we almost had 2 accidents because of this issue. power steering message appears on the car system information.. the car always pulls hard to the right if the acceleration has to be done fast. the vehicle has currently 75,000 miles. | |||
| 01/18/2010 | 50000 | ||
| 2006 chevy malibu, power steering fails in motion or upon startup. repairs require replacement of both the ps sensor module and the ps column. costs any where between $1500-$2000 to repair. steering becomes very difficult, could be hard to avoid accidents or safely steer clear of road debris. | |||
| 06/18/2010 | 114000 | ||
| 2006 chevy malibu maxx. power steering lock up on turns, pulling away at a light, going straight streering moves intermittenly to the left or right and becomes hard to control. the power streering indicator does not always show on message center, sometimes it only dings repeadedly. and you can hear a ticking noise from the dash. when it stops working the streering also will go in the opposite direction you are driving. | |||
| 05/27/2010 | 37000 | ||
| 2006 chevy malibu maxx - 2 problems 1. metal to metal noise as steering wheel is turned 2. vibrating noise around dashboard all the time | |||
| 01/10/2008 | 30000 | ||
| 2006 malibu maxx power steering light comes on steering wheel freezes while car is moving steering column vibrates and yet no codes are present | |||
| 04/26/2010 | 82956 | ||
| I bought my 2006 chevy malibu maxx from a local dealership and the first week i lost my power steering while driving. the message was displayed power steering. the mileage was 62,000. the dealership took the car to their shop and sent it back saying it was fixed. this problem continues intermittently for the next 20,000 miles. the last week before i had it repaired the power steering went out going 70 miles an hour on the highway. i could not steer at all and i lost my brakes untill i shut the car off. i had to have the car towed to a chevrolet dealorship for repair. the torque sensor failed completly and they had to replace the steering column. i was told then by the chevrolet dealorship and also the dealorship where i purchased the vehicle that this was a common problem and several chevrolets on their lot had been recalled for the same problem. this cost me $700.00 and also i had a near accident due to losing steering and brake function at 70 miles an hour. i feel this is a serious defect and apparently well known. if i would have been hurt i would have held gm responsible as they are aware of this problem. i was told that gm used saab parts for a few years untill the problem became apparent. the chevy malibu maxx 2004 and 2005 models were recalled for this problem. | |||
| 05/10/2010 | 110000 | ||
| Power steering locks up and then resets itself. has not lockup yet while driving. have researched and many people have this problem with the same type car. i have to drive it but am afraid the whole time. | |||
| 05/11/2010 | 85000 | ||
| Electric power steering goes out intermittently while my vehicle is moving | |||
| 03/15/2010 | 100115 | 1 | |
| 06 chevy malibu power steering problem. when i go to accelerate when getting on the road, a power steering message show across the radio dial, a warning beep sounds, then the steering is extremely difficult. my teenage daughter says it feels as if the steer wheel locks on her, unable to turn. i do not feel safe driving the vehicle, the warranty is out. i understand the cobalts have a recall against them for the same problem. why not the malibu's? check the internet for complaints, there are hundred, may be even thousands. the only recalls is for stickers and two other issues, which will not cause someone to have a wreck possibly injuring persons. please help with this situation. thank you *tr | |||
| 03/29/2010 | 78000 | ||
| While making a left hand turn on to a road my power steering completly went out and i just about ran off the road into a tree. this problem occurs just about every day and it is now to the point where i wont let my wife drive my car or let my kids ride in it. i have been told that i will need to replace the entire steering column and that the approx. cost will be $1000. | |||
| 11/05/2009 | 63000 | ||
| This car loses power steering while driving. 1st time i was merging into high speed parkway traffic and was frightened when directing the car was almost too difficult for me. my petite daughter would not have been able to do this if she had been driving. turning corners is extremely difficult as the turning radius is greatly reduced. my wide arched turns bring me dangerously close to other vehicles on the road. i have chronic muscle pain from the muscle use it takes to turn the wheels of my car. i have been told by the dealer's service manager that they are aware of this issue but will charge approximately $900.00 to remedy it. the power steering system is electronic not hydraulic and i fully expect it is the same system presently recalled on the chevy cobalt. the problem descriptions of the cobalt and malibu are identical. this failure occurs whenever i drive my car - everyday! | |||
| 03/15/2010 | 47400 | ||
| I was driving my car around 15-20 miles and i heard a chime. i thought the car was low on fuel; i looked the instruments panel/display, and i noticed a message on the screen power steering. i had 2-3 previous (dealer service) incidents before because a clunk noise when turning. | |||
| 01/20/2010 | 68000 | 4 | |
| My power steering suddenly went out suddenly on my 2006 malibu maxx lt while entering the freeway. it has happened 3 other times. it resets when i turn the car off and then back on, but i feel that it is very dangerous. i have talked to several auto shops and none of them can figure it out, except to tell me that it is very common. *tr | |||
| 01/15/2010 | 60000 | 1 | |
| I have a 2006 chevy malibu maxx. the power steering is lighting up on the stereo. there is a recall for other chevy cars that have the same power steering as our car, yet our car isn't part of the recall. why? *tr | |||
| 11/15/2009 | 79000 | 1 | |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu maxx. the contact stated that the power steering light came on and then the vehicle had to be turned off and back on so that the steering wheel would function normally. the failure occurred intermittently at various speeds without a warning. the steering shaft was replaced and the vehicle was functioning properly when the complaint was filed. the failure mileage was 79,000. the failure mileage was 89,000. updated 03/14/10 *bf updated 05/06/10.*jb | |||
| 02/25/2010 | 45620 | 1 | |
| Power steering became inoperative, wouldn't turn. *tr | |||
| 12/15/2009 | 1 | ||
| I have a 2006 chevy malibu, i purchase this car used last february 2009 and about two months ago, the power steering light begin to come on. a couple of times i needed to turn the car off and restart it. i took it back to the dealership and i was told that it would cost about $600 for them to replace the steering wheel, or fix the problem. i was also told that this problem would not cause any problem at that time. today 03-02-2010 i read an article concerning recalls on gm cars 2005-2010 cobalt, but due to the information that is provided, this is the exact same problem i am having with my 2006 chevy malibu. my concern is how do i go about having the power steering problem rectified as well for this car. *tr | |||
| 05/17/2009 | 1 | ||
| 2006 chevrolet malibu maxx - 1st incident was turning into a parking lot, the wheel was extremely hard to turn power steering flashed on the console display, parked the car and turned it off and on, and it was working fine; about 12 times since may, i start the car and the wheel will not turn, the check engine light comes on and the power steering display on the center console flashes, it sometimes takes about 10 tries, but it eventual starts correctly; about 4 of the 12 incidents have been while driving, it usually happens on turns, switching lanes, all at relatively slow speeds; it has been in a chevrolet dealership five times with expensive repair bills (a sensor module replaced/repaired, steering column was replaced, sensor modules/solenoids replaced, a relay/sensor replaced in the column, last visit there was no code, so the mechanic said he could not do anything and to wait until it does it again and keep it running and they would come tow it, however the last time it happened, i was on business 2 hours away and it wasn't possible for them to do it) and the problems continues and appears to be getting worse (more frequent and takes more restarts to work properly); even more disheartening is that the dealership claimed to have never heard of this problem, but i've found many blogs with owners with the same problem. *tr | |||
| 02/05/2010 | 60015 | 1 | |
| My 2006 chevrolet malibu's power steering went out twice on 02/05/2010. i was driving on a straight away and at low speeds at the time of the incident so this did not cause me to crash. however i'm concerned this will happen again at higher speed or a more unsafe time. this appears to be much like the cobalt investigation pe10005. *tr | |||
| 11/14/2009 | 110000 | 1 | |
| Power steeering failure while car is in motion-when car slows down it is almost impossible to control. happened 2x-car towed to dealer they replaced power steering motor. happened again 2 weeks later-dealer replaced steering column-$1400 total repairs! gm will not help because car is out of warrenty *cn | |||
| 10/18/2009 | 89000 | 1 | |
| The power steering freezes up on my 2006 malibu maxx. it seems to happen when the rpms are way up, like when passing. when this happens there is no steering at all!!! the wheel is locked right tight. the dealer said that it could not happen that way. the car also looses steering at low speeds. the steering wheel turns but the tires do not. *tr | |||
| 01/27/2010 | 55000 | 1 | |
| I have a 06 malibu maxx and the power steering keeps going out. when i first got the car, it was driving fine and the all of a sudden i lose power steering and the words power steering is displayed. i have to turn of the car and turn it back on so it can reset. it has been doing it more and more lately, and a few times i almost have hit someone. i called chevy to see if there was any recalls on this problem and they said no. there was a recall on the 2004 and 2005 chevys malibu with electronic power steering, but nothing on the 2006. chevy also told me to take it to the dealer and let them inspect. which i did and they can find no problem. *cn | |||
| 01/24/2010 | 67000 | 1 | |
| I have a 2006 chevy malibu maxx that has been knocking near the front end, indicating possible cv joint issues or some other suspension or steering problems. i have had the tie rods replaced once but the symptoms later returned. most recently, the power steering failed, locking during a right turn and causing me to drive out of my lane. this has happened on at least 3 occasions in january 2010 and thankfully has not resulted in an accident. had my wife been driving with her bad back, she would not have had the strength to control the car and avoid a potential accident. i took it to my local mechanic who told me it was the electronic steering system and the column needed to be replaced. he also told me that there are literally hundreds of forums discussing this exact problem in the same model vehicle over about 4 model years but there was no recall. there is an obvious problem with the steering in this model vehicle and needs to be fixed and recalled before someone gets seriously hurt or killed. *tr | |||
| 01/08/2010 | 55000 | 1 | |
| My 06 malibu maxx has a steering problem. the steering wheel will not turn easily at low speeds. it makes a clunking noise when i turn. i have read and this seems to be a problem with my electronic steering and it seems to be a problem for many of these vehicles. i am worried that this will happen at a higher speed. *tr | |||
| 12/21/2009 | 82000 | 1 | |
| The power steering assist in my 2006 chevy malibu maxx has suddenly stopped working twice. i had my mechanic look into it and it was a confirmed problem for the 2005 models but not the 2006. i feel this is a huge liability issue that needs to be addressed immediately, regardless of mileage. if the manufacturer knows its an issue, it needs to get fixed before someone gets hurt. i've found numerous complaints on the internet about this problem and we need your help to fix it. *tr | |||
| 11/10/2008 | 42000 | 1 | |
| Power steering goes out when i accelerate and the reading on my radio says power steering and the alarm is activated as well to let me know there is a problem. when i take my foot off of the gas, i get my power steering back. this happens regularly. *tr | |||
| 12/08/2009 | 68500 | 1 | |
| Power steering went out abruptly in 2006 chevy malibu maxx making it difficult to drive on crowded roadway. condition did not improve until car was brought to a complete halt, turned off and restarted. this condition has occurred previously and was addressed by my chevrolet dealer's service department at no cost. apparently the fix didn't last. when i reported this recurrence to the same service manager he quoted me a substantial estimate cost for repairing the condition. when i mentioned the growing number of complaints that i've monitored he told me that there have been no recalls only bulletins and that i will have to pay to get this dangerous condition repaired again. *tr | |||
| 10/10/2009 | 70000 | 1 | |
| I have a 2006 chevrolet malibu maxx. it currently will shut down the power steering and reduce engine power without warning. this is a unsafe condition and i have read about alot of these incidents on the web that results in the whole steering column to be replaced. *tr | |||
| 10/19/2009 | 86500 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu maxx. while driving approximately 10 mph she lost power steering without any prior warnings. she was able to safely restart the vehicle and resume normal vehicle operation. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the vehicle has not been inspected to determine the cause of the failure. the failure and current mileages were 80,500. the vehicle identification number was unavailable. | |||
| 10/19/2009 | 80500 | 1 | |
| Loss of power steering! driving less than 1 mile i loss all power steering! i made a left hand turn down a cul-de-sac street and when turning around at the end of the road i lost my power steering! i was shocked that after driving to the same bus stop morning after morning with my child in the car that i had lost control of the steering wheel due to the power steering system that failed! it was very hard to make the simplest turn. the difficulty that i had experienced took me by surprise. i put the car in park and shut the car down as soon as i was in a safe area. i waited then re-started the car and the power steering had come back. i could feel that it came back in the steering wheel as i barely accelerated forward worried that i might lose the control of the wheel again i waited for all the kids at the bus stop to board the bus before i drove back home! i immediately looked online about recalls for my car incase there was a known problem, not sure that there was actually a problem with my make & model & somewhat surprised i found alot of similar situations on the nhtsa website. there seems to be others that without warning like myself loss the power steering. i even found a suggestion that read to turn the car off if possible then re-start to have power steering come back. even though that's what i did for the safety for the kids & others. i thought are you kidding me? turn the car off to re-gain power steering should i lose it again? i sure hope that i am not on a busy highway or where kids are close to the road should this happen again. i called gm to complain of this safety issue seeing as how i did find posted bulletins about power steering loss i had believed that gm would want to inspect the safety of my car . since it is an known problem of safety.. i was told by gm to bring the car in & pay for an inspection to look at the power steering system. gm said the cost to look at my car could start at $65-$95 maybe be higher depends on what they do!!! *tr | |||
| 09/17/2009 | 80000 | 1 | |
| The power steering failed during a turn and caught me by surprise. this almost caused me to hit another car in the turn because the steering got really hard to turn. *tr | |||
| 06/29/2009 | 52000 | 1 | |
| I was driving (with my daughter in the car). i turned the corner to pull into the parking lot at my place of employment and the steering wheel locked up. i could get it into the garage and into a spot but only with a great deal of effort. i had the car towed to a repair shop. he told me that it was an electric steering system and that it had to be replaced -- the cost would be in the vicinity of $640 plus. i took the car to a gm dealer to have it diagnosed. they confirmed that it was the steering column and it needed to be replaced. the car has approx. 52k miles. i think there needs to be a recall on this model. i am reading a great deal about many other instances similar to mine. i see there is a bulletin about the 2005 model but not the 2006. this is an extreme hazard. gm do right by the people trying to support american cars. please. *tr | |||
| 05/10/2009 | 34000 | 1 | |
| Electric power steering does not work sometimes when you start the car. if you shut the car off and restart the car and it starts working again. *tr | |||
| 02/01/2009 | 1 | ||
| Filing a complaint regarding my 2006 chevy malibu maxx...what is a safety-related defect? the united states code for motor vehicle safety (title 49, chapter 301) defines motor vehicle safety as ?the performance of a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment in a way that protects the public against unreasonable risk of accidents occurring because of the design, construction, or performance of a motor vehicle (the steering column is a genuine gm defective part(s), and against unreasonable risk of death or injury in an accident, and includes nonoperational safety of a motor vehicle.? a defect includes ?any defect in performance, construction, a component, or material of a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment.? generally, a safety defect is defined as a problem that exists in a motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment that: poses an risk to motor vehicle safety, and may exist in a group of vehicles of the same design or manufacture, or items of equipment of the same type and manufacture. examples of defects considered safety-related steering components that break suddenly causing partial or complete loss of vehicle control. * the above listed united state vehicle safety code is the reason for this complaint being file. i understand that chevy used the same column unit in its 2004, 2005 and 2006 malibu models and all three years are experiencing the same problem. once odometer reaches a certain mileage reading the steering column electronic assisted steering column fails, it turns off, leaving the driver at the mercy of a manually hard to steer vehicle, in my wife and mine's case it is a metal death trap on the road when making a right hand turn. i have written directly to chevy/gm motor corporation with out recognition of my complaint. this car is a large road safety issue and needs to be addressed immediately. i want chevy to buy my car back of replace this vehicle. please help!! i don't want to die in this vehicle, nor loose my wife. *tr | |||
| 03/11/2009 | 50000 | 1 | |
| As i drive out of nowhere the steering locks up. it started off once in a great while then got worse with time. i have heard that this is a common problem with this model and other models of malibu. i just think it's very dangerous to know this is an issue and not do anything about it. a mechanic at chevy said that more and more cars were coming in with that problem. *tr | |||
| 09/14/2008 | 65000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu maxx. while driving at any speed, the power steering fails. the dealer advised the contact to bring in the vehicle for a diagnosis. the vehicle will be repaired at the owner's expense and is becoming very difficult to drive. the failure mileage was 65,000 and current mileage was 77,000. | |||
| 02/01/2009 | 50454 | 1 | |
| Usually while turning the power steering goes out on the malibu maxx. there are several complaints on it and the dealership has a bulletin regarding it. they want over $500 to fix their mistake. it happened 4 times on a 94 mile trip just last weekend. it usually happens a couple times a week. there is no warning as to when it will occur and you have no control over the car. the dealership told me to shut the car off and restart and the power would reset. that works most of the time but not a good idea if you are in heavy traffic. there will be a serious accident from this problem as it is reported more and more. people don't have the money to spend on repairs while the motor companies get bail out money. i want a recall. *tr | |||
| 11/01/2008 | 1 | ||
| While driving my 2006 chevrolet malibu maxx, i was backing out of my driveway when i lost power steering. i parked the car, shut it off, turned it back on and the power steering was working properly. a few days later i was driving down the road and again lost power steering. i pulled over and shut the car off and restarted and gained power steering back. it happened again nearly right away after doing the last restart. i again pulled over, shut the car off and turned it back on and power steering was back. this has happened 6 to 10 times in the last 1 to 2 months and there is no rhyme or reason to when the power steering gives out. this makes every trip in the car a potential hazard. *tr | |||
| 07/22/2008 | 35000 | 1 | |
| Bump sound in front end when starting from a stop or braking and turning. dealer says it is a power steering shaft. they lubricated it and tightened it before warranty expired. within 1,000 miles problems returned. now warranty has expired and it's my problem although gm has a replacement steering shaft that will correct the problem. *tr | |||
| 07/20/2007 | 1 | ||
| Chevrolet malibus and other makes have a problem with the steering rack and pinion. mine has been replaced about a year ago. it had a bumping noise that you could hear even standing outside of the car while someone else is driving. gm needs to do a recall before somebody looses their steering and has a major accident. this problem is very common on these cars and needs to be addressed. i am an ase certified technician and have been for many years. *tr | |||
| 09/14/2008 | 92586 | 1 | |
| I have a 2006 malibu maxx 3.5 v6. my wife was parallel parking when the power steering locked up on her. it was very difficult to park and maneuver the vehicle. no damage was done. i went online to find out about why it just shut off and found the link to this web-site. i sure don't want to see this go out when turning around a corner. this is a safety hazard not for us but anyone else on the road as well. *tr | |||
| 08/03/2008 | 25000 | 1 | |
| The electric steering assist system continues to fail on a regular basis. it will lock up and the steering wheel will not turn. so far, this has only happened at low speeds and has not caused a crash. i have had it into dealerships 4 times so far. although dealership personnel have experiences the failure, no code is generated therefore chevrolet will not pay for repair. the car is under warranty and only has 25,000 mile on it. *tr | |||
| 08/12/2008 | 65000 | 1 | |
| I started the car and thought it had stalled because the power steering had failed. i restarted the car and found it was the power steering. the car sat for about 4 hours and when restarted the power steering had returned. while driving down the road it failed again and almost caused an accident. it has not been repaired yet. *tr | |||
| 04/02/2008 | 48000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu maxx. while driving 55 mph, the steering became loose. the contact overcorrected her turn. in addition, the steering wheel locks intermittently. the dealer stated that they have not had any other complaints related to the steering; therefore, they referred the contact to nhtsa to file a safety complaint. the failure mileage was 48,000 and current mileage was 48,050. | |||
| 10/03/2006 | 1 | ||
| The gear box on the steering column makes a popping sound when you turn also the steering wheel jolts when it does this it has been replaced every month since then and it still does it. it will not do it for about a week when i have it replaced but then it starts to do it again. *tr | |||
| 05/01/2008 | 53100 | 1 | |
| My wife was driving our daughter to school and was getting on the freeway and all of a sudden the electronic power steering went out making it very hard to steer the car. it happened twice that trip and the only way to correct it is to turn the car off and restart it. took it in to the shop and found that the power steering control module needs replaced. notice that there have been similar complaints like mine and wonder if it is going to take an injury or death to get it noticed? i hope not. *tr | |||
| 10/23/2007 | 12000 | 4 | |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu maxx. while driving 60 mph, the steering column locked. as soon as the contact removed his foot from the accelerator pedal, he regained control of the steering. the failure has occurred approximately four times. the vehicle was taken to a dealer and they could not find any failure. the current mileage was 21,000 and failure mileage was approximately 16,000. updated 04-07-08 *bf | |||
| STEERING - ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | |||
| 03/20/2009 | 107000 | 3 | 08/01/2007 |
| Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu maxx. the contact stated that the power steering warning light would illuminate intermittently. within moments, the power steering would fail. the dealer replaced the power steering column however, the failure persisted. the current and failure mileages were 107,000. updated 05/24/10 *bf the consumer stated he has almost several accidents due to the failure of the power steering. the consumer stated on one occasion, he hit a block of wood in the road and blew a tire, due to the power steering failure. updated 05/28/10 | |||
| 04/16/2008 | 32000 | 4 | 04/06/2007 |
| In week leading up to the problem, steering was soft when turning the wheel to the left, and tight when turning to the right. a short time later, while driving, the power steering warning light came on and the on board display listed issue as power steering. the dealership has replaced the power steering motor 3 times and today, it has gone out again. i love the car, but i am tired of taking time out to take it to the dealership. *tr | |||
| 10/13/2007 | 51500 | 1 | 01/17/2007 |
| The electric power steering on my 2006 chevrolet malibu maxx (51,500 miles at occurrence) went out suddenly as my daughter was pulling out of a parking lot onto a busy highway. there was no warning and the car was extremely difficult to steer. she was able to pull into a home depot parking lot and call me. she could have easily been in an accident and i am really concerned what might have happened if she had been taking a curve at a higher speed or had been in heavier traffic. would you please investigate as i am finding that there have been similar incidents occur with the electric steering with this car? *tr | |||
| 09/01/2006 | 27000 | 1 | 05/05/2006 |
| I had an uncontrollable immediate right hand turn at a very high speed that was not initated by me. i had pressed the accelerator pedal to pass another car when the steering wheel did an extremely hard right hand turn taht took the car off of the regular roadway and onto the outer edge of the shoulder. when i released the accelerator pedal the wheel snapped back to the left and my vehicle was now sideways on a major freeway at 60 mph! i was lucky in that no accident/incident with anyone else occured. i turned this vehicle into my local dealership for repairs immediately that same day. they found the problem and corrected it. the vehicle, 2005 malibu maxx has electronic steering. the dealership said that a electronic part was putting out too much voltage and that is what caused the problem. i have since that time had other steering related prob lems that have been corrected by the same dealership. the dealership has been very helpfull with the corrections to this vehicle. my concern is that someone else that may not be able to handle a situation like this would lose complete control should it happen to them. i'm a defensive driver and usually keep both hands on the wheel. if i hadn't of had both hands on the wheel i probably would have rolled the car or at the least spun out into other traffic. i was lucky! *nm | |||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST - POWER STEERING FLUID | |||
| 09/22/2007 | 36000 | 1 | |
| I was making a turn a turn that i have done for four years of my life and the vehicle steering failed. instead of turning the vehicle went straight into a wall. *tr | |||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | |||
| 03/20/2009 | 107000 | 3 | 08/01/2007 |
| Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu maxx. the contact stated that the power steering warning light would illuminate intermittently. within moments, the power steering would fail. the dealer replaced the power steering column however, the failure persisted. the current and failure mileages were 107,000. updated 05/24/10 *bf the consumer stated he has almost several accidents due to the failure of the power steering. the consumer stated on one occasion, he hit a block of wood in the road and blew a tire, due to the power steering failure. updated 05/28/10 | |||
| STEERING - LINKAGES - DRAG - POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | |||
| 09/22/2007 | 36000 | 1 | |
| I was making a turn a turn that i have done for four years of my life and the vehicle steering failed. instead of turning the vehicle went straight into a wall. *tr | |||
| STEERING - LINKAGES - TIE ROD ASSEMBLY | |||
| 12/27/2007 | 50000 | 1 | |
| Tie rod end failure.*cn | |||