2009 Chevrolet Malibu
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Steering is the leading concern among 1,509 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 2nd highest complaint count among 26 Malibu model years with reports.
Of the 2009 reports, 41 involved a crash and 9 involved a fire. 44 people were injured and 3 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
SteeringJul 21, 2014
Dorman Products, Inc. (Dorman) is recalling certain replacement intermediate steering shafts sold under the Dorman, OE Solutions, and Solutions brand names, part numbers 425-167, 2425167, and 7-3074, for installation on 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6, and 2007-2009 Saturn Aura vehicles. The affected steering shafts may have a yoke that inadequately supports the u-joint bearing resulting in a premature failure.
A joint bearing that fails prematurely may cause separation of the u-joint resulting in a complete loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dorman will notify owners, and dealers will refund the purchase price or replace the steering shafts, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact Dorman customer service at 1-800-523-2492.
Campaign 14E044000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, wiringMay 14, 2014
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.
Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and harness connector, and will relearn the brake pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). GM's number for this recall is 13036.
Campaign 14V252000 on NHTSA.gov
Steering, electric power assist systemMar 31, 2014
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2006 Malibu Maxx, 2009-2010 HHR (non-turbo), 2010 Cobalt, 2008-2009 Saturn Aura and 2004-2007 Ion, and 2005-2009 Pontiac G6. In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving.
If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will perform one of four bulletins. Parts are not currently available. GM expects to send an interim notification around May 28, 2014. When parts are available, owners will be mailed a second letter to come in to have the applicable bulletin applied. Bulletin 14115 covers model year 2004-2007 Saturn Ion, 2009-2010 Chevrolet HHR and 2010 Chevrolet Cobalts. Dealers will replace the EPS motor. Bulletin 14116 covers model year 2004-2006 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx, 2005-2006 Pontiac G6 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from March 1, 2008, through June 27, 2008. Dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly. Bulletin 14117 covers model year 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from February 1, 2008, through February 28, 2008. Dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly and EPS motor controller unit. Bulletin 14118 covers model year 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from October 1, 2007, through January 31, 2008. Dealers will replace the EPS motor controller unit. The recall began on July 17, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, Saturn at 1-800-553-6000, and Pontiac at 1-800-620-7668. GM's number for this recall is N140115. Note: GM bulletin number 14119 will be implemented for model year 2006-2008 and early production of 2009 Chevrolet HHR (non-turbo) and model year 2003 Saturn ION to provide EPS Motor replacement for the life of the vehicle.
Campaign 14V153000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmission, gear position indication (prndl)Sep 18, 2012
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Saturn Aura and model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Malibu and Pontiac G6 vehicles, equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission. On these vehicles, the tabs on the transmission shift cable end may fracture and separate.
If the tabs were to fracture and separate, the shift lever and the actual position of the transmission gear may not match. The driver would be able to move the shifter to 'PARK' and remove the ignition key, but the transmission gear may not be in 'PARK.' The vehicle may not be able to be restarted and the vehicle could roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible crash without prior warning.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a retainer over the cable end or replace the shift cable as necessary. This service will be performed free of charge. Notification to owners began on on November 9, 2012. Owners were instructed to not bring their vehicles for repair until January 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.
Campaign 12V460000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmission, lever and linkage, column shiftMar 6, 2009
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING 276,729 MY 2009 BUICK ENCLAVE, CHEVROLET COBALT, HHR, MALIBU, TRAVERSE, GMC ACADIA, PONTIAC G5, G6 AND SATURN AURA AND OUTLOOK PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLES SAFETY STANDARD 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT POSITION SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK, AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT", AND FMVSS 114, "THEFT PROTECTION AND ROLLAWAY PREVENTION". ON SOME OF THESE VEHICLES, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE ADJUSTMENT CLIP MAY NOT BE FULLY ENGAGED. IF THE CLIP IS NOT FULLY ENGAGED, THE SHIFT LEVER AND THE ACTUAL POSITION OF THE TRANSMISSION GEAR MAY NOT MATCH. WITH THIS CONDITION, THE DRIVE COULD MOVE THE SHIFTER TO "PARK" AND REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY, BUT THE TRANSMISSION GEAR MAY NOT BE IN "PARK".
THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AWAY AFTER THE DRIVER HAS EXITED THE VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND ENSURE THAT THE SHIFT CABLE ADJUSTMENT CLIP IS FULLY ENGAGED. IN THE EVENT THAT THE CLIP DOES NOT ENGAGE, THE SHIFT CABLE WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE MARCH 24, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 AND SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 OR AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
Campaign 09V073000 on NHTSA.gov
Visibility, defroster/defogger/hvac systemDec 2, 2008
GM IS RECALLING 77 MY 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU HYBRID VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 103, "WINDSHIELD DEFROSTING AND DEFOGGING SYSTEM." THE HEATING, VENTILATION, AND AIRCONDITIONING (HVAC) SYSTEM MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE BLOWER WOULD NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AND THE MODE SELECTOR WOULD REMAIN IN THE LAST KNOWN SETTING.
IF THE WINDSHIELD BEGAN TO FOG OR FROST, THERE MAY NOT BE ENOUGH AIRFLOW TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD, RESULTING IN REDUCED DRIVER VISIBILITY AND A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE HVAC CONTROL HEAD MODULE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON DECEMBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .
Campaign 08V634000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: steering
768 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Apr 4, 2014
INTERMITTENT LOSS OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. UPON STARTING VEHICLE, POWER STEERING, ESC OFF, SERVICE ESC ALERTS ARE PRESENT. RESTARTING VEHICLE USUALLY CLEARS ALERTS AND RE-ESTABLISHES ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. *TR
Steering, Apr 4, 2014, crash
WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, MY SON WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE CAR QUICK ENOUGH BECAUSE IT CAUGHT HIM OFF GUARD AND HIT A PARKED CAR. *TR
Steering, Power train, Apr 2, 2014
POWER STEERING TRAIN, I PERSONALLY PURCHASE NEW LAST ONE, END OF THE YEAR VEHICLE ON THE AVAILABLE LIST. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Mar 30, 2014
THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, CAUSING LOSS OF NORMAL STEERING CONTROL, MAKING THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO STEER. VEHICLE HAD TO BE MOVED OUT OF TRAFFIC AND RESTARTED TO RESET THE FAILURE. LOSS OF STEERING AND ESC. ERROR CODE LATER DETERMINED TO HAVE BEEN CO545 (STEERING TORQUE SENSOR). *TR
Steering, Mar 29, 2014
WHILE DRIVING MY 2009 CHEVY MALIBU MY POWER STEERING WILL STOP WORKING AND MY ESC LIGHT COMES ON. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING ON AND OFF AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. SOMETIMES I CAN TURN CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND IT WILL RUN FINE OR RESET FOR A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME. VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
Steering, Mar 26, 2014
THE ELECTRONIC STEERING IS INTERMITTENTLY FAILING CAUSING VIOLENT SHAKING AND A POWER STEERING FAULT. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Mar 24, 2014
I WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED (APPROX. 75 MPH) THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THE TRACTION CONTROL TO TURN ON AND OFF. THEN SUDDENLY I HAD NO POWER STEERING. THIS HAPPENED TO ME AT NIGHT AND SUDDENLY, WITH OUR ANY WARNING. IT IS CONCERNING TO ME THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED! I FOUND IT TO BE EXTREMELY CHALLENGING NOT TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR SINCE I HAD BEEN TRAVELING COMFORTABLY AT 75MPH, THEN SUDDENLY HAD NO POWER STEERING. I CANNOT STRESS THE DANGER OF THIS OCCURRENCE AND THE POSSIBLE UNFORTUNATE OUTCOME HAD MY WIFE BEEN DRIVING WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED NOW....DO NOT WAIT UNTIL IT HAS COST SOMEONE THEIR LIFE! *TR
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Mar 24, 2014
WHILE DRIVING THE ELEC. STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT DUE TO THE POWER STEERING ASSIST MOTOR GIVING OUT. WHEN THIS HAPPEN, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD INADVERTENTLY MOVE BACK & FORTH. THE SENSOR IN THE MOTOR AND IN THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN BOTH WENT OUT. THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE REPAIR NOT TO MENTION THAT I WAS TRAVELING DOWN A BUSY INTERSTATE AND COULD HAD A SEVERE ACCIDENT. *TR
Steering, Service brakes, Feb 28, 2014
WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTENED UP AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE TRACTION CONTROL KICKED ON AND ESC SERVICE CAME ACROSS THE SCREEN, AND THE WHEEL IS HARD TO TURN. IT WILL KICK ON AND OFF AND BEFORE IT KICKS ON THE STEERING WHEEL JERKS BACK AND FORTH. THEN WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND CAME UP ON A EXIT AND WENT TO HIT THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKES WENT OUT BUT THEN CAMEBACK ON. CAR KEEPS DOING IT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL IT WILL GO ON AND OFF. *TR
Steering, Feb 24, 2014
I WAS DRIVING AND THE POWER STEERING STARTED TO SHAKE AND THE LIGHT CAME ON. HARD DIFFICULTY DRIVING. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALER WHO SAYS THERE ARE LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE BUT NO RECALL. I LOOKED ONLINE TO FIND HUNDREDS IF COMPLAINTS. I CONTACTED GM TO MAKE COMPLAINT AND SEE WHY NOT RECALLED. THEY TOLD ME GM DOESN'T RECALL VEHICLES THE HIGHWAY DEPT DOES. PRETTY AWFUL THEY ARE WILLING TO JEOPARDIZE MY LIFE BUT NOT FIX MY CAR. VERY UNHAPPY WITH GM THIS HAS TO BE A RECALL NOW !! *TR
Steering, Feb 24, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN IN ANY DIRECTION. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE AND VEER TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR INSPECTION OR DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
Steering, Feb 19, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED MAKING THE STEERING WHEEL VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTING, THE DEFECT WAS CORRECTED. THE NEXT MORNING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE POWER STEERING SENSOR LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE DEFECT HAD RECURRED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE DEFECT WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Steering, Feb 13, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. *TR
Steering, Feb 7, 2014
OVER LAST SUMMER I HAD A HOSE GO. NOT A BIG DEAL. ONLY A $200 DOLLAR REPAIR. LAST WEEK IS WHEN THE REST OF THE POWER STEERING FAILED. MY POWER STEERING PUMP BLEW WHEN I WAS TRYING TO LEAVE WORK. I ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE CAR BUT I COULD BARELY STEER, SO I HAD TO GET A TOW. WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THE SHOP, A NEW PUMP WAS INSTALLED. 15 MINUTES LATER THAT PUMP BLEW OUT. WHEN THIS FIRST PUMP BLEW IT SUCKED METAL INTO THE POWER STEERING GEAR WHICH THEN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS REPAIR COST ME $900. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. I SEE LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND IF IT WERE TO HAPPEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Feb 3, 2014
WITHIN A WEEK OF OWNING CAR ERROR CODE P0011 CAMSHAFT ALIGNMENT?CAME UP. DEALER GOT LIGHT TO GO OFF. SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH CAR. ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH POWER LOCKS ALSO, NOW MY COMPLETE STEERING COLUMN IS GONE.5 ERROR CODES C0545/C0561, NON FUNCTIONING ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. I AM LUCKY THAT I DIDN'T DIE IN THIS CAR OR WORSE KILL SOMEONE. I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS CAR. PLENTY OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE. ARE WE WAITING FOR PEOPLE TO DIE???? SERIOUSLY. MY CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP TODAY AND GM DISTRICT SPECIALIST IS DEALING WITH THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO. I THINK THIS WILL BE THE LAST CHEVROLET THAT I EVER PURCHASE. UNSAFE. I HOPE PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO COMPLAIN ON HERE BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE. 2008 WAS RECALLED FOR SAME ISSUES. MAYBE THEY USED SOME OF THEIR OLD PARTS IN MY CAR FROM 2008. *TR
Steering, Feb 1, 2014
STEERING WHEEL SHAKING, UNABLE TO TURN. *TR
Steering, Dec 31, 2013
AT FREEWAY SPEED THE CAR WANTS TO PULL TO LEFT WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. STEERING WHEEL MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. HARD TO STEER WHEN MOVING SLOWLY. LOOSE SLOPPY STEERING FEEL. THE DEALER IS REPLACING THE ENTIRE STEERING GEAR RACK. VERY COSTLY. *TR
Steering, Nov 15, 2013
ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2013, THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WARNING ME THAT WE HAD NO POWER STEERING FOR THE FIRST TIME. ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013, WE AGAIN RECEIVED THE MESSAGE THAT WE HAD NO POWER STEERING. AND WE DID NOT HAVE POWER STEERING. YOU HAD TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND RESTART NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THE WARNING LIGHT NOT TO COME ON. ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013, MY INTENT WAS TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE MALIBU CHECKED OUT, WHEN MY WIFE CALLED ON HER WAY TO WORK AND SAID THAT SHE HAD TROUBLE STARTING THE MALIBU WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING WARNING, THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE STEERING AS SHE WAS DRIVING, AND WE SHOULD EXCHANGE VEHICLES AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THEY LOOKED AT THE ERROR CODE (DTC C0545), PRINTED ME A COPY OF THE TECHNICAL BULLETIN (09-02-36-001), AND RECOMMENDED THAT I TAKE THE MALIBU TO A DEALER. IT TOOK FIVE STARTS BEFORE THE MALIBU WOULD START ON THEIR PARKING LOT BEFORE THE POWER STEERING WARNING WENT OFF. AS I DROVE TO THE DEALER THE CAR WAS DRIVABLE, BUT THERE WAS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING. WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE DEALER, I PLACED THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK AND SET THE EMERGENCY BRAKE; WHEN I TOOK MY HANDS OFF THE STEERING WHEEL TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS GOING LEFT AND RIGHT ON ITS OWN ? I CAN?T EMPHASIZE THIS ENOUGH. I HAVE NEVER WITNESSED (OR HAVE EVEN HEARD OF) A CAR?S STEERING WHEEL PERFORMING IN THIS MANNER BEFORE. IN ADDRESSING THE SITUATION WITH THE TECHNICIAN WRITING UP MY PROBLEM, WE DISCUSSED PAYMENT AND WARRANTY AND HE SAID HE WOULD CALL GM AND CALL ME BACK. HE CALLED ME BACK LATER AND SAID THAT GM WOULD PAY HALF THE REPAIR AND THAT MY COST EVENTUALLY WORKED OUT TO $497.66. *TR
Steering, Oct 28, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AS THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,024.
Steering, Sep 18, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WHEEL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,886.
Steering, Jul 26, 2013
I HAVE A 2009 MALIBU, A LITTLE OVER 73000 MILES. 7/21/2013 WHILE IN PARK THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED SHAKING AND PULSING. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT AND IT STOPPED. I GOT ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED SHAKING AND PULSING AND SHIFTING. I HAVE TO KEEP 2 HANDS ON THE WHEEL AS NOT TO BE SHIFTED FROM LANES. I TAKE THE CAR WEDNESDAY TO A GM DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME IT WASN'T CALIBRATED AFTER AN ALIGNMENT, AND THEY CALIBRATED IT DONE AND ALIGNMENT AND ROTATED THE TIRES. I PAY $220 FOR THIS SERVICE AND LEAVE. I GET HOME WITH NO PROBLEMS. VERY NEXT MORNING THURSDAY, I START MY CAR AND IT STARTS THE SAME THING ALL OVER AGAIN. IT SHAKES AND PULSES ALL THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP WHILE SHIFTING ME IN LANES. AFTER WAITING FOR AROUND AN HOUR AND A HALF, I AM TOLD THE ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING MOTOR IS OUT AND IT IS NEARLY $700. THIS IS $920 FOR A MOTOR IN A 4 YEAR OLD VEHICLE WITH 73000 MILES. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE CONSIDERING IF YOU DO NOT HAVE 2 HANDS ON THE VEHICLE AND PAYING VERY CLOSE ATTENTION YOU MAY END UP IN UP IN THE LANE BESIDE YOU. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ONLINE AND FOUND 100S OF COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THIS SAME PROBLEM. I AM AMAZED THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH GM. *TR
Steering, Jul 10, 2013
MY CAR WAS UNDER BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY WHEN THE STEERING GEAR WAS REPLACED. NOW THE SAME PART IS GOING BAD AGAIN FOR THE SECOND TIME. TODAY'S DATE 7-10-2013. *TR
Steering, Dec 28, 2012
ERRATIC STEERING WHILE TRYING TO PARK. CHIMES WERE HEAD, MESSAGE CAME ACROSS SPEEDO, MAJOR CLUNK ALSO STARTED AT SAME TIME. SOUNDS LIKE RIGHT FRONT. ANOTHER ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILURE FROM A CAR BARELY BROKEN IN, FROM GM. WHEN WILL THEY TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUBSTANDARD PARTS THEY IMPORT FOR AMERICAN CARS? *TR
Steering, Nov 23, 2012
THE POWER STEERING GOES INOP. AT TIMES. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON AND VEHICLE IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. WHEN YOU TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN BACK ON IT RESETS THE SYSTEM AND EVERYTHING GOES BACK TO NORMAL. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP TO BE DIAGNOSED AND SAID STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND HAD THE REPAIR DONE. *TR
Steering, Apr 16, 2012
POWER STEERING - WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, YOU FEEL NON-SMOOTH CONDITION, UNUSUAL HUMMING OR MOANING NOISE. SOME POWER STEERING FLUID HAD TO BE REPLACED BUT NO NOTICEABLE LEAK IS EVIDENT. HAD PRIVATE AUTO MECHANIC LOOK INTO PROBLEM AND HE ADVISED TO LET DEALER TAKE CARE OF IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE COMPUTERIZED EQUIPMENT TO MAKE APPROPRIATE REPAIRS. AUTO MECHANIC STATED THAT HE HAS EXPERIENCED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE CHEVY MALIBU. CHEVY DEALER CHECKED PROBLEM AND ADVISED US TO WAIT FOR PROBLEM NO "WORSEN" BECAUSE ANY DIAGNOSTIC WORK WILL COST US "A LOT OF MONEY" WONDERING IF NHTSA HAS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON FILE BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED ABOUT ANY SAFETY ISSUE? *JS