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Comments
The Malibu Maxx's on their reliability list report that the '04s are now below average, with brake, suspension, and electricals declared much worse than average. '05's are average but showing the same trend.
A Malibu general trait, it seems, as the sedans follow the same paths.
I wonder what the electrical problems are? What I've seen are corroded signal lamp sockets and occasionally blanking out instruments and control lights.
At least engine and transmission do well.
I have recently had the steering gear replaced to try and solve the clunking issue, but since I have gotten it back the power steering problem is back and maybe a bit worse then before. I have already had the steering column recall done and both of the power steering issues have been after that replacement. Does anyone else have similar experiences with the power steering?
I am now out of warranty, and I am very leary of taking it to the dealer since I never get a good feeling that they actually know how to resolve the issue.
My problem with steering from day one was intermittent no assist when car first started. With car not moving if you turned wheel left or right it would bind at 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock position and when you rocked wheel back and forth you could hear a clicking sound in the column. This made it difficult to back out of a parking spot.
Dealer said steering rack had to be replaced. I questioned this since I never have any rattle/clunk noise when driving over bumpy roads at low speed. So they replaced the steering column. But that did not resolve problem. They then swapped the column with one from a new car on the lot that did not have the binding/clicking problem. This did not resolve problem on my car. They finally had to replace the steering gear and that resolved my problem.
Now steering is now A-OK. No more binding/clicking. Now have full assist during parking maneuvers.
Is he describing the NW9 system, which is (per previous posting) only on the SS Malibu models, and the one__not__ on the '04 Maxx LS I am driving?
its a matter of how tolerant you are with the clunk I would guess...I have a small clunk in the suspension....as well as my steering column..but I hardly notice it.....3 years. 84K later..and still the original parts from the day I took delivery.....if 5 steering gears dont solve the problem..dont think any will to be honest.......take the 6/100 warranty on the part...
there has been a engineering fix to the clunk in the suspension.....to some degree.....but nothing new in the steering column.....the steering gear in relationship to the suspension..may be the issue...and I dont beleive they have fixed that issue yet
Of course one of my complaints was the rattle - they told me that the control arm required replacement and that a brake job was due. They did both, and like everyone else, the rattle is all but gone - only rattles at low speed on rough concrete pavement - it's livable.
Also, the seat tracks on the driver's power seat were shot requiring a completely new seat frame - they had to send it out to an auto upholsterer for repair. It took them the better part of 2 days to get everything done - during which they were kind enough to rent me a replacement ride from the local Enterprise. To me that's going the extra mile for the customer as I have to take my wife for dialysis every other day.
The only thing that really frosted me about this whole experience is what they charged for a brake job - with tax it was $748.00. I don't mind paying a fair price, and the brakes are now perfect again, but $375 per axle seems very high to me. Any thoughts???
I was seriously thinking of dumping my Maxx, but now it's like a new car - maybe I'll keep it a while - besides, who would buy an '04 Maxx?
Oh.... about understanding - I understand why General Motors is slowly going out of business - how can you build a car with so many inherent problems, pay for all the repairs for at least 3 years per car, sell them at huge discounts because nobody will pay list for them, and think you can stay in business???? I just read yesterday that Klutz... I'm sorry, that's Lutz says that GM will depend on their spectacular new designs to sell their cars. Have you read the final entry for the Pontiac Solstice on Edmunds.com? They've never been happier to get rid of a long term test car than the Solstice - a real disappointment! New designs mean nothing if the execution is garbage. My next ride will probably be a Honda - not just design, but engineering.
this is in northern va..with stop and go traffic.......
Im holding out for the 08 Malibu...or if my $$ are in order....the new design Cadillac CTS......
I'm out of warranty so if this fails, I'm paying. Doesn't seem to be rack related, just no electrical steering. Assuming it's the electric motor (not sure how that works), how much will that cost me?
Dealer says (after trying to sell me all kinds of extra services, i.e. flush transmission @ 40K) that I need a new steering column. Approximately $750, ouch. Unless this entire assembly including relays and electric motor is one big part it seems a little strange to me.
Anybody else experience anything like this???
http://www.lemonlawclaims.com/malibu_brake_and_steering_problem.htm
Date Investigation Opened : March 30, 2004
Date Investigation Closed : July 1, 2004
Summary:
ODI OPENED PE04-031 BASED ON EIGHT REPORTS OF ALLEGED POWER STEERING FAILURE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES. THE COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT THE DRIVER SUDDENLY LOST ALL ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE WITHOUT WARNING MAKING THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE SUBJECT VEHICLE UTILIZES AN ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSIST SYSTEM (EPS) THAT PROVIDES VARIABLE STEERING ASSISTANCE BASED ON STEERING WHEEL TORQUE, STEERING WHEEL POSTION, AND VEHICLE SPEED. GENERAL MOTORS DOCUMENTS IDENTIFIED THE FOLLOWING TWO FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES: A. CONTAMINATION OF THE TORQUE AND POSITION SENSOR FROM THE SEPARATION OF GREASE APPLIED TO THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY. B. ELECTRICAL NOISE GENERATED ON THE POWER AND GROUND SLIP RING SURFACES OF THE TORQUE AND POSITION SENSOR. THE NOISE IS GENERATED AS THE SENSOR CONTACT BRUSHES MOVE ALONG THE SLIP RING SURFACES WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS ROTATED. ODI'S ANALYSIS SHOWED FAILURE RATES THAT ARE OF CONCERN TO ODI AND INDICATED THAT THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS CONTINUING TO OCCUR IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES. THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THIS CONCERN, TO ASSESS THE POTENTIAL SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES, AND TO DETERMINE THE SCOPE OF THE AFFECTED POPULATION.
Malibu, unfortunately, has a consistently bad repair record in Suspension, electrical, and brakes.
The one rotation made the rotors slightly warpy but not enough to really bother me. I'm thinking about Costco for the replacements since they assured me that they take a lot of care on torquing.
I'm also disappointed that there's only a 12/12 parts and labor warranty. I remember (well because it was my worst new car ever) that my old 86 Ford Tempo had lifetime warranty on every repair. That's how I found out how many things could break once.
you will need the parts number in order to see it..check with your dealer
At this point I truly believe the front ends of these cars with electric steering will never work right.
A Hydraulic system (at least every one I know about) puts the corrective force on the rack and suspension itself - the steering columm sort of goes along for the ride.
An electric system puts all the force on the Columm itself, forcing the column pinion gear to move both rack and suspension. That's a lot of force on a small gear.
If I am wrong, please advise?
As far as I know, the car only has the one month/1000 mile dealer warranty, although, I had people tell me at the dealership that it came with a 5 year/60000 manuf. warranty.
At this point, I do love my car, but if it's going to be troublesome, I'd rather not have it. lol
Does anyone have ANY advice at all? Should I let the dealership (not a Chevy dealership, btw) look at it? Should I leave it alone? I'm going to tell them I don't appreciate them lying to me, but since it's not in writing, there's nothing I can prove. :mad:
I REALLY want to LOVE this car!
I wonder why, if all of these people are having the same problem, there's not been some sort of recall notice?
My appointment is Friday morning. I hope some of the resident gurus peek in before then.
I'll keep checking in! Hopefully, I'll be like the one poster that only had the clunking and nothing else. lol
If nothing is done, will my car fall apart or is this just a nuseance (sp) sort of thing?
Wish me luck!
I must say, though, I'm a bit saddened that we won't have the Maxx in years to come.
If so, they will have the same problems as every other 'Bu since '04 (though I suspect the hydraulic versions will hold up better).
...but as the maxx is gone for '08 and I'm one of dem hatch people, there's little incentive to keep up with the new 'Bu.
Question-- I had a single steering column failure which ran $800. Is this on par for what others paid?
What does the rack cost?-- a lot more I'll bet.
Note to people looking in-- sometimes Edmunds lists can be self-fulfilling. Most people don't get on here talking about how good their front end is. In fact, until my trouble hit, I was ignorant of the problem for the first 40K plus on the car. Maybe things statistically aren't as bad as they seem. If I have no further trouble, I'm still liking this car a LOT!
Another thread has also traced the noises to ball joints, sway bars, and a few other front end parts.
As another poster said, the Maxx / Malibu front end appears a fragile piece of work.
BFG's and I'm not sure whether they did a more careful job of torquing but the brakes seem less shaky. However, doubt if I'll go to the dealer for replacement brakes.