2001 Chevrolet Malibu steering problems

“WHEN I HAD MY RIGHT INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS REPLACED I LEFT THE SHOP AND I HEARD A CLUNCKING WHEN I WOULD MAKE A TURN I TOOK IT BACK TO THE SHOP AND THEY SAID A SCREW HAD WORKED ITS WAY HALF WAY OUT AND THERE IS NO WAY TO GET IT IN OR OUT BECAUSE IT'S WEDGED UP AGAINST THE RACK AND PINION WITHOUT REPLACING THE RACK.AND WAS TOLD (OFF THE RECORD) WOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM STILL DRIVING IT. I ASKED IF IT WAS SAFE AND WAS TOLD THAT WHEN THE SCREW BREAKS I WILL FEEL A JERK BUT WILL BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR.SO I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND LOST MY STEERING ALMOST COMPLETELY .MANAGED TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD AND TOWED HOME. I HAD ANOTHER SHOP REPLACE MY POWER STEERING PUMP AND MY RACK AND PINION.I WAS TOLD THAT THE DECREPIT A HOLE IN THE RACK AND WAS JUST SITTING THERE AND MY RACK AND PINION BRACKET HAD BROKEN AND THE RACK WAS ALSO JUST SITTING THERE.AND I WAS LUCKY I WASN'T KILLED.”

“THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM DISABLED THE CAR ON THE TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE, WITH NO PLACE TO STOP AND 18 WHEELERS GOING BY ME AT 60+MPH. I HAD TO SHUT THE IGNITION OFF, TURN IT BACK ON AND WAIT 10 MINUTES FOR THE ANTI-THEFT TO DISABLE, SO I COULD TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND RESET THE ANTI-THEFT AND START THE CAR. TALKING ABOUT SCARED TO DEATH. HAPPY I AM STILL ALIVE TO REPORT THIS. IT WAS IN MOTION 55MPH AND STOPPED RUNNING, ANTI THEFT STARTED TO BLINK”

“I BACKED UP MY CAR, PUT IT IN DRIVE AND THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM DISABLED THE MOTOR. I STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS AND LOST MY PERSPECTIVE. I ROLLED BACKWARDS INTO A TELEPHONE POLE CAUSING A HUGE DENT ON MY REAR DRIVERS SIDE QUARTER PANEL. THANK GOD THE POLE WAS THERE OR I MIGHT NOT HAVE REALIZED WHAT WAS HAPPENING. BEHIND ME WAS A ROUT IRON FENCE AND BEYOND THAT WAS A 20 FT DROP (DRIVEWAY HAS A RETAINER WALL THAT IT IS BUILT ON TOP OF. I HAD FILED ANOTHER COMPLAINT. THE CAR HAD DISABLED ITSELF ON A BRIDGE THAT HAS NO SLOW LANE TO STOP IN. I CAN TAKE PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE IN THE DAYLIGHT IF NEEDED”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED OFF AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. MA 10/25/15”

“VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN TO THE RIGHT. AFTER HAVING IT LOOKED AT BY A MECHANIC THE ENTIRE STEERING CRADLE IS RUSTED AND HAS BECOME DETACHED FROM THE FRAME. UPON TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT THE POWER STEERING BOX SHIFTS APPROXIMATELY TWO INCHES. CURRENTLY THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE SUB-FRAME IS ALSO RUSTED AND COST FOR REPAIR IS CURRENTLY UNKNOWN. AFTER READING MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ONLINE AND ON THIS SITE THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE VERY COMMON AND GM SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. *TR”

“WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AFTER GOING OVER A POT HOLE THE CAR TURNED OFF. AFTER SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL AND PULLING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I PUT IT IN PARK AND STARTED IT BACK UP. IT STARTED UP FINE BUT WHEN I STARTED DRIVING IT WAS VERY HARD TO MAKE TURNS. AFTER TAKING IT TO A MECHANIC THEY SAID THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND IT NEEDS A NEW RACK AND PINION AND NEW POWER STEERING PUMP. THEY SAID IT COULD BE RELATED TO AN IGNITION SWITCH RECALL SO I CALLED GM. THEY SAID THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS COVERED BY A RECALL BUT NOT ANYTHING RELATED TO THE POWER STEERING. *TR”