TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAX. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLICKING NOISE AND THEN THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON THREE OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK AND THE POTENTIAL THAT A CRASH COULD OCCUR THE CONTACT FEELS THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
2006
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
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