NHTSA Complaint #10344261 — 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH A STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. HE COASTED THE VEHICLE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND WAS ABLE RESTART IT. THE VEHICLE STARTED AND THE STEERING WARNING LIGHT SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. TWICE THE DEALER REPLACED THE INTERMIT SHAFT, AND ANOTHER THEN THE STEERING TORQUE SENSOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS VERY EASY TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT BUT DIFFICULT WHEN TURNING IT TO THE LEFT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR $580. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000.