NHTSA Complaint #10818472 — 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU

WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY TO THE RIGHT I HEARD LOUD CLUNKING AND THEN FINALLY A POP AS I TURNED THE STEERING TO THE LEFT. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING, WHILE DRIVING IN RESIDENTIAL AREA LEFT TURNS BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MAKE, AND I NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMED TO BE OFF CENTER. I DECIDED TO MAKE A 3-POINT TURN TO RETURN HOME, AND WHILE BACKING TO THE LEFT THERE SEEMED TO BE LITTLE ACTUAL MOVEMENT BEFORE I FELT AS IF THE FRONT END OF THE CAR RAISED A BIT FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER LOUT POP. RETURNING THE WHEELS RIGHT SAW LITTLE MOVEMENT AT FIRST BEFORE TURNING AS NORMAL. LEFT TURNS THE REST OF THE WAY HOME DIFFICULT, WHILE RIGHT TURNS ARE MADE WITH EASE. UPON INSPECTION WHEN GETTING TO MY GARAGE RACK AND PINION MOUNT ON PASSENGER SIDE THAT APPEARS TO BE WELDED HAD BROKEN. PERHAPS RUSTED? I LIVE IN CA, SO I DIDN'T EXPECT RUSTED PARTS TO BE AN ISSUE.I HAVE RESEARCHED OTHER MALIBUS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED INCREDIBLY SIMILAR BEHAVIOR, AND THERE IS EVEN A RECALL REGARDING THE RACK AND PINION IN MY MY MALIBU, HOWEVER MINE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. I FIND THIS TO BE ABSOLUTELY APPALLING THAT GM CAN RECEIVE SO MANY COMPLAINTS FOR THIS ISSUE, AND REQUEST FOR A FIX, AND SO BOLDLY TELL THESE CUSTOMERS THAT THEY WILL NOT SERVICE THEIR VEHICLES WHEN THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT.