NHTSA Complaint #11162030 — 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT A DRIVE-THRU, THE STEERING WHEEL INDEPENDENTLY MANEUVERED LEFT, RIGHT, BACK, AND FORTH. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER (CHASE CHEVROLET, LOCATED AT 6441 HOLMAN RD, STOCKTON, CA 95212, 209-475-6600) AND A SUPERVISOR AGREED TO REPLACE THE TORQUE SENSOR ASSEMBLY FOR FREE. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE PREVIOUS VEHICLE OWNER SERVICED THE VEHICLE PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V153000 (STEERING) IN 2014. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR AND THE POWER STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE MECHANIC MENTIONED THAT THERE WERE NO DIAGNOSTIC CODES FOUND ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT AND THE MECHANIC TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED. ADDITIONALLY, THE STEERING WHEEL INDEPENDENTLY MANEUVERED LEFT, RIGHT, BACK AND FORTH DURING THE TEST DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOR ONE WEEK, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR COSTS. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND HANDED THE KEYS BACK TO THE CONTACT. WHILE REVERSING FROM A PARKING SPACE AND TURNING TO THE LEFT, THE STEERING WHEEL VEERED INDEPENDENTLY TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD INDEPENDENTLY MOVE BACK AND FORTH. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A POLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED A FATAL INJURY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS FILED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,500.