1997 Chevrolet Malibu Steering

I WAS DRIVING ON MY WAY HOME, AND I MADE A RIGHT TURN INTO MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND WHEN I BEGAN TO TURN LEFT INTO THE CURVE MY STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNING BUT MY CAR CONTINUED TO GO STRAIGHT INTO A NEIGHBOR'S YARD CAUSING ME TO SLAM ON BRAKES AND HIT A HILL! I GOT MY CAR CHECKED OUT THAT NEXT MORNING AND FOUND THAT IT WAS MY RACK AND PINION THAT HAS CAUSED THIS. I KNEW MY CAR HAD A RECALL SO I DECIDED TO SEARCH RECALLS FOR MY CAR (YEAR MAKE AND MODEL) I SAW WHERE THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE RACK AND PINION WHERE IF IT WENT OUT YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO TURN LEFT ONLY RIGHT. I CONTACTED THE GM CORPORATE OFFICE AND STATED AS SUCH AND THEY SAID THAT WAS A RECALL BUT NOT ON MY SPECIFIC VIN # SO THERE IS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. IS THIS POSSIBLE SEEMING AS THEY HAVE ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS PARTICULAR PART ALREADY ON 97 AND 98 CHEVY MALIBU'S? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN FEBRUARY OF 2004 REGARDING THE LOWER RACK AND PINION STEERING. HE HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY FAILURES AT THE TIME; HOWEVER, HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. SIX MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL THE WHEEL BACK TO THE RIGHT AND STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DROVE HOME AND HIS FATHER, A MECHANIC, INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DECLARED THE CAUSE OF FAILURE TO BE THE LOWER RACK AND PINION. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE RECALL REPAIR HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 243,831. UPDATED 01/11/08. *LJ UPDATED *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING RACK AND PINION FAILS TO TURN PROPERLY. SHE COULD NOT EXPLAIN THE FAILURE ANY FURTHER; HOWEVER, IT IS THE SAME FAILURE STATED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V527000 (STEERING:RACK AND PINION). THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 125,000.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO STEER FOR THE FIRST 10 MINUTES AFTER TURNING ON THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING RACK AND THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE WERE LEAKING. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL #03V527000, REGARDING THE STEERING: RACK AND PINION. THE SERVICE DEALER PERFORMED THE RECALL, HOWEVER THE GEAR ASSEMBLY WAS NOT REPLACED. UPDATD 01/30/07. *JB

WE BOUGHT THIS 1997 MALIBU FROM MY DAD LESS THAN A YEAR AGO FOR MY SON TO DRIVE TO COLLEGE. MY DAD IS METICULOUS IN CARING FOR HIS VEHICLES SO ALL THE SCHEDULED AND ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WORK HAS BEEN DONE AND IT STILL ONLY HAS 70XXX MILES ON IT. MY COMPLAINT IS THIS : LAST NIGHT MY SON WAS PARKING THE CAR WHEN IT SUDDENLY BECAME VERY HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. HE FINISHED PARKING, BUT A SHORT TIME LATER AS HE STARTED TO DRIVE HOME, HE REALIZED THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS COMPLETELY GONE. THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY INCIDENTS LIKE THIS ONE THAT THERE WAS FINALLY A SAFETY RECALL ISSUED IN 2004. THE PAPERWORK I HAVE STATES THAT THE DEALER "REPLACED STEERING GEAR PINION BEARING AND RESET TOEIN". OBVIOUSLY,THAT REMEDY FAILED SINCE THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT ANYWAY. I'M SO THANKFUL THAT NO ONE WAS HURT, THAT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN WHILE HE WAS DRIVING TO OR FROM SCHOOL, AND THAT HE WAS HOME FOR CHRISTMAS BREAK WHEN IT HAPPENED. WE'LL BE TAKING THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER ON TUESDAY AND, BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY OF THESE INCIDENTS IN THE '97 MALIBU (AND OTHER '97 GM MODELS) THAT THEY HAD TO ISSUE THE RECALL, I EXPECT THEM TO FIX IT FREE OF CHARGE. *NM

DT: THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING RACK AND PINION STEERING. THIS HAS BEEN REPAIRED AND REPLACED TWICE. THE VEHICLE STILL HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING SYSTEM. CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A SERVICE DEALER, AND THEY CONCLUDED THAT IT WAS A POWER STEERING PUMP PULLEY. THE CONTACT HAS NOT HAD THIS REPAIRED, THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERSHIP AT THIS DATE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING STEERING/ FRONT WHEELS LOCKED UP. CONSUMER CONTACTED HIS PERSONAL MECHANIC, AND WAS TOLD THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING SIMILAR. CONTACTED THE DEALER. HOWEVER, THE PRIBLEM RECURRED. *AK

WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING SPACE POWER STEERING FAILED. *AK *NM

WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS AND TURNING THE VEHICLE, A KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE PROBLEM WAS THE RACK AND PINION, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB *LA

AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR NHTSA RECALL 03V527000 CONCERNING LOWER PINION BEARING IN THE RACK AND PINION, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ONGOING STEERING PROBLEMS. DEALER REFUSED TO ADMIT THAT VEHICLE WAS RUNNING IN GOOD CONDITIONS BEFORE IT WAS BROUGHT IN FOR A RECALL. *AK

RE: GENERAL MOTOR CORPORATION DECLINES TO MAKE ADJUSTMENT OF COMPLAINT. *BF GM HAD A RECALL FOR THE RACKET PINION STEERING PART ON THE CAR CONSUMER OWNED. THE CONSUMER HAD THIS PART REPLACED 6 TIMES IN A 2 YEAR PERIOD. CONSUMER WANTS TO BE REPAID FOR MONIES SPENT. *TC

RECALL 03V527000 CONCERNING STEERING GEAR BEARINGS: CONSUMER STATES AFTER TAKING THEIR VEHICLE FOR THIS RECALL REPAIRS, VEHICLE COMMENCED TO MAKE NOISE AFTER STARTING AND WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS NOT HAVING ANY PROBLEMS UNTIL THIS REPAIR WAS DONE. DEALER REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING CONCERNING THIS ISSUE.*AK

UPON ENTERING A MAJOR HIGHWAY, MY STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO MANAGE. I HAD TROUBLE MAKING LEFT TURNS AND THE CAR WOULD STEER TO THE RIGHT. FORCEFULLY, I HAD TO STEER THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD JUST TO MAKE SURE MY TIRES WERE INTACT. I MADE IT HOME CAREFULLY TO FIND OUT THAT IT COULD BE RELATED TO MY RACK & PINION AND DAMAGE TO HIGH PRESSURE HOSES. *JB

NHTSA RECALL 03V527000 CONCERNING STEERING GEAR BEARING. THREE WEEKS AFTER HAVING RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED THE LOWER PINION BEARING FAILED WHILE TURNING LEFT AND CONSUMER LOST POWER STEERING. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE LOWER PINION BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

THE DEALER WOULD NOT HONOR RECALL #03V527000 CONCERNING THE LOWER PINION BEARINGS. THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. *AK *SC *JB

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON A RECALL FOR RACK AND PINION. DEALER REPLACED THE BUSHINGS AT A MANUFACTURER'S EXPENSE AFTER CONSUMER REFUSED TO PAY. *AK

AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE FOR 4 DAYS DEALERSHIP FAILED TO REPLACE THE LOWER PINION BEARING, BUT INDICATED THEY PERFORMED STEERING GEAR BEARINGS RECALL 03V527000 REPAIRS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH CONSUMER LOST STEERING POWER. COASTED VEHICLE TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. CONSUMER TURN OFF THE VEHICLE, AND RESTARTED IT. THEN, DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT WHILE TURNING THE STEERING COLUMN IT WAS HARD TO STEER, AND THAT THE STEERING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WORN OUT PARTS. *AK

CONSUMER DENIED REIMBURSEMENT FOR POWER STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT. *PH ALSO, AS CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO PERFORM RECALL REPAIR SINCE STEERING RACK WAS REPLACED RECENTLY. *LA

AFTER RECEIVING A RECALL LETTER, CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GM DEALERSHIP BUT NO CORRECTIONS WERE MADE. *PH THE STEERING WAS HARD WHEN THE CONSUMER TURNED LEFT. *SC RECALL #03V527000 *JB

WHILE DRIVING ON A CURVED ROAD DRIVER LOST CONTROL. VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD AND ROLLED COMPLETELY OVER. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES, AND WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. WITNESSES STATED VEHICLE JERKED TO THE LEFT BEFORE RUNNING OFF THE ROAD. *AK

CONSUMER'S GRANDMOTHER WAS SEVERELY INJURED IN A CRASH WHEN SHE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST RECALL. *PH AS STATED ON THE RECALL THAT THERE'S AN INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS AT LOW SPEED. CONSUMER TRIED TO FIND OUT THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. HOWEVER, SINCE CONSUMER'S GRANDMOTHER (THE DRIVER) SUFFERED SEVERE BRAIN HEMORRHAGE AND PERMANENT SHORT TERM MEMORY LOSS DUE TO ACCIDENT, THE ONLY INCIDENT THE CONSUMER FOUND OUT IS THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AT LOW SPEED. *LA

THE VEHICLE'S STEERING RACK MALFUNCTIONED AT 64,000 MILES. THE PART WAS REPAIRED TWICE, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

CONSUMER WAS MAKING A SLIGHT TURN TO AVOID SOMETHING IN THE ROAD AHEAD WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY LOOSE, AND DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE SPINNED AROUND 3 TIMES BEFORE LANDING IN A DITCH. *AK

WHEN DRIVING MY 1997 CHEVY MALIBU, I TURNED LEFT AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. I ALMOST CRASHED INTO A PARKED CAR DUE TO THE FACT THAT I COULDN'T MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL. WHEN I TRIED GETTING THE STEERING WHEEL TO MOVE AGAIN, IT WOULDNT BUDGE RIGHT BUT WHEN TRYING LEFT IT WOULD MAKE A "HISSING" SOUND, LIKE AIR PRESSURE BEING RELEASED. THIS HAPPENED AT 10PM AND I HAD PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. THIS HAPPENED SUDDENLY WITH NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. I AM GOING BACK TO THE DEALER ASAP.*AK