2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx Steering Problems

NHTSA component category: STEERING · data through 07/14/2026

162Steering complaints

49.7%Of all 326 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How steering ranks on this vehicle

STEERING162 · 49.7%

EXTERIOR LIGHTING41 · 12.6%

SEATS39 · 12%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM33 · 10.1%

STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM10 · 3.1%

Share of the 326 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx overview page.

What owners report

“3RD POSTING HERE. SAME PROBLEM. NO POWER STEERING. NOW IT IS TO THE POINT WHERE IM LUCKY TO GET POWER STEERING FOR THE LENGTH OF…”NHTSA complaint 10336895 — filed 06/17/2010

“LOOSE/CLUNKY STEERING. THE CLUNKY SOUND AND FEEL CAN BE HEARD/FELT WHENEVER THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED. THERE IS ALSO SOME SPACE BETWEEN WHEN THE STEERING…”NHTSA complaint 10335790 — filed 06/11/2010

“2005 MALIBU MAXX POWER STEERING READING CAME UP 2X ON RADIO. TOOK TO BE CHECKED AND COST TO $700 TO REPLACE THE UNIT. VEHICLE ONLY…”NHTSA complaint 10330009 — filed 05/11/2010

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Steering complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx have steering problems?

Steering is the most-reported problem area on the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx: 162 of 326 complaints on file (49.7%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx have in total?

326 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 13 involved a crash, 10 involved a fire, 9 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's steering category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the STEERING category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.