I have the 4 cylinder with the Electric Power Steering. When I started the car this morning and I started to maneuver to get out of my parking spot, I noticed the steering wheel was binding and it seemed to be working against my effort to turn the wheel. To get out of my spot, there's quite a bit of steering involved. Once I got out of the spot and I started normal driving, the problem went away completely and the steering was fine.

Do you think this was a temporary problem - possibly a lack of electrical current going to the EPS that went away once the car built up a full charge?
Or could this be a sign of a problem to come? I drove quite a bit after the problem went away and the steering felt fine.

I know the EPS units can be very temperamental. I heard that turning the wheel to one end or the other and holding it there will produce this type of symptom. Electrical current is interrupted to protect the internal circuits from burning out. I heard that extreme steering (turning the wheel back and forth several times) will invoke the same safeguard.

I think I read about a TSB for replacing the electric steering module or something. I'd have it looked into, don't mess around with your steering.

I think I read about a TSB for replacing the electric steering module or something. I'd have it looked into, don't mess around with your steering.

Sounds like a good idea. I guess I will have the airbag customer satisfaction program and my complementary first oil change all done at the same time.

Hey , I actually just got a letter in the mail regarding the electric power steering it says : Some 08 Malibus with electric steering may have a conditon where there is a loss of power steering assist cause by electrical input signals within the steering column assembly. it also says if the assist is lost a chime will be heard and the DIC will display a power steering warning message, also says some vehicles can be steered in a safe manner but will require greater driver efford at low speeds or when stopped.

Thats the just of it My scanner isnt hooked up right now but if you want a copy I can do that for you.

Hey , I actually just got a letter in the mail regarding the electric power steering it says : Some 08 Malibus with electric steering may have a conditon where there is a loss of power steering assist cause by electrical input signals within the steering column assembly. it also says if the assist is lost a chime will be heard and the DIC will display a power steering warning message, also says some vehicles can be steered in a safe manner but will require greater driver efford at low speeds or when stopped.

Thats the just of it My scanner isnt hooked up right now but if you want a copy I can do that for you.

I got that letter today too. Now I know what stupid GM has money issues. I have a V6, I do not even have electric power steering. Yet instead of checking VIN's and only sending out letters to owners of I4's, everyone will get one. Not only does this waste god knows how much money on postage and materials, now they will have thousands of V6 owners who don't know any better calling customer service and the dealership pissed off, and asking lots of questions and wanting answers. Nice job GM....

Hey , I actually just got a letter in the mail regarding the electric power steering it says : Some 08 Malibus with electric steering may have a conditon where there is a loss of power steering assist cause by electrical input signals within the steering column assembly. it also says if the assist is lost a chime will be heard and the DIC will display a power steering warning message, also says some vehicles can be steered in a safe manner but will require greater driver efford at low speeds or when stopped.

Thats the just of it My scanner isnt hooked up right now but if you want a copy I can do that for you.

Thanks for the response. Actually, I have a 2010. It appears that the problem you were notified about relates to '08's.

This problem only occurred once. I didn't get any warning message when it occurred. Also, I didn't have the feeling that I lost power assist. It was more of a binding. When I turned the wheel, it would bind in a particular position, then it would be okay. I think it was a low voltage condition that corrected itself once I started regular driving. This had occurred right after I started the car and I was trying to get out of my spot which involves quite a bit of steering. It's been fine ever since.

I have the 4 cylinder with the Electric Power Steering. When I started the car this morning and I started to maneuver to get out of my parking spot, I noticed the steering wheel was binding and it seemed to be working against my effort to turn the wheel. To get out of my spot, there's quite a bit of steering involved. Once I got out of the spot and I started normal driving, the problem went away completely and the steering was fine.

Do you think this was a temporary problem - possibly a lack of electrical current going to the EPS that went away once the car built up a full charge?
Or could this be a sign of a problem to come? I drove quite a bit after the problem went away and the steering felt fine.

I know the EPS units can be very temperamental. I heard that turning the wheel to one end or the other and holding it there will produce this type of symptom. Electrical current is interrupted to protect the internal circuits from burning out. I heard that extreme steering (turning the wheel back and forth several times) will invoke the same safeguard.

Exact same issue with my '10 with electric power steering. It happens intermittently when just starting out with the engine cold. You described it perfectly.

Exact same issue with my '10 with electric power steering. It happens intermittently when just starting out with the engine cold. You described it perfectly.

It's funny, with mine, it only happened once. It hasn't happened ever since and that was a while ago. When it did happen, I definitely thought there was a problem. I had a car years ago with a rack and pinion problem and it felt like that. The steering would just bind up while you turned the wheel. But as I said, it seems like it was a temporary low voltage problem that happened only once and never happened again.

The EPS seems like a pretty good system. I like that the engine power is unaffected when you turn the steering wheel since there's no steering pump. It's supposedly a variable assist steering system where you get more assist at low speeds and less at higher speeds. I would like more assist when parking. It takes more effort than I would like to turn the wheel when parking and at other low speed maneuvers. Other than that, it's been fine.

I have noticed this issue maybe a total of eight times now. Its very intermittent. Dealer found nothing wrong.

Greenman,

For clarification, did you visit the dealership the eight times that you have had this happen?

Michelle P., Chevrolet Customer Service