Steering. Review the 454 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 294 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 227 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

41 crash reports14 fire reports35 injury reports

Steering complaints

454 reports

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109,000 miles · Jun 29, 2020

Steering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING A RIGHT TURN, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING OPERATED AS INTENDED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL DAYS LATER. STERLING MCCALL CHEVROLET (17800 NORTH FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77090, 281-397-8600) WAS CONTACTED AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO PAY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

NHTSA ODI #11331535

145,000 miles · Jun 26, 2020

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

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WE HAVE REPLACED THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING (EPS) TORQUE SENSOR TWICE, WITH DIFFERING BRANDS (AC DELCO, AND CAN'T REMEMBER THE OTHER). SINCE IT'S AN ISSUE WITH THE EPS, THE TRACTION CONTROL IS OUT/DISABLED AS WELL. THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT COULD BE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE, CONSIDERING IT'S A FULL SIZE SEDAN AND THE OPERATOR IS 115LBS WITH HER CHILDREN IN THE CAR. IT'S EXCEPTIONALLY DIFFICULT TO STEER AT SLOWER SPEEDS, AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE PARKED. THE DEALERSHIP SHE BOUGHT IT FROM, NOR THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP WILL TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY, AND SHE CAN'T AFFORD TO SINK EVEN MORE MONEY INTO THE CAR. THIS IS RATHER OUTRAGEOUS CONSIDERING THE CAR IS NORMALLY MAINTAINED AND THE DEALERSHIP SHE BOUGHT IT FROM WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE AS SHE HAD BROUGHT IT TO THEIR SERVICE CENTER (DUE TO PURCHASED WARRANTY AT THE TIME) WHERE WHATEVER-THEY-DID RESET THE LIGHT, BUT THE ISSUE RECURRED LATER ON. DATE GIVEN IS APPROXIMATELY THE MONTH ISSUES BEGAN TO GET SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE. THE ISSUE STARTED QUITE SOME TIME AGO. THIS HAS NOT RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT STRICTLY DUE TO THE OPERATORS OVER-ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION. MILEAGE I REPORT IS APPROXIMATE, BUT CERTAINLY WAS LOWER THAN THE NUMBER GIVEN WHEN IT BEGAN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11331025

120,000 miles · May 17, 2020

Steering

WHILE TRAVELING VEHICLE WILL BE RUNNING NORMALLY THEN IT WILL SHOW THE POWER STEERING LIGHT GIVING A SHORT WARNING, THEN THE POWER STEERING WILL NOT BE ABLE TO OPERATE, HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11324879

89,300 miles · Apr 29, 2020

Electrical SystemService BrakesSteering

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MY CHECK ENGINE, POWER STEERING, SERVICE ESC, ESC OFF, BRAKE SYSTEM (!), ABS SYSTEM LIGHTS ALL FLASH, AND ALL OF MY GAUGES FLUCTUATE SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE SAME PROBLEM KEEPS OCCURRING, AND I HAVE HAD MY CONTROL COMPUTER NODULE REPLACED, AS WELL AS MY POWER STEERING MODULE REPLACED AT LYNCH CHEVROLET IN KENOSHA, WI. WHILE DRIVING MY CAR SHIFTS/JERKS, AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP, ALMOST CAUSING ME TO CRASH. WHEN I COME TO A STOP AT A LIGHT OR SIGN, MY CAR DOES NOT WANT TO ACCELERATE, CAUSING ME TO BE IN AN INTERSECTION FOR LONGER THAN NORMAL BECAUSE MY CAR WON'T TAKE OFF. THE VEHICLE ALSO JERKS INTO DIFFERENT GEARS WHILE ALL OF THESE SERVICE LIGHTS ARE FLASHING. THIS FEELS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE, AND THE PROBLEM CANNOT BE RESOLVED. IT STARTED IN JANUARY AND IS CONTINUING TO HAPPEN DESPITE REPLACING PARTS.

NHTSA ODI #11322739

120,445 miles · Apr 26, 2020

Steering

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MY CAR STEERING WHEEL IS HARD TO TURN WHILE IN MOTION, TURNING, BACKING OUT AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND RATTLES AS WELL WHILE SITTING STILL OR MOVING IT MAKES THIS RATTLE SOUND RIGHT BEFORE IT GETS TIGHT. I HAVE CALLED CHEVROLET ABOUT THE ISSUE MY MECHANIC LOOKED TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE CAR AND THERE WAS. WHEN I CALLED CHEVROLET THEY STATED THAT THERE WASN'T. I HAVE ALSO SEEN ONLINE MYSELF THAT THERE IS A RECALL AND OTHERS ARE HAVING THE VERY SAME ISSUE. THE RECALL NUMBER IS 14E044000 STEERING SHAFT.

NHTSA ODI #11322248

106,000 miles · Apr 6, 2020

Steering

POWER STEERING HAS BEGUN TO FAIL. MILEAGE AT 106,000. GENERALLY HAPPENS AT LOW SPEEDS. ALL CONTROL IS LOST MAKING IT DIFFICULT/IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER VEHICLE. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. ISSUE IS RESOLVED WITH A RESTART, HOWEVER SOMETIMES IT DOES COME BACK ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

NHTSA ODI #11320320

135,000 miles · Mar 24, 2020

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, IN A CURVE, THE POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING, THE WHEELS TURNED STRAIGHT AND I HAD TO SLAM ON MY BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING THE BARRIER WALL. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING IT, THE POWER STEERING BEGAN WORKING AGAIN. THE POWER STEERING NOW QUITS WORKING AFTER A MILE OF DRIVING, ONLY TO STAR…

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NHTSA ODI #11319132

72,000 miles · Mar 19, 2020

Steering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER SON WAS DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CHUCK NICHOLSON INC LOCATED AT (7190 OHIO 39, MILLERSBURG, OH 44654), TO BE DIAGNOSED WHICH WAS STILL PENDING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000.

NHTSA ODI #11318737

105,000 miles · Mar 17, 2020

Steering

I STARTED MY CAR AFTER SITTING ON THE DRIVEWAY SERVICE ESC LIGHT CAME ON AND HAD NO POWER STEERING, THIS IS THE 2ND TIME IN IN 2 DAYS. I WAS ABLE TO RESET MY CAR WITH MY SNAPON MODIS SCANNER. THIS HAPPENED WITH NO PAOWER STEERING THE PREVIOUS DAY FOR MY SON

NHTSA ODI #11318483

120,000 miles · Mar 17, 2020

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

WHEN I STARTED THE CAR THE STEERING WHEEL TWITCHES ON ITS OWN AND WHEN I'M DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL GETS STIFF AND IT SAYS SERIVCE ESC/POWERSTEERING.

NHTSA ODI #11318364

Official recalls

19V019000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jan 16, 2019

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2011 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, the air bag inflator may explode due to being overpressurized.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the inflator explodes, sharp metal fragments may strike the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: GM has notified owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began February 25, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-522-9559. GM's number for this recall is N182206630.

14V252000 · Electrical System:wiring; Electronic Stability Control (esc); Exterior Lighting:brake Lights; Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch; Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control

May 14, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and harness connector, and will relearn the brake pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). GM's number for this recall is 13036.

Additional source detail variants (5)

Electronic Stability Control (esc)