10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 12 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 3 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 102,147 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
On May 13, 2018 at aprox 7:30am, I was traveling on ct-9 highway at 55mph preparing to exit the highway when suddenly car alert chimes came on and warning message about "service power steering"and I lost power steering as I was exiting. I had difficulty making a left turn at the end of the exit and pulled over to investigate. Shut car off and inspected under hood/belts, everything ok. Restarted car and message went away and car handled normally again.
- New Britain, CT, USA
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving at an unknown speed, the contact heard an abnormal noise when the steering wheel was turned. The vehicle was taken to lumberton Chevrolet Buick GMC Cadillac (500 linkhaw road, lumberton, nc 28358). The dealer noticed that the steering wheel was loose and needed to be replaced. It was unknown if the vehicle was officially diagnosed by the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 146,000.
- Lumberton, NC, USA
Every time car is driven power steering and ESC errors show on display and traction control is turned off. Errors show up while driving and also while stationary. There was a recall for this year and model but does not show for my VIN.
- Wake Forest, NC, USA
I am not sure where to start. Door locks intermittently don't work, bluetooth just stopped working, have had to change headlight bulbs 3 times in 2 years, power steering went out (had that repaired by dealer at not cost), ac/heater/defroster used to shut off intermittently, now it just stopped working, driver's side seat heater stopped working, instrument panel randomly throws up error code (example: Service airbag, service engine) oh and the paint is fading on hood roof and trunk. Car has 75,000 miles and I used to love it. No I won't drive it out of town.
- Tracy, CA, USA
2009 Chevy Malibu ls power steering wheel hard to steer, traction control light oni have a 4 cylinder 2.4
- Waukegan, IL, USA
In both motion as well as stationary the traction control light comes on and lose power steering.
- Sandy Hook, CT, USA
The power steering light came on while driving on I-57 expressway at a speed of 55 mph and I lost my power steering. When I stoped the car and restarted it 30 minutes later the warning was gone and my power steering worked. I'm now afraid to drive my car on the expressway after reading about this same problem on a Chevy Malibu forum.
- Frankfort, IL, USA
I almost had an accident driving when my wheel locked up on me, now it's hard for me to drive...
- Jackson, MS, USA
Only 90,000 miles on my car and just a few days ago the power steering would fail when starting up the car and I get warnings and chimes saying power steering then ESC now disabled. This problem would correct itself if I turned off the car then turned back on again. A few days later that no longer worked to get the power steering to work/activate. Now I have to apply slight turning force to the steering wheel while starting the car to get it to work. But now I have a new issue to this problem as of today the power steering fails while driving the car. I was changing lanes and the power steering failed the steering wheel became very stiff and I almost crashed into the car in front of me because I could not complete my lane change. Im now scared to drive my car. I keep good care of my car and have it maintenenced well. Its in excellent condition and this is the only thing wrong. I tried calling GM to ask if this is a recall issue because I find everywhere online this is a major issue with my year and make but GM on the phone said my VIN has no recall and im stuck to pay full bill to fix and is not a defect or GM problem. I do not think this is my problem and is a defect. I feel GM should fix this. My car still has 2 years left on bank loan to pay off. I cannot afford to fix a manufacture defect. I also strongly feel this is a major saftey issue as this can result in major car accident. I do not have strong arms and I cannot operate manual steering to avoid crash if loss of power steering on highway at high speed or even in city at slow speed.
- Janesville, WI, USA
The car keeps dying and shutting off. I have replaced 2 new batteries and an alternator. When I am driving the car will either just die or start to die and all of the lights come on, power steering, ESC emergency brake all of them and then the car eventually dies.
- Springfield, MO, USA
I have a 4 cylinder 2009 Chevy Malibu. I know there was a recall for the issue that I am having but not for my specific vehicle. My power steering keeps going in and out at random times. Sometimes if I shut the car off and turn it back on it will correct itself. I don't understand why my vehicle wasn't on the recall. Many other complaints have come in for this issue and my type of vehicle. I will start the car and it will flash powrt steering ESC. This is so dangerous! it went out on me with my 2 young children in the car and I couldn't control the vehicle.
- Flat Rock, MI, USA
The power steering stopped working while driving making it very difficult and dangerous to turn the vehicle while turning, especially at low speed.
- Angola, NY, USA
The vehicle was driving great then one day while driving the ESC light and power steering light came on and the power steering had gone out. Lucky for me I made it to my parking garage.
- Troy, OH, USA
Just bought the car a few weeks ago and out of nowhere the power steering ESC light pops on. I didn't ever hit pot holes or anything just a basic home to work car.
- Mishawaka, IN, USA
The vehicle was driving great then one day while driving the ESC light and power steering light came on and the power steering had gone out.
- Trenton, MI, USA
My car has sudden loss of electric power steering. I receive an alert saying powering steering service ESC. If I turn my car off and turn back on it will go away, however when I'm in park or stopped my steering wheel is moving by itself. It just now has 102K miles on it.
- Hamilton, OH, USA
Power steering becomes stiff after idling for a few moments. Shut the engine off and restart and problem goes away. Brake lights work intermittently. Power door locks work intermittently when lock button is pushed several times. Unlocking doesn't work at all unless car is put in reverse then back into park.
- Bellevue, KY, USA
While driving the electric power steering stops working. ESC warning light goes on. May happen multiple times per drive. Resets when car turned off, but recurrs.
- Mukwonago, WI, USA
Lost power steering when attempting to leave the driveway. Low speed. Electric power steering unit failed. I have not received any information or recall notice for this problem. I have parked the car until I determine how best to proceed with repairs.
- Germantown, OH, USA
- Warminster, PA, USA