This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
This isn't the first time I've encountered this exact issue, and have had previous issues after purchasing the vehicle (used) back in 2013. Both times this exact issue at hand occurred, both happened while driving. First time, I was driving in a sharp curve with my children in the back seat. This last time I was driving on the highway. Luckily nothing was hit in either cases, however this past time I pulled muscles in my back straining so hard to try and steer the vehicle to get at least very minimum off the road and onto a side street and to safety. As both times I were driving the ESC light came on, and power steering light came on. Resulting in me not being able to brake, or steer - the only steering I were able to do was very strained (as previously stated), I had to put forth extreme efforts to get it to barely turn. The steering wheel acted as if it were locked. This needs to be addressed, and covered under a recall as I've read/heard a multitude of the same issues that are all common with this exact year, model/car. And for this be such a danger, it needs to be corrected before it costs someone their life. I'm terrified to think what if everyone around me weren't paying attention when both events took place, it could've resulted in my life. My spouse being single raising our precious 4 children. How Chevy/GM can live knowing these issues happen and not address it is horrible, knowing very well it could result in a life I'd not more being lost. The only way I could get the lights to turn off and me to be able to drive, I had to shut the car off, wait, and turn it on in order to continue my drive to work. I'm terrified to drive this death trap of a car, especially knowing these issues could happen at any time, without warning or reason. This needs to be fixed. Otherwise this is a lawsuit just waiting to happen.
While driving my 2011 Chevrolet Malibu ltz, I experienced brake failure. This failure was only temporary; while driving approaching a stop light, I went the apply the brakes and the pedal had almost no pressure. It almost went the the floor before I began pumping the brakes. Unfortunately this did not work, which led to my car rear ending the vehicle in front of me. After bringing the vehicle to a stop, I made my best attempt to inspect the brakes and brake fluid, and noticed almost nothing. The only thing I had noticed was slight low brake fluid. After further research, I read a few complaints related to both electronic power steering rack issues, and brake failure. Both of these which I experienced. All of which happened at speeds below 40 mph on a city street
I got the electric power steering assist (eps) light several times. As a result, I wan't able to steer the wheels. I called GM and they said it's not subject to a recall. But they would fix the problem if it happens within 10 years or 150,000 miles on the car. But since that 10 years just passed in June 2020 for my car, I have to pay out of my pocket, they said. Then I asked why I didn't get a notification about the 10 years/150,000 miles coverage. They said it's because I'm not the original owner. Unlike recalls, they said only original owners got the notification (I bought this car second hand). I think this doesn't make sense. Not being able to steer wheels due to the mechanical defect is a critical safety issue. But it's not subject to open recalls yet. And GM sets an artitrary qualifications for free service and declines warranty for cars beyond them. I think NHTSA should order open recalls for this power steering problem so that all vehicles should be serviced regardless of year and mileage.
Since I purchased my vehicle back in 2015 (used) I have had ongoing steering issues. The steering feels much looser than most vehicles. It has almost taken me off of the road several times. I have had mechanics look at the car and they have all suggest I take it into Chevy for diagnostics since it is electrical steering. There is a recall for the steering on this exact year, make and model, though it says my VIN was not affected. It is a huge concern for myself to have this steering corrected as I have a toddler in my back seat. When roads are wet, uneven pavement, or the weather windy.. my car pulls off the road drastically I have to grip my steering wheel so hard to the point my hands turn red from grabbing so tightly in order to maintain somewhat control of this vehicle.. with this year. Make and model having steering recalls, I request Chevy honors my request to have my vehicle inspected by a licensed Chevy dealer to determine what the issue is. This has been an issue since purchasing the vehicle and I find it unlikely that I have the same exact issues as the recall though a completely different issue. I am afraid this will cause me to lose control of my car and wreck. Higher speeds (for example on the freeway) make the steering almost unmanageable and difficult to control. I have spoke to numerous Chevy Malibu owners who have had this exact issue with their recalls. I have reached out to Chevrolet directly to express my concerns and it was disregarded, they said my VIN was not effected so it couldn't be the issue. Consumer had the parts replaced on 6/19 again on 6/29 but vehicle is still unsafe to drive and problem is recurring.
- Turlock, CA, USA
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Steering wheel shakes when vehicle is idling. Online research mentions a tsb 15356.61722 and recalls for earlier model years. Why was I not notified of this back in 2015?
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving 65 mph, the steering wheel ceased and became difficult to turn. The power steering warning light illuminated. The contact stated that he almost crashed into two vehicles and barely coasted to the side of the road. The contact powered off the engine. The vehicle was restarted but the failure recurred. The vehicle was left at the side of the road for two days and later was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with the code C0545 which was a steering wheel torque sensor malfunction, which needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recalls associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
Power steering light displays on the dash than car lost power steering control..while driving able to steer with using extreme strength turning by driver this happen on city road.
I was driving at 70 miles per hour, the steering wheel started shaking and locked up, I almost loss control of the car. This is my 2nd 2011 Malibu and the other car had the same problem. It an issue with the power steering control. The car is currently cannot be driven.
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while his daughter attempted to drive, the steering wheel become difficult to turn. The power steering service ESC warning light illuminated. The contact called jones Ford dealer, (510 florence rd, savannah, tn 38372, (731) 925-4018) and informed them of the failure. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for a diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
Saturday around about 2 pm on 2/2/2019. In vehicle traveling in left lane on highway 72. Vehicles were at complete stop at traffic light. When the traffic light changed and the vehicles began to move about low mph to gradually flowing with moving traffic. I removed my foot from brake my vehicle initiated an acceleration. It seemed strange since the vehicle completely stopper on a slight incline. My vehicle propelled without the help of acceleration as traffic were at low mph. My vehicle suspension changed in steeling off into the median from left lane going down hill unable brake or to control the steering. It happened suddenly hitting the raised concert median my car and I went airborne. Injury to my head, aggravated neck cervical, spine, hip and legs. Airbag failed to deploy vehicle totaled. The on-star failed to operate. Thank god for dispatching his angels around me. And thank god for on the scene angel and angels. Stayed with me and called for help. I had paid my car off 2 years ago. The dealership sent me a letter that they had a buyer for my vehicle. Unbeknown to the dealership car was totaled. With in the last year I have see Chevrolet cars and trucks manufactured more and more defective vehicles. Failure to keep the consumers safe is bad business based on advertisement safety hazards that causes premature death. Communication to the consumer safety is just as important informational to the media about recalls defects warns proactively speak volumes about the manufacturers and their defective product. Customer services is key to safe lives matters on the street and in my vehicles manufactured and dealership we the people can count on you!
My mother"S 2011 Chevy Malibu ltz has had a recurring problem concerning dash lights. It is quite common for us to be driving down the road and all of a sudden, there are no lights within the gauge panel or stereo face panel. Sometimes the lights will only dim, others they go out completely. On other occasions the lights don't come on at start-up and may turn on at some point, 10-15 minutes down the road. We've called the dealer the car was purchased from, starling Chevrolet-Cadillac to report these issues, only be told to bring the vehicle in "when it was happening", by the time we would get half way there, the problem stopped and the service writer says come back when it's happening. We've wondered if this could be related to the electrical issues for which Chevrolet sent out the extension of the warranty to 15 years or 120,000 miles. Another issue we've had relates to the older power steering recall. We've had the car in to starling Chevrolet twice that they have replaced the power steering pump. The problem I have concerns the un professional work of the mechanic who performed the service. While having tires replaced a couple of months after the power steering replacement, we were shown the way the starling Chevrolet mechanic had beat the devil out of the cars' under carriage. It's absolutely unforgivable for a Chevy dealer to cause this kind of damage while performing a recall service!!! finally, is the first problem we incurred with starling. During the original test drive, the dealer's salesman proceeded to toss a drive-out tag in the rear of the car during which they damaged the paint. My brother tried to stop the salesman from using this tag hanger when he saw the unguarded magnet hanger, but the dealer rep wouldn't listen. It tooky a month to get the paint fixed and only then after Mr. Starling got involved. The dealer changed hangers as a result!
Buzzer sounded, red light flashed power steering service. Then I had trouble steering and had to fight to make turns. Hurt my arms. Vehicle had just begun moving and the minute I touched the steering wheel it wouldn't move. If I put all my might into the steering while moving, I could turn corners, but it hurt. Stayed stable going straight.
Loss of power steering, dash says no power steering and ESC disabled, engine still runs typically when dong parking lot maneuvers. Shut off engine, restart no issues. It repeats with same results.
Takata recall. As I was leaving work, making a right turn, my steering wheel jerked to the left and locked. While still driving, I managed to turn the steering wheel just enough for me to pull out of the road and into a parking lot. When I stopped the car there was a message on the dashboard that displayed 'power steering'.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Hallsville, TX, USA