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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
8 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
12 / 0
Average Mileage:
68,180 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

2011 Chevrolet Malibu steering problems

steering problem

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2011 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 6 of 10)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #83

Jan 292018

Malibu

  • 84,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

"loss of electric power steering" I have recently lost my electric powering steering and the ESC warning as well as the power steering warning keep displaying, when this started I thought it was just a power glitch because the air bag and other warning indicators would also go off randomly while driving it first happened which scared me and I slowed my vehicle until I could finally pull in somewhere safely (my rear tire pressure sensors are constantly not reading at all which started about a month after I had new tires put on it but that was the only notification I was getting up until now). I thought most of it was due to the extremely cold weather and restarting my car took care of the problem, and I wouldn't have any problems with it again for a little while. However this week restarting my car hasn't helped and now I have no power steering at all which is extremely dangerous when turning my vehicle and given that there is still less than 85K total miles on it then I am surprised that I am even having this issue at all, but I did read that some of the 2011 Malibu's have a recall on the U-joints, I believe that I read. I just found were there is currently 2 recalls on my car now and I have never had to do a recall therefore I was trying to figure that out and what I would need to do for that, as well as report the electric power steering issue too. Any information that you may have pertaining to this issue would be very appreciated since I did not see my car listed for the power steering recall then I'm not sure if I have to file a complaint first and/or if they will contact me when/if it is included with those recalls? thank you again!

- Minerva, OH, USA

problem #82

Jan 122018

Malibu

  • 108,000 miles
Steering wheel shakes when stopped at idle and shakes slightly when driving, after starting the engine the power steering some times does not work and service ESC message appears. I can turn off the engine and restart it and everything works but wheel still shakes.

- Higginsville, MO, USA

problem #81

Jan 242018

Malibu

  • 116,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. While the contact's stepdaughter was driving 15-20 mph, the power steering failed. The contact stated that it was difficult to maneuver the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to crossroads Chevrolet Cadillac of joplin (4630 E 32nd St, joplin, mo 64804, (417) 626-6620) to be diagnosed. There were no recalls associated with the VIN. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14E044000 (steering). The approximate failure mileage was 116,000.

- Loma Linda, MO, USA

problem #80

Jan 212018

Malibu

  • 107,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

At random times my Chevy Malibu 2011 w/ flex fuel steering wheel becomes hard to control. The service ESC and power steering lights begin to flash. When I pull over (becomes this seems to happen on the highway a lot) I turn my car off and back on. The issue seems to temporarily go away. My car mileage is only at 107,500. I've read about recalls and tested my VIN for it. Unfortunately, I do not see that my car was one that was recalled for the 2008-2013 car recall for this problem. I don't have extra funds to buy a new car or get this one fixed. This is a very dangerous issue that I hope they can find a solution for.

- Bowie, MD, USA

problem #79

Jan 052018

Malibu

  • 84,000 miles
My 2011 Chevy Malibu when driving the steering wheel wont function.

- Waite Park, MN, USA

problem #78

Jan 032018

Malibu

  • 127,210 miles
Fault codes power steering and break light show up on dash board. Codes will not clear thus cussing the vehicle a no start no crank. The vehicle while be driven instrument guages go in and out causing it to throw codes randomly.

- Greenwood, SC, USA

problem #77

Dec 282017

Malibu

  • 44,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Started the car to go to work. On the screen came up power steering ESC and service traction control, the traction control was also on and the car had no power steering. I had it towed to the dealership they replaced the cable and battery. Was going to go to the store today and the same thing happened no power steering. Not really driving the car this weekend. It's dangerous if it would shut down while driving in the snow. Like everyone else that has filed a complaint if I shut the car off and wait a little bit and restart I have power steering again

- North Huntingdon, PA, USA

problem #76

Dec 282014

Malibu

  • 60,070 miles
Airbags and side airbags didn't deploy, steering locked up and wheel separated form axel

- Arcata, CA, USA

problem #75

Nov 292017

Malibu

  • 204,000 miles
Power steering is not working

- Hamersville, OH, USA

problem #74

Nov 262017

Malibu

  • miles
'takata recall' the vehicle was stationary when I put the key in the ignition the light became dim. When I turned the key, I hearn a chime and the dash shows 'power steering' and 'service ESC'. the car would not crank; only flicker N the dash and loose power.

- Dallas, GA, USA

problem #73

Oct 012017

Malibu

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Rigth turn power steering stop working olmost have a accident with the car coming power steering ESC

- Lewes, DE, USA

problem #72

Sep 222017

Malibu

  • 155,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving 50 mph, the steering wheel seized and the service traction control and power steering indicators illuminated. The contact turned the vehicle off and shook the steering wheel to correct the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by a dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 155,000.

- Charleston, MS, USA

problem #71

Sep 082017

Malibu

  • 91,419 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving 55 mph, the power steering and traction control indicators illuminated and the steering wheel became inoperable. The vehicle was pulled over to the shoulder lane and restarted. The vehicle resumed normal operation. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 91,419.

- Coalgate, OK, USA

problem #70

Aug 072017

Malibu

  • 122,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving, the steering wheel wiggled and made a squeaky and grinding noise while making left and right turns. The contact stated that the seat belt indicator previously illuminated. The vehicle was taken to Suburban Buick GMC (21800 woodward ave, ferndale, mi 48220 (248) 547-6100) where it was diagnosed that the rack and pinion and the motor to the electrical steering needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 122,000.

- Detroit, MI, USA

problem #69

Aug 252017

Malibu

  • 138,900 miles
Service traction and ESC off are the messages that pop up. The traction control light stays on. Unable to disable enable/disable with the tc button. While driving the two messages appeared and the steering wheel was difficult to turn. The traction control feature won't turn off and the ESC feature is off. On the NHTSA website there were 3 recalls for the 2011 Malibu. I have a 2011 Malibu and when I made a search with the VIN it says there are no recalls. On vehiclehistory.com I made a VIN search and the recalls were found. The recall on the 2011 Malibu was for the electrical system and that there could be disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #68

Aug 202017

Malibu

  • 83,000 miles
On 8/20/2017 at around 9:30pm I was driving on a dark back-road in lemont, ill. (bluff rd. To be exact) I was traveling at about 20miles an hour & needed to make a sharp turn. All of a sudden my traction light went on & my steering wheel locked up causing me to have no control of my car. I immediately pumped my brakes so not to go off the road. After losing control I pulled over and tried to steer my way home because this is a very dark back road. Very scary!! I need to know what and how to get my car fixed. Auto mechanics are on strike here

- Bolingbrook, IL, USA

problem #67

Mar 202017

Malibu

  • 85,000 miles
While traveling at a slow speed (betw 10-20 mph) on 3/20/17, the car started to shake, the service ESC message light turns on, and service traction control light turns on (with message that car will power down). So, if I pull over to the side of the road and shut the car off (before it shuts down on it's own), wait 2 minutes for the computer to reset, then get RPM up quick (so the speed is quickly above the 20 mph), then it is wouldn't do it and I could get it to the mechanic. When the mechanic went to check it, the battery was dead, so no luck with computer scan. He put in new battery. So I drove it and it did it again. I took it to the mechanic and he checked it and he replaced the gas pedal (computer code indicated a bad sensor). However, it did not take care of the issue. Brand new battery and still draining battery (overnight). Mechanic thinks a relay may be staying open somewhere however isn't sure. Currently not drivable due to the shaking and that service ESC and service traction control messages come on with statement that vehicle will power down (while driving). First occurred on 3/20/2017 and is still occurring 4/20/2017 (mechanic hasn't been able to fix)! been dealing with a slow battery drain since purchased car in July 2016. If didn't drive car for 5 days, battery would be dead (4th day was still ok). Then in March 2017, other issue started and the battery drain became much worse. Now brand new battery and will drain completely dead overnight. Huge electrical issue. Car has 85,000 miles on it.

- Cresco, IA, USA

problem #66

Apr 012017

Malibu

  • 93,000 miles
Heating/air doesn't want to blow unless a window or sunroof is open and car is in motion.

- Pineville, KY, USA

problem #65

Mar 222017

Malibu

  • 13,260 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving 5 mph, the power steering failed. The power steering warning indicator did not illuminate. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed as a power steering failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 13,260.

- Cleveland, OH, USA

problem #64

Jan 252017

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 112,500 miles
The power steering failure occurs when driving.

- Glendale, AZ, USA

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