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.
The power steering randomly goes out while I'm driving and triggers esc off. This creates a seriously dangerous driving situation as I have very little control of the vehicle. Why hasn't this been recalled. It's a seriously unsafe design that can kill someone.
The power steering stops working then the light comes on and reads power steering. This has happened multiple times so far. An example is when I was turning from one street to another. No other cars were coming or I may have hit them due to no steering at all. I was able to let it coast into the edge of someone's yard. I turned the car off. Then about 3 minutes later I turned it on and it worked again. 2nd time was at a food drive thru rounding the building. Turned off and back on and it worked. 3rd time in my driveway backing out. Again no one was near my car when I backed out onto a 55 mph road.
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH the contact heard a chime and then the "Service Power Steering Loss SC" illuminated. The contact was able to steer the vehicle using extra effort to drive the vehicle. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and the vehicle regained power steering functionality. The contact continued driving and the power steering failure reoccurred. The contact pulled off the roadway and turned off and restarted the vehicle and the vehicle regained power steering functionality. The contact stated that that failure was intermittent but had become a recurring failure. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V153000 (Steering). The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 226,000.
Intermittent loss off power steering while driving, usually in cold weather conditions. Absolutely no warning. This is EXTREMELY dangerous, especially when the driver is an elderly woman without the arm strength to steer the car without assisted power steering.
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while attempting to turn the steering wheel to the left or the right, the steering wheel seized and failed to operate as needed. The contact aggressively maneuvered the steering wheel to regain normal functionality. The air bag warning light was also illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 184,553.
- Jennings, FL, USA
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My vehicle can overheat at times and the thermostat won-??t work. That-??s during the summer and winter so the temperature could rise above normal and I wouldn-??t know because of the electric problems. It-??s happened too many times to count. The ESC sign comes on across the dash for me letting me know there are issues with power steering and traction. I can drive on my way to work and on the highway and it happens randomly. It-??s dangerous and scary I have to pull over on the side of the road to turn it off and on. Sometimes more than three to four times before it acts normal again. I tried to go to GM because my car has the symptoms of the cars being repaired in the recalls. But I-??m told there are none for my car but yet the car still locks on me. It jumps too as it-??s accelerating.
My power steering continues to go in and out while driving. There is a -??service esc-?? light on the dash along with multiple other lights. I see this among thousands of other 2009 Chevrolet Malibus, yet they are not recalled. I feel this is a serious safety warning for everyone who has one or might get one in the future.
I purchased this car used on 3/27/2023. The previous owner took good care of the car and had any recalls issued taken care of. On 4/10/2023 the power steering went out. I had the Power Steering Control Module replaced on 4/17/2023 at a cost of $1,154.36 at my local Chevrolet dealer. Upon research on the Internet I found that some Chevrolet Malibus were issued a recall for this problem. This car should have been issued a recall and this problem taken care of years ago. I need for Chevrolet / GM to address this. Thank you.
The car suddenly turns off while driving shutting down the power steering making it difficult or impossible to maneuver. It is a death trap. This happened 3 times today May 5, 2023 Losing power while driving is a major safety issue that is putting innocent people's lives at risk.
My steering wheel shakes and jerks while driving and when I start the car. Also, my car steers and pulls to the left while I-??m driving until the electric power steering light comes on and then the steering locks up and I am unable to turn the steering wheel to make a turn which can lead to a crash because I have to force the wheel in order to turn. I was driving on the highway and my steering locked and I pulled over safely and tried turning the car off and on. This has turned the electric power steering light off and I was able to turn the wheel but my steering wheel still shakes and jerks and the car pulls to the left. To add, a few minutes later my steering locks up and the electric power steering light comes on again and I am unable to turn the steering wheel. A couple of days ago I was coming off of an exit and the power steering light came on and I could turn the wheel to make the turn, almost causing an accident. Fortunately, I was able to force the steering to make the turn. *This has been a reoccurring issue. I will post the date below for the latest occurrence.
When accelerating the car glides to the right even tho you-??re holding the steering wheel straight there-??s not any play in the steering that i can observe. When you are driving it is unpredictable which way you feel the said -?? gliding motion -?? when braking I would say that it usually glides to the left but at times it-??s caught me off guard and I vear off to the right the esc service light is now on also I made a appointment for safety inspection at a local dealership
As I'm driving down the road my vehicle will engage the brake without warning while I'm in a curve or turning and it's extremely dangerous. I had a 18 wheeler behind me and my car came to an abrupt stop without warning as I was getting onto the interstate
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while his wife was backing out of the driveway, the power steering failed without warning. Due to the failure, his wife hit a pole on their property. The contact's wife was not injured, the air bags did not deploy due to low impact, a police report was not filed, and no property damage was reported. The contact went to assist his wife after the failure and used excessive force to steer the vehicle back into the driveway. The contact called the dealer and informed him that the vehicle was not under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V153000(Steering). The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was 76,500.
When I am going down the road the vehicle comes to a complete stop in a curve sometimes and it's dangerous. Only the bright lights work on the vehicle. The esc activates and turns off a lot when you least expect
When I am going down the road the vehicle comes to a complete stop in a curve sometimes and it's dangerous. Only the bright lights work on the vehicle. The esc activates and turns off a lot when you least expect
Electric power steering failure, while driving service ESC and power steering came up on the dash along with a traction control indicator. The only symptom prior was a Shakey steering wheel which was assumed to be mechanical. Problem persists on and off even with resetting system powering off and then back on.
The power steering went out when my son was driving. He was barely able to get out of the road for safety purposes. We took it to a dealer and they are recommending a whole new steering column and sensors. They say this is very common on these models. In looking at a $1,500-$2,000 fix and from what I researched this is very common with these models but only some were 'recalled.' Seems to be a way bigger issue. Im lucky my son wasn't in an accident.
I was pulling out of my alley onto a main street and my power steering went out I had to pull over I shut the car off and restarted it and it came back. When this happened got a message on dash ESC active and service power steering.
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- Chicago, IL, USA