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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
9 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
76,913 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.

2012 Chevrolet Malibu steering problems

steering problem

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2012 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 1 of 9)

problem #180

Jun 302024

Malibu

  • miles

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

As I was driving my vehicle last Sunday the "Power Steering and the Service ESC" warnings came on my dashboard as well as the "Traction Control light" I audible sound came on and I lost power steering. When I went to drive my car to my service station everything worked fine for a few blocks the problem came back. I drove it to my local service mechanic and his scan tool gave an error code of CO545. I did some research on this issue and found that GM put out a Special Coverage #15356 for the power steering sensor. This coverage expired in 2021 however my vehicle did not have this problem until last week. My car only has 60,000 miles on it. Yesterday I took my vehicle to the GM dealer that I purchased my vehicle from and the said I have to pay $200 for them to diagnose the problem (which I understand) but the service writer told me that GM will probably not replace the parts needed because their "Special Coverage" expired in 2021. I am asking if the government can force GM to recall. I thank God that my wife nor my daughter was not driving the vehicle when this happened or they may have been hurt or worse fighting the steering wheel to keep the car going straight until I could stop it saftly.

- Binghamton, NY, USA

problem #179

Apr 262024

Malibu

  • miles
ESC went out on vehicle on the interstate

- Georgetown, KY, USA

problem #178

Apr 112024

Malibu

  • miles
1. While driving I will lose all steering capability and get a ESC Off 2. Physically difficult to turn the wheel when going around turns and this happens we would be unable to control the vehicle 3. The problem has produced itself by the dealership and there is a Bulletin that provided coverage incase this happens but did not happen until after coverage expired and should have been a recall. 4. No has not been inspected by anyone else 5. Lights that came on were traction control and a notification stating ESC is turned off on the dashboard Marquee.

- Lewisville, TX, USA

problem #177

Feb 162024

Malibu

  • miles

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

After reaching 120,000+ miles on this vehicle I have been receiving the following warnings on the driver information screen in this order: POWER STEERING SERVICE ESC ESC OFF As a result of these warnings the steering wheel becomes stiff and very hard to turn either left or right at low speeds.

- Lamar, MO, USA

problem #176

Feb 132024

Malibu

  • miles
While driving the car, the power steering system will randomly stop working. While driving in a parking lot the power steering stops working, the car becomes hard to steer. ESC (or ECS?) disabled light comes on and the power steering light comes on on the msg center. This leads to possible loss of control of the car leading to possible collisions.

- Twinsburg, OH, USA

problem #175

Feb 012024

Malibu

  • miles
While driving i made a left turn and the vehicles steering wheel became stiff... hard to turn, while on coming traffic was headed my way. Almost got in an accident. Had to force to steering wheel to pull over to the side.They were a bunch of messages that said power steering ESC.

- Saint Albans , NY, USA

problem #174

Jan 302024

Malibu

  • miles

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

I Was driving and my power steering went out. I got it home turned it on and the power steering came back but the wheel keeps twitching. Tried to start it again and the power steering was out again.

- Coggon, IA, USA

problem #173

Jan 212019

Malibu

  • miles
POWER STEERING light shows on indicator panel sometimes without any problems steering. Sometimes it appears along with SERVICE ESC and some times power steering is lost. Turning the car off and back on usually resets the problem. It is extremley difficult to steer the car when this happens. It began intermittently about 3 years ago when a local mechanic looked at it but he couldn't find anything wrong. It's failing much more frequently (every other trip) now. It has about 62000 miles on it. So far, no accidents but a few close calls. Another problem is that the SERVICE AIR BAG indicator comes on when someone sits in the passenger seat and the car is started. It can be reset but it's an scary situation. I don't think this is related to the steering problem but not sure.

- Medford, NJ, USA

problem #172

Sep 092023

Malibu

  • miles
Attempting to pull out of my parking lot, I was suddenly unable to steer my car. Immediately warning lights went on in the dashboard the car would not move. Luckily, I was not in the middle of the street or driving down the highway as I would have lost control of the vehicle. I had the car towed to Meineke and they reported that the power steering assist motor had failed. Prior to the incident, no warning signs had come on in my car.

- Palatine, IL, USA

problem #171

Jun 292023

Malibu

  • miles
While I was making a right turn, I experienced a sudden loss of steering, the steering wheel became completely stiff and almost imposible to maneuver. The panel message was Service EPS and ESC off. According to information in this website, there was a special warranty extension, which expired on 2022, which covered this specific issue (the problem is related to the electric power steering assist (EPS), the steering column torque sensor or the EPS motor/controller). The special warranty code was 15356. I have taken my car to the dealership in the past for maintenance and other safety recalls, but I was not alerted about this very dangerous issue. I called GM today, and they said I was not alerted because this was not a recall but an extended warranty. This sounds like a lack of due diligence on GM?s end to address an issue that is extremely dangerous. I am now afraid to drive this car.

- Rohnert Park, CA, USA

problem #170

Apr 022023

Malibu

  • miles

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

The power steering warning comes on, my steering wheel becomes very hard to turn-??after turning the car on and off a few times, the warning goes away and the steering seems to go back to normal. It has been happening for a couple days now!

- Garner, NC, USA

problem #169

Feb 042023

Malibu

  • miles
My engine

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #168

Feb 022023

Malibu

  • miles
The steering wheel power goes off, warning with "power steering" Service esc" and traction off. Making it almost impossible to steer. This should be covered by Chevy because everyone has the problem.

- Waterbury, CT, USA

problem #167

Jan 032023

Malibu

  • miles
The car strated with like a glitch on the steering wheel. I didnt know what it was maybe I thought it was a tire but it would do it while at a stop or parked. Know when I turn it on it started with the steering wheel being hard not being able to move easy. Know it does the same but it shows on the message center "power steering" I have to turn it off and on for a while. Then it will be "normal". The glitch on the steering wheel is more. I don't know what to do or if there is a recall.

- Tucson , AZ, USA

problem #166

Jan 232023

Malibu

  • miles
The Electric steering has malfunctioned and the ESC has shut off and my steering has gone out it only has 138000 miles I know there was several recalls for this steering issue in several Chevy Malibu-??s. I don-??t understand why mine was not recalled. It-??s the same problem that the ones that were recalled were having. Please let me know if it is recalled or why this problem is still happening. Thank you

- Claremore , OK, USA

problem #165

Jan 092023

Malibu

  • miles
The steering wheel begins to jerk while driving straight, causing involuntary and abrupt movement to the sides and poses risk for collision. The power steering mechanic intermittently loses ability to function causing difficulty in controlling the vehicle.

- Paris, MI, USA

problem #164

Jan 022023

Malibu

  • miles
Service esc service traction esc off Light comes on and off randomly

- Malvern, AR, USA

problem #163

Jul 272022

Malibu

  • 71,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The vehicle was restarted and worked as designed. The service ESC power steering message was displayed. The traction control warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering column and steering control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified via email but there was no response. The contact stated that the failure was similar to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14E044000 (Steering). The approximate failure mileage was 71,000.

- Aurora, MO, USA

problem #162

Jul 112022

Malibu

  • 118,472 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 118,472.

- Kansas City, MO, USA

problem #161

Feb 022022

Malibu 4-cyl

  • miles
I contacted this agency back in March 2022 about my power steering going out while driving after I was told there was a recall on this issue already. This agency told me my vin number was NOT included in this recall but will start an investigation to see if it can be included. Considering this is an safety issue and a recall on this same issue has been established. I have yet to hear anything back from anyone about this matter. Not a letter, phone call nor an email. This is a safety issue! There is a recall on this already! I thought this agency was created for consumers to protect them from issues with transportation that involved their safety" I called and spoke with a rep name [XXX] who was extremely rude and obnoxious so I'm making this report again. Can I get any assistance from this agency" It is getting pretty scary to drive this vehicle with my wheel locking up and the repair is extremely high. I'm not sure why my vin was not included, but after doing some research, I'm having the exact same problems the other cars under this recall are having. My number has changed since my initial report. The new number is listed below. My old number is [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Detroit, MI, USA

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