2010 Chevrolet Malibu Steering
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
MY POWER STEERING TORQUE SENSOR WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE. HAVE HAD RANDOM ISSUES GOING BACK YEARS WITH THE POWER STEERING BUT NEVER WHILE DRIVING. USUALLY ONLY WHEN STARTING THE CAR. GM SAID,EVEN THOUGH IT'S THE SAME EXACT PART NUMBER LISTED IN THE 2005-2009 CHEVY MALIBU RECALL, MY 2010 WAS NOT PART OF THE WARRANTY. REPAIRS WERE QUOTED AT $1800-2200. GM SEEMS UNWILLING TO FIX THE DEFECTIVE PART THEY PUT IN MY CAR. THIS TYPE OF IGNORANCE LANDED GMS CEOS [XXX] ON CAPITAL HILL JUST OVER A YEAR AGO. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
POWER STEERING IS MOSTLY GONE. KICKS IN FOR A FEW SECONDS AFTER IGNITION, BUT CUTS OUT PRETTY SOON. FULL MANUAL STEERING NOW. DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS INCLUDED IN THE OTHER EPS RECALL FROM GM. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. MANY GM SERVICE CENTERS ARE LYING ABOUT THE NECESSARY REPAIR WHEN YOU TAKE THE AFFECTED VEHICLES IN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO TURN THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE ESC POWER STEERING WAS DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE ABOUT THE PART THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,780.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TORQUE CENTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. IN ADDITION, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST MOTOR AND THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V153000 (STEERING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE INPUT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
WHILE DRIVING, THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING WENT OUT, MAKING IT UNABLE TO STEER THE CAR. THE STEERING TORQUE SENSOR WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $400. OUR 2004 CHEVY MALIBU HAD THE EXACT THING HAPPEN TO IT. IT WAS COVERED BY A GM RECALL. HOWEVER WITH THE 2010, THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. THIS WAS A DANGEROUS, LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.
ON 17 JANUARY 2015 I WAS DRIVING HOME DOWN A SOMEWHAT WINDING ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE POWER STEERING ON MY VEHICLE FAILED COMING INTO A TURN ALMOST CAUSING ME TO GO INTO A DITCH. THE FAILURE WAS SUDDEN AND I HAD TO APPLY MY BRAKES TO AVOID DRIVING OFF THE ROAD. I HAVE READ AROUND ON FORUMS AND THOUGH MANY OF THE RECALLS FOR OTHER MODELS AND SAME MODELS OF DIFFERENT YEARS THAT HAVE A SIMILAR STEERING SETUP. I BELIEVE IT IS THE MALIBUS OF THE MODEL YEAR 04, 05, 06, 08, AND 09 THAT ARE COVERED BY THE RECALL WHEREAS MY VEHICLE IS A 2010 WHICH IS NOT COVERED. *TR
WAS TURNING LEFT WHEN IT SUDDENLY BECAME SLIGHTLY HARDER TO STEER. THE DASH STARTED BEEPING AND THE NOTIFICATION "POWER STEERING" CAME UP. POWER STEERING TURNED BACK ON AFTER THE TURN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AS THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN BETWEEN 30-40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BEARINGS IN THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14E044000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THERE WAS AN EXCESSIVE VIBRATION WITHIN THE STEERING WHEEL AND AN UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER STEERING OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHERE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION FOR A BRIEF MOMENT AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL TORQUE SENSOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000. ....UPDATED 06-16-15 *BF UPDATED 10/3/2017*CN
I HAD A LOSS OF POWER STEERING "SERVICE ESC" LIGHT ALSO CAME ON. CAR WAS COMPLETELY MANUAL STEERING AT THAT POINT, EXTREMELY HARD TO CONTROL. SAME PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL 14E044. ALSO, PART MADE BY THE SAME COMPANY THAT THE RECALL INVOLVED. I PURCHASED A NEW POWER STEERING SENSOR AND HAD IT INSTALLED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC. THE POWER STEERING STILL DID NOT OPERATE PROPERLY, BUT THIS TIME WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED ON, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD TURN ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT, ON ITS OWN. WHEN I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID THAT THE WARRANTY WAS VOIDED ON THE PRODUCT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SEVERAL GM SERVICE DEPARTMENTS THAT THIS IS A FAULTY PART AND THAT OFTEN TIMES SEVERAL HAVE TO BE INSTALLED BEFORE YOU FIND ONE THAT WORKS. ALSO, I WAS NOT PROVIDED A WRITTEN WARRANTY FROM THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE PART, BUT THE PARTS DEPARTMENT TOLD THAT THERE WAS A WARRANTY ON IT. HOWEVER, NO DETAILS AS TO STIPULATIONS WERE PROVIDED. I AM UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT GM AND DEALERSHIPS ARE AWARE OF THIS DEFECTIVE PART AND INSTEAD OF ADDRESSING THE ISSUE, THEY ARE TRYING TO PUT THE RESPONSIBILITY OFF ON THE CAR OWNER. THE DEALERSHIP WAS DISHONEST IN ITS PRACTICES IN DEALING WITH THIS DEFECTIVE PART. *TR
POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH PULLING ONTO A HIGHWAY THE STEERING CUT OUT AND THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ORDER TO AVOID BEING STRUCK BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE BACKED UP DOWN THE STREET STILL UNABLE TO TURN, AND STRUCK A LIGHT POLE. NO DAMAGE TO VEHICLE OTHER THAN REAR FENDER POPPED OUT OF PLACE. UPON RESTARTING THE VEHICLE ALL FUNCTIONS WERE NORMAL AND WARNING LIGHT WAS OFF. CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS TEST DRIVEN AND SCANNED FOR CODES- NO PROBLEMS FOUND. THIS IS A RECALL ISSUE IN THE 2008-2009 MALIBU, BUT 2010 MODELS ARE NOT INCLUDED EVEN THOUGH THEY USE THE SAME PARTS. (GM'S RECALL #14V15300). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VIBRATING AND IT WAS UNABLE TO BE TURNED IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14E044000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING AT 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND FUNCTIONED AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS REQUIRED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE INPUT TORQUE SENSOR FAILED AND THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14E044000 (STEERING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,861.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO MANEUVER AS THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AS THE POWER STEERING WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE POWER STEERING WARNING LAMP NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,500.
I WAS BACKING UP FROM THE STORE AND I HEARD A TRACTION NOISE DOING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, IT GOT WORSE STIFFER AND STIFFER TO STEER , I HAVE 2 CHILDREN IN THE CAR WITH ME SCARE TO DEATH TO HIT SOMETHING!, MY HUSBAND TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY CHARGED US 520 DOLLARS WITH A DISCOUNT THEY SAID. SO UPSETTING BECAUSE IT IS A 2010 MALIBU ONLY 49000 MILES , DOING SOME RESEARCH I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN CARS RECALL FROM GM FROM THE SAME PROBLEM!!! ARE THEY WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO DIE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!! SO UPSET! *TR
THE POWER STEERING ASSIST LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON IN MY CAR BUT THE POWER STEERING HAS WORKED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TWICE AND WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. IT WOULD COST HUNDREDS TO FIX. THE POWER STEERING FAILED, HOWEVER, WHEN I WAS OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. I PULLED OVER TURNED OFF THE IGNITION RESTARTED THE CAR AND THE POWER STEERING WORKED. GM HAS RECALLED EARLIER MODEL YEARS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. SEE RECALL NOTICE AT THIS URL: HTTP://MEDIA.GM.COM/MEDIA/US/EN/GM/NEWS.DETAIL.HTML/CONTENT/PAGES/NEWS/US/EN/2014/MAR/0331-POWER-STEERING.HTML GM HAS REFUSED TO REMEDY THIS SAFETY DEFECT, TELL ME THE PART AT ISSUE OR OR INFORM ME AS TO WHETHER IT IS THE SAME PART THAT LED TO THE RECALL ON THE EARLIER MODEL YEAR. *TR
IN DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR AND JANUARY OF THIS YEAR I HAD SPORADIC PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING UNIT IN MY VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE IS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. IN PARTICULAR, I HAD DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE AND MANEUVERING THE VEHICLE WHETHER IT WAS IN PARK OR DRIVE. ONCE I STARTED THE VEHICLE I WOULD GET A FLASH MESSAGE ON THE DASHBOARD TELLING ME TO CHECK THE POWER STEERING AND I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE AND/OR TURN THE WHEEL ON THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS. I HAD THE PROBLEM FIXED. THE WORK THAT WAS PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE, INCLUDED REPLACING THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN DUE TO A BAD TORQUE SENSOR. I PAID FOR THE REPAIR AND AM SEEKING A REIMBURSEMENT GIVEN THE FACT THAT OTHER CUSTOMERS ARE BEING COMPENSATED FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I UNDERSTAND THE 2009 VEHICLE IS RECOGNIZED AS BEING AFFECTED, BUT NOT THE 2010. *TR
WHILE LEAVING THE PARKING LOT, MY POWER STEERING ALERT CAME ON. I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE MECHANIC, AND HE FOUND AN ERROR MESSAGE RELATING TO THE STEERING COLUMN IN MY CAR. HE SAID TO FIX THE PROBLEM, THEY WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN, ALIGN THE WHEELS/STEERING, ECT. ALL AT A COST OF ABOUT $873. MY CAR ISN'T EVEN 5 YEARS OLD YET, AND I'M FORCED TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN? I SEE THAT GM HAS RECALLED THE 2004-2006, 2009 MALIBU MODELS, AND A NUMBER OF OTHER YEARS AND MODELS DUE TO FAULTY POWER STEERING. I DRIVE HOME TO SEE MY MOM WHO IS AT THE END OF LIFE WITH CANCER. THAT DRIVE IS ABOUT 130 MILES ONE WAY, MOSTLY INTERSTATE DRIVING AT 65MPH. IF I DON'T HAVE THIS FIXED, I COULD POSSIBLY LOOSE MY POWER STEERING, OR WORSE, LOOSE STEERING ALL TOGETHER, AND NOT ONLY INJURE OR KILL MYSELF, BUT OTHERS ON THE ROAD. SO I AM FORCED TO FIX THIS ISSUE, WHICH I FEEL SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS. I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY ALMOST $1000 FOR A CAR THAT ISN'T EVEN 5 YEARS OLD, THAT I PAID $25,000+ FOR. RESOLUTION FOR ME WOULD BE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE WORK I'M GOING TO HAVE DONE, AND HAVE THE 2010 MALIBU'S ADDED TO THE RECALL LIST. THANK YOU *TR
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Quick Summary
The 2010 Chevrolet Malibu has 303 Steering complaints on file. 4 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.