2012 Chevrolet Malibu Steering Problems
- 125
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 125 stored complaint records:
- 8 indicate a crash
- 2 indicate injury
- 0 indicate fire
What owners report
- power steering · 113 records
- steering wheel · 56 records
- failure mileage · 15 records
- notified failure · 12 records
- light came · 10 records
- traction control · 10 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 100–150k mi | 37 |
| 60–100k mi | 30 |
| 30–60k mi | 17 |
| 1–30k mi | 12 |
| 150–400k mi | 12 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Steering
I was driving my car a few days ago on a city street and after i made a turn, the power steering service esc light came on as well as the traction control picture. My steering wheel got super stiff and it was extremely hard to turn it. After i pulled over and turned my car off, i turned it back on and everything went back to normal. There is a recall for this but i checked on the gm recall website and put in my vin…
ODI 11309468
Electronic Stability Control · Steering
My esc comes on with traction emblem and power steering light. I then lose all power steering while in motion.
ODI 11309357
Steering
On 2/5/2020 while driving to work my steering wheel started to twitch while driving . After i arrived to work and put it in park the steering wheel was shaking back and fourth. Now after work i come out it had no power steering esc light on and a message power steering problem. Took vin to dealer no recall for my car. This is a common problem with these gm electric power steering systoms. There are recalls out there…
ODI 11307655
Steering
Same power steering problem. The electric power steering goes out sometimes midturn. Im an adult male and ive hit the curb a couple times if this happened to a female or child it could cause a serious accident. Im scarred to drive it. G.m. Needs to stop selling these electric power steering units. Mine is 2012 malibu just turned 100000. The esc light comes on and says power steering on dash.
Crash reported
ODI 11306504
Steering
The electronic power steering failed while driving. Service esc light came on and car was nearly impossible to steer. After turning off the engine and restarting the car, the power steering came back on. Now it is going in and out. Sometimes i can steer and sometimes it is almost impossible.
ODI 11306868
Steering
The electronic power steering failed while driving. Service esc light came on and car was nearly impossible to steer. After turning off the engine and restarting the car, the power steering came back on. Now it is going in and out. Sometimes i can steer and sometimes it is almost impossible. I have looked it up and there is a recall for this problem but my car does not seem to be part of this recall.
ODI 11302107
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Steering
Driving my vehicle with my 3 month old daughter in the car. Turned the wheel as i was taking a turn and the power steering completely stopped. This forced me to apply the brake because i almost wemt off the road!! I see this isn't the only incident involving the esc and power steering!! Vehicle currently has "service esc" and "power steering" messages displayed in the info messages.
ODI 11298170
Steering
The intermediate steering shaft and motor failed. I was almost killed. They said it is not covered under any recall or extended warranty. The part number is 20821325. I will never buy another malibu. Nothing but problems on the 2012
ODI 11301303
Electronic Stability Control · Steering
I bought a 2012 malibu for my daughter who is 15 years old. Nice car, but when she was pulling into a parking lot, "service etc" illuminated on the dash and she completely lost power steering. Hit a curb.
ODI 11291932
Electronic Stability Control · Steering · Suspension
Car would shimmy and shake. New tires new breaks etc. Made appoint. To fix recalls when power ster. Went out. Put new ps on and it didn't fix problem. Went back and forth to dealer. Had car diagnosed and service manager said there was a recall for so called gm, rep said they would fix and reinburse for the work already performed, gave a case number. Car sat a dealers weekend. Today gm rep said they would only pay 5%…
ODI 11289408
Steering
My power steering went out as i was exiting the highway at a bend and while i was turning to begin driving on the city streets. I had my 2 month old daughter and 6 year old son with me at the time this happened which frightened me tremendously.
ODI 11244606
Steering
My vehicle is starting to show a power steering warning.there is a recall for this number 15356, 08/28/2015, campaign - electronic power steering failure warranty info. I called gm and they said my vin number is not included. I feel it is going to lose power steering assist at any time. This could result in a serious accident. This is obviously the same problem as the malibus covered by the recall. They refuse to…
ODI 11222564
Steering
Tl* the contact's daughter owns a 2012 chevrolet malibu. While driving at an unknown speed, the power steering failed without warning and the vehicle became difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was taken to an unknown chevrolet dealer in kentucky where it was diagnosed that the steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 14e044000…
ODI 11193884
Steering
I was driving my car on a city road and my steering stopped working. Thankfully i wasn't too far from home so i did get home safely. I had it towed to a (xxxx) dealership because my mechanic said that my warranty should cover it and that there was a recall. The dealership called me and told me i need a new steering module and column and that it is not covered. If i was on the highway and this happened i would have…
ODI 11192150
Steering
Power steering went out driver the 2012 malibu on the street. Locked up and almost was involved in an accident due to faulty power steering.
ODI 11187393
Steering
My power steering is not working properly. I have to turn the car on and off for the power steering to work. The steering wheel shakes and the esc is on.
ODI 11186715
Steering
Well while turning on my street the steering wheel locked up and esc light came on which almost cause me to hit my neighbor fence and car trying to turn..i was very scared had car put in shop and they told me steering was gone out..i didnt no about this recall stuff because i had to pay close to 1000 to get thos repaired..how can i get refunded for something that was a recall on
ODI 11191250
Steering
The steering wheel is very difficult to turn requiring vehicle to be restarted frequently.
ODI 11185553
Steering
Power steering failure. Power steering motor/module needs to be replace.
ODI 11185473
Steering
I have been having problems with my steering nearly everytime i would start my car. After starting it repeatedly it usual would steer but today as i was driving the steering froze! It was very scary and could have turned out dangerously. I am not sure what the problem is but i see that many others are having the same problem with the steering of this year and model/.
ODI 11182677
Steering
Takata recall, my cars power steering keeps going out while driving, i have to pull over and turn my car off then on and it will work again. It usually happens at least once or twice a day. The steering wheel does not move unless i use all my strength which is very difficult and scary. It has happened on the highway and on a city street while driving causing me to pull over.
ODI 11183766
Steering
I was driving to pull out of grocery store and all of a sudden lost my power steering. It goes in and out of working and steering is very difficult.
ODI 11182796
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Steering
Started out when i'm just driving down the road my steering wheel twitches. Now has gone to esc power steering warning indicated and the steering wheel completely locks up. Most of the time just when i start the car however has done it when i'm driving down the road. Thankfully it was a secluded road and i didn't hit anyone. This is super dangerous and according to my search of the internet i'm not alone.
ODI 11180723
Steering
Was driving down a crooked road when steering felt like it locked up. Barely made it to side of road without crashing. Flashed ecs and powersteering on dash. After i restarted the engine it quit but did it again about a week later but the 2nd time it didn't quit after turning the car off, but the next day it waa driving fine again.
ODI 11176287
Seats · Steering
My 2012 malibu 1lt has some of the same issues the recalls are for but my specific vin number isn't included in the recalls. My driver seat moves when sitting in it and i need a rack-and-pinion. I'm also having issues with a 'rough' idle and when i put it in park the rpm's die down between 1&0 and the car acts like it's trying to cut off.
ODI 11231798