This service bulletin provides a vibration analysis worksheet the technician can use in conjunction with the appropriate Vibration Analysis-Road testing procedure when diagnosing vibration concerns.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2008 Chevrolet Malibu steering problems
critical 467 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
467
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
12crashes
1fire
3injuries
1fatality
When does it fail?
Of the 467 steering complaints filed for the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
How fast does it fail?
Cumulative share of the 11 mileage-bearing steering complaints filed against the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu by each odometer reading. Median failure: 86,000 mi.
10% have failed by37,000 mi
Half the fleet by86,000 mi
90% have failed by112,000 mi
Curve based on owner-reported odometer mileage at the time of complaint. Reflects when owners filed, not when symptoms first appeared. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve.
What stands out
Steering accounts for 46% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 12 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 467 steering complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This service bulletin provides technicians with updated information to help identify the differences between what is considered a fluid leak, and what is considered fluid seepage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides technicians with updated information to help identify the differences between what is considered a fluid leak, and what is considered fluid seepage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This technical bulletin provides a procedure to eliminate a power steering noise due to extremely low temperatures.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This preliminary information bulletin provides information for diagnosing a power steering fluid leak at the fluid reservoir.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2008 Malibu's electric power steering system fails in multiple ways. Most common: the steering assist quits entirely—sometimes with a warning light, sometimes without—leaving owners muscling the wheel manually at highway speeds. One owner had power steering cut out while pulling out of a driveway onto a busy street; another lost it on a winding mountain road during rush hour. The system sometimes restarts after turning the engine off and back on, but failure can recur within minutes.
Steering also jerks or oscillates on its own while driving or parked. One owner reported the wheel moving 20 degrees side-to-side repeatedly, lasting up to 30 minutes. Others describe the wheel becoming extremely stiff, or locking solid and requiring both hands to break free. These failures happen at any speed and without warning.
Diagnostics are often inconclusive. Dealers rotated tires and balanced wheels—sometimes repeatedly, with 12–14 tires installed in one case—before identifying the root as the power steering motor or torque sensor. Service scans return multiple electrical codes that confuse both dealers and independent shops. A few owners report dealers initially blaming battery or alternator, costing hundreds more.
GM issued recalls in 2012–2014 covering the exact failures described. However, many 2008 Malibus are excluded from coverage based on VIN; owners with "non-covered" VINs are told their car didn't make the recall list, despite identical symptoms to the recalled vehicles. Repair costs run $600–$1,000. When dealers replace the module, failures sometimes recur within a year at higher mileage.
Same Chevrolet Malibu steering reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011
Failure modes owners describe
Power steering assist loss / failure
Complete or near-complete loss of power steering assist, requiring manual steering with extreme effort. Occurs suddenly without warning while driving or at idle. Warning light may illuminate; restarting engine temporarily restores function.
When: Most commonly begins 32,000–97,600 miles; some cases as early as 45,000 miles; can occur at any mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Abrupt loss of power steering assist while driving or stationary; Steering wheel becomes very difficult or impossible to turn manually; Power steering warning light illuminates on dashboard; System may restore function after engine restart; Occurs at variable speeds (20–65 mph) or while parked
Codes mentioned: C0545 (steering wheel torque sensor malfunction), Code 0475 (power steering motor shorted internally), C0277, C056100 (BCM/EBCM codes), P0365/P0366 (camshaft position related, reported as secondary)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers replace power steering motor control module (~$847–$956 parts/labor), steering column (~$763), torque sensor, or intermediate shaft. Many repairs fail to resolve issue permanently. Some owners cite TSB lubrication of intermediate shaft (unsuccessful). Core fees for replacement modules $300–$600.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaigns 14V153000, 14E044000, 14V224000; GM Special Bulletin #10183 (policy covers 10 years / 100,000 miles). Multiple recall letters issued 2012–2014. Many VINs excluded despite identical symptoms; coverage varies by build date and procedure (14116, 14117, 14118). GM refuses assistance for non-covered VINs, citing 'one-time repair' policy.
Steering wheel jerking / oscillation / self-steering
Steering wheel jerks, vibrates, or oscillates side-to-side without driver input while parked or driving. Movement ranges from subtle shaking to 1-inch swings from center. Often accompanied by grinding, popping, or rattling noise. May occur randomly or with engine revs.
When: Can begin 2,000–85,000 miles; most common 32,000–60,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel shakes or vibrates while stationary with engine running; Jerking left-to-right motion while driving at any speed; Rapid oscillation (20 degrees side-to-side) lasting 5–30 minutes or more; Steering becomes rigid in specific directions (only left or right of center, no smooth motion); Accompanied by grinding, popping, clicking, or humming noise from steering column; Vehicle swerves uncontrollably while jerking occurs; requires both hands to maintain lane control
Codes mentioned: C0545 (torque sensor malfunction), Code 0475 (power steering motor shorted internally), Service Traction / Traction Control indicator (intermittent)
Repairs/costs cited: Tire rotations and balancing attempted but ineffective (~$400 initial cost). Steering column module replacement quoted at ~$700. Power steering motor / control module replacement (~$847–$956). Intermediate shaft lubrication per TSB ineffective in reported cases. Some dealers perform 'steering angle readjustment' and 'torque sensor relearn' without resolution.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Covered under Special Bulletin #10183 and recall campaigns 14V153000, 14E044000. Same VIN exclusion issue as loss-of-assist cases. GM TSB #09-07-30-012 references the issue. Some owners receive $100 service credit letters instead of repair coverage.
Steering wheel stiffness / lockup
Steering wheel becomes extremely stiff, difficult to turn, or completely locked in one position. Owner must exert significant force or pull hard to regain control. May occur intermittently while driving or while parked.
When: 32,000–180,000 miles reported; no consistent mileage threshold
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes very stiff and difficult to turn with one hand; Steering wheel locks completely, requiring two hands or extreme force to free; Occurs while driving and while parked; Intermittent; may resolve on its own or only after engine restart; Happens without warning at variable speeds or while stationary
Codes mentioned: C0545 (torque sensor malfunction), Steering column internal fault codes
Repairs/costs cited: Steering column replacement (~$763). Some cases require torque sensor replacement. Dealers initially misdiagnosed as ball joint failure (~$400 in one case, unsuccessful). Lubrication of intermediate shaft per TSB unsuccessful.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Covered under recall campaigns for some VINs only. Torque sensor replacement falls outside some recall procedures (14118 covers only motor controller); owners denied coverage despite identical symptoms.
Power steering warning light / intermittent electrical warnings
Power steering warning light illuminates intermittently on dashboard information center. Often accompanied by chime/ding sound. May appear and disappear at any speed or while stationary. Sometimes multiple warning messages appear simultaneously (Service Traction, Service ESC, Engine Power Loss).
When: Can occur as early as new vehicle (260 miles reported); most common 30,000–100,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Power Steering warning light flashes on dashboard; Accompanying chime/ding sound when light appears; Warning appears and disappears at variable speeds or while parked; Simultaneous warnings: Service Traction, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Engine Power Loss, Service Engine Soon; Warning may recur within minutes or hours after vehicle restart; Diagnostics show multiple codes even when warning not illuminated
Codes mentioned: C0545 (steering wheel torque sensor), Code 0475 (power steering motor), C0277, C056100 (BCM/EBCM), P0365/P0366 (camshaft position sensors, sometimes secondary to steering issues), Battery/alternator codes (secondary, from electrical stress)
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple diagnostic scans required; often returns 'multiple codes' too numerous for independent shop diagnosis. Battery and alternator replacement recommended in some cases (~$800+) without resolving steering issue. TSB lubrication of intermediate shaft unsuccessful.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM directs owners to dealership diagnostic and scan (typically $65 fee); advises calling back with reference number to file in records. Dealers state 'everything checks out' despite recurrent warnings. No immediate recall action until module failure confirmed.
Steering alignment / vibration issues (initial misdiagnosis)
Steering wheel vibration or shaking initially misdiagnosed as tire/alignment problem. Dealers perform multiple tire rotations, balances, and alignments without resolving underlying electronic power steering issue.
When: As early as 308 miles (brand new); 30,000–60,000 miles common for misdiagnosis
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel shakes or vibrates, especially 40–70 mph; Dealership claims standard 'Malibu vibration' and no repair possible; Tire rotation and balance attempted but ineffective; Multiple tire replacements (12–14 tires in one case) without resolution; Vibration continues intermittently despite tire work
Codes mentioned: None; mechanical alignment diagnostics normal
Repairs/costs cited: Unneeded tire rotations (~$400 initial), multiple tire replacements at owner/dealer cost. Steering column or power steering motor replacement finally required.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers state vibration is normal for 2008 Malibu/Impala models between 40–70 mph. No recalls initially offered. Later GM bulletin identifies power steering motor control module as root cause for similar complaints.
Synthesized from 467 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 11 most recent
On numerous occasions in the last 2 weeks. When starting the car, the words 'power steering' comes on the message board along with a yell illuminated triangle light and an 'ESC' light and the cars steering will not control. Car will shift but steering cannot be controlled. Will also happen while driving. Steering will lock until car is turned off and restarted!
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet malibu. While driving 30 MPH, the steering wheel felt abnormal and an unknown warning light illuminated. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic who diagnosed that the electronic steering motor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure…
Power steering on vehicle temporarily fails while driving. Also steering wheel often shakes from side to side while sitting idle. *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that while making a u-turn at approximately 10 MPH, the gear shift failed to switch gears and the vehicle stalled without warning. In addition, the contact stated that the steering wheel seized without warning. The contact mentioned that the failure occurred after the vehicle was serviced under NHTSA campaign numbers: 14v252000…
I was driving home from work at about 6 pm when my power steering went out and caused my steering wheel to turn by itself. When the steering wheel turned by itself I lost control of the vehicle and almost crashed into a stop sign and a curb in the incoming traffic lane. When I purchased the car I was so excited, it was my first car and I thought it was decent,I was wrong. Since the power steering…
Tl*the contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that while driving, the power steering failed. The contact stated that the information system light illuminated after the failure occurred. The contact turned the vehicle off and back on; after the restart, the power steering functioned properly. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000 and the current mileage was approximately…
Power steering suddenly stops working at random times and vehicle is very difficult to control
Power locks have only worked for front doors for as long as ive had the car, about a year..... Over the past month - service air bag light came on shortly after starting the car one day. A few weeks later, service ESC and traction control popped up after starting the car. Now my power steering has gone out and does not reset upon restarting the car.
Was going around a corner after a red light steering locked up and got a message power steering problem with another message cant remember what it said. It looks like im not the only one. I do believe this is a safety issue and Chevrolet should fix it. . ..updated 01-10-14 *bf the consumer stated she found her extended warranty on the power steering. Updated 01/13/14
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the steering wheel would shake and the power steering warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the power steering module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.
Had steering trouble with your 2008 Chevrolet Malibu?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu?
It's a serious issue. 467 complaints have been filed, including 12 reports involving a crash and 1 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 373 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 51,000 and 126,116 miles, with the median around 86,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 51,000; a quarter make it past 126,116. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2008/Chevrolet/Malibu.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.