The night of 12/29/2018 about 10pm at an approximate speed of 45mph I experienced a loss of power steering while driving my 2011 Chevrolet malibu home from the mountains and steering became very difficult and we almost ran off of the road down a steep embankment. A service ESC and power steering light was on the dash. I restarted the engine and the warning lights went out and the power steering…
2011 Chevrolet Malibu steering problems
severe 210 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
210
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
8crashes
12injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 210 steering complaints filed for the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 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.
What stands out
Owners have filed 210 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.
Steering accounts for 22% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 12 categories tracked.
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
Started the car to go to work . On the screen came up power steering ESC and service traction control, the traction control was also on and the car had no power steering. I had it towed to the dealership they replaced the cable and battery. Was going to go to the store today and the same thing happened no power steering. Not really driving the car this weekend. It's dangerous if it would shut…
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet malibu. While driving at various speeds, the check engine, electronic stability control, traction control, and electric power steering warning lights illuminated. The vehicle failed to accelerate when the accelerator pedal was depressed. In addition, in rainy weather conditions, water leaked through the hood onto the brake lever and the steering wheel seized.…
Steering wheel "shakes" as of 12/2016 vehicle has approx 92,000 miles purchased vehicle new in nov 2010 four new tires june 2015 full alignment august 2016. Brand new brake pads and brand new rotors, all 4 wheels, november 2016. Description of incident (and condition): steering wheel has been rattling noticeably at freeway speeds (40 MPH to 75 MPH) and while tracking a straight line.…
As I was driving my 2011 Chevy malibu home to tulsa ok from arkansas my car dropped speed, I lost my power steering, the reduced engine power light came on, service traction ESC light came on too. When this happened I was on the highway driving 65 MPH and then the car lost speed down to 15 MPH. I was almost hit on the highway. I made it off the highway and stopped at a store but could not figure…
Power steering failed and locked up the steering wheel. Had to stop car mid road to restart car. Car no longer has any power steering. This is a very dangerous issue!
The power steering light just came on my car while driving down the road
Had steering trouble with your 2011 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 2011 Chevrolet Malibu?
It's a meaningful issue. 210 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 141 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 60,070 and 120,000 miles, with the median around 90,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 60,070; a quarter make it past 120,000. 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/2011/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.