Driving car on the expressway hit a puddle ABS light along with check stabil trak and check break assist system come on, few minutes down the road attempt to break and turn wheel neither work, hit guard rail l, after hitting guard rail another warning light saying service power steering, drive with care appears, took to dealer filed claim with gm to fix body damage for manufactures defect. Gm did…
2014 Chevrolet Malibu steering problems
severe 25 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
25
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
3crashes
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 25 steering complaints filed for the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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 25 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.
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 10 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2014 Malibu has documented steering problems ranging from stiffness and sticky center-position feel to complete power steering failure at highway speeds, plus intermittent engine stalling and auto stop/start malfunctions that can lock up the steering and brakes. Multiple owners report dealer inability to diagnose or replicate issues despite warning lights and genuine hazards.
Owners describe two broad categories of steering trouble. The first is stiffness and stickiness: the steering wheel resists returning to center on straightaways, especially at highway speeds, requiring forceful correction that causes oversteering. Many say alignment checks and dealer visits fail to resolve it. GM sent a letter in December 2014 acknowledging "increased friction in the steering system" and offering ten years or 150,000 miles of free service, but owners report dealers still can't duplicate the condition.
The second is outright power steering failure. Owners report sudden loss of power steering while driving, often accompanied by multiple warning lights (SERVICE POWER STEERING, ABS, STABILITRAK, SERVICE VEHICLE SOON). The steering wheel locks, brakes fail, and the vehicle stalls to a stop. A few incidents occurred at highway speeds during turns; at least one owner crashed into a ditch when the steering locked. Most failures resolve after engine restart, but owners describe them as recurring and unpredictable.
A separate problem surfaces with the auto stop/start feature: when the engine restarts after an idle stop, power drains completely for a moment, steering locks up, and the brake pedal freezes. One owner was stopped in the middle of a street when the engine wouldn't restart for twenty minutes. Engine stalling and no-start conditions also occur, sometimes tied to fuel system issues (water contamination, bad fuel pump) or solenoid failure. Transmission jerking and inappropriate shifting compound the unreliability owners experience.
Same Chevrolet Malibu steering reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Steering stiffness and sticky center position
Steering wheel becomes difficult to turn or develops a 'sticky' or 'dead spot' in the center position, requiring increased effort to overcome resistance. Occurs most often on straight highways at speed, occasionally in cold weather initially but persisting in warmer conditions. Some owners report the wheel jerks when forced past the sticky spot, causing oversteering.
When: 16,350 miles; 36,731 miles; 41,000 miles; 49,000 miles; 80,000 miles; 10,000 miles; intermittently across various mileages
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel difficult or hard to turn; Sticky or dead spot in center position requiring increased effort; Steering jerks or lurches when forced past resistance; Oversteering response; Steering does not track straight in lane; Steering locked or seized
Codes mentioned: SERVICE POWER STEERING warning light, DRIVE WITH CARE warning message
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM letter dated 12/05/2014 notifying owners of 'increased friction in the steering system' that can cause steering wheel to stick in straight-ahead position after long highway driving; offered 10 year or 150,000 mile free service on the part. Dealers unable to duplicate condition during service visits; no repairs performed in several cases.
Power steering loss and failure
Power steering function suddenly lost while driving, either complete loss or intermittent dropout. Three warning lights often illuminate simultaneously (SERVICE POWER STEERING, ABS, SERVICE VEHICLE SOON or STABILITRAK). Vehicle loses power and comes to a stop or becomes undriveable. Some incidents resolved after engine restart; others persistent.
When: 36,731 miles; 80,000 miles; 49,000 miles; various mileages including incidents during highway driving at 65-80 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering disabled without warning; Steering wheel locked or frozen; Multiple warning lights illuminated simultaneously; Vehicle jerks and stalls; Vehicle unable to be driven above 20 mph; Loss of all power or temporary power loss
Codes mentioned: SERVICE POWER STEERING light, ABS light, SERVICE VEHICLE SOON light, STABILITRAK warning, CHECK BRAKE ASSIST SYSTEM
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified in some cases and opened case number 8-3897166123 in one incident. Owner referred to dealer but vehicle was not repaired. No effective solutions documented.
Auto stop/start system causing power loss and steering lock
When the auto stop feature activates at traffic stops, the engine shuts off. Upon release of brake pedal and engine restart, all vehicle power is temporarily lost, causing the steering wheel to lock up immediately. Climate control and other electrical systems also lose power. In some cases the engine fails to restart for extended periods (20 minutes or longer). Brake pedal also locks up concurrently.
When: During city driving with traffic stops; various mileages
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel locks up during auto stop restart sequence; Total power loss to vehicle systems during auto stop event; Engine fails to restart after auto stop activation; Brake pedal locks up; Climate control system blackout and loss of illumination; Vehicle accelerates instead of decelerating when brake is applied
Codes mentioned: SERVICE POWER STEERING warning, SERVICE STABILITRAK, BATTERY SAVER ASSIST message
Repairs/costs cited: Auxiliary battery replaced in one case but issue persisted.
Engine stalling and no-start condition with electrical warnings
Engine stalls unexpectedly while driving, most often during city driving or when attempting to shift from stop. Vehicle fails to restart or cranks but does not turn over. Multiple electrical warning messages appear on dashboard. In some cases related to solenoid/rocker arm issues; in others related to fuel system contamination.
When: Short ownership period (less than 1 year on one vehicle); various mileages including low mileage (500 miles, 10,000 miles)
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls or shuts off unexpectedly; No crank or delayed crank condition; Vehicle does not start after stall; Check engine light illuminated; Warning messages display (STEERING/POWER DRIVE WITH CARE); Car shakes before stalling
Codes mentioned: CHECK ENGINE light, P0010 (Camshaft Position A Actuator Circuit), P0011 (Camshaft Position A Timing Over-Advanced), P0002 (Crankshaft Position B Timing Over-Advanced or System Performance Bank 2)
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reported mechanic diagnosed bad fuel pump and water in fuel tank, required two fuel pumps and four starters to repair. Another owner reported solenoid rocket component failure.
Transmission jerking and inappropriate gear shifting
Transmission shifts gears unexpectedly or gear selector light jumps rapidly between gears while in drive. Vehicle jerks forward when shifting into reverse or drive, sometimes multiple jerks before settling. Gear shift occurs unexpectedly while driving on expressway, causing sudden deceleration. Gear shift warning lights illuminate.
When: During gear shift operations; while driving on expressway; 6 months after previous repair work
Symptoms owners cite: Gear selector light jumps rapidly back and forth; Inappropriate gear shift while driving; Vehicle jerks forward during shift to reverse or drive; Sudden deceleration during expressway driving; Vehicle responds to rapid gear changes; Multiple jerking events while shifting
Low battery voltage and charging system issue
Vehicle repeatedly requires jump starts due to insufficient battery voltage. Electrical system unable to maintain charge. Issues persist after auxiliary battery replacement.
When: Ongoing throughout ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Requires frequent jump starts; Low battery voltage; Recurring power loss events
Repairs/costs cited: Auxiliary battery replaced without resolving the issue.
Right-turn traction control malfunction
Traction control system engages independently when turning right, causing steering wheel to malfunction. Issue does not occur when turning left.
When: 500 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Traction control engages inappropriately; Steering wheel malfunctions during right turn; No malfunction on left turns
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware. Technician unable to diagnose. Vehicle not repaired.
Stabilization system failure after water exposure
After driving through water (puddle on expressway), ABS light, CHECK STABILITRAK, and CHECK BRAKE ASSIST warnings illuminate. Vehicle loses ability to steer and brake effectively, resulting in collision with guard rail. Dealer blamed wheel bearing issue.
When: During expressway driving after water hazard exposure
Symptoms owners cite: ABS light illuminates; CHECK STABILITRAK warning; CHECK BRAKE ASSIST warning; Steering does not function; Brakes do not function; SERVICE POWER STEERING warning appears after collision
Codes mentioned: ABS light, CHECK STABILITRAK, CHECK BRAKE ASSIST, SERVICE POWER STEERING
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle taken to dealer; owner filed claim with GM for body damage; GM blamed wheel bearing and did not repair manufacturing defect.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM denied warranty coverage and blamed wheel bearing defect instead of steering/brake system failure.
Synthesized from 25 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Steering gets stuck in the center position while driving on straightaways and requires force to correct it which causes over steering the vehicle. The car only has 10,000 miles on it and didn't do it when new. It is very uncomfortable driving this car as you are constantly correcting the steering.
Car turns off the engine light is on and found out the rocker arm solenoid valve is not working I'm afraid to drive the car I don't know what to do I have not had the car not even one year. I'm afraid to drive the car for it to turn off in the highway luckily it was on the street when the car just turned off
I received a notice from gm on 12/05/2014 stating: "the letter is intended to make you aware that some 2014 model year Chevrolet malibu vehicles may have increased friction in the steering system. This could cause the steering wheel to stick in the straight-ahead position after driving long distances on a straight highway. The steering wheel can be turned but it may require increased effort.…
Had steering trouble with your 2014 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 2014 Chevrolet Malibu?
It's a meaningful issue. 25 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 16 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 20,000 and 80,000 miles, with the median around 41,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 20,000; a quarter make it past 80,000. 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/2014/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.