This preliminary informational (PI) bulletin provides information to dealership personnel that may be helpful when addressing underbody component corrosion with customers.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 Chevrolet Malibu steering problems
severe Owners of the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu have filed 46 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 66,726 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
46
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 Malibu | 197 |
| 2014 Malibu | 25 |
| 2015 Malibu | 9 |
| 2016 Malibu | 42 |
| 2017 Malibu (this page) | 46 |
| 2018 Malibu | 40 |
| 2020 Malibu | 13 |
4crashes
3injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 46 steering complaints filed for the 2017 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 46 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 5 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
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 informational bulletin instructs the tech when fuel/fluid is needed to be tested and where it can be sent for analysis.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides a procedure inspecting for excess grease or Sealant on the Exterior of the steering gear due to seeing grease or sealant on certain locations on the gear.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin explains Unscheduled Supplemental Services and the importance of GM Simplified Maintenance Schedules.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗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 ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report two overlapping failure modes in the steering system: intermittent loss of power steering assist and steering wheel lockup or difficulty turning. The "Steering Assist Reduced" warning message appears during stops (especially transitioning from auto-stop mode when accelerating), at highway speeds coasting, and sometimes while parked—often with no reproducibility for technicians. Some owners describe the steering wheel jerking left and right on its own at low speeds, while others report the wheel becoming nearly immovable or seizing entirely. In several cases, these failures occur simultaneously with engine power reduction, auto shutdowns, hard braking feel, doors unlocking, and battery voltage sags to 11 volts. Owners consistently state dealers cannot reproduce the faults and return vehicles unfixed after multiple visits. One owner reports a lockup at 70 mph that sent the vehicle into a guardrail. Another describes losing steering control on the highway while speed dropped from 65 to 20 mph in one second. Battery replacements and dealer diagnostics yield no codes, yet failures recur. The warnings and shutdowns often follow a pattern: the car enters auto-stop at a light, then when the driver releases the brake to accelerate, the steering assist vanishes or the engine stalls.
Same Chevrolet Malibu steering reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2016 · 2018 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Steering Assist Reduction / Loss of Power Steering
Electronic power steering assist fails or reduces without warning, making the steering wheel difficult or nearly impossible to turn. The 'Steering Assist Reduced—Drive with Care' message appears on the instrument panel. Failures are intermittent, often triggered during acceleration after auto-stop, coasting at highway speeds, or at complete stops.
When: Within first few thousand miles for some owners; continues throughout ownership. Triggers often at traffic lights, during acceleration from auto-stop, or coasting at highway speeds. Mileage ranges from 10,757 to 125,544 reported.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes stiff or hard to turn; 'Steering Assist Reduced' or 'Steering Assistance Reduced' warning message on dash; Power steering assist disappears intermittently; Steering feel described as 'loose' with little resistance at highway speeds; Message appears after releasing brake from auto-stop to accelerate; Failure occurs at various speeds, sometimes while parked, sometimes while driving
Codes mentioned: P0500 or related electrical/steering module codes (owners report dealers find no codes)
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports dealer advised tie rod replacement; another mentions rack-and-pinion replacement recommended. Dealer diagnostics repeatedly reveal no fault codes. No repairs have permanently resolved the issue according to owner reports. One independent mechanic diagnosed defective rack-and-pinion; another cited defective tie rod, but replacements did not hold.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified multiple times in several complaints; no recalls issued. One owner reports manufacturer advised to file NHTSA complaint rather than provide repair. No TSBs or warranty extensions mentioned by owners.
Steering Wheel Lockup / Seizure
The steering wheel locks up completely or becomes extremely difficult to turn, sometimes without warning and without illuminated warning messages. Can occur during turns, lane changes, or at highway speeds, creating immediate loss of vehicle control.
When: Occurs unpredictably. One incident at 70 mph resulted in crash into guardrail. Another at highway speeds with rapid jerking. One owner reports 12–14 occasions of loose steering feeling and two incidents of rapid jerking, both below 45 mph while coasting with foot off gas and brake.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel locks and will not turn; Steering wheel extremely difficult to turn; Steering wheel jerks sharply left or right on its own; Rapid back-and-forth steering wheel jerking (2 inches each direction); No warning lights in some incidents; Occurs while coasting, during turns, or at highway speeds
Codes mentioned: No diagnostic codes reported for lockup incidents
Repairs/costs cited: No successful repairs noted. Vehicle involved in guardrail collision (mileage 100,000) was not diagnosed or repaired. Owners cannot reproduce failures for technicians.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented for lockup incidents in these complaints.
Coordinated Power Loss / Electrical Shutdown Events
The vehicle loses electrical power and steering simultaneously, often during traffic light transitions or auto-stop mode. Multiple warnings appear together: 'Steering Assist Reduced,' 'Service Stability,' 'Battery Save Mode,' 'Shift to Park,' 'Loss of Engine Power,' and 'Engine Power Reduced.' The steering becomes hard to turn and the car stalls or fails to restart.
When: Occurs at stops, traffic lights, during auto-stop mode transitions, and while driving at highway speeds. One owner reports occurring at least once daily. Another reports the last incident on 6/11/2020 at a busy intersection. Mileage ranges from first 30 days of ownership to 106,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle shuts down while driving or at traffic lights; 'Steering Assist Reduced' warning combined with power loss; 'Loss of Engine Power' or 'Engine Power Reduced' message; 'Service Stability,' 'Battery Save Mode,' 'Shift to Park' warnings appear together; Brakes become hard to press (power brake assist lost); Vehicle speed drops suddenly (65 to 20 mph reported); Car will not restart immediately; requires several minutes or power cycling; Battery drains while car remains in accessory mode unable to shut off; Doors lock/unlock unexpectedly during these events; Radio flickers or blacks out; battery voltage drops to 11 volts
Codes mentioned: Check Engine light; specific codes not documented by owners as retrieved
Repairs/costs cited: Battery replacement attempted in at least one case but did not resolve the issue. One owner reports transmission reprogramming attempted without success. Extended service stays (1+ month) at dealers resulted in no diagnosis or repair. One owner mentions $2,700 dealer quote to address steering stiffness and stability track issues. Rental car costs incurred by owners during extended dealer visits.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner contacted GM customer service (1-800-222-1020) and was told GM would not cover repair costs. Another owner reports one dealership offered to replace vehicle with a new Malibu but owner refused. No recalls issued for these combined power loss events.
Transmission Shift Issues (Related to Electrical Events)
The transmission fails to engage or disengage properly, displaying 'Shift to Park' messages even when the vehicle is already in Park. The car will not turn off due to a stuck shifter. Related to the broader electrical shutdown events.
When: Occurs stationary or during driving. One owner reports starting within a few thousand miles of purchase. Transmission specialist reprogramming was attempted in one case at 6+ service visits.
Symptoms owners cite: 'Shift to Park' message appears even after shifting to Park; Car will not shut off; remains in accessory mode; Hard shifting between gears; Not going into gear or reluctant to engage; Not going into Park; Shifter feels unresponsive; Car acts like it is still in Park when shifted to Drive, foot is released from brake, gas is applied, but nothing happens
Codes mentioned: No specific transmission codes documented by owners
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports transmission reprogramming by specialist did not resolve the issue. Shift linkage or transmission control module problems suspected but not confirmed. At 11,989 miles, one owner reports gear shifter failure requiring replacement; battery also drained during this event.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented; dealers unable to fix despite multiple visits and specialist involvement.
Synthesized from 46 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering assistance reduced warning message would intermittently appear on the instrument panel. The contact had initially taken the vehicle to malcolm cunningham Chevrolet augusta (2031 gordon hwy, augusta, ga 30909) where she was informed that she had a defective rack and pinion. The…
Had steering trouble with your 2017 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 2017 Chevrolet Malibu?
It's a meaningful issue. 46 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 30 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 39,800 and 83,000 miles, with the median around 66,726. A quarter of owners report trouble before 39,800; a quarter make it past 83,000. 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/2017/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.