The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that on multiple occasions while driving at undisclosed speeds, the service ESC warning light and the steering assist reduced warning lights illuminated. The contact also stated that the traction control warning light intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle…
2020 Chevrolet Malibu steering problems
moderate 13 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
When does it fail?
Of the 13 steering complaints filed for the 2020 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.
What stands out
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2020 Chevrolet Malibu has widespread reports of intermittent power steering loss, uncontrolled vehicle shutdown during driving, and dashboard electrical failures that dealers cannot consistently reproduce or fix. Multiple owners report unsafe conditions including loss of braking and steering at highway speeds, with several dealer visits and multiple attempted repairs providing no lasting resolution.
The steering system in these 2020 Malibus fails intermittently in ways dealerships struggle to nail down. Owners describe sudden loss of power steering assist mid-drive, stiff wheels that become hard to turn, and warning lights reading "Service Power Steering. Drive with Care" or "Steering Assist Reduced"—sometimes paired with complete loss of steering, which is a real hazard at highway speeds.
More troubling: the vehicle randomly shuts down while driving. Multiple owners report the car stopping dead in traffic or on the expressway with all warning lights ablaze at once. One owner endured 19 days in the shop across multiple visits; another has been back eight times over two years. Every time dealers run diagnostics, the code changes. Independent mechanics say the issue is loss of communication between the electronic control modules—they can reset the system temporarily, but it fails again.
The electrical gremlins pile on: instrument clusters go dark, speedometers stop working, fuel gauges lie, and owners get false "Shift to Park" messages while already parked. One owner reports the car started braking hard on its own without warning. Another owner's car stalled in the dealership parking lot before they could even hand over the keys.
Dealers consistently say they cannot reproduce the problem despite video evidence, despite it happening repeatedly. Some owners are now on their fifth or sixth service visit with nothing fixed.
Same Chevrolet Malibu steering reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Loss of Power Steering / Steering Assist Reduced
Intermittent loss of power steering or reduced steering assist during driving, often accompanied by stiff, difficult-to-turn wheels. Multiple owners report warnings like 'Service Power Steering. Drive with Care' or 'Service Steering Assist Reduced' on the dashboard. Some report complete loss of power steering on the highway or in traffic, creating immediate safety hazards.
When: Intermittent during highway and city driving; one case at 61,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes stiff and difficult to turn; Loss of power assist mid-drive; Warning message 'Service Power Steering. Drive with Care' appears; Reduced steering assist warning lights; Loose steering with excessive sway side-to-side; Locked steering wheel reported once
Codes mentioned: Loss of communication to EBCM (Electronic Brake Control Module), Loss of communication to all control modules, Module communication failures (specific module ID not identified)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership replaced steering module in one case (no cost provided); independent mechanics reset/reprogrammed modules as temporary fix; one owner reported $5200 vacuum pump repair bill unrelated to steering assist
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls or TSBs mentioned; several owners report dealer unable to reproduce or confirm the problem despite video evidence and repeated visits
Vehicle Stalls / Shut-Off During Operation
Vehicle randomly shuts off or stalls while driving at highway speeds, on expressways, or at stoplights. All warning lights illuminate simultaneously. Multiple owners report the vehicle has stalled repeatedly despite multiple dealer service visits with no lasting fix.
When: Intermittent throughout ownership; one owner reports 8 occurrences over two years; another after transmission replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle suddenly loses power and comes to a stop; All dashboard warning lights illuminate together; Notification of 'reduced steering' appears when stalling; Vehicle stalls mid-traffic requiring towing; Vehicle restarts after a short time; Vehicle shuts off and restarts at stoplights; Vehicle shut off in dealership parking lot before handover to customer
Codes mentioned: Every diagnostic yields a different code, Loss of communication to EBCM and all control modules, Module communication loss
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple dealer service visits (one owner: 19 business days of work, multiple attempts; another: 8 repair attempts over two years; another: 5 dealer visits with no resolution) have not resolved the issue; independent mechanics have only achieved temporary fixes by resetting/reprogramming modules
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls or TSBs mentioned; manufacturer recommended trying a different dealer; warranty repairs offered but issue remains unresolved
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Failures with Related Symptoms
Service ESC warning lights appear intermittently on the dashboard, often paired with power steering loss and other electrical warnings. In some cases, ESC errors precede or accompany steering assist failure and uncontrolled braking.
When: Intermittent throughout driving; reported at various mileages; one case 2 days after transmission replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Service ESC warning light illuminates; Traction control warning light intermittently illuminates; 'Service ESC with ABS Light' appears on dashboard; ESC errors coincide with loss of power steering; Vehicle brakes hard on its own during these events
Codes mentioned: ESC system error codes (specific codes not provided), Loss of communication to control modules, EBCM communication loss
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to reproduce failure; no repairs performed in at least one case; one owner reports multiple service visits with continuing ESC warnings
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls or TSBs mentioned
Instrument Cluster Malfunction (Speedometer and Gauge Failures)
Speedometer and instrument cluster gauges cease functioning or display erratically. Gauges may lock in zero position, constantly move up and down on their own, or display incorrect information. Often occurs alongside power steering and acceleration problems.
When: Intermittent during driving
Symptoms owners cite: Speedometer stops working; All gauges display zero or off/empty position; Gauges constantly move up and down on their own; Fuel gauge inaccurate (initially reported fuel level low warning when tank was not low); Dashboard goes dark intermittently
Codes mentioned: Instrument cluster communication errors (specific codes not provided)
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs mentioned; one owner reports multiple service attempts without resolution
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls or TSBs mentioned
Vehicle Acceleration and Braking Control Loss
Vehicle fails to accelerate normally or suddenly downshift to very low speeds (5 mph) without driver input. Vehicle also reports uncontrolled hard braking, requiring use of parking brake. Acceleration response is sluggish and does not match driver input.
When: Intermittent during freeway and highway driving
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle slows unexpectedly to 5 mph without driver action; Vehicle will not accelerate at will; Acceleration is slow or delayed compared to throttle input; Vehicle brakes hard on its own without driver input; Vehicle continues to roll when brake pedal is applied; Brake pedal becomes hard and unresponsive
Codes mentioned: Loss of communication to all control modules
Repairs/costs cited: No successful repairs reported; one owner paid $5200 for vacuum pump repair with uncertain causation
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls or TSBs mentioned
'Shift to Park' Error When Already in Park
Dashboard displays 'Shift to Park' error message persistently or intermittently even when the transmission is already in Park position. This error appears both during operation and while parked.
When: Persistent or recurring throughout ownership
Symptoms owners cite: 'Shift to Park' message appears on dashboard when vehicle is already in Park; Error persists even after multiple dealer visits
Codes mentioned: Transmission position sensor error (inferred; specific codes not provided)
Repairs/costs cited: Owner taken vehicle to dealership twice with no resolution
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls or TSBs mentioned
Steering Wheel Chirping Noise
Chirping sound emanates from the steering wheel or steering system, typically early in ownership. Occurred in the first few days of vehicle operation in one case.
When: Early in ownership (first 3 days reported in one case)
Symptoms owners cite: Chirping noise from steering wheel area
Repairs/costs cited: Steering module was replaced; actual cause not confirmed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls or TSBs mentioned
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had steering trouble with your 2020 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 2020 Chevrolet Malibu?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 13 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 13 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 61,000 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/2020/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.