Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
48
Latest Nov 3, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 731 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
6
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
6
What this page shows
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 48 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming steering
The 25 most recent of 48, in the owner's own words
When I start my vehicle and go over a certain speed it show service abs system it also makes a grinding sound when breaking before that speed is hit it also has a wobbleing steering wheel when breaking at high speeds also when accelerating it will sometimes show engine power reduced after presing the gas pedal
NHTSA ID
11697199
Incident
Jul 22, 2025
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed Sep 6, 2022
I purchased a Car on 8-11& I didn’t pick it up until 8/13 of this year . On 8/14 The electrical went out of my middle Consol starting with the radio and then down to the heating and air-conditioning buttons along with the fact that the windows would not roll down or up . When you use the Bluetooth in the car the AC shuts down and I hear a roaring sound coming from the engine as well as whenever I stop the car just jumps. There is also a sound in the steering wheel whatever it’s turned right to left
NHTSA ID
11483151
Incident
Sep 6, 2022
AirbagsBrakesSteering
Filed Jan 5, 2021
Crash reported1 injury reported
I LEASED A 2011 CHEVY CRUZE AND HAD IT LESS THAN 1 MONTH. DEER WERE IN THE RD, SO I SLOWED DOWN, THEN BRAKES LOCKED, I WENT OVER AN EMBANKMENT INTO A LIGHTPOLE. TOTAL LOSS, TRANSPORTED VIA EMS TO MMMHC HOSPITAL, UNCONSCIOUS FOR HALF HOUR MY MEMORY IS NOW HORRIBLE, I HAVE BAD HEADACHES, MY BACK IS HORRIBLE AND IM WITHOUT A VEHICLE. I WASNT DRIVING ABOVE SPEED LIMIT. NO COLLISION WARNING AND I'VE BEEN TO ER AND MY DR MANY TIMES
NHTSA ID
11386717
Incident
Nov 30, 2020
Mileage
95,000 mi
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed Jul 1, 2020
THE 'AC OFF DUE TO HIGH ENGINE TEMP' WARNING KEEPS COMING ON, THE AC WON'T WORK AND THE TEMP GAUGE GOES BACK TO ZERO. WE HAVE HAD THE ENGINE COOLANT TEMP SENSOR REPLACED AND THE RADIATOR TEMP SENSOR REPLACED ALSO AND WE ARE STILL HAVING THIS ISSUE! ALONG WITH THE DASH AND POWER STEERING GOES OUT RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING.
NHTSA ID
11337079
Incident
May 13, 2020
Mileage
160,000 mi
Steering
Filed May 3, 2020
STEERING WHEEL IS LOOSE AND MOVES SIDE TO SIDE
NHTSA ID
11323086
Incident
May 1, 2020
EnginePowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Feb 8, 2020
IT LEAKS MOTOR OIL EVERYTIME IT GETS CHANGED,THERES ALWAYS A HUGE PILE OF OIL ON THE GROUND, I CAN ALSO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT WITHOUT NEEDING TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL . OVERALL ITS BEEN A HASSEL TO DEAL WITH IT.
NHTSA ID
11307853
Incident
Aug 20, 2019
Mileage
135,000 mi
Driver assistanceSteering
Filed Jan 3, 2020
THE TRANSMISSION OF THE CAR IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. IT JUMPS EVERY TIME I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL AND JUMPS WHEN THE CAR IS ON THE ROAD.
NHTSA ID
11296965
Incident
Dec 20, 2019
Mileage
153,000 mi
Driver assistanceSteeringSuspension
Filed Oct 4, 2019
FAILURE TO BE NOTIFIED OF SEVERE SAFETY DEFECT AFFECTING 2.2 CHEVROLET VEHICLES 6 OTHER RECALLS ALL SPECIFYING EXACT CONDITION (NHTSA SPECIAL COVERAGE BULLETIN 14232 POWER STEERING STICK SLIP LOCK UP ) BEGAN EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT LOCK UP OF STEERING ON HIGHWAY ONE MONTH AGO STILL CONFUSED UNDER TERMS OF SPECIAL COVERAGE WARRANTY 10 YEARS 150K MILES GM CHEVROLET SR VP ALICIA S BOLER DAVIS AND CEO MARY BARRA *DT*JB CA LICENSE XXXXXXX REV TAX XXXXX XXXXXX PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*JB
NHTSA ID
11266193
Incident
Sep 10, 2019
Mileage
55,430 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 24, 2019
Crash reported
WENT TO TURN LEFT. STEERING WOULDN'T TURN. MY SON HIT A FENCE. BACK STREETS, HIT A FENCE AND CAME TO A STOP GOING ABOUT 20MPH
NHTSA ID
11257792
Incident
Sep 9, 2019
Mileage
130,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalSteering
Filed Apr 10, 2019
TAKATA RECALL. RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING, MY CAR WILL RANDOMLY SAY SERVICE STABILITRAK OR SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL WHENEVER I TURN THE WHEEL BACKING UP BUT WASN'T AFFECTING THE CAR IN ANY WAY AS FAR AS I COULD TELL. MY HEADLIGHTS WOULD ALSO FLICKER AT THE SAME TIME SO I FIGURED IT HAD TO BE SOMETHING ELECTRICAL. YESTERDAY WHILE TURNING ONTO A DIFFERENT STREET AND TODAY WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN A STREET I LOST POWER STEERING.
NHTSA ID
11195510
Incident
Apr 9, 2019
Mileage
114,500 mi
Steering
Filed Jun 18, 2018
I WAS MADE AWARE OF THE MULTIPLE RECALLS MY VEHICLE HAD THROUGH MY PEPBOYS DASHBOARD WHICH IS WHERE I GET MY CAR SERVICED. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS RECALL WAS ACTIVE WHEN I WAS SOLD THE CAR LAST FEBRUARY 2017 IN WHICH I AM CURRENTLY PAYING ON
NHTSA ID
11102286
Incident
Jun 14, 2018
Steering
Filed Mar 25, 2018
I OWN A 2011 CHEVY CRUZE. IT HAS 67,000 MILES. ABOUT A MONTH AGO, I STARTED TO NOTICE A FEELING OF MY STEERING TAKING ON A MIND OF ITS OWN. SO JUST LAST WEEK, I WENT AND GOT NEW BRAKES, ROTORS, TIRES, FRONT END ALIGNMENT, BALANCE. COST A PRETTY PENNY, BUT NEEDED FOR SAFETY. I HAD THEM CHECK FOR FRONT END ISSUES THAT MIGHT BE RELATED TO STEERING PROBLEMS. THEY SAID THE FRONT END WAS TIGHT. TYRODS, BALL JOINTS, AXLE, ETC. THIS CONFIRMED TO ME, THAT THE STEERING ISSUE WAS FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THERE IS ALSO A CRUNCHING SOUND IN THE STEERING, WHEN TURNING WHEEL FROM A PARKED POSITION. WELL THE STILL HAS STEERING ISSUES. ON THE STRAIGHT AWAY, IT FEELS LIKE THE TIRES ARE INDEPENDENTLY TURNING. I THEN HAVE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO COMPENSATE AND CORRECT. THIS IN TURN CAUSES, OVER TURNING. THE TIRES AND THE STEERING WHEEL ARE NOT WORKING TOGETHER. THIS MAKES ME SO SCARED TO DRIVE THIS CAR. I HAVE A SMALL PASSANGER, DAILY. I ALSO DRIVE ON A 50 MILE TRIP ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK. PLEASE HELP
NHTSA ID
11081167
Incident
Mar 25, 2018
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed Sep 21, 2017
AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND DRIVING FORWARD THE DASH SCREEN STARTED TO SHOW DIFFERENT "CHECK" WARNINGS. CHECK STABILITY CONTROL, CHECK POWER STEERING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS SO DID MOST OF THE DASH INDICATOR LIGHTS. THE POWER STEERING STOPPED AND THE ENGINE TEMPORARILY QUIT. THE ENGINE RESPONDED AGAIN AND WHILE DRIVING THE DASH WENT DARK AND THE CAR DIED. I HAD TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND RESTART THE CAR. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED. THE LAST EVENT WAS WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT.
NHTSA ID
11024807
Incident
Sep 14, 2017
Mileage
110,000 mi
Powertrain (other)Steering
Filed Jun 6, 2017
I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE, WITH TODAY ENDING IN LOSS OF POWER WHILE DOING 70MPH ON INTERSTATE 95N. PRIOR TO THIS ISSUE, MY DASHBOARD AND RADIO WOULD FLICKER ON AND OFF, THEN THE MESSAGE "SERVICE STABILITRAK" WOULD POP UP AND GO AWAY. THIS MORNING WHILE DRIVING ON 95N MY VEHICLE LOST ALL ITS POWER CAUSING ME TO PULL OFF ONTO THE SHOULDER. MY CAR CUT OFF AND WOULD NOT CUT BACK ON FOR ABOUT TWO MINUTES. WHEN I CUT IT BACK ON, MY CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND CODE P0723 (SPEED SENSOR) POPPED UP. THIS NEARLY SCARED ME AS I COULD HAVE ENDED UP IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. NOW, MY CAR IS AT THE SHOP AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS DIED. I SEE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME ISSUE BUT NO RECALL RELEASED. I WILL BE WITHOUT A VEHICLE AND UPSIDE DOWN ON MY CAR NOW. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO CHEVROLET BEFORE ABOUT MY VEHICLE RANDOMLY SHUTTING OFF, BUT I GUESS THIS WILL NOT GO NOTICED UNTIL THE WORST HAPPENS.
NHTSA ID
10993393
Incident
Jun 6, 2017
Mileage
171,000 mi
SteeringVisibility
Filed Apr 27, 2017
STEERING ROD ISSUE, STEERING WHEEL FEELS LOOSE WHILE DRIVING ESPECIALLY WHEN ON THE HIGHWAY OVER 50 MPH . SEVERAL ISSUES WITH COOLANT/ CAR OVERHEATING/ OVERHEATED AND GAUGE FLEW RAPIDLY TO HOT, DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH AND HAD TO PULL OVER AND TURN OFF CAR - CALL TOW TRUCK. THIS HAPPENED TWICE, SUPPOSEDLY FIXED BUT STILL SMELLS OF BURNING OIL. DRIVE SIDE WINDSHIELD STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH ON BUSY HIGHWAY -POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH THE MOTOR BECAUSE THE OTHER ONE WORKS FINE. ALL VERY DANGEROUS ISSUES.
NHTSA ID
10981166
Incident
Apr 27, 2017
Mileage
82,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 3, 2017
WHILE DRIVING, MY STEERING LOCKS UP AND THEN BEGINS TO MAKE STEERING DIFFICULT AS IF ONE IS SLIDING ON ICE. I AM NOT DRIVING ON ICE, IT IS 50 DEGREES ON A STRAIGHT HWY. *TR
NHTSA ID
10939211
Incident
Jan 3, 2017
ElectricalSteering
Filed Sep 17, 2016
POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. DASH BOARD RANDOMLY LIGHTS UP; RADIO HAS GONE COMPLETELY OFF; STEERING WHEEL DIFFICULT TO TURN; SECURITY LOCK OUT ENGAGED ONCE; TRACTION CONTROL CAME ON AND HARD TO STEER AND SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THIS INCIDENTS ARE HAPPENING RANDOMLY AND HAD NEAR MISS ON HIGHWAY NOT EXPECTING THE STEERING TO LOCK UP OR BECOME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER LAST SEVERAL MONTHS. INDEPENDENT CAR REPAIR SHOP COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING, BUT STILL HAPPENS.
NHTSA ID
10907341
Incident
May 2, 2016
Mileage
115,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalSteering
Filed Jun 2, 2016
LOSS OF POWER STEERING DURING DRIVING, RADIO FLICKERS ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING, WHILE PRESSING BRAKE WHILE STOPPED THE CAR CONTINUES TO JUMP FORWARD - CITY DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND STREETS. BEGAN HAPPENING ONE MONTH AFTER I PURCHASED CAR ON 4/3/2016.
NHTSA ID
10872050
Incident
May 3, 2016
Mileage
97,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalSteering
Filed Mar 12, 2016
THE RADIO/HVAC DISPLAY TURNS OFF AND ON; THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM, SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM, SERVICE STABILITRAC AND STEERING VEHICLE MESSAGES COMES ON AND OFF; THE TURN SIGNAL SOUND MAY NOT BE HEARD; 'BATTERY SAVER ACTIVE' AND 'SERVICE STEERING' DISPLAYS IN THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER (DIC); AND THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTING MAY FLICKER. POWER STEERING ASSIST IS ALSO LOST, AND GREATER EFFORT MAY BE NEEDED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT LOW SPEEDS OR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED. THIS ONLY HAPPENS IN THE SUMMER. DOING SPEEDS OF 65MPH. THE CAR LOSES POWER AND THEN THE DASH BOARD AND RADION FLICKERS ON AND OFF. THE CARS SOMETIMES SHUTS OFF AND I WILL HAVE TO PUT MY HAZARDS MARKER ON THE LET THE CAR PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AND IM NOT ABLE TO TAKE THE KEY OUT THE IGNITION. THE KEY WILL GET STUCK AND ABOUT 3 MINUTES LATER I TRYING AGAIN AND THE KEY WILL COME OUT. I TRY TO START IT UP AGAIN AND THE CAR WILL START UP. THE STEERING WILL LOCK UP WHILE IM TRYING TO TURN OR IS TURNING THE IT WILL GO BACK TO REGULAR STATE. IT ONLY DOES THIS IN THE SUMMER OR WHEN THE CAR GETS HOT. SO I TOOK I TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS MY NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE. THIS IS UNSAFE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ALMOST A 1 YEAR IT STARTS AND STOPS WHEN IT WANTS TOO. ALSO WHEN IM STOPPED OR SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT THE MATTERS ARE EVEN WORSER
NHTSA ID
10846253
Incident
Mar 11, 2016
Mileage
85,000 mi
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed Jun 17, 2015
IT SAID SERVICE ESP.
NHTSA ID
10725872
Incident
May 1, 2014
Driver assistanceElectricalSteering
Filed Jun 12, 2015
WHILE DRIVING THE RADIO SHUTS OFF AND A WARNING POPS UP IN THE CENTER BETWEEN THE SPEEDOMETER AND RPM GAUGE THAT SAYS SERVICE STABILTRAC OR SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL. WHILE THAT HAPPENS THE POWER STEERING SHUTS OFF. THAT'S A NORMAL OCCURRENCE THAT HAPPENS RANDOMLY ONCE OR TWICE DURING MY 20 MILE DRIVE TO WORK, AND ON SHORT DRIVES FOR ERRANDS. TODAY THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF TWICE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I ALMOST WRECKED 3 TIMES GOING AROUND CORNERS WHEN THE POWER STEERING SHUT OFF ALONG WITH THE RADIO.
NHTSA ID
10724894
Incident
May 28, 2015
Mileage
66,000 mi
Steering
Filed Apr 14, 2015
A SQUEAK HAS DEVELOPED IN THE STEERING COLUMN. ALTHOUGH GM HAS RECEIVED COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS, THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING TO ISSUE ANY RECALLS. THERE ARE TSO'S ON THIS SINCE OTHER OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED BUT THEY DO NOTHING. NO CAR WITH 23,000 MILES SHOULD HAVE BAD BUSHINGS OR OTHER PROBLEMS WITH STEERING UNLESS THERE ARE DEFECTS. *TR
NHTSA ID
10705593
Incident
Dec 29, 2014
Mileage
23,000 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 9, 2015
AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET MY CAR DID A SHIFT AS I WAS APPROACHING THE LIGHT.ME AND MY HUSBAND LOOK AT EACH OTHER AND STATED WHAT WAS THAT I PROCESSED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND PARK MY CAR. THE MOMENT I PULLED IN THE PARKING SPOT I NEEDED TO REVERSE THE CAR WELL NEEDLES TO SAY THE CAR DIDN'T MOVE YOU HEARD A CLICK AND IT DID NOTHING SO MY HUSBAND SAYS TURN THE CAR OFF AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS, I DID THAT NOTHING HAPPENED THE CAR STILL WOULDN'T REVERSE SO I CAN PARK MY CAR, THEN HE STATED PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS OUT IT IN NEUTRAL IT GOES FORWARD, I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR BLACK FRIDAY FROM KIA ON THE BLVD IN PHILADELPHIA, PA. I'M TRULY UPSET MISSING. PLEASE HELP. THANKS *TR
NHTSA ID
10692895
Incident
Mar 7, 2015
Mileage
27,576 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 31, 2015
THE STEERING IS "NOTCHY" AFTER DRIVING STRAIGHT FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THIS REQUIRES ADDITIONAL EFFORT TO DO MINOR COURSE CORRECTIONS CAUSING OVER-STEER. THIS IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS ON SNOW AND ICE. I HAVE THE LETTER FROM GM #14232 DATED NOVEMBER 2014. I CALLED IMMEDIATELY AND WAS TOLD "THE PARTS ARE ON ORDER FOR YOU" IT IS NOW 01/31/2015 AND CONTACT WITH THE DEALER TODAY STATED " STILL WAITING FOR PARTS FROM GM." :( I HAVE A 55 MILE COMMUTE (ONE WAY) THAT TAKES ME ON NOT SO WELL MAINTAINED ROADS. THIS IS NOT A SATISFACTORY RESPONSE FROM MAJOR CORPORATE PLAYER. PLEASE HELP ALL OF US WHO HAVE THIS ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ID
10680128
Incident
Apr 15, 2014
Mileage
55,000 mi
BrakesSteering
Filed Jan 28, 2015
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO TURN THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO RESPOND MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE STABILITY TRACK WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE YAW RATE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ID
10679506
Incident
Jun 18, 2013
Mileage
40,000 mi
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own