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.
9
Latest Jun 15, 2026
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.
3%
of 268 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.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1
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 2015 Chevrolet Malibu submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 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
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Powertrain (other)Steering
Filed Jun 15, 2026
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the vehicle inadvertently shifted between park(P), drive(D), and neutral(N), and the selected gear was not visible or illuminated on the instrument cluster or the gear shifter panel. The doors locked and unlocked, and the engine started shaking abnormally. The contact stated that the message "Service Power Steering - Drive with Care" was displayed during the failure. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road after each failure and the gear shifter was slowly shifted between gears until the desired gear was selected. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
NHTSA ID
11744242
Incident
Mar 5, 2026
ElectricalSteering
Filed Nov 4, 2022
"Service Power Steering" message suddenly appeared while driving on the freeway and the car started to loose power and nearly shut off while driving. Through forums, I learned that this is an ongoing issue with Malibus.
NHTSA ID
11492340
Incident
Nov 4, 2022
BrakesDriver assistanceSteering
Filed Apr 24, 2022
Drive in rain, went to follow a curve, lost steering and brakes. Ran right off the road. Was going 50 in a 55. Did not hyrdoplane just no response from the car
NHTSA ID
11461969
Incident
Apr 24, 2022
Steering
Filed Oct 19, 2020
STEERING OPERATION AT LOW SPEEDS MAKES CLICKING NOISE, BOTH IN FORWARD AND REVERSE, SOUNDS LIKE IT IS COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH. STEERING STILL OPERATES NORMALLY.
NHTSA ID
11365073
Incident
Oct 6, 2020
Mileage
78,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalPowertrain (other)+1 more
Filed May 26, 2020
Crash reportedFire reported1 injury reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED TO DRIVE TO THE RIGHT AND THE WHEELS BEGAN TO LOSE TRACTION BEFORE THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE THEN SPUN OUT AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED EXCEPT FOR THE DRIVER'S FRONTAL AIR BAG. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED LOWER BACK AND LEFT SHOULDER INJURIES HOWEVER HAD NOT SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION DUE TO COVID-19. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A POLICE OFFICER WAS DRIVING BEHIND HER AND STOPPED TO ASSIST. POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. ALSO, THE VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHICH CAUSED THE DOORS, LOCKING THE DRIVER INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED AT THE TIME OF THE ELECTRICAL FAILURE THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LYNCH CHEVROLET OF MUKWONAGO (280 EAST WOLF RUN MUKWONAGO, WI 53149) WHO REPLACED AN ELECTRICAL HARNESS AND MODULE. NO FURTHER INFO WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED A SHIFT TO PARK FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE WOULD STILL OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. *DT*JB
NHTSA ID
11325954
Incident
May 22, 2020
Mileage
65,000 mi
ElectricalSeat beltsSteering
Filed Jun 13, 2019
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT RANDOMLY COMES ON AND OFF. UNABLE TO GET A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK THOROUGHLY BECAUSE THE ENGINE LIGHT DOESN'T STAY ON. WAS AT AN AUTO ZONE ONE DAY WHEN IT CAME ON AGAIN AND WAS GIVEN TWO OF THE SAME CODES STATING THERE MAY BE AN O2 SENSOR ISSUE. A COUPLE WEEKS LATER WHILE DRIVING I GET A MESSAGE ON THE CAR STATING 'SERVICE POWER STEERING' THEN IT GOES OFF AGAIN. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF. RIGHT DRIVER BACK SEAT BELT DOESN'T CLICK IN ALL THE WAY BUT SOMETIMES IT DOES.
NHTSA ID
11219716
Incident
Jun 13, 2019
Mileage
54,670 mi
Body & structureSteering
Filed Dec 17, 2018
Crash reported
ERROR MESSAGE CAME ON ABOUT POWER STEERING, AT THAT POINT STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. THE RESULT MY DAUGHTERS CAR STRUCK GUARD RAIL ON BRIDGE CAUSING EXCESSIVE DAMAGE TO FRONT END. THIS OCCURRED AS VEHICLE WAS GOING THROUGH CURVE ONTO BRIDGE AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. LOCATION WAS ON LA HWY 163 SOUTH OF DOYLINE, LA AT LAKE BISTINEAU
NHTSA ID
11161997
Incident
Dec 8, 2018
Mileage
100,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceSteering
Filed Sep 6, 2018
I HAVE A 2015 CHEVY MALIBU WHILE DRIVING ON THE TURNPIKE AC CAME ON WITHOUT BEING TURNED ON LIGHTS DIMMED WHEN CAR STARTED FLASHING ME I HIT MY BRIGHT LIGHTS AND MY ABS SLAMMED MY CAR TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP ALSO CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO COME ON AND THE POWER STEERING TO GO OUT CAR SHUT OFF TOOK A WHILE TO COME BACK ON CAR WAS NOT DEAD BUT ONLY THINGS THAT WERE OFF WERE WORKING THINGS THAT WERE ON OR NOT CAR KEEPS DYING WHEN YOU CRANK IT UP AND THINGS THAT ARE TURNED OFF COME ON ONCE THE CAR CRANKS UP DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND CAR TURNED OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING AND DID THE SAME THING ON THE TURNPIKE IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING.
NHTSA ID
11124678
Incident
Sep 4, 2018
Steering
Filed May 26, 2018
THE KEY IS STUCK IN THE IGNITION.
NHTSA ID
11098100
Incident
May 26, 2018
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