The steering wheel keeps locking up while driving fast/slow or turning. Everything shuts off, then back on and all codes flash. My car literally locks up, it’s really unsafe when I can’t control the vehicle. Almost hit another car, due to steering wheel locking up. Only thing I was told at the Chevy dealer house was there were no recalls. So they wouldn’t look unless they got to charge me. This issue started happening about five months ago. And I drive like a grandma.
Chevrolet Cruze steering lock-up problems
62 of the 3,731 owner complaints about the Chevrolet Cruze describe steering wheel locks up, most of them for the 2012 model year.
- owner complaints
- 62
- worst model year
- 2012
- typical mileage
- 50,020
Is there a fix? There are 3 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
Often reported together
Engine failure 18Stalling 5Check engine light 5Loss of power 4Warning lights 3Transmission failure 2Power steering loss 2Jerking 2
What owners say
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the steering wheel seized, and the vehicle also lost motive power. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the electronic control unit module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 103,212. The VIN was not available.
For about a year now my 2014 Chevy Cruze’s steering wheel will lock up for a few seconds while I am driving (at speeds up to 80MPH) - which is extremely dangerous. When this happens, several lights will then pop up on my dashboard and messages are shown saying “service power steering” “service traction control”. The radio turns off, the lights inside the car turn off, and the back up camera stops working. The engine light has been on and will not go off. I have already replaced the transmission and the starter as well as the fuel pump. I was told by my mechanic to just get rid of the car as it has way too many issues to even attempt repairing. I once ran over a curb and popped a tire when the steering wheel locked up. Every time I start my car there is a message that say “roll down driver window and roll back up” which I do not understand. This seems to be happening to several people. I am very disappointed and scared to be driving this car.
I was pulling out of a parking lot and all of a sudden my steering wheel locked up. I was able to move it but it took a lot of force to turn it. I was 1/2 a mile from my house so I attempted to make it. I almost ran off the road trying to turn left at a red light and when I turned on my street. I almost drove into my gutter at the end of my driveway too. The next day it worked again. I do not know if it was a one time glitch or something more serious.
The car shakes and turns off while driving the transmission stalls when you drive the power steering locks and when you brake the car shakes like crazy and the RPM is down to 2-3 I was with my new born baby while the car shut off in the middle of an interstate and we almost got hit by a semi and the dealership refused our buisness
My son was driving down the road last week and dash flashed stabilink and he lost all power and forces him to try to pull over which he could because steering wheel locked up and brakes got hard to push. A week later stabilink flashed again and then while driving down the road he had to slam on brakes for a stopped vehicle and brakes would work and steering wheel locked up again resulting in him rear ending the vehicle.
When driving the car flickers the radio in and out and then the radio gos completely out and service stability tracker and service service traction control pops up or the steering wheel locks and service power steering pops up and the car shut off right then and there.
Everything on the dash shut off. Heat and air shut off. Service stability track warning comes on. Engine fan running all the time. Steering locks.
Tl* the contact owns a 2014 chevrolet cruze. While the contact's daughter was driving 20 MPH, the steering wheel seized and the stabilitrac and check engine warning indicators illuminated. The contact turned the vehicle off and back on, which failed to reset the steering and caused the contact to leave the vehicle parked in a parking lot. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired and the failure recurred. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was approximately 85,393.
While driving the music will shut off and the dashboard which projects the speed flashes on and off. My headlights and turn signals are also effected by the issue as well; at one point while driving it occurred and my steering wheel locked up while tryin g to make a turn on a city street.
Related recalls
Steering
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured November 8, 2013, to March 12, 2015, and 2015 Chevrolet Volt vehicles manufactured April 11, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the inner tie rod may not be tightened to specification allowing the tie rod to separate from the steering gear.
- Risk
- Separation of the tie rod from the steering gear could result in the loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear assembly, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020. GM's number for this recall is 15386.
Recall number 15V442000 · Recall details
Steering: gear box: shaft sector
- What is wrong
- General motors is recalling certain model year 2011 chevrolet cruze vehicles manufactured from october 2, 2009, through april 21, 2011. The bolt attaching the intermediate steering shaft to the steering gear input shaft may not have been properly installed.
- Risk
- This could allow the shafts to separate, resulting in the loss of steering. Loss of steering control may increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect, and if required, repair the intermediate shaft/steering gear assembly to assure the bolt is fully seated and the shaft properly assembled. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on may 23, 2011. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438, or www.gmownercenter.com.
Recall number 11V270000 · Recall details
Steering: column
- What is wrong
- General motors is recalling certain model year 2011 chevrolet cruze vehicles. During manufacturing the steering wheel could have been improperly fastened and may detach from the steering column.
- Risk
- Should the steering wheel detach from the steering column while driving, the driver could lose the ability to steer the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect to ensure that the steering wheel is assembled properly. This service will be performed for you free of charge. The safety recall began on april 7, 2011. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438, or at the owner center at www.gmownercenter.com.
Recall number 11V221000 · Recall details
Questions about the Chevrolet Cruze steering lock-up
Which Chevrolet Cruze years have steering wheel locks up problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2012 (19 complaints), 2014 (18 complaints) and 2013 (16 complaints).
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