2010 Chevrolet Malibu: sudden loss of power

Filed Jul 20, 2026 · Steering · 146,000 miles · MD

The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the steering wheel was shaking and locked up, and the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The vehicle lost power steering functionality. The power steering warning light was illuminated. A dealer or an independent mechanic was not contacted. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or dealer to be diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was informed that the warranty on the vehicle had expired. The approximate failure mileage was 146,000.

Filed Nov 6, 2025 · Electrical, Steering · WI

I lost power steering while driving, making the wheel hard to turn. While the car is idle, the steering wheel shakes. Also “ESC” pops on on the dashboard.

Filed Oct 14, 2023 · Steering · WA

My service esc light and no esc light randomly pop up and I lose power steering in my 2010 malibu. I've heard there are warranties for this but only if your vehicle is at 150000 miles. Mine is at 160k. Ibe changed the torque sensor and motor to power steering. No fix. It seems that if gm knows about this problem, they should be responsible. I can't afford to keep dishing out money on parts that aren't working. Super annoying

Filed May 13, 2023 · Electrical, Steering · MI

after starting car, orange triangle indicator light came on (traction control I believe) and Message: "eng reduction loss of power steering, drove to Midas for oil change a couple miles away with manual steering(more difficult that my 61 Pontiac Tempest). I turned car off and immediately restarted and power steering was restored, car was fine driving home after oil change. In addition, I've owned the car about two months and have put on around 4,000 miles(Drove it back from Arizona), I've already had the thermostat replaced in S. Dakota, fuel pump replaced in Wisconsin and exhaust manifold in Michigan.

Filed Feb 13, 2023 · Steering · 118,269 miles · MN

The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality and made abnormal sounds. The power steering assist warning light was illuminated. Additionally, while the contact was steering to the left, the vehicle was going in the opposite direction. The contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin Number- 10058788-9690 (Electric Power Steering Assist). The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 118,269.

Filed Jan 30, 2023 · Steering · DE

steering failed. No power assist and steering wheel shaking. warning light for service power steering came on. Steering sensor torque? code c0545 ? The vehicle will suddenly lose power steering. Happens especially upon start up then have to turn vehicle off and sometimes power will come back on. Steering wheel visible shakes. Putting vehicle in shop for further evaluation. GM has a known issue with steering on these vechiles and there was a recall done but not for my year yet it is being widely reported online that there is an issue with other years as well.

Filed Jul 17, 2022 · Steering · MN

My vehicle lost power steering 3 months after buying it . Along with esc and traction controll . However there have been spraratic times when it works just fine . I have been driving the vehicle for 4 years with no power steering because the dealership has told me my rack and pinion is shot and that is not true I cannot afford to fix something that is not broke . That being said they also refuse to look deeper into the issue . So I am stuck driving a very unsafe vehicle until someone decide to do the right thing and admit this is a manufacturer issue and not and owner issue 😕

Filed Mar 9, 2022 · Steering · NY

While driving home from work on a busy parkway my daughter lost control of her 2010 Chevy Malibu (due to loss of power steering), after almost getting hit by another car she struggled to steer the car to the side of the parkway but turning the steering wheel was extremely difficult. She called me and I was able to drive it home but the power steering worked on and off. A warning message flashed [ Service Power Steering - ESC off ] My daughter doesn't recall seeing the warning light before the incident. I took the car to my mechanic, he said I was better off going to the dealer because it was a big electronic problem with power steering but he wasn't sure how to troubleshoot it. This could have ended a nightmare.. And, I am very upset after doing research on the Electronic Power Steering Assist problems and recalls for the Chevy Malibu and other GM vehicles over the past 10 yrs it is quite troubling and what really angers me is they don't have a recall for her car which is ridiculous after you spend a little time researching the 2010 Malibu customer complaints due to the power steering failure.

Filed Jan 28, 2022 · Steering · AR

Lost power steering and increasing the risk of a crash. There is a recall on several Malibu just not the 2010 LTZ. I am wondering why this vehicle does not a recall when the 2004 to 2006 on the electric power steering has a recall???

Filed Dec 10, 2021 · Steering · TN

The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled into a parking lot and restarted the vehicle. The vehicle was restarted, and the power steering functionality was restored. The vehicle was driven back to the residence and had not been driven since. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The contact referenced the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 14E044000 (Steering) as a possible solution however, the vehicle was not included. The failure mileage was 130,000.

Filed Oct 1, 2021 · Airbags, Electrical · DE

The passenger light beam will not come on it also messes with my radio it turns it to the aux I keep replacing the Bub in the harness and it's still not working not not to mention the car felt like a lost of power due to I guess the trance when turning a corner or pulling off. The air bag light comes on a few days and turn off.

Filed Oct 1, 2021 · GA

I was driving and the service traction control came across my car the the engine powering down notification appeared, and the check engine light. I took it to advance auto and they hooked up the machine which gave them the code DTC P2138. I took it to a mechanic who said the accelerator pedal sensor needed to be replaced. I replaced it and I'm still having the same issue. This time when it came on the pedal completely lost power until I turned the car off and restarted it.