2011 Chevrolet Malibu: jerking or lurching

Filed Oct 30, 2025 · Steering · MI

Power steering jerks violently left/right at 35–65 mph. Nearly lost control — happens intermittently and while in park. This is a KNOWN GM DEFECT — Special Coverage #10183 (EPS module) and TSB PIP4473. Michael Bates Chevrolet REFUSES to repair under #10183 — wants $1,500+. GM Customer Care also denied coverage. I use this car for WORK DAILY — it is UNSAFE TO DRIVE. If I crash and die, GM is liable. Component failed: Electric Power Steering (EPS) module Available for inspection: YES — at Michael Bates Chevy, Woodhaven MI Safety at risk: YES — driver and public Confirmed by dealer: NO — they refuse to honor #10183 Warning lamps: NO — no codes, intermittent First appeared: About a week ago and has progressively gotten worse.

Filed Feb 10, 2023 · Steering · 179,000 miles · OH

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the steering wheel started to jerk. The contact stated that the electric stability control (ESC) off warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the electrical pump to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 179,000.

Filed Jul 16, 2022 · Electrical, Steering · GA

My 2011 malibu has approx 170000 miles. was driving on the highway when one by one, low fuel range, tire pressure, and antitheft lights illuminated blinking in dash. The radio flickers like loosing power, the car jerks pulling hard to right side and the power steering goes out and the car literally shuts down in drive on the highway not even giving me time to get off road. Pushed car to side of road. When i try and restart engine turns but sputters like out of gas. Again and again i try until the battery is dead but car wouldnt stay running. I check battery terminals and fuses, a friend brings gallon of gas and jumps car. Same result. I have towed home. I put battery on charger put battery back in car and it starts immediately and stays running. Again i try to go to town. The same thing happens 2 miles further from where it previously did, this time the ESC was added to the others illuminating on dash. I tried the same things i did before getting same result. I take battery call a ride and go home to put battery on charger. When i return 48 hours later and put battery in, it cranks right up.

Filed Feb 9, 2022 · Electrical, Fuel system · MN

MAP sensor was physically broken and replaced during a particularly cold snap (below -10 degrees F), but the check engine light and "Service ESC," "Service Traction," and "ESC off" messages continued to appear in the following weeks. Acceleration repeatedly dropped off for a split second, and would continue to dip and return until I let off the accelerator and tried again. This acceleration problem always coincided with the three ESC/Traction messages listed above, and happened multiple times every time I drove it. During a second trip to the mechanic, some "frayed wiring" was replaced and the throttle relearned, but the symptoms continued as before, prior to the MAP sensor replacement and the wiring repair. The symptoms progressed to delayed, pulsing acceleration, not just dropping out. The following week, the power steering went out while driving, preceded by a gentle automated jerking on the steering wheel upon startup. The mechanic confirmed that it was electrical, nothing wrong with the physical components.

Filed May 30, 2021 · Steering · SD

This incident occurred in my 2011 Chevy Malibu with less than 44,000 miles on it. The ESC Service Power Steering light comes on, along with the traction light on the dash and the vehicle loses power steering. Initially (the first week or two) the problem corrected itself when the vehicle was shut off and started again. It got increasingly worse over the course of 2 weeks- then the power steering was gone. The car was very difficult to steer and almost couldn't turn. There were times when the steering wheel would suddenly jerk by itself and almost 'lock up.' Very dangerous. I learned this is "very common" in this vehicle. The service person I spoke with on the phone knew exactly what I was talking about. Research I've done shows this has been an ongoing problem with this vehicle since 2004, yet there is only a limited recall. Of course mine is not covered (with only 44K miles on it). Repairs cost me $747.54 (after $100 discount was given to me by the service people.) That is half the amount I make in a month. I found it kind of them to take on a problem that GM should be addressing.

Filed Sep 27, 2020 · Airbags, Electrical · 54,830 miles · WI

I bought my first car from a small dealership and within the last 35 days the alternator, battery, shocks, fuel pump and now the engine light is on....when you are driving it seems like the car don't want to go into gear. And when it finally goes into gear it jerks you. Also the electrical and temperature gage, the lights on dash board go in and out you can hear a faint noise coming from the dome light. Temperature gage stayed at cold when driving the vehicle around. Took car for a ride the next day and right away when driving it went about a quarter above cold???

Filed Aug 6, 2019 · Transmission · 82,555 miles · OH

I was driving in the city. Stopped at a red light, and when I accelerated, the vehicle began to jerk, rev loudly, and seemed to kick into high gear while only going about 20 miles an hour. I got to a place where I could stop, and tried to put the car into reverse, but this gear did not work. I had it towed and my mechanic said that the transmission would need rebuilt. I took it to a dealership, and they said that they would recommend a replacement of the transmission.

Filed Jun 24, 2019 · Steering · MS

Takata recall. As I was leaving work, making a right turn, my steering wheel jerked to the left and locked. While still driving, I managed to turn the steering wheel just enough for me to pull out of the road and into a parking lot. When I stopped the car there was a message on the dashboard that displayed 'power steering'.

Filed Jun 20, 2019 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 48,332 miles · IL

My check engine light has been coming on lately. So I took it to a place so they could check it. The results states that the camshaft position sensor needs to be replaced. My lights are dimming, the bright headlights symbol comes on if I am sitting under a viaduct, the radio is disappearing on the dashboard, and my heating system is on when it's off. Then the car is jerking erratically when I proceed to drive after a stop. My vehicle is under 50,000 miles. It's at 48342 now. I need to know if there are any recalls because 3 years ago I,was under 35000 miles and had to pay for a new engine that should have been covered under the emissions act, and I had to pay $800 for that, plus getting disrespected by the manager at the dealership. Please let me know if anything comes up concerning this matter. Thank you

Filed May 3, 2019 · Driver assistance, Lights · 180,000 miles · MS

Takata recall. I have recalls that chevrolet not picking up. All the recalls are happening to my car. When it rain the traction system light comes on, my lights bulbs constantly go out, my cigarette light starked fire. When turning a curve my car halts or stall and jerk. There are so many things going on with the car that I can explain. When it rain my car pulls or goes off road I have to drive really slow because I am afraid that I will loose control of the vehicle do the braking system etc.

Filed Apr 16, 2019 · Driver assistance, Steering · 40,900 miles · ME

The power steering was lost as I was driving my vehicle in a city road. I was driving approximately 25 miles an hour on a straight road, not turning at the time. The service ESC light came on. The car jerked to the side, which was terrifying with my two young kids in the car. This repair was covered under the gm bulletin 15356 and the dealership replaced the eps motor and torque sensor. However, since having the work done, the mechanic informed me that my steering column is now bent. As I have not been in any accident, this could only be from the impact of losing my power steering. I feel like this repair should be covered under this special bulletin as well. This power steering failure jeopardized the safety of my family and this should be made a full recall covering all the steering components to the 2011 chevrolet malibu. I would like to be reimbursed for what will be over $700 to fix the issue caused by this power steering failure.

Filed Nov 12, 2018 · Driver assistance, Steering · NY

When starting the vehicle sometimes the power steering and service ESC message will flash on the dashboard and the steering wheel will be locked and cannot be turned. When restarting the vehicle the message may be gone and the steering wheel will move again or other times it will still be locked and the message persists. Also when driving and sitting in idle the steering wheel jerks and vibrates on its own and makes a weird rattling/rubbing sound, esp. When in park. I had this same issue last year and my local chevrolet dealership "fixed" it for no cost since there was a recall pertaining to the issue, but now the same problem is occurring.