2016 Chevrolet Malibu: steering wheel locks up

Filed Aug 8, 2025 · Steering · 160,000 miles · WI · crash · 1 injury

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle came to a stop. After coming from the stop, the steering wheel seized. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact’s daughter crashed the vehicle into a utility pole and a utility box. The air bags deployed. The contact’s daughter was transported to the hospital by ambulance and treated for a concussion and seat belt-related bruising on her chest and waist. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard, but the insurance company was not yet notified of the accident. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

Filed Nov 13, 2021 · Electrical, Engine · MD

Unknown ,vehicle cut off in the middle of busy road with warning sign popping up after car cut off stating service stabilitrak and steering assist reducing power with steering wheel locking.Me and my child 10 year old could’ve lost our lives today.Then there was no engine light coming on until car couldn’t come back on.Roadside Assitance gave a hot shot car still didn’t come on car won’t start back up just keep ticking in all lights inside and radio works fine the heat came out cold.Also when car goes into auto stop car will just cut off in won’t start back up you can only drive in L6.I only had the car for 2years

Filed Mar 12, 2021 · Electrical, Seat belts · 81,286 miles · CA

Power steering is locking up when make a turnaround or for a turn wheel in motion. The car will be on and when the power steering is about to lose the power, my stereo screen will black out along with the steering wheel locking. It feels as though my power steering is out while making a turn. This does not happen, only happens randomly.

Filed May 17, 2019 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 69,762 miles · CA

Car completely turned off at a red light and had no power. Steering locks up and had to push car have towed& then it started right up after. This is happening to many people and it stops even when the car is driving. This is a safety issue

Filed May 1, 2019 · Engine, Steering · 36,563 miles · NY

Takata recall. The 2016 chevy malibu 2016 stopped working while in motion, the engine shut off and steering wheel locked. Leaving me hanging and in a dangerous situation. The car completely turned off and I was unable to move the steering wheel. This happened while driving. No prior issues until this. I was completely in motion while it happened on my neighborhood street.

Filed Feb 17, 2019 · Steering · 70,000 miles · MD

The car steeering wheel locks up when releasing the brake sometimes. The car steering wheel locks during a turn and says auto steering turned off while being locked up. While driving my car I can be stopped at a light when I let go of the brake the steering wheel will lock in place sometimes turning the vehicle.

Filed Sep 9, 2018 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 44,842 miles · CA

I took the car to the mechanic because of check engine light car wasn't acting weird or anything. They recommended replacing multifunction power supply converter, it has internal issues I approved they told me everything is fine everything cleared. The next day the vehicle started to go crazy I stated that engine light is on again car lounges forward and that the doors lock and unlock all while driving and car then just stops I had to restart it. They recommended replacing battery I approved .the same day I picked up my car check engine light showed but the next day car started to be it self again so I kept it didn't take it in.a week later the same symptoms car jolts forward,it locks and unlocks when driving and car turns off completely this time they recommended replacing negative battery cable I approved. 30 minutes after leaving the mechanics, car has the same exact previous symptoms but now car went beyond crazy, car was on drive but won't accelerate, break, and steering wheel locked, dash said (service stabilitrak) (ice possible) it hot outside. It happens when I get off freeways, when I'm driving on regular streets: doors locks and unlocks dash always say check rear door locks the, car lunges forward and then car just stops and won't go I have to turn it off then on again. Just imagine if car completely stop in a freeway, I'm lucky that it gives me a warning when I hear the locks go crazy I pull over I then able to drive it slowly home and all the way home car jolts towards locks are going crazy and car stops frequently in the middle of the streets. Then I'm able to take it to the mechanics like nothing ever happens to it. Goes back to normal with no check engine light like nothing ever happened.

Filed Dec 19, 2017 · Steering · 68,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2016 chevrolet malibu. While driving approximately 15 MPH, the steering wheel locked and was unable to turn. The wrench warning icon illuminated as the steering wheel failed. The vehicle was taken to putnam chevrolet cadillac (198 california dr, burlingame, ca), but the cause of the failure could not be diagnosed. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 68,000.

Filed Aug 6, 2017 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 21,795 miles · OH

6/20/2017 - driving 65 on hwy vehicle lost power, tachometer and speedometer gauges dropped to 0. Also brakes and steering locked. Traction control system warning indicator, malfunction indicator lamp and power steering loss warning message came on. At dealership for 9 days said they replaced TCM. 7/27/17 -car would not start, brake pedal would not move, malfunction indicator lamp on. At dealership for 6 days. No work performed, inspection only. 8/4/2017 drove approximately 20 miles highway and city streets, applied brakes and terrible grinding noise (like metal on metal) car jerked and brake pedal locked. 8/5/2017 again applied brakes and terrible grinding noise (like metal on metal) car jerked and brake pedal locked. Car parked for approximately 2 hours. Then driving on highway 65 MPH tachometer and speedometer gauges dropped to 0 and traction control system light came on and power steering loss warning message came on. Contacting dealership again tomorrow.