2017 Chevrolet Malibu: steering wheel locks up

8 of the 705 complaints about the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu describe steering wheel locks up.

owner complaints: 8
of this car's complaints: 1%
typical mileage: 70,000
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 23 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Steering wheel locks up by model year

2025
1
2023
1
2021
1
2018
2
2017
8
2016
9
2014
5
2013
41
2012
15
2011
24
2010
55
2009
84
2008
43
2007
90
2006
118
2005
45
2004
98
2001
5
2000
5
1999
8
1998
1
1997
8

What owners say

Filed Jan 31, 2024 · Steering · 125,544 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the power steering was inoperable. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized, and the steering wheel was extremely difficult to turn. The “Service Power Steering” soon warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,544.

Filed Nov 8, 2022 · Driver assistance, Steering · OH · crash · 3 injuries

Issue 1 Changing lanes at a red light and car steering wheel locked up causing the car to go one lane too many to the right and get struck by another vehicle Issue 2 car shuts off at every stop and hesitates to take off causing unsafe conditions

Filed Jul 13, 2022 · Acceleration, Engine · SC

My car has been in and out of the dealership since I purchased it back in 2017. The vehicle shuts off while I am driving it. The first time this happened I was on the highway with my 5 year old son. I completely lost power and had no control being my steering wheel locked. Since then I have repeatedly had the same issue. Each time calling the dealership and each time they find either nothing wrong with it. Or say they fixed the issue which I was charged for. For the same issue that was fixed to happen again. This happened yet again today as I was making a left hand turn onto a 4 lane highway. It happens atleast once a day. I lost all power to my car. Steering wheel locked and car refused to start. There is something going on with this car and many others. The dealership I purchased it from agreed and offered to get me into a new Malibu being it’s a safety issue but I want nothing to do with another Chevy after my research. Too many issues with this car. THIS car has already been fixed for the recall involved AND this is still happening. And the car also won’t go into park. It says shift to park which drains the battery because the car never really shuts off. Before the recall I payed for repairs out of pocket for what the dealership “thought” it was which it was not. Clearly because the same thing keeps happening. Nothing different. It’s all the same. This car is a lemon. God forbid my car stops in the middle of a highway and won’t start. I won’t say the rest but if there are any injuries or the worst I have documented everything through my dealership. My family and I will sue.

Filed May 7, 2022 · Engine, Steering · TN

An alert “Engine power is reduced” came on are 6pm 5/7/22. Never seen it before. My car began to click and wouldn’t go over 40mph. Steering wheel locked up when attempting to turn. I cut the car off to try to restart it and it did allow me to turn but there was immediate smoke released from car.

Filed Jan 11, 2021 · Steering · 70,000 miles · NC

While driving on I-85 south at 70 MPH the steering wheel locked and I could not steer the vehicle and while braking the steering came back once I hit the emergency lane. After about 10 minutes it happened again on and off for the next ten miles. I am turning the vehicle in to the dealership for repair.

Filed Jul 15, 2020 · Electrical · 56,780 miles · AZ

When I get to a stop light the auto stop activates. When the car goes to turn back on it trips up and dies completely. The steering wheel locks and the car won't turn back on. I have to wait for about 15 minutes until the car will turn on again. It doesn't happen every time. It usually happens when I am at a red light for longer than 30 seconds.

Filed Jul 15, 2020 · Steering · 100,000 miles · WV · crash

Tl* contact owns a 2017 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that while her granddaughter was driving at 70 MPH, the steering wheel locked up and failed to turn. The vehicle crashed into the guard rail and spun around. There were no warning lights illuminated. There was no reported injuries or police report filed. The air bags did not deploy. The contact scheduled an appointment with an independent mechanic. The contact called the local dealer auto center cars (727 n. Royal ave. Front royal, va 22630 (540) 622-2667) but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed Sep 25, 2017 · Steering · 17,000 miles · CA

Two times while I was driving I put on my brakes and my power steering locked up completely I could barely drive it I almost got into a wreck I took car to chevrolet and they said that rack and pinion needed to be replaced