2011 Chevrolet Malibu Steering Problems

NHTSA component category: STEERING · data through 07/14/2026

211Steering complaints

21.6%Of all 976 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How steering ranks on this vehicle

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM229 · 23.5%

STEERING211 · 21.6%

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)174 · 17.8%

ENGINE160 · 16.4%

EXTERIOR LIGHTING123 · 12.6%

Share of the 976 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu overview page.

What owners report

“WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND YOU MAKE A RIGHT THERE IS A NOTICE SOUNDS LIKE COMING FROM RIGHT WHEEL AND RUBBING NOISE IN STEERING…”NHTSA complaint 10583317 — filed 04/17/2014

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE…”NHTSA complaint 10579132 — filed 04/11/2014

“I HAVE A 2011 MALIBU 4DR SDN LT, THAT HAS A RATTLE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND IT ALSO SEEMS TO BE REPRODUCING THE SAME…”NHTSA complaint 10577043 — filed 04/03/2014

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Steering complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu have steering problems?

Steering is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu: 211 of 976 complaints on file (21.6%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu have in total?

976 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 40 involved a crash, 17 involved a fire, 41 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's steering category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the STEERING category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.