Steering complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while making a turn, the vehicle went in another direction. While her son was driving at 2-3 MPH, making a turn, the vehicle went in another direction. The frame was rusted and secured with chicken wire. While her son was driving at 20 MPH and driving up the parking garage, the steering wheel was straight, but the wheel went towards the left, and he crashed into a pole. The vehicle was drivable. The air bags deployed and went to the floorboard. The ABS and stability track control. There were no reported injuries, police reports, or fire. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 105, 000.
I was pulling out of a parking lot and all of a sudden my steering wheel locked up. I was able to move it but it took a lot of force to turn it. I was 1/2 a mile from my house so I attempted to make it. I almost ran off the road trying to turn left at a red light and when I turned on my street. I almost drove into my gutter at the end of my driveway too. The next day it worked again. I do not know if it was a one time glitch or something more serious.
The 3rd brake light is known to leak on Chevy cars, which I found out when searching up the issues, which allows water inside trunk without your knowledge and does water damage to the battery and other electrical components that are located in the trunk that controls the dashboard, a/c, radio, power steering and probably even more. Safety risk: makes your dashboard stop working along with the power steering, while driving. There is another vehicle at the same dealer as mine right now with water in the trunk, it's an impala. When you search up on the internet about dashboard not working along with radio and a/c there are quite a few different people pointing to the leaking 3rd brake light and water in the trunk damaging the electrical components in the trunk. The vehicle is at a Chevrolet dealer right now being fixed. No warning messages before it happened. …
I have been experiencing loss of power steering upon vehicle startup, which has at times persisted into the beginning of my drive. A stabilitrak warning is displayed on the driver information center indicating an issue with the electric power steering. There is a definite physical loss of power steering that recovers within a minute. This message and loss of power steering seems to occur during cold and wet/rainy conditions where temperatures are estimated below 40 f. The whole electric power steering rack assembly was replaced under waranty in q1 2018, but did not fix the root cause. At that time, the dealer was able to locate diagnostic codes, but in two subsequent visits for the same issue, the dealer has been able to solve this issue. …
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the steering wheel pulled to the left forcibly. The contact also stated that the vehicle was oversteered, and the wheel made the vehicle move in a straight line. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the inner tie rod had separated from the steering gear and both inner tie rods and tires needed to be replaced. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V442000 (Steering). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 61,000.
While driving, I went to make a right turn and the power steering went out making the turn very difficult using manual muscle to complete the turn. Fortunately, it was in a parking lot. After the ignition was turned off for about 45 minutes, I turned it back on and the steering functioned normally. However, I am very concerned if this problem would again happen and I am driving at a speed and this problem would appear, it could possibly cause a serious accident because of the unexpected action that would be required.
I have been up there date for fixing this vehicle for the last 4 years when i bought it with 60k miles , I have replaced multiple parts so far from foil pump , wheel, coolant pipes and the container many times from constant leaking in the fuel pump, I have replaced the alternater twice by 70k miles , ABS system failed many times and no one can fix it , Lastly , my daughter was driving to school and while she was driving on the roundabout in the outer lane . She tried to turn the steering wheel t take the exit and everything got locked on her immediately from steering wheel and the break paddle caused he car shift to the curb and hit the side walk because it went out if control because the tire split out the wheel along with another piece from wheel behind the tire , almost killed my daughter on the seen . …
Driving the car and suddenly it began to stall, next engine light came on, stability light came on, engine overheating waring came on, radio turned off, ac stopped working, smelling antifreeze, car shakes, power stalls when accellerating, smoke exited the engine, oil leaked and finally car stopped. AAA got car took it to a mechanic and rebuilt whole cylinder head. Now I received a letter from GM stating something wrong with PCV valve, and same thing is happening again same senerio just 4 months after getting fixed.
Related recalls (3)
Steering
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured November 8, 2013, to March 12, 2015, and 2015 Chevrolet Volt vehicles manufactured April 11, 2014.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear assembly, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.
Steering › Gear box › Shaft sector
General motors is recalling certain model year 2011 Chevrolet cruze vehicles manufactured from October 2, 2009, through April 21, 2011. The bolt attaching the intermediate steering shaft to the steering gear input shaft May not have been properly installed.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect, and if required, repair the intermediate shaft/steering gear assembly to assure the bolt is fully seated and the shaft properly assembled. This service will be performed free of charge.
Steering › Column
General motors is recalling certain model year 2011 Chevrolet cruze vehicles. During manufacturing the steering wheel could have been improperly fastened and May detach from the steering column.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect to ensure that the steering wheel is assembled properly. This service will be performed for you free of charge. The safety recall began on April 7, 2011.
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Cruze years have steering problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2012 (103), 2014 (93), 2013 (74), 2011 (48) and 2015 (24) model years. Steering complaints make up 12% of all complaints for the 2012.
Is there a recall for Chevrolet Cruze steering problems?
Yes — 3 recalls, including 15V-442 (steering, Jul 10, 2015); 11V-270 (shaft sector, May 6, 2011); 11V-221 (column, Apr 6, 2011). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Chevrolet Cruze steering problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 47,000 miles; 56% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the hydraulic power assist › power steering fluid (1 mentions), followed by the electric power assist system (1).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.