I have a friend Which his vehicle is in the shop right now and they're trying to tell him that because his steering wheel angle sensor went out they have to change his entire steering column out and are trying to charge him $1,200 to do so. I've never heard of that and I told him I would do some research so my question is if you're steering wheel angle sensor goes out in a 2011 Chevy Malibu would you have to change out the entire steering column or just the sensor ? I believe it would just be the sensor.

 

rock auto sells the sensor for approx $150. labour time to install is 1 hour. Without knowing what the shop found during the diagnostic procedure; its hard to say why they called the entire column. What symptom was the car brought in for?

 

Stability-trak light flipped on, loss of power, vibrating steering wheel when idling, then it didn't want to start anymore

 

there is more going on here than a bad steering angle sensor. I am not sure how a steering column with address all the concerns. If it has electric power steering they are replacing the electric ps motor so that may cause vibrating steering/ idle and stall. Its not unreasonable...i think the owner didn't give you the whole story from the shop.