Steering. Review the 810 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 142 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Exterior Lighting. Review the 63 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

41 crash reports6 fire reports17 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

142 reports

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35,900 miles · Aug 10, 2009

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY ANOTHER MOTORIST THAT HER BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATING EVEN WHEN SHE WAS NOT BRAKING. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT A COMPUTER CHIP WAS FAILING, WHICH CAUSED THE MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $250. A YEAR LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,900 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

NHTSA ODI #10279875

59,301 miles · Mar 13, 2009

Electrical SystemFire

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 60 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE RADIO WAS MAKING UNKNOWN SQUEAKING NOISES. SHE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND NOTICED IN HER REARVIEW MIRROR THAT FLAMES WERE PRESENT IN THE REAR INTERIOR SPEAKERS. SHE PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND CALLED THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED, BUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THE PAPER USED TO MAKE THE SPEAKER GREW TOO HOT AND CAUSED THE FIRE. NO MODIFICATIONS HAD BEEN MADE TO THE MANUFACTURER'S SPEAKERS. THE INSURANCE COMPANY ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,301.

NHTSA ODI #10261778

Mileage unknown · Feb 26, 2009

Electrical SystemSteering

THE ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST PERIODICALLY FAILS. IT FAILS WHEN YOU CRANK YOUR CAR AND WILL NOT OPERATE CORRECTLY UNTIL YOU SHUT THE CAR DOWN AND RESTART. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10260059

Mileage unknown · Feb 25, 2009

Electrical SystemFuel System, Other

INITIALLY SOMETIMES MY CAR WOULD CRANK UP THEN DIE OUT SECONDS LATER NOW ITS HAPPENING QUITE OFTEN AND MOST TIMES WON'T CRANK UP NOW. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO BE LATE AND DOCKED FROM WORK. I'VE BROUGHT THE CAR IN 5 TO 6 TIMES THE LAST TIME IN 2/2009 THEY SAID THEY PUT IN A NEW FUEL PUMP CYLINDER BUT TWO DAYS LATER I'D THE SAME P…

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NHTSA ODI #10259903

91,000 miles · Feb 5, 2009

Electrical SystemCrash

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH ON BLACK ICE, THE VEHICLE STRUCK A GUARD RAIL HEAD-ON. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE BODY SHOP REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AND, A WEEK LATER, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE REMAINS ON EVEN WHEN THE KEY IS NOT IN THE IGNITION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ISSUE WAS DUE TO THE BODY CONTROL MODULE, WHICH WAS LOCATED UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD. THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD NOT BE COVERED. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT, NOT THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE IGNITION FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 91,000.

NHTSA ODI #10257577

41,000 miles · Oct 22, 2008

Electrical SystemSteering

2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU POWER STEERING ILLUMINATES ON DASH(RADIO) , 2005 MODELS WERE A RECALL AND IT KEEPS COMING ON AND SOMETIMES LOSE OF STEERING WHEN STARTED. IT HAS 43,000 MILES AND NOT ON WARRANTY BECAUSE STEERING COLUMN IS NOT COVERED , ITS A PROBLEM NATIONWIDE AS I RESEARCHED. I COULD POTENTIALLY BE DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING A…

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NHTSA ODI #10246383

5,000 miles · Jul 25, 2008

Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER PERFORMED AN OIL CHANGE AND STATED THAT A FUEL INJECTION THROTTLE BODY, FUEL INJECTOR KIT, AND DOUBLE CLEAN WERE NEEDED; HOWEVER,THIS HAD BEEN DONE A MONTH AGO. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE CALIBRATION WAS OUTDATED. WHEN ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE CLOCK SOMETIMES NEEDS TO BE RESET. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000. UPDATED 09/10/08. *LJ UPDATED 09/12/08 *JB

NHTSA ODI #10235761

29,000 miles · Jun 2, 2008

Electrical SystemSteering

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WHILE PASSING ANOTHER CAR, ACCELERATING AROUND A CURVE, OR TAKING OFF FROM A STOP. THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING SHUTS DOWN LEAVING YOU FIGHTING A STEERING WHEEL THAT ALMOST FEELS LOCKED. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A BULLETIN OUT ON THE COIL PACK . THAT IT IS SPIKING A VOLTAGE ABOVE 16 VOLTS AND AS A SAFETY FEATURE IT SHUTS DOWN THE ELECTRONIC STEERING TO PROTECT IT. IT MIGHT PROTECT THE STEERING FROM THE ELECTRIC SURGE, BUT IT HAS ALMOST CAUSED A WRECK ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO FIGHT THE DEAD STEERING WHEEL WHERE IF I WAS A SMALLER MALE/ FEMALE THERE WOULD BE A CHANCE THAT I COULDN'T. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10229475

23,000 miles · May 8, 2008

Electrical System

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT COULD HEAR THE LOCKS OPENING AND CLOSING DURING HEAVY RAINSTORMS. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START UNLESS IT WAS JUMP STARTED. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON FOUR OCCASIONS DURING HEAVY RAINSTORMS, THUNDERSTORMS, AND/OR LIGHTNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE STARTER, ALTERNATOR, AND BATTERY WERE NOT THE CAUSES OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE CAME STANDARD WITH AN AUTO START FEATURE AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. A MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND REPLACED THE COMPUTER MODULE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE OCCURRED ON MAY 1, 2008. THE CONTACT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING $2,200 FOR THE REPAIRS. HE FILED COMPLAINT NUMBER 71-625205218 WITH THE MANUFACTURER. SPEED WAS NOT A FACTOR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,700.

NHTSA ODI #10227025

35,000 miles · May 22, 2007

Electrical System

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM AUTOMATICALLY SHUTS ITSELF DOWN AS WELL AS THE ENGINE. THE LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND ONCE THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF, SHE MUST LEAVE THE IGNITION IN THE ON POSITION BEFORE IT CAN RESTART. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE CONTACT HAS HAD TO WAIT TEN MINUTES OR MORE FOR THE VEHICLE TO RESTART. THE MANUFACTURER'S MANUAL DOES NOT STATE HOW TO STOP THIS FAILURE. THIS FAILURE SHOULD ONLY OCCUR WHEN SOMEONE IS ATTEMPTING TO STEAL THE VEHICLE, BUT ALWAYS OCCURS WHILE THE CONTACT IS DRIVING. SHE PAID OVER $700 TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND SIX MONTHS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 38,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ODI #10191506

Official recalls

15V064000 · Steering:electric Power Assist System

Feb 4, 2015

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured April 1, 2006, to June 30, 2006, and 2006-2007 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured April 18, 2006, to June 30, 2006. In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly, free of charge. The recall began February 24, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. GM's number for this recall is 14772. Note: This is an expansion of recall 14V-153 to cover additional vehicles built between April 1, 2006 and June 30, 2006.

14V252000 · Electrical System:wiring; Electronic Stability Control (esc); Exterior Lighting:brake Lights; Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch; Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control

May 14, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and harness connector, and will relearn the brake pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). GM's number for this recall is 13036.

Additional source detail variants (5)

Electronic Stability Control (esc)