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

Steering complaints

810 reports

Clear category filter

49,100 miles · Jul 29, 2014

Steering

Read full complaint

THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT MY 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. I RECEIVED THREE RECALL NOTICES, NOS. 14152, 13036 AND14116 FROM THE CHEVROLET CO. ALL THREE DESCRIBE VERY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS THAT MAY OCCUR WHILE DRIVING MY CAR. THEY ARE NOTIFYING ME THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE PARTS TO REPAIR MY CAR BUT WILL NOTIFY ME WHEN THEY ARE SENT TO MY DEALER. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS. WHILE DRIVING MY CAR ON A LIMITED ACCESS HIGHWAY I MAY EXPERIENCE A TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE FRACTURE, A POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE OR AN INCREASED RESISTANCE IN THE BODY CONTROL MODULE CONNECTION SYSTEM. DOES THIS MEAN I SHOULD NOT DRIVE MY CAR UNTIL THE COMPANY CAN MAKE THE REPAIRS? ALL SOUND LIKE SERIOUS FAILURES. ARE YOU AWARE THE CHEVROLET COMPANY IS SENDING THESE OUT TO COVER THEMSELVES IF A FAILURE OCCURS? [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) UPDATED 7/22/2015*JS

NHTSA ODI #10617325

14,912 miles · Jul 29, 2014

Steering

Read full complaint

PER NHTSA BULLETIN 10020816 AND GM BULLETIN 060232007 COVERING STEERING INPUT SHAFT #22687711. THIS SHAFT BEGINS TO MAKE A CLUNKING SOUND BETWEEN 0 AND 16 MPH WHEN TURNING. IN ORDER TO STOP THE NOISE, I BELIEVE CAUSED BY THE WORN U-JOINTS AT BOTH ENDS OF THE SHAFT,THIS PART MUST BE REPLACED EVERY TWO YEARS. YOU DO NOT HEAR ANY CLUNKING ABOVE 16/17 MPH. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A GM SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THE PART CAN NOT COME APART, AND I CAN REPLACE THE PART EVERY TWO YEARS OR LIVE WITH THE NOISE. REALLY. DOES ANYONE REMEMBER REAR WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE AND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN WHEN THE U-JOINTS ON THE DRIVE SHAFT BEGAN CLUNKING WHEN YOU PUT THE VEHICLE IN GEAR. YOU REPLACED THEM OR YOU COULD BE WALKING. THIS IS A STEERING SHAFT. WHEN WILL THE U-JOINT(S) FAIL? WHEN I AM TURNING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, TURNING INTO A PARKING SPACE, OR PERHAPS AT HIGHWAY SPEED AVOIDING AN ANIMAL. WHAT IS AMAZING IS THAT GM KNEW ABOUT THIS DEFECTED DESIGN/PART AND YET KEPT USING IT INTO 2008. THE BULLETINS COVER MALIBU CARS FROM 2004 TO 2008, PONTIAC G6'S 2005 TO 2007, AND SATURN AURA'S 2007 TO 2008. I FEEL GM SHOULD BE GIVEN TWO CHOICES, FIX THIS PART WHEN IT STARTS CLUNKING FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE, OR BUY THEM BACK. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10617164

Mileage unknown · Jul 28, 2014

Fuel/propulsion SystemService BrakesSteering

Read full complaint

AFTER FINDING OUT THAT THERE ARE RECALLS FOR MY CAR PER DOT.GOV, I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR REPAIRS WITH VANDERGRIFF CHEVROLET IN ARLINGTON FOR 7-21-14. I REQUESTED THAT THEY REPAIR THE PARTS UNDER RECALL AND ISSUE A REFUND FOR THE AMOUNT I PAID PREVIOUSLY FOR REPAIR TO POWER STEERING ON MY VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD THAT SOMEONE WOULD BE IN TOUCH WITH ME. WHEN I DID NOT GET CONTACTED, I RETURNED TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO SPEAK WITH A TECHNICIAN IN REGARD TO MY SERVICE REQUEST. ONCE AGAIN, AS PREVIOUSLY, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON MY CAR. WHEN I DIRECTED THE TECHNICIAN TO THE INFORMATION RELEASED BY THE DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION, HE STATED THAT GM SENT OUT ADDITIONAL RECALL LETTERS TO RECALL THE ORIGINAL RECALL NOTICES BECAUSE THEY WERE ISSUED IN ERROR, AND THAT THERE ARE NONE IN EFFECT FOR MY VEHICLE. NO REPAIRS WERE DONE. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10616999

85,688 miles · Jul 28, 2014

Steering

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE POWER STEERING SENSOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V153000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM AND THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,688.

NHTSA ODI #10616864

98,000 miles · Jul 28, 2014

Electrical SystemSteering

Read full complaint

TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING TO APPROACH A STOP OR WHEN A TURN WAS MADE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN. THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO TURN THE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN THE KEY TO START THE IGNITION ALONG WITH THE VEHICLE STALLING INTERMITTENTLY. THE ANTI-THEFT SENSOR ILLUMINATED, SERVICE ENGINE SENSOR AND A LOCK SYMBOL ON THE RADIO CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE RADIO WAS NOT WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V153000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. DYD

NHTSA ODI #10616784

80,000 miles · Jul 23, 2014

Steering

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY MANEUVERING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT HEARD A CHIME SOUNDING THROUGHOUT THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONTACT'S FOOT WAS REMOVED FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE DEALER RECALIBRATED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #10615752

60,000 miles · Jul 22, 2014

Steering

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, A CHIME SOUNDED THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER STEERING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND RESUMED TO NORMAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,100. UPDATED 9/3/14*CN

NHTSA ODI #10615313

90,000 miles · Jul 21, 2014

Fuel System, GasolineService BrakesSteering

Read full complaint

BEGINNING IN 2010 I HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES ON MY CAR MULTIPLE TIMES. TO DATE I HAVE REPLACED BRAKE PADS, DRUMS, AND LINES 5 DIFFERENT TIMES. MY BRAKES SEEM TO WEAR EASILY AND FREQUENTLY SCREECH. BEGINNING IN 2013 AFTER FILLING MY CAR WITH GAS MY "LOW FUEL" INDICATOR DINGS AND MY FUEL GAUGE SHOWS EMPTY. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I FILL MY CAR WITH GAS. I HAVE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING POWER STEERING. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS I HAVE EXPERIENCED MY POWER STEERING GOING OUT AND I AM FORCED TO PULL OVER AND TURN OFF MY CAR AND TURN IT BACK ON FOR THE CAR TO WORK PROPERLY. I HAVE CONTACTED GM REGARDING THE RECALL NOTICE AND I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT NO PARTS ARE AVAILABLE AND THEY WILL NOT PROVIDE ME WITH A RENTAL VEHICLE AND EXPECT ME TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE "UNTIL THE PARTS ARE AVAILABLE". THEY WILL NOT PROVIDE ME WITH A TIMELINE AND HAVE BEEN UNRESPONSIVE TO MY OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10615023

130,000 miles · Jul 18, 2014

Steering

DECELERATING FROM HIGHWAY TO OFF RAMP. CHIME SOUNDED AND DISPLAY COLUMN SHOWED POWER STEERING. STEERING REQUIRED FORCE AND AS THE VEHICLE STOPPED THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SUBTLE SHIFT LEFT AND RIGHT WITH AUDIBLE SOUND WHEN REACHING LEFT AND RIGHT. CONTINUED TO SAFE AREA OFF THE HIGHWAY, HOWEVER HAD TO USE QUITE A BIT OF FOR…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10614574

Mileage unknown · Jul 17, 2014

Fuel/propulsion SystemSteeringWheels

Read full complaint

THE CAR STALLS WHEN I GO FROM A COMPLETE STOP INTO FAST-MOVING TRAFFIC. THE LUG NUTS ON THE WHEEL COVERS DO NOT STAY SECURELY FASTENED. I HAVE INCREASING PROBLEMS WITH MY POWER STEERING FUNCTION. IT WOULD RANDOMLY FAIL AND THEN CORRECT ITSELF INITIALLY. SOMETIMES IT WOULD GO OUT WHEN I BACKED UP AND THEN COME BACK WHEN I WAS IN DRIVE. SOMETIMES IT WOULD GO OUT FOR 5-10 MINUTES AND THEN COME BACK. SOMETIMES IT WOULD BE OUT FOR A DAY OR TWO AND THEN COME BACK. THEREFORE, I BROUGHT IT IN TO THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. A FEW MONTHS AFTERWARDS, IT BEGAN TO GO OUT AGAIN, BUT JUST FOR A MOMENT AT A TIME. THIS SEEMED TO SUBSIDE. HOWEVER, THIS BEGAN HAPPENING AGAIN FROM TIME TO TIME WHEN I WOULD MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY. WHEN I ACCELERATE, THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT COMPLETELY, THE CAR YANKS VERY HARD TO THE RIGHT, AND THE LIGHTS AND INFORMATION DISPLAY ALL BLINK REPEATEDLY. THIS NOW HAPPENS EACH TIME I ACCELERATE TO EITHER MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY, GO INTO PASSING GEAR TO GET AROUND TRAFFIC, CLIMB A HILL, OR SIMPLY QUICKLY SPEED UP ON THE ROAD. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP CITING THIS PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY SINCE I HAVE JUST HAD THE PROBLEM FIXED RECENTLY. FOR ALL OF THESE, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM AND NO RECALLS FOR MY CAR MAKE AND MODEL. I DO NOT HAVE THE OPTION OF DRIVING ANOTHER CAR OR AFFORDING A NEWER ONE. THIS IS A CONTINUALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I AM FEARFUL THAT THESE DEFECTS WILL CAUSE ME AND MY FAMILY HARM. WHEN THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY WENT OUT AND THE CAR YANKED HARD TO THE RIGHT JUST LAST NIGHT AS I WENT OVER A RAISED BRIDGE, I WAS AFRAID THAT I WOULD HIT THE GUARD WALL AND PERHAPS EVEN GO OVER IT. I HAVE HAD TO SWERVE TO AVOID BEING HIT FROM BEHIND BECAUSE THE CAR STALLED AS I GOT INTO TRAFFIC. I DO NOT KNOW IF MY WHEEL IS LOOSE OR IF THE WHEEL COVER IS GOING TO COME LOOSE WHILE I DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10611381

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)