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

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72,800 miles · Apr 3, 2012

Steering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BUT IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING MODULE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT OF A VOLUNTARY RECALL FOR THE SAME FAILURE WITH THE POWER STEERING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING MODULE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,800. UPDATED 5/11/12 *CN THE CONSUMER ATTACHED A LETTER FROM GM REGARDING PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING.

NHTSA ODI #10453925

80,000 miles · Apr 2, 2012

Steering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A LEFT TURN, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS . THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

NHTSA ODI #10453868

Mileage unknown · Mar 23, 2012

Steering

WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING COLUMN ON THE 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU, LOCKS UP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10452827

10,884 miles · Mar 20, 2012

Steering

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I JUST PURCHASED MY 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU ABOUT A MONTH AGO. IT HAD REALLY LOW MILES FOR A CAR THAT OLD( (99939 AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE). I LOVE MY CAR AND IT HAS DONE NOTHING REALLY TO ANGER ME. I GOT A POWER STEERING WARNING THROUGH MY RADIO DISPLAY. THE CAR DROVE NORMAL SO I PAID IT LITTLE OR NO ATTENTION. THE ONE DAY I WALKED TO THE CAR AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDER THE CAR. SINCE I ONLY HAD THE CAR A VERY SHORT TIME I TOOK IT TO THE WARRANTY CENTER TO BE LOOKED AT, THEY PUT MY CAR ON THE COMPUTER AND NO DEFECT CODES CAME UP. THE MECHANIC ASKED ME WHAT COLOR WAS THE FLUID THAT WAS LEAKING, LIKE I WOULD REMEMBER THAT! I TOLD HIM I DIDN'T KNOW. PUT A WHITE PIECE OF PAPER UNDERNEATH THERE AND WAIT A LITTLE WHILE. THE SHOP HAS HAD MY CAR OVER A DAY AND CAN TELL ME NOTHING. I AM NOT ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT WAITS ON SOMETHING TO HAPPEN. WARNING LIGHTS AND DEFECT CODES POP UP FOR A REASON. THE REASON I DON'T KNOW BUT I WILL EVENTUALLY. WITH ALL I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THE STEERING ALL THE PROBLEMS STARTED WITH DEFECT CODES. IS THERE A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING OR WITH THE FAULT DISPLAY SYSTEM? *KB

NHTSA ODI #10452453

80,000 miles · Mar 20, 2012

SteeringCrash

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(APRIL 2011) LEAVING WORK ONE AFTERNOON, I BEGAN TO DRIVE OFF THE CAMPUS AND AS I BEGAN TO DRIVE THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO TIGHTEN AND AS SOON AS I TRIED TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT TURN. THAT DAY I ENDED UP IN THE DITCH AND I'M THANKFUL THAT NO ONE WAS HURT. EVERY TIME I PROCEED TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN AND IT'S HOT OUTSIDE, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP CAUSING ME TO GRAB THE WHEEL AS HARD AS I CAN AND MERGE TO THE SHOULDER TO SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTART SO THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES DRIVABLE. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY GAVE AN ESTIMATED COST OF $1500 PLUS DOLLARS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY AND JUST SUFFERED THROUGH THE PROBLEM. PULLING OVER AND RESTARTING THE CAR. WHEN THE WEATHER COOLED OFF IN SEPTEMBER OR SO THE CAR HAD NO PROBLEMS AND DROVE FINE. NOW ITS MARCH 2012 IN MISSISSIPPI AND EXTREMELY HOT AND HUMID AND NOW THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKING UP BASICALLY EVERY TIME I GET IN THE CAR. I CAN JUST BE DRIVING AND IT LOCK UP. I CANNOT GAMBLE WITH MY LIFE NOR MY CHILDREN AND I'M FEARFUL THAT THIS CAR IS GOING TO COST US OUR LIVES IF I CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT AROUND. HELP! *KB

NHTSA ODI #10452392

Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 2012

SteeringCrash

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I WAS DRIVING ON MY WAY BACK HOME AND SUDDENLY I LOST STEERING CAUSING ME TO GET HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE , THIS HAPPEND IN PIEDRAS NEGRAS MEXICO AND MY INSURANCE DIDNT COVER THE DAMAGE , THANK GOD IT WAS JUST A SMALL HIT ON THE FENDER BUT AFTER LOOKING FOR THE ISSUE ONLINE I FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY A MALFUNCTION IN THE POWER STEERING ASSITANT MOTOR , IM NOT THE FIRST PERSON THAT HAS THAT ISSUE , IN FACT THE 2005 MALIBU AND PONTIAC G6 HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND GM ALREADY RECALL THAT TO FIX IT , I DONT SEE WHY THE ARE NOT ACCEPTING RECALLING THIS MODEL SINCE USES THE SAME COMPONENT. I HOPE THAT NO ONE ELSE GET IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS. HERE'S A LINK FROM A WEB FORUM WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE USERS WITH SAME ISSUE HTTP://WWW.FIXYA.COM/CARS/T595753-2006_MALIBU_MAXX_ELECTRIC_POWER_STEERING *JS

NHTSA ODI #10452305

70,890 miles · Mar 13, 2012

Steering

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN THE POWER STEERING WARNING CHIMED THREE TIMES AND "POWER STEERING" WAS DISPLAYED ON DIC. THE WHEEL WAS HAD TO TURN RIGHT. PROBLEM WENT AWAY BUT WARNING MESSAGE STILL DISPLAYED ON DIC. IF I WERE DRIVING AT A HIGHER SPEED I WOULDNT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AND COULD HAVE INJURED OR KIL…

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NHTSA ODI #10451565

100,000 miles · Mar 8, 2012

Steering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND HEARD A CHIME INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN SUDDENLY, THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. UPON RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10450811

90,000 miles · Feb 28, 2012

Steering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND UNEXPECTEDLY THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WITH A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THERE WAS ALSO AN ILLUMINATION OF THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. UPON RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THIRTY TIMES AND EVENTUALLY BECAME A PERMANENT MALFUNCTION WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #10449612

107,100 miles · Feb 27, 2012

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING AND FROM WHAT I HAVE HEARD IS ALOT OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS. MY STEERING IS REAL STIFF WHERE IT NEEDS TWO HANDS TO TURN THE WHEEL AND A GOOD STRONG GRIP. I THINK THIS IS UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE FIXED THROUGH GM BEFORE THIS FAILS ON OTHERS AND CAUSE A ACCIDENT. THANK…

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NHTSA ODI #10449503

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)