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

What owners actually said

1,115 reports

73,000 miles · Nov 5, 2014

Steering

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4/23/2014: WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED SHAKING ON ITS OWN AND A MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE VEHICLES CENTER DISPLAY THAT READ "POWER STEERING" . THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER SAID THAT THERE WAS A RECALL (#14116) BUT THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. I TOOK THE CAR OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. 11/04/14: I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BURDICK CHEVROLET FOR SERVICE AFTER RECEIVING A LETTER FROM GM STATING THAT PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. 11/05/14: WHEN THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED, THE SERVICE WRITER BROUGHT THE CAR OVER TO WHERE I WAS STANDING. WHEN I STARTED TO PULL AWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED SHAKING AND THE STEERING FELT VERY NOTCHY. I SHOWED THIS TO THE SERVICE WRITER AND HE WENT TO GET THE SERVICE MANAGER AND A TECHNICIAN. THE SERVICE WRITER RETURNED AND SAID THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT THIS WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO BRING THE CAR IN FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY SERVICE. I DON'T FEEL AS THOUGH I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING REGARDING THIS RECALL. AS THE DROVE HOME, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK CONSTANTLY AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE IN A STRAIGHT LINE AND HAD TO CONSTANTLY CORRECT BY STEERING LEFT AND RIGHT. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND ASKED TO SPEAK WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER BUT HE WAS APPARENTLY TOO BUSY. I HAVE DEALT WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER IN THE PAST AND I DON'T EXPECT HIM TO EVER RETURN MY CALLS. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY ACTUALLY DID TO REPAIR THE STEERING. I ONLY KNOW THAT IT'S MUCH WORSE THAT WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN. I NOW HAVE A CAR THAT CANNOT BE DRIVEN, LET ALONE SOLD. WHAT SHOULD I DO AT THIS POINT? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10652800

121,000 miles · Nov 4, 2014

EnginePower Train

WHEN I TRY TO START MY CHEVY MALIBU IT DOESN'T CATCH AFTER TURNING THE KEY AND WILL CONSTANTLY DIE. ALREADY REPLACED THE STARTER, FUEL INTAKE, ETC BUT CONTINUES THE SAME PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10652600

98,000 miles · Nov 3, 2014

Power Train

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DELAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ODI #10652173

155,000 miles · Nov 1, 2014

Steering

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TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING SENSOR INTERMITTENTLY LIT AND AT TIMES THERE WAS NO WARNING AND THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A POWER STEERING FAILURE. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE WHILE MAKING A SHARP TURN, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO HAVE TO APPLY FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL TO TURN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND UPON RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE SENSOR RESET BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO HAPPEN INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V153000 (STEERING) . THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000. DYD

NHTSA ODI #10651817

128,228 miles · Oct 24, 2014

Air BagsSteeringCrash

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ON OCTOBER 15, 2014, I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK WHEN THE STEERING IN MY CAR SUDDENLY AND COMPLETELY WENT OUT. FOR NO REASON, MY CAR LOST CONTROL AND BEGAN TO SWERVE AND THE WHEELS BEGAN TO SQUEAL. MY STEERING WHEEL WAS EASILY MOVABLE, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT GO IN THE DIRECTION THAT I TURNED THE WHEEL. I ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR HEAD ON IF SHE HADN'T STOPPED HER CAR. I ALSO COULDN'T STOP THE CAR. AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE CAR DID A COMPLETE 360 TURN AS IT CONTINUED TO TRAVEL DOWN THE STREET. THE CAR FINALLY HOPPED THE CURB AND HIT A LIGHT POLE ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE. THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED, BUT FELT LIKE IT WANTED TO CONTINUE TO DRIFT UNTIL I TOOK THE KEY OUT OF THE CAR. MY CAR HAS BEEN DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND I COULD'VE DIED HAD I HIT THAT OTHER VEHICLE HEAD ON, OR IF THAT POLE HADN'T STOPPED MY VEHICLE. NO AIRBAGS EVER DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10649759

Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2014

Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10648404

140,000 miles · Oct 17, 2014

Power Train

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACTED STATED WHILE PARK, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ODI #10648379

84,000 miles · Oct 15, 2014

Fuel System, Gasoline

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE WHICH LATER RESTARTED AFTER THE FIRST ATTEMPT. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11E009000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

NHTSA ODI #10644797

131,000 miles · Oct 14, 2014

Engine

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I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED ON SEPTEMBER 22,2014, AS I WAS DRIVING HOME THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND I SPOKE WITH DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY CLEANED THE CAR. IF IT IS STILL ON IN A COUPLE DAYS, BRING CAR IN. WELL I HAD MY MECHANIC LOOK AND HE SAID THERE WAS A BULLETIN OUT ON IT FOR MASS AIR FLOW UPDATE, WHICH IS WHAT THE CODE WAS WHEN HE PUT THE GADGET ON IT. I CALLED BERGER CHEVY AND THEY SAID ITS A CUSTOMER PAY. SHOULDN'T BE IF THIS WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE AIR MASS FLOW IS RUNNING LEAN, BUT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY THIS, SHOULD I? THEY ARE SAYING 98 BUCKS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10644421

Mileage unknown · Oct 8, 2014

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior Lighting

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2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECALL NOTICES. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED TWO DAYS AFTER THE FIRST RECALL REPAIR, BECAUSE THE REPAIR WAS NOT FULLY COMPLETED, DUE TO LACK OF PARTS, SHE EXPERIENCED TWO EPISODES WHICH SHE DEEMED UNSAFE. WHILE SITTING WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE, AND THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, SHE SUDDENLY FELT A SLIGHT SHIFT, AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD, WHICH IT DID, WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE BUMPED A CAR IN FRONT OF HER. THE CONSUMER REFERENCED RECALL # 14V252000. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10640987

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)