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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60,000 miles · Jul 29, 2014

Electrical SystemSteering

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AROUND MARCH 2013, I FIRST BEGAN TO ENCOUNTER PROBLEMS WITH MY POWER STEERING. IT BEGAN AT A LOW SPEED WITH A CHIME, A MESSAGE DISPLAY SAYING TO CHECK THE POWER STEERING, AND MY WHEEL LOCKING UP (POWER STEERING FAIL). AT THE TIME, I DID NOT THINK MUCH OF IT BECAUSE AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR, THE POWER STEERING SEEMED FINE. AFTER THIS INCIDENT, THERE WERE MANY TIMES WHEN THE CHIME WOULD SOUND AND THE MESSAGE WOULD FLASH BUT THE POWER STEERING STILL SEEMED TO WORK. I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR OTHER ISSUES AND HAD THIS CHECKED OUT AT THE SAME TIME. THE TROUBLE CODE IN THE SYSTEM WAS C0545 FOR TORQUE SENSOR INPUT FAILURE. MY MECHANIC EXPLAINED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND EVEN CHECKED FOR A RECALL AT THAT TIME. I LEFT WITH MY CAR THAT DAY DUE TO HAVING TO WAIT FOR PARTS. TWO DAYS LATER WHILE DRIVING 45MPH, THE POWER STEERING ENTIRELY FAILED. IT FELT AS IF MY WHEEL LOCKED ENTIRELY. LUCKILY THERE WERE NOT MANY CARS ON THE ROAD AND I WAS ABLE TO DIRECT IT INTO A PARKING LOT. MY CAR WAS TAKEN BACK IN IMMEDIATELY AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. THIS REPAIR COST AROUND $500. IN JULY 2014, IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT GM FINALLY ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. SO, I CALLED GM TO TO SUBMIT MY INFORMATION TO BE REIMBURSED. I WAS TOLD THAT ONLY SOME 2006 MALIBUS WERE BEING RECALLED FOR THIS ISSUE AND THAT MY 2006 MALIBU WAS NOT ONE OF THEM...EVEN THOUGH MY 2006 MALIBU HAD THE PROBLEM THEY WERE RECALLING FOR! COME TO FIND OUT, THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER 2006 MALIBU OWNERS. NEEDLESS TO SAY, GM HAS DONE A TERRIBLE JOB CORRECTING A SERIOUS MISTAKE. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10617419

98,000 miles · Jul 28, 2014

Electrical SystemSteering

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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

20 miles · Jul 22, 2014

Electrical SystemService BrakesVehicle Speed Control

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BOUGHT CAR NEW 2/06. ONCE HOME AND DRIVING I NOTICED AN ELECTRICAL ISSUES CONSISTING OF RADIO INTERFERENCE WHEN USING ANY ELECTRICAL BUTTONS IN CAR, SUCH AS WINDOWS, AND MY CHARGING OUTLETS IN THE CAR BLOW FUSES WHEN USED. WHEN I TURN MY AIR OR HEAT ON MY BRAKE PEDAL DROPS DOWN AT LEAST 2 IF SITTING AT LIGHT. IF DRIVING AND I TURN ON MY AIR, THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD. THIS IS AT A CRITICAL LEVEL NOW. I TOOK INTO THEIR DEALERSHIP FROM THE FIRST MONTH I PURCHASED THE CAR UNTIL MARCH OF 2007. NO ONE COULD FIX THE ELECTRICAL ISSUE AND DEALERSHIP COULD NOT SUPPLY ME WITH EVEN THE PAPERWORK TO SHOW ME WHAT THEY RESEARCHED WHILE IT SAT THERE FOR OVER 4 DAYS. PROBLEM IS NOW DEADLY AND I NEED THIS ELECTRICAL ISSUE FIXED. I RECEIVED NOTICE OF RECALL 13036 BUT NOTHING CONCERNING THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE PETAL AND ACCELERATION I HAVE HAD SINCE PURCHASE. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP TO GET (LEMON) REPLACED AND THEY SAID, TOUGH LUCK. PURCHASED AS IS... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10615320

66,494 miles · Jul 10, 2014

Electrical SystemPower TrainService Brakes

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WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, ANOTHER DRIVER STOPPED TO LET ME KNOW THAT MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. AROUND THIS TIME I ALSO NOTICED THAT MY CRUISE CONTROL WOULD STOP WORKING OR NOT WORK AT ALL. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AFTER I FIRST LEARNED OF THE PROBLEM PEOPLE FOLLOWING ME WOULD TELL ME THAT IT LOOKED LIKE I WAS RIDING MY BRAKES WHEN I WAS NOT TOUCHING THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN I WOULD PRESS THE BRAKES THEY WOULD GO OFF. I TESTED THIS BY BACKING UP TO MY GARAGE DOOR AND PRESSING THE BRAKES. THEY COME ON WHEN I LIFT MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE BUT GO OUT WHEN I PRESS THE PEDAL. AROUND THIS TIME I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WOULD SOMETIMES STICK/NOT MOVE EVEN THOUGH I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. MY LOCAL DEALER REPLACED A COMPUTER MODULE AND THAT SEEMED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM FOR A WHILE BUT THE PROBLEM HAS SINCE COME BACK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10609635

80,000 miles · Jul 7, 2014

Electrical SystemService Brakes

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION AND BAS SENSOR FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER:14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL , EXTERIOR LIGHTING , SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC , VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

NHTSA ODI #10608535

98,000 miles · Jun 30, 2014

Electrical SystemSteering

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HEARS A CLICKING NOISE FROM CAR THEN IT WILL LOOSE STEERING AND SHUT OFF, NO ACCELERATION, STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP, NO LIGHTS. ALL TURNS OFF, HAS HAPPEN ABOUT 8 TIMES. NEXT TIME, PUT FOOT ON BRAKE IT JUMPS, ALL SHUTS OFF, IT SOME TIMES TAKE 3 OR 4 TIMES FOR THE CAR TO START BACK UP. CHEVROLET SHOP HAS REPLACED PARTS, STILL CAN NOT FIND OUT WHY IT SHUT OFF. IF THIS HAS HAPPEN TO OTHERS THAT HAS A MALIBU, PLEASE HELP, WITH SUGGESTION ON WHAT THE CHEVY HOUSE CAN DO TO HELP ME OUT. THANKS *TR

NHTSA ODI #10606907

98,000 miles · Jun 24, 2014

Electrical SystemFire

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THE DRIVER DROVE INTO HER DRIVE WAY FROM A SHORT DRIVE. WHEN SHE PARKED IN HER DRIVEWAY, SHE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE UNDER THE DASH BOARD. SHE EXITED THE VEHICLE, RAN INTO HER HOME TO TELL HER MOTHER. WHEN THEY RAN BACK OUTSIDE, THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THEY CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER. THE FIRE MARSHAL CONDUCTED AN INVESTIGATION AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE AND HE CONCLUDED THAT THE FIRE COMBUSTED FROM WITHIN THE VEHICLE, LIKELY ELECTRICAL. NO ONE WAS INJURED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE IS TOTALED AND THE DRIVEWAY IS STAINED FROM THE SMOKE AND FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10605675

53,000 miles · Jun 23, 2014

Electrical SystemExterior LightingService Brakes

BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON WHEN DRIVING, BUT DO NOT COME ON WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10605339

Mileage unknown · May 21, 2014

Electrical System

OCCASIONALLY WHEN STARTING THE CAR IT WILL MAKE A JERKING MOTION AND SOUND LIKE IT WANTS TO CUT OFF. I HAVE HAD TIMES WHEN IT WOULD CUT OFF RIGHT AFTER STARTING OR WHILE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT. A FEW TIMES (PROBABLY A DOZEN) AFTER CUTTING OFF I HAD TO TRY A COUPLE OF TIMES TO RESTART THE CAR, THE OTHER TIMES I WAS ABLE TO REST…

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NHTSA ODI #10593078

165,000 miles · May 21, 2014

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

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ON THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT I WAS TRAVELING ON THE ROAD WITH MY TWO CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY THE SPEEDOMETER AND GAUGES ON THE DASHBOARD WENT DOWN TO ZERO WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE ABS,TRACTION CONTROL, ENGINE LIGHT, AND SECURITY LOCK LIGHTS WERE LITE UP ON THE DASHBOARD. THE FUEL GAUGE IS NOT RESPONDING TO THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN TANK. IF EVER I TURN THE CAR OFF IT WOULD NOT RESTART WHICH MEANT MY CHILDREN AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. ITS BEEN A HEADACHE TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH THE AMOUNT OF GAS IN MY VEHICLE DUE TO GAUGE NOT RESPONDING. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON THE DASHBOARD. JUST EVERYTHING IS WRONG WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE AND IT SEEMS EVERY WEEK THERE'S ANOTHER RECALL THAT IS ADDED TO THE LIST. ITS SCARY. TWELVE TO THIRTEEN LIVES HAVE BEEN LOST ALREADY OVER DEFAULTS OF THE CHEVY MODELED VEHICLES. A VERY INSECURE AND UNCOMFORTABLE CUSTOMER/FAMILY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10593072

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)