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

39,600 miles · Jul 1, 2009

Steering

Read full complaint

I PURCHASED A MALIBU IN NOV 2007, WHEN I GOT THE CAR AND SUMMER CAME THE STEERING WENT OUT, I COULD NOT STEER. LUCKILY FOR ME ITS WHEN I WAS STILL IN MY DRIVEWAY. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND ALL WAS WELL. I NOTICED AT TIMES WHILE DRIVING IT WAS AS IF A HAND TOOK OVER THE STEERING IT HAD ITS OWN MIND, I ASKED MY STEPFATHER AND HE SAID IT HAPPENED WHILE THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON SO I LET IT GO AS THAT AND NOW I AM SORRY AS MY WARRANTY IS OVER BY 2000 MILES. WELL ONLY ONE MORE TIME DURING THAT SUMMER DID I LOOSE STEERING AGAIN IN MY DRIVEWAY. YESTERDAY HOWEVER MY STEERING WENT OUT FOUR TIMES WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN, I HAD TO PULL OVER FOUR TIMES AND RESTART MY CAR, IT WAS VERY HARD TO STEER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS I AM 50 AND HAD BROKEN MY ARM 2 YEARS AGO WITH NOT MUCH LESS MUSCLE TONE IN THAT ARM. I LIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS AND WHEN LEAVING TOWN I GO THROUGH STEEP GRADES TO GET ANYWHERE AND THAT DAY I HAD TO TAKE MY SON TWO HOURS AWAY TO THE V.A. BY READING ON THIS SITE I SEE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, WILL IT TAKE A DEATH CAUSED BY THIS TO DO A RECALL? ELECTRONIC STEERING? ARE THEY CRAZY? I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE IN MY CAR AND CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER ONE. PLEASE CONSIDER PUSHING FOR A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE LOOSES THEIR LIFE, AND WHEN THEY DO A HUGE LAWSUIT WILL BE MADE AGAINST GM FOR LOOKING THE OTHER WAY AND IGNORING THE ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10275444

80,000 miles · Jun 24, 2009

Steering

Read full complaint

COMPLAINT ABOUT STEERING : RACK AND PINION I PURCHASED THE 2006 CHEVY MALIBU A FEW MONTHS AGO FROM A LOCAL USED CAR DEALER NEAR ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA. A MONTH OR SO LATER I BEGAN HEARING A POPPING WHEN I TURNED. I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE A RACK AND PINION FAULT. THE ESTIMATED COST WITH REPROGRAMMING IS $600. I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THE 06 MALIBU HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM. GM SHOULD RECALL. I JUST DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY TO PAY FOR THE RACK AND PINION FAULT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10274886

45,000 miles · May 18, 2009

Steering

2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU 3500 ENGINE, CAR STEERING STOPS CONTROLLING WHEN DRIVING, ALMOST HIT COUPLE OF CARS ON THE ROAD, READ ONLINE LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH STEERING, THIS COULD BE DEADLY, IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO ME DRIVING THE CAR GM WILL BE SUED AND AM SURE ALL THE PEOPLE HAS SAME PROBLEM WILL SUE GM TOO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10269086

68,000 miles · Apr 29, 2009

Steering

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN INTO THE DRIVEWAY AT 15 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE CONTACT HEARD A RINGING NOISE. THE RADIO DISPLAY SCREEN BEGAN TO FLASH "POWER STEERING". THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO FINISH PARKING THE VEHICLE. SHE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING WAS COMPUTER-ASSISTED. THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE A STEERING PUMP OF ANY SORT AND SHE WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE COMPUTERIZED STEERING SYSTEM BECAME CONFUSED AND CAUSED THE MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS; HOWEVER, SHE BELIEVES THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE LIABLE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 68,000. UPDATED 08/28/09. *LJ THE DEALER RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY. UPDATED 09/02/09.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10267240

84,567 miles · Apr 26, 2009

Steering

Read full complaint

THE POWER STEERING LIGHT IS ON AND THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE LEADS TO ME TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS NO WAY TO FIX THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING IN THE 2006 CHEVY MALIBU LT. I WILL LIKE TO HAVE THIS ON FILE AS A COMPLAINT TO THE MFR FOR NOT MAKING THIS A RECALL. I AM SURE ITS BECAUSE IT COSTS TOO MUCH TO FIX THIS PARTICULAR ITEM IN THE VEHICLE. SOME CUSTOMERS HAVE HAD THIS GOING ON FOR A WHILE WITH THEIR VEHICLES AND HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT DUE TO THE FACT THAT EVEN THE DEALERSHIP CAN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS HIGHWAY ROBBERY AND GM SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET AWAY WITH THIS. I AM NOT SURE HOW TO MAKE THEM SEE THE ERROR IN THEIR DECISION TO IGNORE THIS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT AND BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT THEY SHOULD RECALL IT. I WILL LIKE TO HAVE SOME GUIDANCE ON HOW TO TAKE THIS DIRECTLY TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WHOM ELSE I CAN CONTACT TO LET THEM KNOW THIS IS HAPPENING. PLEASE HELP. I CAN'T AFFORD TO GET ANOTHER VEHICLE. I REALLY WANT MY CAR AND I JUST WANT TO GET IT FIXED. IT'S A SHAME THAT GM CAN'T STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT ONCE ITS DRIVEN OFF THE LOT. THIS IS A MFR DEFAULT AND IT SHOULD CONSTITUTE A RECALL RIGHT AWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10266761

26,000 miles · Apr 20, 2009

Steering

I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT WHEN MY POWER STEERING FAILED AND I DID GET AN ERROR MESSAGE ON MY DISPLAY. THE DEALERS COMPUTER ONLY SAID "ELECTRICAL", BUT IT WAS NOT ASSOCIATE WITH ANY PART SO THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE POWER STEERING RETURNED AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10266140

60,000 miles · Mar 30, 2009

SteeringWheels

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHENEVER THE CONTACT MAKES A RIGHT TURN IN THE VEHICLE, THE WHEELS LOCK UP. SHE ALSO HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. IN ORDER TO TURN, THE VEHICLE MUST BE TRAVELING AT LEAST 14 MPH. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED ONLINE THAT SEVERAL VEHICLES WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. EACH MECHANIC THAT THE CONTACT HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO COULD NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. SHE FEELS THAT CHEVROLET SHOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE SAFETY ISSUE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #10263681

61,902 miles · Mar 27, 2009

Steering

Read full complaint

I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR SHAKING WHEN DRIVING, SO I HAD MY TIRES CHECKED BUT IT WAS NOT THE TIRES. THE PROBLEM WAS MY OUTER TIE ROD ENDS NEED TO BE REPLACED. MY CAR IS A 2006 CHEVY MALIBU, WHICH IS IN GOOD CONDITION & REGULARLY SERVICED. THERE ARE THREE OTHER PEOPLE I KNOW PERSONALLY WITH THE SAME MODEL CAR THAT IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. AFTER TAKING MY CAR TO THE SHOP, I FOUND THAT IS A HARD PART TO LOCATE BECAUSE THEY ARE SUPPOSE TO LAST FOR YEARS BEFORE NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. I THINK THE CHEVROLET DEALER SHOULD FURTHER INVESTIGATE THIS BECAUSE ITS NOT FAIR TO THE CONSUMERS TO HAVE SUFFER THE EXPENSE OF THE REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10263275

2,000 miles · Mar 20, 2009

Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingLatches/locks/linkages

Read full complaint

38K MILE 2006 CHEVY MALIBU V-6-CAR SHAKES/VIBRATES/SHIMMIES. IT ALSO RATTLES AND CLUNKS UNDERNEATH AT ALL SPEEDS, FEELS LIKE THE BOTTOM IS FALLING OUT. DEALER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE A MINIMUM OF 7 COMPLAINTS. HEADLIGHTS LENSES ARE LOOSE AND THE LIGHTS SHAKE ALL OVER THE PLACE. DEALER DID FINALLY ACKNOWLEDGE HEADLIGHT ISSUE AFTER THE 4TH COMPLAINT AND I WAS TOLD IT IS A GM PROBLEM BUT THEY HAVE NO FIX AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. NOW THAT THE WARRANTY IS UP, THEY ARE ACKNOWLEDGING ALL PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS (MANY MORE THAN JUST THE COUPLE I LISTED HERE) BUT AT MY EXPENSE WHEN THESE ISSUES S/H/B TAKEN CARE OF AT THE TIME OF THE ORIGINAL AND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10262590

16,000 miles · Mar 18, 2009

Steering

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING. IMMEDIATELY, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED INTO PARK AND THE CONTACT MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE STEERING COLUMN UNLOCKED. THE VEHICLE THEN RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. WHEN HE REACHED HIS DESTINATION, THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SUDDENLY, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY AND MADE A GRINDING NOISE. THE FAILURES OCCURRED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THEN REPAIRED. ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED AGAIN. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

NHTSA ODI #10262234

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)