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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49,958 miles · Jul 2, 2008

Steering

I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE HIGHWAY AND SLOWED DOWN TO TURN TO GO TO THE PHARMACY. MY STEERING WENT COMPLETELY OUT AND I HAD TO COAST OFF ROAD INTO PHARMACY PARKING LOT. UNABLE TO TURN STEERING WHEEL. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED. STEERING MOTOR WAS OUT ON CAR. IT COSTS ALMOST $900 FOR REPAIR. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. SERVICE DEPT TOLD …

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NHTSA ODI #10233044

3,670 miles · Jun 24, 2008

EquipmentSteering

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I PURCHASED A 2006 USED CHEVY-MALIBU ON FEB. 22-2008. WITH 3600 MILEAGE. AFTER DRIVING FOR 2 WEEKS THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK-UP ALONG WITH A BELL GOING OFF AND A LIGHT FLASHING STEERING WHEEL PROBLEMS (THE LIGHT STAYED ON FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME). I TRIED TO STEER WITH THE CAR OPERATING IN MANUAL STEERING WHICH WAS VERY HARD TO DO SINCE I'M 72 YEARS OLD. I LET THE CAR DRIFT TO A PARKING LOT AND PROCEEDED TO CUT THE MOTOR OFF AND START AGAIN TO TRY TO GET POWER STEERING IN AN OPERATIVE MODE. THIS HAPPENED TO ME A NUMBER OF TIMES . COMING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY THERE IS A FIRE HYDRANT AND THE WHEEL LOCKED AND I COULD NOT TURN AWAY FROM THE HYDRANT IN TIME AND I HIT IT. I WAS TURNING A CORNER IN TO TRAFFIC AND IT LOCKED AGAIN. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID TO TAKE IT TO SOMEONE THAT REQUIRED THAT I LEAVE IT OVERNIGHT . BUT THE SHOP WAS QUITE A DISTANCE FROM MY HOME. I WAITED UNTIL JULY AND CALLED THE SALESMAN WHO WORKS AT A DIFFERENT PLACE NOW AND HE SAID I COULD TAKE TO ANY CHEVROLET DEALER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WITH ZURICH . THE REPAIR SHOP STATES THAT THEY DON'T COVER ALL THE COST TO GET IT REPAIRED LESS $200.00 OUT OF POCKET. I WANT TO KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN SOME OTHER COMPLAINTS OR IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS TYPE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10232172

29,000 miles · Jun 2, 2008

Electrical SystemSteering

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WHILE PASSING ANOTHER CAR, ACCELERATING AROUND A CURVE, OR TAKING OFF FROM A STOP. THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING SHUTS DOWN LEAVING YOU FIGHTING A STEERING WHEEL THAT ALMOST FEELS LOCKED. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A BULLETIN OUT ON THE COIL PACK . THAT IT IS SPIKING A VOLTAGE ABOVE 16 VOLTS AND AS A SAFETY FEATURE IT SHUTS DOWN THE ELECTRONIC STEERING TO PROTECT IT. IT MIGHT PROTECT THE STEERING FROM THE ELECTRIC SURGE, BUT IT HAS ALMOST CAUSED A WRECK ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO FIGHT THE DEAD STEERING WHEEL WHERE IF I WAS A SMALLER MALE/ FEMALE THERE WOULD BE A CHANCE THAT I COULDN'T. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10229475

49,500 miles · Apr 23, 2008

Steering

AT 46,500 MILES , MY STEERING STARTED MAKING A CLICKING NOISE. THE CHEVROLET DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AS A BAD RACK AND PINION AND STEERING SHAFT. THE BOOTS ARE INTACT. THEY GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF OVER $1,200 FOR REPAIRS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10225547

40,000 miles · Apr 18, 2008

Steering

I PURCHASED THE 2006 MALIBU 11/2006. SINCE THAT TIME, THE RIGHT FRONT SPEAKER HAS BEEN REPLACED, THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT FIXTURE REPLACED, THE ELECTRIC STEERING COLUMN IS INOPERABLE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE STEERING MAKES A THUMPING NOISE WHEN TURNING AND PULLS TO THE LEFT. I AM OPTING TO PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE AS THIS…

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NHTSA ODI #10224877

27,526 miles · Mar 12, 2008

Steering

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED A SECOND LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED; HOWEVER, THEY WOULD NOT ACCEPT A TRADE-IN BECAUSE THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,536 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,526. UPDATE 04-02-08 *BF

NHTSA ODI #10220902

8,990 miles · Feb 4, 2008

Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 02-19-08 *BF. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,990. UPDATED 02/19/08 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10216878

32,759 miles · Jan 18, 2008

SteeringStructure

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE FELT OFF BALANCED AS IF THE ALIGNMENT WAS INCORRECT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS PROPERLY ALIGNED. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE REPAIR, THE STEERING WHEEL STRAIGHTENED AND THE VEHICLE DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,759 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,000. UPDATED 3/4/08 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED BOTH SIDES OF THE BUMPER WERE OUT OF PLACE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM

NHTSA ODI #10215379

13,900 miles · Dec 9, 2007

SteeringCrash

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ON FRIDAY NOV.16,2007 AT APPROXIMATELY 8:30AM WHILE I WAS TRYING TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY,THE POWERSTEERING IN MY 2006 MALIBU STOPPED WORKING AND I SIDESWIPED MY HUSBANDS CAR, SCRATCHED THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE MALIBU AND CRACKED THE HUB CAP. I CONTACTED ROADSIDE SERVICE TO PICKUP THE MALIBU AT MY RESIDENCE. . ONCE THE MALIBU ARRIVED AT FRANK Z CHEVEROLET,WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THE SERVICE DEPT. REP. CALLED ME AND STATED THAT I HAD A FAILURE IN THE POWERSTEERING ELECTRIC MONITOR AND TOLD ME TO CALL CHEVROLET TO FILE A CASE. I WAS VERY CONCERNED AND FRIGHTENED ABOUT THE INCIDENT BECAUSE IF I HAD OF BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY I COULD OF BEEN HURT,KILLED OR INJURED SOMEONE ELSE. CHEVROLET'S CUST. ASSIST. REP. DID NOT COMFORT ME AT ALL. I EXPRESSED THAT I WANTED TO TERMINATE MY LEASE ON THE VEHICLE BECAUSE I DID NOT FEEL SAFE IN IT ANYMORE. SO HE TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD TO GO THROUGH CERTAINS STEPS AND NOT TO OVERREACT. CHEVROLET CALLED OUT THEIR 3RD PARTY GROUP OF ENGINEERING SPECIALIST TO INSPECT THE CAR AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT A COMPONENT IN THE POWERSTEERING MONITOR DID IN FACT FAIL. CHEVROLET'S REP. STATED THAT THE ONLY OPTION I HAD WAS TO REPAIR THE CAR. IF I REFUSED,THEY WOULD TAKE THE RENTAL CAR BACK ASAP. SO IN SO MANY WORDS THEY TOLD ME THAT IT IS EITHER THEIR WAY OR THE HIGHWAY. SO I AGREED TO HAVE THE CAR REPAIRED AND THEY QUICKLY CHANGED THEIR MIND ON TERMINATING THE RENTAL. THEY EVEN EXTENDED IT UNTIL AFTER THE CAR IS REPAIRED AND STATED THAT THEY STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS. AS OF TODAY, ON DEC. 8,2007 THE CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP. I TRULY FEEL THAT MY SECURITY AND SAFETY WAS NOT TAKEN IN CONSIDERATION, ONLY THE PROFIT THEY WERE GOING TO LOSE. ANYTIME THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE MEN DO NOT WANT TO TOUCH THE VEHICLE,ANYTIME CHEVROLET CUST ASSIST. REP. HAVE TO CALL ENGINEERING ANALYST TO INSPECT THE CAR AND CONFIRMS THE FAILURE, THAT MEANS THAT THIS IS NOT A MINOR CASE, IT WAS SOMETHING MAJOR,ESP. TO ME. MILEAGE ABOUT 13,900. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10211297

37,000 miles · Nov 27, 2007

Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT ACCELERATED AND THE STEERING FROZE FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE RETURNING TO NORMAL. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WE…

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NHTSA ODI #10210080

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)