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

37,000 miles · Jul 28, 2008

Engine And Engine Cooling

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. ON SOME DAYS, THE VEHICLE WILL START IMMEDIATELY, BUT ON OTHER DAYS, IT WILL NOT START AT ALL. ON OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE HAS ALSO SHUT OFF WHILE WAITING AT A STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AFTER SHUTTING DOWN AND NOT RESTARTING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS THE FUEL PUMP, AND IT WAS REPLACED FOR $1,000. AT TIMES, THE VEHICLE STILL WILL NOT START. THE CONTACT HAS GONE BACK AND FORTH TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.

NHTSA ODI #10236018

7,050 miles · Jul 25, 2008

Power Train

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PER GM DOCUMENT ID#2030341 - 06 MALIBU WILL SHIFT INTO LOWER GEAR AND STAY IN IT UNTIL YOU STOP AND CYCLE THE ENGINE TO OFF AND THEN BACK ON-BEEN TO THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS 4 TIMES AND 2 ATTEMPTS ATTEMPT FINAL REPAIR 6 TOTAL AND KEEP COMING UP WITH THE SAME FINDINGS -NONE- THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE ABOVE MENTIONED DOCUMENT- NO ONE HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE ANY THING IN THE TRANSMISSION OR REPLACE THE STICKING VALVES THAT ARE CAUSING THE PROBLEM BUT THEY ALL AGREE ITS A PROBLEM INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION. GM HAS TOLD ME THAT THEY DON"T INTEND TO DO ANYTHING TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM AND HAS SUGGESTED FOR ME TO CONTACT THE BBB FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER. STARTED TAKING IT TO THE DEALER AFTER 6 MO AFTER BUYING AND ABOUT EVERY 4-6 MO UNTIL NOW- SINCE THE COMPUTER SAYS NO PROBLEM NO ONE WILL MAKE THE CALL TO CHANGE OUT THE TRANSMISSION OR THE STICKING VALVES THAT ARE CAUSING THE PROBLEM- THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS IF ON TAKE OFF IT HANGS UP IN THE LOWER GEAR AND THE PERSON BEHIND ME THINKS I AM GOING TO GET OUT OF THE WAY AND THE CAR WILL NOT GO AND RAMS ME IN THE REAR- ALL BECAUSE THE TRANS WILL NOT CHANGE OUT OR IF ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT DECIDES TO SHIFT INTO LOWER GEAR- NOT ONLY WILL DAMAGE TO THE CARS ENGINE BUT COULD BE FATAL TO THE PERSON DRIVING. PLEASE ADVISE WHERE TO LOOK FOR ALL PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. BOUGHT THE CAR NEW AND HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS NOT WANTING TO SHIFT ABOUT EVERY 4-6 MONTHS. SORT OF NERVE RACKING WHEN ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK AT MIDNIGHT AND THE CAR WILL NOT GO NO FASTER THAN 25-35 MPH WITH 4500 RPMS THEN THEY TELL ME NOTHING IS WRONG BECAUSE THE COMPUTER SAYS SO. THANKS FOR YOU HELP SUSAN HEADRICK *TR UPDATED 08/15/08 *BF

NHTSA ODI #10235795

5,000 miles · Jul 25, 2008

Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER PERFORMED AN OIL CHANGE AND STATED THAT A FUEL INJECTION THROTTLE BODY, FUEL INJECTOR KIT, AND DOUBLE CLEAN WERE NEEDED; HOWEVER,THIS HAD BEEN DONE A MONTH AGO. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE CALIBRATION WAS OUTDATED. WHEN ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE CLOCK SOMETIMES NEEDS TO BE RESET. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000. UPDATED 09/10/08. *LJ UPDATED 09/12/08 *JB

NHTSA ODI #10235761

58,000 miles · Jul 21, 2008

Steering

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 1 -75 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD HAVE A LOT OF "PLAY". THE WHEEL WOULD MAKE DRIVING EASY AT TIMES, BUT HARDER AT OTHER TIMES. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVING, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD CONTINUE TO MOVE AROUND. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS OR TURNING INTO A TIGHT SPACE, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO ESTIMATE HOW FAR TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,000. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN DUE TO A FAULTY TORQUE SENSOR AND THE STEERING WHEEL PONSITION SENSOR. UPDATED 09/18/08. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10235192

30,000 miles · Jul 15, 2008

Air BagsCrashInjury

MY 2006 CHEVY MALIBU LTZ WAS TOTALED IN A 3 CAR ACCIDENT. NO FRONT OR SIDE AIR BAGS WERE DEPLOYED. THE POINT OF IMPACT WAS FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND HEAD ON FRONT END. MY VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT AND WAS TOTALED, SO HOW CAN IT BE THAT NO AIR BAGS WERE DEPLOYED? I HAVE A REPORT FROM GM THAT SAID THAT …

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NHTSA ODI #10234376

60,000 miles · Jul 7, 2008

EquipmentFire

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE WASHING THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE AND FLAMES ON THE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH A WATER HOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER; HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE AND WILL NOT ASSUME LIABILITY. THE WARRANTY IS VALID; HOWEVER, THE DEALER IS STILL UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANY SHOULD ASSIST HIM WITH REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60000. UPDATED 08/12/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE FIRE STARTED FROM THE SPEAKER. FUSES HAD BEEN BLOWING FOR THE PAST TWO MONTHS. UPDATED 08/13/08

NHTSA ODI #10233448

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

23,000 miles · May 8, 2008

Electrical System

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT COULD HEAR THE LOCKS OPENING AND CLOSING DURING HEAVY RAINSTORMS. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START UNLESS IT WAS JUMP STARTED. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON FOUR OCCASIONS DURING HEAVY RAINSTORMS, THUNDERSTORMS, AND/OR LIGHTNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE STARTER, ALTERNATOR, AND BATTERY WERE NOT THE CAUSES OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE CAME STANDARD WITH AN AUTO START FEATURE AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. A MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND REPLACED THE COMPUTER MODULE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE OCCURRED ON MAY 1, 2008. THE CONTACT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING $2,200 FOR THE REPAIRS. HE FILED COMPLAINT NUMBER 71-625205218 WITH THE MANUFACTURER. SPEED WAS NOT A FACTOR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,700.

NHTSA ODI #10227025

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)