2006 Chevrolet Malibu Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE WHEN DRIVING IN REVERSE. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD ALSO SEIZE SPORADICALLY WHEN DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS. A LOCAL MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSIST WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,100.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A LEFT TURN, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS . THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING AND THE WHEEL BECAME VERY HARD TO TURN. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

STEERING- WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS STEERING COLLUMN POPS AS IF LINKAGE IS SLIPPING. APPARENTLY A KNOWN DEFECT AT CHEVROLET. STEERING COLUMN SHOULD BE REPLACED. LOSS OF POWER STERRING IN THE PAST AT HIGHER SPEEDS, ONE COMPLETE LOCKUP OF STEERING WHEEL WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. BRAKES- INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT OVER TIME TO SLOW VEHICLE TO A STOP SAFELY. BRAKES WERE COMPLETELY REPLACED AT 51K MILES DUE TO AN ISSUE OF WEAR AT RATES EXCEEDING MECHANICAL ESTIMATES. DEALERSHIP INSPECTION YIELDS NO DAMAGES OR PROBLEM YET TEST DRIVE SHOWS HOW DIFFICULT VEHICLE IS TO STOP EFFECTIVELY.

I HAVE ONLY HAD MY 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU FOR 6 WEEKS, AND I ALREADY AM EXPERIENCING 3 MAJOR PROBLEMS. 1. THE FUEL GAUGE WILL GO WILD ANYTIME GAS IS ADDED TO THE TANK, AND AS THE WEEKS HAVE GONE BY IT IS LESS ACCURATE. I ONLY KNOW WHEN MY GAS TANK IS FULL OR EMPTY. I HAVE NO IDEA ON ANYTHING IN BETWEEN. 2. WHEN I WILL START THE CAR THE POWER STEERING WILL NOT COME ON WITH THE CAR. I WILL HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF, REMOVE THE KEY AND OPEN AND SHUT THE DOOR TO REGISTER THE NEXT TRY AS A TRULY NEW START. IF YOU FAIL TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE DOOR, THE CAR DOES NOT COMPLETELY POWER DOWN SO IT WILL NOT RECYCLE. 3. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WILL BEGIN TO LOCK UP ON ME WHILE DRIVING, AND I WILL HAVE TO FIGHT THE WHEEL TO KEEP THE CAR GOING STRAIGHT. I HAVE LET GO OF THE WHEEL ONCE OR TWICE AND THE WHEEL WILL TURN ENOUGH IN ONE DIRECTION TO NEARLY DO A UTURN. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN WHEN A DRIVER WAS INATTENTIVE, IM PRETTY SURE IT WOULD CAUSE ONE HECK OF A ACCIDENT! THE WORST PART IS THAT THE DEALER I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM HAD THE CAR FOR 8 MONTHS, SO THEY MUST HAVE KNOW ABOUT THESE DEFECTS AND SOLD IT TO ME ANYWAYS. THE DEALER PUT GAS IN THE CAR BEFORE WE DID THE PAPERWORK. I KNOW THE GUY SAW THE GAS GAUGE GOING NUTS, AND THAT'S WHY HE INSISTED ON BEING THE ONE TO DRIVE THE CAR TO THE GAS STATION. I THINK THEY MIGHT HAVE RESET THE COMPUTER TO GET THE CAR TO BEHAVE FOR TEST DRIVES, BECAUSE I HAD ONLY PUT 40 MILES ON IT BEFORE ALL THIS STUFF STARTED. CERTAINLY NOT A COINCIDENCE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO OPERATE NORMALLY AS THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE STEERING CONTROL MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,859.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

PULLED UP TO THE STOP SIGN LEAVING MY STREET GETTING READY TO PULL ONTO BUSY HIGHWAY ....STEERING WHEEL WENT COMPLETELY STIFF....POWER STEERING FAILURE MESSAGE CAME ON THE DASH....MANAGED TO TURN IT AROUND AND PARK IT BACK IN MY DRIVE WAY ....I HAVE BEEN READING ALL THE OTHER CHEVY MALIBU OWNERS DESCRIBING THE SAME PROBLEM AND HOW IT HAS COST THEM HUNDREDS EVEN THOUSANDS TO GET FIXED AND SOME STILL DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM....I DO NOT HAVE HUNDREDS TO POUR INTO MY CAR....CAN BARELY MAKE PAYMENTS AND INSURANCE.....I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO.... *TR

OWN A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF MAKING STEERING EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES & PARKED THE VEHICLE. THOUGHT IT NEEDED POWER STEERING FLUID. WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT THIS WAS A HUGH PROBLEM WITH THE 2006 MALIBU VEHICLES. HE PERSONALLY HAD REPAIRED MANY, MANY CARS WITH THIS STEERING COLUMN ISSUE. THE COST WOULD RUN $900 +. RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND THE CAR WAS DRIVING FINE. OWNER RESEARCHED THE WEBSITE FOR RECALLS. FOUND OUT THAT WITH IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE 2006 MALIBU & GM DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE A RECALL FOR IT. UNFORTUNATELY, IT WILL TAKE LOSS OF LIVES BEFORE ANY ACTION WILL BE TAKEN. TOO MANY OF THESE CARS HAVE THIS DEFECT. GM SHOULD "MAN UP" AND EITHER REPAIR THE PROBLEM PERMANENTLY OR ALLOW FOR TRADE-IN'S WITH APPROPRIATE TRADE IN VALUE. ALSO, IT SOUNDS LIKE EVEN AFTER REPAIR HAVE BEEN DONE, THE PROBLEM MAY OR MAY NOT COME BACK. NO GUARANTEE FOR PERMANENT SOLUTION. OWNER IS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR FEAR OF THE STEERING ISSUE OCCURRING AT ANY TIME & MAYBE CAUSING A MINOR OR EVEN WORSE FATAL ACCIDENT. APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE 118,000. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR WHEN ATTEMPTING A TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION OR DRIVING OVER ROAD BUMPS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU 2.2 / 4CL. THE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING, THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE A REGULAR POWER STEERING SYSTEM , I BELIEVE IT IS ELECTRONIC. THE PROBLEM IS WHILE YOU DRIVE AT ANY SPEED THE STEERING BECOMES HARD TO STEER, NO POWER AT ALL, CREATING A VERY DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT CAN CAUSE A DEADLY ACCIDENT. THERE IS NO RECALL YET WE BELIEVE. BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL, MANY SITUATIONS LIKE THIS ONE, NO POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, SUDDENLY STOPS WORKING. *TR

MAKING A RIGHT TURN, I HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE FROM THE STEERING, THE CAR PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND THE STEERING WHEEL FELT LIKE IT THE POWER STEERING FAILED. ABOUT 1 YEAR AGO, I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE AT THE DEALERS FOR A KNOCKING IN THE STEERING AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND THE STEERING FAILURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,225 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 137,231.

THE POWER STEERING DOES NOT WORK WHEN I TURN THE CAR ON SOMETIMES. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. I TURN THE IGNITION ON, THERE IS A BELL, AND THE ELECTRONIC MESSAGE SAYS "POWER STEERING." I TURN THE CAR OFF, WAIT SEVERAL MINUTES, RE-START IT, AND THEN IT WORKS AGAIN. *JS

AROUND 60000 MILES YOU COULD HEAR AND FEEL A CLUNKING OR POPPING COMING FROM INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS HAPPENED ESPECIALLY WHILE TURNING THE WHEEL OR GOING OVER BUMPS. AT APPROXIMATELY 65500 MILES WHILE MY WIFE WAS TRAVELING AT 20 MPH MAKING A TURN THE POWER STEERING INSTANTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING LOCKED UP. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN THE POWER STEERING WOULD RESET BUT WOULD STILL RANDOMLY LOCK UP. I CALLED CHEVROLET AND EXPLAINED WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND HOW THIS WAS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AT HIGH SPEEDS MY WIFE COULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. CHEVROLET INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS FAILURE. THEY ALSO STATED THEY WOULD NOT HELP WITH THE $1081.31 DOLLAR REPAIR BILL FOR A NEW STEERING COLUMN MODULE. AS OF MAR 31, 2014 CHEVROLET HAS POSTED A RECALL FOR THE SUDDEN LOSS OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERING IN THE 2006 MALIBU MAXX. AFTER CALLING CHEVROLET TO INFORM THEM I WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS NEW PART TO FIX THE ISSUE THEY INFORMED ME MY 2006 MALIBU MAXX WAS NOT WITHIN THE VIN NUMBERS AFFECTED. THIS IS TERRIBLE IF CHEVROLET KNOWS THIS PROBLEM EXISTS BUT IS WAITING FOR MORE COMPLAINTS OR DEATHS I GUESS. NOW I'M JUST WAITING AND HOPING MY PREGNANT WIFE IS NOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT FROM SUDDEN LOSS OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. *JS

RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS OR ACCELERATING THE BATTERY LIGHT WILL FLICKER ON AND OFF ON THE DASHBOARD. THIS TIME WHILE ACCELERATING ON A ENTRANCE RAMP TO THE HIGHWAY THE BATTERY LIGHT ALONG WITH ALL THE IDIOT LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD FLASHED AND I TEMPORARILY LOST POWER STEERING. THIS HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN A PERIOD OF TWO MINUTES. NORMALLY WHENEVER THE BATTERY LIGHTS OR OTHER IDIOT LIGHTS FLICKER A CHIME IS HEARD. THIS IS KIND OF SCARY SINCE IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND TENDS TO HAPPEN AT HIGHER SPEEDS. *TR

I SEE THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL FOR CHEVY MALIBU 2004-2007 ON FUEL PUMPS WITH A PART NUMBER OF TU456. MY FUEL PUMP HAS NOT BEEN WORKING CORRECTLY, AND I AM NOT SURE IF THIS WAS PART OF THE RECALL OR NOT. I AM HOPING THIS IS ONE OF THE VEHICLES THAT WAS IN THE RECALL, SO NOTHING HAPPENS TO ME OR MY FAMILY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. IF SO I WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO FIX THIS AS IN CHEVY FIXING THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *TR

2006 MALIBU LT POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILS THEN RESUMES INTERMITTENTLY. MECHANIC'S DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER CANNOT COMMUNICATE WITH VEHICLE COMPUTER DURING FAILURE, RESUMES COMMUNICATION WHEN ASSIST RESUMES. CANNOT DETECT FAULTY SWITCHES, WIRING, FUSES. NO RECALL NOTICES OR SERVICE BULLETINS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 7 MPH AND UNEXPECTEDLY THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WITH AN ILLUMINATION OF THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR. IN ADDITION, A CHIME SOUNDED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DROVE INTO A PARKING SPACE AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. UPON RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY. THE IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURRED THREE DIFFERENT TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE STEERING MALFUNCTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING, THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD DISPLAY AN INACCURATE READING. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 02/11/14*LJ

INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING THAT OCCURS UNDER TWO DIFFERENT SCENARIOS. UPON HARD ACCELERATION (AS WHEN ENTERING A HIGHWAY), STEERING WILL PERIODICALLY LOCK-UP WITH A SERIES OF 4 CHIMES COMING FROM THE INFORMATION DISPLAY PANEL ON THE DASHBOARD. POWER STEERING ASSIST RETURNS UPON DECELERATION. ALSO, I'VE HAVE HAD SEVERAL INSTANCES OF POWER STEERING LOSS WHEN BACKING UP IN COLDER WINTER TEMPERATURES. POWER ASSIST RETURNS AFTER TURNING OFF AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO RECREATE EITHER SCENARIO AS IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THIS DEFECT NOR HAS IT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BUT LET'S NOT WAIT FOR ONE. IT'S QUITE OBVIOUS FROM THOUSANDS OF INTERNET POSTS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT GM REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE. AN NHSTA RECALL WOULD BE NICE. SECONDLY, THE VEHICLE HAS HAD NUMEROUS REPAIRS TO FRONT SUSPENSION, STEERING AND BRAKE COMPONENTS THAT SHOULD NOT FAIL WITHIN THE FIRST THE 60K MILES OF OWNERSHIP (SOME WERE REPLACED WITH LESS THAN 35K). COMPONENTS REPLACED INCLUDE; STRUT TOWER ASSEMBLY, BOTH TIE RODS (INNER AND OUTER), STEERING COLUMN, RIGHT REAR CALIPER (SNAPPED PARKING BRAKE CABLE), ALL FOUR BRAKE ROTORS REPLACED. FOR THE FOLKS WHO SPENT THEIR HARD EARNED MONEY ON THIER MALIBU MAXX AND ARE READING THIS ONLINE, PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO POST YOUR STORIES. GM SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR INACTION AND REFUSAL TO ACKNOWLEDGE SERIOUS STEERING RELATED DEFECTS. IT WON'T HAPPEN UNTIL THE NHTSA RECEIVES ENOUGH COMPLAINTS TO FORCE A RECALL. *TR

I PURCHASED MY 2006 MALIBU IN 2007. SINCE THE TIME OF PURCHASE I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR'S STEERING COLUMN. IT WOULD MAKE A CLUNKING SOUND EVERY TIME I WOULD MAKE A TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. I KNEW SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER ONCE AND THEY REPLACED SOMETHING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. I STILL HEAR THE CLUNKING NOISE TODAY. WHEN I TURNED THE KEY TO START THE CAR AT TIMES IT SEEMED LIKE THE CAR WAS CRANKING AND RUNNING ON ITS OWN. HARD TO EXPLAIN IT UNLESS YOU WERE STARTING THE CAR. THAT WAS AN ISSUE AS WELL. NOW THIS 2006 MALIBU WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVE WAY AFTER GOING TO THE STORE AND THE NEXT DAY WHEN I TRIED TO START IT IT WOULD NOT START. I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE BATTERY AND HAD THAT CHECKED OUT. NOT THE BATTERY, THEN I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE SHOP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND NOW I AM TOLD THAT THE ROCKER ARM BROKE AND IN TURN IT BENT THE RODS AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE IS NOW CEASED AND DAMAGED. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND UNEXPECTEDLY THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WITH A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THERE WAS ALSO AN ILLUMINATION OF THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. UPON RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THIRTY TIMES AND EVENTUALLY BECAME A PERMANENT MALFUNCTION WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF MAKING STEERING EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE PEDAL POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU LT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITH A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND UPON RESTART, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE POWER STEERING FAILURE ECURRED TWELVE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED TO THE LEFT IT LOCKED. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE IN THE POWER STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 85,000. UPDATED 12/12/11*LJ UPDATED 12/23/11

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE CHANGING LANES ON A SMOOTH ROAD SURFACE, THE VEHICLE FELT LIKE IT WAS DRIVING OVER A GROOVE. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO SEIZED AND THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS, NEARLY CAUSING A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY STATED THE IGNITION COIL ASSEMBLY AND THE GROUND STRAP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 121,000. UPDATED 08/24/11 *BF UPDATED 04/09/12 UPDATED 05/03/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED; HOWEVER, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE STEERING WHEEL FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED DURING THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY LOOSE UPON ENGAGING IT. DURING A LEFT AND RIGHT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL EXHIBITED A TIGHTNESS AND WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE POWER STEERING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED A SECOND TIME. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V153000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN PARK, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILED TO BUCKLE AND THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE ABOUT WHAT PART NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONE YEAR LATER, THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO BUCKLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BACK TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE ABOUT WHAT PART NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 4/21/15*CN UPDATED 9/29/2017*CN

WE WERE DRIVING THE CAR ON A TWISTING HIGHWAY IN RURAL MONTANA WHEN THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILED. WITH NO ASSIST WE ALMOST MISSED A CORNER. THE STEERING WHEEL REQUIRED EXTREME PRESSURE TO COMPLETE THE TURN. THE POWER STEERING RETURNED AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING. IF THE POWER STEERING RETURNED DURING THE TIME A LOT OF PULLING PRESSURE WAS BEING APPLIED TO THE STEERING WHEEL WE MAY HAVE GONE ACROSS THE CENTER LINE AND IMPACTED THE FRONT OF A KENWORTH TRUCK. IF AFTER A HEAD ON ACCIDENT THE POWER STEERING MAY AGAIN BE WORKING IF CHECKED. THIS IS A FEARFUL SITUATION.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH MAKING A TURN, AN ABNORMAL SOUND EMITTED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE U-JOINT AT THE STEERING BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN EXHIBITING A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND WHEN TURNING OR DRIVING OVER ANY ROAD BUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYDRAULIC ASSIST POWER FOR THE STEERING SHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE TOP REAR OF THE FUEL TANK AND WAS EMITTING A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE BOTH IN AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE FAILURE OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE THE STEERING FAILED MAKING THE STEERING WHEEL DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF FOR A SHORT TIME AND THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILES WERE 86,011.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT NOTICED A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE TURNS. ALSO, THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,242 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY EXPERIENCED A FAILURE IN WHICH IT WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO WAIT A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD SUCCESSFULLY START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED YET THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK FOR ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

2006 CHEVY MALIBU - POWER STEERING DISPLAYS ON SCREEN - THEN I LOSE THE POWER STEERING, IF I TURN THE CAR OFF IT WILL DISAPPEAR AND POWER STEERING RESUMES. THIS HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY A DOZEN TIMES OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS. DOES CHEVY HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS. I HAVE SEARCHED AND CAN'T FIND ANY AND I HAVE FOUND THAT OTHERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. VERY UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU LTZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE AND JERK VIOLENTLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MOVE IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION SHE WAS DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO ADVISED HER THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED HER THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST MOTOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 94,500.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN SHE STOPPED WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER TURNED ON. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON. THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL UPON RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

PURCHASED A USED MALIBU 2 YEARS AGO. MY CAR IS A 2006 MODEL AND NOW HAS OVER 120,000 MILES ON IT. MY CAR STARTED HAVING START- UP PROBLEMS. SOME DAYS I WOULD GO AND TRY TO START MY CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START UP. THIS WENT ON OFF AND ON FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS. FINALLY I TOOK THE CAR TO A SHOP TO HAVE CHECKED. RIGHT AWAY I WAS TOLD THE CAR NEEDED A NEW FUEL PUMP. THE FUEL PUMP WAS CHANGED. ABOUT A WEEK LATER, I PICKED UP MY CAR FROM THE SHOP, I WENT TO THE MARKET AND WHEN I CAME OUT OF THE STORE, THE CAR WOULD NOT START UP. I CALLED THE SHOP BACK AND HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED RIGHT BACK TO THE SAME SHOP. THIS CAR EVENTUALLY ENDED UP AT THE SAME MECHANIC SHOP THREE TIMES, BEFORE I FINALLY DECIDED EITHER THE SHOP WAS NOT AWARE OF THE (RIGHT PROBLEM) AND CHANGED A FUEL PUMP THAT WAS NOT NECESSARY OR I NEEDED TO FIND A MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE MECHANIC SHOP. AFTER TAKING MY CAR TO ANOTHER CERTIFIED SHOP, I WAS TOLD THE MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS LATER I AM STILL STUCK WITH A VEHICLE THAT WILL NOT START UP EVERYDAY. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. AFTER ADDING FUEL TO THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAY BEGAN TO FLUCTUATE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL GAUGE READING DID NOT PROVIDE AN ACCURATE READING ON THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITH AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. AFTER WAITING A FEW MOMENTS THE ENGINE RESTARTED AND THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE INTERMITTENT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,500.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WOULD LOSE POWER STEERING MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS NORMAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,700.

I BEGAN TO HEAR THUMPING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END. AFTER BRINING IT TO THE AUTO REPAIR FACILITY THEY INFORMED ME THE "RACK IN PINION" UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 66,000 MILES ON IT. THE REPAIR FACILITY INFORMED ME THE COST WILL BE $1200.00. AFTER READING ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET IT APPEARS TO BE COMMON PLACE AND DANGEROUS. I HAVE NOT YET CORRECTED THE PROBLEM AS I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO REPAIR IT. *TR

WHEN MAKING TURNS, WHETHER LEFT OR RIGHT, THE POWER STEERING IN THIS CAR FAILS. LUCKILY I AM ONE OF THE FORTUNATE ONES (SO FAR) THAT IT GOES OUT AT LOWER RATES OF SPEED. A COUPLE OF TIMES, I BARELY MADE IT INTO THE PARKING LOT AND AVOIDED HITTING ANY CARS WHILE MAKING THAT TURN. THE THING THAT I FEAR IS THAT WHEN IT STARTS TO SNOW OR IF I HAVE TO MAKE SOME EVASIVE MOVES TO AVOID OBJECTS, THE POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT AND I WILL BE UNABLE TO CORRECT IT. *TR

I OWN A 2006 CHEVY MALIBU AND RECENTLY MY POWER STEERING WARNING HAS BEEN DISPLAYED ON MY RADIO PANEL EVERY TIME I START THE CAR. TODAY WHILE MAKING A TURN THE WARNING CAME ON AGAIN AND CHIMED. AFTER DOING SOME VERY INTENSIVE RESEARCH I'VE NOTICED THIS IS A VERY COMMON AND SERIOUS ISSUE. I AM VERY UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING THE CAR IN FEARS THAT ONE TIME IT WILL COMPLETELY LOCK UP. GM REALLY NEEDS TO RECALL AND FIX THIS ISSUE BEFORE THERE ARE DEATHS CAUSED DUE TO THE FAULT OF THE MAKERS. I HAVEN'T TAKING IT TO A GARAGE YET AS I CAN NOT AFFORD $800 PLUS IN REPAIRS. *TR

2006 CHEV MALIBU POWER STEERING LOCKED UP. *TR

LOSS OF POWER STEERING ON START UP. NEVER MAKE IT TO RECOVER, ALTHOUGH A LOT OF OTHER DRIVERS SAID THAT TURNING ENGINE OFF AND ON WOULD AT LEAST TEMPORARY SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED "POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE INTERNAL FAILURE" ($700 DOLLARS REPAIR COST).

POWER STEERING PERIODICALLY GOES OUT. FIRST TIME, WHEN IT WAS VERY COLD OUT A FEW MONTHS AGO. THE LAST TIME (ON SUNDAY) WAS GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT +70 MPH SPEED. WORK HAS NOT BEEN DONE SINCE THE STEERING COLUMN PART IS $359 PLUS 2 HOURS LABOR AND IF THAT DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM THE ASSIST MOTOR WILL NEED BE REPLACED AT $450 PLUS LABOR. I DID TAKE IT THE LOCAL DEALER REPAIR SHOP AND THEY PUT IT ON THE COMPUTER SINCE AFTER I TURN MY CAR OFF RESETS ITSELF. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE ON THE INTERSTATE SINCE IT MAY GO OFF AGAIN. THIS PROBLEM IS A MAJOR COMPLAINT WITH OWNERS OF THIS CAR. *TR