2006 Chevrolet Malibu Complaint Log

POWER STEERING CUT OUT AT RANDOM TIMES. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. IT CURRENTLY WILL SHUT DOWN THE POWER STEERING AND REDUCE ENGINE POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THIS IS A UNSAFE CONDITION AND I HAVE READ ABOUT ALOT OF THESE INCIDENTS ON THE WEB THAT RESULTS IN THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN TO BE REPLACED. *TR

2006 MALIBU POWER STEERING TROUBLE LIGHT CAME, DEALER DIAGNOSED AS SENSOR IN STEERING COLUMN. WAS TOLD STEERING COULD GO OUT IF SENSOR FAILS . FOUND OUT THERE ARE NUMEROUS MALIBU INVOLVED. *TR

STEERING. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILURE. LOCKS UP, WILL NOT UNLOCK, STEERING COLUMN DEFECT, MULTIPLE OCCURANCES, LAST SIX MONTHS. *TR

2006 CHEVY MALIBU FAILURE OF RACK AND PINION, STEERING FAILURE REPLACED 3 TIMES STILL DEFECTIVE. *TR

MY 2006 MALIBU MAXX LOSES POWER STEERING RANDOMLY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE WHEEL TIGHTENS, IS IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER, THE WARNING BELL SOUNDS AND THE PHRASE "POWER STEERING" FLASHES ON THE DISPLAY. CAR MUST BE STOPPED AND TURNED OFF REPEATEDLY SOMETIMES TO RESET. CAR HAS DONE THIS IN TRAFFIC, ON HIGHWAYS AND FREEWAYS, AND IN PARKING LOTS. THE FAILURE OCCURS RANDOMLY AND AT RANDOM DRIVING SPEEDS. THE REPLACEMENT COST IS OVER $1000 AT THE DEALERSHIP. CHEVY CLAIMS THE PROBLEM CAN ONLY BE CORRECTED BY REPLACEMENT PARTS THAT CAN ONLY BE ISSUED AND INSTALLED AT A CHEVY DEALERSHIP. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED SINCE THE CAR REACHED 40,000 MILES. AFTER THE CORRESPONDING RECALL OF CHEVY COBALTS AND PONTIAC PURSUITS, I EXPECTED THE RECALL TO EVENTUALLY COVER MALIBU MAXX. *TR

THE POWER STEERING IN MY 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE SENSOR COMES ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS VERY DIFFICULT TO MOVE. SO FAR IT HAS OCCURRED SPORADICALLY BEGINNING BACK ABOUT SEPT 30, THAT SAT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THEY COULD LOOK AT WHAT WAS HAPPENING, I WAS TOLD THEY COULD DO NOTHING WITHOUT THAT SENSOR ON. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THEN BUT AS THE FOLLOWING STATES I HAVE KIND OF FIGURED OUT HOW TO WAIT AND THEN KEEP ON GOING. SO I FINALLY FIGURED OUT IF I STARTED THE CAR AND THE SENSOR APPEARED, I WOULD TURN OFF THE CAR-WAIT ABOUT 5MIN, THEN RESTART THE CAR & NO SENSOR APPEARANCE. IT HAPPENED ONCE MORE WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO SAN ANTONIO, FRIDAY NIGHT, OCT 30 - I HAD BEEN ON THE ROAD ABOUT AN HOUR OR SO AND THE SENSOR JUST POPPED ON (IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN B/C I HAD THE CD PLAYER, THE A/C, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL ON) ANYWAY THANK GOODNESS THERE WERE NO MAJOR TURNS SO I DROVE THE CAR WITH IT ON FOR ABOUT 1MORE HR BEFORE PULLING INTO A REST STOP. THEN IT RESET ITSELF AGAIN. NOW THESE LAST 3 MORNINGS (MAYBE BECAUSE IT IS COLD) I HAVE STARTED THE CAR AND THE WARNING POWER STEERING APPEARS, I TURN OFF THE CAR, WAIT THE 5MIN AND RESTART THE CAR, IT DOESN'T APPEAR BUT AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 2-3MIN, IT WILL APPEAR AND I AM USUALLY IN AM TRAFFIC AND NEED TO TURN AT 2 LIGHTS & THANK GOODNESS THE TURN SPACE IS GREAT OR I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PROCEED. I GET TO WORK AND HAVE TO PARK ACROSS FROM WHERE I NORMALLY DO BECAUSE I AM UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL INTO MY SPACE. SINCE I WAS UNABLE TO TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP AS THEY ARE UNABLE TO CHARGE ME THE $100 DIAGNOSIS FEE W/O THE SENSOR BEING ON. I CALLED CHEVROLET. COM AND THEY HAVE CONNECTED ME WITH JUPITER CHEVROLET AND NOW I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO SHOW UP AT THE DEALERSHIP IN THE MORNING AND HOPEFULLY THE SENSOR WILL TURN ON AS I GET TO THE DEALERSHIP SO I WILL NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM OF TURNING FROM TRAFFIC INTO THE CURVED DRIVEWAY (WHICH ALSO HAS ABOUT 4 TURNS BEFORE EVEN ARRIVING. WISH ME LUCK! *TR

ODI NUMBER) IS: 10285336 INCREASING ENGINE RPM ABOVE 2500 RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. . . . UNTIL THE NEXT TIME IT IS TRIGGERED BY WHAT EVER THE CAUSE IS. *TR

TODAY 21 SEPTEMBER 2009, THE ELECTRONIC ASSIST POWER STEERING ON OUR 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU STOPPED FUNCTIONING, RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE AGGRESSIVELY PULLING TO THE LEFT. THE RESULT OF THIS FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEED MAKES THIS VEHICLE UNSAFE FOR PASSENGERS AND FOR OTHER VEHICLES ADJACENT TO THE CAR. ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT THIS FAILURE BY RESETTING THE ECU HAVE FAILED, AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO PULL AGGRESSIVELY TO THE LEFT EVEN WHILE STATIONARY. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY MALIBU THAT HAS A SYSTEM ERROR "LOW STEERING FLUID". THE KICKER IS THE CAR DOESN'T TAKE FLUID. I CALL THE DEALER AND THEY STATE THERE IS A DISCUSSION OF RECALL FOR THE ELECTRONIC STEERING BUT NOTHING YET. READING ON LINE THIS APPEARS TO POTENTIALLY BE A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM. IS THIS CAR AT RISK TO DRIVE IF I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX THIS PROBLEM RIGHT NOW? *TR

THE POWER STEERING FAILED DURING A TURN AND CAUGHT ME BY SURPRISE. THIS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HIT ANOTHER CAR IN THE TURN BECAUSE THE STEERING GOT REALLY HARD TO TURN. *TR

ELECTRIC POWER STEERING IN THE 2006 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX IS DEFECTIVE. IT GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE READ ON SEVERAL BLOG AND COMMUNITY WEBSITES THAT SEVERAL OTHERS THAT OWN 2006 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE COMPANY SHOULD RECALL THIS AT ONCE AND FIX ALL IMPACTED VEHICLES BEFORE SOMEONE DIES. *TR

WE HAVE A STEERING PROBLEM. THE CAR NOW HAS 19,636 MILES ON IT. EARLIER THIS YEAR WHILE I WAS COMING HOME FROM WORK THE STEERING LOCKED UP ON IT. I MANAGED TO GET OFF THE ROAD. BUT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. A POWER STEERING WARNING MESSAGE CAME ON. LAST WEEK THE SAME THING HAPPENED BUT THIS TIME I WAS STILL ON THE PARKING LOT. WHEN YOU TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART, THE STEERING WILL BE OK BUT I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT'LL LOCK UP AGAIN. IT MAKES ME SCARED TO DRIVE IT. MY HUSBAND TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT NOTHING SHOWED UP WHEN IT WAS TESTED. I CONTACTED GM WITH THE PROBLEM. IT'S AWFUL TO HAVE A NICE CAR AND TO BE AFRAID YOU'LL HAVE AN ACCIDENT WHEN YOU DRIVE IT. *TR

POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ON DIC, EPS MOTOR FAILURE. THE STEERING WILL LOCK UP WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. TYPICALLY, WORSE IN HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VERY DANGEROUS! THE VEHICLE IS 3 YEARS OLD AND HAS BEEN REPLACE 14 MONTHS AGO. NOW, NEEDS THE EPS MOTOR REPLACED AGAIN. SCREAMS OF PRODUCT FLAW/DEFEAT TO ME. CHEVY SHOULD DO SOMETHING BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. *TR

ELECTRIC POWER STEERING LOCKS UP AT ANY SPEED. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILURE ON CHEVY MALIBU 2006 GM. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ALMOST ALWAYS POPS UP ON THE DASHBOARD. IT WAS MOST WORST WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED ON ME ON A 70 MPH HIGHWAY AND I WAS GOING ABOUT 65. THIS PUT MY FAMILY'S LIFE IN DANGER AND MINE, BUT WERE ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. BY PUTTING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND RESTARTING THE CAR. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILURE IN A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN AT LOW SPEED. SAME PROBLEM WAS RECALLED IN 2004 MALIBU'S BUT NO RECALL ON 2006. WHEN POWER STEERING GOES OUT, CAR HAS TO BE MANUALLY TURNED UNTIL YOU CAN TURN CAR OFF AND RESTART SO POWER STEERING WILL BE ACTIVATED AGAIN. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN YOU ARE IN TRAFFIC AND HAVE TO STOP AND START CAR AGAIN. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT 60MPH ON THE FREEWAY CAR STEERING JERKED AND THEN LOCKED UP. THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING AT ALL AND NO WHERE TO PULL OVER. IT HAS SINCE HAPPENED ABOUT 20 TIMES AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. *TR

POWER STEERING INDICATOR KEEPS COMING ON WHILE DRIVING. TYPICALLY HAPPENS EVERYTIME I GET IN THE CAR TO DRIVE IT. *TR

THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON MY 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU LTZ SOMETIMES WORK THE OPPOSITE FROM HOW THEY SHOULD (I.E. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED THE BRAKE LIGHTS GO OUT, WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED THE BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON). THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT; SOMETIMES THE BRAKE LIGHTS WORK NORMALLY. THE ISSUE WAS FIRST NOTICED ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A BRAKE LIGHT INDICATOR SWITCH SO THEY REPLACED IT. THE PROBLEM REAPPEARED WITHIN A MONTH. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL IS AFFECTED BY WHATEVER IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. WHEN THE BRAKE LIGHTS WORK NORMALLY, THE CRUISE CONTROL ALSO WORKS. WHEN THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE OPPOSITE FROM NORMAL THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT WORK. *TR

THE FUEL GAUGE ERRATICALLY JUMPS FROM FULL TO EMPTY AND BACK TO FULL. IT DOES NOT PROPERLY DISPLAY THE FUEL LEVEL. IT IS ALSO CAUSING AN ISSUE WITH EMISSIONS AND THE ENGINE LIGHT. THIS HAS CONTINUED FOR OVER A YEAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY VEERED TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP WHILE DRIVING - HAPPENS AT RANDOM - AT ALL DIFFERENT TIMES. DEALER ACTED LIKE IT WAS NO BIG DEAL AND OF COURSE THEY WANT ME TO PAY FOR IT WHEN I HAVE NOW FOUND OUT THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IT IS DANGEROUS, AND IT COULD CAUSE FATALITY. SOME KIND OF NEW STEERING SYSTEM - GM BETTER IDEA - PROBABLY BECAUSE IT IS CHEAPER!!! *TR

2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU DISPLAYED "POWER STEERING" ON INFORMATION SCREEN WHILE DRIVING. OTHER TIMES, ALL THE DASH DISPLAYS GO DARK FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. SOMETIMES THE DASH DISPLAYS TAKE SEVERAL SECONDS TO "LIGHT UP" ON STARTING THE CAR. DEALER FOUND NO "CODES" TO INDICATE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. DEALER SPECULATES THERE IS AN INTERNAL SHORT IN STEERING MOTOR. *TR

THE MASTER WINDOW CONTROL ON DRIVERS DOOR DOES NOT WORK. THE FOUR BUTTONS WILL NOT LOWER THE WINDOWS. THE INDIVIDUAL WINDOW CONTROLS WORK ON THEIR RESPECTIVE DOORS. I CAN NOT LOWER OR RAISE THE WINDOWS FROM THE MASTER CONTROL ON DRIVERS DOOR. HASN'T BEEN FIXED YET. *TR

2006 MALIBU POWER STEERING STOP WORKING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THERE ARE TONS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND EVEN A RECALL ON 2005 FOR THE SAME THING. THIS PROBLEM MAKES THE CAR UNSAFE. THE DEALER THINKS THEY CAN FIX IT FOR ABOUT $1000.00 DOLLARS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OFF BY GM. I AM AFRAID TO LET MY WIFE DRIVE IT. EVERY OTHER DAY THE '!@#$% THING QUITS WORKING. *TR

I JUST FOUND OUT LAST NIGHT THAT MY 2006 CHEVY MALIBU LTZ BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE WITHOUT PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WHEN I DO PRESS THE PEDAL IT GOES OUT. THIS WOULD CAUSE ANYONE FOLLOWING MY VEHICLE NOT TO SEE THAT I AM BRAKING AND COULD CAUSE A CRASH. ALSO MY CRUISE CONTROL AND MY CIGARETTE LIGHTER WENT OUT. I AM NOT SURE IF THEY ARE ALL CONNECTED SOMEHOW BUT THE BRAKES ARE DEFINITELY A CONCERN. I WILL SAY THAT MY CAR DOES HAVE A SALVAGED TITLE BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WOULD CAUSE THE SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR 4 MONTHS AND THEY HAVE WORKED UNTIL NOW. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO GET IT FIXED AND AM NOT DRIVING IT TILL THAN. *TR

I OWN A 2006 MALIBU WITH THE IDENTICAL STEERING PROBLEM THAT THE COBALT IS BEING RECALLED FOR. I HAVE CALLED CHEVROLET FOR MONTHS, AND HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TOLD THERE WAS NO ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRONIC MOTORS. WHY ISN'T THE MALIBU INCLUDED IN ON THIS RECALL? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. SHE HAD TO USE EXTREME UPPER BODY FORCE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR, SHE WOULD SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE FOR AT LEAST TWENTY MINUTES AND THE POWER STEERING WOULD RESET ITSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 95,565.

STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP WHILE DRIVING P.S ITS NOT THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENS. *TR

THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2006 CHEVY MALIBU LT 2.2L CUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE STEERING WHEEL HAS A TICK AND MAKES A GRINDING NOISE. WHEN IT FIRST STARTED, IT ONLY OCCURRED OCCASIONALLY. NOW IT HAPPENS WHEN I START MY CAR, IDLING, AND WHILE I'M DRIVING. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT MANY OTHER MALIBU OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THANKFULLY, THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY CRASHES BUT MANY CLOSE CALLS. *TR

THE 2006 CHEVY MALIBU, THAT I OWN, HAS STEERING PROBLEMS WHERE THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING GOES OFF MAKING THE CAR VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. IT HAS DONE THIS 8 TO 10 TIMES THE LAST FEW MONTHS. IT THEN RESETS ITSELF, SO I HEAR. LUCKILY, SO FAR, IT HAS HAPPENED ONLY AT LOW SPEEDS. THIS CAR STARTED HAVING THIS PROBLEM AT AROUND 50,000 MILES. IF THIS HAPPENED AT HIGH SPEEDS, ACCIDENTS/DEATHS COULD CERTAINLY OCCUR. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND SEE THAT MANY MALIBU OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME INCIDENCE WITH THE STEERING. MY STEERING IS ALSO MAKING A THUMPING NOISE AT LOW SPEED TURNS. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED. THEY SAID IT WOULD COST $1400 TO FIX THE STEERING PROBLEM. I FEEL GM SHOULD RECALL THESE VEHICLES FOR SAFETY REASONS. THE WHOLE STEERING SYSTEM IN THESE VEHICLES ARE A DISASTER AND THESE CARS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY HURT. GM NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND THEIR VEHICLES, ESPECIALLY IN REGARDS TO SAFETY. *TR

WHILE DRIVING, I ACCELERATED AND TURNED RIGHT TO SWITCH LANES, IT WAS FAIRLY HARD ACCELERATION. SUDDENLY DURING THE ACCELERATION I LOST THE POWER STEERING ASSIST, IT ALMOST FELT LIKE THE STEERING LOCKED UP AND FOUGHT MY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. AFTER I LET UP ON THE ACCELERATOR THE POWER ASSIST RETURNED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED, THE FIRST TIME IN JUNE 2009. AT THAT TIME A WARNING CHIME WENT OFF AND A POWER STEERING WARNING FLASHED BRIEFLY ON THE DIC DISPLAY. *TR

THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AND DOESN'T UNLOCK UNTIL I LET OFF THE GAS PEDAL. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WHEN I TRY AND PASS OTHER CARS IT WILL LOCK UP. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT ITS THE POWER ASSIST UNIT GETTING TOO HOT AND SHUTS OFF SO IT DOES NOT FRY THE MOTOR OF THE UNIT. I FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AS IT WILL LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. *JS

2006 CHEVY MALIBU 3500 3.5 L V6 POWER STEERING GOES OUT. MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP. ALMOST HIT A CAR IN THE OTHER LANE. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 MALIBU WHICH WE PURCHASED LAST MAY WITH 50K MILES. THE CAR ORIGINALLY STARTED MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER WE BOUGHT IT. THAT I CAN LIVE WITH BUT NOW WE HAVE POWER STEERING PROBLEMS. THE POWER STEERING COMES & GOES & THE STEERING WHEEL STARTS VIBRATING & TURNING ALL ON ITS OWN. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE SHOP & DISCOVERED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS REPLACED. AFTER RESEARCHING THE LAST FEW MONTHS ON THE NET I'VE SEEN THAT THIS PROBLEM IS HUGE IN ALL MALIBU'S 2004 - 2008 MODELS. I FIND A GM PARTS BULLETIN IN WHICH YOU CAN GET THESE PARTS REPLACED AT GM'S COST FOR A 2005 WITH THE SAME PROBLEM BUT NOTHING FOR A 2006. I FEEL LIKE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE IT CAN BE LIFE THREATENING. THE CAR GIVES YOU NO WARNING OF A PROBLEM, THE STEERING WHEEL JUST STARTS GOING CRAZY. SPECIAL BULLETIN IN REFERENCE TO THE 2005 MODEL IS #07126. HOW CAN GM JUSTIFY ONLY REPLACING 2005 MODELS WHEN ALL SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME DEFECT. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS A PARTS BULLETIN & IF I'M JUST OVER LOOKING IT. *TR THANKS RHONDA BARNES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES LIGHTS WOULD REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE NOT BEING DEPRESSED. THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD SHUT OFF WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09E012000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING).THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP TIGHT .. CANNOT USE HAVE TO PULL OFF ROAD WHEREVER I'M AT...2006 CHEVY MALIBU...WAS LOOKING ONLINE AND IT IS VERY COMMON WITH THE MAKE... WILL GM WAIT UNTIL PEOPLE DIE BEFORE THEY GO GOOD WITH THIS PROBLEM? THEY ARE AWARE AND DON'T SEEM TO CARE...THIS YEAR AND MODEL SHOULD HAVE RECALL ON THE STEERING COLUMN....VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING, WHEN YOU ACCELERATE, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AND YOU CAN'T STEER THE CAR, LOSING ALL CONTROL. IT LOCKS UP FOR A SECOND OR TWO. THIS CAR WAS RECALLED FOR THE STEERING AND MANY OTHER ISSUES, AND WE TOOK IT IN TO BUNNIN CHEVROLET IN CULVER CITY, CA FOR THE REPAIRS. THEY REPAIRED IT UNDER THE RECALL, BUT IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE STEERING STILL LOCKS UP AND IT WILL DO IT MULTIPLE TIMES IN ONE DRIVING SESSION.

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

I WAS DRIVING (WITH MY DAUGHTER IN THE CAR). I TURNED THE CORNER TO PULL INTO THE PARKING LOT AT MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. I COULD GET IT INTO THE GARAGE AND INTO A SPOT BUT ONLY WITH A GREAT DEAL OF EFFORT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. HE TOLD ME THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRIC STEERING SYSTEM AND THAT IT HAD TO BE REPLACED -- THE COST WOULD BE IN THE VICINITY OF $640 PLUS. I TOOK THE CAR TO A GM DEALER TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED. THEY CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS THE STEERING COLUMN AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR HAS APPROX. 52K MILES. I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS MODEL. I AM READING A GREAT DEAL ABOUT MANY OTHER INSTANCES SIMILAR TO MINE. I SEE THERE IS A BULLETIN ABOUT THE 2005 MODEL BUT NOT THE 2006. THIS IS AN EXTREME HAZARD. GM DO RIGHT BY THE PEOPLE TRYING TO SUPPORT AMERICAN CARS. PLEASE. *TR

THE POWER STEERING ON OUR 2006 CHEVY MALIBU LOCKS UP INTERMITTENTLY. JUST PURCHASED IT AS A USED VEHICLE TWO WEEKS AGO FOR OUR 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND IT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED TWICE. EACH TIME WE HAVE BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP. THE FIRST TIME THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG AND IT CHECKED OUT FINE. WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE THE CAR BACK A WEEK AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. IT IS A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD, ESPECIALLY FOR A NEW AND INEXPERIENCED DRIVER. IT IS IN THE SHOP NOW AND THEY SAY IT NEEDS A NEW STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM VIA INTERNET AND FOUND NUMEROUS SIMILAR STORIES. THERE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE WHO HAVE HIT GUARD RAILS AND OTHER VEHICLES BECAUSE OF THE STEERING LOCKING UP. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT DATE IS LISTED BELOW. *TR

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

WIFE, MOTHER-IN-LAW, AND TWO DAUGHTERS ON 400 MILE TRIP WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 70MPH ON INTERSTATE, THE CAR MAKES A SUDDEN AND VIOLENT LEFT TURN. MY WIFE PULLS HARD TO KEEP THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AND MANAGES TO KEEP CONTROL. AFTER DETERMINING THERE WAS NO FIX, THEY PROCEEDED HOME WITH CONSTANT PRESSURE ON THE WHEEL TO KEEP IT FROM TURNING LEFT. AT HOME I INSPECTED THE CAR. WHEN YOU START IT, THE WHEEL WILL TURN FULL LEFT ALL BY ITSELF. I CAN TURN IT RIGHT WITH ALOT OF EFFORT, BUT IF I LET GO OR SLIP, IT TURNS FULL LEFT. THERE IS NO LIGHTS, BELLS, WARNINGS OR ANYTHING. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, AND THEY SAID THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING COLUMN WAS WAY OUT OF CALIBRATION, AND I HAD THEM CALIBRATE IT. IT WORKED FOR 1 DAY AND NOT TURNS RIGHT. GM REFUSES TO ADMIT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT I DON'T SEE HOW IT CANNOT BE. THE OWNER IS A 65 YEAR OLD LADY ON SS AND CANNOT AFFORD THE $850 REPAIR BILL AND GM DOES NOT ADMIT ANY ISSUES. SHE CANNOT SAFELY DRIVE THE CAR WITHOUT IT TRYING TO TURN TO THE DITCH AT ANY MOMENT. RIGHT NOW IT IS CONSTANTLY TURNING TO THE RIGHT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL FORCED ITSELF TO DRIVE STRAIGHT AND BECAME UNRESPONSIVE WHILE MAKING TURNS. THE CONTACT SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND THE VEHICLE PERFORMED AS NORMAL UPON RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, WHERE THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILURE. CURRENTLY THE STEERING WHEEL CONSTANTLY TURNS TO THE LEFT. THIS HAPPENED WHILE ON A VACATION TO MS WITH MY WIFE, GRANDMOTHER, AND DAUGHTER WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE. LUCKILY IT HAPPENED WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND SHE WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. IF AT ANY TIME YOU LET GO OF THE WHEEL, IT WILL TURN YOUR SHARP LEFT. WHILE SETTING STILL, WHEN YOU LET GO OF THE WHEEL, IT WILL TURN COMPLETELY LEFT ALL BY ITSELF, SO YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL FOR THIS AS IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

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

2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX - 1ST INCIDENT WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT, THE WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN "POWER STEERING" FLASHED ON THE CONSOLE DISPLAY, PARKED THE CAR AND TURNED IT OFF AND ON, AND IT WAS WORKING FINE; ABOUT 12 TIMES SINCE MAY, I START THE CAR AND THE WHEEL WILL NOT TURN, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE "POWER STEERING" DISPLAY ON THE CENTER CONSOLE FLASHES, IT SOMETIMES TAKES ABOUT 10 TRIES, BUT IT EVENTUAL STARTS CORRECTLY; ABOUT 4 OF THE 12 INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN WHILE DRIVING, IT USUALLY HAPPENS ON TURNS, SWITCHING LANES, ALL AT RELATIVELY SLOW SPEEDS; IT HAS BEEN IN A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP FIVE TIMES WITH EXPENSIVE REPAIR BILLS (A SENSOR MODULE REPLACED/REPAIRED, STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED, SENSOR MODULES/SOLENOIDS REPLACED, A RELAY/SENSOR REPLACED IN THE COLUMN, LAST VISIT THERE WAS NO CODE, SO THE MECHANIC SAID HE COULD NOT DO ANYTHING AND TO WAIT UNTIL IT DOES IT AGAIN AND KEEP IT RUNNING AND THEY WOULD COME TOW IT, HOWEVER THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED, I WAS ON BUSINESS 2 HOURS AWAY AND IT WASN'T POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO DO IT) AND THE PROBLEMS CONTINUES AND APPEARS TO BE GETTING WORSE (MORE FREQUENT AND TAKES MORE RESTARTS TO WORK PROPERLY); EVEN MORE DISHEARTENING IS THAT THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED TO HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT I'VE FOUND MANY BLOGS WITH OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

2006 CHEVY MALIBU WITH DEFECTIVE TIRES. THE TIRES HAVE SPLITS AND CRACKS ON ALL FOUR TIRES. THE TIRES WERE MANUFACTURED BY CONTINENTAL. GM SAYS THIS IS NORMAL AND SAFE. ONLY 28K MILES. *TR