What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2006 Chevrolet Malibu

Typical pattern

1.8% of complaints about the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2006 vehicle — around the middle of the 250 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 8.3 yr in service. The most-reported system is steering (814 complaints), typically at 7.9 yr or about 85,000 miles.

Complaints
1,475
Median age at failure
8.3 yr
Median mileage
85,000 n=1165
Crash / fire / tow
5% of reports
Safety recalls
9

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Steering
814 reports · 85,000 mi
7.9 yr
3.6%
Electrical system
144 reports · 97,980 mi
8.6 yr
4.9%
Exterior lighting
64 reports · 72,759 mi
7.5 yr
1.6%
Fuel / propulsion
52 reports · 110,335 mi
9.5 yr
5.8%
Service brakes
50 reports · 84,000 mi
8.7 yr
8%
Power train
43 reports · 100,000 mi
8.8 yr
0%
Fuel system
42 reports · 80,000 mi
6.4 yr
4.8%
Speed control
35 reports · 101,499 mi
8.9 yr
5.7%
Air bags
33 reports · 114,690 mi
8.6 yr
48.5%
Engine
33 reports · 121,000 mi
9.3 yr
3%
Electronic stability control (esc)
29 reports · 107,100 mi
9.0 yr
0%
Engine cooling
26 reports · 68,000 mi
4.9 yr
0%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

15V064000 2015-02-04
Steering:electric power assist system

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.

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.

14E044000 2014-07-21
Steering

Dorman Products, Inc. (Dorman) is recalling certain replacement intermediate steering shafts sold under the Dorman, OE Solutions, and Solutions brand names, part numbers 425-167, 2425167, and 7-3074, for installation on 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6, and 2007-2009 Saturn Aura vehicles. The affected steering shafts may have a yoke that inadequately supports the u-joint bearing resulting in a premature failure.

A joint bearing that fails prematurely may cause separation of the u-joint resulting in a complete loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

14V252000 2014-05-14
Electrical system:wiring

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

Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.

14V224000 2014-04-30
Power train:automatic transmission

General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on April 29, 2014, that they are recalling 56,214 model year 2007 and 2008 Saturn Aura vehicles. On May 22, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 1,074,899 model year 2004-2008 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured from May 16, 2003, through October 5, 2007, model year 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured from June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, and model year 2005-2008 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured from May 26, 2004, through September 28, 2007, and equipped with 4-speed transmissions. The total number vehicles being r

If the transmission shift cable fractures while the vehicle is being driven, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash. Furthermore, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, despite selecting the ‘PARK’ position, the transmission may not be in ‘PARK.’ If the vehicle

14V153000 2014-03-31
Steering:electric power assist system

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2006 Malibu Maxx, 2009-2010 HHR (non-turbo), 2010 Cobalt, 2008-2009 Saturn Aura and 2004-2007 Ion, and 2005-2009 Pontiac G6. In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving.

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.

11E009000 2011-02-28
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

TI AUTOMOTIVE IS RECALLING CERTAIN FUEL PUMPS, PART NUMBERS TU456 AND TU303, SOLD UNDER VARIOUS BRAND NAMES AS AFTERMARKET AND REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE MOTOR VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP MAY SEIZE, STOPPING THE FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE CREATING A STALLING CONDITION.

A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR SHOULD THE ENGINE STALL WHILE IN USE.

09E012000 2009-04-07
Exterior lighting

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

06V417000 2006-10-31
Air bags:frontal

CERTAIN VEHICLES ORIGINALLY BUILT WITH CLOTH SEATS THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC AIR BAG PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM AND LATER REUPHOLSTERED WITH AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT COVER KITS ARE INVOLVED. TESTING HAS INDICATED THAT THE AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT COVERS CAN CAUSE THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION.

IF THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS, THE FRONT AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE MAY BE DISABLED WHEN IT SHOULD BE ENABLED, OR ENABLED WHEN IT SHOULD BE DISABLED. IN EITHER CASE, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THAT REQUIRES AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, A FRONT PASSENGER'S LEVEL OF INJURY MAY BE INCREASED.

05V486000 2005-10-19
Equipment:other:labels

CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THE TIRE LABEL TABLE SPECIFIED THE 15 INCH SPARE FOR THE FRONT DISC/REAR DRUM BRAKE SYSTEM AND IT SHOULD SPECIFY A 16 INCH SPARE TIRE SIZE.

A 15" DIAMETER REPLACEMENT SPARE TIRE CAN NOT BE INSTALLED ON THE FRONT AXLE DUE TO A FIT INTERFERENCE WITH THE BRAKE CALIPER.

In owners’ own words

Air bags 20,000 mi 2.0 yr in service crash / fire / tow
OUR 2006 MALIBU SS WAS INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT ON HWY..TRAVELING 60 MPH DRIVER OVERCORRECTION AND THE CAR WENT OFF THE ROAD, UP AN EMBANKMENT ROLLED 5 TIMES. EJECTED ONE OF THE OCCUPANTS BUT NEVER DID THE SIDE AIR CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOY. *TR
Air bags 17,000 mi 2.3 yr in service crash / fire / tow
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT 10 MPH, A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. ONLY THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS BEFORE THE AIR BAGS FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE IN THE PROCESS OF SENDING AN INVESTIGATOR TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 17,000.
Air bags 30,000 mi 2.7 yr in service crash / fire / tow
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 THE AIR BAGS FUNCTIONED AS DESIGNED. MAKES NO SENSE! PLEASE HELP! *TR
Other 2,500 mi 8 mo in service
PLASTIC CONSOLE EXTENDS FORWARD ALONG TRANSMISSION HUMP AND ENDS JUST AFT OF ACCELERATOR. WITH ACCELERATOR DEPRESSED, MY FOOT BECAME TRAPPED BETWEEN CONSOLE TRIM AND PEDAL. *JB

Other Malibu model years

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