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U.S. public vehicle records

2006 Chevrolet MALIBU problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

1,115 owner complaints analyzed

6 distinct recall campaigns

85,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 911 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 788 of 1,115 complaints (70.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior81072.6%
Braking behavior13712.3%
Electrical and battery issues807.2%
Engine operation746.6%
Fuel system concerns413.7%
Transmission and shifting322.9%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Steering
788
Electrical System
132
Fuel/Propulsion System
52
Service Brakes
50
Exterior Lighting
46
Fuel System, Gasoline
40
Power Train
39
Engine
33
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Steering788
Electrical System132
Fuel/Propulsion System52
Service Brakes50
Exterior Lighting46
Fuel System, Gasoline40
Power Train39
Engine33

Steering: 788; Electrical System: 132; Fuel/Propulsion System: 52; Service Brakes: 50; Exterior Lighting: 46; Fuel System, Gasoline: 40; Power Train: 39; Engine: 33

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
65
25,000 to 49,999
119
50,000 to 74,999
188
75,000 to 99,999
174
100,000 to 149,999
229
150,000 and above
136
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00065
25,000 to 49,999119
50,000 to 74,999188
75,000 to 99,999174
100,000 to 149,999229
150,000 and above136

Under 25,000: 65; 25,000 to 49,999: 119; 50,000 to 74,999: 188; 75,000 to 99,999: 174; 100,000 to 149,999: 229; 150,000 and above: 136

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (229). 204 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2006
8
2007
20
2008
31
2009
67
2010
144
2011
101
2012
50
2013
69
2014
197
2015
110
2016
53
2017
51
2018
60
2019
38
2020
27
2021
19
2022
22
2023
21
2024
11
2025
12
2026
4
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20068
200720
200831
200967
2010144
2011101
201250
201369
2014197
2015110
201653
201751
201860
201938
202027
202119
202222
202321
202411
202512
20264

2006: 8; 2007: 20; 2008: 31; 2009: 67; 2010: 144; 2011: 101; 2012: 50; 2013: 69; 2014: 197; 2015: 110; 2016: 53; 2017: 51; 2018: 60; 2019: 38; 2020: 27; 2021: 19; 2022: 22; 2023: 21; 2024: 11; 2025: 12; 2026: 4

Pattern summary

Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 810 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 137 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 80 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10175464 · 2006-12-07 (December 7, 2006)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO CHATTER AT VARIOUS SPEEDS UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE PARKING BRAKE CABLES WERE REPLACED. THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, WHEN THE CONSUMER DROVE OVER BUMPS. THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE AC COMPRESSOR. UPDATED 01/10/07. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 3,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10175464 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10175619 · 2006-12-08 (December 8, 2006)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED TO THE LEFT AND LOCKED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT DID NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURE. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK AND NECK INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED.

Owner-reported narrative. 18,950 miles reported. Look up ODI 10175619 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10154610 · 2006-04-05 (April 5, 2006)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH A DEER RAN INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR BURSTING THE WINDOW GLASS AND COLLAPSING THE DOOR ONTO THE CONTACT. BRAKE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE SKIDDED INTO A BILLBOARD, THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY A CENTER WOODEN POLE SUPPORT FOR THE BILLBOARD. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED FORWARD MOTION AND STRUCK A TREE IN THE FRONT CENTER OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALTHOUGH THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, MINOR INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE POLICE WERE ON THE SCENE AND …

Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10154610 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10227025 · 2008-05-08 (May 8, 2008)

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; H…

Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10227025 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10266140 · 2009-04-20 (April 20, 2009)

I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT WHEN MY POWER STEERING FAILED AND I DID GET AN ERROR MESSAGE ON MY DISPLAY. THE DEALERS COMPUTER ONLY SAID "ELECTRICAL", BUT IT WAS NOT ASSOCIATE WITH ANY PART SO THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE POWER STEERING RETURNED AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10266140 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10246383 · 2008-10-22 (October 22, 2008)

2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU POWER STEERING ILLUMINATES ON DASH(RADIO) , 2005 MODELS WERE A RECALL AND IT KEEPS COMING ON AND SOMETIMES LOSE OF STEERING WHEN STARTED. IT HAS 43,000 MILES AND NOT ON WARRANTY BECAUSE STEERING COLUMN IS NOT COVERED , ITS A PROBLEM NATIONWIDE AS I RESEARCHED. I COULD POTENTIALLY BE DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING AROUND TURNS IF LOSS OF POWER. I BOUGHT IT USED BUT WAS FINE UNTIL 2 MONTHS AFTER. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 41,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10246383 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10310131 · 2010-02-13 (February 13, 2010)

LOSS OF POWER STEERING. HAPPENS ONCE A MONTH. NO PARTS REPAIRED YET. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10310131 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10235761 · 2008-07-25 (July 25, 2008)

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

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10235761 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10236018 · 2008-07-28 (July 28, 2008)

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 GO…

Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10236018 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10157965 · 2006-05-21 (May 21, 2006)

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

Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10157965 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10204197 · 2007-09-26 (September 26, 2007)

STARTED OFF FROM A STOP SIGN. BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AND TURN (ACCELERATIONS LESS THAN HALF THROTTLE) AND STEERING WHEEL JERKED AND BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. I LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR AND FINISHED THE TURN. THEN ACCELERATED AGAIN (ABOUT HALF THROTTLE) AND STEERING BECAME STIFF AGAIN BUT MANAGEABLE AND THE WARNING BELL CHIMED 4 TIMES, HOWEVER THERE WERE NO ALARMS ON THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER OR THE INSTIMENT CLUSTER. I AM, FOR THE 3RD TIME TAKING MY VEHICLE TO THE GM DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTM…

Owner-reported narrative. 37,615 miles reported. Look up ODI 10204197 at NHTSA ↗