Chevrolet Malibu Complaints (2006)
1,388 consumer complaints on file.
- #10428032September 30, 2011STEERING
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.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10426436September 20, 2011STEERING
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.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10425901September 17, 2011STEERING
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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10425798September 16, 2011STEERING
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.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10425606September 15, 2011STEERING:COLUMN, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10425265September 13, 2011STEERING
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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10425308September 13, 2011STEERING
WE STARTED HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE POWER STEERING GOING OUT AT VERY LOW SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY IN WARM WEATHER, ONLY OCCASIONALLY. THEN THE PROBLEM WORSENED WITH THE POWER STEERING GOING OUT FREQUENTLY WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT. ONLY AFTER WE HAD OBTAINED 100000 MILES ON THE CAR DID WE RECEIVE A LETTER FROM THE GM COMPANY STATING THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING AND UPON CONTACTING GM COMPANY THEY REFUSED TO FIX THEIR FACTORY INSTALLED DEFECTIVE PROBLEM STATING IT WAS OUR PROBLEM. THEY REFUSE TO FIX THE STEERING PROBLEM AND IT HAS CAUSED US TO HAVE CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WITH CRASHES. THE CAR IS EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN FOR MY WIFE AND IS A REAL CRASH HAZARD. IT WAS THEIR MISTAKE, BUT THEY REFUSE TO HONOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO CAR SAFETY LIKE THEY ADVERTISE ON TV. IT IS THEIR PROBLEM AND THEY SHOULD HONOR THEIR SAFETY COMMITMENT TO THEIR CUSTOMERS. WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE CAR FIXED AT THEIR EXPENSE NOT OURS SINCE IT IS THEIR MISTAKE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10424724September 12, 2011STEERING
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY MALIBU WITH A SERIOUS STEERING PROBLEM. JUST LIKE THE COBALT THAT HAS BEEN RECALLED. IS THE SAME STEERING SYSTEM IN THE MALIBU AS THE COBALT ? THE STEERING JUST DECIDES TO "STOP WORKING ON IT'S OWN". NO MATTER HOW SLOW OR FAST I MIGHT BE GOING, IT PULLS TO THE LEFT , IT POPS WHEN I STEER, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON, BUT RESETS. SO BY THE TIME I TAKE IT TO THE SHOP AND PAY FOR ANOTHER SERVICE TIME, IT IS DONE AND THEY SAY DO THIS DO THAT. I HAD THE STEERING FIXED TWICE NOW BECAUSE IT WAS POPPING. THEY SAID THE STEERING WAS "OUT OF PLACE". WHEN THE STEERING STOPS, IT IS TO HARD TO GRASP AND STEER OUT OF HARMS WAY. BUT GM STATES.. THE STEERING NEVER GOES COMPLETELY OUT.... THEY SHOULD DRIVE ONE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I DRIVE MY GRAND-KIDS AROUND IN THIS CAR ....... IF THEY FIXED THE COBALT,THEY NEED TO FIX THIS NOW BEFORE MORE ACCIDENTS HAPPEN ! DON'T THEY FEEL A OUNCE OF REMORSE ? OR IS THIS LIKE THE TOYOTA DEAL ? THEY DON'T CARE AS LONG AS YOU ARE MAKING MONEY AND THERE ARE"THAT MANY DEATHS" MAYBE THEY SHOULD LET THEIR KIDS AND GRAND-KIDS RIDE IN OR DRIVE THESE CARS....... THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS AND ALL GM SAID WAS" TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AND MAYBE WE CAN OFFER COST ASSISTANCE . " *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10424232September 8, 2011STEERING
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.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10424050September 7, 2011STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD BEGIN TO SHAKE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD PULL THE VEHICLE TOWARDS THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10424005September 6, 2011STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10422637August 30, 2011ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10422680August 30, 2011STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER MADE THREE ATTEMPTS TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THEY REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN TWICE AND THEN THE STEERING SHAFT HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,688 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10421314August 24, 2011STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH SHE HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISED WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING GEAR AND THE STEERING SHAFT WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE HAD TO REPLACED THE SAME PART A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,909 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10421407August 24, 2011SEATS
I BOUGHT MY CHEVY MALIBU BRAND NEW IN 2006. I HAVE JUST TURNED 60,000 MILES HOWEVER MY DRIVER SEAT BRACKET HAS BEEN BROKE SINCE 49,000 MILES. THIS IS THE SECOND LEMON VEHICLE I HAVE BOUGHT THAT IS A GM PRODUCT. I HAVE HAD 3 STEERING SHAFTS ALSO REPLACED. I JUST WISH GM WOULD LOOK AT THIS AS A SAFETY HAZARD. IF THEY ARE WILLING TO SLEEP AT NIGHT KNOWING THAT OUR LIVES ARE AT RISK THEN SO BE IT. WHAT HAPPENED TO STANDING BEHIND YOUR PRODUCT. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS ISSUE ADDRESSED FOR ALL CHEVY MALIBU OWNERS. IT IS A DEATH TRAP!!!!! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10419356August 14, 2011STEERING
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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10418515August 11, 2011STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10418521August 11, 2011STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10418254August 9, 2011STEERING
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.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10418063August 8, 2011STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ACCELERATING IN DRIVE, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SEIZE. THE CONTACT STATED THIS USUALLY OCCURS WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL, AND THE STERRING WHEEL LATER UNLOCKS ON IT'S OWN. SHE ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BECOMES VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE POWER STEERING SENSOR BUT THAT DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER STATED THE ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING UNIT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS, THE VEHICLE COULD CAUSE A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0