Chevrolet Malibu Complaints (2006)

1,388 consumer complaints on file.

#10302445January 26, 2010
STEERING
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX THAT HAS BEEN KNOCKING NEAR THE FRONT END, INDICATING POSSIBLE CV JOINT ISSUES OR SOME OTHER SUSPENSION OR STEERING PROBLEMS. I HAVE HAD THE TIE RODS REPLACED ONCE BUT THE SYMPTOMS LATER RETURNED. MOST RECENTLY, THE POWER STEERING FAILED, LOCKING DURING A RIGHT TURN AND CAUSING ME TO DRIVE OUT OF MY LANE. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON AT LEAST 3 OCCASIONS IN JANUARY 2010 AND THANKFULLY HAS NOT RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. HAD MY WIFE BEEN DRIVING WITH HER BAD BACK, SHE WOULD NOT HAVE HAD THE STRENGTH TO CONTROL THE CAR AND AVOID A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME IT WAS THE ELECTRONIC STEERING SYSTEM AND THE COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT THERE ARE LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF FORUMS DISCUSSING THIS EXACT PROBLEM IN THE SAME MODEL VEHICLE OVER ABOUT 4 MODEL YEARS BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THERE IS AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING IN THIS MODEL VEHICLE AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED AND RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10302454January 26, 2010
STEERING
POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILS WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AND ACCELERATING. USUALLY, THIS HAPPENS AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, BEFORE THE ENGINE HAS HAD A CHANCE TO WARM UP. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST SIX TIMES IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS. MOST RECENTLY ON JANUARY 15, 2010. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10299092January 12, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVY MALIBU. THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 15 AND 55 MPH ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON BEFORE THE STEERING SYSTEM RESET ITSELF AND BEGAN DRIVING NORMALLY. THE INPUT TORQUE SENSOR WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK. . THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51000. *CN UPDATED 02/17/10.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10298468January 6, 2010
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING ASSIST IN MY 2006 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX HAS SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING TWICE. I HAD MY MECHANIC LOOK INTO IT AND IT WAS A CONFIRMED PROBLEM FOR THE 2005 MODELS BUT NOT THE 2006. I FEEL THIS IS A HUGE LIABILITY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. IF THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS ITS AN ISSUE, IT NEEDS TO GET FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. I'VE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND WE NEED YOUR HELP TO FIX IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10297312December 29, 2009
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. CONSEQUENTLY THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO A ROAD BARRIER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE POWER STEERING MOTOR WAS REPLACED. AN IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURRED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10296491December 20, 2009
STEERING
POWER STEERING GOES OUT WITHOUT WARNING. HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY AND SHOP CANNOT DETERMINE WHAT CAUSES IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10296186December 17, 2009
SUSPENSION, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DRIVING 30 MPH DOWN A COUNTRY ROAD. DROVE OVER BLACK ICE STARTED TO FISHTAIL. LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE GOING INTO THREE 360'S. IN THE FOURTH 360 I HIT A TREE HEAD ON CAUSING TOTAL DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE CAR. SLID ALONG A BARBEDWIRE FENCE FOR THE BACK END TO HIT THE TREE AGAIN AND WRAPPING THE CAR AROUND THE TREE. THE TREE THEN FELL ON TOP OF THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10295522December 13, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
POWER STEERING GOES OUT WHEN I ACCELERATE AND THE READING ON MY RADIO SAYS POWER STEERING AND THE ALARM IS ACTIVATED AS WELL TO LET ME KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM. WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OFF OF THE GAS, I GET MY POWER STEERING BACK. THIS HAPPENS REGULARLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10295087December 9, 2009
STEERING
POWER STEERING WENT OUT ABRUPTLY IN 2006 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE ON CROWDED ROADWAY. CONDITION DID NOT IMPROVE UNTIL CAR WAS BROUGHT TO A COMPLETE HALT, TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THIS CONDITION HAS OCCURRED PREVIOUSLY AND WAS ADDRESSED BY MY CHEVROLET DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT NO COST. APPARENTLY THE "FIX" DIDN'T LAST. WHEN I REPORTED THIS RECURRENCE TO THE SAME SERVICE MANAGER HE QUOTED ME A SUBSTANTIAL ESTIMATE COST FOR REPAIRING THE CONDITION. WHEN I MENTIONED THE GROWING NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THAT I'VE MONITORED HE TOLD ME THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS ONLY BULLETINS AND THAT I WILL HAVE TO PAY TO GET THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION REPAIRED AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292729November 18, 2009
STEERING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291809November 11, 2009
STEERING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291346November 7, 2009
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK, MADE A RIGHT TURN AND MY POWER STEERING JUST WENT OUT. THERE WAS NO WHERE TO PULL OVER ON SIDE OF THE ROAD, I STRUGGLED TO STEER THE CAR INTO A PARKING LOT WHICH WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. I WAS ALMOST HIT FROM BEHIND TWICE TOO MANY TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS DIAGNOSED THIS AS THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM. THIS EXACT INCIDENT IS STARTING TO HAPPEN MORE FREQUENTLY. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED A YEAR AGO BUT THEN IT DROVE JUST FINE AFTERWARDS AND DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL NOW AND NOW IT'S ALMOST EVERY TURN. 6 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR, I HEARD A CLICKING NOISE BUT WHEN TAKEN TO A SHOP, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO NOISE BUT AFTER HEARING IT AGAIN, THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE POWER STEERING PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291030November 4, 2009
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN MY 2006 MALIBU LT, WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, THE STEERING GOT REALLY TIGHT AND I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR ON THE FREEWAY, AFTER A FEW SECONDS THE STEERING WENT BACK TO NORMAL, AND A FEW SECONDS LATER IT LOCKED UP AGAIN. A POWER STEERING WARNING CAME UP ON THE DASH. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP. THEY RAN DIAGNOSTICS AND SAID THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR HAD GONE BAD. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD, THAT DID NOT RESULT FROM NEGLECT ON MY PART AS THE OWNER. HAD I NOT BEEN AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER, OR IF THE ROADS WERE WET OR SLIPPERY, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION COULD HAVE HAD BAD OUTCOME. UPON DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM FOR THE MALIBU, ACROSS MANY MODEL YEARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290094October 28, 2009
STEERING
BOUGHT A NEW CHEVY MALIBU IN JULY OF 2006--WE HAVE FOUGHT TIRES ON IT SINCE DAY 1 AND NO ONE WOULD STAND BEHIND THEM--THE RIMS WON'T SEAL AROUND THE TIRES. WE HAVE REPLACED THE TIRES AND NO LUCK. WE HAVE HAD TO "AIR THEM UP" EVERY OTHER DAY SINCE WE PURCHASED IT. YESTERDAY WHILE DRIVING--MY POWER STEERING JUST DECIDED TO QUIT WORKING. IF I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND WAIT 15 MINUTES--IT WILL BE FINE AGAIN--UNTIL THE CAR GETS WARM AT WHICH POINT IT LOCKS UP AGAIN. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE AS YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN. I AM TOLD THERE IS NO RECALL AND THE DEALERSHIP ISN'T AWARE OF ANY ISSUES WITH IT. WHEN I WENT ONLINE FOR HELP--THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290109October 28, 2009
STEERING
UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS THE STEERING BECOME DIFFICULT WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT. OCCASIONALLY YOU CAN FEEL "PULSING" WHILE TURNING. HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS. CORRECTS ITSELF WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SHUT OFF. PROBLEM BEGAN WITHIN THE LAST MONTH AS A SLIGHT PRESSURE WHILING TURNING. LAST 2 DAYS THE STEERING HAS BECOME VERY DIFFICULT. YESTERDAY PROBLEMS DEVELOPED WHILE TURNING RIGHT ONTO THE INTERSTATE. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR ALARMS. CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE THIS ISSUE. JUST ROLLED 57,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289842October 26, 2009
STEERING
1. INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING ALERT ON DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER 2. POWER STEERING ALERT COMES ON AND THEN THE POWER STEERING TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING. (INTERMITTENT). 3. WAS BROUGHT TO REPAIR PLACE, AND IT IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10288921October 19, 2009
STEERING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10288939October 19, 2009
STEERING
LOSS OF POWER STEERING! DRIVING LESS THAN 1 MILE I LOSS ALL POWER STEERING! I MADE A LEFT HAND TURN DOWN A CUL-DE-SAC STREET AND WHEN TURNING AROUND AT THE END OF THE ROAD I LOST MY POWER STEERING! I WAS SHOCKED THAT AFTER DRIVING TO THE SAME BUS STOP MORNING AFTER MORNING WITH MY CHILD IN THE CAR THAT I HAD LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL DUE TO THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM THAT FAILED! IT WAS VERY HARD TO MAKE THE SIMPLEST TURN. THE DIFFICULTY THAT I HAD EXPERIENCED TOOK ME BY SURPRISE. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND SHUT THE CAR DOWN AS SOON AS I WAS IN A SAFE AREA. I WAITED THEN RE-STARTED THE CAR AND THE POWER STEERING HAD COME BACK. I COULD FEEL THAT IT CAME BACK IN THE STEERING WHEEL AS I BARELY ACCELERATED FORWARD WORRIED THAT I MIGHT LOSE THE CONTROL OF THE WHEEL AGAIN I WAITED FOR ALL THE KIDS AT THE BUS STOP TO BOARD THE BUS BEFORE I DROVE BACK HOME! I IMMEDIATELY LOOKED ONLINE ABOUT RECALLS FOR MY CAR INCASE THERE WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM, NOT SURE THAT THERE WAS ACTUALLY A PROBLEM WITH MY MAKE & MODEL & SOMEWHAT SURPRISED I FOUND ALOT OF SIMILAR SITUATIONS ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. THERE SEEMS TO BE OTHERS THAT WITHOUT WARNING LIKE MYSELF LOSS THE POWER STEERING. I EVEN FOUND A SUGGESTION THAT READ TO TURN THE CAR OFF IF POSSIBLE THEN RE-START TO HAVE POWER STEERING COME BACK. EVEN THOUGH THAT'S WHAT I DID FOR THE SAFETY FOR THE KIDS & OTHERS. I THOUGHT ARE YOU KIDDING ME? TURN THE CAR OFF TO RE-GAIN POWER STEERING SHOULD I LOSE IT AGAIN? I SURE HOPE THAT I AM NOT ON A BUSY HIGHWAY OR WHERE KIDS ARE CLOSE TO THE ROAD SHOULD THIS HAPPEN AGAIN. I CALLED GM TO COMPLAIN OF THIS SAFETY ISSUE SEEING AS HOW I DID FIND POSTED BULLETINS ABOUT POWER STEERING LOSS I HAD BELIEVED THAT GM WOULD WANT TO INSPECT THE SAFETY OF MY CAR . SINCE IT IS AN KNOWN PROBLEM OF SAFETY.. I WAS TOLD BY GM TO BRING THE CAR IN & PAY FOR AN INSPECTION TO LOOK AT THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM. GM SAID THE COST TO LOOK AT MY CAR COULD START AT $65-$95 MAYBE BE HIGHER DEPENDS ON WHAT THEY DO!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10288969October 19, 2009
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH SHE LOST POWER STEERING WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNINGS. SHE WAS ABLE TO SAFELY RESTART THE VEHICLE AND RESUME NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,500. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10287481October 15, 2009
STEERING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Chevrolet Malibu