Chevrolet Malibu Complaints (2006)

1,388 consumer complaints on file.

#10317267March 5, 2010
STEERING
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX. THE POWER STEERING IS LIGHTING UP ON THE STEREO. THERE IS A RECALL FOR OTHER CHEVY CARS THAT HAVE THE SAME POWER STEERING AS OUR CAR, YET OUR CAR ISN'T PART OF THE RECALL. WHY? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10316274March 3, 2010
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
INCIDENT: FAILURE OF POWER STEERING ON 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU 1) A WEEK LEADING UP THE EVENT, I RETURNED FROM VACATION TO FIND "CHECK POWER STEERING" LIT UP ON MY MESSAGE CENTER, HOWEVER, POWER STEERING WAS STILL AVAILABLE. THIS OCCURRED ON A PARTICULARLY COLD MORNING, AFTER A COLD FEW WEEKS. THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP TOLD ME NOTHING WAS WRONG (BY PHONE). I CONTINUED DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT RECURRENCE OF THE WARNING MESSAGE. 2) ON ANOTHER PARTICULARLY COLD MORNING, I DROVE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL GAS STATION, FILLED UP, AND DROVE APPROXIMATELY TWO CAR LENGTHS WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MOVE, AND THE "CHECK POWER STEERING" MESSAGE DISPLAYED. I APPLIED THE BREAKS, STOPPING THE VEHICLE. 3) I HAD READ ABOUT THE FAILURE ONLINE, AND THE FIX SEEMED TO BE A RESTART OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE, AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE. THE POWER STEERING WAS RESTORED, AND I HAVE DRIVEN IT SINCE WITHOUT INCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10316019March 3, 2010
STEERING
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY MALIBU LS . POWER STEERING KEEPS COMING ON. THE WHEEL TURNS SLIGHTLY IN IDLE. WELL NOW POWER STEERING IS LOST WHILE DERIVING MAKING IT HARD TO MOVE AT HIGH SPEEDS. DANGEROUS. AFTER CAR IS TURNED OFF THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO GO AWAY UNTIL MINUTES LATER YOU HEAR CHIMES AND IT LOCKS AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10316099March 3, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE DRIVER STATED THAT HIS POWER STEERING FAILED WHENEVER HE STARTED THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER ALSO STATED THAT HIS STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON. WHEN HE SHIFTED INTO DRIVE GEAR AND ACCELERATES, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SHAKING EXCESSIVELY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,700 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10316150March 3, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL WITHIN MINUTES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED 8 TIMES. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED, THE FAILURE SEEMED TO CORRECT ITSELF. HE HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO-DATE. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315357March 2, 2010
STEERING
I PURCHASED MY MALIBU IN DEC '06. BY JUNE, MY POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON, BUT MY MECHANIC COULDN'T FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. I STARTED NOTICING TROUBLE TURNING THE WHEEL AT LOW SPEEDS, BUT IT WAS ONLY WHEN I TURNED LEFT. INITIALLY I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS STILL POWER STEERING, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED FOR OVER A YEAR PERIODICALLY. THEN IN AUG '08 ON MY WAY HOME WITH MY NEWBORN IN THE CAR....I TURNED LEFT TO PULL INTO MY DRIVEWAY, AND LOST THE POWER STEERING. I HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AND THE REPAIR COST OVER $1,000 AND THE DEALER SAID IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN IN A YEAR OR SO. THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AND POWER STEERING MOTOR WAS REPLACED. AFTER THE DEALER'S 12/12 WARRANTY EXPIRED, I STARTED HAVING THE SAME SYMPTOMS ALL OVER AGAIN. SO FAR IT HASN'T GONE OUT, BUT THE "POPPING" NOISE AND "LOOSE" STEERING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, PLUS THE MORE DIFFICULT STEERING WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS IS BACK AGAIN. WHEN THE ORIGINAL INCIDENT HAPPENED, I HAD JUST TURNED OFF A MAIN STREET. IF IT HAD HAPPENED JUST TWO BLOCKS EARLIER, I WOULD HAVE BEEN "T-BONED" WITH MY DAUGHTER IN THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315455March 2, 2010
STEERING
MY GIRLFRIEND OWNS A 2006 MALIBU LS AND SHE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING SERIOUS STEERING ISSUES OVER THE PAST MONTH. HER POWER STEERING GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ANY NOTICE. I THOUGHT SHE WAS JUST KIDDING ABOUT IT UNTIL I FINALLY DROVE IT AND WHILE TURNING A CORNER THE STEERING WENT OUT ON ME AND I NEARLY WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND THAT HER MALIBU IS NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THIS PHENOMENON, I FOUND MORE POSTS ABOUT THIS THAN I COULD COUNT. NOW I SEE THAT GM JUST ISSUED A RECALL FOR TWO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED AT THE SAME TIME AS HERS FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM, MY QUESTION IS; WHY AREN'T THE MALIBUS' INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL WHEN THEY OBVIOUSLY HAVE THE SAME STEERING ISSUES AS THE TWO RECALLED VEHICLES? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315502March 2, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHEN THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND IN ANY GEAR THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY LOOSE ALL POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 92000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315572March 2, 2010
STEERING
STEERING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315588March 2, 2010
STEERING
CAR WAS IN THIS CONDITION WHEN WE BOUGHT. THE DEALERSHIP IT WAS PURCHASED FROM SENT IT OFF TO BE REPAIRED. THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT WAS REPAIRED AT REPLACED STEERING COLUMN. WHEN WE GOT THE CAR BACK IT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER WOULD NOT SEND THE CAR BACK TO BE REPAIR UNTIL 2 MONTHS LATER WHEN I COULDN'T TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IT COMPLETELY LOCK UP. THE DEALER SENT IT BACK TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND THE REPLACED THE POWER STEERING MOTOR. 2 MONTHS LATER WE BEGAN TO HAVE THE SAME STEERING PROBLEMS. I HAVE ALMOST GOTTEN IN 3 ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315640March 2, 2010
STEERING
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU THAT I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING FOR ALMOST A YEAR NOW. I WAS HOPEFUL THAT THE RECALL THAT WAS ISSUED RECENTLY INCLUDES MY CAR, BUT IT DOES NOT...WHICH REALLY DISAPPOINTS ME SINCE I JUST PRINTED OFF AROUND 15 PAGES OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS TO TAKE TO MY DEALER. THE FAILURE ON MY CAR STARTED LAST SPRING-SUMMER AND HAVE HAD IT LOOKED AT SEVERAL TIMES. I WAS DRIVING WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO FEEL LIKE IT WAS FREEZING AND THEN WOULDN'T ALLOW ME TO DRIVE STRAIGHT, IT WOULD EITHER GO FAR RIGHT OR FAR LEFT. I THOUGHT I NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT (WHICH I HAD DONE), BUT THAT DIDN'T HELP AT ALL. THIS TERRIFIED ME. IT HAPPENS AT LEAST 2-3 TIMES A DAY ALL WEEK LONG. WE HAVE REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN (ON OUR OWN-RECALL ON 2005 MALIBU'S WON'T COVER MY 2006 EVEN THOUGH THE REP AT GM WE TALKED TO CONFIRMED MY CAR CAME OFF THE LINE IN 2005) AND IT STARTED DOING THE SAME THING THE NEXT DAY. HERE IS A DESCRIPTION OF EVERYTHING MY CAR DOES. IT HAS ALWAYS MADE A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE STEERING WHEEL WILL FREEZE UP AND BECOMES REALLY TIGHT MAKING IT HARD TO CONTROL. WHEN IT'S FROZEN, AND I TRY TO DRIVE STRAIGHT BY SLIGHTLY TURNING THE WHEEL, IT WILL ONLY TURN DRASTICALLY TO THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT MAKING MY WHOLE CAR JERK TO EITHER SIDE OF THE ROAD. ALSO WHEN IT'S DOING THIS, IT MAKE A LOUD VIBRATION NOISE AND THE WHEEL MOVES ON IT OWN IF I'M STOPPED AT A LIGHT OR IN PARK..EVEN OCCASIONALLY WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. WHEN IT'S MAKING THIS LOUD SOUND I CAN ALSO FEEL THE VIBRATION IN THE BRAKE PAD. POWER STEERING WILL DISPLAY ON THE DIC SCREEN ON THE DASH. FROM WHAT I'VE READ,I KNOW HUNDRED OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO KEEP THROWING MONEY INTO PROBLEMS THAT WERE CREATED EVEN BEFORE WE BOUGHT THESE CARS. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE DIES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315592March 2, 2010
STEERING
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY MALIBU, I PURCHASE THIS CAR USED LAST FEBRUARY 2009 AND ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT BEGIN TO COME ON. A COUPLE OF TIMES I NEEDED TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST ABOUT $600 FOR THEM TO REPLACE THE STEERING WHEEL, OR FIX THE PROBLEM. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS PROBLEM WOULD NOT CAUSE ANY PROBLEM AT THAT TIME. TODAY 03-02-2010 I READ AN ARTICLE CONCERNING RECALLS ON GM CARS 2005-2010 COBALT, BUT DUE TO THE INFORMATION THAT IS PROVIDED, THIS IS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM I AM HAVING WITH MY 2006 CHEVY MALIBU. MY CONCERN IS HOW DO I GO ABOUT HAVING THE POWER STEERING PROBLEM RECTIFIED AS WELL FOR THIS CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315656March 2, 2010
STEERING
POWER STEERING BECAME INOPERATIVE, WOULDN'T TURN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315662March 2, 2010
STEERING
POWER STEERING INDICATOR KEEPS COMING ON WHILE DRIVING. TYPICALLY HAPPENS EVERYTIME I GET IN THE CAR TO DRIVE IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315743March 2, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AND BACK ON SO THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WITHOUT A WARNING. THE STEERING SHAFT WAS REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE WAS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. UPDATED 03/14/10 *BF UPDATED 05/06/10.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315780March 2, 2010
STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILS WHILE DRIVING. WHEEL TURNS SUDDENLY TO THE LEFT AND THEN THERE IS NO POWER STEERING. I LOOKED ONLINE AND SAW THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315832March 2, 2010
STEERING
WHEN STARTING MY CAR IT IS VERY HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL UNTIL I GAIN A LITTLE SPEED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315896March 2, 2010
STEERING:COLUMN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE STEERING COLUMN MADE A POPPING AND SNAPPING NOISE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE NOISE WOULD CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. UPDATED 04/05/10 *BF UPDATED 05/05/10.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10314778February 27, 2010
STEERING
I BOUGHT MY 2006 CHEVY MALIBU IN FEB 2009 . IMMEDIATELY AFTER WE PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM A USED CAR LOT, WE STARTED HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE POWER STEERING. THE DEALERSHIP WE PURCHASED IT FROM SUGGEST WE TAKE IT TO LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP TO LOOK AT IT. THEY ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO DRIVE IT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED. AT THAT TIME, IT WOULD ONLY HAPPEN EVERY SO OFTEN SO I COULD NOT AFFORD TO HAVE THEM KEEP MY CAR FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME. AT FIRST, I CHALKED IT UP TO THE COLD TEMPERATURES, BUT AS SPRING AND SUMMER PASSED IT STILL HAPPENED. I HAVE NOW HAD THE CAR A YEAR AND IT HAPPENS SOMETIMES FOUR OR FIVE TIMES BEFORE I GET OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. I HAVE THE POWERSTEERING MESSAGE COME ACROSS THE DISPLAY, I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND IT WILL RESET. USUALLY THE RESET WILL ONLY WORK IF I AM NOT IN A TURN POSITION. I CAN BE GOING 65MPH DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND IT WILL CLICK OFF AND LOCK THE STEERING WHEEL. THANK GOD, THAT I HAVE NEVER HAD TO GET OUT OF CRUNCH ON THE INTERSTATE. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP WHERE AFTER $50.00 FOR A DIAGNOSIS THEY ADVISED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR/MODULE ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR THE PRICE TAG OF $850.00. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF THERE ARE SO MANY CONSUMERS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM THEY WOULD ISSUE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT. I NOW CAN'T DRIVE ANYWHERE WITHOUT IT HAPPENING 5 TO 7 TIMES. I USUALLY JUST LEAVE IT TILL I HAVE TO GET IN A PARKING SPOT. I HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL , RESTART THE ENGINE AND HOPE IT WILL REENGAGE. I HAVE CONTACT GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE THE CAR SERVICED EVERYTIME AT A GM AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THAT IT NOW HAS 80K ON IT THEY WILL NOT HELP AT ALL. WELL IT WAS PURCHASED IN 2009 WITH 60 K ON IT AT THAT TIME IT WOULD HAVE BEEN OUT OF WARRANT THEN ALSO. THEY ARE NOT HELPFUL AT ALL AND DO NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10314853February 27, 2010
STEERING
STEERING GEAR PROBLEM IN 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU LT. DEALER REPLACED WORN STEERING GEAR AT 25,000 MILES AND NOW AT 35,000 MILES THE PROBLEM IS HAPPENING AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Chevrolet Malibu