2006 Chevrolet Malibu problems and complaints
Owners have filed 1386 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu. The most-reported areas: Steering (1018), Electrical System (170), Service Brakes (92).
Key takeaways
- 1386 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 53 involve a crash, 7 a fire, 31 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 1018 | 73% |
| Electrical System | 170 | 12% |
| Service Brakes | 92 | 7% |
| Exterior Lighting | 71 | 5% |
| Power Train | 60 | 4% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 56 | 4% |
| Fuel System | 48 | 3% |
| Gasoline | 45 | 3% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 43 | 3% |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 41 | 3% |
| Engine | 40 | 3% |
| Air Bags | 36 | 3% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 Chevrolet Malibu 4-DR. w/SAB | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated |
| 2006 Chevrolet Malibu 4-DR. | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Steering - filed 2026-09-30
When i drive the car power steering goes out totally and bings when it goes out.
Steering - filed 2026-03-23
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while pulling out of a parking space, the vehicle lost power steering functionality, causing the steering wheel to become difficult to turn. The power steering warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was pushed back into the parking space. The contact...
Steering,electrical System - filed 2026-02-04
The power steering went out on the car as I was driving down the highway going 65 mph
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More for the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.