29 of the
1,389 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
are about the engine —
2% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2004.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the power steering malfunctioned, and the steering wheel became difficult to turn in either direction. During the failure, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the power steering assist assembly was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V064000 (STEERING). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 204,000.
NHTSA complaint #11647569 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK UPON DEPRESSION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO JIM KERAS CHEVROLET (2000 COVINGTON PIKE, MEMPHIS, TN 38128) WHERE THEY PERFORMED SERVICES TO THE BRAKE BOOSTER, MASTER CYLINDER, HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM, LOWER CONTROL ARMS, AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHER UNKNOWN SERVICES. THREE WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 241,404.
NHTSA complaint #11413026 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO JOHN ELWAY CHEVROLET LOCATED AT 5200 S. BROADWAY, ENGLEWOOD, CO 80113, TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD FAILED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.
NHTSA complaint #11408263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING OUT OF WHACK. I HAVE HAD MY CONTROL ARM ON BOTH SIDES CHANGED ALONG WITH AXLES AND A ALIGNMENT. NO LUCK ITS STILL ALL OVER ROAD. I DRIVE FROM SYLVESTER GA TO TIFTON GA EVERYDAY. IT DOES THE SAME THING EVERYTIME. ALSO I HAVE HAD MY LIGHTS REPLACED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR. WHY ARENT THE LASTING. GAS CAP KEEPS READING ERROR. WHOLE CAR. I CAN LET SOMEONE DRIVE IT TO SEE WHAT I AM SAYING.
NHTSA complaint #11193420 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CHECK ENGINE AND POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE INDICATORS WENT AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,972. *DT CONSUMER STATED MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED AND REPAIRS MADE. UPDATED 12/04/18
NHTSA complaint #11142267 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE GOES INTO ENGINE POWER REDUCED MODE WHILE GOING 55 ON A HIGHWAY AND SOON THE ENGINE BECOMES DISABLED WHICH DISABLES THE STEERING AND THE BRAKES. NO INJURIES AS I WAS SMART ENOUGH TO HANDLE THE SITUATION, BUT THIS HAS OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE AND MY CAR READS NO CODES FOR THE SITUATION.
NHTSA complaint #11010391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE SERVICE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING LOCKED FOR FEW SECONDS. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONE OTHER TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000.
NHTSA complaint #10991404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN PROMPTED. THE CONTACT CHANGED THE BATTERY AND THE STARTER, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.
NHTSA complaint #10981735 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE VEHICLE CONTINUALLY GOES INTO "ENGINE LOW POWER MODE" WHILE ON THE HIGHWAYS. THIS IS NOW OCCURRING DAILY. I'VE TRIED TO GET IT FIXED BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT IT IS. I AM VERY FORTUNATE THAT NO ONE HAS HIT ME WHEN THE VEHICLE GOES FROM HIGH SPEEDS DOWN TO 20 MILES PER HOUR WITH NO RESPONSE BY PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE THINGS FAILING ON THIS CAR: PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW NO LONGER OPENS, CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT WORK, 2 OF THE 3 CHARGERS IN THE CAR DO NOT WORK (AFTER FIXING THOSE FUSES, THEY JUST BLEW IMMEDIATELY) POWER LOCKS WENT FROM BARELY WORKING TO NOT WORKING AT ALL, THE LATEST BEING THE LOW POWER MODE AND TRACTION CONTROL BEING ACTIVATED IN THE HEAT OF A TENNESSEE SPRING (ALREADY 80 DEGREES) - IT'S NOT A WATER ISSUE. THE FIRST FEW MONTHS I HAD THIS CAR IT WAS IN THE SHOP ALMOST EVERY WEEKEND. I'VE GOTTEN ALL THE RECALLS FIXED WHEN THEY REQUIRED IT AND I KEEP UP WITH MAINTENANCE ON THIS CAR. IT HAS THE USUAL BREAK DOWNS BUT THIS IS THE LEAST SAFE CAR I HAVE EVER DRIVEN (AND I HAVE DRIVEN AROUND TWENTY LONG TERM, TEN MORE SHORT TERM).
NHTSA complaint #10980567 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TWICE WITH EXCESSIVE FORCE TO PREVENT A CRASH. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED THE SECOND TIME, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND EMITTED WHITE POWDER, WHICH IMPAIRED THE CONTACT'S VISION. THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK AND SHOULDER INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 10/08/14*LJ UPDATED 05/18/2015
NHTSA complaint #10632140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MERGING ONTO INTERSTATE AT 55 MERGE SPEED AND AS ENTERING ONTO FIRST THRU LANE THE POWER STEERING DIED OUT AND ACCELERATION DROPPED ON ITS OWN. NEARLY HIT BY AN 18 WHEELER THAT HAD BEEN SAFELY BACK FROM MY ENTRY POINT BEFORE THE STEERING AND ENGINE BOTH FAILED. I PULLED AS HARD AS I COULD TO THE RIGHT AND A BELL RANG BUT THERE WAS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR ANY OTHER INDICATOR LIGHT FOR THE STEERING. WHEN I BRAKED, THE STEERING CAME BACK AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT OUT OF HARMS WAY. THERE WAS NO OTHER CAR ON THE ENTRY RAMP OR I AM SURE WE WOULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED AT HIGH SPEED THIS HAPPENS OFTEN IN ORDINARY TRAFFIC AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 35 AND 45 ONCE THE CAR IS WARMED UP WHEN I ATTEMPT TO CHANGE LANES AND SOMETIMES A BELL RINGS AND OTHER TIMES IT DOES NOT. I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE #13036 AND IT DESCRIBES SYMPTOMS INCLUDED HERE AND ADDITIONAL POTENTIAL PROBLEMS. THE PART IS NOT YET AVAILABLE AS GM HAS BEEN TELLING ME SINCE MARCH OF THIS YEAR. I HAVE DISCONTINUED DRIVING THIS CAR UNLESS IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY AND IF THE DISTANCE IS LESS THAN 5 MILES BECAUSE IT HAS NOT YET WARMED UP TO CAUSE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT AND WE WERE LUCKY TO HAVE NOT BEEN KILLED BY THE 18 WHEELER.
NHTSA complaint #10622096 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE REPAIRS THAT WERE MADE WERE UNKNOWN, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10621508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AFTER FOUR (4) MINUTES OF DRIVING CAR AT 6:30AM IN THE MORNING, TEMPERATURE WAS 58 DEGREE ON 7/21/2014, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. ALL POWERED FUNCTIONS ASSOCIATED W/VEHICLE DID NOT WORK. ALL IDIOT LIGHTS FLASHED ON. THE MESSAGE IN DISPLAY WAS "ENGINE DISABLED." CAR WAS PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF. AFTER 4-5 MINUTES OF REST, THE CAR WAS RE-STARTED AND DRIVEN BACK HOME ABOUT ANOTHER TWO (2) MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10614890 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SLOWED DOWN TO TAKE A RIGHT TURN, TURNED RIGHT AND STARTED TO SPEED UP AND THE HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT COME BACK ON. I HAD TO DRIVE HOME, HOLDING THE BRIGHT LIGHTS ON MANUALLY. EVEN AT 20 MPH, IT WAS VERY SCARY, COULD NOT IMAGINE THIS HAPPENING AT THE SPEED OF 55 OR HIGHER. VERY DANGEROUS!!
NHTSA complaint #10597236 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEVERAL YEARS AGO VEHICLE STARTED TO EXHIBIT IGNITION MISSES WHEN MAKING SLOW SPEED TURNS 10-20MPH. CONDITION WOULD CORRECT ITSELF WHEN COMING OUT OF TURNS OR ENTRANCE RAMPS MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. IN 2013 AND 2014 OCCURRENCE BECAME MORE FREQUENT (2-3 TIMES WEEKLY). CHEVROLET DEALER ADVISED ME TWO MONTHS AGO THAT IT APPEARS TO BE CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH AND ADVISED ME TO REMOVE UNNECESSARY WEIGHT FROM IGNITION KEY CHAIN. I IMMEDIATELY DID THIS AND PROBLEM HAS NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. HOWEVER, DEALER ADVISED THAT I COULD ADD MY NAME TO WAIT LIST FOR A NEW IGNITION SWITCH, BUT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR SINCE MY 2006 IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. SINCE MANY OTHER GM MODELS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS SAME LATENT DEFECT I FEEL MY VEHICLE SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE RECALL LIST FOR THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10588896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SINCE 1/2012, INTERMITTENT MALFUNCTION OF POWER STEERING AND ENGINE OPERATION AT HIGHWAY/STREET SPEEDS OCCURS. VEHICLE SINCE HAS BEEN INSPECTED FOR INCIDENTS BY CERTIFIED DEALERS/AUTO REPAIR SHOPS. PROBLEM CONTINUES FORCING THE DRIVER TO VEER OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT STEERING AND/OR POWER, PUTTING THE DRIVER AND ANYONE IN THE PATH AT RISK OF INJURY/DEATH. MY RESEARCH DUE TO THE MOST CURRENT INCIDENT LED ME TO INFORMATION RELEASED FROM THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION DATED APRIL 1, 2014 STATING THAT 1,340,447 CARS AFFECTED WITH THIS PROBLEM. NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 14V153000, GM RECALL #:N140115. GM KNEW THIS INFORMATION. ON 4/23/14 I SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT TO THE NHTSA, AND GM. 2 GM EMPLOYEES DENIED THE RECALL/SERVICES, YET EVENTUALLY ADMITTED THAT THEY KNEW ABOUT THE RECALL WHICH WOULD BE MADE PUBLIC 4/28/14, YET NOTICES TO VEHICLE OWNERS WILL GO OUT AFTER 4/28/14. GM CONTINUES THE PRACTICE OF NOT INFORMING THE PUBLIC.
NHTSA complaint #10584559 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE VEHICLE STOPS RANDOMLY IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR STOPS WITH NO WARNING. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES TO MY 21 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND HER 4 MONTH OLD BABY. THERE ARE NO CODES DETECTED TO TROUBLESHOOT THE PROBLEM. THE CHEVROLET SERVICE REPAIR CENTER HAS HAD THE CAR FOR 2 DAYS AND ADVISED THAT THEY CANNOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE ON INTERNET FORUMS AND I AM SURPRISED NO ONE HAS BEEN CALLED. MY DAUGHTER HAS TO DRIVE ON THE INTERSTATE TO ATTEND CLASS AND THE VEHICLE HAS STOPPED ON HER. THEY ARE NOW RELEASING THE CAR BACK TO ME WITH NO RESOLVE. CHEVY OBVIOUSLY DOES NOT CARE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AS IT IS A COMMON ONE WITH SEVERAL OF THEIR VEHICLES. IF I SELL THE CAR, I AM LITERALLY SELLING A DEATH TRAP TO SOMEONE ELSE. BELOW ARE LINKS TO NUMEROUS FORUM DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO DIE BEFORE CHEVY ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE? HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/CHEVROLET/MALIBU/2006/ENGINE/ENGINE_RANDOMLY_SHUTS_OFF.SHTML HTTP://WWW.FIXYA.COM/CARS/T3656645-GOT_CODE_P2176_CHANGED_OUT_TPS_STILL_GOT HTTP://CHEVROLETFORUM.COM/FORUM/MALIBU-15/ENGINE-POWER-REDUCED-20768/ HTTP://WWW.CHEVYMALIBUFORUM.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=10085 HTTP://WWW.JUSTANSWER.COM/CHEVY/6S938-CHEVROLET-MALIBU-MAXX-LT-2006-CHEVY-MALIBU-MAXX-LT-70000.HTML HTTP://WWW.FIXYA.COM/CARS/T11683460-ENGINE_POWER_REDUCED_2006_MALIBU HTTP://CHEVYFORUM.ORG/CHEVY-FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=20618 HTTP://CHEVY-MALIBU.AUTOFORUMZ.COM/REDUCED-ENGINE-POWER-MESSAGE-05-FTOPICT202902.HTML.
NHTSA complaint #10552316 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AS THE POWER DIMINISHING AND ENGINE DISABLED WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SHOULDER WHERE IT WAS RESTARTED AND OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 125,000.
NHTSA complaint #10533041 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UPON ACCELERATION USING THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR LOSES TOTAL CONTROL OF ITS STEERING. ALL ENGINE LIGHTS AND FAILURE LIGHTS GO ON.SOMETIMES JUST MAKING A SIMPLE TURN AT AN INTERSECTION, THE CAR LOSES COMPLETE STEERING CAPABILITY. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, INCLUDING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH ACCELERATING OVER A SLIGHT INCLINE OR AT 10 MPH AT AN INTERSECTION WHILE MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. I NOTICED TROUBLE WITH THE STEERING WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT MY CAR UNDER WARRANTY BUT IT WASN'T AS SEVERE. JUST WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE THE STEERING WAS TIGHT, BUT THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD THE SHORT RACK STEERING GEAR, STEERING RACK, INTERMEDIATE SHAFT, AND SERPENTINE BELT REPLACED BUT TO NO AVAIL. ON THE WEBSITE WWW.LEMONLAWCLAIMS.COM THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST 42 STEERING COMPLAINTS OF SIMILAR NATURE REGARDING THE SAME YEAR MAKE FOR THE MALIBU. AN NHTSA INVESTIGATION WAS PERFORMED PE04-031 BASED ON EIGHT REPORTS OF ALLEGED POWER STEERING FAILURES. THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS BASED ON THE REPORT I PRINTED UP IN 2010, HOWEVER I AM NOT CERTAIN OF THE CURRENT STATUS OF THIS INVESTIGATION. I'M SURE THERE ARE A LOT MORE FAILURE REPORTS THAT HAVE BEEN OPENED, THOUGH I CANNOT FIND A RECALL REGARDING THIS FAILURE. AS A SIDE NOTE, SOMETIMES THE CAR HAS TROUBLE STARTING - IT ALWAYS HAS AND THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DETERMINE THE FAILURE. WHEN TRYING TO START IT UP, HITTING THE GAS PEDAL WILL CAUSE THE ENGINE TO KICK OVER AND NOT STALL. THERE IS ALWAYS THE SMELL OF FUEL. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS IS PART OF THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION WHEN THE STEERING FAILS OR THE STEERING WHEEL JERKS UPON ACCELERATION, A CLICKING SOUND CAN BE HEARD. THE ORIGIN OF THIS CLICKING IN UNKNOWN. I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL ON THIS OR BETTER YET A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT.
NHTSA complaint #10507382 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
COMPLETE AND TOTAL LOCK UP OF POWER STEERING; BATTERY LIGHT FLICKS ON AND THEN EVERYTHING LOCKS UP UNTIL YOU REPLACE THE GAS PEDDLE FOR ABOUT 3 SECONDS. MY LIGHTS RANDOMLY FLASH AND REAR BULBS ON THE DRIVER SIDE BLOW EVERY 3 DAYS. MY TURN SIGNALS WILL SPORADICALLY BLINK AND THE WIPER BLADES GO OFF WITH OUT WARNING OR BEING PROMPTED. EVEN WITH NO KEYS NEAR OR IN THE CAR IT WILL NOT TURN OVER TO START THE CAR UNTIL YOU FLOOR THE GAS PEDDLE AND HOLD IT THERE FOR 3-5 SECONDS. MY RADIO READS AT -19* ALL THE TIME AND THE CD PLAYER HAS NEVER WORKED CORRECTLY. WHEN GOING FROM 0 TO 50 GETTING ON THE PARKWAY (HIGHWAY) THE WHOLE CAR LOCKS UP AND LOSES POWER INCLUDING THE STEERING RADIO AND LIGHTS UNLESS YOU COMPLETELY RELEASE THE GAS THEN START TO GO AGAIN. IM SO HIGHLY FRUSTRATED AND CHEVY REFUSES TO FIX IT EVEN THOUGH THESE ARE ALL RECALLED PROBLEMS BUT MY VIN DOESN'T FALL IN THERE "BRACKET".
NHTSA complaint #10405535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.