FaultScore

2006 Chevrolet Malibu electrical problems

144 of the 1,475 complaints about the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu are about the electrical system — 10% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 97,980 miles.

B

144

Complaints

3

Crashes

2

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Electrical System 132 91.7%
Switch 3 2.1%
12V/24V/48V Battery 2 1.4%
Ignition 2 1.4%
Instrument Cluster/Panel 2 1.4%
Fuses AND Circuit Breakers 1 0.7%
Control Module 1 0.7%
Software 1 0.7%

Electrical System across every Chevrolet Malibu year

1997 95 2.0%
1998 150 3.1%
1999 161 3.3%
2000 211 4.4%
2001 303 6.3%
2002 270 5.6%
2003 301 6.3%
2004 154 3.2%
2005 184 3.8%
2006 144 3.0%
2007 113 2.3%
2008 231 4.8%
2009 368 7.6%
2010 294 6.1%
2011 234 4.9%
2012 290 6.0%
2013 376 7.8%
2014 86 1.8%
2015 67 1.4%
2016 223 4.6%
2017 160 3.3%
2018 191 4.0%
2019 61 1.3%
2020 56 1.2%
2021 29 0.6%
2022 31 0.6%
2023 12 0.2%
2024 16 0.3%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

San Felipe, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The power steering went out on the car as I was driving down the highway going 65 mph

NHTSA complaint #11715484 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Standish, MI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

My power steering goes in and out as I'm driving depending on the speed. I have trouble swerving if needed because the power steering is not working correctly all the time.

NHTSA complaint #11703181 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Scottsboro, AL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

No incident yet but will happen if not recalled and fixed. My EPS keeps going out while driving and will yank the steering wheel hard in either direction at any given time. Uncontrollable

NHTSA complaint #11649053 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bluffdale, UT

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Steering wheel very stiff after driving 70 miles an hour Sometimes very stiff when vehicle is started.

NHTSA complaint #11635806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fort Wayne, IN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

While driving, the power steering stopped working and I couldn’t turn the wheel. This will be the 2nd time in 7 months that I will have had to replace the electrical power steering

NHTSA complaint #11560405 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Faribault, MN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Power steering will suddenly go out while driving, making it harder to maintain control of the vehicle. The car dings three times and then it goes out. The only way to reengage is to turn the car off and back on. At first it was intermittent and has progressively become worse. It seems the same thing that was recalled years ago is happening again with these cars

NHTSA complaint #11559135 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Parkton, NC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

There are many recalls for the year make and model of my vehicle. They just didn't recall my exact vin. The breaks are recalled, air bags were recalled and they were buying back the vehicles, the fuel delivery system was recalled, headlights were recalled, cruise control was recalled, steering column and yoke was recalled, and a few more. None were recalled for my vin number when it should have been. I took my car to the dealership today, Chevrolet did a few things under "warranty" instead of issuing a safety recall. (They issued 10 recalls on this year make and model) (one recall was the air bags, my vehicle is doing the same thing). The fuel delivery system and fuel pump was recalled but not on my vin number. I just really need help getting my car repaired. I cannot afford to fix all of this when there's records dating back to the purchase of the vehicle, showing that there are problems and Chevrolet neglectfully didn't recall it and instead tried to brush it off as a warranty instead of safety recall. My car leaks gas, the steering it messed up, headlights no longer work due to the electrical issue, the instrument cluster was damaged due to the ecm issue, there's just so many problems... My car could potentially catch fire for the fuel leak, carbon monoxide smell, electrical wiring and the air bags could potentially deploy.

NHTSA complaint #11544980 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Raymond, NH

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Sudden loss of power steering while accelerating

NHTSA complaint #11534716 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dover, DE

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Dashboard cluster is not working properly and now I am getting and loud noise when I go to make or a slight turn

NHTSA complaint #11534223 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Warren, OH

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I had my 5 year old in the back seat we had just left gymnastics. I was about to pull out on to state route 87 and my car just stops running. Everything shut down, no power steering, was hard to brake, and engine stopped. The dashboard lit up with all the lights anti-theft, oil, traction control, engine. I couldn't get it to turn over and when I tried it made no noise at all. I was in a dangerous spot about to pull out into oncoming traffic. Luckily there was a gentleman in a truck whose child was also at gymnastics and pulled me into a driveway with his truck to keep me and my child safe as we waited on a tow. This car also started having power steering problems early this year, I took it to a good mechanic who replaced the power steering lines and fixed what ever could be causing a leak/ power steering problems. I don't drive my car a lot, just in town usually, and after a few weeks the power steering is all messed up again (which there is a recall on the power steering issue for this year, make, and model but does not appear to include my VIN). Today this scary and dangerous incident mentioned above, when my car just stopped with no warning, happened to me and my five year old.

NHTSA complaint #11525867 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Everett, WA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I started losing steering when I accelerated. Then the vehicle security system would t allow me to take the gear out of park then the car suddenly stopped working all together and all the lights on dash flash, the radio says power steering loss, the steering wheel starts moving back and forth all on its own, the vehicle dies and fries the alternator and won't start.

NHTSA complaint #11489344 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

North Las Vegas, NV

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

While driving on I95 the major highway my cars steering wheel started to shake and I heard like a popping noise then, a bell or chime rang and the information center read POWER STEERING. Suddenly the steering wheel was hard,I was taken by surprise, and almost went into the other lane. Thank God my son was with me he helped me get onto the first exit off the highway while other cars were speeding by. The next day I looked on the internet for any other people who had the same problem and I found out about the recall, called Chevrolet and spoke to the information about the recall and was told that the original owner had the work done and I was not eligible for any kind of help. The car now has 63000 miles on it after me buying it in June of 2020 with around45,000.have a car fax report given at time of sale shows no recall imfo,at all.I am a senior citizen getting not enough money to pay my bills and am on assistance from the government for.. I need help and am starting with you. I would like to know how long the parts were warranted because in 2014 the original owner had35000 miles on the car so that would make the part only lasting less than 30,000 miles,I love this car and it is the first one that I have ever given a name, though it might sound a little weird, oh well to each their own. I looked up the part on a well-known internet site and as electronic power steering assist module runs close to 300.00 and that does not include labor and god knows what else.

NHTSA complaint #11447576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 141,000 miles Moundsville, WV

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY POWER STEERING WILL GO COMPLETELY OUT WHILE DRIVING. MY STEERING WHEEL WILL BEGIN TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY WHILE BRAKING TO SLOW DOWN AND WHEN I AM AT A COMPLETE STOP. VERY HARD TO STEER WHILE THIS IS ALL HAPPENING.

NHTSA complaint #11402552 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 129,000 miles Fredericksburg, VA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I HAVE OWNED MY 2006 CHEVY MALIBU SINCE LATER 2018. IT IS NOW NOV 1ST 2020. A FEW MONTHS AFTER I GOT THE VEHICLE I HAD ISSUES. I HAVE HAD ALL RECALLS REPLACED BY FREDERICKSBURG VIRGINIA CHEVY DEALERSHIP (THEY SAY THAT THEY DID?) THE ENTIRE TIME I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE THE STEERING VIBRATES AT HIGH SPEEDS. ALSO THE ENTIRE TIME I'VE OWNED THIS CAR, WHEN I SPEED UP ANY HILLS MY STEERING LOCKS UP MY BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT DEPENDING. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE! DEALER DIDN'T KNOW WHAT COULD CAUSE IT. I LEARNED TO IMMEDIATELY TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS AND THE STEERING GOES BACK TO NORMAL. THIS IS NOT EASY ON A CURVY HILL ROAD. THIS CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS WRECK. I HAVE A 10 MONTH OLD BABY. THIS IS FRIGHTENING IF IT ONE DAY IT DOESN'T FIX BY TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE PEDAL. NOW MY STEERING IS STIFF AND IS SO HARD TO TURN WHEN DRIVING AT SLOW SPEED. THE STEERING MOTOR RECALL HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED SAYS THE DEALER. SO WHY IS IT GOING BAD AGAIN? IT HAS ONLY BEEN 30,000 MILES LATER. WHY AM I HAVING A STIFF STEERING WHEEL AGAIN IF THEY REPLACED IT? THE TC LIGHT CAME ON WITHIN HOURS OF THE STEERING GOING STIFF. WHY DOES CHEVY DISTRIBUTE VEHICLES WITH SUCH SAFETY ISSUES? I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE STEERING TO BE 'FIXED/REPLACED' AGAIN! DANGEROUS CHEVY VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #11372553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Memphis, TN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE CAR IS NOT FUNCTIONING RIGHT I AM HAVING MAJOR PROBLEMS SUCH AS MY MANUFACTURING CONTROL MY BATTERY LIGHT IT'S CONSTANTLY GOING ON AND OFF IT IS DRAINING MY ALTERNATOR I HAVE JUST RECENTLY SWITCHED OUT THE THROTTLE BODY AND IT WAS STILL GIVING ME MINOR PROBLEMS SUCH AS A BACK REAR END PASSENGER TIRE WELL I DON'T TECHNICALLY THINK THAT IT WAS THE TIRE BECAUSE IT MAKES A LOUD ROCKING NOISE HAVEN'T QUITE JUST FOUND OUT THE PROBLEM I HAVE CHECKED OUT EVERY OTHER THING THAT I COULD THINK ABOUT TO MY VEHICLE 2006 CHEVY MALIBU THAT IS BUT I MYSELF CONTINUE TO WORK ON IT AND HALF OF THE TIME IT STILL SHUTS DOWN OR WON'T COMPLY RIGHT AND ONE MORE OTHER THING MY ABS SYSTEM TAKES A 60% FUSE BUT THE ABS STILL COMES ON WITH THE FUSE IN AND WITH IT OUT AND I AM HAVING A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH MY TRACTION CONTROL SENSOR BUT NOW SO FAR MY CAR IS JUST DOWN AND NOT DRIVABLE AND ONE MORE THING MY CAR WAS DRIVING DURING THE SHUTDOWN SYSTEM ON THE CITY STREETS

NHTSA complaint #11349016 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Clarksville, TN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY GETTING READY TO TURN AND MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND ALMOST CAUSED A BAD ACCIDENT. IT KEEPS GOING OUT OFF AND ON.

NHTSA complaint #11331519 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 101,956 miles SAN Antonio, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING IT HOME.

NHTSA complaint #11327813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 148,000 miles Hartland, WI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CAR RUNS FINE THEN WITHOUT WARNING IT WILL JUST DIE. DOES THIS WHILE DRIVING IN MOTION. IT IS CAR USED BY TWO NEW TEEN DRIVERS. IT IS VERY UNSAFE BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF DRIVING TIME. I LOOKED AT A LOT OF WIRING CONNECTIONS, CLEANED UP ALL GROUND CONNECTIONS WITH WIRE BRUSH, REPLACED TEMP SENSOR, CRANK POSITION SENSOR, BEEN GOING THRU AND FIXING BAD WIRING CONNECTIONS. REPLACED FUEL PUMP. AND FIXED BROKEN WIRES COMING OUT OF BODY THAT GO TO FUEL GAUGE.

NHTSA complaint #11270906 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 200,000 miles Green BAY, WI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WAS DRIVING ON CITY STREET APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION WHEN THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER, STEERING, AND ABS BRAKES

NHTSA complaint #11266814 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chicopee, MA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

OK STEERING IN THIS CAR WAS GOOD SEEN THAT IT HAD A RECALL BEFORE FOR THAT. ALSO WHEN I CALLED CHEVY THEY TOLD ME .BUT THAT'S MY MOST CONCERN AS SEEING AS MUCH I HAVE PUT INTO THIS CAR. IT'S WEIRD I LOOKED ON YOUR SITE BEFORE AND HAD RECALLS NOW IT DON'T. I JUST WANT TO SEE HOW TO GET IT FIXED WITH BRAKING MY POCKETS.

NHTSA complaint #11241234 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 94,000 miles Atlanta, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

STEERING: ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM STEERING ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: CRUISE CONTROL EXTERIOR LIGHTING: BRAKE LIGHTS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: WIRING SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: SWITCHES: BRAKE LIGHT STEERING: ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: LEVER AND LINKAGE: FLOOR SHIFT POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

NHTSA complaint #11221833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 151,000 miles Stoughton, WI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SPEEDOMETER STOPS WORKING WHILE DRIVING, SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON, ENGINE IGNITION STOPS WORKING AND CAR DOESN'T TURN OVER OR START. THIS HAPPENS WHEN IN MOTION AND NOT IN MOTION.

NHTSA complaint #11210553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 130,400 miles Detroit, MI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I WAS DRIVING IN DETROIT MI I WAS AT THE LIGHT WHEN MY MY CAR LIGHTS START BLINKING OFF AND ON AND MY AIR BAG POPPED OUT

NHTSA complaint #11205530 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 165,000 miles Sioux Falls, SD

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CANNOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IN ANY DIRECTION. ALMOST AS IF ITS LOCKED IN PLACE. AT FIRST IT JUST SEEMED LIKE THE POWER STEERING WAS GOING OUT, BUT THE NEXT MORNING WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE FOR WORK IT WAS GONE ALL TOGETHER

NHTSA complaint #11184915 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles ST. Stephen, SC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS ,THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START DUE TO A FAULTY SECURITY SYSTEM. DURING THE FAILURE THE "SECURITY LOCK" MESSAGE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DICK SMITH CHEVROLET (1601 US -52, MONCKS CORNER, SC) WHO UNLOCKED THE SECURITY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA complaint #11173876 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Diego, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

YESTERDAY, WHEN TRYING TO PARK, I HEARD A CHIME AND THE MESSAGE "POWER STEERING" POPPED UP ON THE INFO SCREEN. THE CAR BECAME INCREDIBLY HARD TO STEER, SO I'M THINKING THE POWER STEERING HAD SHUT OFF. I TURNED MY CAR OFF, THEN BACK ON, AND THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK ON, SO I WAS ABLE TO PARK THE CAR CORRECTLY. WHEN WE WERE ABOUT TO HEAD HOME, AS SOON AS I TURN ON A BUSY STREET, JUST BEFORE GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CHIME GOES OFF, THE MESSAGE POPS UP, AND MY POWER STEERING SHUTS OFF AGAIN. I TURNED (WITH ALL MY MIGHT) INTO AN EMPTY PARKING LOT AND TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR A LITTLE BIT. MY FAMILY AND I WERE LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD, BUT WE WEREN'T SURE WHAT TO CHECK FOR. WE EVENTUALLY GOT BACK IN THE CAR AND WENT HOME. THANKFULLY, THE POWER STEERING STAYED ON AND WE GOT HOME SAFELY (17 MILES ON THE HIGHWAY). I'M JUST WORRIED THAT IT WILL EVENTUALLY TURN OFF ON ITS OWN AGAIN. IF I HAVE TO SCHEDULE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT, I WOULD LIKE TO GO IN PREPARED THIS TIME. A FEW MONTHS AGO, WHEN I HAD A BRAKE LIGHT ISSUE, ONE PARTICULAR SERVICE DEPARTMENT TRIED CHARGING ME $500+ FOR A PART. THE STEERING WHEEL SHIMMIED ON IT'S OWN ONLY ABOVE 50 MPH, I TRIED IT OUT AND I'LL TELL YOU, IT'S A TWO HANDED FIGHT TO KEEP THE CAR UNDER CONTROL.

NHTSA complaint #11166697 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 180,000 miles Fortworth, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, IT STALLED WITHOUT WARNING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. ON EACH OCCASION, THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY ACTIVATED THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR, IGNITION SWITCH, STARTER, FUEL TANK, AND THE BATTERY; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES RECURRED. VANDERGRIFF CHEVROLET (1200 WEST INTERSTATE 20, ARLINGTON, TEXAS 76017, (682) 323-2486) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000.

NHTSA complaint #11141478 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 117,000 miles Arab, AL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY 2006 CHEVY HAS BEEN HAVING SOME SORT OF ELECTRICAL ISSUE. THE POWER LOCK DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK BY PRESSING THE BUTTON AND INSTEAD WILL ON THEIR OWN LOCK AND UNLOCK THEMSELVES WITHOUT THE BUTTONS OR CAR RUNNING FOR SOME INSTANCES OF 1 MINUTE UP TO 5 MINUTES. WE HAVE HAD TO PRY A WINDOW OPEN TO GET INSIDE THE VEHICLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. HOWEVER SOMETIMES YOU ARE UNABLE TO GET THE DOORS TO UNLOCK WITHOUT TURNING THE KEYS IN THE MANUAL CAR LOCK LOCATED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THE LOCK PULSE WHEN SITTING STILL OR DRIVING THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #11141162 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 200,000 miles Detroit, MI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JAMES MARTIN CHEVROLET (6250 WOODWARD AVE, DETROIT, MI 48202, (313) 444-8226) TO BE SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL STABILITY CONTROL), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA complaint #11131072 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chicago, IL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY FAILURES UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CHEVROLET OF HOMEWOOD (18033 HALSTED ST, HOMEWOOD, IL 60430, (708) 799-2000) FOR THREE MANUFACTURER RECALLS. WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIR, THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO START. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BATTERY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN THE KEY WAS INSERTED IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #11033046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2006 Chevrolet Malibu problems

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