2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx most often describe losing power steering assist while driving — typically a chime and a "Power Steering" message on the radio display, followed by a steering wheel that becomes very hard to turn, sometimes recovering after a restart. Complaints are spread across the full mileage range of the sample, from under 10,000 miles to well past 200,000, and several owners say the symptom returned after a recall repair. Smaller numbers of complaints involve stalling or reduced-power events, brake and brake-lamp behavior, fuel odors, and modest transmission or electrical concerns.

1. 1
   Steering

   Power steering assist cuts out while driving

   • 199 complaints (74%)
   • median 83,659 mi at 5.6 yrs old (181 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $700 (median of 19 quotes)
   • filed 2006–2025

   Owners describe a chime and a "Power Steering" message appearing on the radio display, after which the steering wheel suddenly becomes very hard to turn — sometimes while turning, accelerating onto a highway, or at parking-lot speeds. Many say shutting the car off and restarting restores assist, only for the loss to return minutes or days later; some describe the wheel jerking or pulling to one side, and a few report a pop or click before the warning. Dealers and mechanics have replaced the steering column, the electric power steering motor or module, the intermediate shaft, or the rack and pinion, and some owners say the problem came back after those repairs or after a steering recall was performed. Reported across the whole sample, from under 10,000 miles to over 200,000 miles, with many complaints in the 50,000-110,000 mile range and no clear weather pattern.

   Recall 15V064000Recall 14V153000

   What to check: Ask whether the electric power steering recalls (14V153 and 15V064) were performed on this vehicle and keep the paperwork. On a test drive, watch for the power steering warning message and confirm the wheel turns easily at low speed and during parking maneuvers.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While making a left hand turn on to a road my power steering completely went out and I just about ran off the road into a tree. This problem occurs just about every day and it is now to the point where I wont let my wife drive my car or let my kids ride in it. I have been told that I will need to replace the entire steering column and that the approx. Cost will be $1000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10323681, filed 2010-04, 78,000 miles

   “I was taking my granddaughter to school and the power steering went out as I was pulling in to the school. I turn off the car to locate the power steering pump but could not locate it.when I started the car it was fine so when I got home I found out that this is a big problem and GM is not doing anything about it.what is it going to take for somebody does something about it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10450739, filed 2012-03, 85,800 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Stalling or sudden loss of power while driving

   • 30 complaints (11%)
   • median 97,739 mi at 8.4 yrs old (27 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2025

   Complaints describe the engine shutting off without warning at speed, sometimes with a "Reduced Engine Power" or "Engine Disabled" message and multiple warning lights, after which the car can be restarted after a short wait. Several owners say dealers could not find stored codes or reproduce the problem, and some report the vehicle stalling or lurching again after recall-related repairs. Mostly reported between about 80,000 and 180,000 miles, at both city and highway speeds.

   What to check: Ask whether the stalling has been diagnosed and whether any repair records exist for the throttle, ignition, or module programming. A scan for stored and pending codes before purchase is worthwhile.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata recall the security system locked up and the ingnition won't turn over so the car refuses to start. This all happened when I put it in neutral and it just shutoff. Then refuses to start.the car was technically stationary, my foot was in the brake while it was in neutral. We were about to turn into a church parking lot when it stalled out and would not come back on.”

   NHTSA complaint #11119508, filed 2018-08, 154,041 miles

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10552316, filed 2013-11, 179,000 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Brake lights stay on and cruise control stops working

   • 19 complaints (7%)
   • median 69,789 mi at 6.6 yrs old (17 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2021

   Owners report the brake lamps staying lit with the pedal released and going dark when the pedal is pressed, which also affects cruise control and remote start. Some say replacing the brake pedal sensor did not resolve it, and one owner points to a body control module connection bulletin covering voltage fluctuations in the brake sensor circuit. Others describe brakes grabbing, a hard pedal, or the ABS and traction control lights coming on during braking. Reported from roughly 50,000 to 160,000 miles; the brake-lamp complaints tend to appear on older, higher-mileage vehicles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: With the car running and the pedal released, have someone watch the rear lamps; ask whether the brake apply sensor or body control module connections have been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We purchased our 2006 mailbu maxx in november 2005. Two months later there was a violent shake in the front end, the dealership turned the rotors because they were warped. Then we started having trouble with the electrical system right after the warranty ran out.the rear wiper comes on by itself, interior lights blow constantly as well as headlights. Door locks work when they want to. Keyless has not worked for three years even with new remote batteries. Since the car has had 40,000 miles on it the power steering has been acting up. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10463333, filed 2012-06, 6,000 miles

   “Cruise control stopped working, remote start stopped working, brake lights come on when pedal is not pressed and go off when pedal is pressed. Vehicle shows stopping when driving and driving when stopping. Will get rear-ended same thing happened 3 years ago. Gm technical service bulletin #08-05-22-009c issued in 2008.”

   NHTSA complaint #10607147, filed 2014-06, 51,000 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shudder, harsh shifting and vibration

   • 36 complaints (13%)
   • median 80,000 mi at 7.8 yrs old (35 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2021

   Complaints describe the vehicle shaking and vibrating at random, not shifting gears properly, and stalling or lurching when the brake pedal is released, in some cases after recall work at a dealer. Owners report difficulty getting a firm diagnosis, and one describes a delay in throttle response and shifting that a service bulletin characterizes as a normal characteristic. Reported mostly in the 50,000 to 120,000 mile range in the sample.

   Recall 14V2240002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check transmission fluid condition and ask for service history; drive at light and moderate throttle to feel for delayed or harsh shifts.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This has been happening for sometime now. I start my vehicle up to go, put it in drive and the car loses its power steering(steering wheel will not move) and the power steering warning shows up on the dash display. I also notice at a stop or at slow speeds the steering wheel jumps from right to left quite frequently.”

   NHTSA complaint #10510214, filed 2013-05, 116,010 miles

   “The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer last year for three manufacturer recall repairs, which did not remedy the failure. Months after the vehicle was taken to the dealer, it would not shift gears properly and the vehicle shook and vibrated randomly without warning. The contact had to apply force to the brake pedal and, if it were released, the vehicle would randomly stall. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10790542, filed 2015-11, 50,000 miles

Buying note. Check that the power steering recalls were completed on this specific vehicle and test the steering at low speed and during parking, since many owners report assist cutting out even after repairs. Also look for brake lights that stay on, fuel odors, and any history of stalling or transmission work before deciding.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.