2006 Chevrolet Malibu Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 812about this part
- Share
- 73%of 1,118 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 85,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 812 complaints about the steering of the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu, 73% of the 1,118 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 85,000 miles. 23 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers. 2 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“On three separate occasions, since purchasing less than 2 years ago, my power steering has stopped working. If I turn the car off, get out, and get back in to restart, then it has corrected itself. It has always happened in a stationary setting thus far, but after reading about the 2014 recall for 04-06, I'm nervous that I may be having the same issue.”
NHTSA complaint #11415406, filed 2021-05, 138,000 miles“The steering wheel continues to keep locking up while I'm driving and I have to cut car off and start multiple times in order for it to drive properly,it has done this while I'm driving and while I was parked. I was told that it has been multiple recalls specifically on this but they cannot do anything because it's not an open recall.”
NHTSA complaint #11315971, filed 2020-03, 208,091 miles“Shut off car to get gas, when I restarted the car, there was a chime and a message that read power steering. The car had no power steering. Once I turned the car off and then restarted it, the power steering returned. I saw that in 2014 there was a recall for the eps and I contacted a chevy dealership which told me the recall was closed in 2015.”
NHTSA complaint #11061420, filed 2018-01, 84,000 miles“My fuel pump does not work properly it reads empty. Also I was driving and my power steering stopped working as I was turning. I was very scared of crashing my car. I had to stop my car and turn it off then turn it back on and my power steering was working again. This has happened 3 times in the last 2 days.”
NHTSA complaint #11300278, filed 2020-01, 158,000 miles“I was driving towards raytown missouri for a birthday party and asni was driving over a railroad track, my car startee making noise and acted as if it didnt want to go. So I later found out that my transmisaion fluid had leaked and now the transmission case needs to be replaced due to the tracks on the road.”
NHTSA complaint #11228485, filed 2019-06, 178,000 milesRelated recalls
- 15V064000Feb 4, 2015General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured April 1, 2006, to June 30, 2006, and…Covers: Chevrolet Malibu 2006–2007, Pontiac G6 2006–2007, Chevrolet Malibu Maxx 2006–2007
- 14V153000Mar 31, 2014General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2006 Malibu Maxx, 2009-2010 HHR (non-turbo), 2010…Covers: Chevrolet Malibu 2004–2006, 2008–2009, Saturn Ion 2004–2007, Pontiac G6 2005–2006, 2008–2009 +4 more
Related service bulletins
- 10245395Nov 6, 2023This service bulletin provides a vibration analysis worksheet the technician can use in conjunction with the appropriate Vibration Analysis-Road testing procedure when diagnosing…
- 10178292Jun 5, 2020This technical bulletin provides a procedure to eliminate a power steering noise due to extremely low temperatures.
Steering: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 8% |
| 2024 | 2 | 5% |
| 2023 | 5 | 7% |
| 2022 | 2 | 2% |
| 2021 | 2 | 2% |
| 2020 | 16 | 8% |
| 2019 | 2 | 1% |
| 2018 | 42 | 6% |
| 2017 | 47 | 7% |
| 2016 | 42 | 5% |
| 2015 | 9 | 3% |
| 2014 | 26 | 7% |
| 2013 | 181 | 22% |
| 2012 | 191 | 21% |
| 2011 | 214 | 22% |
| 2010 | 454 | 33% |
| 2009 | 769 | 51% |
| 2008 | 460 | 47% |
| 2007 | 667 | 68% |
| 2006 | 812 | 73% |
| 2005 | 506 | 52% |
| 2004 | 799 | 70% |
| 2003 | 21 | 4% |
| 2002 | 13 | 2% |
| 2001 | 41 | 6% |
| 2000 | 45 | 5% |
| 1999 | 37 | 5% |
| 1998 | 74 | 8% |
| 1997 | 80 | 18% |
Other parts of the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu
142 complaintsFuel system
96 complaintsBrakes
70 complaintsExterior lighting
63 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
43 complaintsVehicle speed control
35 complaintsAir bags
34 complaintsEngine
33 complaintsElectronic stability control
29 complaintsOther or unknown
28 complaintsEngine cooling
25 complaintsSuspension
15 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology