This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
I just purchased my 2006 Chevrolet Malibu about a month ago. It had really low miles for a car that old( (99939 at the time of purchase). I love my car and it has done nothing really to anger me. I got a power steering warning through my radio display. The car drove normal so I paid it little or no attention. The one day I walked to the car and noticed that there was fluid leaking from under the car. Since I only had the car a very short time I took it to the warranty center to be looked at, they put my car on the computer and no defect codes came up. The mechanic asked me what color was the fluid that was leaking, like I would remember that! I told him I didn't know. Put a white piece of paper underneath there and wait a little while. The shop has had my car over a day and can tell me nothing. I am not one of those people that waits on something to happen. Warning lights and defect codes pop up for a reason. The reason I don't know but I will eventually. With all I have read on the internet about the steering all the problems started with defect codes. Is there a serious problem with the steering or with the fault display system?
(April 2011) leaving work one afternoon, I began to drive off the campus and as I began to drive the steering wheel began to tighten and as soon as I tried to make a left hand turn, the steering wheel locked up and would not turn. That day I ended up in the ditch and I'm thankful that no one was hurt. Every time I proceed to make a left hand turn and it's hot outside, the steering wheel locks up causing me to grab the wheel as hard as I can and merge to the shoulder to shut the car off and restart so the steering wheel becomes drivable. I called the dealership and they gave an estimated cost of $1500 plus dollars to fix the problem. I did not have the money and just suffered through the problem. Pulling over and restarting the car. When the weather cooled off in September or so the car had no problems and drove fine. Now its March 2012 in Mississippi and extremely hot and humid and now the steering wheel is locking up basically every time I get in the car. I can just be driving and it lock up. I cannot gamble with my life nor my children and I'm fearful that this car is going to cost us our lives if I continue to drive it around. Help!
I was driving on my way back home and suddenly I lost steering causing me to get hit by another vehicle, this happend in piedras negras Mexico and my insurance didnt cover the damage, thank god it was just a small hit on the fender but after looking for the issue online I found that the problem is caused by a malfunction in the power steering assitant motor, im not the first person that has that issue, in fact the 2005 Malibu and Pontiac G6 had the same issue and GM already recall that to fix it, I dont see why the are not accepting recalling this model since uses the same component. I hope that no one else get in an accident due to this. Here's a link from a web forum where you can find more users with same issue www.fixya.com/cars/T595753-2006_malibu_maxx_electric_power_steering
While making a right turn the power steering warning chimed three times and "power steering" was displayed on dic. The wheel was had to turn right. Problem went away but warning message still displayed on dic. If I were driving at a higher speed I wouldnt have been able to keep control of my vehicle and could have injured or killed myself or someone else!! this is very dangerous!! I am scared to drive my car that I have owned for 1 week!
- Oreland, PA, USA
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The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu. While the contact was driving approximately 45 mph and heard a chime inside of the vehicle when suddenly, there was a loss of power steering. The contact was able to maneuver to the side of the road where the engine was turned off. Upon restarting, the vehicle resumed as normal. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who advised the contact that the steering column would need to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000. The VIN was unavailable.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact was driving approximately 30 mph and unexpectedly the steering wheel locked with a complete loss of power steering. There was also an illumination of the power steering warning indicator. The contact was able to maneuver to the side of the road where the engine was turned off. Upon restarting, the vehicle resumed as normal. The failure occurred thirty times and eventually became a permanent malfunction whenever the vehicle was in operation. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated to the contact that the power steering assist module would need to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.
I am having problems with the electric power steering and from what I have heard is alot of other people have similar problems. My steering is real stiff where it needs two hands to turn the wheel and a good strong grip. I think this is unsafe and should be fixed through GM before this fails on others and cause a accident. Thank you.
I was getting ready to make a left turn onto a side road and the power steering failed. There was no hint of failure prior to the failure. A power steering notice appeared on the dash after the failure, no warning ring tones or sound given. I bought this car used from a Chevrolet dealer when it had appx. 36,000 miles on it. I was never notified by Chevrolet or the dealer about this problem, which seems to be rampant. I researched this issue on the internet and it appears that thousands of people are having this problem with various year Chevrolet models. This problem can cause injury or death. GM should be forced to issue recalls for all models affected at no charge to the consumer. That is the only fair and proper solution to the problem.
The power steering went out when my wife was on her way home and was attempting to turn down our street. The bulletin says that when this power steering assist fails, the vehicle can still be safely turned, but I take exception to that. My wife is of average strength and if someone had been walking on our street she couldn't have steered clear of them or if a car was parked when she turned there would have been an accident.I had the car in the GM dealership service at 100,000 miles for front end issues and had over $1000 of repairs including new front brakes and rotors. I feel that whenever a vehicle comes in that has a special coverage listed that is as potentially dangerous as this, the system should be replaced. When it failed completely it had 106,000 miles and we are told by GM that we are out of luck for any help. This problem is like russian roulette and even though it resets itself when turned off and back on, it may go out again in a week, a month or an hour and cannot be driven with confidence. I am very disappointed with GM that they won't at least cover some of this repair. This is not the type of problem that goes out gradually as to alert you of an issue, but rather all at once and takes you totally by surprise. I'm sure accidents have occurred because of this defect and is much more serious than GM makes it out to be. They should either fix the problem parts or at least cover a part with proven defects even if it is just past their mileage.
Got in my car this morning to go to work and all of a sudden my power steering doesnt work and power steering comes on up on my display. Been reading online and this seems to be a high number of complaints with this same exact problem and there have been no recalls yet. Of course the $2000 extended warranty I bought isn't going to cover it....
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while exiting a parking lot, the vehicle exhibited an abnormally loud noise as the power steering failed. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was told that the electronic power assist was failing. The contact stated that no warning lights were illuminated, but the clock and radio had to be reset when the failure occurred. The failure mileage was 98,700. Updated 03/28/12 updated 04/09/12
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving 50 mph, the power steering warning lamp illuminated and the power steering failed. The contact stated that after turning the vehicle completely off and restarting, the power steering regained normal functions. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnosis or repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 135,277.
The power steering goes out when making right or left hand turns. Or when the temp in the vehicle is hot the steering won't stay on at all. The dealer told me that there was a special warreny enancement issued but no recall. This means that a milage limit of 100,000 miles is in place. So this will cost me $1200 to fix for something that they know is wrong with this vehicle. I guess someone has to be killed or injured before something is done.
I was driving on the freeway at 65 mph when the power steering indicator came on with four bell tones - I lost the ability to easily steer the car. I had to struggle to get the car steered off the freeway. I turned the car off then on and power steering resumed. I got back on the freeway and within 15 minutes the problem occurred again and I had to struggle just to steer. This is a very dangerous situation as if the power steering totally locks up it can cause an accident. The power steering on the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu is electronic and its the same problem that the 2004 version was recalled for per my mechanic.
When pulling out of my driveway, power steering illuminated across the screen and then steering was lost. I turned the car off and on 5 times but the same message kept reappearing with returned inability to steer.
I was just backing up at church and the dinging noise came on like when your car door is open. I look at the information on the screen and it says power steering. I could not turn my car without using 2 hands to do it. I was able to drive it home (2 blocks). After looking up the problem online and seeing so many complaints about the same problem and suggesting I turn off the car and turn it back on, I went out to try it and it worked. It's as if I had no problem at all. I went around the block and didn't have a problem, but what if I'm on the highway and it does it again. I think there should be a recall on this. I have had several problems with my front end. Left front lower ball joint and both stabilizer end links loose, replaced control arm, axle falling off, shaft, you name it. And I don't abuse my car. Just want to add yet another complaint to the rest. And yes, this will be my last Chevy. We are now depending on our 1997 Ford Ranger with 212,000 miles on it. My Chevy has 85,000. To say the least, I don't feel safe driving this car anymore. I always feel like I'm just minutes away from something going wrong with the front end. I feel like I need a safety inspection every month.
2006 Chevrolet Malibu 2.2 / 4cl. The power steering stops working, this vehicle does not have a regular power steering system, I believe it is electronic. The problem is while you drive at any speed the steering becomes hard to steer, no power at all, creating a very difficult and dangerous situation that can cause a deadly accident. There is no recall yet we believe. But there are several, many situations like this one, no power steering while driving at any speed, suddenly stops working.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while in reverse, the steering failed without warning. The contact had to apply abrupt force to the steering wheel in order to control the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the dealer performed a diagnostic and located the failure at the steering column. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 61,000.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated when she applied pressure to the brakes, the brake light would not illuminate and when it would illuminate, it would not shut off. In addition, she noticed that the check engine warning light was also illuminated. When attempting to accelerate, the vehicle would exhibit an abnormal knocking from the engine followed by a violent jerking. The steering wheel also seized intermittently, making it difficult to control the vehicle. The dealer replaced the oxygen banks one and two, core pack, spark plugs and the prongs. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The current mileage was 155,000 and the approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Clarksburg, MD, USA