Print this page

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
22 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
11 / 0
Average Mileage:
85,720 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

2006 Chevrolet Malibu steering problems

steering problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2006 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 9 of 38)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #591

Jul 252017

Malibu

  • 130,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The electric power steering locks up making it impossible to steer the vehicle when accelerating in a sharp turn.

- Bloomington, IN, USA

problem #590

Jun 282017

Malibu

  • miles
When driving or not moving drive shaft makes a clinging noise when turning called Chevy they told me it was already replaced under recall, had a mechanic chek it out say my front end is O K.so I looked up on computer for recalls.car has 80000 miles on car shaft was replaced at 67000miles defect is back

- Eastlake, OH, USA

problem #589

Jun 152016

Malibu

  • 114,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving various speeds, the steering wheel vibrated and the vehicle pulled from left to right. The vehicle became difficult to steer and lost power steering ability. The vehicle was taken to the dealer (harbin Chevrolet in scottsboro, SC) where it was diagnosed that the steering column or the steering assist motor failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the diagnostic fees. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. The approximate failure mileage was 114,000.

- Woodville, AL, USA

problem #588

Feb 032017

Malibu

  • 203,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I had one recall on it when Chevy replaced a part in the steering about 2 years ago and the car was driving fine after. As of the past few months there is a rattle and pulsation in the steering wheel while driving. I see a lot of people have this issue and a few of them had some parts changed but the problem is still there. Please look into this because this is dangerous

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #587

May 282017

Malibu

  • 126,456 miles
Takata recall I bearly merged on the highway and my car, S steering wheel got hard to manuever and the vwhicle started slowing down. I had to struggle to slowly pull over my car on side of highway amd turned it off. My car wouldnt start up amd when it did my steering wheel was hard to turn.

- Organ, NM, USA

problem #586

Apr 202017

Malibu

  • 160,000 miles
While accelerating quickly to enter a highway or to pass a vehicle the car loses the power steering. Resulting in two near miss accidents. Once the vehicle swerved into the other lane almost hitting another car, second when the car swerved I almost struck a concrete barrier. GM is aware and the car is listed in a recall. GM states it was not directly built in a plant with the defective electrical power steering assist motor. This is unsafe.

- Posen, MI, USA

problem #585

Mar 272017

Malibu

  • 113,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My car has already been serviced as a part of the eps recall (N140115- bulletin 14116). However, my vehicle just started exhibiting the same symptoms when I turn it on: Loss of power steering and power steering message displayed in the driver information center. If I turn off the vehicle and restart, sometimes the message and error go away, other times it will remain. The steering wheel also wobbles when the vehicle is at rest if I am not holding the wheel steady.

- St Louis Park, MN, USA

problem #584

Dec 082014

Malibu

  • 130,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that there had been no failures until the dealer repaired the vehicle per an eps recall. The contact noticed a week ago that the steering wheel seized and the power steering failed. The dealer diagnosed that the power steering torque sensor needed to be replaced. The manufacturer refused to provide a solution and was informed that there was no failure until the dealer provided the remedy. The VIN and recall details were not available. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.

- Struthers, OH, USA

problem #583

Mar 222017

Malibu

  • 132,000 miles
I have intermittent electronic power steering (eps) issues with my 2006 Chevrolet Malibu 2lt 3.5V6. The majority of the issue was related to the temporary loss of power steering, usually during acceleration, followed by an audible, multi-note chime, and the words "power steering" displayed on my radio data display. This occurred almost exactly as described in both GM recalls #14116 & 10183. From recall #14116: "the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration campaign id number for this recall is 14V153." GM has denied my claims contending they only have to fix it if the issue returns immediately, even though it took them 8 years to issue a recall. I believe that the issue has never been satisfactorily remedied and I am hoping you can help me resolve the issue without further danger and cost to me. History: The car was purchased new in 3/2016 and to the best of knowledge, the issue started within 3 to 6 months of purchase. It was annoying, but initially occurred so infrequently and randomly that it was not worth fixing. It was repaired at about 55,000 miles (10/2012) B/C of recall 10183. The issue went away for a while, but returned and was repaired again at about 88,000 miles (4/2015). Again it went away and returned at about 2/2016 & 105,000 miles. It became very dangerous for a while, but went away without repair. The issue has returned again in 1/2017 at about 132,000 miles and has left me almost completely without eps. Issue specifics: The problem started as temp. Loss of eps during acceleration followed by chimes & a "power steering" message. It advanced to include loss of eps during acceleration around corners (ex: On ramps) and the eps trying to forcefully straighten the steering wheel straight while cornering. Now, I either do not have power steering at startup, have a shaking steering wheel or lose eps during trips.

- York, PA, USA

problem #582

Mar 142017

Malibu

  • 96,000 miles
Brought can used 2 months ago.car now is displaying power steering message in dic, often. Dash warning blink and go dead. Find a GM special message that addresses issues for all makes of GM cars in year frame, except the Malibu. Special message #10183. But only for cars no more than 10 years old, under 100K. Our car has 96K but is 11 years old. GM will not honor because of being 11 years old, even though it is the same known safety problem message addresses. GM has no record of ever fixing this VIN for this know safety issue, but will not repair under the message. Problem occurs while driving.

- Laporte, IN, USA

problem #581

Dec 152016

Malibu

  • 90,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 60 mph, the steering wheel locked up. The power steering warning indicator did not illuminate. The vehicle was previously taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the shifter needed to be repaired. The vehicle was previously repaired, but the issue recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 90,000.

- Leeds, AL, USA

problem #580

Dec 132016

Malibu

  • 124,627 miles
The vehicle has had a recall for defective electric power steering requiring the replacement of the torque sensor assembly. This vehicle has had the recall performed, but the replacement part has failed 2 more times since the recall was performed. The second replacement occurred 11,210 miles later and was covered under the 12,000 mile part warranty, but the third replacement occurred with 29,917 miles and was not covered by the 12,000 mile part warrantee. The resulting repair was $348.08. It would appear that the replacement part #23232310 "sensor kit-sh" is not functioning any better than the originally recalled part and the recall is not a long term solution to the original problem. This recall was made because it effects the electric power steering of the vehicle which when lost: "the vehicle will revert to a manual steering mode, but would require greater driver effort at low vehicle speeds, which could result in an increased risk of a crash".

- Ballston Spa, NY, USA

problem #579

Feb 272017

Malibu

  • 2 miles
Power steering fails while driving. Steering wheel also turns by itself when parked.

- Dalton, MN, USA

problem #578

Jan 012016

Malibu

  • 145,000 miles
When accelerating quickly it pulls really hard to the right jerking the steering wheel out of your hand. There is a temporary lose of control of the steering wheel. I checked my vehicles VIN to see if there were any recalls that it would fall under and it did not seem to match any. This is a very dangerous situation to be in and I am glad that this has only happened when an experienced driver has been at the wheel. I believe this might be something GM should further look into before someone loses their life. I have seen several other complaints that also do not fall under a recall. This is definitely a dangerous defect and should not be fixed at the owners expense.

- Columbia, TN, USA

problem #577

Jan 122017

Malibu

  • 118,000 miles
"takata recall" my vehicle has recently been shaking when I turn it on. The wheel itself will start to shake and once in awhile my car will say "power steering" I recently got the alignment done hoping that would help but it hasn't. it will also shake while driving. I have two kids and don't think this is safe to be driving!

- Saint Ignatius, MT, USA

problem #576

Feb 072017

Malibu

  • 145,000 miles
Steering wheel shakes on its own. Loss of power steering. Power steering problem on dic. Happens when driving and parked.

- Norton Shores, MI, USA

problem #575

Feb 142017

Malibu

  • 79,000 miles
Earlier in the day the steering wheel was moving slightly from side to side on its own while driving at all speeds between 0-55 mph. The power steering quit working while the vehicle was parked and shut off for 5 minutes while I went into a store to get something to eat. When I came back out and started my car there was no power steering. I shut the car off for 15 minutes and started it and the power steering worked but the steering wheel was slightly moving from side to side on its own. One hour later I started the car again and there was no power steering. There has been no power steering for two days. The dealer said it was the power steering electronic assist motor which wasn't included in the GM power steering recall.

- Webberville, MI, USA

problem #574

Feb 112017

Malibu

  • 95,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving 5 mph, the power steering became difficult to operate. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V046000 (steering). The failure recurred twice. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 95,000.

- Canton, MI, USA

problem #573

Jan 282017

Malibu

  • 212,000 miles
I was told that there was a power steering issue with many 2006 Chevrolet Malibu's and mine was not one of them. I have had issues with my power steering for the past 5 years and every year it goes out between the winter months of January-March. And every year I am told that my car is not one of the recalled vehicles. I have had lighting issues, electrical issues, and power steering issues back to back. This is a hazard because they all seem to malfunction all at the same time and/or while I'm driving or parked. I have children but I'm scared to have them in my car. Please help me, I know that this is apart of the recall this car is a safety hazard. I will attach a photo but I also have video.

- Westland, MI, USA

problem #572

Jan 152017

Malibu

  • 210,000 miles
It feels like you lose power steering and gets hard to turn right before you lose the power steering wheel shakes real bad and radio has on it power steering I don't think that is the safest thing to have fall on car my car was made 4 /6 /06 and I see there is recall for same thing for cars made on 4/18/06 and I don't think that right that's my car is not coverd and I have to pay for there F---- up I geuss it not a problem untell I get in a accident and someone gets hurt the steering wheel shake stationary and in motion and city street and highway and losses power assist in all those areas to.

- Fort Ransom, ND, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?