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.
While driving my 2006 Chevy Malibu the power steering suddenly went out. I soon noticed that every time the car turned to the right it would lose the power steering function. This causes the steering wheel to lock up and it must be heavily muscled to turn the car. I took it to a GM dealer, and they were forced to replace the steering column as well as the power steering motor, as the Malibu has electric power steering.
I was driving about 5 miles from my home and the steering went out on my 2006 Chevy Malibu, as I was attempting to make a turn. I had my grandchild with me I could have caused an accident I turned the car off for 1 0 min. And started it back up. The steering light went off but the car did the same thing twice before getting home unhurt. I need my car fixed. I cannot afford it.
I own a 2006 Chevy Malibu and had to replace the vehicle's steering column because the power steering fails each and every time when driving at parking lot speeds and especially when making hard turns to either the right or left. Going around a corner or pulling onto a city street is enough to make it fail. Upon failure, the vehicle information system displays "power steering" and requires me to turn the vehicle off and then back on before function returns to the vehicle. I took the vehicle to the dealer and even though there is a recall on four Chevy/Pontiac models with the same exact issue, I had to pay out of pocket for a new steering column w/steering motor which cost me $700 on a vehicle that is less than a year from the original warranty. I am the original owner of the vehicle and even the service consultant states that this is not something I could have caused. The dealer also stated there is a service bulletin on the power steering for the Malibu for it failing at high speeds but not at low speeds. This is a very dangerous issue as it is unexpected and I could have been seriously injured because the vehicle is not easy to steer as GM likes to claim. I filed a complaint to GM and a district rep called me and stated that I would not be eligible for any re-reimbursement because my vehicle is a Malibu yet it is the correct year for the recall with the same exact issues.
While driving the power steering fails. It has happened 3 times while I've had my son in the car. It happens when I am in the middle of a curve. I have almost lost control of the vehicle.
- Point Pleasant, WV, USA
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The power steering in my 2006 Chevy has now failed for the second time! making it almost impossible to steer! this is not a safe vehicle! I almost ran off the road when it failed in a curve! I thought I had a flat tire! the first time it failed my car had 30,000 miles and the second time about 80,000 miles I'd say Chevy Malibu 2006 had a defect in the power steering.
Loss of power steering at low speed maneuvers. Occurs randomly. Complete loss on 4/4/10 and several occurrences where some power assist was lost - all at low speeds. Seems to come back after a short period of time and has never happened at speeds above 10mph. Dealership and GM customer service said no recalls - just turn the car off and restart if steering does not return. Not much of a answer to what seems like could be a serious problem. No pattern as to when it will happen - almost had a low speed accident on 4/4/10 when total steering assist was lost. I am worried about this happening at higher speeds and my wife is very concerned about driving the vehicle. GM customer service assigned a ref# to my complaint but does not appear that anything will be done at the dealership or by GM on what I would think is a serious problem.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the power steering light illuminated followed by a power steering failure. The problem occurred intermittently while the contact was driving long distances. He took the vehicle to an authorized dealership where he was informed that the power steering module was defective. The dealer calibrated the steering wheel position system but after 10 miles, the failure occurred again. The contact feared that he could possibly lose control of the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000. The current mileage was approximately 56,100.
Complete power steering failure, causing loss of control and a near-collision. Driving approx. 30mph, into a left turn, and failure occurred. After restarting vehicle next day, power steering worked, until going about 20mph, turning right. Has not come back on after that. That was 5 days ago.
I purchased a 2006 Malibu on the 17th, then on the 24th the power steering went out, ive been researching and ive found many complaints about chezy Malibu on the computer, I dont understand why they are not apart of the recall. Just research all of the complaints with Malibu power steering and you will see
I have an 06 Chevy Malibu lt V6 that has had a steering issue since I purchased the vehicle. While the car was under warranty it was in the shop 3 seperate occasions (about every 15K miles) for steering problems and noises while turning. The dealership replaced the intermediate steering shatf 2 times and did nothing the 3rd. I hear noises all the time when I turn (the dealership can find anything wrong) and just this morning while driving to work the steering locked up and I was unable to turn and almost wrecked if it wasnt for my quick thinking. Once I shut the car off and restared the engine it appeared to fix the problem for now. I have seen that this is a major issue on a lot of 06 Malibu's and I am wondering why there has been a recall on other models (cobalt and G5) for the same exact issue but not on the Malibu when there are obviously enough complaints to warrant a recall when people can get seriously injured even killed because of this issue. It makes me not want to drive my car (or should I say death trap on wheels) at all. What is it going to take someone to get killed before action is taken.
2006 Chevy Malibu electric power steering failure. When started car the power steering would not work. After about 10 minutes the power steering would start to work, shut car off and restart the power steering would not work again for another five minutes.
Date March 18,2010. I own a 2006 Chevy Malibu, V-6, electric steering. The power steering went completely out on my vehicle while my husband was driving to the store. There is no way tofill the power steering fluid reservoir as the car doesn't have one. I have been having trouble with the steering for the past two or three weeks, especially when making turns. I haven't had any accidents to cause this to happen. I will attempt to get this repaired, but I do feel that GM needs to address this issue immediately.
Power steering light came on in message box, once again, this time I was in car with my kids and going at 40miles. I had to pull over to a parking lot due to it being hard to steer car. Had to turn car off for 2mins and then start car up to even regain normal steering of my car! this is the 3rd time this has happened to me and yet GM is only recalling all other makes but not the 06 Malibu!!! I've seen to many complaints on this model on the web of NHTSA. This is my 2nd complaint just made one just 2 weeks ago on this same matter. GM needs to get it together, this is a problem that needs attention before there are deaths or injuries!!!
I have a 2006 Chevy Malibu. I purchased it used and had issues with the steering. The dealer worked on it, replaced something in the steering column after my bringing it to them several times. Now a year later and now that my warranty is not valid anymore. They aren't wanting to do anything about it even though it is the same issue they fixed before. I am having the same issue. The steering slips, makes noise and sometimes doesn't complete the turn as it should. I hear of this happening all of the time with numerous cheverlot models. Something needs to be done before someone is killed. I will not by another cheverlot if they don't take better care of their customers than this.
I own a 2006 Malibu with the identical steering problem that the cobalt is being recalled for. I have called Chevrolet for months, and have always been told there was no issue with the electronic motors. Why isn't the Malibu included in on this recall?
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Stephenville, TX, USA