2006 Chevrolet Malibu Steering Problems
- 687
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 687 stored complaint records:
- 20 indicate a crash
- 7 indicate injury
- 1 indicate fire
What owners report
- power steering · 148 records
- steering wheel · 60 records
- failure mileage · 13 records
- loss power · 13 records
- diagnosed repaired · 12 records
- warning indicator · 10 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 209 |
| 100–150k mi | 150 |
| 30–60k mi | 127 |
| 150–400k mi | 79 |
| 1–30k mi | 53 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Steering
I pulled out of the parking lot of my job one day and my power steering warning flashed on my radio. At the same time my car shut off in the middle of traffic. I did not know what to do so instinctively i cut my car off and cut it back on. It temporarily fixed the issue. Now out of no where if i make any sharp turns the power steering shuts the car down. This is very dangerous and could cause an accident especially…
ODI 10511726
Steering
As i was making a turn on a major street my power steering went out; i have contacted gm numerous times to this fixed, without me have to come out of my pocket over $1,000.00 to get this fixed. In 2014 there was a recall done and when i went to the dealership to get this fixed they are stating that it is the power assist (motor) that is out and not part of the recall. I have been back in contact with gm but nothing…
ODI 10711915
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that while driving 10 mph, the power steering warning lamp illuminated and the electronic steering locked up, as the consumers wife was making a left turn. The contact mentioned that the failure occurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the steering column had an internal short in one of the sensors. As…
ODI 10503009
Steering
I was pulling into a parking lot and the car gave me the 'ding' that tells me something is wrong. I looked at the dash and it flashed power steering. The wheel became very hard to turn and i was able to pull into a parking stall. When i started the car back up the steering was normal again. I went online and noticed that there are a number of complaints similar to what i experienced. I am really concerned about…
ODI 10501898
Electrical System · Steering
Around march 2013, i first began to encounter problems with my power steering. It began at a low speed with a chime, a message display saying to check the power steering, and my wheel locking up (power steering fail). At the time, i did not think much of it because after restarting the car, the power steering seemed fine. After this incident, there were many times when the chime would sound and the message would…
ODI 10617419
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 mph, the steering wheel was difficult to maneuver and the power steering warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the coil. The failure recurred and the vehicle was taken to the dealer who replaced the power steering module, eye shaft, and the rack pinion but the failure…
ODI 10627392
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that while driving 5 mph, the power steering system malfunctioned. The contact took the vehicle to a dealer for diagnostics who stated that the steering a shaft needed to be replaced. The contact called the manufacturer and filed a complaint. The failure mileage was 30,280. Updated 03/15/13*lj the consumer stated his wife experienced two failures at 25…
ODI 10497763
Electrical System · Steering
I was driving on the highway with 60 mph. I suddenly recognized that it was very hard to steer. It was very hard for me to pull it over . As i knew this issue with 2006 malibu cars (read many complaints about it on the internet before), i did not panic, and achieved it to pull over without any accident. (by the way, i am a male driver and i do not think any female driver without any knowledge of such problem in…
ODI 10497670
Electrical System · Steering
Traveling down the highway and suddenly the vehicle is very hard to steer got the vehicle pulled over to the side of the road after having to muscle the wheel then had the car towed to the dealer.was told it was a electric power steering assist motor that had went out causing the problem and after questioning about a recall was told they were recalled in canada but not the us this is a very concerning matter that gm…
ODI 10496140
Electrical System · Engine · Steering
The power steering goes out whenever it want to while the car is in motion. The gas hand goes down to e when the car really have gas in it, but it will go back up on its own. The engine light is on, and the car do not get as much power have to hit the gas all the way rpm go all the way up. I have not even had this car for two years but having all these problems with it. *tr
ODI 10494520
Fuel/Propulsion System · Steering · Wheels
I have a 2006 chevy malibu,first incident was probably jan 2013 i filled gas tank and instantly the gauge goes to empty and engine light comes on , then gauge goes from full to empty for up to 3 days , then it goes back to normal. Now i have a problem with the steering pulling me from left to right , sometimes very suddenly. Had the alignment done and new tires still have the same problem. Getting scary to drive.…
ODI 10508205
Steering
Upon returning from vacation, we retrieved our 2006 chevrolet malibu from a friends house and the car beeped once and my husband was like "what's that", then i noticed in the message center area that it was flashing power steering, which it had never done before. Now, every time i get into the car, the car beeps and the power steering message comes on in the message center. I have researched the issue and have…
ODI 10492073
Steering
The vehicle was being driven on 2 lane highway at 45 mph suddenly power steering warning message appeared in display, warning noise came on (ding) and there was no power steering. The vehicle was pulled over anf the ignition was turned off and the vehicle was re-started and the warning message was gone and the powersteering started working again. I checked for, (diagnostic trouble codes), dtc's with a scantool and…
ODI 10499225
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the power steering warning light illuminated while parking and the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis. The technician stated that the steering column would have to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not further…
ODI 10514779
Electronic Stability Control · Steering
Hard to turn steering left 4 brief moment. Power steering light display???? *tr
ODI 10488629
Steering
On accel loss of power steering assist ,steering very hard to move hit brake to slow down steering recovered. Accelerated vehicle again and was able to reproduce effect mention above. Steering very hard to turn in the morning hours and lose of steering happens. *tr
ODI 10490107
Steering
I was working on my mother-in-laws malibu out in the front yard and crank it after looking into some other issues this car has, and the steering wheel turns itself all the way to the left on it's own.i then try to turn it back and notice there is no power assist. I ask her about it and she said it has done that a few times recently, where she is driving down the road and all of a sudden, as explained by others, a…
ODI 10557577
Steering
When pulling out from a stop and making a right hand turn the power steering quits - making it very hard to steer, power steering comes up in the display center, and the warning center ding is sounded. Started happening about once a week and now happens a couple times each time the car is driven. When the car is shut off and restarted everything is back to normal, until it happens again when making one of your next…
ODI 10508124
Steering
September 2012 i had both front drive axles replaced because there was shaking in the steering and the mechanic said it was those axles. May 2013 the shaking was still very persistent and i was hearing a popping noise when turning the wheels. Mechanic replaced the sway bars. This still didnt solve the problem. 6-3-13 when driving about 25mph "power steering" came up on radio dial and car was very hard to steer.…
ODI 10520278
Steering
Steering wheel locked 3 times within a 0.5 mile distance driving no more than 25 mph while my kids were in the car with me. *tr
ODI 10474374
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that while traveling 65 mph, the steering wheel seized without warning. The contact shut off and restarted the vehicle as the steering wheel began to function normally. The vehicle was driven to the dealer for repairs. The contact was unsure of the exact repairs that were performed on the vehicle. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred…
ODI 10482104
Steering
The power steering light came on the steering wheel started to jerk. So i put off the road turn the car off look under the hood for a power steering pump fluid holder notice there wasn't one. So i started the car and it drove fine. So lately, it keep happen very often but the chevrolet company say that it is not a defect in the car. But i have read a lot of complaints about the same problem that i am having with…
ODI 10491824
Steering
Power steering light came on, steering stiffened. Unable to turn car. Put car in neutral, turned off, restarted, until i could steer car into a parking lot. Each restart gave me a few seconds of steering. Dealer replaced electronic power steering motor, other adjustments, plus $115 charge to diagnose, plus rental car for 3 days: for a total repair cost of $1,023.36. *tr
ODI 10522153
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that while driving 40 mph on a ramp, the steering wheel became very tight and the contact had to use extreme force to move the vehicle off the roadway. The contact shut off and restarted the vehicle and it resumed normally. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection but they were unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not…
ODI 10576676
Service Brakes · Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that a noise was heard while making a turn. The contact also mentioned that there was a popping noise and vibration while decelerating. The vehicle was taken to independent repair shop who replaced the rack and pinion, the outer tie rod, the brakes and drums. The failure recurred. The failure was reported to the manufacturer. The failure mileage was…
ODI 10515324