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
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. While traveling at speeds of 35 mph, the contact noticed an abnormal clicking noise. Seconds later, the power steering stopped functioning and the steering wheel became increasingly hard and difficult to turn. The vehicle was not diagnosed and there were no prior warnings. The current and failure mileages were 118,000. Updated 07/29/10 *bf the consumer stated the…
ODI 10334418
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. While driving approximately 45 mph, the power steering warning light illuminated on the instrument panel and the steering wheel became extremely stiff and difficult to maneuver. The steering wheel would occasionally shake. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostics. The contact stated he was a mechanic and after inspecting…
ODI 10433925
Steering
Tl - the contact owns 2006 chevy malibu. The contact stated that while driving 40 mph the power steering light illuminated and right after the vehicle lost power making impossible to turn the wheel. The failure happened several times before randomly and it would work again. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 89,000 and current mileage is 120,000. Pm
ODI 10374772
Steering
Power steering goes out with no particular cause. Occurs in very cold weather, occurs in very warm weather, goes out while driving (freeway/city streets), may go out with slippery conditions where steering moves freely. Dealers can not do anything if they can not duplicate the issue. Once the vehicle is restarted, the system appears to reset itself and you have power steering. Gm customer service will do nothing…
ODI 10335248
Steering
Tl*the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. She stated that on june 1, 2010, while driving, the power steering failed and the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The vehicle was turned off and on which corrected the failure. The dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted. The vin was not available. The failure and current mileage were 90,000.
ODI 10334129
Steering
A couple of months ago, i noticed that when i made a turn especially a left turn the steering wheel locked up to the point it was very hard to turn. Now i notice that the steering wheel will get really tight while i am driving, and this happens every other day. I am almost afraid to drive the car but it is my only vehicle at this point, and i am still making payments on it. When the steering wheel becomes hard to…
ODI 10331793
Steering
2006 chevy malibu electric power steering goes out randomly and locks up while driving causing driver to loose control of the vehicle. I have read numerous complaints about this problem on the internet ranging from year models 2004-2008 and i am wondering why there has not been an investigation into the problem. I also have been told that dealers have no idea what the problem is and how to fix it. I'm also learning…
ODI 10331134
Steering
Power steering light has been coming on for like year and almost like once a day the power steering will go out but if you turn the key off and then turn it back on it will be ok. Know it is even starting to sake while driving. So i took my car t a shop and they told me to take it to the dealer. So i have been researching this problem and there seems to be a lot of problems with this car and the power steering i am…
ODI 10430893
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that while driving at a speed of 35 mph, the vehicle began to pull from left to right. The dealer advised that the power steering motor had failed. The motor was replaced at the contact's expense. There were no recalls for the failure. The failure and current mileages were 18,600.
ODI 10336931
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. While driving at speeds of 3 mph, the steering wheel locked and the power steering warning light illuminated on the dashboard. The contact shut off the engine and upon restarting, the failure recurred. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure and informed the contact that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle. The failure has recurred approximately five times…
ODI 10329739
Automatic Transmission · Electrical System · Steering
I have a 2006 chevy malibu that my daughter drives to work 5 days a week. It has approx. 76,000 miles. I went and drive the car on this date and notice the steering fluid display was on the radio display. I asked my daughter how long is was on there, she said approx. A week. I called the gmc dealer and got an appointment on the third of may. They told me that i need a new steering column and a shaft which would be…
ODI 10333931
Steering
Electric power steering failure. The power steering will go out without any symptoms other than a message on the radio console. *tr
ODI 10328841
Electrical System · 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. *tr
ODI 10327591
Steering
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…
ODI 10327806
Steering
Shortly after i bought my 2006 chevy malibu i began felling this popping when i turned the steering wheel in either direction. The popping soon turned into a heavy clunk. Took it to gm dealer. They lubed my inter shaft recorrection on my service statement. I returned about a year latter with the same problem. Same correction was made. Now the problem is worse and the wheel locks up after the pop. As a result i have…
Crash reported
ODI 10351146
Steering
The power steering keeps going out. It may happen when we first start the car or once we have started driving. We have found that if you turn the car off & then turn it back on it almost always comes back. This has been going on for several months. On 6/23/11 i started the car & there was no power steering & still isn't. Have turned the car on & off several times & it has finally become permanent, no power steering.…
ODI 10408779
Steering
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. *tr
ODI 10326632
Steering
I have 2006 chevy malibu my friend has 2006 chevy malibu both vehs made in the kansas city plant she rec'd letter that was a problem with power steering and to bring veh to gm dealer i did not get that letter called gm they said my vi# is not included but i had that same problem in april 2010 and had it repaired $598.00 they said because my vin # is not on list will not honor it i have contacted bbb and attorney…
ODI 10355705
Steering
Tl*the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that while driving various speeds from 1 to 65 mph, the power steering warning light would illuminate followed by a series of three warning chimes. The failure persisted intermittently. The illumination began to occur more frequently and eventually, the electronic power steering assist began to fail sporadically. The steering wheel became extremely…
ODI 10344296
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated when reversing, the steering wheel would become extremely tight and difficult to steer. While driving at unknown speeds, the power steering warning light illuminated followed by a warning chime. The dealer advised he had not received any complaints of power steering failure in his model vehicle. The dealer advised bringing the vehicle into the dealer…
ODI 10335801
Steering
The electronic power steering malfunctions causing the vehicle to go into a hard left turn. The problem occurs with out warning. It takes a very strong person to over power the electric steering motor and maintain control of the vehicle. Reprogramming the steering torque sensor corrects the problem temporarily. Replacing the steering column will correct the problem for a few thousand miles. *tr
ODI 10334927
Steering
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 malibus 2006 had a defect in the power steering. *tr
ODI 10324617
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…
ODI 10324361
Steering
Tl* 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,…
ODI 10323953
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. The contact noticed that power steering warning light was illuminated and remained illuminated for one year. Later while driving approximately 70 mph, the contact noticed that the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. She turned the vehicle off and on again and the power steering reset independently. The dealer advised the contact to bring the vehicle in for…
ODI 10395530