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 own a 2006 chev malibu ss. All was fine until a year ago. I noticed a "bump" in the steering while turning left. Dealership told me that they would lube the steering shaft. Now there is a "bump in steering and follow up bump as the wheels return to straight. There is also a rubbing noise while turning. The car is also pulling to the right. I had the alignment checked and it was in perfect order. After the…
ODI 10241576
Steering
My car was driving decent then one day out of the blue i was pulling out of my driveway and the power steering went out. After sitting for a while trying to figure out what was wrong it reset itself. Then while turning in a major intersection it went out again leaving me barely able to get through the intersection on to the side of the road out of traffic. Again the power steering went out 4 more times that day on…
ODI 10277539
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized when making left or right turns. The dealer inspected the failure, but was unable to determine the cause. The manufacturer denied any assistance with repairs. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 29,754 and the current mileage was 72,320.
ODI 10455856
Steering
I have a 2006 chevy malibu that i have replaced the steering gear twice!! The car is not that old and should be more reliable than that. I was told if the steering had gone out on me while on the expressway, (which i drive every day),i could have been seriously injured or killed. I am afraid this is a recurring problem. *tr
ODI 10251830
Equipment · Labels · Steering
I purchased a 2006 used chevy-malibu on feb. 22-2008. With 3600 mileage. After driving for 2 weeks the steering wheel would lock-up along with a bell going off and a light flashing steering wheel problems (the light stayed on for a short period of time). I tried to steer with the car operating in manual steering which was very hard to do since i'm 72 years old. I let the car drift to a parking lot and proceeded to…
ODI 10232172
Steering
Per nhtsa bulletin 10020816 and gm bulletin 060232007 covering steering input shaft #22687711. This shaft begins to make a clunking sound between 0 and 16 mph when turning. In order to stop the noise, i believe caused by the worn u-joints at both ends of the shaft,this part must be replaced every two years. You do not hear any clunking above 16/17 mph. I have been told by a gm service department that the part can…
ODI 10617164
Steering
Tl*the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. While driving approximately 70 mph on normal road conditions, the steering wheel locked without warning. Immediately, the contact depressed the brake pedal and pulled over to the side of the road. The gear shifter was placed into park and the contact made several attempts before the steering column unlocked. The vehicle then resumed normal operation. When he reached his…
ODI 10262234
Engine And Engine Cooling · Service Brakes · Steering
This car had hardly driven off the lot,as a certified used car with 31000 original miles on the od and i put only 800 miles,when the rotors,and brakes,and steering started knocking,and becoming what i would call "stiff,non-functional" power steering,and pull violently to the left,when uphill. The harsh shaking,of the rotors,and the "stringy feeling of the brake pad,loose was not stopping at a proper safe level. At…
ODI 10523097
Steering
Tl*the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. While still under warranty, the vehicle's steering column began making a knocking noise under the dashboard. The failure occurred while driving 15 mph. The dealer replaced the steering column, but the noise recurred six months later. The contact took the vehicle back to the dealer and they stated that the vehicle was no longer under warranty; therefore, she would be…
ODI 10257569
Mechanical · Steering
I have a 2006 chevy malibu. At about 38,000 miles the electric steering quit working. I had to replace. Since the installation of new electric steering component, the steering system makes a very loud snap or clunking or metal on metal sound everytime i make a turn or take off from a stop. Some thing is shifting or moving in the steering gear shaft or rack & pinion. Called the dealer and they said it was normal that…
ODI 10398030
Steering
The electric steering assist stopped working. Very hard to control car. When i pulled over and shut car off, and restarted the malibu, the power steering came back long enough to get it back home. Had it fixed and cost me over $600.00 at the chevy dealer. At 56000 miles i was contacted by gm, and they re-imbursed me for the cost. Since then, i am now experiencing a somewhat loud and aggravating clunking or shifting…
ODI 10467821
Electrical System · Steering
While passing another car, accelerating around a curve, or taking off from a stop. The electronic power steering shuts down leaving you fighting a steering wheel that almost feels locked. I was told that there was a bulletin out on the coil pack . That it is spiking a voltage above 16 volts and as a safety feature it shuts down the electronic steering to protect it. It might protect the steering from the electric…
ODI 10229475
Steering
Gm/chevrolet/malibu 2006 1st occurrence about a month ago. Three times - several hundred miles apart. Power steering fails when car in motion - manual steering requires significant effort to get car to side of road. Turning the ignition off then restarting the car reset the power steering. No indication on instrument panel before or after. Immediately called dealer. They said there might be an overvoltage problem…
ODI 10285336
Steering
The power steering goes out, without any warning. You must shut off the car and restart to get the power steering working again. There is no place to add power steering fluid, as this is an electric power steering unit. *tr
ODI 10206446
Steering
Tl*the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the steering wheel made a thumping noise and he could also feel the vibration from the steering gear box whenever he turned the steering wheel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer twice and they replaced the steering gear first and then the steering shaft. While making a left turn at approximately 5 mph, the steering wheel locked for a few seconds…
ODI 10201824
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 mph, the power steering failed without warning as the check power steering warning indicator illuminated. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that the power steering gear assembly was faulty. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware…
ODI 10677021
Bumpers · Steering
Tl*the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. While driving approximately 55 mph, the contact noticed that the vehicle felt off balanced as if the alignment was incorrect. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was properly aligned. Immediately after the repair, the steering wheel straightened and the vehicle drifted to the right. The failure mileage was 32,759 and current mileage was 37,000. Updated 3/4/08 *cn the…
ODI 10215379
Steering
Turning right into side street loss of power steering. Turned car off then started again. The car was fine. Every year it happens more. The other day i pulled into the side street and the power steering went off and i went onto the side walk. Did not hit any thing. Now it happens about every week only when i turn right. *tr
ODI 10609763
Steering
Tl*the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. While driving 35 mph, the contact accelerated and the steering froze for a few seconds before returning to normal. The failure has occurred on several occasions. The vehicle has been to the dealer, but the failure was not corrected. The vin, engine size, and number of cylinders were unknown. The current mileage was 58,000 and failure mileage was 37,000.
ODI 10210080
Steering
Tl*the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. While the contact was driving at approximately 50 mph, a chime sounded inside of the vehicle and the steering wheel locked for a minimum period of fifteen seconds. The vehicle was able to continue in normal operation. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer on three separate occasions for the identical failures with unknown repairs performed. The failures continued…
ODI 10330271
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that while driving 55 mph she heard a loud popping noised when turning the steering wheel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the steering gear and the steering shaft were defective and needed to be replaced. The contact mentioned that she had to replaced the same part a total of three times. The manufacturer was not made aware of…
ODI 10421314
Steering
Tl*the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that she heard a popping sound when she turned the steering wheel and later observed that the steering shaft was broken. She also noticed that the steering wheel became very loose with no resistance while making a left or right turn. The vehicle was also uncontrollable during rainy and inclement weather conditions. The dealer replaced the shaft 4 times…
ODI 10311262
Steering
During normal driving, power steering fails. When car is turned off and turned back on, power steering comes back on. *tr
ODI 10324532
Steering
2006 chevy malibu has been loosing power steering sporadically since it was purchased. Usually happens accelerating up ramps with curves in them. Chimes go off and battery light comes on. If you take your foot off the gas pedal, the power steering returns, battery light goes out and chimes stop. We have taken in to have it checked out several times with no results. Dealers cannot find cause, nor do they make any…
ODI 10318063
Air Conditioner · Linkage And Cable · Steering · Suspension
Dt*: the contact stated the steering wheel started to chatter at various speeds under normal road conditions. The vehicle was taken to the service dealer, who could not determine the problem. The parking brake cables were replaced. There was a noise coming from the rear of the vehicle, when the consumer drove over bumps. There was a noise coming from the ac compressor. Updated 01/10/07. *jb
ODI 10175464