Worst 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Steering Defects
Electrical Faults
Fuel System
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering Defects | 788 | 22 | 1 | 98,463 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 132 | 3 | 2 | 100,734 mi | |
| Fuel System | 52 | 2 | — | 139,513 mi | |
| Brakes | 50 | 4 | — | 127,635 mi | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 46 | — | — | 91,142 mi | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 40 | 2 | — | 83,734 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 39 | — | — | 128,763 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 33 | — | — | 121,440 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 31 | 1 | — | 107,928 mi | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 29 | — | — | 109,441 mi | |
| Airbags | 28 | 13 | — | 170,679 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 20 | — | — | 77,453 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 14 | 1 | — | 62,419 mi | |
| Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights | 13 | 1 | — | 53,087 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 12 | 2 | — | 68,500 mi | |
| Steering:Electric Power Assist System | 11 | 1 | — | 56,763 mi | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 7 | — | 1 | 65,386 mi | |
| Steering:Column | 7 | — | — | 80,384 mi | |
| Wheel Issues | 7 | — | — | 48,667 mi | |
| Other Equipment | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Latches / Locks | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 2 | 2 | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2006 Chevrolet Malibu
4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~5,014,447 vehicles.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured April 1, 2006, to June 30, 2006, and 2006-2007 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured April 18, 2006, to June 30, 2006. In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.
General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on April 29, 2014, that they are recalling 56,214 model year 2007 and 2008 Saturn Aura vehicles. On May 22, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 1,074,899 model year 2004-2008 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured from May 16, 2003, through October 5, 2007, model year 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured from June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, and model year 2005-2008 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured from May 26, 2004, through September 28, 2007, and equipped with 4-speed transmissions. The total number vehicles being recalled is now 1,131,113.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2006 Malibu Maxx, 2009-2010 HHR (non-turbo), 2010 Cobalt, 2008-2009 Saturn Aura and 2004-2007 Ion, and 2005-2009 Pontiac G6. In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving.
Other Chevrolet Malibu Years
2006 Chevrolet Malibu — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
What are common problems with the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu?
How safe is the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu?
Does the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Chevrolet Malibu reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2006 Chevrolet Malibu
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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