Representative model. Photo: Mr.choppers, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2006 Chevrolet Malibu recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2006 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns: 9
Park-it warnings: 0
Complaints: 1,386
Latest campaign: Feb 4, 2015

Recall summary by component9

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

Component	Campaigns	Latest	Campaign IDs
Steering	3	Feb 4, 2015	15V064000 14E044000 14V153000
Electrical system	1	May 14, 2014	14V252000
Power train	1	Apr 30, 2014	14V224000
Fuel system, gasoline	1	Feb 28, 2011	11E009000
Exterior lighting	1	Apr 7, 2009	09E012000
Air bags	1	Oct 31, 2006	06V417000
Equipment	1	Oct 19, 2005	05V486000

Safety recalls9

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

0Park-it warnings

0Fixable over the air

Feb 4, 2015Latest campaign


Feb 4, 201515V064000	Steering: electric power assist system If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 15V064000 What's wrong 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. Risk If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly, free of charge. The recall began February 24, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. GM's number for this recall is 14772. Note: This is an expansion of recall 14V-153 to cover additional vehicles built between April 1, 2006 and June 30, 2006. Filed under Malibu, Malibu Maxx Campaign NHTSA 15V064000 · Feb 4, 2015
Jul 21, 201414E044000	Steering A joint bearing that fails prematurely may cause separation of the u-joint resulting in a complete loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 14E044000 What's wrong Dorman Products, Inc. (Dorman) is recalling certain replacement intermediate steering shafts sold under the Dorman, OE Solutions, and Solutions brand names, part numbers 425-167, 2425167, and 7-3074, for installation on 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6, and 2007-2009 Saturn Aura vehicles. The affected steering shafts may have a yoke that inadequately supports the u-joint bearing resulting in a premature failure. Risk A joint bearing that fails prematurely may cause separation of the u-joint resulting in a complete loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy Dorman will notify owners, and dealers will refund the purchase price or replace the steering shafts, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact Dorman customer service at 1-800-523-2492. Filed under Malibu Campaign NHTSA 14E044000 · Jul 21, 2014
May 14, 201414V252000	Electrical system: wiring Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 14V252000 What's wrong 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. Risk Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash. Remedy GM will notify owners, and dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and harness connector, and will relearn the brake pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). GM's number for this recall is 13036. Filed under Malibu, Malibu Maxx Campaign NHTSA 14V252000 · May 14, 2014
Apr 30, 201414V224000	Power train: automatic transmission If the transmission shift cable fractures while the vehicle is being driven, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle may move in… DetailsHide details for campaign 14V224000 What's wrong 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. Risk If the transmission shift cable fractures while the vehicle is being driven, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash. Furthermore, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, despite selecting the PARK position, the transmission may not be in PARK. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders. Remedy GM will notify owners, and GM dealers will replace the shift cable assembly and mounting bracket, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 14152. Filed under Malibu, Malibu Maxx Campaign NHTSA 14V224000 · Apr 30, 2014
Mar 31, 201414V153000	Steering: electric power assist system If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 14V153000 What's wrong 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. Risk If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy GM will notify owners, and dealers will perform one of four bulletins. Parts are not currently available. GM expects to send an interim notification around May 28, 2014. When parts are available, owners will be mailed a second letter to come in to have the applicable bulletin applied. Bulletin 14115 covers model year 2004-2007 Saturn Ion, 2009-2010 Chevrolet HHR and 2010 Chevrolet Cobalts. Dealers will replace the EPS motor. Bulletin 14116 covers model year 2004-2006 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx, 2005-2006 Pontiac G6 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from March 1, 2008, through June 27, 2008. Dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly. Bulletin 14117 covers model year 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from February 1, 2008, through February 28, 2008. Dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly and EPS motor controller unit. Bulletin 14118 covers model year 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from October 1, 2007, through January 31, 2008. Dealers will replace the EPS motor controller unit. The recall began on July 17, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, Saturn at 1-800-553-6000, and Pontiac at 1-800-620-7668. GM's number for this recall is N140115. Note: GM bulletin number 14119 will be implemented for model year 2006-2008 and early production of 2009 Chevrolet HHR (non-turbo) and model year 2003 Saturn ION to provide EPS Motor replacement for the life of the vehicle. Filed under Malibu, Malibu Maxx Campaign NHTSA 14V153000 · Mar 31, 2014
Feb 28, 201111E009000	Fuel system, gasoline: delivery fuel pump A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR SHOULD THE ENGINE STALL WHILE IN USE. DetailsHide details for campaign 11E009000 What's wrong TI AUTOMOTIVE IS RECALLING CERTAIN FUEL PUMPS, PART NUMBERS TU456 AND TU303, SOLD UNDER VARIOUS BRAND NAMES AS AFTERMARKET AND REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE MOTOR VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP MAY SEIZE, STOPPING THE FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE CREATING A STALLING CONDITION. Risk A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR SHOULD THE ENGINE STALL WHILE IN USE. Remedy TI AUTOMOTIVE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND WILL REPLACE ANY DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP WITH A NEW OR REWORKED FUEL PUMP FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 22, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TI AUTOMOTIVE AT 1-866-867-3759 OR LOG ON TO WWW.RECALLRESPONSE.COM. Filed under Malibu Campaign NHTSA 11E009000 · Feb 28, 2011

Merged from NHTSA model names: Malibu, Malibu Maxx. Not every vehicle of a model year is affected by every campaign.

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Chevrolet recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Buying a used 2006 Chevrolet Malibu? Recalls cover the model; a history report checks one car's title, odometer and accident records. VinAudit history report → Sponsored · disclosure

Owner complaints by component1,386

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

1,386Complaints filed

53Involving a crash

7Involving a fire

31Injuries reported

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Fires	Injuries
Steering	1,018	73	31	2	14
Electrical system	170	12	4	2	1
Service brakes	92	7	8	1	8
Exterior lighting	71	5	1	0	0
Power train	60	4	0	0	0
Fuel/propulsion system	56	4	2	0	2
Fuel system	48	3	2	0	0
Gasoline	45	3	2	0	0
Vehicle speed control	43	3	4	0	2
Electronic stability control (ESC)	41	3	0	0	0
Engine	40	3	0	0	0
Air bags	36	3	19	0	18
Engine and engine cooling	26	2	0	0	0
Unknown or other	24	2	1	1	0
Hydraulic	24	2	2	1	2

15 more components with fewer complaints not shown. An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number, merged from NHTSA model names Malibu, Malibu Maxx.

Latest reports

Steering
“When i drive the car power steering goes out totally and bings when it goes out.”
Filed 09/30/2026 · ODI 11768146
Steering
“The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while pulling out of a parking space, the vehicle lost power steering functionality, causing the steering wheel to become difficult to turn.”
Filed 03/23/2026 · ODI 11726385
Steering
“The power steering went out on the car as I was driving down the highway going 65 mph”
Filed 02/04/2026 · ODI 11715484

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2006 Chevrolet Malibu recall questions

How many recalls does the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu have?

NHTSA lists 9 safety recall campaigns for the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu. The most recent, 15V064000 (reported February 4, 2015), concerns steering. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What are the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu recalls for?

The largest group is steering, with 3 campaigns. Others: electrical system (1), power train (1), fuel system, gasoline (1). Each campaign below lists the defect, the risk and the free remedy.

What is the most common complaint about the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu?

Steering is the most-reported component, named in 1,018 complaints out of 1,386 filed with NHTSA (73%). Across all complaints, owners reported 53 crashs and 7 fires. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2006 Chevrolet Malibu?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Chevrolet recall lookup. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised Chevrolet dealer.

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