Vehicle Data Hub

2006 Chevrolet Malibu steering problems

815 complaints about steering have been filed for the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu, which is 55% of all its NHTSA complaints. It is the most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
815 55% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
85,000 miles 683 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
23 and 1
Injuries and deaths
11 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When steering problems show up

Steering complaints by mileage, 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 85,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 41 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 53 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 88 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 122 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 106 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 78 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 64 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 61 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 35 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 11 complaints 200k+ miles: 24 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 85,000 miles
Based on 683 complaints that include mileage. 27% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles41
20k to 40k miles53
40k to 60k miles88
60k to 80k miles122
80k to 100k miles106
100k to 120k miles78
120k to 140k miles64
140k to 160k miles61
160k to 180k miles35
180k to 200k miles11
200k+ miles24

What the data shows

Of the 683 steering complaints that report mileage, the median is about 85,000 miles, and 27% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 23 crashes, 1 fire, 11 injuries.

What owners wrote

Tl* the contact owned a 2006 chevrolet malibu. While driving approximately 65 MPH, the steering wheel seized without warning. The driver crashed into a ditch and the vehicle rolled over approximately four times. The driver and two passengers were injured and required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a tow lot. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.

Reported at 130,000 miles, January 2015 CrashInjury

Loss of power steering on start up. Never make it to recover, although a lot of other drivers said that turning engine off and on would at least temporary solve the problem. The car was towed to dealership where they diagnosed "power steering control module internal failure" ($700 dollars repair cost).

Reported at 46,000 miles, May 2011

Other problems reported for the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu

Steering problems in other years

Steering problems across all Chevrolet models