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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
106,362 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2006 Chevrolet Malibu brakes problems

brakes problem

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2006 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 2 of 3)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #28

Jan 032011

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 60,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the brake lights would work intermittently. The contact replaced the brake lights on numerous occasions. The independent mechanic repaired the wiring harness but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, who diagnosed that the BCM needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired under campaign number: 14V252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control) the remedy failed to rectify the failure. Additionally, the contact also stated that the heated seat function failed and the power steering seized intermittently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V153000 (steering). The approximate failure mileage was 60,000...updated 10/01/14 the consumer stated the fuel tank would show 1/8 of a tank, but in actuality the tank was empty.

- San Antonio , TX, USA

problem #27

Jul 282014

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 13,130 miles
No physical incidents have taken place as of yet, however when asking about part being replace for my two recalls I get nothing but attitude and "I don't know" answers. My recalls are on the transmission shift cable, body control module, brake apply sensor and electronic stability control. I still make car payments, single mother with a toddler in the vehicle and all I get is an " I don't know" when our safety is in question. If I could afford a rental I would get one and keep the car parked, however a rental is like another car payment....where do I go from here?

- Reading, PA, USA

problem #26

Aug 212014

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 120,000 miles
Was driving and saw a deer in the road. When I pressed the brakes they locked and then the pedal went to the floor as if the brakes went out. At that time the steering was difficult. The vehicle went through a field through 2 fences and over a ditch before coming to a stop. The engine did not shut off. There was major front end damage, from the fence posts, and the air bags never deployed. The vehicle was declared a total loss due to the damage.

- Lebanon Junction, KY, USA

problem #25

Jul 112014

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 65,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Hello, I contacted your national service line and they referred me to jack wilson Chevrolet in saint augustine. We have had three recalls on this vehicle and no resolution on any of them. VIN# [xxx] 2006 Chevrolet Malibu maxx 65000 miles steering issue, took to a dealer ship in jacksonville, fl., they told me it was a brake issue. Had the front brakes replaced and still have the issue and charged me $60 for a wrong diagnosis. Received letter on 7-18-2014, recall #13036, no parts available and do not know when they will be at this time. Received letter on 8-11-2014, recall #14152, no parts available and do not know when the will be at this time. The national customer service center called jack wilson and set up for me to go and have them inspect recall items and let me know that there was no eminent danger. I went to jack wilson and spoke with the service person [xxx] which did not have the inspection done. She was willing to inspect the steering issue which she said was not a recall issue by turning the steering wheel back and forth and did not have a certified technician even look at the car. This car is my mother's only car, she is 84 and doing well until she got these recall letters. She does not feel safe to drive this car and no one can tell me when the parts will be available for the repairs to be completed. [xxx] I am contacting GM first with this as you requested. Please help us with this matter, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Saint Augustine, FL, USA

problem #24

May 142014

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 100,000 miles
I was un able to get my car from park to drive. I had to pull extremely hard on the shifter to get it to move.

- Nauvoo, AL, USA

problem #23

May 072014

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 108,000 miles
On 5/07/2014 I got in my car that morning to take my 4 children to school the car started and died 3 times. When it finally did start I couldn't get it out of park! while on the way to school I was nearly hit from behind because my brakes lights failed to function! the problems have gotten worse daily since then. When I would drive the car it would take off on its on, the cruise control no longer functions, I have to try at the minimum of 7 times to get it to crank!! now it is very unsafe for me to drive I can't even take my children to school my neighbor has to take them and pick them up! I was finally sent a recall letter the last day of July 2014. In this recall are all the problems I am having. They say when called that they do not know when the parts to fix it will become available. What am I to do? I have a car I am paying for and can not drive!! I can't afford to go buy a different car. I told them since they had no idea when parts would be in to just replace my car and the answer was no!! they also want me to pay to have it inspected. This is their fault not mine I should not have to pay for anything!!!

- Nauvoo, AL, USA

problem #22

Jul 212014

Malibu

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

After finding out that there are recalls for my car per dot.gov, I scheduled an appointment for repairs with vandergriff Chevrolet in arlington for 7-21-14. I requested that they repair the parts under recall and issue a refund for the amount I paid previously for repair to power steering on my vehicle. I was told that someone would be in touch with me. When I did not get contacted, I returned to the service department to speak with a technician in regard to my service request. Once again, as previously, I was told that there are no recalls on my car. When I directed the technician to the information released by the dept. Of transportation, he stated that GM sent out additional recall letters to recall the original recall notices because they were issued in error, and that there are none in effect for my vehicle. No repairs were done.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #21

Feb 062006

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 20 miles
Bought car new 2/06. Once home and driving I noticed an electrical issues consisting of radio interference when using any electrical buttons in car, such as windows, and my charging outlets in the car blow fuses when used. When I turn my air or heat on my brake pedal drops down at least 2 if sitting at light. If driving and I turn on my air, the car lunges forward. This is at a critical level now. I took into their dealership from the first month I purchased the car until March of 2007. No one could fix the electrical issue and dealership could not supply me with even the paperwork to show me what they researched while it sat there for over 4 days. Problem is now deadly and I need this electrical issue fixed. I received notice of recall 13036 but nothing concerning the problem with the brake petal and acceleration I have had since purchase. Contacted dealership to get (lemon) replaced and they said, tough luck. Purchased as is...

- Wadsworth, IL, USA

problem #20

Jul 012010

Malibu

  • 90,000 miles
Beginning in 2010 I had to replace the brakes on my car multiple times. To date I have replaced brake pads, drums, and lines 5 different times. My brakes seem to wear easily and frequently screech. Beginning in 2013 after filling my car with gas my "low fuel" indicator dings and my fuel gauge shows empty. This happens every time I fill my car with gas. I have received a recall notice regarding power steering. On two separate occasions I have experienced my power steering going out and I am forced to pull over and turn off my car and turn it back on for the car to work properly. I have contacted GM regarding the recall notice and I have been advised that no parts are available and they will not provide me with a rental vehicle and expect me to continue to drive the vehicle "until the parts are available". they will not provide me with a timeline and have been unresponsive to my other complaints regarding the vehicle.

- Topeka, KS, USA

problem #19

Jul 012014

Malibu

  • miles
My car stalls and you can smell gas. It hasn't been working in three weeks now.

- Pineville, LA, USA

problem #18

Jun 012013

Malibu

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have had to replace the headlights and brake lights repeatedly over the past year. When I turn the air conditioning off when I am already sitting, stopped, the car lunges forward and the brake has to be pressed further down in order to stop the car again.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #17

Jun 042010

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 66,494 miles
While driving at night, another driver stopped to let me know that my brake lights were not working. Around this time I also noticed that my cruise control would stop working or not work at all. On several occasions after I first learned of the problem people following me would tell me that it looked like I was riding my brakes when I was not touching the brake pedal. When I would press the brakes they would go off. I tested this by backing up to my garage door and pressing the brakes. They come on when I lift my foot off the brake but go out when I press the pedal. Around this time I also noticed that the gear shifter would sometimes stick/not move even though I had my foot on the brake pedal. My local dealer replaced a computer module and that seemed to correct the problem for a while but the problem has since come back.

- Acworth, GA, USA

problem #16

Jul 102013

Malibu

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing transmission and bas sensor failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number:14V252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control). The failure mileage was 80,000 and current mileage was 97,000.

- Waxhaw , NC, USA

problem #15

Apr 212012

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 53,000 miles
Brake lights stay on when driving, but do not come on when applying the brakes.

- Lewistown, PA, USA

problem #14

Jun 232010

Malibu

  • 32,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving various speeds, the brake lights illuminated without the brake pedal being depressed and dimmed when the brake pedal was depressed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 32,000.

- Savage , MN, USA

problem #13

Jan 022014

Malibu

  • 140,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 mph, the brakes seized without warning. The failure recurred twenty times. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Prescott Valley, AZ, USA

problem #12

Apr 022013

Malibu

  • 120,000 miles
Brakes lights work intermittently. While applying brakes, the lights will turn off. The lights will flash on and off while driving. This happened intermittently, regardless of speed. Previous owner was rear ended with motorist stating the brake lights were not working. While driving on the highway in stop and go traffic, I was nearly rear ended. At that point I took the car to my mechanic who notified me of the special bulletin that was posted regarding this issue. I was very disappointed that Chevrolet would not offer to fix the known safety issue at no charge. They charged $150 for a simple fix.

- Romulus, MI, USA

problem #11

Aug 092013

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 90,000 miles
I was driving my vehicle on the freeway in lunch hour traffic. As I exited the freeway to change to a connecting freeway, the engine shut off half way along the exchange ramp. At that point I noticed that I had poor breakage and no power steering. Lucky, I was able to coast over and stop in the emergency lane mid ramp, put the car in park, restart the vehicle, and drive off without indecent. It was unsettling to say the least.

- Torrance, CA, USA

problem #10

Jun 212013

Malibu 6-cyl

  • miles
I purchased this vehicle last year, 2012. Just recently the vehicle's brake lights have a mind of it's own. They randomly come on and stay on until the brake is pressed. They go off while the brake pedal is pressed but come back on within seconds of the pedal being released. Cruise control will not work during this issue as it thinks the brake has been activated. My son was almost rear-ended because of this issue. Had the connectors cleaned but the issue still continues to happen.

- Saint Charles, MO, USA

problem #9

Dec 102007

Malibu

  • 31,680 miles
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 the future, within 2008-2009-2012 the steering column, was recalled, and put in twice and the brakes were not good, requiring more replacements, and rotors shaved for my safety as it rattled the front end, and caused steering, and distracting for driving safely. I had multiple close calls on basic driving, in rural area, uphill, where power steering went out, the car was not able to be controlled. Prob 10 times, on freeway I could not go past 60 miles, or the engine would act strange, pulling, and again threatening to fail power steering. To date, ,now the maf failed, and shut off the engine while driving, again locking up the brakes, and in the middle of traffic. In total it has 30000 new miles in less then 6 yrs and it remains a deathtrap.

- Sylmar, CA, USA

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