Most common 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx problems
Share of the 270 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Malibu Maxx complaints by model year
Best Malibu Maxx years: 2007. Years to avoid: 2004. Compare all years →
2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx recalls (4)
Steering › Electric power assist system
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.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly, free of charge. The recall began February 24, 2015.
Vehicle speed control › Cruise control
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…
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…
Power train › Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Floor shift
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…
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.
Steering › Electric power assist system
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.
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.
What 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx owners say
Steering all 207 →
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx. The contact stated that while pulling into a parking space, the vehicle inadvertently lost power steering functionality. The power steering warning light illuminated. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle; however, the steering wheel remained difficult to steer. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to his residence with manual steering. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000. Consumer stated "Failed component/part Information", it is incorrect to identify the failure in the hydraulic power assist/power steering fluid. The power steering on my car is electrical assist.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the power steering malfunctioned, and the steering wheel became difficult to turn in either direction. During the failure, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the power steering assist assembly was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V064000 (STEERING). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 204,000.
Electrical system all 28 →
We purchased our 2006 mailbu Maxx in November 2005. Two months later there was a violent shake in the front end, the dealership turned the rotors because they were warped. Then we started having trouble with the electrical system right after the warranty ran out.the rear wiper comes on by itself, interior lights blow constantly as well as headlights. Door locks work when they want to. Keyless has not worked for three years even with new remote batteries. Since the car has had 40,000 miles on it the power steering has been acting up. My wife has hit our garbage cans and even my truck pulling into the driveway. We cant even trade this piece of crap in because everybody knows the problems with this car. Our Malibu has 78,000 miles on it and we have put 4 sets of brakes on the front with heavy duty rotors and three sets on the rear. GM is not concerned with the safety of their customers. …
The fuel gauge is not functioning properly. When I fill the car up completely with gas, the dashboard indicator reads zero and I get a low-fuel warning message. When this problem started, after driving 15-20 minutes, the gauge would then read 'full' again, but the 'check engine' light would come on, and during this time the remote start function would not work. Now the car reads empty at all times, the engine light is on, and the remote start does not work. This LED me to run out of gas. I am worried about the car stalling while on the road, as I have read happening to other GM vehicle models, and I am worried about running out of gas again. Fuel system problems seem to be very common with GM vehicles, especially the Malibu, and I would like to see the problem addressed.
Brakes all 23 →
I have had problems with my power steering over the years. But this was the worst it has ever been. I was driving 55 MPH on the highway. The roads were clear on this spring day. My traction control, brake light and check engine light came on. Then the power steering was chiming and the alert came on for that which effected my power steering. The instrument cluster was flashing on and off along with the gauges not working correctly. Then the instrument cluster went completely out. So the instrument cluster was replaced. A couple of weeks later, this all repeated again. So this time the ignition was replaced. After all that, the power steering still chimes and alerts still come on which makes it harder to steer. Then I have to stop the car, turn it off, wait and restart it. Then it is fine for a while. My mechanic says the only code that shows up is for the 14772 recall. …
Letter from senator nelson on behalf of constituent regarding steering problems on her 2006 Chevrolet Malibu; please send response directly to senator office and reference constituent. The consumer stated the front brake calipers failed to retract causing the brakes to overheat and catch fire. The mechanic stated it May have been due to a factory flaw as he had never seen both calipers fail together. The brake caliper seals were melted from heat and they were cracked/dry rotted letting the caliper sleeve rust. A month prior, the consumer noticed the power steering seemed stiff and the vehicle became difficult to steer, the consumer did receive a recall notice regarding a potential problem with the steering. On December 20, 2011 the consumer experienced another steering failure, slow acceleration, and overheating of the brakes. …
2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 20 / 28 / 22 |
| 3.9L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 24 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx a good car?
Based on 270 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 Malibu Maxx rates average: 14% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Malibu Maxx at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx?
The steering — 207 complaints, 77% of all complaints for this model year, most often about electric power assist system. Next are the electrical system (28) and brakes (23).
How many recalls does the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx, the most recent from February 4, 2015 (electric power assist system). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Malibu Maxx?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2007. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2004. See the full Chevrolet Malibu Maxx years comparison.
At what mileage do 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 83,000 miles; 18% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.