Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Chevrolet Malibu owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I got the car on June 12th on June 16th when I had a severe car vacation not deploy and the seatbelt did not buckle when I bought the car they stated in the paperwork that the airbags have never been deployed and or never been deactivated and I had to find out the hard way 4 days later and due to the transmission shift gear cable when I was driving the car it went out of control and I had to work well that day
There are many recalls for the year make and model of my vehicle. They just didn't recall my exact vin. The breaks are recalled, air bags were recalled and they were buying back the vehicles, the fuel delivery system was recalled, headlights were recalled, cruise control was recalled, steering column and yoke was recalled, and a few more. None were recalled for my vin number when it should have been. I took my car to the dealership today, Chevrolet did a few things under "warranty" instead of issuing a safety recall. (They issued 10 recalls on this year make and model) (one recall was the air bags, my vehicle is doing the same thing). The fuel delivery system and fuel pump was recalled but not on my vin number. I just really need help getting my car repaired. …
Tl* the contact owned a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu. While her son was driving in the rain approximately 20 MPH and going around a curve, the brakes were applied however the vehicle hydroplaned and crashed into a vehicle head on. There were no warning lights illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. The driver sustained head, face, and neck injuries and medical attention was provided. The drivers head hit the windshield. The passenger sustained injuries to the face however, medical attention was not provided. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot then towed to the contacts residence. The insurance company deemed the vehicle total. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving 10 MPH around a curve, the brakes did not respond and the brake pedal traveled to the floorboard when depressed. The traction control light became illuminated and the vehicle accelerated and crashed into a ditch. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained an injury to the right arm that did not require medical attention. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 161,000.
The first thing that happened was my passenger side rear door just suddenly flew open while I was driving my vehicle down the road. Doors were locked and all were completely closed and the door just came open for some unknown reason. Had my mechanic take a look and he couldn't see anything unusual about the mechanism or anything on the door. It has happened several times since so now I put the seatbelt through the door handle and pull it tight and lock seatbelt into place so if it happens the door won't fly open again. The second issue I am having is with the airbag warning light and alarm coming on randomly when I am driving my car. I took it into the Chevy dealership for one of the other recalls and they said that to put it on the tester, it would cost me $120 (which I cannot afford to pay), so they just let it be and fixed the recall I brought it in for. …
I was driving on the interstate on 11/18/2012, when a car cut across all three lanes. It had not been raining, and the roads were dry, but when I applied my brakes to avoid hitting the car that cut me off, my wheels locked up sending me fishtailing at 70+ MPH. I slid into the center lane, striking a vehicle on my right rear corner panel. I then repeatedly tried to pump my brakes and turn into the skid to regain control of the vehicle, and each time the wheels locked up again. After failing to regain control of my vehicle I hit the center guard rail, still going 60+ MPH, collapsing the whole left side of my vehicle. After skidding to a stop, my "service airbag" warning came up on my center dashboard display, without even deploying. My car has been deemed totaled by insurance, and is no longer safe to drive. …
On October 15, 2014, I was on my way to work when the steering in my car suddenly and completely went out. For no reason, my car lost control and began to swerve and the wheels began to squeal. My steering wheel was easily movable, but the car would not go in the direction that I turned the wheel. I almost hit another car head on if she hadn't stopped her car. I also couldn't stop the car. As I applied the brakes, the car did a complete 360 turn as it continued to travel down the street. The car finally hopped the curb and hit a light pole on the front driver's side. The car finally stopped, but felt like it wanted to continue to drift until I took the key out of the car. My car has been declared a total loss by my insurance company and I could've died had I hit that other vehicle head on, or if that pole hadn't stopped my vehicle. No airbags ever deployed.
Tl* the contact owned a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu. While the driver was driving at high speeds, the steering wheel seized and the driver lost control of the vehicle. As a result, the driver crashed into a guardrail. The vehicle spun and crashed into another guardrail. The air bags did not deploy. The driver sustained minor bruises and scrapes that did not require medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 14V252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control), 14V153000 (steering), and 14V224000 (power train); however, the parts needed for the repairs were unavailable. The failure mileage was unknown.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 70 MPH a deer ran into the driver's side door bursting the window glass and collapsing the door onto the contact. Brake pressure was applied and the vehicle skidded into a billboard, the right front of the vehicle was struck by a center wooden pole support for the billboard. The vehicle continued forward motion and struck a tree in the front center of the vehicle. The airbags did not deploy. Although the contact was wearing a seat belt, minor injuries were sustained. The police were on the scene and a report was taken. The vehicle sustained extensive damage. The rental car company was alerted. A manufacturer representative inspected the vehicle, but the findings of that inspection were not shared. Updated 5/11/2006 -
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at 10 MPH, the brake light illuminated without the brake pedal being depressed. As a result, another vehicle crashed into the rear of the vehicle and the air bags failed to deploy. The driver did not sustain any injuries. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact received notification for NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000 (electrical system , electronic stability control , exterior lighting , service brakes, hydraulic , vehicle speed control) and believed that the crash was related to the recall. The approximate failure mileage was 95,075.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal
Certain vehicles originally built with cloth seats that were equipped with an automatic air bag passenger sensing system and later reupholstered with aftermarket leather seat cover kits are involved. Testing has indicated that the aftermarket leather seat covers can cause the passenger sensing system to malfunction.
Remedy: Because a replacement leather seat cover that is compatible with the passenger sensing system is not available, general motors (GM) will repurchase these vehicles in accordance with the terms stated in GM's letter to…
Airbag complaints in other Malibu years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu?
NHTSA has 34 complaints about the air bags of the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu, 3% of the model year's 1,117 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Chevrolet Malibu airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 06V-417 (frontal, Oct 31, 2006). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2006 Chevrolet Malibu airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 115,000 miles, and 12% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 17 crashes, 0 fires and 17 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.