Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).
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).
The rack and pinion needs to be replaced at the speed of 65 the steering feels loose and I was told that the rack and pinion is out, so I am having to replace the entire thing, I dont have a receipt yet because it's going to the shop next week, it seems odd that a car with only 75k miles would need a new rack and pinion. Also the high mount brake light is out..which seems crazy on a car with low miles, I understand that the car is old but to me it's a new car, I only just purchased it in October 2020.
I'll start by saying my vehicle had approximately 84,000 miles on it when this issue occurred a few weeks ago and is very well cared for and maintained. While driving on the highway at night I noticed that my break lights were not coming on when I pressed the break (I didn't see them illuminating the car behind me). While stopped in traffic I noticed that if I pressed the break pedal as far as it could go the lights would come on. The breaks lights then started working properly for about 15 minutes, then they started working in reverse order (breaks not pressed and light switch on, breaks pressed and break lights switch off). I brought the vehicle into a Chevy dealer to have this issue looked at, and referenced that it was showing the symptoms described in NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000. …
2006 Chevrolet Malibu: power steering locks up! Locks up to the point it take two people to turn the wheel, this happens while driving! Headlights and brake lights go out and when bulb is replaced they burn instantly. T/c never turns off! Recent complaints from people in other states have been made there are also evident recalls but Chevrolet fails to honor the recall and refuse to fix because the cars are 2006 and the uear now is 2018. This is not fair! What are we supposed to do? This is a saftey issue! It is morally unethical and illegal for Chevrolet not to acknowledge and honor this recall regardless if the car we have is used. If the recall was made and was not fixed they must acknowledge that the repair was not made and fix the problem for the car owner! I am sure Chevrolet has a database and is aware at what and how many vehicles have been repaired due to this recall. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the recall repair was performed for NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control), but it did not repair the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer because the brake lights illuminated constantly. The contact was experiencing an electrical failure with the driver side brake light not illuminating. The contact attempted to use the charger for the phone and the GPS, but there was no electric current to charge the gadgets. The vehicle was taken to the authorized dealer more than three times and they were not able to replicate and diagnose the failure. The contact stated that they replaced the fuses several times, but the failures recurred. …
In sept 2014, I had my 2006 Malibu repaired under GM recall 13036. At the end of June 2015, I noticed that my brake lights were malfunctioning. I took my car to a local mechanic for repair, which was the same work that was done for the recall. At the end of July 2015, the malfunction return again. I contacted Chevy via email and phone, and was first told that there wasn't a recall for this problem. I called again and explain that I was having the problem described in recall 13036 (" 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"). I was then told that there was a recall, but that mine was "closed" since I had already had it done once. …
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving various speeds, the brake lights illuminated without depressing the brake pedal. The vehicle was taken to james martin Chevrolet (6250 woodward ave, detroit, mi 48202, [phone]) to be serviced per NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000 (service brakes, hydraulic, electrical system, exterior lighting, vehicle speed control, electrical stability control), but the remedy failed to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer where it was determined that the warranty was expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 200,000.
Brake lights illuminate when brake pedal is applied. Will go off when foot is taken off of pedal, but will go back on and stay on when pedal is not applied. This happens both when in neutral and in park and the car is stationary. I believe the problem is where increased resistance in the body control module (BCM) connection system can result in voltage fluctuations or intermittency in the brake apply sensor (bas) circuit that can cause brake lamp malfunction. The brake lamps illuminate without the brake pedal applied. Recall on this problem dated March 2017, # 13036. This recall problem and number does not show up in the NHTSA database.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle and depressing the brake pedal, the brake lights would fail. In addition, when not depressing the brake pedal, the brake lights would illuminate. The contact indicated that the remedy for NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000 (electrical system , electronic stability control , exterior lighting , service brakes, hydraulic , vehicle speed control ) was previously performed in the fall on 2015 but the failure reoccurred in May 2016. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 150,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving 40 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and the brake lamp failed to illuminte. The contact also stated that the brake lamp would illumninate when the brake pedal was not depressed. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The vehicle was repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.
Headlight complaints in other Malibu years
Frequently asked questions
How common are headlight problems on the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu?
NHTSA has 63 complaints about the lights of the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu, 6% of the model year's 1,117 complaints. The component named most often is brake lights (13 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Chevrolet Malibu headlight problems?
No. NHTSA lists no lights recall for the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu, though it has 6 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2006 Chevrolet Malibu headlight problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 73,000 miles, and 10% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to lights 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.