2006 Chevrolet Malibu: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu: 6 recalls, 1116 owner complaints and up to 24 mpg combined.
Recalls
6 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 3 equipment/tire recalls that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Equipment Vehicle recall #05V486000 · 2005 · 2,351 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." the tire label table specified the 15 inch spare for the front disc/rear drum brake system and it should specify a 16 inch spare tire size.
Why it matters: A 15" diameter replacement spare tire can not be installed on the front axle due to a fit interference with the brake caliper.
The fix: Owners will be mailed a corrected label with installation instructions or the customers could have their dealers to install the label for them. The recall began on November 29, 2005.
Airbags Vehicle recall #06V417000 · 2006 · 794 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: If the passenger sensing system malfunctions, the front air bag on the passenger side May be disabled when it should be enabled, or enabled when it should be disabled. In either case, in the event of a crash that requires air bag deployment, a front passenger's level of injury May be increased.
The fix: 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 owners. The recall began on November 6, 2006. Owners should contact gm at…
Steering Vehicle recall #14V153000 · 2014 · 1,373,177 vehicles
What's wrong: In the affected vehicles, there May be a sudden loss of electric power steering (eps) assist that could occur at any time while driving.
Why it matters: If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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. When parts are available, owners will be mailed a second letter to come in to have the applicable bulletin applied. Bulletin…
Transmission & drivetrain, Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #14V224000 · 2014 · 1,131,113 vehicles
What's wrong: 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 year 2004-2007 malibu maxx vehicles manufactured from June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, and model year 2005-2008 Pontiac g6 vehicles manufactured from May 26, 2004, through September 28, 2007, and equipped with 4-speed…
Why it matters: If the transmission shift cable fractures while the vehicle is being driven, the transmission gear selection May not match the indicated gear and the vehicle May move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash. Furthermore, when the driver goes to stop and park the…
The fix: 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.
Stability control, Speed control / throttle Vehicle recall #14V252000 · 2014 · 2,440,524 vehicles
What's wrong: In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the body control module (bcm) connection May result in voltage fluctuations in the brake apply sensor (bas) circuit. 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; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear…
Why it matters: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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 pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an interim…
Steering Vehicle recall #15V064000 · 2015 · 69,633 vehicles
What's wrong: In the affected vehicles, there May be a sudden loss of electric power steering (eps) assist that could occur at any time while driving.
Why it matters: If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly, free of charge. The recall began February 24, 2015.
3 aftermarket equipment / tire recalls replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Exterior lights Equipment recall #09E012000 · 2009 · 16,270 vehicles
What's wrong: These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." these lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
Why it matters: Decreased lighting visibility May result in a vehicle crash.
The fix: Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on May 11, 2009.
Fuel system Equipment recall #11E009000 · 2011 · 4,887 vehicles
What's wrong: The defective fuel pump May seize, stopping the fuel flow to the engine creating a stalling condition.
Why it matters: A vehicle crash could occur should the engine stall while in use.
The fix: Ti automotive will notify owners of record and will replace any defective fuel pump with a new or reworked fuel pump free of charge. The safety recall began on February 22, 2011.
Steering Equipment recall #14E044000 · 2014 · 7,304 vehicles
What's wrong: Dorman products, Inc. (dorman) is recalling certain replacement intermediate steering shafts sold under the dorman, oe solutions, and solutions brand names, part numbers 425-167, 2425167, and 7-3074, for installation on 2004-2012 Chevrolet malibu, 2005-2010 Pontiac g6, and 2007-2009 Saturn aura vehicles. The affected steering shafts May have a yoke that inadequately supports the u-joint bearing resulting in a…
Why it matters: A joint bearing that fails prematurely May cause separation of the u-joint resulting in a complete loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dorman will notify owners, and dealers will refund the purchase price or replace the steering shafts, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 6 mention a fire, 26 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Steering (811): the most common themes are steering problems (783), warning light on (151).
- Electrical (142): the most common themes are electrical failure (44), stalls / loses power (29).
- Exterior lights (63): the most common themes are warning light on (23), electrical failure (17).
- Fuel & propulsion (52): the most common themes are warning light on (16), electrical failure (6).
The 2006 Chevrolet Malibu has 1116 owner complaints, ranking #4 of 29 Malibu model years for complaints (1.7× the average Malibu year). Complaints peaked in 2014 (197 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 7 years old, at a median of 85,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2005 (975 complaints, 3 recalls), 2007 (977 complaints, 3 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2 L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 29 | 24 | Regular |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 | 29 | 23 | Regular |
| 3.9 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S4) | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 24 | 19 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu.
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FAQ
Does the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 vehicle recalls for the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu, plus 3 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2006 Chevrolet Malibu problems?
Owners have filed 1116 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are steering (811), electrical (142), exterior lights (63).
What gas mileage does the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu get?
EPA ratings run up to 24 mpg combined (2.2 L, Automatic 4-spd), across 3 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.