Problems with 2006 Chevrolet Malibu STEERING

2006 malibu power steering stop working while driving down the road. there are tons of complaints about this and even a recall on 2005 for the same thing. this problem makes the car unsafe. the dealer thinks they can fix it for about $1000.00 dollars. this is a safety issue it needs to be taken care off by gm. i am afraid to let my wife drive it. every other day the '!@#$% thing quits working. *tr

Tl* the contact owns 2006 chevrolet malibu. the contact stated that while driving 20 mph, the power steering warning light illuminated and the steering wheel locked. she had to use extreme upper body force to turn the steering wheel. the contact stated that when the failure would occur, she would shut off the vehicle for at least twenty minutes and the power steering would reset itself. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer will be contacted. the failure mileage was 75,000 and the current mileage 95,565.

I own a 2006 malibu with the identical steering problem that the cobalt is being recalled for. i have called chevrolet for months, and have always been told there was no issue with the electronic motors. why isn't the malibu included in on this recall? *tr

Steering wheel locks up while driving p.s its not the first time it happens. *tr

There were no events leading up to the failure. the power steering on my 2006 chevy malibu lt 2.2l cuts off without warning. the steering wheel has a tick and makes a grinding noise. when it first started, it only occurred occasionally. now it happens when i start my car, idling, and while i'm driving. i searched online and found that many other malibu owners are having the same problem. thankfully, there have not been any crashes but many close calls. *tr

While driving, i accelerated and turned right to switch lanes, it was fairly hard acceleration. suddenly during the acceleration i lost the power steering assist, it almost felt like the steering locked up and fought my turning the steering wheel. after i let up on the accelerator the power assist returned. this is the second time this has occurred, the first time in june 2009. at that time a warning chime went off and a power steering warning flashed briefly on the dic display. *tr

The steering wheel locks up and doesn't unlock until i let off the gas pedal. it happens all the time when i try and pass other cars it will lock up. i did some research and found out its the power assist unit getting too hot and shuts off so it does not fry the motor of the unit. i feel that this should be a recall as it will lead to an accident. *js

2006 chevy malibu 3500 3.5 l v6 power steering goes out. my steering wheel locks up. almost hit a car in the other lane. *tr

I have a 2006 malibu which we purchased last may with 50k miles. the car originally started making a clunking noise when turning about 6 months after we bought it. that i can live with but now we have power steering problems. the power steering comes & goes & the steering wheel starts vibrating & turning all on its own. we took the car to the shop & discovered that the steering column needs replaced. after researching the last few months on the net i've seen that this problem is huge in all malibu's 2004 - 2008 models. i find a gm parts bulletin in which you can get these parts replaced at gm's cost for a 2005 with the same problem but nothing for a 2006. i feel like this should be a recall because it can be life threatening. the car gives you no warning of a problem, the steering wheel just starts going crazy. special bulletin in reference to the 2005 model is #07126. how can gm justify only replacing 2005 models when all seem to have the same defect. please let me know if there is a parts bulletin & if i'm just over looking it. *tr thanks rhonda barnes

My steering wheel locks up tight .. cannot use have to pull off road wherever i'm at...2006 chevy malibu...was looking online and it is very common with the make... will gm wait until people die before they go good with this problem? they are aware and don't seem to care...this year and model should have recall on the steering column....very dangerous. *tr

I purchased a malibu in nov 2007, when i got the car and summer came the steering went out, i could not steer. luckily for me its when i was still in my driveway. i turned the car off and back on and all was well. i noticed at times while driving it was as if a hand took over the steering it had its own mind, i asked my stepfather and he said it happened while the air conditioner was on so i let it go as that and now i am sorry as my warranty is over by 2000 miles. well only one more time during that summer did i loose steering again in my driveway. yesterday however my steering went out four times while driving in town, i had to pull over four times and restart my car, it was very hard to steer to the side of the road as i am 50 and had broken my arm 2 years ago with not much less muscle tone in that arm. i live in the mountains and when leaving town i go through steep grades to get anywhere and that day i had to take my son two hours away to the v.a. by reading on this site i see many complaints about this problem, will it take a death caused by this to do a recall? electronic steering? are they crazy? i no longer feel safe in my car and cannot afford another one. please consider pushing for a recall before someone looses their life, and when they do a huge lawsuit will be made against gm for looking the other way and ignoring the issue. *tr

The power steering on our 2006 chevy malibu locks up intermittently. just purchased it as a used vehicle two weeks ago for our 16 year old daughter and it has already happened twice. each time we have brought it into the dealership. the first time they said there was nothing wrong and it checked out fine. we didn't even have the car back a week and it happened again. it is a definite safety hazard, especially for a new and inexperienced driver. it is in the shop now and they say it needs a new steering column assembly. i have researched this problem via internet and found numerous similar stories. there have been people who have hit guard rails and other vehicles because of the steering locking up. the most recent incident date is listed below. *tr

Complaint about steering : rack and pinion i purchased the 2006 chevy malibu a few months ago from a local used car dealer near allentown, pennsylvania. a month or so later i began hearing a popping when i turned. i took it to the mechanic and it turned out to be a rack and pinion fault. the estimated cost with reprogramming is $600. i know a lot of people with the 06 malibu have been having this problem. gm should recall. i just don't have that kind of money to pay for the rack and pinion fault. *tr

Wife, mother-in-law, and two daughters on 400 mile trip while traveling approximately 70mph on interstate, the car makes a sudden and violent left turn. my wife pulls hard to keep the car on the highway and manages to keep control. after determining there was no fix, they proceeded home with constant pressure on the wheel to keep it from turning left. at home i inspected the car. when you start it, the wheel will turn full left all by itself. i can turn it right with alot of effort, but if i let go or slip, it turns full left. there is no lights, bells, warnings or anything. took the car to the dealer, and they said the electric power steering column was way out of calibration, and i had them calibrate it. it worked for 1 day and not turns right. gm refuses to admit this is a safety issue, but i don't see how it cannot be. the owner is a 65 year old lady on ss and cannot afford the $850 repair bill and gm does not admit any issues. she cannot safely drive the car without it trying to turn to the ditch at any moment. right now it is constantly turning to the right. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. the contact stated that the steering wheel forced itself to drive straight and became unresponsive while making turns. the contact shut the vehicle off and the vehicle performed as normal upon restart. the vehicle was taken to dealer, where the steering column was replaced. the failure recurred and the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and no further assistance was provided. the vin was unavailable. the failure mileage was 40,000 and the current mileage was 80,000.

2006 chevrolet malibu. electric power steering failure. currently the steering wheel constantly turns to the left. this happened while on a vacation to ms with my wife, grandmother, and daughter was the only occupants in the vehicle. luckily it happened while my wife was driving and she was able to maintain control. if at any time you let go of the wheel, it will turn your sharp left. while setting still, when you let go of the wheel, it will turn completely left all by itself, so you can imagine what would happen while going down the road. there needs to be a recall for this as it is a serious safety hazard. *tr

2006 chevrolet malibu 3500 engine, car steering stops controlling when driving, almost hit couple of cars on the road, read online lots of problems with steering, this could be deadly, if anything happens to me driving the car gm will be sued and am sure all the people has same problem will sue gm too. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. while driving 25 mph the steering column made a popping and snapping noise. the contact was concerned that the noise would cause the steering wheel to lock. the failure mileage was 96,000. updated 04/05/10 *bf updated 05/05/10.*jb

I have a 2006 chevrolet malibu that i have been having problems with the power steering for almost a year now. i was hopeful that the recall that was issued recently includes my car, but it does not...which really disappoints me since i just printed off around 15 pages of similar complaints from other people with the same problems to take to my dealer. the failure on my car started last spring-summer and have had it looked at several times. i was driving when all of a sudden my steering wheel started to feel like it was freezing and then wouldn't allow me to drive straight, it would either go far right or far left. i thought i needed an alignment (which i had done), but that didn't help at all. this terrified me. it happens at least 2-3 times a day all week long. we have replaced the steering column (on our own-recall on 2005 malibu's won't cover my 2006 even though the rep at gm we talked to confirmed my car came off the line in 2005) and it started doing the same thing the next day. here is a description of everything my car does. it has always made a clunking noise when i turn the wheel in either direction. the steering wheel will freeze up and becomes really tight making it hard to control. when it's frozen, and i try to drive straight by slightly turning the wheel, it will only turn drastically to the left or the right making my whole car jerk to either side of the road. also when it's doing this, it make a loud vibration noise and the wheel moves on it own if i'm stopped at a light or in park..even occasionally when the car is turned off. when it's making this loud sound i can also feel the vibration in the brake pad. power steering will display on the dic screen on the dash. from what i've read,i know hundred of other people are having this problem and don't know what to do. we should not have to keep throwing money into problems that were created even before we bought these cars. something needs to be done before someone dies. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. while making a left turn into the driveway at 15 mph, the power steering failed and the contact heard a ringing noise. the radio display screen began to flash "power steering". the contact was able to finish parking the vehicle. she called the dealer and was informed that the steering was computer-assisted. the vehicle did not have a steering pump of any sort and she was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer as soon as possible. the dealer stated that the entire steering column needed to be replaced. the computerized steering system became confused and caused the malfunction. the contact is responsible for the repair costs; however, she believes that the manufacturer should be liable. the vehicle is currently at the contact's residence and has not been repaired. the current and failure mileages were 68,000. updated 08/28/09. *lj the dealer recommended replacing the steering column assembly. updated 09/02/09.*jb

The power steering light is on and the research i have done leads to me to believe that there is no way to fix the electric power steering in the 2006 chevy malibu lt. i will like to have this on file as a complaint to the mfr for not making this a recall. i am sure its because it costs too much to fix this particular item in the vehicle. some customers have had this going on for a while with their vehicles and have to live with it due to the fact that even the dealership can't fix the problem. this is highway robbery and gm should not be able to get away with this. i am not sure how to make them see the error in their decision to ignore this. this is a dangerous defect and before someone is hurt they should recall it. i will like to have some guidance on how to take this directly to the dealership and whom else i can contact to let them know this is happening. please help. i can't afford to get another vehicle. i really want my car and i just want to get it fixed. it's a shame that gm can't stand by their product once its driven off the lot. this is a mfr default and it should constitute a recall right away. *tr

I was backing out of a parking spot when my power steering failed and i did get an error message on my display. the dealers computer only said "electrical", but it was not associate with any part so they could find nothing wrong with the vehicle. the power steering returned after turning the car off and then on again. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. the contact stated that the power steering fails intermittently. the failure has progressively worsened. while driving 15 mph, the steering wheel locks up when it is turned in either direction, which makes controlling the vehicle almost impossible. the contact must turn off and restart the engine in order to regain control of the steering. the vehicle was taken to the repair shop and the mechanic stated that several other consumers were experiencing the same issue. the mechanic further stated that the computer module in the dashboard needed to be replaced. the vehicle has not been repaired and the contact feels that a recall should be issued. the vin was unknown. the failure mileage was 78,000 and current mileage was 80,000. updated 08/04/09 *bf updated 08/06/09.*jb

Loose of power steering, gm has extended the warranty on this part, for 10yr or 100,000 miles, our car has 126,000 miles when this was issued, but we have documentation that we were having the trouble at 76,000 miles but gm does not want to help us with the problem, we ask to talk to a supervisor but no one will call us back. you can be driving down the road and turn into somewhere and a bell will go off and you have no power steering, you have to turn off the engine and restart it to regain power and some times it is a short time before it happens again. the dealership told us the steering column would have to be replaced. the cost to repair this is over $600 and we can't afford it. our car is a 2006 malibu. *tr

I was having problems with my car shaking when driving, so i had my tires checked but it was not the tires. the problem was my outer tie rod ends need to be replaced. my car is a 2006 chevy malibu, which is in good condition & regularly serviced. there are three other people i know personally with the same model car that is having the same problems. after taking my car to the shop, i found that is a hard part to locate because they are suppose to last for years before needing to be replaced. i think the chevrolet dealer should further investigate this because its not fair to the consumers to have suffer the expense of the repair. *tr

When accelerating to pass 4th to 2nd gear under high engine rpms the warning bell chimes 3 to 4 times and the electronic steering locks up. as soon as i release the accelerator and the vehicle upshifts i have full steering as if nothing ever happened. this has happened to me numerous times so as an experiment i tried turning the vehicle when the electronic steering locked and the vehicle would not move, it felt like i was going to break the steering wheel off the vehicle. i have 4 different invoices stating this problem to chase chevy service department. i also have 3 different invoices in which they tried to correct the problem and have failed. 1st invoice cause: pcm engine-reprogramming with sps 89 w. 2nd cause: dtc c0900 found intermittent failure at the voltage regulator for the electronic power steering. 3rd cause: c0900 added grounding strap to coil (pulling to much voltage) there bulletin matching my complaint is #2133820. how long is this going to go on before i crash my vehicle due to a steering failure. i have found multiple websites with people having these same type of problems with my model year and some of the previous years. i will yet again be taking my vehicle to the service department for them to do a cheap fix; if anything at all. gm needs to step up and claim responsibility before their electronic power steering system starts clamming lives. my next step after the service department will be catching their electronic power steering system failing on video camera and demonstrate that the vehicle is out of control due to the fact that you cannot turn neither left nor right. i am sure some news organizations will be interested in this footage! how lives are in jeopardy and no one is bothering to do anything. this has happened since i have purchased my vehicle to present which is approx. 50,000 miles of driving. how long will my luck continue? *tr

2006 chevrolet malibu. electric assisted steering will shut down. turning of the car is virtually impossible at slow speeds. same problem that is reported by many on the preceding year. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. whenever the contact makes a right turn in the vehicle, the wheels lock up. she also heard a knocking sound coming from the steering wheel. in order to turn, the vehicle must be traveling at least 14 mph. the contact discovered online that several vehicles were experiencing the same issue. each mechanic that the contact has taken the vehicle to could not correct the failure. she feels that chevrolet should repair the vehicle due to the safety issue. the current mileage was 80,000 and failure mileage was 60,000.

When turning steering wheel at speeds under 30 mph, electric assist power steering will frequently shut down, with warning chime sounding and "power steering" warning displayed in the driver information center (dic). the car can still be steered but requires considerably greater effort than a car with manual steering. once the car is pulled over, turned off and restarted, it "resets" itself, and operates normal again until the next time it occurs. the problem started in march of 2009, with 71,000 miles, and has gotten steadily worse over time. it now has 105,000 miles on it, and now happens so often (about 12-15 times per day), that the car is almost undriveable. i've contacted 3 different dealers, who all tell me the entire steering column needs to be replaced at a cost of approx $1100, as there are no "serviceable" parts in the electric steering system. as i understand it, this is the exact same steering problem that gm issued a recall for in march of 2010, for chevy cobalts and pontiac g6's, but won't recall malibus, because there haven't been "enough" complaints filed yet. i don't have $1100 to for a new steering column that gm has admitted is a problem in it's other vehicles, but won't recall mine because not enough owners have yet to file a complaint! *tr

The electric power assist periodically fails. it fails when you crank your car and will not operate correctly until you shut the car down and restart. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. while driving less than 15 mph on a dirt covered road, the power steering warning indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. immediately following, the contact heard three chimes sounding and the steering wheel became locked. the warning indicator remained lit until the engine was turned off. the driver had to exert greater force in order to turn the steering wheel. the vehicle was cautiously driven to his residence and then taken to an independent mechanic for inspection. a front end wheel alignment was performed. the contact took the vehicle to an authorized dealer for diagnostic testing. currently, the contact is waiting on a response from the technician regarding the cause of the failure. the failure and current mileages were 61,987.

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. when the contact drove the vehicle at various speeds and in any gear the vehicle would suddenly loose all power steering. the vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealership and there were no prior warnings. the current and failure mileages were 92000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet mailbu. the contact stated that the steering wheel started making a clicking noise when the vehicle was turned. also a power steering alarm light illuminated and the vehicle lost power steering. the failure normally occurred when the contact was driving at 15 mph and turning. the contact would turn off the vehicle and restart and the vehicle would function properly. the failure continued to get progressively worse. the contact called the manufacturer and filed a complaint. she was advised to take the vehicle to the dealership for repair. the failure mileage was approximately 30,000. the current mileage was approximately 37,900.

I bought my 2006 chevy malibu in feb 2009 . immediately after we purchased this car from a used car lot, we started having trouble with the power steering. the dealership we purchased it from suggest we take it to local gm dealership to look at it. they advised that they would have to drive it to see what happened. at that time, it would only happen every so often so i could not afford to have them keep my car for any length of time. at first, i chalked it up to the cold temperatures, but as spring and summer passed it still happened. i have now had the car a year and it happens sometimes four or five times before i get out of the driveway. i have the powersteering message come across the display, i have to turn the car off and it will reset. usually the reset will only work if i am not in a turn position. i can be going 65mph down the interstate and it will click off and lock the steering wheel. thank god, that i have never had to get out of crunch on the interstate. i took it to another dealership where after $50.00 for a diagnosis they advised that the power steering motor/module assembly needs to be replaced for the price tag of $850.00. it seems to me that if there are so many consumers with the exact same problem they would issue a recall before someone gets killed. it is extremely dangerous. it seems to happen more often when turning to the right. i now can't drive anywhere without it happening 5 to 7 times. i usually just leave it till i have to get in a parking spot. i have to put the car in neutral , restart the engine and hope it will reengage. i have contact gm customer service and because i did not have the car serviced everytime at a gm authorized dealer and that it now has 80k on it they will not help at all. well it was purchased in 2009 with 60 k on it at that time it would have been out of warrant then also. they are not helpful at all and do not take any responsibility ...

Steering gear problem in 2006 chevrolet malibu lt. dealer replaced worn steering gear at 25,000 miles and now at 35,000 miles the problem is happening again. *tr

Incident: failure of power steering on 2006 chevrolet malibu 1) a week leading up the event, i returned from vacation to find "check power steering" lit up on my message center, however, power steering was still available. this occurred on a particularly cold morning, after a cold few weeks. the chevrolet dealership told me nothing was wrong (by phone). i continued driving the vehicle without recurrence of the warning message. 2) on another particularly cold morning, i drove the vehicle to a local gas station, filled up, and drove approximately two car lengths when the power steering failed, the steering wheel became difficult to move, and the "check power steering" message displayed. i applied the breaks, stopping the vehicle. 3) i had read about the failure online, and the fix seemed to be a restart of the electrical system. i turned off the vehicle, and restarted the engine. the power steering was restored, and i have driven it since without incident. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. the contact heard a thumping sound coming from the steering column. she also experienced a lot of play in the steering wheel when making left and right turns. the dealer stated that the steering gear, intermediate steering shaft, and steering assembly needed to be replaced at the estimated cost of over $1,000. there were no recalls for the failures. the failure and current mileages were less than 35,819. updated 03-06-09 *bf updated 03/09/09. *jb

Purchased vehicle in july 2006. certified used. kept hearing noise, knocking from left front. took vehicle to dealer 2-3 times until they replaced a part. noise returned some weeks later. now the electronic steering is malfunctioning. when the steering is turned to make a right turn the "power steering " warning light comes on and the wheel stiffens making it difficult to turn and very dangerous to drive. dealer says car need power steering column and module which is very expensive. i have also been informed that it is not covered under warranty or the very expensive extended warranty they sold me. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. while driving at approximately 40 mph, the steering wheel locked and the power steering warning light illuminated on the dashboard. the vehicle was pulled over and upon restart, operated as normal. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the electric power steering module was replaced. the failure recurred at 25,700 miles and was not taken in to be examined. the failure mileage was 7,000 and the current mileage was 25,700.

My 2006 chevrolet malibu loses it's electronically assisted steering usually half way through a turn usually without warning. i am afraid that it will go out at a bad time and cause an accident so far there seems to be no recall but i have been on a few different forums where ten or more people have had the same problem. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. while driving approximately 60 mph the power steering failed without warning. consequently the driver crashed into a road barrier. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer. the power steering motor was replaced. an identical failure occurred on a separate occasion. the failure mileage was 38,000.

I have a power steering problem, it keeps on shutting off on me while i am driving this is very unsafe and can kill some one day i am thinking of trading off my car because of all the problems i have had with it.. gm should do something about the problem millions of people are having. *tr

My 2006 chevy malibu power steering keeps going out, i have done some research on the internet and this sounds like a problem that other malibu owners are having, it goes out different times even when im driving down the road, sometimes i can turn the car off and then turn it back on and it will start working again. this problem needs to be addressed, thank you. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. while driving 50 mph the power steering locked which caused him to engage the brakes and drive onto the emergency lane. he stated that the failure occurred intermittently. the vehicle was taken to a local mechanic where he replaced the spark plugs and the spark plug wires. he also tested the electrical system and found that there were no electrical failures; however, the failure continued to occur. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 60,000 and the current mileage was 114,000. updated 08/13/10. *lj the consumer stated the battery light illuminated on the dash. the light would illuminate when accelerating up a grade/hill. also when the light illuminated, there was a chime sound as if the door was being opened. there was a sudden and intermittent loss of power steering without warning. the loss of power steering has occurred while accelerating up a slight grade, accelerating from a stop light or accelerating while merging up a slight grade. updated 08/23/10*jb

Power steering failed when trying to turn into a parking spot--locked up for the first time and continuously since. seems to be the same problem that the chevy cobalts are having, but my car is a malibu. *tr

2006 chevrolet malibu power steering illuminates on dash(radio) , 2005 models were a recall and it keeps coming on and sometimes lose of steering when started. it has 43,000 miles and not on warranty because steering column is not covered , its a problem nationwide as i researched. i could potentially be dangerous when driving around turns if loss of power. i bought it used but was fine until 2 months after. *tr

Shaking in steering wheel when brakes are applied,this happen everytime i apply the brakes. the dealer resurfaced front rotors and replaced pads..car still have a grinding noise in front wheelarea dealer said that the replacement pads are causing the grinding and there's nothing that can be done to stop the grinding because of the way the replacement pas are designed. this car is not safe to drive and i told the dealership this and they claim it is safe. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. while driving less than 50 mph, the power steering warning indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. the steering wheel then locked in place, preventing the contact from moving the wheel left or right. on a separate occasion, while driving less than 50 mph, the vehicle began turning left on its own. the steering wheel was locked and the vehicle coasted off the road on its own as well. the dealer stated that the steering column failed and could be repaired at the cost of $700. the vehicle has not yet been repaired. the failure and current mileages were 50,000. updated 11/25/08. *lj updated 11/25/08. *jb

Power steering unit (eps) for 2006 chevy malibu fails car becomes diffcult to turn or maneuver. *tr

I purchased my malibu in dec '06. by june, my power steering light came on, but my mechanic couldn't find the source of the problem. i started noticing trouble turning the wheel at low speeds, but it was only when i turned left. initially i didn't think it was still power steering, but the problem continued for over a year periodically. then in aug '08 on my way home with my newborn in the car....i turned left to pull into my driveway, and lost the power steering. i had to take it to the dealer and the repair cost over $1,000 and the dealer said it could happen again in a year or so. the entire steering column and power steering motor was replaced. after the dealer's 12/12 warranty expired, i started having the same symptoms all over again. so far it hasn't gone out, but the "popping" noise and "loose" steering down the highway, plus the more difficult steering when driving at low speeds is back again. when the original incident happened, i had just turned off a main street. if it had happened just two blocks earlier, i would have been "t-boned" with my daughter in the car. *tr