Problems with 2006 Chevrolet Malibu MAXX STEERING

Around 60000 miles you could hear and feel a clunking or popping coming from inside the steering column. this happened especially while turning the wheel or going over bumps. at approximately 65500 miles while my wife was traveling at 20 mph making a turn the power steering instantly and without warning locked up. after turning the car off and on again the power steering would reset but would still randomly lock up. i called chevrolet and explained what was happening and how this was a huge safety concern. if this had happened at high speeds my wife could have lost control of the vehicle. chevrolet informed me that they had no knowledge of this failure. they also stated they would not help with the $1081.31 dollar repair bill for a new steering column module. as of mar 31, 2014 chevrolet has posted a recall for the sudden loss of electric power steering in the 2006 malibu maxx. after calling chevrolet to inform them i would like to get this new part to fix the issue they informed me my 2006 malibu maxx was not within the vin numbers affected. this is terrible if chevrolet knows this problem exists but is waiting for more complaints or deaths i guess. now i'm just waiting and hoping my pregnant wife is not involved in an accident from sudden loss of electric power steering. *js

Intermittent loss of power steering that occurs under two different scenarios. upon hard acceleration (as when entering a highway), steering will periodically lock-up with a series of 4 chimes coming from the information display panel on the dashboard. power steering assist returns upon deceleration. also, i've have had several instances of power steering loss when backing up in colder winter temperatures. power assist returns after turning off and restarting the vehicle. dealer has been unable to recreate either scenario as it happens intermittently, the vehicle has not been repaired for this defect nor has it been in an accident but let's not wait for one. it's quite obvious from thousands of internet posts that this is a known problem that gm refuses to acknowledge. an nhsta recall would be nice. secondly, the vehicle has had numerous repairs to front suspension, steering and brake components that should not fail within the first the 60k miles of ownership (some were replaced with less than 35k). components replaced include; strut tower assembly, both tie rods (inner and outer), steering column, right rear caliper (snapped parking brake cable), all four brake rotors replaced. for the folks who spent their hard earned money on thier malibu maxx and are reading this online, please take the time to post your stories. gm should be held accountable for their inaction and refusal to acknowledge serious steering related defects. it won't happen until the nhtsa receives enough complaints to force a recall. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu maxx. while driving at any speed, the contact stated that she would lose power steering making it difficult to control the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to a dealer who advised the contact that the vehicle was operating as normal. the manufacturer was not aware of the failure. no repairs were performed. the current mileage was 57,000 and the failure mileage was 56,700.

For the past several months power steering failure with left turns. yesterday complete failure, fortunately it locked up in my driveway. steering wheel jammed up with the slightest turn. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu maxx supersport. the contact stated while driving approximately 40 to 50 mph the steering wheel became very loose and it was difficult for her to control of the vehicle. when making a left or right turns she heard a popping noise in the steering column. the vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic who advised her that the steering column needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was contacted and advised her to take the vehicle to a dealer. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 89,000.

Steering wheel failure caused car accident. while driving through a freeway tunnel, the power steering went out and made it impossible to steer causing my car to hit the tunnel wall. the car had less than 40,000 miles, yet the power steering indicator went on. the power steering reset and went back on, after the car was restarted. please initial a defect investigation or a safety recall before this happens to someone else. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu maxx. while driving approximately 30 mph the power steering locked and it became difficult to maneuver the steering wheel. after the vehicle was restarted the power steering functioned normally. the mechanic was unable to diagnose the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 61,000.

The intermediate shaft which is connected to the steering column was replaced in 2007 when the vehicle had less than 30,000 miles and was under warranty. it has to be replaced again at 83,00 miles. this is definitely a gm design issue. the electronic power steering module has been replaced, the rack/pinion has been replaced and neither part should have to be replaced when the vehicle is under 80,000 miles.. gm customer service refuses to accept that this is not normal wear and tear of a vehicle even though this will be the second replacement of this part. hundreds of owners of this 2006 malibu maxx have the exact same issue therefore it can not be the driver but is definitely a engineering design issue. gm needs to be honest and own up to the failures of their vehicle designs. there are losing loyal customers because of their inability to provide a recall on this vehicle. it is their responsibility to provide the consumers with safe vehicles. steering issues are definitely a serious hazard. gm must be held accountable for their vehicle failures. this vehicle needs to be recalled and at the very least gm should pay for the repairs.

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu maxx. the contact was driving 50 mph when the power steering failed and the steering wheel became increasingly stiff. the power steering would reset itself right away when the vehicle was shut off and then back on. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was not contacted. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 104,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu maxx. while driving approximately 40 mph, the contact stated that the power steering light illuminated on the instrument panel and the steering wheel became very stiff and difficult to turn. the contact pulled over and shut off and when it was restarted, it operated properly. the contact also stated that the steering wheel would involuntarily turn to the left and right when the vehicle was stopped and or in motion. the contact called both the dealer and the manufacturer who stated that the problem was a common failure. the vehicle had not been repaired. the current and failure mileages were approximately 101,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu maxx lt. the contact stated that while driving approximately 65 mph, the power steering suddenly failed and the power steering light illuminated on the instrumental panel. the contact received a recall notice later on in reference to the steering but the vehicle was over the mileage limit. the vehicle had not been repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu maxx. the contact was driving 2-3 mph in reverse when the steering wheel locked abnormally. the vehicle was turned off. the vehicle was restarted several minutes later and the steering wheel had returned to normal. the failure recurred intermittently while driving at any speed. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnosis or repairs. the failure mileage was 85,000 and the current mileage was 92,000.

While on the road, my steering wheel started jamming up and then struck, dash board light illuminated. after restarting engine, it worked fine. for having this problem repeated for several times, i got the appointment with dealership and called chevy customer service. i was told of the problem being known and common in all the 2006 malibu and other make and model in which such power steering module/ parts have been used. when i asked, why i was not informed of such problem, i was told that it will repair at no cost if only the problem is duplicated at the shop. after repair on (feb 01 20011), in a phone call, i was told that there is no paper work for problem/recall/ warranty/ what so ever, but the work is covered for 12 months and/or 12000 miles altogether. this particular car has been brought to department of transportation's attention under lemon law in 2008, but it was not justified based on hearing was scheduled after allowed timeline. what a bummer!!! this time knowing the problem, gmc is not recalling or addressing it before any disaster strike and someone loose his/her life. thanks a lot chevy.... you are the american revolution. *tr

I have a chevrolet malibu maxx and the power steering has failed on 2 separate occasions. the first incident was when i was taking a left turn and the power steering failed half way through the turn. luckily i was able to pull off into a parking lot and turn off the vehicle. there was a ding and the front displayed "power steering." the next day when reversing out of a parking lot i had the same thing happen although this time the steering wheel shimmied, then the ding, failure of power steering, and the display. i was once again able to turn off the vehicle and restart. upon restarting the power steering resumed. since these two incidents i have noticed that the steering wheel jerks a little with any turns. i am so glad i was not going at a fast speed or in heavy traffic as an accident definitely could have been caused. i have called and reported it to chevrolet and set up an appt with a dealer on monday. chevrolet stated that it is infact a "special coverage on power steering" and in other cases have involved replacing the entire steering column. i am shocked that this has not been a recall and that other customers are put in this danger. thank you for looking further into this. *tr

There have been multiple times since i have bought my 2006 chevy malibu maxx lt that the power steering locks up causing me to temporarily lose control of my car. this usually happens when accelerating. the steering wheel locks up and it stays in its last position and the car dings. i have no message on my dash or radio. usually letting off the gas corrects the issue within a couple seconds. in those seconds before i regain control of my car, i have no control to keep me from hitting something. i've seen many reports online for the same issue. i've read some that have said it caused an accident or almost caused an accident. there was a recall for the chevy cobalt for the same issue. *tr

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. *smd 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. the vehicle was towed to the dealer, where the mechanic believed there was probably contamination in the brake fluid, as it was milky. the mechanic recommended that all the rubber components in the brake and abs be replaced due to the contamination. *jb

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu maxx. while driving approximately 50 mph, the power steering light illuminated on the instrument panel and the power steering stopped functioning. the failure occurred intermittently and only for a few seconds and then functioned properly. also the contact stated sometimes the ignition would have to be turned off in order for the power steering to function. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for repair but there was an appointment set. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was unavailable. the approximate failure mileage was 36,000.

My 2006 chevy malibu maxx has lost power steering three times. it has been to the mechanic twice. driving at any time, but especially at higher speeds on the highway, is frightening because the power steering my go out unexpectedly. *tr

The powersteering unit in this car has quit working several times. the information center reads powersteering. and the wheel jerks back and forth. the wheel is very hard to turn and is dangerous to drive. sometimes the steering wheel while sitting at a stop light the wheel will turn to the left by itself. if you shut the car off and leave it sit for five minutes it will reset itself and be alright for awhile and then it happens again. general motors knows of this problem and has done nothing about it. i have read several complaints about this and wonder if someone has to be killed first before anything is done. this auto belongs to my stepson and he has a 8 month old daughter, i won't sit and watch anybody get killed because a stupid mistake like this electric power steering.

While driving to school yesterday, my malibu 2006 maxx, the power steering locked up causing me to run off the road and into a ditch. the power steering has locked up before but only while it was in park, and i turned off the car and restarted the car. it reset itself and i was able to drive. luckily i was not hurt this time but this is a safety issue if there was ever one. i have done some research of this subject and understand that this has been an on going issue with malibu. after all the complaints what are they waiting for.....a fatality???? *tr

My 2006 malibu maxx has been have issues with the steering system. started out with an intermittent clunking noise several months ago. the car has only 67,000 miles on it. now it clunks every time you turn the steering wheel. the front end has always road ruff like a steering vibration but thought it was just the make of the car. our 00' monte carlo and 00' impala in comparison never road like this. thought it was the tires so we upgraded to a better riding tire, did not make a difference. over the last couple weeks steering noise getting worse, sensor light came on indicating power steering. check with mechanic and cannot find anything that appears wrong on vehicle. just this weekend on the entrance ramp on the interstate the wheel just jerked to the right. was able to bring it back to central position quickly but was concerned. happened today to my wife on the way to the store on a two lane road. luckily it jerked her to the right and she was able to steer it back to the center position. concerned of potential for serious accident and will not be so lucky next time. after plugging in steering issues with malibu maxx's, i was shocked to see hundreds of complaints on forums and consumer sites regarding a range of years with the maxx. gm needs to wake up, does it take people dying or seriously getting hurt before they will pay attention to all these people and their issues and serious ones at that. my husband is a ford mechanic and wanted me to buy a ford because of quality issues, but i love the style of the maxx, the cargo capacity and now i'm having second thoughts as no one seems to be getting help other than gm has some solutions that are costing the consumer lots of money and there are still issues after the fixes. i'm seriously considering getting rid of it and settling for a car that will insure me a safe ride and keep my passengers safe. wise up to this before people are seriously hurt. thank you. *tr

I also have problems with my 06 malibu maxx. when accelerating onto the interstate, i cannot get my speed up normally. i hear ding, ding, ding... then the steering locks up. can not move the steering wheel. also happens when making sharp turns. almost threw me into a ditch once and almost bounced me into the guard rail once. i am disappointed that chevrolet has not recalled this problem. it is a true safety hazard. i am a loyal purchaser of chevy products, and i expect chevrolet to stand by me as well. appears this is a well documented issue by all the complaints i read. *tr

I have a 06 malibu maxx and the steering keeps locking up. why this issue has not been recalled i do not know. this is a common issue with the malibu and am very upset that the issuse has not been addressed!!! someone will be killed because of this and will be headed to court before it is taken seriously!!! *tr

Clunking in the steering column of my 06 chevy malibu maxx lt. persistent issue is worsening. *tr

Power steering failed on the highway. warning light lit up on dashboard. car jerked sharply to the right. several hours later same thing happened upon backing out of parking space. *tr

Power steering went out on car pulling out of a mall parking lot onto highway. almost caused accident because of sudden loss of power steering/turning on to highway. drove car home and parked. restarted next morning and worked fine. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. the contact stated that while driving the steering failed without warning. the contact mentioned that steering wheel became hard to maneuver. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who decided to replace an unknow part within the steering. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 89,000 and the current mileage was 139,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu maxx. while driving 50 mph, the vehicles chime and power steering light illuminated on the dashboard. the steering wheel locked when the accelerator pedal was engaged and unlocked when releasing the pedal. the failure occurred three times and was repaired twice. the dealer stated that there were no related recalls. the electronic steering motor was being repaired by the dealer when the complaint was filed. the failure mileage was 28,000 and the current mileage is 86,000. updated 10/01/2010. *lj updated 10/04/10*jb

Within 1 week of purchasing the vehicle used i could hear a clunk when turning the steering wheel. i took it to the dealer and they said it was a 'steering column gear' and fixed it. within 6 months the sound started again, i took it to my local mechanic he suggested replacing the rack and pinion. this stopped the sound for about 6 months, this time the sound not only came back but the steering locked up while merging onto the freeway, when i let my foot off the accelerator the steering came back. this lock up has occurred 2 more times, making a total of 3 steering lock ups in a years time. *tr

The electrical power steering on my 2006 malibu maxx lt has failed repeatedly. i took it to a chevrolet dealer, the unit locked on the service department doing simple parking lot maneuvers. the service department said that the steering column and eps unit had to be replaced however the failure will happen again. this problem can not be fixed, it can only be replaced with defective parts since the defect is inherent in the electrical power steering system. i have reported this safety issue to the chevrolet hot line as have other owners and still no recall. i was on the atlanta interstate 85, it locked on me and i thought that for sure a serious accident was going to occur or worst death. this failure happened three times in one day. this is a serious safety issue and has been reported for several years, please do not wait until someone is seriously injured or dies as a result. a simple internet search shows that this safety issue has been reported without results. again, i ask that you please recall this vehicle and protect the american consumer from a death trap. i can not drive this vehicle knowing that this failure can occur at anytime without warning. even if chevrolet does pay to fix my vehicle, this failure will happen again. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu maxx lt. the contact stated shortly after purchasing the vehicle, she noticed that the power steering warning light continued to illuminate. the vehicle was taken to a local repair facility where it was diagnosed that the power steering column was defective. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the power steering column was replaced and reset. five minutes after leaving the dealer, the power steering light illuminated again. the dealer attempted to reset the codes five times to no avail. the dealer stated that the vehicle was safe to drive. the contact stated that the power steering would lock while driving at various speeds of 3 to 65 mph. the vehicle was not repaired and the failure persisted. the failure mileage was 74,000 and the current mileage was 76,000.

2006 chevy malibu maxx. power steering lock up on turns, pulling away at a light, going straight steering moves intermittently to the left or right and becomes hard to control. the power steering indicator does not always show on message center, sometimes it only dings repeatedly. and you can hear a ticking noise from the dash. when it stops working the steering also will go in the opposite direction you are driving. *tr

2006 malibu maxx lt. power steering failure while hard acceleration. had the problem since the first day it was purchased. dealership cant duplicated the problem. we almost had 2 accidents because of this issue. power steering message appears on the car system information.. the car always pulls hard to the right if the acceleration has to be done fast. the vehicle has currently 75,000 miles. *tr

2006 chevy malibu maxx - 2 problems 1. metal to metal noise as steering wheel is turned 2. vibrating noise around dashboard all the time. *tr

This has happened dozens of times before gm did the "campaign" to lessen the affect on the steering. normally while accelerating hard around a corner or up a hill, the powersteering would literally jerk the wheel from your hands and attempt to straighten the wheel. obviously this is extreme disconcerting and dangerous at any speed. symptoms are the ding ding ding warning and the very brief flash, like they don't want you to see it, of power steering on the radio display. that lasts maybe 1.5 seconds before it goes away, so you have to know to look at the radio very quickly when the ding ding ding goes to see the "error" message. it took 2 trips to the dealer on the recall to "resolve" the problem in gm's eyes. what they do is replace the column, and some settings in the computer that reduces the amount of force the motor exerts against the driver. the wheel no longer completely jerks from your hands, but it still will change your course when on a turn if you don't have a tight grip on the wheel. i consider this such a safety issue, that i rarely allow anyone but myself to drive it because it would just scare the bejeavious out of them for the car to take the wheel from their hands. was back in the dealership yesterday on the extended campaign of 150k miles or 10 years. they indicated the fault was that the motor tossed an overheat code and that was causing computer input issues out of what was expected. i advised it does it even when the car is cold, not driving for more than a mile. their response was the motor has an internal fault that causes it to overheat quickly, just by starting the car. repairs costs are well over $700 parts and labor, and reading on the internet, this problem may not even be resolved by such a costly repair. *tr

Electric power steering goes out intermittently while my vehicle is moving. *tr

Power steering locks up and then resets itself. has not lockup yet while driving. have researched and many people have this problem with the same type car. i have to drive it but am afraid the whole time. *tr

Power steering quits working on a 2006 chevrolet malibu. *tr

I bought my 2006 chevy malibu maxx from a local dealership and the first week i lost my power steering while driving. the message was displayed power steering. the mileage was 62,000. the dealership took the car to their shop and sent it back saying it was fixed. this problem continues intermittently for the next 20,000 miles. the last week before i had it repaired the power steering went out going 70 miles an hour on the highway. i could not steer at all and i lost my brakes until i shut the car off. i had to have the car towed to a chevrolet dealership for repair. the torque sensor failed completely and they had to replace the steering column. i was told then by the chevrolet dealership and also the dealership where i purchased the vehicle that this was a common problem and several chevrolets on their lot had been recalled for the same problem. this cost me $700.00 and also i had a near accident due to losing steering and brake function at 70 miles an hour. i feel this is a serious defect and apparently well known. if i would have been hurt i would have held gm responsible as they are aware of this problem. i was told that gm used saab parts for a few years until the problem became apparent. the chevy malibu maxx 2004 and 2005 models were recalled for this problem. *tr

While making a left hand turn on to a road my power steering completely went out and i just about ran off the road into a tree. this problem occurs just about every day and it is now to the point where i wont let my wife drive my car or let my kids ride in it. i have been told that i will need to replace the entire steering column and that the approx. cost will be $1000. *tr

06 chevy malibu power steering problem. when i go to accelerate when getting on the road, a power steering message show across the radio dial, a warning beep sounds, then the steering is extremely difficult. my teenage daughter says it feels as if the steer wheel locks on her, unable to turn. i do not feel safe driving the vehicle, the warranty is out. i understand the cobalts have a recall against them for the same problem. why not the malibu's? check the internet for complaints, there are hundred, may be even thousands. the only recalls is for stickers and two other issues, which will not cause someone to have a wreck possibly injuring persons. please help with this situation. thank you *tr

I was driving my car around 15-20 miles and i heard a chime. i thought the car was low on fuel; i looked the instruments panel/display, and i noticed a message on the screen "power steering". i had 2-3 previous (dealer service) incidents before because a clunk noise when turning. *tr

Power steering became inoperative, wouldn't turn. *tr

My 2006 chevrolet malibu's power steering went out twice on 02/05/2010. i was driving on a straight away and at low speeds at the time of the incident so this did not cause me to crash. however i'm concerned this will happen again at higher speed or a more unsafe time. this appears to be much like the cobalt investigation pe10005. *tr

I have a 06 malibu maxx and the power steering keeps going out. when i first got the car, it was driving fine and the all of a sudden i lose power steering and the words "power steering" is displayed. i have to turn of the car and turn it back on so it can reset. it has been doing it more and more lately, and a few times i almost have hit someone. i called chevy to see if there was any recalls on this problem and they said no. there was a recall on the 2004 and 2005 chevys malibu with electronic power steering, but nothing on the 2006. chevy also told me to take it to the dealer and let them inspect. which i did and they can find no problem. *cn

I have a 2006 chevy malibu maxx that has been knocking near the front end, indicating possible cv joint issues or some other suspension or steering problems. i have had the tie rods replaced once but the symptoms later returned. most recently, the power steering failed, locking during a right turn and causing me to drive out of my lane. this has happened on at least 3 occasions in january 2010 and thankfully has not resulted in an accident. had my wife been driving with her bad back, she would not have had the strength to control the car and avoid a potential accident. i took it to my local mechanic who told me it was the electronic steering system and the column needed to be replaced. he also told me that there are literally hundreds of forums discussing this exact problem in the same model vehicle over about 4 model years but there was no recall. there is an obvious problem with the steering in this model vehicle and needs to be fixed and recalled before someone gets seriously hurt or killed. *tr

My power steering suddenly went out suddenly on my 2006 malibu maxx lt while entering the freeway. it has happened 3 other times. it resets when i turn the car off and then back on, but i feel that it is very dangerous. i have talked to several auto shops and none of them can figure it out, except to tell me that it is very common. *tr

2006 chevy malibu, power steering fails in motion or upon startup. repairs require replacement of both the ps sensor module and the ps column. costs any where between $1500-$2000 to repair. steering becomes very difficult, could be hard to avoid accidents or safely steer clear of road debris. *tr

I have a 2006 chevy malibu maxx. the power steering is lighting up on the stereo. there is a recall for other chevy cars that have the same power steering as our car, yet our car isn't part of the recall. why? *tr

My 06 malibu maxx has a steering problem. the steering wheel will not turn easily at low speeds. it makes a clunking noise when i turn. i have read and this seems to be a problem with my electronic steering and it seems to be a problem for many of these vehicles. i am worried that this will happen at a higher speed. *tr