2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
No verdict The 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx has 270 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 50, ranking 2nd worst among the 3 model years with data. Steering accounts for 77% of complaints, with 4 recalls including two covering steering defects.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 50/100
- #2 of 3 Malibu Maxx years
- Verdict
- No verdict
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 270
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 4
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 12
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 5
- Top issue
- Steering
- Best nearby year
- —
- no alternative with data
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 20.5
- 18 city / 26 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 5 / 0
Top 2006 Chevy Malibu Maxx problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Steering207 (77%)
- Electrical System35 (13%)
- Brakes30 (11%)
- Transmission & Powertrain17 (6%)
- Engine16 (6%)
- Fuel System8 (3%)
- Structure & Body6 (2%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires6 (2%)
- Airbags3 (1%)
- Other2 (1%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Power steering fails intermittently during turns, sometimes causing the vehicle to go straight instead of turning.
- Steering locks up or becomes hard to control while turning, pulling away from a light, or driving straight, sometimes with a ticking noise from the dash.
- Power steering indicator light comes on and off, occasionally accompanied by repeated dinging from the message center.
- Brake pedal goes to the floor with reduced stopping power, in one case leading to a crash into a concrete pillar.
- Front brake calipers fail to retract, causing brakes to overheat and in one instance catch fire.
- Electrical system glitches cause dashboard warning lights and rear wiper to activate on their own, plus interior and headlights that fail repeatedly.
2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 15V064000Feb 4, 2015Steering69,633 vehicles
Steering:electric power assist system
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured April 1, 2006, to June 30, 2006, and 2006-2007 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured April 18, 2006, to June 30, 2006. In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving.
Risk: 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.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly, free of charge. The recall began February 24, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. GM's number for this recall is 14772. Note: This is an expansion of recall 14V-153 to cover additional vehicles built between April 1, 2006 and June 30, 2006.
- NHTSA 14V252000May 14, 2014Brakes2,440,524 vehicles
Electronic stability control (esc)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. 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 shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.
Risk: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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 letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). GM's number for this recall is 13036.
- NHTSA 14V224000Apr 30, 2014Transmission & Powertrain1,131,113 vehicles
Power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:floor shift
General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on April 29, 2014, that they are recalling 56,214 model year 2007 and 2008 Saturn Aura vehicles. 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 transmissions. The total number vehicles being recalled is now 1,131,113.
Risk: 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 vehicle, despite selecting the ÂPARK position, the transmission may not be in ÂPARK. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Remedy: 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. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 14152.
2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 18 MPG
- Highway
- 26 MPG
- Combined
- 20.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,175
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2006 compared with other Malibu Maxx years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2006 Malibu Maxx has a complaint index of 50 and ranks 2nd worst of the 3 model years with data, driven mainly by steering complaints.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx?
- Steering is the top problem area, making up 77% of the 270 complaints, with a median failure mileage of 83,318.
- Does the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx have a steering recall?
- Yes. NHTSA lists two recalls involving steering: campaign 15V064000 for a torque sensor assembly and campaign 14V153000 covering a broader steering defect across several GM models.
- How does the 2006 Malibu Maxx compare to other years?
- The 2005 model has more complaints (326) and a higher complaint index (100), while the 2007 model has far fewer complaints (44) and a complaint index of 0.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx?
- EPA rates it at 20.5 mpg combined (18 city/26 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,175.