Problems · by component
2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx electronic stability control (esc) problems
41 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx cite electronic stability control (esc), 3% of all 1,389 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
41
3% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the electronic stability control (esc)
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I HAVE OWNED MY 2006 CHEVY MALIBU SINCE LATER 2018. IT IS NOW NOV 1ST 2020. A FEW MONTHS AFTER I GOT THE VEHICLE I HAD ISSUES. I HAVE HAD ALL RECALLS REPLACED BY FREDERICKSBURG VIRGINIA CHEVY DEALERSHIP (THEY SAY THAT THEY DID?) THE ENTIRE TIME I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE THE STEERING VIBRATES AT HIGH SPEEDS. ALSO THE ENTIRE TIME I'VE OWNED THIS CAR, WHEN I SPEED UP ANY HILLS MY STEERING LOCKS UP MY BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT DEPENDING. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE! DEALER DIDN'T KNOW WHAT COULD CAUSE IT. I LEARNED TO IMMEDIATELY TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS AND THE STEERING GOES BACK TO NORMAL. THIS IS NOT EASY ON A CURVY HILL ROAD. THIS CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS WRECK. I HAVE A 10 MONTH OLD BABY. THIS IS FRIGHTENING IF IT ONE DAY IT DOESN'T FIX BY TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE PEDAL. NOW MY STEERING IS STIFF AND IS SO HARD TO TURN WHEN DRIVING AT SLOW SPEED. THE STEERING MOTOR RECALL HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED SAYS THE DEALER. SO WHY IS IT GOING BAD AGAIN? IT HAS ONLY BEEN 30,000 MILES LATER. WHY AM I HAVING A STIFF STEERING WHEEL AGAIN IF THEY REPLACED IT? THE TC LIGHT CAME ON WITHIN HOURS OF THE STEERING GOING STIFF. WHY DOES CHEVY DISTRIBUTE…”
“OK STEERING IN THIS CAR WAS GOOD SEEN THAT IT HAD A RECALL BEFORE FOR THAT. ALSO WHEN I CALLED CHEVY THEY TOLD ME .BUT THAT'S MY MOST CONCERN AS SEEING AS MUCH I HAVE PUT INTO THIS CAR. IT'S WEIRD I LOOKED ON YOUR SITE BEFORE AND HAD RECALLS NOW IT DON'T. I JUST WANT TO SEE HOW TO GET IT FIXED WITH BRAKING MY POCKETS.”
“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. WHAT ARE THEY WAITING FOR A LAWSUIT? I DEMAND THAT THIS RECALL BE HONORED AND THIS PROBLEM FIXED ASAP. IF I OR MY FAMILY ARE HARMED DUE TO THIS I WILL SUE SO HELP ME GOD! I AM SURE THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO AGREE THAT WHAT CHEVROLET IS DOING IS WRONG! THE ISSUE HAPPENED SEVERAL…”
“TAKATA RECALL THE SECURITY SYSTEM LOCKED UP AND THE INGNITION WON'T TURN OVER SO THE CAR REFUSES TO START. THIS ALL HAPPENED WHEN I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND IT JUST SHUTOFF. THEN REFUSES TO START.THE CAR WAS TECHNICALLY STATIONARY, MY FOOT WAS IN THE BRAKE WHILE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. WE WERE ABOUT TO TURN INTO A CHURCH PARKING LOT WHEN IT STALLED OUT AND WOULD NOT COME BACK ON.”
“1.WHILE DRIVING 30 TO 45 MILES PER HOURS ON A CITY STREET CAR 'S STEERING WHEEL PULLS TO THE RIGHT. 2. IMMEDIATELY AFTER REPLACING THE GAS IN THE CAR AND TURNING CAR ON THE METER READING GOES TO ZERO FOR A DAY. 3. WHILE DRIVING 30 TO 45 MILES PER HOURS ON A CITY STREET NOTICE THAT CRUSE-CONTROL WAS ENGAGES WITHOUT IT BEING APPLIED BY DRIVER.”
“WHEN DRIVING, GO TO TURN WHEEL AND IT HESITATES AND STICKS FOR A SECOND. DOES IT VERY OFTEN WHETHER TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. START THE CAR SOMETIMES AND WARNING BELL SOUNDS, POWER STEERING APPEARS ON RADIO SCREEN AND POWER STEERING HAS FAILED. TURN CAR OFF FOR AWHILE, TURN IT BACK ON AND POWER STEERING IS WORKING AGAIN, SOMETIMES. AND LAST, START CAR, START DRIVING AND THE GAS GAUGE GOES FROM FULL DOWN TO EMPTY. WARNING BELL SOUNDS AND LOW FUEL APPEARS ON RADIO SCREEN. ALL THESE THINGS HAPPEN RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING ON A STREET. HAVE SEEN RECALLS FOR THESE THINGS ON OTHER 06 MALIBUS BUT NEVER FOR MINE. MY GARAGE WANTS HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS. SOMETHING I CAN NOT AFFORD.”
Showing 6 of 41 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.