Problems · by component

2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx engine problems

40 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx cite engine, 3% of all 1,389 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
40
3% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the power steering malfunctioned, and the steering wheel became difficult to turn in either direction. During the failure, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the power steering assist assembly was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V064000 (STEERING). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 204,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 11, 2025Steering, EngineODI 11647569
“I had my 5 year old in the back seat we had just left gymnastics. I was about to pull out on to state route 87 and my car just stops running. Everything shut down, no power steering, was hard to brake, and engine stopped. The dashboard lit up with all the lights anti-theft, oil, traction control, engine. I couldn't get it to turn over and when I tried it made no noise at all. I was in a dangerous spot about to pull out into oncoming traffic. Luckily there was a gentleman in a truck whose child was also at gymnastics and pulled me into a driveway with his truck to keep me and my child safe as we waited on a tow. This car also started having power steering problems early this year, I took it to a good mechanic who replaced the power steering lines and fixed what ever could be causing a leak/ power steering problems. I don't drive my car a lot, just in town usually, and after a few weeks the power steering is all messed up again (which there is a recall on the power steering issue for this year, make, and model but does not appear to include my VIN). Today this scary and dangerous incident mentioned above, when my car just stopped with no warning, happened to me and my five year old.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 7, 2023Steering, Electrical system, EngineODI 11525867
“I started losing steering when I accelerated. Then the vehicle security system would t allow me to take the gear out of park then the car suddenly stopped working all together and all the lights on dash flash, the radio says power steering loss, the steering wheel starts moving back and forth all on its own, the vehicle dies and fries the alternator and won't start.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 14, 2022Steering, Electrical system, EngineODI 11489344
“The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Mailbu. The contact stated that the engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to Sound Radio where it was diagnosed that the transmission and an unknown censor failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not call the contact back. The failure mileage was unavailable.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 17, 2022EngineODI 11479831
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK UPON DEPRESSION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO JIM KERAS CHEVROLET (2000 COVINGTON PIKE, MEMPHIS, TN 38128) WHERE THEY PERFORMED SERVICES TO THE BRAKE BOOSTER, MASTER CYLINDER, HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM, LOWER CONTROL ARMS, AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHER UNKNOWN SERVICES. THREE WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 241,404.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 20, 2021Service brakes, EngineODI 11413026
“WAS DRIVING CAR AND THE ENGINE CUT OFF. REDUCED ENGINE POWER SHOWED ON MY RADIO AND TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON ON THE DASH. I HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK, TURN IGNITION OFF, WAIT A COUPLE OF MINUTES, THEN CRANK IT BACK UP TO DRIVE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE NOTICED THAT IT HAPPENS WHEN IT IS RAINING OR HAS RAINED. WHEN THE ROADS ARE WET. IT HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. IT HAS HAPPENED BOTH WHILE DRIVING AND BRAKING. C0242 - ENGINE CONTROL MODULE INDICATED TRACTION CONTROL MALFUNCTION IS THE CODE IT IS GIVING ME. THIS IS CAUSING MY GAS MILEAGE TO DROP TO AROUND 230-250 MILES PER TANK. WHEN I WAS GETTING ALMOST 400 PER TANK.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 13, 2021Power train, EngineODI 11396085

Showing 6 of 40 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.