Problems · by component

2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx power train problems

60 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx cite power train, 4% of all 1,389 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
60
4% 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 power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Sent the car to fix recalls and they said it has another problem and want to charge to fix the steering recall N140772 problem. They said is not free.... Do not know if the other recalls were repaired.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 20, 2024Steering, Power train, Service brakesODI 11609683
“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
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL), 14V224000 (POWER TRAN), 15V064000 (STEERING) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE POWER TRAIN, STABILE-TRACE CONTROL, EMERGENCY BRAKE INDICATOR, AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME HARD TO DEPRESS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A FRIEND REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. SIERRA CHEVROLET (7850 U S 64, MEMPHIS, TN 38133, (901) 382-5644) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT AN APPOINTMENT WAS NEEDED TO BE SCHEDULED FOR THE FREE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS FILED. THERE WAS NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 19,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.*DT*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 28, 2020Steering, Service brakes, hydraulic, Power trainODI 11366882
“CAR RUNS FINE THEN WITHOUT WARNING IT WILL JUST DIE. DOES THIS WHILE DRIVING IN MOTION. IT IS CAR USED BY TWO NEW TEEN DRIVERS. IT IS VERY UNSAFE BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF DRIVING TIME. I LOOKED AT A LOT OF WIRING CONNECTIONS, CLEANED UP ALL GROUND CONNECTIONS WITH WIRE BRUSH, REPLACED TEMP SENSOR, CRANK POSITION SENSOR, BEEN GOING THRU AND FIXING BAD WIRING CONNECTIONS. REPLACED FUEL PUMP. AND FIXED BROKEN WIRES COMING OUT OF BODY THAT GO TO FUEL GAUGE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 24, 2019Power train, Electrical system, EngineODI 11270906
“I WAS DRIVING TOWARDS RAYTOWN MISSOURI FOR A BIRTHDAY PARTY AND ASNI WAS DRIVING OVER A RAILROAD TRACK, MY CAR STARTEE MAKING NOISE AND ACTED AS IF IT DIDNT WANT TO GO. SO I LATER FOUND OUT THAT MY TRANSMISAION FLUID HAD LEAKED AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION CASE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE TRACKS ON THE ROAD.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 30, 2019Steering, Power train, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11228485
“TAKATAT RECALL .. I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHEN I WAS DRIVEING I HAD MY FAMILY IN THE CAR WITH ME WE ALL COULD HAVE DIE LORD ME AND MY FAMILY IS HOMELESS WE NEED THIS CAR TO GET AROUND PLEACE HELPN US WITH THIS I WAS DRIVEING FROM EAST ST LOUIS IL TO WORK AT THE HOLLWOOD CASINO IN ST LOUIS MO WE SLEEP IN OUR CAR THATS WHY MY FAMILY WAS THERE WITH ME WHEN I WAS DRIVING WHEN IT WENT OUT AND THE STEERING WHEEL ALL SO SHAKES VERY BAD”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 7, 2019Steering, Power trainODI 11184982

Showing 6 of 60 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Power train: automatic transmission

Free remedy

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.

Power trainReported Apr 30, 2014NHTSA 14V224000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 9, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.