Problems · by component
2006 Chevrolet Malibu vehicle speed control problems
43 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu cite vehicle speed control, 3% of all 1,389 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
43
3% of all complaints
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
What owners say about the vehicle speed control
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Electric Power Steering - 10/2020 Suddenly went out while driving. No warnings beforehand. This made sharp turns extremely difficult. It says that my car is not part of the recall, but is still as dangerous as the vehicles that were part of the recall. From the research that I have done, the motor seems to be in good working order. The sensor is what seems to be the issue. Cruise Control - 08/2023 Goes out randomly. I was on the freeway when it turned off by itself. If I was not paying attention, this could've caused an accident. No warning beforehand. Brake Switch - 06/2023 Seems to be something wrong with the switch. The brake light stays on after braking. Turn Signal Switch - 10/2020 Does not cancel after turning right. This can potentially confuse other drivers. Fuel Pump - 10/2020 The float of the fuel pump is not working. It says it is empty, even after filling it up. It will occasionally show that the tank is all of the way filled during rapid acceleration. This could make me run out of fuel while driving if I lose track of mileage; which could result in an accident. None of the components have been inspected by a dealer or manufacturer. The Electric…”
“MY POWER STEERING WILL GO COMPLETELY OUT WHILE DRIVING. MY STEERING WHEEL WILL BEGIN TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY WHILE BRAKING TO SLOW DOWN AND WHEN I AM AT A COMPLETE STOP. VERY HARD TO STEER WHILE THIS IS ALL HAPPENING.”
“SPEEDOMETER STOPS WORKING WHILE DRIVING, SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON, ENGINE IGNITION STOPS WORKING AND CAR DOESN'T TURN OVER OR START. THIS HAPPENS WHEN IN MOTION AND NOT IN MOTION.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL, ACCELERATOR PEDAL, AND BRAKE PEDAL SEIZED. THE FAILURES MADE IT DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, ACCELERATE, AND DECELERATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE DEALER (5 STAR AUTO PLAZA, 3690 W CLAY ST, ST CHARLES, MO 63301) STATED THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,526.”
“ENGINE POWER REDUCED, TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT THE FIRST TIME THE ISSUE OCCURRED, MY CAR WAS IN PARK. I STARTED MY VEHICLE, IT DIDNT TURN OVER ON THE FIRST TRY, I SIMPLY TRIED AGAIN AND IT STARTED BUT A SERVICE MESSAGE POPPED UP STATING "ENGINE POWER REDUCED AND MY CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL, MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AS SERVICE ENGINE SOON. I LET MY CAR SIT FOR A WHILE AND DECIDED TO TURN MY CAR OFF AND TRY AGAIN, SAME MESSAGE, SEVERAL HOURS LATER IT STARTED FINE, THE HECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND I DROVE IT WITH NO ISSUES, STARTED MY CAR AGAIN AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED OFF. ABOUT A WEEK LATER, THIS HAPPENED AGAIN, SAME CIRCUMSTANCES. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER, WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THIS HAPPENED AGAIN AND MY CAR SLOWED DOWN DRASTICALLY AND WOULDNT EXCEED 10 MPH. THE NEXT TIME I DROVE THE VEHICLE MY CAR FLASHED A WARNED MESSAGE SIMPLY STATING " POWER STEERING" WITH NO NOTICEABLE SIGNS OF LOSS OF POWER STEERING, HOWEVER LAST YEAR I HAD TO REPLACE A SENSOR FOR MY POWER STEERING THAT WAS A RECALL, WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO A DEALERSHIP TO BE FIXED THEY CLAIMED MY RECALL WAS FIXED AND THEY WOULDNT COVER THE COST, AFTER…”
“"CHECK ENGINE WARNING & T/C CONTROL WARNING". WARNING LIGHTS WILL RANDOMLY ILLUMINATE AND "ENGINE POWER REDUCED" FLASHES. REGARDLESS OF CURRENT MPH TRAVELING, THE ENGINE WILL LUNGE FORWARD AND IMMEDIATELY REDUCE SPEED TO 10 MPH. UPON THE FIRST TIME THIS ISSUE OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN TO BE CHECKED. BECAUSE THE LIGHTS HAD GONE BACK OFF, THERE WAS NO WAY TO INDICATE THE PROBLEM. WITHIN THE FEW FOLLOWING DAYS, WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND POURING RAIN, AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING, THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND REDUCED SPEED TO 10 MPH, VERY NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THIS ISSUE CONTINUED TO OCCUR EVERY DAY FOR THE FOLLOWING WEEK, SOMETIMES 2-3 TIMES DAILY. THE CAR IS NOW IN TO BE REPAIRED, AND ALMOST HIT A PARKED CAR BECAUSE IT LUNGED FORWARD SUDDENLY PULLING INTO THE DEALERSHIP. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP'S REPAIR SHOP, THE ISSUE IS SEVERAL THINGS RELATED TO THE THROTTLE BODY AND ASSOCIATED SENSORS. AS OF RIGHT NOW, THE BEGINNING REPAIR COST IS $550 TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY ALONE. THERE ARE 5 RELATED CODES AND DEPENDING AS TO WHETHER REPLACING THE THROTTLE BODY FIXES THE PROBLEM WILL DETERMINE IF FURTHER REPAIRS ARE NEEDED.…”
Showing 6 of 43 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.