RoadVitals

2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx Powertrain (other) Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
16
Latest Nov 21, 2016
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
6%
of 270 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 16 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming powertrain

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 21, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE CONSTANTLY SHOOK. THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED GEARS AND THE POWER TRAIN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GASKET FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,375.

NHTSA ID
10927121
Incident
Nov 18, 2016
Mileage
171,375 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 29, 2016

ON 9-28-16, I PLACED THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE TO DEPART A PARKING SPACE, WHEN I TRIED TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE THE GEAR REMAINED IN REVERSE. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL ON 03-27-15, FOR THE PREVIOUS 8 YEARS THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE SHIFT CABLE. THE SHIFT CABLE THAT WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL HAS NOW FRACTURED.

NHTSA ID
10910641
Incident
Sep 27, 2016
Mileage
156,115 mi
Powertrain (other)Steering
Filed Mar 30, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT RANDOMLY FLASHED AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TIGHT EACH TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY OR SOLUTION. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V064000 (STEERING), 14E044000 (STEERING), AND 14V153000 (STEERING). THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN). THE DEALER WAS TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION OF THE POWER STEERING FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS WAITING TO DETERMINE WHEN THE DEALER WOULD COMPLETE THE RECALL REPAIR. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

NHTSA ID
10852433
Incident
Oct 20, 2015
Mileage
136,000 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 16, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER LAST YEAR FOR THREE MANUFACTURER RECALL REPAIRS, WHICH DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. MONTHS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, IT WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS PROPERLY AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND VIBRATED RANDOMLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND, IF IT WERE RELEASED, THE VEHICLE WOULD RANDOMLY STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTING TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 1/19/16 LN *CN

NHTSA ID
10790542
Incident
Oct 31, 2014
Mileage
50,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 7, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10732473
Incident
May 16, 2014
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 22, 2015

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10678392
Incident
Jan 22, 2015
Interior & seatsPowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 18, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT WAS ABLE TO BE MOVED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION WITHOUT ENGAGING THE BRAKES. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED, THE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,943.

NHTSA ID
10637345
Incident
Sep 16, 2014
Mileage
71,943 mi
Powertrain (other)Steering
Filed Sep 8, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTICES FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V153000 (STEERING) AND 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE DELAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 10/23/2014*LJ UPDATED 4/20/15 *JS

NHTSA ID
10631469
Incident
Mar 26, 2014
BrakesPowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 18, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE HER VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL , EXTERIOR LIGHTING , SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC , VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DELAY. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10626098
Incident
Aug 18, 2014
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 28, 2014

THIS IS A FOLLOW-UP TO ODI CONFIRMATION NUMBER: 10610590 WHERE THE VEHICLE WOULD COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. ALL POWERED FUNCTIONS WERE LOST. THE DISPLAY SCREEN WOULD SIGNAL: "ENGINE DISABLED." PER THE CHEVY DEALER, THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A IMPROPER WORKING PCM (POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE), WHERE THE FOLLOWING ERROR CODES WERE PRESENT: P0601 TO P0606 AND U2109. ESTIMATED COST TO REPAIR, AT THIS POINT, IS $740.00 + TAX. FOR PEACE OF MIND AND OF COURSE, REASONS OF PERSONAL SAFETY, WE HOPE THAT THIS IS THE PROBLEM. *JS

NHTSA ID
10616711
Incident
Jul 25, 2014
Mileage
82,850 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 24, 2014

THE TRANSMISSION CABLE OF MY CAR QUIT WORKING. I WAS TRYING TO PUT MY CAR IN PARK WHEN PICKING MY KIDS UP FROM DAYCARE, AND THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO PARK, DRIVE, ETC. WHEN I THOUGHT I HAD PUT THE CAR INTO PAR, THE CAR PROCEEDED TO ROLL DOWN THE HILL. I HAD TO PUT THE EMERGENCY BREAK ON, AND ALL A TOW TRUCK. THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION CABLE HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALTHOUGH THIS IS ISSUE IS PART OF A CHEVROLET RECALL, MY 2006 MALIBU MAXX IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL, AND I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10615893
Incident
Jul 1, 2013
Mileage
118,000 mi
Powertrain (other)Steering
Filed May 20, 2014

THIS HAPPENED LITERALLY AT THE END OF A 7 HOUR CAR TRIP- WE GOT LUCKY. DRIVING ON I-75 SOUTH AND APPROACHING EXIT. BEGIN TO SLOW DOWN AND ENTER EXIT RAMP. STEERING WHEEL STARTS SHAKING PROFUSELY AND IMMEDIATELY BECOMES EXTREMELY HARD TO MOVE TO EITHER SIDE. PANICKING, I MANAGED TO CONTROL THE CAR AND SLOW IT DOWN TO A VERY SLOW SPEED AND PUT THE HAZARD LIGHTS ON, AND SLOWLY MERGE INTO A GAS STATION THAT WAS, LUCKILY, RIGHT NEXT TO THE EXIT RAMP. THIS WAS EXTREMELY SCARY, UNEXPECTED, AND COULD HAVE KILLED US IF WE WERE GOING THE FULL HIGHWAY SPEED AND WERE NOT EXITING ON A RAMP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10592726
Incident
Jul 10, 2013
Mileage
100,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 17, 2014

TRANSMISSION: CHEVY MALIBU MAXX 2006 LTZ 6 CYC LURCHES SPEED UNDER CONSTANT THROTTLE & STRAIGHT LINE ROAD SURFACE & STEERING WHILE DRIVING AT MEDIUM CRUISING SPEEDS 30-45 MPH. OUR MAXX HAS HAD THIS ISSUE SERVICED TWICE BEFORE; NOW IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN. WHILE MAXX WAS UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY; THE MECHANIC WAS TOLD TO BLANK THE TRANSMISSION'S MEMORY; THIS INSTRUCTION WAS FROM AN INTERNAL FACTORY SERVICE BULLETIN. THIS CHEVY MALIBU MAXX 2006 LTZ HAS HAD ONLY ONE OWNER. THE TRANSMISSION'S MEMORY IS CORRUPTED EVERY 40K SERVICE MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10572909
Incident
Apr 25, 2007
Mileage
42,000 mi
Powertrain (other)Steering
Filed May 1, 2013

THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR SOMETIME NOW. I START MY VEHICLE UP TO GO, PUT IT IN DRIVE AND THE CAR LOSES ITS POWER STEERING(STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT MOVE) AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING SHOWS UP ON THE DASH DISPLAY. I ALSO NOTICE AT A STOP OR AT SLOW SPEEDS THE STEERING WHEEL JUMPS FROM RIGHT TO LEFT QUITE FREQUENTLY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10510214
Incident
May 1, 2013
Mileage
116,010 mi
Powertrain (other)Steering
Filed Mar 12, 2013

MY FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS WHILE DRIVING ACROSS A RAILROAD TRACK AT A SPEED OF 35 MPH....WHILE DRIVING I HEARD A DINGING AND LOOKED TO SEE MY POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME THAT I WAS CROSSING THE TRACKS....TRACKS WHERE UNEVEN SO I KINDA WENT AROUND THE UNEVEN PART AND COULDN'T HANDLE MY STEERING SO I ALMOST HIT A CAR COMING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION...SECOND OCCURRENCE HAS EVEN MORE LIFE THREATENING....WHILE DRIVIN ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS OF 65MPH...I HEARD THE DINGING SOUND AND MY STEERING LOCKED UP COMPLETELY(LIKE WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF) I COULD NOT USE STEERING AT ALL AND I HAD A SEMI RIGHT BEHIND ME ....I WAS APPROACHING A CURVE IN THE HIGHWAY SO I SLOW DOWN SO THE TRAFFIC WOULD GO AROUND ME TO HOPEFULLY GET A CHANCE TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT TO RESET POWER STEERING....I HAD READ ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND THAT WAS THE SOLUTION..I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC WHERE HE DID A ROAD TEST AND OF COURSE NOTHING HAPPENED....I ONLY HAVE 2 MORE PAYMENT ON THIS CAR AND TO FIND OUT THAT THE SITUATION WHEN FIXED ALWAYS RECURS IS VERY DISAPPOINTING....PLEASE RECALL THIS VEHICLE BEFORE THIS PROBLEM KILLS SOMEBODY...MY FAMILY IS ALREADY AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND IF I GET INTO A ACCIDENT THEY WILL BE LOOKING CLOSELY INTO THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10502558
Incident
Jan 7, 2013
Mileage
59,550 mi
Powertrain (other)Steering
Filed Oct 10, 2012

POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. INTERMITTENT FAILURE. SEVERAL MONTHS OF DRIVING IT WOULD SPORADICALLY FAIL AND THEN RETURN BACK TO NORMAL. EVENTUALLY IT FAILED COMPLETELY. WENT TO HAVE THE PS MODULE REPLACED ONLY TO DISCOVER THE COLUMN IS TO BE REPLACED WITH IT. THE VEHICLE IS DRIVABLE, BUT FEELS UNSAFE AND PUTS OTHERS AT RISK. VEHICLE IS NOT EASILY MANEUVERABLE AT LOW SPEEDS. NEEDS LARGE SPACE TO TURN AROUND. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG THIS VEHICLE AS I HAVE SEEN MANY MANY COMPLAINTS. WHY IS THERE NOT YET A RECALL ON THE PS MODULE/COLUMN FAILURE OF THE MALIBU?? *TR

NHTSA ID
10479647
Incident
Aug 1, 2008
Mileage
20,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data on this page last refreshed .