2006 Chevrolet Malibu Engine Problems

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.

NHTSA ID

11525867

Incident

Jun 7, 2023

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.

NHTSA ID

11489344

Incident

Oct 1, 2021

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.

NHTSA ID

11479831

Incident

Jul 17, 2022

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.

NHTSA ID

11396085

Incident

Feb 13, 2021

Mileage

149,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11270906

Incident

Oct 23, 2019

Mileage

148,000 mi

ANTIFREEZE LEAK WATER PUMP AND WATER INLET TUBE .

NHTSA ID

11252797

Incident

Feb 1, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, IT STALLED WITHOUT WARNING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. ON EACH OCCASION, THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY ACTIVATED THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR, IGNITION SWITCH, STARTER, FUEL TANK, AND THE BATTERY; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES RECURRED. VANDERGRIFF CHEVROLET (1200 WEST INTERSTATE 20, ARLINGTON, TEXAS 76017, (682) 323-2486) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000.

NHTSA ID

11141478

Incident

Mar 1, 2018

Mileage

180,000 mi

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 REPLACING THE RECALL AFFECT SENSOR I NO LONGER HAD THE ISSUE, I HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS TO TRY TO FIX THIS ISSUE, SO THE FAULT IS CURRENTLY UNKNOWN. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND SEEN THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. GM HAS DONE NOTHING TO FIX THIS VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION.

NHTSA ID

11063179

Incident

Dec 27, 2017

Mileage

153,000 mi

ENGINE HAS BEGUN MALFUNCTIONING FOR NO REASON. EXPERIENCED PROBLEM 5 TIMES IN PAST WEEK. 1) VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ON FREEWAY. TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY. RADIO INDICATED "REDUCE ENGINE POWER". I RELEASED GAS PEDAL. RADIO THEN INDICATED "ENGINE DISABLED," AND ENGINE SHUT OFF. COASTED TO A STOP. TURNED KEY TO "OFF" POSITION. TRIED TO RESTART, BUT WOULD NOT CRANK (EVERYTHING WAS COMPLETELY SILENT). TRIED TO CRANK AGAIN A MINUTE LATER. ENGINE STARTED WITHOUT HESITATION. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, BUT IMMEDIATELY WENT OFF. DROVE STRAIGHT TO MECHANICAL WITHIN 5 MILES. THERE WERE NO CODES TO READ. 2) VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 30 MPH ON CITY STREET, MOVING FORWARD. TRACTION CONTROL AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON. RADIO READ "REDUCE ENGINE POWER" AND WITHIN A FEW SECONDS CHANGED TO "ENGINE DISABLED" AS ENGINE SHUT DOWN. STOPPED CAR. WOULD NOT CRANK. REMOVED KEY AND WAITED ONE MINUTE. CAR CRANKED AND DROVE WITH NO PROBLEM AND NO INDICATOR LIGHTS. 3) VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN DRIVEWAY. TRACTION CONTROL AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON. RADIO INDICATED "REDUCE ENGINE POWER" AND THEN "ENGINE DIABLED". ENGINE SHUT DOWN. TURNED KEY TO "OFF" POSITION. WAITED ONE MINUTE. CAR STARTED AND RAN WITH NO PROBLEM AND NO INDICATOR LIGHTS ON. 4) SAME INCIDENT IN SAME ORDER WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH ON SERVICE ROAD. 5) HAPPENED IN SAME MANNER WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH ON FREEWAY.

NHTSA ID

11033538

Incident

Oct 10, 2017

Mileage

161,000 mi

I PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT AT WORK AND IT SAID ENGINE POWER DECREASING AND THEN STARTED MAKING STRANGE MESSED UP NOISES AND I COASTED INTO THE PARKING LOT IT DIDN'T DIE BUT IT WOULDN'T LET ME GO ANY FASTER. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE AUTO PARTS STORE AND HAD THEM PUT A SCANNER ON IT. OF WHICH IT SHOWED MULTIPLE CODES ALL RESULTING IN THE SAME ISSUE THE MASS FLOW SENSOR. I WAS TOLD THAT SINCE IT HAS HAPPENED ONCE IT'S LIABLE TO KEEP HAPPENING MAKING MY VEHICLE UNRELIABLE AND I AM A SINGLE MOM.

NHTSA ID

10940018

Incident

Jan 4, 2016

Mileage

218,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AND THE ENGINE TURNS OFF COMPLETELY. WHEN BROUGHT IN TO BE LOOKED AT THE SYSTEM SAID THAT THERE WAS NEVER A PROBLEM IN THE FIRST PLACE. WE CANT USE HEATER OR A/C WITHOUT THE CAR DYING 100% OF THE TIME.

NHTSA ID

10898459

Incident

Jun 1, 2016

Mileage

88,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER GAUGE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO INDICATE THE ACTUAL SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10839938

Incident

Dec 12, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH IN COLD TEMPERATURES, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND THE REDUCE ENGINE POWER AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10807926

Incident

Dec 5, 2014

Mileage

67,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 24 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED WHENEVER THE GEARS WERE SHIFTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10725939

Incident

May 1, 2015

Mileage

100,000 mi

OUR 2006 CHEVY MALIBU LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON. IT WAS CHECKED AND COOLANT WAS PUT IN THE VEHICLE. IT CONTINUED TO COME ON. IT WAS TAKEN TO OUR REGULAR CHEVY DEALER IN MARCH 2015 WHO MISDIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND REPLACED THE COOLANT RESERVOIR. THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND WE WERE LOOSING MORE ENGINE COOLANT IN JUNE 2015. IT WAS TAKEN BACK TO OUR DEALER. WE WERE TOLD IT HAS A CRACKED HEAD GASKET AND THE LEAK IS INTERNAL. THE CHEVY DEALER RECOMMENDED THE ENTIRE ENGINE BE REPLACED AS A PRECAUTION BECAUSE IT HAS OVER 100, 000 MILES. OUR 2006 CHEVY MALIBU HAVE BEEN MAINTAINED WELL AND KEPT UP WITH ALL MAINTENANCE. . AND FOR THE GASKET TO BE LEAKING IS BEYOND US. THE LEAK COULD NOT BE SEEN TO THE VISIBLE EYE. THE ONLY WAY WE KNEW THEIR WAS A LEAK WAS BECAUSE THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON, WHICH WAS THE REASON WHY WE TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC. WE ARE DISAPPOINTED WITH THE MISDIAGNOSE OF OUR VEHICLE AND WITH THE PROBLEM. THE CHEVY DEALER DID REFUND US FOR THE MISDIAGNOSE OF THE PROBLEM BUT NOTHING ELSE WAS OFFERED OR DONE. NOW WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO BECAUSE WE NEED OUR CAR.

NHTSA ID

10724471

Incident

Mar 2, 2015

Mileage

120,000 mi

VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY WHEN STOPPED AND IDLING. THIS OCCURS WHEN BACKING UP AND ALSO WHEN IDLING. IT SEEMS TO OCCUR MORE SO WHEN THE AIR TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE IS VERY HOT. USUALLY WHEN IT IS AROUND 85 - 90 DEGREES OUTSIDE. VEHICLE USUALLY RESTARTS OK. ONLY ONE INSTANCE WHEN ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF TWICE WHILE IDLING, IT WOULD NOT RESTART UNTIL ENGINE COOLED DOWN. THEN WAS ABLE TO START ENGINE. MECHANICS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETECT PROBLEM EVEN WHEN VEHICLE WAS SCANNED FOR CODES. HAVE TAKEN IT TO DIFFERENT AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE SHOPS INCLUDING DEALERSHIPS AND NO ONE CAN FIND THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY STATE IT IS INTERMITTENT. AIR TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE SEEMS TO BE A KEY FACTOR WITH CAR STALLING WHEN TEMPERATURE VERY HOT. THE CAR HAS NEVER OVERHEATED WHEN THIS OCCURS.

NHTSA ID

10722254

Incident

Aug 25, 2008

Mileage

45,447 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WILL START SLOWING DOWN AND IT SAYS ON THE DASH "REDUCED ENGINE POWER". IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING AND ALSO WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP. VEHICLE ALSO STALLS OUT WHEN COMING TO A STOP. VEHICLE DOES THIS WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE. VERY DANGEROUS THAT THIS HAPPENS WHILE MY WIFE IS DRIVING OUR CHILDREN. NO ONE CAN EXPLAIN WHY THIS IS HAPPENING.

NHTSA ID

10690840

Incident

Jan 1, 2015

Mileage

88,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND EXCESSIVE FORCE ON THE STEERING WHEEL WAS REQUIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE STALLED. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,000.

NHTSA ID

10671911

Incident

Jul 31, 2014

Mileage

169,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND THE ENGINE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS DOWN A HILL. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 02/24/15*LJ UPDATED 6/10/2015 *JS

NHTSA ID

10671861

Incident

Jan 10, 2015

Mileage

70,000 mi

WAS DRIVING AT 45MPH AND CHEVY MALIBU STALLED. WAS ABLE TO START BACK UP BUT STALLED AGAIN AND HAS YET TO RESTART. TOOK TO MECHANIC AND TOLD THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THERE HAS YET TO BE ANY RECALLS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10671423

Incident

Jan 12, 2014

Mileage

156,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ENGINE SHUTTING DOWN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

NHTSA ID

10670473

Incident

Dec 23, 2014

Mileage

107,000 mi

WHEN I TRY TO START MY CHEVY MALIBU IT DOESN'T CATCH AFTER TURNING THE KEY AND WILL CONSTANTLY DIE. ALREADY REPLACED THE STARTER, FUEL INTAKE, ETC BUT CONTINUES THE SAME PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10652600

Incident

Sep 24, 2014

Mileage

121,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10648404

Incident

Sep 9, 2013

I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED ON SEPTEMBER 22,2014, AS I WAS DRIVING HOME THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND I SPOKE WITH DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY CLEANED THE CAR. IF IT IS STILL ON IN A COUPLE DAYS, BRING CAR IN. WELL I HAD MY MECHANIC LOOK AND HE SAID THERE WAS A BULLETIN OUT ON IT FOR MASS AIR FLOW UPDATE, WHICH IS WHAT THE CODE WAS WHEN HE PUT THE GADGET ON IT. I CALLED BERGER CHEVY AND THEY SAID ITS A CUSTOMER PAY. SHOULDN'T BE IF THIS WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE AIR MASS FLOW IS RUNNING LEAN, BUT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY THIS, SHOULD I? THEY ARE SAYING 98 BUCKS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10644421

Incident

Sep 22, 2014

Mileage

131,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED, BUT THE ENGINE INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED DAILY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

NHTSA ID

10637358

Incident

Feb 1, 2014

Mileage

73,000 mi