2006 Chevrolet Malibu: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 1473 complaints
1473
Total Complaints
85,000mi
Median Mileage
STEERING
Top Issue
59
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

55,000 25th Percentile
85,000 Median Mileage
127,756 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

STEERING
786
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
132
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
52
SERVICE BRAKES
50
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
46
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
40
POWER TRAIN
39
ENGINE
33
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
31
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
29

Severity Assessment

59
Crashes
6
Fires
39
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH A DEER RAN INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR BURSTING THE WINDOW GLASS AND COLLAPSING THE DOOR ONTO THE CONTACT. BRAKE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE SKIDDED INTO A BILLBOARD, THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY A CENTER WOODEN POLE SUPPORT FOR..."
"PLASTIC CONSOLE EXTENDS FORWARD ALONG TRANSMISSION HUMP AND ENDS JUST AFT OF ACCELERATOR. WITH ACCELERATOR DEPRESSED, MY FOOT BECAME TRAPPED BETWEEN CONSOLE TRIM AND PEDAL. *JB"
"DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR HEADRESTS BLOCK THE VIEW OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND PEDESTRIANS. THE DEALER TOOK OFF THE HEADRESTS AND TOLD THE CONTACT TO PUT THEM BACK ON IF SOMEONE RIDES IN THE REAR SEAT FOR SAFETY. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28