Model year guide

2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 46 on record.

2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx at a glance

Safety recalls4
Owner complaints1,385
Combined21 mpg
Typical price$2,847

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx recalls 4

Electrical System:wiring NHTSA Campaign #14V252000 · 14/05/2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicle…

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and harness connector, and will relearn the brake pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim le…

Steering:electric Power Assist System NHTSA Campaign #14V153000 · 31/03/2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2006 Malibu Maxx, 2009-2010 HHR (non-turbo), 2010 Cobalt, 2008-2009 Saturn Aura and 2004-2007 Ion, and 2005-2009 Pontiac G6. In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will perform one of four bulletins. Parts are not currently available. GM expects to send an interim notification around May 28, 2014. When parts are available, owners will be mailed a second letter to come in to have the applicable bulletin applied. Bulletin …

Steering:electric Power Assist System NHTSA Campaign #15V064000 · 04/02/2015

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured April 1, 2006, to June 30, 2006, and 2006-2007 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured April 18, 2006, to June 30, 2006. In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly, free of charge. The recall began February 24, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. GM's number for this recall is 14772. Note: This is an exp…

Power Train:automatic Transmission NHTSA Campaign #14V224000 · 30/04/2014

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,…

Fix: GM will notify owners, and GM dealers will replace the shift cable assembly and mounting bracket, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 14152.

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 1,385 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.

2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx MPG & running costs

Combined21 mpg
City18 mpg
Highway26 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,025

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx worth?

Low
$1,100
Typical price
$2,847
High
$4,600

From 46 comparable 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$15,125
Fuel only$15,125
Per mile$0.20

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx trims & engines on record

Trims
LT · SS · LTZ · Base LS
Engines
3.5L 6-cyl · 3.9L 6-cyl

2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx vehicles on record

2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx LT1G1ZT61856F102687 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx LT1G1ZT618X6F233629 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx LT1G1ZT61866F114041 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx LT1G1ZT63896F124320 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx LT1G1ZT61896F280148 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx LT1G1ZT61826F194826 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx LT1G1ZT61826F110567 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx SS1G1ZW63136F152477 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx LT1G1ZT61846F286634 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx SS1G1ZW63196F141645 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx LT1G1ZT61826F106809 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx LT1G1ZT63826F190272 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx LT1G1ZT61816F106512 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx SS1G1ZW63176F236611 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx LT1G1ZT61886F107964 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx LT1G1ZT61896F176792 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx LT1G1ZT61856F114290 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx SS1G1ZW63126F150574 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx LT1G1ZT61886F194068 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx SS1G1ZW63116F152736 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx LTZ1G1ZU63866F143680 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx SS1G1ZW63106F203336 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx LT1G1ZT61856F284262 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx LT1G1ZT61826F101626

Other Chevrolet Malibu Maxx model years

2007 2005 2004

2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx — frequently asked questions

Does the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls for the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx?

Based on 1,385 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are steering, electrical system, service brakes.

What gas mileage does the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx at about 21 mpg combined (18 city / 26 highway).

How much is a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx worth?

Comparable 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx listings run roughly $1,100–$4,600, typically around $2,847 (from 46 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.