Car and Truck Fix it Right the First Time Issues
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2006 Chevrolet Malibu cruise control problems
severe 14 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
2crashes
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering cruise control on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
ADJUSTABLE PEDALS WILL NOT ADJUST INOPERATIVE. UPDATED 3/13/09. UPDATED 8/1/11.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗CHEVROLET/PONTIAC/SATURN: INTERMITTENTLY BRAKE LIGHTS (STOP LAMPS) DO NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY, EXTENDED TRAVEL TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK, CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE, DTCS C0161/C0277 SET (PERFORM REPAIR AS OUTLINED). UPDATED 5/11/11.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report a cascade of electrical and drivability failures that recur even after recall and recall repairs. The most common complaint involves the engine abruptly reducing power or shutting down entirely—the check engine light and traction control light come on, the car lunges forward, then speed cuts to 10 mph or the engine dies. This happens at highway speeds, in traffic, and sometimes multiple times a day. One owner nearly hit a parked car pulling into the dealership; another spun out on a freeway ramp. Dealers cite throttle body and sensor problems requiring replacement ($550 reported).
Brake issues accompany these failures: pedals pulse on their own, brake lights stay on without driver input, and in two cases vehicles failed to stop despite brake application. Cruise control either shuts itself off or won't engage at all.
Critical: dealers have completed recalls (13V036, 14V224000, 14V252000) by replacing brake sensors, throttle bodies, and applying lubricant to connections, but the failures recurred within miles. One owner got told the recall doesn't actually cover the problem—despite the recall notice saying it does. Two owners mention parts being unavailable to complete recall repairs, leaving vehicles in partially fixed condition. Owners are angry about being asked to pay diagnostic fees after failed recalls.
Same Chevrolet Malibu cruise control reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009
Failure modes owners describe
Engine Power Reduction & Throttle Control Failures
Check Engine light and Traction Control light illuminate, vehicle lunges forward then abruptly reduces speed to 10 mph, or loses engine power entirely. Multiple sensors and throttle body implicated.
When: Occurs randomly while driving at varying speeds (35–70 mph), sometimes multiple times daily. Can happen in heavy traffic or on interstate.
Symptoms owners cite: Check Engine light and/or Traction Control light illuminate; Engine Power Reduced message on display; Abrupt forward lunge followed by speed reduction to 10 mph; Complete loss of engine power requiring pull-over; Unresponsive gas pedal; Issue recurs after restart but check engine light remains on
Codes mentioned: P0505, P0506, P0507, P0510
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body replacement reported at $550; dealership cited throttle body and associated sensors as root cause; some owners cite 5 related diagnostic codes; root cause sometimes persists after recall work (adding lubricant to connections only).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall 13V036 issued for electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, and vehicle speed control; however, recall repairs (lubricant application to connections) did not resolve issue for at least one owner. Recalls issued for model years before and after 2006.
Brake System & Traction Control Malfunction
Brake pedal pulses on its own independent of driver input, traction control light activates in correspondence with brake pulsing. In one case, brakes failed to stop vehicle at low speed despite pedal application.
When: Occurs while driving on highway and local roads at varying speeds (5–70 mph). One case on interstate in clear, dry conditions.
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal pulses autonomously; Traction Control light illuminates in sync with brake pulses; Complete brake failure (failure to stop despite pedal application); Check Engine light and brake light illuminate and remain on; Brake lights stay on even when brake pedal not depressed
Repairs/costs cited: Brake sensor replaced ($287.20 per one owner) under recall work; however, brake sensor replacement did not resolve persistent brake light and cruise control issues for that owner. No other repair costs cited.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall 13V036 and Recall 14V252000 address electrical system, electronic stability control, service brakes, and vehicle speed control; however, recall repairs (brake sensor replacement and lubricant application) did not resolve symptoms for owners reporting issue after recall completion.
Cruise Control Inoperability
Cruise control shuts off by itself or fails to engage and hold set speed. In one case, vehicle accelerates 5–15 mph above set speed while going downhill.
When: Occurs while driving on highway and local roads. Downhill acceleration noted during cruise control operation.
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control disengages on its own; Cruise control will not work at all; Vehicle accelerates 5–15 mph above set speed while in cruise control on downhill grades
Repairs/costs cited: None cited by owners.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response noted for pure cruise control malfunction complaints.
Unintended Acceleration & Loss of Braking
Vehicle accelerates on its own without driver input or when attempting to brake; crashes resulted in two cases. Related to incomplete recall repairs for transmission shift cable and powertrain control.
When: Occurs at speeds around 50 mph; one case at low speed (5 mph). One crash at 101,499 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates independently without driver input; Acceleration when attempting to brake or disengage cruise control; Vehicle spins out of control; Loss of engine power and braking
Repairs/costs cited: None cited; one owner noted partial repair of recall 14V224000 with incomplete parts availability.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall 14V224000 (powertrain) issued; however, not all parts were available for completion, leaving vehicle in partially repaired state.
Engine Shutdown While Driving
Engine shuts off completely while vehicle is in motion on freeway exit ramp, resulting in loss of power steering and poor braking.
When: Occurred during freeway off-ramp exit in lunch hour traffic.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shuts off mid-ramp; Loss of power steering; Poor braking response
Repairs/costs cited: None cited.
Power Steering Failure
Electronic power steering system fails or becomes unreliable. Steering wheel shimmy at idle and complete power steering loss while driving reported.
When: Occurs at idle (stop lights) and while driving.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel shimmy at idle; Power steering fails while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Owner notes failure recurring again (implying prior repair).
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had cruise control trouble with your 2006 Chevrolet Malibu?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu?
It's a meaningful issue. 14 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 13 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 54,085 and 147,000 miles, with the median around 90,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 54,085; a quarter make it past 147,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Chevrolet/Malibu.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.