2006 Chevrolet Malibu Service and Repair Manual

This factory service and repair manual for the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu has the widest spread of any year in the line: nine trims, from Base and LS up through LTZ, SS and the four Maxx variants, carried on a four-door sedan and a four-door hatchback. Three engines were fitted, all naturally aspirated and gasoline-fueled: the 3.5L V6 of 213 cubic inches, the 3.9L V6 of 237, and the 2.2L twin-cam inline-four of 134. Specifications and diagnostics are given per engine and per body.

Engines covered

• 3.5L V6 (213 cu in) — OHV, naturally aspirated, gasoline
• 3.9L V6 (237 cu in) — OHV, naturally aspirated, gasoline
• 2.2L inline-four (134 cu in) — DOHC, naturally aspirated, gasoline

Body styles covered

• 4-door sedan
• 4-door hatchback

Trims covered

• Base
• LS
• LT
• LTZ
• Maxx LS
• Maxx LT
• Maxx LTZ
• Maxx SS
• SS

Known issues on the 2006 Malibu. Eight recalls stand against this year, two of them for the same failure: a sudden loss of electric power steering assist that can happen at any speed and leaves the wheel heavy in slow maneuvers. A transmission shift cable can fracture so that the lever and the engaged gear disagree. A replacement intermediate steering shaft with a poorly supported u-joint bearing can separate and take steering away altogether. Steering dominates the 1,385 complaints with 1,016, ahead of 76 on the electrical system and 42 on exterior lighting.