Fuel gauge fluctuates between full and empty, never giving an accurate reading. The fluctuation occurs more rapidly after filling the tank. This has caused me to run out of gas and stall in the middle of oncoming traffic on a very busy highway. In addition, the check engine light is always on. When the light is reset, it immediately comes back on. If there were a major problem that needed to be taken care of to avoid potential engine damage or personal injury, I would never be able to tell from this light.
2006 Chevrolet Malibu fuel system complaints
Page 4 of 4: complaints 71 to 96 of 96, newest first, as owners wrote them.
When I put gas in my 2006 chevy malibu the gas gauge is saying full than I drive it says empty. I don't know when I need gas.. As I drive around the gauge goes where ever. Is there a recall on this sensor issue because I know 4 other people who have malibu with same issue.
I pulled in gas station shut car off, attendant filled tank, when he was done I paid and started car, car dinged a lot and gas gauge registered empty, and message on screen said low fuel, and check engine light was on. Long story short if you bounce car gauge comes back up to full, then drops back down until you do this a couple times, then runs ok. This happened again yesterday 03/31/2013, seem to only happen when I fill the tank. I noticed there are other complaints on this, is there a recall on this?
The fuel sensor is very erratic. As soon as the car is filled up with gas, the fuel sensor will go from f to e in the matter of seconds. When this problem first began, the gauge would go from full to empty until I drove just enough that the car's fuel level was not completely full. At this point, the sensor would work and I was able to rely on the fuel gauge on the dashboard. After some time, however, the sensor stopped working altogether. Now the sensor is constantly moving from full to empty for no reason whatsoever. The check engine light is always on and I never know how much gas is in the tank. I have to keep track with the trip monitor. Auto repair shops have quoted this repair at around $600 stating that the car needs a new fuel assembly kit. This issue must be fixed in order to pass emissions testing.
Fuel gauge would go from full to empty and check engine light would come on! Now light stays on all the time and fuel gauge doesn't work at all!
Fuel gauge is not working. (1) it is always at full. I can't tell how much fuel is left. One time my car stopped and engine turned off while driving. This time I was lucky enough because my car was in parking lots. (1) it is always at full, but intermittently drops from full to empty,and beeps low fuel message. And then after seconds it bounces back to full. After several rounds, check engine light will turn on. Searched the web - seems like plenty of the same complaints.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the fuel gauge malfunctioned and indicated that the fuel tank was full when it was actually empty. The failure recurred numerous times and the gauge even malfunctioned while in the park position. A week after the failure started, the check engine light began to illuminate and remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a personal mechanic for diagnosis and the contact was informed that they would have to drop the entire gas tank. The manufacturer was notified, but offered no assistance. The failure and current mileages were 66,900.
Approx a few months back I filled up my gas tank, as I started down the road my gas gauge went from full to empty and my fuel light came on and so did my engine check light. It did it several times throughout the day. By the next day it was fine and has been fine up until about a week ago. The gas gauge is erratic and the engine line comes on. In 2007 when I bought the car I also had issues with it starting up and when I would shut it down it would continuously stay crunked. I took it to the dealership and basically they gave me a document id#2001730 report that it was a normal condition. I still continue to have issues with my car starting. I started to do research on my car and see many complaints about these same issues. I did take it to the dealership and they say the fuel level sensor shorted out and I need to replace fuel pump. I see there is a recall on fuel pumps but apparently not for my vehicle in particular.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the fuel gauge failed and whenever the vehicle was filled with fuel, the fuel gauge would erroneously display an empty reading. The check engine light was constantly illuminated. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure nor was the vehicle taken for inspection or repair. The failure mileage was 61,000. ..updated 05/09/12 *bf updated 05/14/12
Fuel gauge always at f and intermittently drops from f to e and beeps low fuel message and then seconds go by and it bounces back to f. It doesn't matter what speed I'm going, stopped. Intermittent check engine light. Searched the web - seems like plenty of the same complaint. Not willing to spend $500.00 to hope to have the issue resolved! I will continue to track fuel level with notepad and trip indicator.
I have only had my 2006 chevrolet malibu for 6 weeks, and I already am experiencing 3 major problems. 1. The fuel gauge will go wild anytime gas is added to the tank, and as the weeks have gone by it is less accurate. I only know when my gas tank is full or empty. I have no idea on anything in between. 2. When I will start the car the power steering will not come on with the car. I will have to turn the car off, remove the key and open and shut the door to register the next try as a truly new start. If you fail to open and close the door, the car does not completely power down so it will not recycle. 3. The power steering assist will begin to lock up on me while driving, and I will have to fight the wheel to keep the car going straight. I have let go of the wheel once or twice and the wheel will turn enough in one direction to nearly do a uturn. If this were to happen when a driver was inattentive, im pretty sure it would cause one heck of a accident! The worst part is that the dealer I bought the car from had the car for 8 months, so they must have know about these defects and sold it to me anyways. The dealer put gas in the car before we did the paperwork. I know the guy saw the gas gauge going nuts, and that's why he insisted on being the one to drive the car to the gas station. I think they might have reset the computer to get the car to behave for test drives, because I had only put 40 miles on it before all this stuff started. Certainly not a coincidence.
Purchased a used malibu 2 years ago. My car is a 2006 model and now has over 120,000 miles on it. My car started having start- up problems. Some days I would go and try to start my car and it would not start up. This went on off and on for about two months. Finally I took the car to a shop to have checked. Right away I was told the car needed a new fuel pump. The fuel pump was changed. About a week later, I picked up my car from the shop, I went to the market and when I came out of the store, the car would not start up. I called the shop back and had to have the car towed right back to the same shop. This car eventually ended up at the same mechanic shop three times, before I finally decided either the shop was not aware of the (right problem) and changed a fuel pump that was not necessary or I needed to find a more knowledgeable mechanic shop. After taking my car to another certified shop, I was told the mechanic could not find the problem. Several hundred dollars later I am still stuck with a vehicle that will not start up everyday.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. The fuel gauge malfunctioned and the contact was unable to read the amount of fuel in the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to a local mechanic and the mechanic advised that the fuel tank needed to be dropped in order to diagnose the problem. The contact did not have any repairs performed on the vehicle. The failure mileage was 85,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu ls. The contact stated that the fuel gauge was inoperative and would read that the tank was either empty or full erroneously. The check engine warning light would also illuminate intermittently. The dealer denied any assistance with repairs to the vehicle and the manufacturer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 60,000 and the current mileage was 73,000. Updated 11/16/11*lj the consumer also stated the catalytic converter was clogged and the vehicle would not accelerate in passing gear. Updated 11/30/11
Fuel gauge quite working.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. After adding fuel to the vehicle the contact noticed the fuel gauge display began to fluctuate. The contact stated the fuel gauge reading did not provide an accurate reading on the amount of fuel in the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 82,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the steering would lock abnormally and without warning while driving various speeds. There was also an abnormal rattling from the steering wheel. In addition, the fuel level gauge would provide erroneous fuel level readings and the interior lighting would malfunction sporadically. The steering failure was repaired under an unknown recall, yet the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where he was unable to duplicate the steering failure but replaced the fuel tank sensor. Later, the contact was involved in an unrelated crash and while having the vehicle repaired, the contact was advised that the steering column was locked defectively and would need replacing. The steering column was replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not offer any assistance. The failure mileage was 33,000 and the current mileage was 45,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated the odometer failed. While driving 39 MPH the mileage increased from 76,000 to 107,700. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated they would run a diagnostic test but the contact does not want to pay the repair cost of $112. The vehicle also suddenly accelerated while driving. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 123,700. The consumer stated there was also a fuel system problem. Updated 06/14/11
Faulty gas gauge on my gm chevrolet malibu. I ran out of gas and was stranded just after the low fuel light went on. I had never run out of gas and just previously during my drive the fuel level read between 1/8 and 1/4 full tank. So the fuel level reading indicated more fuel availability than was actually available in the tank. I probably only went 10 miles after the low fuel light went on and my car has good fuel economy. I think the reading was inaccurate. I have had multiple incidents of random fuel level reading while I was driving, with the low fuel light and bell going off, then later returning to another, not low fuel level, and the low fuel light going off again. This is very frustrating. I feel like I cannot trust the gauge and I reset my trip odometer on every fill-up so I can keep track of how many miles I've driven.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. While the contact was driving approximately 65 MPH, the fuel gauge displayed an inaccurate reading indicating a full capacity level although the fuel tank was empty. Suddenly, the vehicle stalled as a result of the empty fuel tank. The vehicle was refueled and resumed operation. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the fuel tank sensor was replaced. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
The fuel gauge erratically jumps from full to empty and back to full. It does not properly display the fuel level. It is also causing an issue with emissions and the engine light. This has continued for over a year.
Tl*the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu lt. While driving approximately 20 MPH, the contact stated that the check engine and fuel lights illuminated, causing the vehicle to shut off. The dealer was notified and advised the contact to bring the vehicle in for a diagnostic test. The manufacturer was contacted, but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was unavailable. The current and failure mileages were approximately 83,000.
I purchased gas and the gas gauge drops down and fuel light comes on then the check engine light comes on and im getting really frustrated with it. It seems to be getting worse with every fill its jumping up and down.
The fuel gauge suddenly drops to empty, then back up again. Check engine light has come on. Started 2 tanks of gas ago.
Initially sometimes my car would crank up then die out seconds later now its happening quite often and most times won't crank up now. This has caused me to be late and docked from work. I've brought the car in 5 to 6 times the last time in 2/2009 they said they put in a new fuel pump cylinder but two days later I'd the same problem again.
Tl*the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet malibu. While attempting to start the vehicle. The dealer performed an oil change and stated that a fuel injection throttle body, fuel injector kit, and double clean were needed; however,this had been done a month ago. The contact was also informed that the calibration was outdated. When entering the vehicle, the clock sometimes needs to be reset. The failure mileage was 5,000 and current mileage was 48,000. Updated 09/10/08. *lj updated 09/12/08
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