2006 Chevrolet Malibu vs 2006 Hyundai Elantra
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2006 Chevrolet Malibu | 2006 Hyundai Elantra |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 1,115 | 155 |
| Recall campaigns | 6 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 762 | 36 |
| Investigations | 0 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 41 | 28 |
| Fire reports | 6 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–24 | 24–26 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 85,000 mi | 68,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Chevrolet Malibu | Hyundai Elantra |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 810 | 3 |
| Electrical System | 142 | 16 |
| Exterior Lighting | 63 | 38 |
| Air Bags | 33 | 56 |
| Service Brakes | 50 | 23 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 52 | 1 |
| Power Train | 43 | 8 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 35 | 11 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Steering problems | 183 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 73 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 55 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 39 | 0 |
| Stalling | 38 | 6 |
| Clunking / rattling | 31 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 12 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 7 | 0 |
2006 Chevrolet Malibu
2006 Hyundai Elantra
Compare all Chevrolet Malibu vs Hyundai Elantra years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.