Equal-exposure complaint evidence and changes in the reported problem mix

2005 vs 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Share shifts show how a vehicle's problem mix changed. They do not measure reliability, and complaint counts are not normalized for sales volume.

First 251 months on market for each model year

Exposure window calculated through Aug 22, 2026

Age-matched reports

▲ 14.7% more reports in the equal exposure window

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Component share shift

Bars start at the neutral midpoint. Left means a smaller share; right means a larger share.

View component share data as a table
Component 2005 share 2006 share Share change
STEERING 45.7% 65.1% ▲ 19.4 pts larger share
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 13.1% 4.2% ▼ 8.9 pts smaller share
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 8.4% 6.5% ▼ 1.9 pts smaller share
POWER TRAIN 4.1% 2.3% ▼ 1.8 pts smaller share
FUEL SYSTEM 4.9% 6.4% ▲ 1.6 pts larger share
STRUCTURE 0.8% 0.4% ▼ 0.5 pts smaller share
ENGINE 3.6% 3.2% ▼ 0.5 pts smaller share
VISIBILITY 0.6% 0.2% ▼ 0.4 pts smaller share
SERVICE BRAKES 2.7% 2.3% ▼ 0.4 pts smaller share
TIRES 0.4% 0.1% ▼ 0.3 pts smaller share
WHEELS 0.5% 0.7% ▲ 0.2 pts larger share
SEAT BELTS 0.4% 0.3% ▼ 0.1 pts smaller share
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 1.4% 1.4% ▼ 0.1 pts smaller share
SUSPENSION 1.0% 1.0% ▼ 0.0 pts smaller share
AIR BAGS 1.9% 1.9% ▲ 0.0 pts larger share
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 26.3% 13.5% ▼ 12.8 pts smaller share

NHTSA Safety Recalls recalls · snapshot 2026-08-22

Recall campaigns

2005 6

Campaign components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, POWER TRAIN, and STEERING

2006 9

Campaign components: AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, POWER TRAIN, and STEERING

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Safety signals

◆ Fires
34 → 6
◆ Injuries
55 → 26