2007 Chevrolet Malibu
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Steering is the leading concern among 992 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 7th highest complaint count among 26 Malibu model years with reports.
Of the 2007 reports, 37 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 34 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Steering, electric power assist systemFeb 4, 2015
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured April 1, 2006, to June 30, 2006, and 2006-2007 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured April 18, 2006, to June 30, 2006. In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving.
If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly, free of charge. The recall began February 24, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. GM's number for this recall is 14772. Note: This is an expansion of recall 14V-153 to cover additional vehicles built between April 1, 2006 and June 30, 2006.
Campaign 15V064000 on NHTSA.gov
SteeringJul 21, 2014
Dorman Products, Inc. (Dorman) is recalling certain replacement intermediate steering shafts sold under the Dorman, OE Solutions, and Solutions brand names, part numbers 425-167, 2425167, and 7-3074, for installation on 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6, and 2007-2009 Saturn Aura vehicles. The affected steering shafts may have a yoke that inadequately supports the u-joint bearing resulting in a premature failure.
A joint bearing that fails prematurely may cause separation of the u-joint resulting in a complete loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dorman will notify owners, and dealers will refund the purchase price or replace the steering shafts, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact Dorman customer service at 1-800-523-2492.
Campaign 14E044000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, wiringMay 14, 2014
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.
Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and harness connector, and will relearn the brake pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). GM's number for this recall is 13036.
Campaign 14V252000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmissionApr 30, 2014
General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on April 29, 2014, that they are recalling 56,214 model year 2007 and 2008 Saturn Aura vehicles. On May 22, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 1,074,899 model year 2004-2008 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured from May 16, 2003, through October 5, 2007, model year 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured from June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, and model year 2005-2008 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured from May 26, 2004, through September 28, 2007, and equipped with 4-speed transmissions. The total number vehicles being recalled is now 1,131,113.
If the transmission shift cable fractures while the vehicle is being driven, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash. Furthermore, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, despite selecting the PARK position, the transmission may not be in PARK. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
GM will notify owners, and GM dealers will replace the shift cable assembly and mounting bracket, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 14152.
Campaign 14V224000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, fuel pumpFeb 28, 2011
TI AUTOMOTIVE IS RECALLING CERTAIN FUEL PUMPS, PART NUMBERS TU456 AND TU303, SOLD UNDER VARIOUS BRAND NAMES AS AFTERMARKET AND REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE MOTOR VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP MAY SEIZE, STOPPING THE FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE CREATING A STALLING CONDITION.
A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR SHOULD THE ENGINE STALL WHILE IN USE.
TI AUTOMOTIVE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND WILL REPLACE ANY DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP WITH A NEW OR REWORKED FUEL PUMP FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 22, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TI AUTOMOTIVE AT 1-866-867-3759 OR LOG ON TO WWW.RECALLRESPONSE.COM.
Campaign 11E009000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lightingApr 7, 2009
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
Campaign 09E012000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
114 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Jun 1, 2013
THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON WHILE DRIVING AND TURN OFF WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES. CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK. CAR IS HARD TO PUT IN GEAR - YOU HAVE APPLY BRAKES HARD TO PUT THE CAR IN GEAR. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Apr 5, 2013
ON MY 2007 CHEVY MALIBU, THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL SHUT OFF BY ITSELF GOING DOWN THE ROAD, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WORK BACKWARDS BY STEP ON BRAKE THEY ARE OFF, FOOT OFF BRAKE THE LIGHTS ARE ON. THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP AND HAVE TO SHUT CAR OFF AND RESTART TO GET IT TO UNLOCK AND IDLING THE CAR THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IT SHAKES ALSO. THE PART OF THE FUEL PUMP THAT CONTROLS THE GAS GAUGE NO LONGER WORKS. I HAVE TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY DON'T KNOW OF ANY RECALLS AS OF YET. BUT I HAVE RESEARCHED AND HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE COMMON PROBLEMS, SO WHY AREN'T THERE ANY RECALLS? *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Mar 14, 2013
I HAVE A 2007 CHEVY MALIBU AND AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY BRAKE LIGHTS. CURRENTLY MY BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T ILLUMINATE WHEN I STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT WILL ILLUMNATE WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL. SOMETIMES BRAKE LIGHTS WILL STAY ON DURING MY ENTIRE DRIVE WHETHER OR NOT I'M USING THE BRAKE PEDAL. HAPPENS RANDOMLY, WITH NO DISCERNABLE CAUSES. ARTICLE IN FOX NEWS DATED 3/13/2013 ( HTTP://WWW.FOXNEWS.COM/LEISURE/2013/03/13/BAD-BRAKE-LIGHTS-COULD-FORCE-RECALL-OVER-ONE-MILLION-GM-CARS/#IXZZ2NUS7QU5S ) INDICATES NHTSA IS ACTIVELY RESEARCHING POSSIBLE RECALLS, BUT CALLS TO MY DEALER AND GM CUSTOMER CARE WE OF NO USE. BOTH MY DEALER AND GM CUSTOMER CARE TOLD ME THERE WERE NO ACTIVE RECALLS, AND THAT I JUST NEED TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED MYSELF AND THEN I COULD REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT AT A FUTURE DATE IF ANY RECALL DID HAPPEN. IT'S DISAPPOINTING THAT A COMPANY AS LARGE AS GM WOULDN'T PROACTIVELY HELP THEIR CUSTOMERS WHEN A KNOWN PROBLEM EXISTS IN A LARGE NUMBER OF VEHICLES. ALSO MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE WERE PROBLEMS CONCERNING THE CRUISE CONTROL. MY CRUISE CONTROL WILL RANDOMLY STOP WORKING, OR NOT EVEN ALLOW ME THE OPTION OF USING CRUISE. THIS IS NOT AS BIG OF A SAFETY CONCERN AS THE BRAKE LIGHT ISSUE, BUT AGAIN, MENTION OF THIS PROBLEM OCCURING IS ONE MORE REASON I BELIEVE GM SHOULD BE MORE PROACTIVE IN HELPING THEIR CUSTOMERS DEAL WITH THE SPECIFIC ISSUES AND CONCERNS ALREADY BEING ADDRESS/INVESTIGATED BY THE NHTSA. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Dec 3, 2012
THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED IN 2010, BUT HAS PROGRESSIVELY BECOME WORSE AND MOST CONSTANT. THE VEHICLES ELECTRICAL STEERING WILL SHAKE AND JERK UNCONTROLLABLY AT TIMES. THE CAR DOES NOT ALWAYS SHAKE AND JERK, BUT THIS OCCURS AT LEAST ONCE PER DAY. SOME DAYS IT WILL SHAKE AND JERK NON STOP FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME, OTHERS IT WILL BE SHORT AND QUICK. THE CAR GENERALLY WILL SHAKE AND JERK FOR A FEW MINUTES, THEN WILL DISPLAY ON THE DISPLAY "POWER STEERING" AND CHIME. THE SHAKING OCCURS WHILE DRIVING AND ALSO WHEN IN PARK. DEPENDING ON THE SEVERITY, THE JERKING CAN JOLT THE CAR INTO THAT DIRECTION. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS IT IS VERY POSSIBLE THAT THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE JERKS ARE NOT CONTROLLABLE BY TWO HANDS. OFTEN WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR LOOKS AS IF IT IS JERKING BACK AND FORTH IN ITS LANE DUE TO THE ROUGH JERKING OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS IS THE MOST NERVE RACKING WHILE DRIVING IN WEATHER SUCH AS SNOW OR RAIN, WHERE THE ROAD IS SLICK OR SLIPPERY. HAVING THE CAR JERK AROUND ON ICE IS JUST AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED, I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A GM DEALERSHIP AND HAD IT INSPECTED. THE MECHANIC TOLD US THAT THE ONLY OPTION WAS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN BUT THEY COULD NOT SAY IF THIS WOULD FIX THE ISSUE. AFTER REVIEWING MANY COMPLAINTS AND CONCERNS ONLINE, I RESEARCHED FOR RECALLS. I FOUND THAT MANY MODELS SIMILAR TO OURS HAVE BEEN RECALLED, BUT NOT OUR SPECIFIC YEAR. *TR
Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 16, 2012
WHEN FILLING UP THE CAR TO FULL WITH GAS. THE GAS GAUGE READS LOW FUEL AND ON E AND THEN THE MAINTENANCE LIGHT COMES ON. SOMETIMES IT WILL BOUNCE BACK UP TO SHOW HOW MUCH GAS IS REMAINING ONLY TO FALL BACK TO LOW FUEL AND E AGAIN. HAD THIS COMPUTER CHECKED AND THEY SAID IT HAD TO DO WITH THE FUEL SENSOR LOCATED IN THE GAS TANK. THE ESTIMATED COST TO FIX THIS WOULD BE AROUND 600. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF GM SINCE THEY RECALLED THEIR SUV'S FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I CAN'T TELL HOW MUCH GAS IS ACTUALLY IN THE CAR AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE THE TRIP FOR THIS. WITH THE LOW MILEAGE ON MY CAR, I THINK IT IS OUTRAGEOUS THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO PUT OUT THAT KIND OF MONEY FOR FAULTY PROBLEMS ON GM PARTS. *TR
Electrical system, Air bags, Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 26, 2012, crash
I HAD GOT IN A CRASH IN 2010 SINCE THEN MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHTS ARE ALWAYS GOING ON AND OFF. NOW MY AIRBAG LIGHTS STAY ON SAYING THERE NOT ON. I ALSO DO NOT HAVE A WORKING FUEL PUMP SENSOR. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, May 23, 2012
MY BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ON WHEN THE BRAKE IS NOT APPLIED AND TURN OFF WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED. CRUISE CONTROL WILL TURN ON BUT WILL NOT SET. *TT
Steering, Electrical system, Mar 3, 2012
I WAS DRIVING MY MALIBU WHEN SUDDENLY THE STEERING BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE. I MANAGED TO PULLED THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN. I PULLED OUT MY MANUAL FOR THE 2007 CAR AND I WAS DIRECTED TO THE KIND OF POWER STEERING THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE INSTALLED IN MY CAR. THE MANUAL INDICATES THAT THE 2007 MANUAL FOR MY CHEVROLET MALIBU LTZ WITH A V6 ENGINES SHOULD HAVE A HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM IN PLACE. IT ALSO SHOWS BY ILLUSTRATION THE POSITION OF THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR. I TOOK THE CAR TO A CHEVROLET DEALER IN ARLINGTON, MA. AND THE MECHANIC SAID THIS CAR HAS NO POWER STEERING RESERVOIR. I SHOWED HIM THE MANUAL AND HE SAID THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG HERE. CALL GM CUSTOMER CARE AND MAYBE THEY CAN RESOLVE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY WROTE THE MANUAL. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Feb 8, 2012
WHILE MAKING A TURN AND ACCELERATING IN MY 2007 MALIBU, THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO GO STRAIGHT, ALMOST CAUSING ME TO GO UP THE CURB. AFTER LETTING OFF THE GAS, THE STEERING CAME BACK AND I WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL. DURING THIS TIME, THE DASH DISPLAYED "POWER STEERING" AND MADE A CHIME. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Electrical system, Jan 12, 2012
THE FUEL SENSOR ON OUR 2007 CHEVY MALIBU ONLY WORKS OCCASIONALLY. IT WILL TYPICALLY READ EMPTY REGARDLESS OF THE FUEL LEVEL AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. OBVIOUSLY A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AS MANY OWNERS ARE SEEING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE SENSOR IS INSIDE THE GAS TANK SO THIS ISSUE CANNOT BE DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR AND TEAR, IT IS SIMPLY A BAD DESIGN OR A BAD PART. EITHER WAY GM NEEDS TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MISTAKE AND FIX THEIR MISTAKE. WITH COLD WINTER DRIVING AN INACCURATE FUEL SENSOR IS A HAZARD. THE TRIP METER CAN GIVE A ROUGH ESTIMATE, BUT AS MPG CHANGES CONSIDERABLY BETWEEN HIGHWAY AND CITY DRIVING AS WELL AS WINTER VS. SUMMER THIS IS NOT A VERY SAFE SOLUTION. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Fuel system, Other, Electrical system, Jul 13, 2011
2007 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEMS WITH GAS GAUGE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE RE-FUELED THE VEHICLE, THE GAS GAUGE REACHED APPROXIMATELY 3/4 FULL, THE FUEL GAUGE NEEDLE DROPPED TO EMPTY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE GAS GAUGE CONTINUED TO READ EMPTY AND THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON UNTIL THREE TO FOUR GALLONS OF GAS WAS USED. THE GAUGE WOULD THEN BEGIN TO READ THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF GAS IN THE TANK AND WOULD CONTINUE TO DO SO UNTIL THE TANK WAS FILLED AGAIN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD REMAIN ON FOR SEVERAL DAYS UNTIL GAS WAS PUT IN THE TANK ABOVE 3/4 FULL. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE FUEL GAUGE LEVER SENSOR WAS POORLY DESIGNED. *JB UPDATED 06/19/12 *JB
Electrical system, Jun 21, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL, THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM WAS NOT CALIBRATED CORRECTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT ONLY OFFERED TO COVER HALF OF THE REPAIR COSTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 29, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE TAIL LIGHTS AND DASH BOARD LIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE DEALER MADE UNKNOWN REPAIRS TO CORRECT THE FAILURE YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 40,000. UPDATED 6/21/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE TAILLIGHT, DASHBOARD AND LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS NEVER WORKED AND THE DEALER MADE NO ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, EXCEPT TO TELL THE CONSUMER HE NEEDED TO PURCHASE A $400.00 PART FROM THEM. UPDATED 06/24/10.*JB
Electrical system, Feb 22, 2010
I KNOW THAT THIS SAFETY ISSUE DOESN'T RANK UP THERE WITH STICKING GAS PEDALS, ETC., BUT I FEEL IT IS IMPORTANT ENOUGH THAT SOMEONE SHOULD LOOK INTO IT. ACTUALLY, THERE ARE TWO INTERRELATED DESIGN FLAWS WITH THE 'DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER' ON THE 2007 CHEVY MALIBU LS I BOUGHT LAST YEAR. THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER ('DIC') IS THE GREEN LED DISPLAY IN THE RADIO THAT NORMALLY DISPLAYS SUCH INFO AS TIME AND TEMPERATURE, ETC., BUT IT IS ALSO USED BY CHEVY TO DISPLAY WARNING MESSAGES. THE TWO PROBLEMS ARE: A). CRITICAL WARNINGS ' IN MY CASE A WARNING MESSAGE TO 'SERVICE AIRBAG' POPPED UP ONE EVENING ON THE DIC ' BUT IT WAS ONLY DISPLAYED ONCE (IT DID NOT APPEAR AGAIN THE NEXT MORNING OR THEREAFTER). SINCE CHEVY CONSIDERED THIS ISSUE IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO SUGGEST THAT I NOT CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED, I THINK THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE PROGRAMMED THIS WARNING (OR ANY SAFETY RELATED WARNING) TO STAY ON UNTIL THE PROBLEM IS FIXED. B). THE DIC IS FAR TOO DIM TO SEE CLEARLY DURING MOST DAYLIGHT HOURS (EVEN ON MANY CLOUDY DAYS) AND IS FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES TOTALLY INVISIBLE IF THE DRIVER IS WEARING SUNGLASSES. JUST A QUICK SEARCH ON THE INTERNET WILL SHOW THAT THIS IS NOT A RECENT OR ISOLATED COMPLAINT'.I SEE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE DIC BEING TOO DIM GOING BACK TO AT LEAST 2004! WHEN I COMPLAINED TO CHEVY ABOUT THE DIMNESS ISSUE THEY TOLD ME THIS WAS 'NORMAL' (I IN TURN TOLD THEM THAT IT MAY BE 'NORMAL' BUT IT CERTAINLY IS UNACCEPTABLE ' ESPECIALLY GIVEN THAT HAD THE CRITICAL SAFETY WARNING COME ON DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS I PROBABLY WOULD NEVER HAVE EVEN SEEN IT AND WOULD STILL BE DRIVING AROUND WITH AN UNRESOLVED SAFETY ISSUE). *TR