NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls and 992 owner complaints for the 2007 Chevrolet Malibu. Most complaints involve steering (675) and electrical system (114). The EPA rates it 19–25 mpg combined.
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.
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.
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.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Complaints for each Malibu model year we’ve synced.
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 452 |
| 1998 | 999 |
| 1999 | 800 |
| 2000 | 944 |
| 2001 | 739 |
| 2002 | 596 |
| 2003 | 611 |
| 2004 | 1,698 |
| 2005 | 1,393 |
| 2006 | 1,389 |
| 2007 | 992 |
| 2008 | 1,017 |
| 2009 | 1,511 |
| 2010 | 1,365 |
| 2011 | 978 |
| 2012 | 907 |
| 2013 | 924 |
| 2014 | 363 |
| 2015 | 270 |
| 2016 | 865 |
| 2017 | 727 |
| 2018 | 700 |
| 2019 | 193 |
| 2020 | 200 |
| 2021 | 90 |
| 2022 | 99 |
| 2023 | 73 |
| 2024 | 44 |
| 2025 | 12 |
“The power steering on my vehicle is not working. I believe it may be a malfunction with the torque sensor. It is available for inspection upon request. This was a safety risk because the steering wheel was shaking as I was driving. Thankfully, it never locked up on me while on the road, however if it had, it could've caused a life-threatening accident as I am constantly driving on large 4 lane highways. I know that there is a safety recall open for 2007 chevrolet malibu's regarding the torque sensor and power steering, however my vehicle does not seem to fall under this safety recall for some reason? I attempted to have it serviced by my local dealer, but they do not want to service it under the recall. I believe that if this is a known issue on SOME 2007 chevrolet malibu's, then it should be repaired under the safety recall even if my VIN is not associated with it.”
“The steering wheel start shaking and then on the middle console it showed “POWER STEERING”. Now whenever I drive it it’ll pop up and the steering wheel locks up and it is scary because it doesn’t move. And when I turn of the car it’ll unlock but as soon as I start driving it again it does it again.”
“I was driving and lost power randomly it came back in less than a minute but just lost power could certainly cause an accident... And the service airbag light is on and seemingly has the same issues as the 2010 Malibu Maxx which was recalled and replaced free of charge and frankly I don't have the 1200 $ to make sure it doesn't kill me I'm not sure why with as many 2007s that this is an issue in why it isn't recalled...”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malibu Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 31 | 25 | $2,500 | 355 |
| Malibu Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 19 | 30 | 23 | $2,700 | 386 |
| Malibu Auto (S4), 6 cyl, 3.9 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 16 | 23 | 19 | $3,300 | 468 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
6 safety recalls as of Nov 10, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 992 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are steering (675), electrical system (114), air bags (77). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2007 Chevrolet Malibu at 19–25 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (3 versions rated).