2007 Chevrolet Malibu Reliability
The 2007 Chevrolet Malibu has 1,036 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about steering and electrical system. Compared with nearby Malibu model years (2005–2009), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Malibu's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
1,036
NHTSA owner complaints
6
Recall campaigns
37
Complaints citing a crash
3
Complaints citing a fire
2007 Chevrolet Malibu complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2007 model year, filed between 2006 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 685 | 66% |
| Electrical system | 121 | 12% |
| Air bags | 95 | 9% |
| Fuel system | 53 | 5% |
| Service brakes | 52 | 5% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 48 | 5% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 39 | 4% |
| Exterior lighting | 34 | 3% |
2007 Chevrolet Malibu recalls
6 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2007 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09E012000 | Apr 7, 2009 | Exterior lighting | 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… |
| 11E009000 | Feb 28, 2011 | Fuel system — delivery / fuel pump | 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… |
| 14V224000 | Apr 30, 2014 | Powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission | 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… |
| 14V252000 | May 14, 2014 | Electrical system — wiring | 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… |
| 14E044000 | Jul 21, 2014 | Steering | 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… |
| 15V064000 | Feb 4, 2015 | Steering — electric power assist system | 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… |
How the 2007 compares with nearby Malibu years
Verdicts compare these Malibu model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 1,393 | 6 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2006 | 1,389 | 9 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2007 (this page) | 1,036 | 6 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2008 | 1,017 | 5 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2009 | 1,536 | 6 | Steering | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2007 Chevrolet Malibu
- Steering: check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering and clunks over bumps; power-steering faults show up at low speed.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Fuel system: smell for fuel around the car, watch for hesitation or stalling, and check for a lit check-engine light.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 6 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2007 Chevrolet Malibu can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2007 Chevrolet Malibu reliability FAQ
Is the 2007 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
The 2007 Chevrolet Malibu has 1,036 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about steering and electrical system. Compared with nearby Malibu model years (2005–2009), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Malibu's typical year.
What are the most common 2007 Chevrolet Malibu problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2007 Chevrolet Malibu are steering (685), electrical system (121), air bags (95), fuel system (53). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2007 Chevrolet Malibu have recalls?
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2007 Chevrolet Malibu, including 09E012000 (exterior lighting) and 11E009000 (fuel system — delivery / fuel pump). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2007 Chevrolet Malibu compare with the 2006 and 2008 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2006 has 1,389 complaints and 9 recalls (avoid); the 2008 has 1,017 complaints and 5 recalls (avoid). The 2007 has 1,036 complaints and 6 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2007 Chevrolet Malibu?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Chevrolet Malibu research
Other Chevrolet Malibu model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2007 Malibu, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.