2007 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
No verdict The 2007 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx has 44 NHTSA complaints, ranking 3rd worst out of 3 model years with data, with a complaint index of 0. Airbags are the top problem area at 41% of complaints, and the year carries 3 recalls covering steering, brakes, and transmission shift cables.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 0/100
- #3 of 3 Malibu Maxx years
- Verdict
- No verdict
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 44
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 3
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 0
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- Airbags
- Best nearby year
- —
- no alternative with data
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 19.5
- 16.5 city / 25 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
Top 2007 Chevy Malibu Maxx problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags18 (41%)
- Electrical System10 (23%)
- Steering10 (23%)
- Structure & Body7 (16%)
- Engine2 (5%)
- Fuel System2 (5%)
- Brakes1 (2%)
- Other1 (2%)
- Seat Belts1 (2%)
- Transmission & Powertrain1 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Airbag warning lights turn on intermittently starting around 35,000 to 44,000 miles, sometimes tied to the passenger presence sensor module.
- Owners describe a clunking noise in the steering when turning the wheel, in some cases beginning as early as 8,000 to 9,000 miles.
- Some report the steering wheel locking up while driving.
- Daytime running light housings have overheated, melting the headlight/side marker housing and damaging wiring and bulbs.
- One owner reported the driver seat frame welds cracking, requiring welding repair on the seat bracket.
- An airbag sensor reportedly ignited, leaving a burn hole in the passenger seat and triggering the service air bag warning light.
2007 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 15V064000Feb 4, 2015Steering69,633 vehicles
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 vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving.
Risk: 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.
Remedy: 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.
- NHTSA 14V252000May 14, 2014Brakes2,440,524 vehicles
Electronic stability control (esc)
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.
Risk: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
- NHTSA 14V224000Apr 30, 2014Transmission & Powertrain1,131,113 vehicles
Power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:floor shift
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.
Risk: 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 ÂPARK position, the transmission may not be in ÂPARK. 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.
Remedy: 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.
2007 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 16.5 MPG
- Highway
- 25 MPG
- Combined
- 19.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,350
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2007 compared with other Malibu Maxx years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2007 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx reliable?
- NHTSA lists 44 complaints for the 2007 Malibu Maxx, and it ranks 3rd worst of the 3 model years with data, with a complaint index of 0. Airbags are the most-reported problem area, making up 41% of complaints.
- What are the most common problems with the 2007 Malibu Maxx?
- Airbags account for 41% of complaints, followed by Electrical System and Steering, each at 23%, and Structure & Body at 16%, based on NHTSA complaint data.
- Does the 2007 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 3 recalls for this year: one for a steering torque sensor, one for a brake wiring harness issue, and one for a shift cable assembly, none of which are do-not-drive recalls.
- At what mileage do airbag problems tend to show up on the 2007 Malibu Maxx?
- NHTSA complaint data shows a median mileage of 74,420 for airbag-related complaints on this model year.
- How does the 2007 Malibu Maxx compare to the 2005 and 2006 model years?
- The 2005 Malibu Maxx has a complaint index of 100 with 326 complaints, and the 2006 has an index of 50 with 270 complaints, while the 2007 has an index of 0 with 44 complaints, though it still ranks worst overall of the three.