2007 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx: problems, recalls and reliability
3 recalls and 44 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is air bags (37% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Feb 2015
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 44 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the theft alert warning light flashed on the instrument panel as the vehicle stalled. The contact pulled to the side of the roadway but was unable to restart the vehicle. The contact had the vehicle towed to his residence due to the failure. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer had been notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was 120,947.”Owner report · Electrical System · Feb 2022
“Tl* the contact owns a 2007 chevrolet malibu maxx. While the vehicle was stationary and while driving various speeds, the air bag, ABS, and traction control indicators illuminated. The contact stated that the traction control would not engage. An unknown dealer in fairbanks, alaska was contacted about the failure, but did not answer the phone. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 113,309.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jan 2018
“Passenger airbag light remains on. Unable to pass safety inspection. Went to dealerership and they stated I needed a passenger presence module and the price on the part is $1348.16. My car has 216,000 miles on it. Still runs well and has been paid off for years.”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Jun 2017
Show 7 more owner reports
“Service air bag light came on.... Then went off. Went to dealers and was told there was no code to detect problem. Unsure if any of the 8 air bags on this vehicle are operating properly. On line I have discovered this to be a common problem with the malibu maxx. Unsure what to do. This has happened several times where it comes on, stays on, then disappears. How will we know if air bags work properly. Terrified to have a accident to find out they did not perform. Although no deaths may have happened yet with the many complaints I have found, I wonder what can we do?? Do people have to die first to discover this problem. Please advise”Owner report · Air Bags · Sep 2015
“Airbag trouble light would come on from time to time, now the light stays on, and passenger airbag does not come on while seat is occupied. Very concerning as I do not know if I have airbags or not. Seems that a large number of people are having the same issue.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jul 2015
“I was stopping at a red light about to make a right hand turn. Just as the car was stopping, the back outside edge of my driver seat made a loud pop and dropped about 4 inches. After I removed the seat later, the weld, attaching the electric seat adjuster to the cross bar in the back of the seat, is ripped loose of the cross bar. This seat contains an airbag in the side of it. Had this happened in an accident, I don't think the safety features would still have prevented serious injury. The seat is a dealer item and they want over $1000 do fix.”Owner report · Seats · May 2015
“Tl* the contact owns a 2007 chevrolet malibu maxx. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was taken the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the passenger module kit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer not was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 74,100. Updated 7/14/15*cn”Owner report · Air Bags · Apr 2015
“Passenger presence module failure r&r pps module w/sensor w/heated seats, (includes: calibration, r&I seat) program pps module is this a common failure for this make and model of vehicle? Is their a recall scheduled to be released to repair this component? *tr”Owner report · Air Bags · Feb 2015
“Tl* the contact owns a 2007 chevrolet malibu maxx. While operating the vehicle, the brake sensor indicator illuminated. Each time the brake pedal was depressed, the ABS would activate. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was previously repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 14v252000 (service brakes), but the failure recurred. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 119,000.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Nov 2014
“Slowed down to take a right turn, turned right and started to speed up and the headlights shut off and would not come back on. I had to drive home, holding the bright lights on manually. Even at 20 mph, it was very scary, could not imagine this happening at the speed of 55 or higher. Very dangerous!! *tr”Owner report · Engine · Jun 2014
Recalls - 3 campaigns
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
How other years compare
Check your exact Malibu Maxx by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2007 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx reliable?
NHTSA has 44 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on record for the 2007 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx. The most complained-about area is air bags (37% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2007 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 75,000 miles or less.
Does the 2007 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx have open recalls?
3 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning vehicle speed control:cruise control. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.