repaired · 2016 Q2
Steering: electric power assist system
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.
2007 Chevrolet MalibuProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 977 owner complaints about the 2007 Chevrolet Malibu, most often about the steering. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 14V-224 the manufacturer reports only 54% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through June 12, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2007 Chevrolet Malibu has problems
977 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
667Steering24 crash/fire/injury
113Electrical system3 crash/fire/injury
75Air bags12 crash/fire/injury
47Power train
47Fuel system, gasoline
36Service brakes
36Fuel/propulsion system
31Vehicle speed control
29Exterior lighting
14716 other systems13 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 667 | 24 |
| Electrical system | 113 | 3 |
| Air bags | 75 | 12 |
| Power train | 47 | 2 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 47 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 36 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 36 | 2 |
| Vehicle speed control | 31 | 3 |
| Exterior lighting | 29 | 0 |
| 16 other systems | 147 | 13 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2007 Chevrolet Malibu recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2015 Q4
Electrical system: wiring
Risk. Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2016 Q2
Power train: automatic transmission
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…
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Chevrolet.
Mileage at failure
When do steering problems start?
105kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 569 steering complaints. 44% were reported before 100,000 miles.
21under 30k miles250under 100k miles319100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Steering
40 owners mentioned a cost$1,000median
Middle half: $750 – $1,272
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2007 vs. every other Malibu year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Malibu median. How we score
0120245321134439767899227215675691,1489751,1199779891,5111,36397890783735127084170570119320390100734612
'73'74'75'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'86'89'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2007 Chevrolet Malibu safety ratings
2007 Chevrolet Malibu 4-DR w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Stability control: No
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What Malibu owners report
Recent steering complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
No power steering for 25min drive home. Next day it worked. Dealership said it had an expired recall for power steering fix. No work was done by dealership.
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…
The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while reversing, the message "Power Steering Fault" was displayed, and the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The vehicle became difficult to steer, requiring extra effort in maneuvering the vehicle. The contact stated that…
Own a 2007 Malibu?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.