Steering. Review the 667 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 113 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 75 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

37 crash reports2 fire reports25 injury reports

Suspension complaints

22 reports

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123,000 miles · Jun 24, 2014

Suspension

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND SERVICE NOTIFICATION LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEFORE THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 20 MPH. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE AND AFTER DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL FUNCTIONED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TEN DIFFERENT OCCASION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT OFFER A REMEDY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

NHTSA ODI #10605630

94,000 miles · Apr 14, 2014

SteeringSuspension

WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON POWER STEERING PROBLEMS ON THE 2007 CHEVROLET MALIBU, THAT ARE THE SAME AS OTHER YEAR MALIBUS, ARE YOU WAITING FOR AN ACCIDENT BEFORE RECALLING THIS VEHICLE? *JS

NHTSA ODI #10579539

15,000 miles · Apr 2, 2014

SteeringSuspension

CLUNK, KNOCK OR RATTLE NOISE FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING OR TURNING OVER BUMPS AT LOW SPEEDS. REPAIR NEVER OFFERED AT WARRANTY RAN OUT. THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST AND I HAVE BEEN ASSURED BY DEALER GM THIS IS SAFE. DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL INFO, AS TO WHY 2007 WERE EXCLUDED FROM RECALL? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10576787

20,000 miles · Jan 10, 2014

Service BrakesSteeringSuspension

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WHEN BRAKING FOR A STOP THE CAR SHUDDERS AND SHAKES. THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES AND THE SOUNDS ARE HORRIBLE. IT SOUNDS AS IF THE DASHBOARD IS GOING TO FALL OUT ON YOUR LAP. WE HAVE HAD THE BRAKES SERVICED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS (ROTORS REPLACED, TURNED) AND AT ONE TIME THE FRONT AXLE WAS REPLACED BEING SUSPECTED OF BEING BENT. (IT WASN'T. COST $1600.00+) THERE ARE MANY STORIES OF THIS OCCURRENCE ON THE INTERNET FORUMS AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT BY THE MANUFACTURER. WE OWN CARS THAT ARE FREAKING SCARY TO DRIVE AND IMPOSSIBLE TO SELL. HAVING TO STOP IN AN EMERGENCY OR VERY QUICKLY MAY NOT EVEN BE POSSIBLE THE SHAKING IS SO VIOLENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10559351

105,000 miles · Apr 25, 2013

Air BagsEquipment Adaptive/mobilitySuspension

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I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE AND I THOUGHT I MAY HAVE RAN OVER A PLASTIC BOTTLE. I WAS NOT DRIVING FAST I WAS ON A MAIN STREET HEADING TOWARDS THE RAMP TO GET ONTO THE HIGHWAY. I LATER HEARD CLUNKING NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR. I THOUGHT AT FIRST MAYBE IT WAS SOMETHING IN MY TRUNK. KNOWING I DIDN'T HAVE MUCH IN THE TRUNK I LOOKED AND DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING THAT COULD BE MAKING THAT NOISE. ALL WEEK I HEARD THIS NOISE WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO SEARS & THE MECHANIC TOOK ME INTO THEIR SERVICE AREA TO SHOW ME THAT THE SPRING WAS SNAPPED AND THAT IS WHERE THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM. IT WAS SNAPPED ON THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE SPRING - REAR PASSENGER SIDE. I ASKED THE MECHANIC HOW TYPICAL WAS THIS PROBLEM AND HE TOLD ME ONLY A MONTH AGO HE FIXED ANOTHER MALIBU WITH THE SAME PROBLEM - BUT THE OTHER MALIBU HAD LESS MILEAGE APPROX 80,000. I WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE - AND IT'S FREE OF CHARGE TO LOOK VEHICLE OVER. I WENT TO CHEVY DEALER THEY WANT TO CHARGE BEFORE THEY LOOK @ THE CAR AND IF YOU DECIDE TO GO WITH THEIR PRICE THEY'LL APPLY THAT AMOUNT TO YOUR BILL. IF THEY DON'T DO THE WORK - YOUR OUT OF THAT MONEY. HOW CAN THEY DO THAT? ALSO THE AIR BAG LIGHT WILL OCCASIONALLY COME ON AND MY FOB'S ARE NOT WORKING - I WAS TOLD THE FACTORY FOB'S MIGHT HAVE TO BE RESET? ALSO AN ADDITIONAL CHARGE TO LOOK AT. THANKS CHEVY - BUT NO THANKS! CHARGING YOUR CUSTOMERS TO LOOK AT A VEHICLE PURCHASED BRAND NEW FROM YOUR COMPANY - SHAME ON YOU!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10509507

35,000 miles · Dec 30, 2011

Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicSteering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT ABNORMAL NOISES WHEN STEERING AND DRIVING OVER BUMPS AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT STABILIZER BAR WAS FAULTY AND THE FRONT CALIPERS WERE NOT PROPERLY RELEASING. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE FRONT CALIPERS WERE BURNED AND CREATING A FIRE HAZARD. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER MAY BE DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000. UPDATED 03/05/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHITE SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE WHEELS AND BRAKE AREA. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO OVER 10 MPH. UPDATED 03/07/12

NHTSA ODI #10441796

75,600 miles · Oct 17, 2011

Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE FROM THE SUSPENSION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED BUT THE VIBRATION PERSISTED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A S…

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NHTSA ODI #10430472

34,000 miles · Oct 17, 2011

SteeringSuspension

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 25 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A POPPING NOISE AT THE FRONT END AND THE WHEELS WOBBLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT AND THE TIRES WERE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE DEALER PERFORMED A SECOND DIAGNOSTIC THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE AS THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT, TIE RODS AND THE STEERING COLUMN HAVING TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,600. UPDATED11/29/11 *BF UPDATED 12/02/11

NHTSA ODI #10430440

45,341 miles · Sep 10, 2011

Service Brakes, HydraulicSteeringSuspension

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MID-JUNE, 2011:VEHICLE WAS MAKING A ROARING NOISE: THE RESULT WAS THAT THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WERE BROKEN END OF AUGUST 2011: DIFFICULTY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL ACCOMPANIED BY A LOUD GRINDING SOUND,THE RESULT WAS THAT THE STEERING SHAFT AND OUTER TIE ROD WERE BROKEN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. SEPTEMBER 2011: EXTREME DIFFICULTY APPLYING BRAKES, ON OCCASION WOULD APPEAR NORMAL. HAD 3 BRAKE INSPECTIONS DONE WITHIN A WEEK AND A HALF PERIOD. WHEN BRAKES NO LONGER WOULD OPERATE , TIT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.4. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10424588

33,000 miles · Jul 31, 2010

Service Brakes, HydraulicSteeringSuspension

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I HAVE A 2007 CHEVY MALIBU. I BOUGHT THE CAR 2 1/2 YRS. AGO. IT HAD 12,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME. WE WERE TOLD AT 33,000 MILES THAT IT NEEDED A NEW STEERING GEAR, WHICH WE DID, THEN AT 35,000 MILES A STRUT WAS REPLACED, THEN IN 2009 ANOTHER STEERING GEAR WAS PUT IN AND ALSO A FEW MONTHS LATER IT WAS YET AGAIN DOING THE SAME THING SO THEY GREASED IT..... NOW THEY SAY WE NEED A STEERING SHAFT PUT IN.....GM SHOULD RECALL ALL THESE VEHICLES.....I FOR ONE AM FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THE BBB AND WILL NEVER OWN A GM PRODUCT AGAIN....I AS WELL, WILL DO MY BEST TO DETER ANYONE I KNOW FROM OWNING A GM PRODUCT! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10346485

Official recalls

15V064000 · Steering:electric Power Assist System

Feb 4, 2015

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

14V252000 · Electrical System:wiring; Electronic Stability Control (esc); Exterior Lighting:brake Lights; Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch; Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control

May 14, 2014

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Additional source detail variants (5)

Electronic Stability Control (esc)