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

What owners actually said

977 reports

313 miles · Aug 30, 2008

Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

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I WAS DRIVING A 2007 CHEVROLET MALIBU UNDERCOVER POLICE CAR. I WAS CHASING AN ARMED ROBBERY SUSPECT AND WAS DRIVING 53 MPH ACCORDING TO THE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION. I LEFT SOLID DARK BLACK SKID MARKS FOR OVER A HUNDRED FEET PRIOR TO MY IMPACT. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED AND THERE WAS NO DISCERNIBLE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE VEHICLE I WAS DRIVING AN ONE NOT EQUIPPED WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. AFTER ABOUT EIGHTY FEET OF SOLID SKID AND NO STEERING CONTROL, I WAS FORCED TO RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDDLE SLIGHTLY TO GAIN STEERING SO I WOULD NOT STRIKE THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SQUARELY ON THE DRIVERS DOOR, POSSIBLY KILLING THE ELDERLY DRIVER, WHO RAN A STOP SIGN IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS AND AIR LIFTED TO THE HOSPITAL DUE TO MY INJURIES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10240354

14,463 miles · Jun 4, 2008

Vehicle Speed Control

CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE WHEN NEEDED AND WHEN IT FINALLY PICKS UP SPEED IT SHOOTS AHEAD, HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BEING HIT FROM BEHIND AND HITTING THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME WHEN IT SHOOTS AHEAD. HAS BEEN BACK TO DEALER 5 TIMES, THEY CANNOT FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH CAR. HAVE CONTACTED CHEVROLET ALSO TO NO AVAIL. PROBLEM KEEPS HAPPE…

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NHTSA ODI #10229939

20,144 miles · Mar 13, 2008

Steering

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WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING, THE POWER STEERING FAILED ON MY 2007 CHEVY MALIBU MAKING TURNING VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE MANUALLY. ONCE I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE, I PUT IT IN PARK AND TRIED THE STEERING - NO CHANGE. I SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE POWER STEERING RESET. THIS HAS OCCURRED 5 TIMES IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS. IF I AM SETTING STILL, I CAN TURN THE STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY TO THE LEFT AND THE POWER STEERING WILL FAIL. ALSO I HAVE NOTICED DURING DRIVING AND STILL (WAITING AT A LIGHT) THE STEERING WHEEL TENDS TO PULSATE BACK AND FORTH. I REPORTED THIS TO DEALERSHIP A MONTH AGO WHEN VEHICLE WAS OIL SERVICED. THEY SAID THEY FOUND NOTHING AT THAT TIME. I SEE FROM RESEARCH THERE WERE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS WITH THE 2004 MODEL, BUT CANNOT FIND ANY REMEDY. AFTER READING OTHER COMPLAINTS, I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE READ WHERE OTHER VEHICLES HAVE CRASHED DUE TO THIS AND I PREFER TO NOT BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THUS KILLING SOMEONE IN MY CAR OR ANOTHER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10221109

18,000 miles · Jan 15, 2008

Structure

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR WOULD NOT SHUT OR LATCH. THERE WERE NO PRIOR FAILURES WITH ANY OF THE DOORS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 18,000.

NHTSA ODI #10214879

15,422 miles · Dec 20, 2007

Power Train

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I PURCHASED MY 2007 CHEVROLET MALIBU IN MARCH '07. FOR THE PAST MONTH OR SO I HAD BEEN HEARING A POPPING NOISE WHEN I WOULD TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. I CALLED BARTOW CHEVROLET AND ASKED THEM IF ANYONE ELSE HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END ON THE MALIBU'S. THE SERVICE MANAGER HAD INFORMED ME THERE WERE A FEW PEOPLE WHO BROUGHT THEIR VEHICLES IN. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AND TOOK MY CAR THIS MORNING TO HAVE IT CHECKED. THEY REPLACED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. AFTER THAT WAS REPLACED ONE OF THE MECHANICS TEST DROVE THE CAR AND STILL HEARD A POPPING NOISE IN THE FRONT END. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I HAVE TO TAKE THE CAR BACK NEXT WEEK SO THEY CAN ALSO REPLACE THE BUSHINGS IN THE FRONT END. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10212431

Mileage unknown · Nov 23, 2007

Structure

I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY BACK DOORS ON MY CAR CLOSING WHEN IT GETS COLD OUTSIDE....MY CHILDREN HAVE BEEN IN THE CAR TWICE WHEN THE DOORS OPENED UP WHILE I WAS DRIVING, THEN ONE DAY ON MY WAY TO WORK ON THE THURWAY THE DOOR OPENED ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING...I HAVE CONTACTED MY DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND THEY SEEM TO T…

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NHTSA ODI #10209733

23,000 miles · Nov 20, 2007

Steering

STEERING CUTS IN AND OUT IN AN UNPREDICTABLE WAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10209592

14,000 miles · Oct 18, 2007

Steering

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET MALIBU LT. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE FAILURE IS INTERMITTENT AND HAS OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE OCCURRED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO DEALERS AND BOTH WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO KEEP TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER UNTIL THE FAILURE CAN BE DIAGNOSED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,415 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000. UPDATED 11/1/07 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10206251

64 miles · Sep 23, 2007

Air Bags

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I RECENTLY LEASED A 2007 MALIBU. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DOES NOT WORK WHEN A CUSHION IS PLACED ON IT TO GIVE MY WIFE THE HEIGHT SO SHE CAN SEE. APPARENTLY THE SENSORS ARE SET TO A HEAVY WEIGHT, SO IF THERE ARE SMALL PEOPLE SUCH AS CHILDREN IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT THE AIRBAG SAFETY SYSTEM WILL NOT ACTIVATE IF THEY SIT ON A CUSHION. I SPOKE TO GM CUSTOMER SERVICE PEOPLE IN DETROIT, AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IN DESIGNING A SAFETY SYSTEM, CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO SMALLER AND LIGHTER PEOPLE, OR HAVE A FIX AVAILABLE SO THE SYSTEM WORKS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10203884

Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2007

VisibilityInjury

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ON 7/20 MY CHEVROLET MALIBU'S SUNROOF EXPLODED. I FELT IT WAS A FLUKE OR DEFECT. I WAS DRIVING ON I-96 AND ENTERING I-94 DURING THE MORNING HEADING TOWARDS MY GRANDSON'S DAY CAMP. AFTER COMING OUT OF THE OVERPASS ENTRANCE FROM 96 TO 94, WITHIN LESS THAN A 1/4 MILE, I HEARD THIS TREMENDOUSLY LOUD SOUNDS AND GLASS BEGAN TO SHOWER ME AND MY GRANDSON CAUSING MINORS CUTS. I AM GRATEFUL I DID NOT LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I LEASED THIS CAR ON 6/1. IT IS LESS THAN 60 DAYS OLD. RICHARD VOSS FROM JEFFERSON CHEVROLET HAD THE GLASS REMOVED WITHOUT SO MUCH AS INDICATING TO ME THAT HE FELT SOMETHING HIT THE CAR AND WHEREAS I HAD EXPLAINED TO HIM, FROM THE DIRECTION I WAS TRAVELING, THE SPEED OF THE WIND THAT DAY, THE SOUND OF THE EXPLOSION, THE LACK OF HEARING ANY OBJECT HIT THE TOP OF THE CAR PRIOR TO THE ERUPTION, ELIMINATED MY OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A CLAIMS ADJUSTER VIEW THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE INCIDENT. I FEEL THAT MY RIGHTS TO A FAIR DETERMINATION WERE ELIMINATED ALONG WITH THE REMOVAL OF ANY EVIDENCE TO VERIFY EITHER CLAIM AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THIS INCIDENT WAS CAUSED FROM THE PENETRATION OF A FOREIGN OBJECT OR A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. GLASS SHATTERED ALL OVER ME AND MY GRANDSON. WE FORTUNATE TO BE ALIVE. WE ONLY SUFFERED MINOR CUTS AND TENSION. I ONLY HOPE THAT IT IS NOT BECAUSE I LIVE IN THE CITY OF DETROIT THAT THIS CLAIM HAS NOT MERITED FURTHER INVESTIGATION; AS WELL AS A MAJOR DEALER NOT WILLING TO ASSIST IN THE REPLACEMENT OF THE BROKEN GLASS FROM THE SUNROOF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10198172

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)