AI Damage2007 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx: common problems
Owners of the 2007 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx filed 44 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and steering. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 44
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 41% of all complaints
- 2 Steering 23% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 16% of all complaints
- 4 Seats 16% of all complaints
- 5 Exterior lighting 11% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel system 5% of all complaints
- 7 Engine 2% of all complaints
- 8 Powertrain 2% of all complaints
- Air bags: 18 complaints (41% of all).
- Steering: 10 complaints (23% of all).
- Electrical system: 7 complaints (16% of all).
- Seats: 7 complaints (16% of all).
- Exterior lighting: 5 complaints (11% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 44 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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.
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 chevrolet malibu maxx. While driving 65 mph, the brake lights turned off without warning when the brake pedal was depressed. The contact stated that the failure recurred for the past two years.
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.
Several times over the last couple years, a "service airbag" message has appeared on dash screen and airbag trouble light is lit intermittently. By the time I have gotten the car to the dealership, those trouble indicators are no longer activated.
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.
The seat warmer caused the car seat to catch a fire. I was crying, shaking, and just all around nervous. I had to gather myself together to even think of what to do. This happened in like 3 minutes. At 6:05am I had went out to crank the car which was parked to warm up.
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.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 5,689 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 16% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Malibu Maxx has 269 complaints (4 years in the data). This year has 44, below average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Seats. Occupant sensor, power adjustment, seat mounts.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2007 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, steering, electrical system. Total complaints: 44. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: airbag warning light (14%), warning lights, check engine (14%), knocking, grinding or other noise (11%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2007 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2007 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2007 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.