Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2007 Chevrolet Malibu owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I am financing a 2007 chevy malibu from r n r car co on 411 gratiot in mt Clemens has had one problem after the other first the brakes went fix I told them there was a sway problem up front wanted it fixed before I took it off the lot they did not I could've been seriously hurt the sway bar tie rod n control arm went in the front of the car dealership said would help with half the bill didn't help fixed now my car wants to shut down and hesitate to go over 45 miles an hour the crankshaft position sensor wire n some button might need to be fixed im on social security seeking4 help from the va to help me get it fixed told dealership abt this wants 100 an hour from me to fix it plz advise thank you monica wheeler
My power steering goes out when driving randomly. This has been happening for the last three or four weeks a few times a day. It happens when I'm driving on the highway it happens at all speeds the steering wheel consistently shakes. I have called many dealerships and they want to charge a fee for checking on my recalls. Nothing has been inspected by anyone but I do get warning messages about power steering failure and needing to check my air bag.
Tl contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while making a left turn at a low speed, the vehicle accelerated independently. The brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to stop. As a result, the contact crashed into a building and the air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained a scratch to the left arm that did not required medical attention. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was inspected by a technician from the dealer. The contact was unsure about what needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 111,439. Updated 4/15/15
My car was recalled and fixed on 3/17/15 for the cruise control cutting out and the brake lights coming on. It was fine until a month ago and it started doing the same thing again. I took it to smith Chevrolet in gallipolis ohio and they reset the computer, this did not help. Now they tell me they need to replace module 02560 part # 25861370 and sensor 04625 part # 13597430 at a cost of about $410.00. I fill they did a patch job last year and now want me to pay to fix it. If I pull the electrical system and plug it in and out a few times everything works fine for a couple of weeks. I have contacted Chevrolet and my reference # from them is 8-2180763999. James at phone #[phone] ext 5913683 is trying to help me. I can't drive around with my brake lights on all the time, it is not safe. I got pulled over by a state trooper once last year before it was repaired.
I have an 2007 Malibu ls v6, one night I placed my car in park, turned the engine off, removed my key and seatbelt like I normally do and the car continued to roll forward. I attempted to press the brakes which did not respond and the car rolled off of a small cliff. I along with a passenger were in the vehicle at the time and since we were in the process of exiting we were thrown forward when the front of the vehicle hit the ground. I played that day back so many times and could not understand why the car did that. It was a very scary event and I don't attempt to park on inclines anymore. Since this event, I have received two recalls from the company with no date in correcting the issue. I am afraid I will attempt to stop and the brakes will fail again. Thank goodness this first time did not result in a physical injury, just a traumatizing event.
I have experienced multiple occasions throughout 2020 where the brake lights malfunctioned. The brake lights will illuminate on their own without depression of the brake pedal and the brake lights will turn off upon depressing the brake pedal. Cruise control will also not function when this malfunction is occurring. I am convinced this is the same problem that prompted a recall back in 2014. My car was repaired through the recall campaign, however, I'm convinced the problem has returned. This issue has occurred multiple times while I was driving and it poses a safety risk and raises the possibility of someone rear-ending me if my brake lights aren't operating as they should. In my attached photo, you will see the brake control module. Simply shaking it or pushing it in and out seems to rectify the problem but only temporarily.
I took my vehicle in for the break light being on continuously while driving. I took the vehicle to beardmore Chevrolet in bellevue nebraska. I believed it was a recall issue (and still do), beardmore performed a diagnostic evaluation and told me it was not. I told them that since it was not a recall issue I would take it to my own mechanic. However when I left beardmore Chevrolet my break lights no longer worked at all. They did not put anything back together and my mechanic told me that there is a short somewhere in the break system and he along with 2 other certified GM mechanics could not find the source of the short. I don't understand how I can go from having break lights on all the time while driving to not having any break lights at all.
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.
Tl contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 55 MPH, the contact had to apply excessive force to the brake pedal. Unexpectedly, the vehicle began to fishtail. The driver was able to gain control of the vehicle. Whenever the brakes were applied with excessive force, the failure would recur. The failure resulted in a crash on one occasion. The driver sustained severe injuries and was transported to the hospital. The ambulance and police were called to the scene and a report was filed. The vehicle was damaged and towed to a body shop. The cause of the failure has not yet been determined. The failure mileage was 52,000 and the current mileage was unavailable.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the brake warning light illuminated. In addition, the brake pedal was difficult to depress and required excessive force in order to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 170,000.
Brake complaints in other Malibu years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2007 Chevrolet Malibu?
NHTSA has 51 complaints about the brakes of the 2007 Chevrolet Malibu, 5% of the model year's 977 complaints. The component named most often is foundation components › disc › rotor (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2007 Chevrolet Malibu brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 2007 Chevrolet Malibu, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2007 Chevrolet Malibu brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 76,000 miles, and 19% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 5 crashes, 0 fires and 8 injuries to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.