2007 Chevrolet MALIBU MAXX: complaints, problems and recalls

WHENEVER THE CONTACT TURNS THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION, HE HEARS A CLUNKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN.. THE CURRENT 50K AND FAILURE MILEAGES WAS 30,000. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10248698 at NHTSA ↗

DRL TOO HOT AND CAUSE THE HEADLIGHT / SIDE MARKER HOUSING TO MELT. MELTED PLASTIC CAUSES BULB TO GO OUT / FUSE TO SOCKET. NEEDED TO REPLACE BULB, HOUSING AND HARNESS ALL OEM AND AVAILABLE.. POSSIBLE FIRE DANGER IF LEFT UNCHECKED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 66,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10269662 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE AIRBAG MODULE LIGHT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN MADE REPAIRS TO THE MODULE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60000.

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10295855 at NHTSA ↗

MY 2007 CHEVROLET MALIBU LT MAXX LOCKS WHEN I AM DRIVING. I HAVE READ A LOT OF REVIEWS ON THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. I THINK A SAFETY RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10297508 at NHTSA ↗

FROM 8000 MILES ONWARD MY CHEVY MALIBU MAXX HAS A CLUNKING FEELING IN THE FRONT END WHEN YOU TURN. MALIBUS AND OTHER CHEVYS REPORT THE SAME PROBLEM, CHEVY WILL NOT FIX BUT SAYS THE STEERING SHAFT WAS MISTAKENLY UNLUBRICATED DURING MANUFACTURE AND MAY NEED TAKEN APART AND LUBRICATED, THEY WILL NOT OFFER FIX. THE UNLUBRICTAED STEERING COLUMN COULD POTENTIALLY WEAR AND FAIL. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10315457 at NHTSA ↗

STEERING MAKES A POPING SOUND EVERY TIME I TURN THE WHEEL TO MAKE A TURN. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10319490 at NHTSA ↗

AIR BAG PRESENCE MODULE REQUIRES REPLACEMENT ESTIMATED COST $582.00. VEHICLE MILEAGE 36,522 IN/36,524 OUT FROM DEALERSHIP 3/5 AUGUST 2010. AIRBAG GOES OUT OF SERVICE WITH PASSENGER IN SEAT AND BUCKLED. WARRANTY 36,000 CHEVY EXTENDED WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER AIRBAGS SYSTEM. 524 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. TOLD SHOULD HAVE HAD FORESIGHT TO TELL THE PART WAS GOING TO GO OUT PRIOR TO WARRANTY EXPIRATION LIKE I DID FOR THE DASH RATTLES (FIXED AGAIN ON 5 AUG 2010). CONTACT CHEVY STATED VIA TELEPHONE (LEE) I WOULD BE CONTACTED WITHIN 24 HOURS REGARDING…

Owner-reported narrative. 36,325 miles reported. Look up ODI 10347778 at NHTSA ↗

I EXPERIENCED A CLUNKING SOUND FROM THE STEERING SINCE 9000 MILES. I NOW HAVE 69000 MILES ON THE CAR AND IT'S WORSE THAN EVER. I HAVE BROUGHT IT IN TO THE DEALER REGULARLY AND COMPLAINED ABOUT IT EVERY TIME. EVERY TIME THEY CLAIM THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING. ONCE IT CAME OFF WARRANTY, THE DEALER HAD NO PROBLEM FINDING THE PROBLEM. I HAVE SPOKEN TO GM ABOUT THE ISSUE AND THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED IN THE 2004 THROUGH 2006 MODEL AND A SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED. GM REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE IT AS A PROBLEM IN THE 2007 MODEL…

Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10375052 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2014-04-30 (April 30, 2014)

General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on April 29, 2014, that they are recalling 56,214 model year 2007 and 2008 Saturn Aura vehicles. On May 22, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 1,074,899 model year 2004-2008 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured from May 16, 2003, through October 5, 2007, model year 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured from June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, and model year 2005-2008 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured from May 26, 2004, through September 28, 2007, and equipped with 4-speed transmissions. The total number vehicles being recalled is now 1,131,113.

Consequence: 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 may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash. Furthermore, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, despite selecting the ‘PARK’ position, the transmission may not be in ‘PARK.’ If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and GM dealers will replace the shift cable assembly and mounting bracket, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 14152.

Reported: 2014-05-14 (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: 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.

Reported: 2015-02-04 (February 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: 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.