2007 Chevrolet MALIBU: complaints, problems and recalls

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE. ALL OTHER GEARS WERE SMOOTH AND QUIET. THREE SEPARATE SERVICE DEALERS HAD INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND WERE AWARE OF THE KNOCKING SOUND, BUT INFORMED THE CONTACT THE NOISE WAS COMMON WITH THE VEHICLE AND WOULD DIMINISH WITH TIME. COMPUTER DIAGNOSTICS FOUND NOTHING WRONG. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF A VIBRATION WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE DEALER RESURFACED THE ROTORS. UPDATED 12/01/06 *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 2,048 miles reported. Look up ODI 10171238 at NHTSA ↗

PURCHASED CAR 5/06 ,RETURNED TO THE DEALER 30 DAYS LATER WITH WITH SEVERE BRAKE AND ROTOR DAMAGE. I HAVE SINCE THEN REPLACED THE BRAKES AND ROTORS 3 TIMES, AND MY CAR WAS A ANOTHER DEALER WHO FOUND THAT A CLAMP WAS LEFT ON THE BRAKE LINE WHICH CAUSED ALL OF THE DAMAGE. PURCHASING DEALER WAS NORM REEVES HONDA , HUNTINGTON BEACH,CA , AND SERVICING DEALER COMMUNITY CHEVROLET, BURBANK CA. THE PURCHASING DEALER WOULD NOT ASSIST ME WITH THE REPAIRS AFTER THE INITIAL REPAIR WHICH I SPLIT THE COST OF THE REPAIRS.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10187379 at NHTSA ↗

I AM AN AEROSPACE STRUCTURAL TECHNICIAN NOW RETIRED, AND I HAVE THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM. DRIVERS SEAT FRAME WELD BUSTED DUE TO MATERIALS AND WORKMANSHIP, CAUSING THE SEAT TO ROTATE BACKWARDS AND TO THE RIGHT. CONTACTED CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEY REPLIED, SORRY ABOUT THAT! *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 48,624 miles reported. Look up ODI 10187533 at NHTSA ↗

2006 MALIBU MAX WITH SHAKING PROBLEMS**CC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10187923 at NHTSA ↗

EXITING ON OFF-RAMP... ACCELERATOR STUCK... WHEN I REMOVED FOOT FROM BRAKE CAR ACCELERATED AS THE WHEELS WERE TURNED... ALMOST WENT INTO SPIN... TURNED WHEELS IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION AS BRAKES WERE APPLIED... AFTER SPIN WAS UNDER CONTROL... BRAKES WERE RELEASED THEN ACCELERATOR KICKED IN AND VEHICLE SPED UP WHILE WHEELS WERE TURNED AND COLLIDED WITH WALL ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE... *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 8,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10192229 at NHTSA ↗

THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT ON MY 2007 CHEVY MAILIBU HAS STITCHING THAT DOES NOT ALLOW IT TO POSITION ITSELF EASILY ON SMALLER PERSONS. THE SEATBELT OFTEN DOES NOT FIT SNUG BECAUSE THE STITCHING DOES NOT SLIDE EASILY THROUGH THE BUCKLE SO THE LAP BELT ISN'T SITTING SNUGLY. I HAVE ALREADY HAD IT IN TWICE AND THE BELT THEY REORDER HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AND THEY SAY THAT THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING MORE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10193947 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT ACCOMMODATE AN ADULT. THERE IS A STITCHING ON THE SEAT BELT THAT BECOMES STUCK IN THE RETRACTOR. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SEAT BELT, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO INSTALL A SEAT BELT EXTENDER. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 2,000. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED A REPAIR INVOICE AND THE BILL OF SALE FOR THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 08/13/07 *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10197811 at NHTSA ↗

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 M…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10198172 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.