Car and Truck Fix it Right the First Time Issues
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2007 Chevrolet Malibu cruise control problems
severe 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
2crashes
2injuries
What stands out
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 15 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering cruise control on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
ADJUSTABLE PEDALS WILL NOT ADJUST INOPERATIVE. UPDATED 3/13/09. UPDATED 8/1/11.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗CHEVROLET/PONTIAC/SATURN: INTERMITTENTLY BRAKE LIGHTS (STOP LAMPS) DO NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY, EXTENDED TRAVEL TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK, CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE, DTCS C0161/C0277 SET (PERFORM REPAIR AS OUTLINED). UPDATED 5/11/11.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe several interconnected failure modes around cruise control and acceleration in the 2007 Malibu. The most alarming complaint is unintended acceleration—vehicle speeds up without driver input while cruise is engaged or during normal driving at highway speeds (70 mph reported). In at least two cases, the accelerated vehicle would not stop even with brake pedal fully applied, resulting in collisions with a building and a wall.
A second pattern involves cruise control that either fails to engage on interstate driving or engages sporadically. When it does work, owners report RPM and speed creeping up unexpectedly, then settling back to set speed on their own. One owner documented this across five dealer visits without resolution.
Brake light malfunction appears linked to the electrical/control issues: lights stay on while driving at highway speed, yet fail to illuminate when brakes are actually applied. Hard brake pressure is needed to trigger the lights.
Acceleration hesitation—car won't speed up when needed—followed by sudden uncontrolled surge is another reported failure pattern. One owner also reports multiple highway stalls.
Diagnostic codes C0161 and C0277 appear in technical bulletins and owner narratives. GM recalls 14V252000 (brake/stability/speed control) and 14V224000 (powertrain) reference this vehicle, but one owner notes parts were unavailable for repair. Dealer inspections, multiple visits, and even independent mechanics could not duplicate or diagnose most problems.
Same Chevrolet Malibu cruise control reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended acceleration with cruise control active
Vehicle accelerates without driver input while cruise control is engaged or during normal driving. Occurs at various speeds (30–70 mph). In two cases, brakes failed to slow or stop the vehicle, resulting in collisions.
When: 77,000–111,439 miles; occurs while actively cruising or transitioning on/off-ramp
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates independently without warning; Acceleration occurs at highway speeds with cruise control engaged; Brake pedal depressed but vehicle does not stop; Accelerator acts as if stuck during low-speed turning
Codes mentioned: C0161, C0277
Repairs/costs cited: In narratives #1 and #8, dealer inspection and independent mechanic could not identify or duplicate the problem. Narrative #2 owner received recall notifications but parts were unavailable.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 14V252000 (Electrical System, Electronic Stability Control, Exterior Lighting, Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle Speed Control) and Campaign 14V224000 (Power Train) referenced in narrative #2; owner states parts unavailable for repair.
Cruise control engagement failure and erratic operation
Cruise control does not engage consistently on highway driving, functions sporadically, or operates erratically with RPM and speed increases that resolve on their own.
When: No specific mileage stated; noted on interstate driving and during normal cruise use
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control does not engage all the time when on interstate; Cruise control works sporadically; RPM and speed increase temporarily while cruising, then returns to set speed; Cruise control inoperative per diagnostic report
Codes mentioned: C0161, C0277
Repairs/costs cited: Narrative #4 mentions previous recall for the same problem 2–3 years prior. Dealer visited 5 times in narrative #7 without resolution.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Previous recall mentioned in narrative #4; Chevrolet contact attempted in narrative #7 with no resolution.
Acceleration hesitation followed by uncontrolled surge
Vehicle hesitates or refuses to accelerate when needed, then suddenly surges forward with excess speed. Creates risk of rear-end collision and frontal impact.
When: Not specified; problem persists across multiple dealer visits
Symptoms owners cite: Will not accelerate when needed; When speed picks up, vehicle shoots ahead uncontrollably; Unpredictable acceleration behavior alternates between sluggish and overly aggressive
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle taken to dealer 5 times without diagnosis or repair. Problem continues to recur.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chevrolet contacted by owner; no resolution provided.
Engine stalling on highway
Vehicle stalls multiple times during highway operation without apparent cause.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls while in use on highway; Multiple stall events reported
Brake light malfunction with cruise control correlation
Brake lights malfunction independently or in conjunction with cruise control issues. Lights illuminate at speed without brake application and fail to illuminate when brakes are applied, creating safety hazard for following vehicles.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Brake lights on while driving at low and high speeds without brake application; Brake lights do not illuminate when brakes are applied; Hard brake application required to activate lights; light tap does not trigger lights; Intermittent brake light function
Codes mentioned: C0161, C0277
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Technical Service Bulletin or recall communication referenced in narrative #6 mentions brake light, cruise control, shift-out-of-park, and diagnostic codes C0161/C0277.
Reduced engine power with check engine light
Engine check light illuminates and vehicle enters reduced-power mode, causing severe speed loss on surface streets. Owner notes this could be catastrophic on freeway.
When: No specific mileage; occurs without warning during routine errand
Symptoms owners cite: Engine check light activated; Engine power reduced notice displayed; Vehicle speed drops to crawl; Power loss occurs suddenly without warning
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Brake light do with cruise control something like....... Chevrolet/Pontiac/Saturn: intermittently brake lights (stop lamps) do not function correctly, extended travel to shift out of park, cruise control inoperative, dtcs c0161/c0277 set (perform repair as outlined). [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr
Had cruise control trouble with your 2007 Chevrolet Malibu?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2007 Chevrolet Malibu?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 77,000 and 117,000 miles, with the median around 100,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 77,000; a quarter make it past 117,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2007/Chevrolet/Malibu.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.