Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the gear shift lever failed to function properly when the vehicle was in park; therefore, the vehicle came out of gear and rolled. The vehicle was repaired by the dealer. The manufacturer advised that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number 12v460000 (power train). The VIN was not available. The approximate failure…
2007 Chevrolet Malibu powertrain problems
moderate 34 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
34
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
When does it fail?
Of the 34 powertrain complaints filed for the 2007 Chevrolet Malibu, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 34 powertrain complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 12 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2007 Malibu has a widespread transmission shift cable defect causing sudden unintended rolling, with many owners excluded from a recall despite having identical symptoms—and the cable itself remains the core failure. Several owners also report transmission shudder after highway driving, steering noise, brake pedal failure, and power steering issues.
The dominant complaint is transmission shift cable fracture or breakage, typically between 96,000 and 143,500 miles. Owners describe the vehicle rolling backward after being shifted into park despite the dash showing park engaged, with some vehicles requiring emergency braking or manual intervention to stop. A few owners report the shifter physically stuck in park and unable to release. Shifting difficulty—especially getting the transmission to engage drive or reverse—is also cited, with one owner reporting the cable snapped completely during a parking maneuver.
Several owners received a recall notice (NHTSA 14V224000, Power Train), but many found their VINs rejected by dealerships or GM as not covered, despite their 2007 models exhibiting the same failures as recalled years. Recall parts faced months-long shortages, and one owner confirmed the recall repair did not fix a recurrence.
A smaller group reports transmission shuddering and lurching at stops after highway runs over 50 miles, with transmission specialists and dealers unable to reproduce the issue during testing. One owner heard a popping noise while steering that required intermediate shaft and front-end bushing work. Brake pedal sinking to the floor without warning appears in one narrative, and another mentions steering wheel turning by itself on the highway with hard steering effort and power steering warnings.
Same Chevrolet Malibu powertrain reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Transmission shift cable failure—park/reverse selection
The transmission shift cable fractures, breaks, or snaps, preventing proper engagement of park or causing the vehicle to roll backward after parking even though the shifter or dash display indicates park.
When: 96,000–143,500 miles; some failures after extended highway trips (50+ miles)
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolls backward after shifted into park; Shifter stuck in park, won't release; Extreme difficulty shifting into drive or reverse; Gear shift slips but selected gear doesn't display correctly; Physical cable fracture or snap observed
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission shift cable replacement; costs not specified by owners. Some vehicles had to be towed or driven to flat ground to shut off safely.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 14V224000 (Power Train) issued, but many 2007 Malibu owners report their VINs excluded despite identical symptoms. Recall parts were unavailable for months after recall notification. Some owners received multiple dealer denials that recall applied to their vehicle. One owner reported failure recurred after recall repair.
Transmission shudder and lurch at stops
After highway trips longer than 50 miles, the transmission shudders and jerks forward when coming to a stop, acting as if searching for gears and wanting to lunge or pull away during deceleration and braking.
When: After trips exceeding 50 miles; occurred on four separate occasions for one owner
Symptoms owners cite: Shuddering and jerking forward at traffic stops; Shuddering at every stop sign and traffic light; Feeling of transmission searching for gears; Vehicle lunging or pulling forward during braking/deceleration
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission specialist and dealer diagnostic tests could not reproduce the problem. Dealer charged $98 for diagnosis but could not identify cause.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM customer service provided no help according to owner.
Steering shaft noise—intermediate shaft and front-end bushings
Popping noise heard when turning the steering wheel, traced to a failed intermediate shaft and worn/failed front-end bushings.
When: Early in ownership; one owner reported issue within first month of March 2007 purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Popping noise in front end when turning steering wheel
Repairs/costs cited: Intermediate shaft replacement performed; popping noise persisted. Front-end bushings required replacement but had not yet been done at time of report.
Brake pedal travel to floor
Brake pedal travels to the floor without warning, creating a safety hazard.
When: Not specified; occurred several times
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal travels to floor without warning; Service engine indicator illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired due to dealer appointment backlog.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner received notifications for NHTSA Campaign 14V224000 (Power Train) and 14V252000 (Electrical, ESC, Lighting, Brakes, Speed Control), but unable to schedule repairs within reasonable timeframe.
Power steering malfunction—autonomous movement and hard steering
Steering wheel turns slightly by itself while driving, and power steering becomes difficult; power steering warning displayed on dash. One owner also reported a fuel pump floater failure in the same complaint.
When: While driving on highway
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel turns slightly by itself while driving; Hard steering effort; Power steering indicator displayed on dash; Fuel pump floater failure (mentioned in same complaint)
Synthesized from 34 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had powertrain 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 powertrain problem on the 2007 Chevrolet Malibu?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 34 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 16 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 60,500 and 110,000 miles, with the median around 96,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 60,500; a quarter make it past 110,000. 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.