Should I buy a 2007 Chevrolet Malibu with documented steering problems?

Depends on the price and the specific vehicle. Documented steering issues should be priced into the purchase — if the seller is asking full retail, negotiate down by the expected repair cost. A pre-purchase inspection from an independent shop tells you whether THIS specific vehicle has already shown the symptoms or not.

2007 chevrolet Malibu steering problems

moderate 674 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700

Complaints

674

Recalls

Crashes

Avg fix

$700

Related recalls

severe NHTSA 15V064000 04/02/2015

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

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.

Fix: 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.

What owners are reporting 12 most recent

steering · filed 12/30/2017

RECENTLY EXPERIENCED LOSS OF STEERING POWER IN MY VEHICLE MORE THAN ONCE WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED. IT HAS HAPPENED WITH MY TEENAGE SON BEHIND THE WHEEL. TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED TO CLEAR OUT THE WARNING ON THE RADIO DISPLAY. THE STEERING WHEEL IS ALSO SHAKING/VIBRATING WHILE THE CAR IS SITTING IDLE. I DID AN ONLINE CHAT WITH CHEVY. OF COURSE MY VEHICLE WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. I HAV…

steering · filed 12/30/2015

CHEVY MALIBU RECALL. MY POWER STEERING GOES OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF ME DRIVING. IT IS A REAL SAFETY HAZZARD WHEN I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL GO OUT! MY VIN # IS NOT ON THE LIST TO GET FIXED BUT FITS THE RECALL DESCRIPTION! I EVEN HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE THE RECALL ACCRUED AND HAD THE PROBLEM CONFIRMED BY A GM SPECIALIST. PLEASE ADD MY VIN TO THE LIST SO MY SAFETY IS NOT IN DANGER WHEN I DRIVE! *JS

steering · filed 12/30/2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT ABNORMAL NOISES WHEN STEERING AND DRIVING OVER BUMPS AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT STABILIZER BAR WAS FAULTY AND THE FRONT CALIPERS WERE NOT PROPERLY RELEASING. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE FRONT CALIPERS WE…

steering · filed 12/29/2015

CHEVY MALIBU RECALL. MY POWER STEERING GOES OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF ME DRIVING. IT IS A REAL SAFETY HAZZARD WHEN I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL GO OUT! MY VIN # IS NOT ON THE LIST TO GET FIXED BUT FITS THE RECALL DESCRIPTION! I EVEN HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE THE RECALL ACCRUED AND HAD THE PROBLEMOST CONFIRMED BY A GM SPECIALIST. PLEASE ADD MY VIN TO THE LIST SO MY SAFETY IS NOT IN DANGER WHEN I DRIVE!

steering · filed 12/29/2010

I WAS IN A CROWDED PARKING LOT AND SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING. I NEARLY HIT A PEDESTRIAN BECAUSE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN. THE POWER STEERING CONTINUES TO FAIL WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE ABOUT THIS I FOUND HUNDREDS OF ENTRIES OF THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE ARE RECALLS ON OTHER MODELS AND OTHER YEARS, JUST NOT THE 2007 MALIBU THAT I HAVE. THIS ELECTRIC POWER STEERING C…

steering · filed 12/28/2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, THE "POWER STEERING" MESSAGE SUDDENLY DISPLAYED. THE DRIVER DISCOVERED THAT THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED, WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER (HANK GRAFF CHEVROLET IN DAVIDSON, MI) WERE NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEA…

steering · filed 12/28/2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE POWER STEERING WARNING MESSAGE DISPLAYED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000.

steering · filed 12/27/2012

MY SON WAS DRIVING THE 2007 CHEVY MALIBU I BOUGHT FOR HIM FOR WORK/SCHOOL WHEN THE ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING SYSTEM WENT OUT. HE WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUSY THREE LANE ROAD, AND AS HE BEGAN TO CHANGE LANES, THE STEERING BECAME VERY STIFF. HE HEARD A CHIME AND THEN SAW THE DASH FLASH "POWER STEERING". SINCE HE WASN'T EXPECTING THIS, HE COULDN'T CONTROL THE STEERING RIGHT AWAY, AND THE MALIBU CONTINU…

steering · filed 12/26/2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AND AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

steering · filed 12/25/2010

I HAVE PROBLEM WITH POWER STEERING FOR CHEVY MALIBU 2007 SOMETIMES ITS LUCK UP WHEN IM DRIVING OR WHEN IM TURN LEFT OR RIGHT AND MAKING NOISE. *TR

Common questions

How serious is the steering problem on the 2007 chevrolet Malibu?

It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 674 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.

At what mileage does the steering typically fail?

Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.

What does it cost to fix?

Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering 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 steering?

Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover steering issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.