FaultScore

Worst years for a Chevrolet Malibu Maxx

Owners have filed 1,389 complaints about the Chevrolet Malibu Maxx with NHTSA across model years 2004 to 2007. More of them are about the steering than anything else.

Avoid

2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx

574 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly steering.

Cleanest on record

2007 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx

56 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Chevrolet Malibu Maxx year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2007 A 56 0 2 82,000 Airbags
2006 C 343 19 3 82,956 Steering
2005 C 416 20 12 88,000 Steering
2004 D 574 42 8 70,000 Steering

What breaks on a Chevrolet Malibu Maxx

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Steering 687 49.5%

Worst in 2004

Seats 142 10.2%

Worst in 2004

Worst in 2005

Lights 106 7.6%

Worst in 2005

Brakes 68 4.9%

Worst in 2006

Airbags 44 3.2%

Worst in 2007

Worst in 2004

Worst in 2004

Worst in 2004

Worst in 2006

Acceleration & Cruise Control 20 1.4%

Worst in 2006

Suspension 18 1.3%

Worst in 2005

Equipment & Accessories 12 0.9%

Worst in 2004

Seat Belts 9 0.6%

Worst in 2004

Exactly what failed on a Chevrolet Malibu Maxx

The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.

Electric Power Assist System 49 38.0%
Hydraulic Power Assist System 14 10.9%
Rack AND Pinion 12 9.3%
Frontal 12 9.3%
Turn Signal 9 7.0%
Column 9 7.0%
Rotor 8 6.2%
Starter Assembly 6 4.7%
Engine 5 3.9%
Headlights 5 3.9%

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Chevrolet Malibu Maxx, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Jun 2004 peak 43 Mar 2025

Chevrolet Malibu Maxx problems by state

Where owners filed from. Heavier states are usually just bigger markets, but a part that fails in heat or salt shows up here first.

Compare the Chevrolet Malibu Maxx

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.