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2007 Chevrolet Malibu

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2007 Malibu.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 2007 Chevrolet Malibu is a conventional passenger car that calls for 5 quarts of 5W-30 API engine oil at service intervals, placing it squarely in the mainstream mid-size sedan segment of its era. With 992 owner complaints on record and six recalls—steering being the most frequently cited problem area—this model year lands in the upper-middle tier of the Malibu's broader complaint history spanning 1997 through 2025. Although it falls well short of the 1,697 complaints logged for the 2004 model year, the 2007's complaint volume and steering-focused issues suggest that buyers and researchers should approach this model year with measured caution rather than confidence.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920182007

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 75 · 525 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731179. Note the factory front wiper blades is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 75 · 525 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP205/65R15OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12731179 alt 12580255
Engine air filter10366901 alt 19166106
Spark plug12681663 alt 12681662
Battery88861746 alt 88866120
Front wiper blades22675854 discontinued · alt 22675853
Serpentine belt12639468 alt 12578084
Thermostat12591881 alt 12622410

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length188.2 in
Overall width70.1 in
Overall height57.5 in
Wheelbase106.3 in
Curb weight3122 lb
Track (front / rear)59.8 / 59.1 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)63/37

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Malibu of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.9–8.3 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.90 sec — 2006 Maxx SS V6
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2006Maxx SS V6 3.9L V66.90 sec15.30 sec240 hpFWD
2006SS V6 3.9L V67.00 sec15.30 sec240 hpFWD
2005Maxx LT V6 3.5L V68.30 sec16.00 sec200 hpFWD
2004LT V6 3.5L V67.80 sec15.64 sec200 hpFWD
2004Maxx LT V6 3.5L V67.80 sec16.10 sec200 hpFWD
2004LT V6 3.5L V67.90 sec16.10 sec200 hpFWD
2004LT V6 3.5L V68.00 sec16.10 sec200 hpFWD
2004Maxx LT V6 3.5L V68.10 sec16.30 sec200 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity7
Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantDEX-COOL OR EQUIVALENT
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API · SAE 5W · SYNTHETIC · SAE OW
Engine Oil Capacity5.0 qt

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts7-17 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts7.3 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts7.4 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts10 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine BoltsUpper: 18 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts15 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine BoltsUpper: 18 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts15 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts100 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub159 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque15.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap0.040 in
Spark Plug Torque11.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.10 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity5.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number75
Standard BCI Cranking Performance525 cca
Standard BCI Group Number75

Service checks

Pressure Test15, Pressure should not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature185-206 °F
Pressure Test15, Pressure should not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature185-205 °F
Pressure Test15, Pressure should not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15 psi

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket26 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle85 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.001 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.023 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.023 in
Rotor Minimum Machining0.906 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
174 ft. lbs., step 2: 12574 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
137 ft. lbs., step 2: 7737 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
192 ft. lbs., step 2: 13092 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages
122 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
2155 degrees155 degrees
126
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages
144 ft. lbs.44 ft. lbs
295
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
160 ft. lbs.; Final - turn an additional 95 degrees60 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 25,000 miExhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel System (inspect)
Every 50,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2004-2008 Malibu generation experienced its peak federal complaints in 2004 with 1,697, a figure that remained elevated through 2006 (1,385) before dropping significantly to 992 in 2007. Positioned at the bottom of the complaint arc for this generation, the 2007 model year implies that early-generation manufacturing issues were largely resolved, a theory supported by its zero federal investigations and a reduction to 6 recalls compared to 10 in 2004 and 9 in 2006. However, the 2007 model is not without concentrated flaws, as 579 of its 992 complaints target the steering system alone, alongside 37 crash and 2 fire complaints; the data does not specify the root cause of this steering issue. Complaints ticked back up slightly to 1,015 in 2008 and spiked to 1,509 in 2009, confirming that 2007 serves as a distinct statistical sweet spot within its lifecycle. Because it is the lowest-complaint year of its generation, the 2007 Malibu is a relatively good year to buy, provided you ensure the prevalent steering system defects have been properly addressed.

6
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
885
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
992
Owner complaints
37 involved a crash · 2 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent
’97’98’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 992 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Steering579
Air Bags45
Steering,Electrical System31
Fuel System, Gasoline30
Power Train28
Fuel/Propulsion System26
Electrical System22
Engine10

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 6 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

14V252000Electrical System:WiringReported 14/05/2014

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… 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…

15V064000Steering:Electric Power Assist SystemReported 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… 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 885 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PIC5650M2025-08-06Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIP5601C2025-07-18Unknown Or OtherThis PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic…
PIT5074R2025-05-30Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIT5074R2025-05-30Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIT5074R2025-05-30Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Malibu. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 75 batteryVehicles taking 5 qtEngine oil filter 12731179Engine air filter 10366901Spark plug 12681663Battery 88861746

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBsOBD-II trouble codesTorque specificationsMaintenance schedulesFluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2007 Malibu take?

5 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2007 Malibu have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.