2007 Chevrolet Malibu vs 2007 Kia Optima
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2007 Chevrolet Malibu | 2007 Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 977 | 166 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 879 | 31 |
| Investigations | 0 | 3 |
| Crash reports | 37 | 11 |
| Fire reports | 2 | 5 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–25 | 23–25 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 100,000 mi | 78,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Chevrolet Malibu | Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 667 | 2 |
| Air Bags | 75 | 64 |
| Electrical System | 113 | 14 |
| Power Train | 47 | 13 |
| Exterior Lighting | 29 | 27 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 47 | 1 |
| Engine | 28 | 16 |
| Service Brakes | 36 | 5 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Steering problems | 122 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 84 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 52 | 6 |
| Loss of power | 46 | 0 |
| Airbag warning light | 38 | 31 |
| Clunking / rattling | 27 | 0 |
| Stalling | 22 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 8 | 0 |
2007 Chevrolet Malibu
2007 Kia Optima
Compare all Chevrolet Malibu vs Kia Optima years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.