2008 Chevrolet Malibu Classic Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE CONTACT WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE REMEDY. WHEN THE KEY WAS INSERTED IN THE IGNITION, THERE WAS NO SUPPORT TO MAINTAIN THE STABILITY OF THE KEY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOR OVER SIX MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THE IGNITION SWITCH CYLINDER WAS NOT REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

A SAFETY HAZARD EXISTS DUE TO POWER DOOR LOCKS NOT LOCKING/UNLOCKING CONSISTENTLY ON THREE OUT OF FOUR DOORS OF THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM COULD CAUSE OCCUPANTS, PARTICULARLY CHILDREN IN THE REAR SEATS, TO BECOME TRAPPED DURING AN EMERGENCY. *TR

I FEEL THAT I EXPERIENCED THE SAME POWER STEERING FAILURE THAT AFFECTED OTHER MALIBUS (AND CHEVROLETS) AND THAT MY REPAIR SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER CHEVROLET SPECIAL BULLETIN #10183. HOWEVER, SOMETHING ABOUT MY VEHICLE'S BUILD KEPT MY VIN FROM BEING INCLUDED IN THE RANGE FOR THIS EXTENDED COVERAGE. I FIRST EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS ON FEBRUARY 13, 2014. MY VEHICLE HAD 97,600 MILES ON IT. AFTER I STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE CAR MADE A DINGING SOUND AND THE WORDS "POWER STEERING"' FLASHED ON MY RADIO INFORMATION SCREEN. I TRIED TO DRIVE A FEW FEET BUT FOUND I HAD NO POWER STEERING ASSIST. I HAD TO STOP AND START THE CAR A COUPLE TIMES BEFORE GETTING POWER STEERING BACK. ON FEBRUARY 16, I EXPERIENCED THE SAME LOSS OF POWER STEERING (AUDIBLE DING, DISPLAY READ "'POWER STEERING" AND I HAD NO POWER STEERING). AFTER RESTARTING, THE ASSIST RETURNED. ON FEBRUARY 19, POWER STEERING FAILED THREE TIMES IN THE LAST TWO MILES OF MY COMMUTE. RESTARTING THE VEHICLE AT A STOPLIGHT SOLVED THE PROBLEM TWICE. AFTER THE FINAL FAILURE THAT MORNING, I DROVE THE REST OF THE WAY WITHOUT POWER STEERING. THAT NIGHT, I WAS UNABLE TO KEEP POWER STEERING FUNCTIONING AND DROVE THE 12 MILE TRIP HOME WITHOUT POWER STEERING. IN ADDITION, WHEN STOPPED AND WHILE DRIVING, MY STEERING WHEEL WOULD MOVE BY ITSELF. THIS OCCURRED RANDOMLY BETWEEN FEBRUARY 13 AND 19. THE AMOUNT OF MOVEMENT VARIED FROM A RAPID SHAKE TO UP TO A 1 INCH SWING FROM CENTER. TOOK TO CHEVROLET DEALER WHICH DIAGNOSED "TRACED TO INTERNAL FAULT IN STEERING COLUMN. REPLACED STEERING COLUMN TO CORRECT." *TR

I LOST POWER STEERING WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON A SEMI CURVE WHILE RAINING LIGHTLY. THE CAR KEPT GOING TO THE LEFT AND I COULD NOT STEER. I PRESSED BRAKES AND CAR SPUN. I ALMOST HIT A SIGN ON THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THANK GOD NOTHING HAPPENED TO ME NOR MY SON. THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS INVOLVED EITHER. THERE WAS A TRUCK COMING ON THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION BUT HE STOPPED. OTHERWISE, WE WOULD HAVE COLLIDED. I GOT ON THE DITCH. I WAS ABLE TO GET BACK ON ROAD AND DRIVE TO NEAREST GM/CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR 2 DAYS AND FOUND OUT THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR CONTROL MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR $703 INCLUDING LABOR. THERE WAS A RECALL IN CANADA FOR THE SAME PART (TRANSPORT CANADA RECALL # 2012331: MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER 12221) BUT AS OF NOW I HAVE NOT FOUND THE RECALL IN USA. WHY?? *TR

A SAFETY HAZARD EXISTS DUE TO POWER DOOR LOCKS NOT LOCKING/UNLOCKING CONSISTENTLY ON THREE OUT OF FOUR DOORS OF THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM COULD CAUSE OCCUPANTS, PARTICULARLY CHILDREN IN THE REAR SEATS, TO BECOME TRAPPED DURING AN EMERGENCY. *TR

DOOR LOCKS ARE FAILING TO LOCK AND UNLOCK, WITH THE KEY FOB OR, WITH THE INSIDE SWITCH, FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE OR FROM EITHER ONE OF THE THREE OTHER DOORS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AS, IF SOMEONE IS ABOUT TO GET ROBBED, RAPED, BEAT UP OR A CAR JACKING IS ABOUT TO OCCUR AND, THE DOOR LOCKS FAILS TO LOCK OR UNLOCK THEN, SOMEONE COULD GET RAPED, INJURED OR EVEN KILLED. PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO THIS MESSAGE AND TAKE ACTION AGAINST GENERAL MOTORS TO GET THIS ISSUE RESOLVED. I THINK, ALONG WITH EVERY OTHER 08 OR 09 MALIBU OWNERS, THAT GENERAL MOTORS IS USING THIS FOR A "CASH COW" AS THEY TOO ARE UNWILLING TO BUDGE AND DO THE RIGHT THING BY MAKING AND INSTALLING AN UPGRADED LOCKING SYSTEM THAT WILL LAST FOR MORE THAN FIVE YEARS. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I WAS T BONED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING THE WRONG WAY ON A ONE WAY. I THEN WAS SENT UP A CURB 35 MPH HITTING A TREE HEAD ON DRAGGING THE CAR DOWN THE TREE THEN WENT UP A SMALL HILL ALMOST ENDING UP IN SOMEONES PORCH. I PASSED OUT AT SOME POINT. NOT ONE AIRBAG WENT OFF IN MY VEHICLE. I CONTACTED GM AND THEY REQUESTED PICTURES FIRST. I SENT PICTURES OF THE MALIBU AND WAS TOLD THEY DIDN'T FEEL THE AIRBAGS SHOULD OF DEPLOYED. I WOULD HAVE TO FIND THE VEHICLE FOR THEM TO CHECK THE MODULE. I FOUND THE VEHICLE AND GM SAYS THE MODULE WAS NOW PUT IN ANOTHER VEHICLE AND I NOW HAVE TO FIND THAT VEHICLE. THIS NEXT PERSON MIGHT NOT LIVE THROUGH A ACCIDENT. WHY WOULDN'T THEY FIND THIS.VEHICLE AND CHECK THE MODULE? MY CAR WAS TOTALED. I WORRY ABOUT THE PERSON NOW DRIVING WITH THIS MODULE IN THEIR CAR! ISN'T THIS THE PROBLEM GM HAS NOW? *TR

WHEN WE PURCHASED THE MALIBU LTZ V6 FULLY LOADED , LEATHER SEATS ALL THE UPGRADED OPTIONS I THOUGHT I WAS GETTING A "EXCELLENT" CAR. I WAS DELUSIONAL ! WITHIN A COUPLE OF MONTHS I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY RADIO, AND COMPONENTS IN THE RADIO SAYING" AUX INPUT DEVICE" AND IT KEPT TURNING ON AND OFF ! I CALLED CHEVROLET IN GREEN COVE SPRINGS FLORIDA AND ASKED THEM ABOUT IT AND THEY SAID IT WAS "NOTHING" IT WASN'T NOTHING ! I WAS TOLD OF COURSE "AFTER MY WARRANTY EXPIRED" THAT IT WAS THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM! AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY MORE THEN $3,000 TO FIX IT! NICE GM! BECAUSE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS WIRED INTO THE RADIO SO WHEN THEY RADIO HAS A PROBLEM GUESS WHAT LADIES AND GENTLEMEN ? EVERYTHING GOES TO HELL ! ALSO MY MOTORS ON ALL MY DOORS HAVE FAILED AT LEAST ONCE AND NOW BECAUSE MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS GOING MY DOORS OPEN AND CLOSE WHEN THEY WANT TO ! I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 70 MILES AND HOUR AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AS IF I HAD NO POWER AGAIN THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG ! THIS IS MY FIRST CHEVROLET AND MY LAST ! I AM TRADING THIS GARBAGE IN FOR A FOREIGN CAR ! PROBABLY A FIAT ! THANK YOU ! GM SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES WE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE BAILED THEM OUT AND THEY HAVE CHINA WHO BTW HATES US ! MAKING PARTS FOR OUR CARS ! OMG I JUST LOVE THIS COUNTRY ! *TR

WHEN VEHICLES STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED LEFT OR RIGHT IT MAKES A LOUD CLICKING NOISE LIKE ITS GOING TO BREAK. DOES NOT ALLOW ACCURATE STEERING WHILE DRIVING. THE DRIVER REAR WINDOWS ELECTRIC SUSPENSION WIRE POPPED AND CAME UNRAVELED AND WINDOW DROPS. FUEL LEVEL RANGE SENSOR DOES NOT PROVIDE ACCURATE READING. ALSO, DISABLED FUEL GAUGE ARM IN DASH (FLUCTUATES). DIAGNOSIS RAN AND SEEMS TO BE NO ISSUE WITH FUEL PUMP. WHILE DRIVING THE ARM BAR THAT KEEPS SEAT LEVEL AND IN PLACE SNAPPED AND SEAT FELL AS VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION (70MPH ON FREEWAY).. VERY SCARY.. SINCE STEERING COLUMN ALREADY FEELS LIKE ITS GOING TO FALL APART. *TR

FUEL GAUGE IS INACCURATE RESULTING IN ENGINE CODE AND INABILITY TO PROPERLY MONITOR FUEL LEVEL. POTENTIAL FOR OUT OF FUEL STALLS. *TR

I HAVE HAD TO DRIVE MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM TO RELEASE MY KEY FROM THE IGNITION A COUPLE TIME AND NEVER THOUGHT ANYTHING OF IT, BUT IN JUNE THE BEGINNING THE KEY WOULDN'T COME OUT. SO I CALLED THE DEALER TO FIND OUT I HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH ALONE WITH MY SHIFT THAT COST ME 884.00 DOLLARS. THEY CLAIM NO WARRANTIES. I CALLED CHEVROLET TO FIND THERE WAS RECALL,BUT IT WAS DONE JUST BEFORE I PURCHASE THE CAR IN 2009. BUT IT KIND OF BIZARRE THE KEY WAS STILL GETTING STUCK IF IT WAS REPLACE. IS THERE ANY WAY YOU CAN HELP ME TO RESOLVE THIS SITUATION. I AM CONCERN WHY THIS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACE,BECAUSE IF CONTINUE TO REPLACE WOULDN'T MEAN IT STILL A DEFEAT PART. PLEASE HELP. *TR

2008 MALIBU SHOWS "ICE POSSIBLE" AND THEN TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN ENGINE POWER REDUCE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE ENGINE STARTS TO SLOW DOWN. THIS HAPPENS ON THE HIGH WAY, IN TRAFFIC, WHILE ACCELERATING AND HONESTLY GOING UP AND DOWN HILLS. TOOK TO SERVICE CENTER AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, HOWEVER AFTER REPLACING THE VEHICLE IS STILL HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. CONTACTED CHEVROLET AND THEY TOLD ME TO HAVE THE RECALL ON THE VEHICLE DONE HOWEVER THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THE RECALL HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ISSUE AND HE DOESN'T KNOW WHY THE CAR IS DOING THAT. I HAVE LOOKED ON LINE AND NO ONE SEEMS TO HAVE A RESOLVE FOR THE ISSUE. THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A DEFECT AND SOMETHING THAT IS RECALLED IMMEDIATELY AS IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

THE "SERVICE AIR BAG" LIGHT STARTED TO COME ON WHEN THE WEATHER WAS VERY HOT OR VERY COLD FROM TIME TO TIME STARTING IN 2009. IN THE WINTER OF 2013, THE LIGHT REMAINED ON CONSTANTLY. WHEN THIS WARNING WAS ON, THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS NOT WORKING. EVEN IF SOMEONE WAS SITTING IN THE FRONT SEAT, THE LIGHT INDICATED THAT THE SENSOR COULD NOT DETECT A PERSON AND THE AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY. OUR DEALER VERIFIED THAT THE SENSOR WASN'T WORKING AND IF WE GOT INTO A CRASH, THE AIRBAG WOULD NOT WORK. WE FELT THAT THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE DEALT WITH BY CHEVROLET AT NO COST TO US, BUT CHEVROLET CLAIMED THAT SINCE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS, THEY COULD NOT REPLACE IT AT NO COST. WE HOPE THIS REPORT HELPS TO SHED LIGHT ON THE ISSUE, AND IF IT IS COMMON, LEADS TO A RECALL OR VOLUNTARY REPLACEMENT OF THE FAULTY SENSOR AT NO COST TO CONSUMERS. *TR

WHEN VEHICLES STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED LEFT OR RIGHT IT MAKES A LOUD CLICKING NOISE LIKE ITS GOING TO BREAK. DOES NOT ALLOW ACCURATE STEERING WHILE DRIVING. THE DRIVER REAR WINDOWS ELECTRIC SUSPENSION WIRE POPPED AND CAME UNRAVELED AND WINDOW DROPS. FUEL LEVEL RANGE SENSOR DOES NOT PROVIDE ACCURATE READING. ALSO, DISABLED FUEL GAUGE ARM IN DASH (FLUCTUATES). DIAGNOSIS RAN AND SEEMS TO BE NO ISSUE WITH FUEL PUMP. WHILE DRIVING THE ARM BAR THAT KEEPS SEAT LEVEL AND IN PLACE SNAPPED AND SEAT FELL AS VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION (70MPH ON FREEWAY).. VERY SCARY.. SINCE STEERING COLUMN ALREADY FEELS LIKE ITS GOING TO FALL APART. *TR

WHEN WE PURCHASED THE MALIBU LTZ V6 FULLY LOADED , LEATHER SEATS ALL THE UPGRADED OPTIONS I THOUGHT I WAS GETTING A "EXCELLENT" CAR. I WAS DELUSIONAL ! WITHIN A COUPLE OF MONTHS I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY RADIO, AND COMPONENTS IN THE RADIO SAYING" AUX INPUT DEVICE" AND IT KEPT TURNING ON AND OFF ! I CALLED CHEVROLET IN GREEN COVE SPRINGS FLORIDA AND ASKED THEM ABOUT IT AND THEY SAID IT WAS "NOTHING" IT WASN'T NOTHING ! I WAS TOLD OF COURSE "AFTER MY WARRANTY EXPIRED" THAT IT WAS THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM! AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY MORE THEN $3,000 TO FIX IT! NICE GM! BECAUSE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS WIRED INTO THE RADIO SO WHEN THEY RADIO HAS A PROBLEM GUESS WHAT LADIES AND GENTLEMEN ? EVERYTHING GOES TO HELL ! ALSO MY MOTORS ON ALL MY DOORS HAVE FAILED AT LEAST ONCE AND NOW BECAUSE MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS GOING MY DOORS OPEN AND CLOSE WHEN THEY WANT TO ! I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 70 MILES AND HOUR AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AS IF I HAD NO POWER AGAIN THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG ! THIS IS MY FIRST CHEVROLET AND MY LAST ! I AM TRADING THIS GARBAGE IN FOR A FOREIGN CAR ! PROBABLY A FIAT ! THANK YOU ! GM SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES WE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE BAILED THEM OUT AND THEY HAVE CHINA WHO BTW HATES US ! MAKING PARTS FOR OUR CARS ! OMG I JUST LOVE THIS COUNTRY ! *TR

I WAS T BONED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING THE WRONG WAY ON A ONE WAY. I THEN WAS SENT UP A CURB 35 MPH HITTING A TREE HEAD ON DRAGGING THE CAR DOWN THE TREE THEN WENT UP A SMALL HILL ALMOST ENDING UP IN SOMEONES PORCH. I PASSED OUT AT SOME POINT. NOT ONE AIRBAG WENT OFF IN MY VEHICLE. I CONTACTED GM AND THEY REQUESTED PICTURES FIRST. I SENT PICTURES OF THE MALIBU AND WAS TOLD THEY DIDN'T FEEL THE AIRBAGS SHOULD OF DEPLOYED. I WOULD HAVE TO FIND THE VEHICLE FOR THEM TO CHECK THE MODULE. I FOUND THE VEHICLE AND GM SAYS THE MODULE WAS NOW PUT IN ANOTHER VEHICLE AND I NOW HAVE TO FIND THAT VEHICLE. THIS NEXT PERSON MIGHT NOT LIVE THROUGH A ACCIDENT. WHY WOULDN'T THEY FIND THIS.VEHICLE AND CHECK THE MODULE? MY CAR WAS TOTALED. I WORRY ABOUT THE PERSON NOW DRIVING WITH THIS MODULE IN THEIR CAR! ISN'T THIS THE PROBLEM GM HAS NOW? *TR

2008 MALIBU SHOWS "ICE POSSIBLE" AND THEN TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN ENGINE POWER REDUCE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE ENGINE STARTS TO SLOW DOWN. THIS HAPPENS ON THE HIGH WAY, IN TRAFFIC, WHILE ACCELERATING AND HONESTLY GOING UP AND DOWN HILLS. TOOK TO SERVICE CENTER AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, HOWEVER AFTER REPLACING THE VEHICLE IS STILL HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. CONTACTED CHEVROLET AND THEY TOLD ME TO HAVE THE RECALL ON THE VEHICLE DONE HOWEVER THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THE RECALL HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ISSUE AND HE DOESN'T KNOW WHY THE CAR IS DOING THAT. I HAVE LOOKED ON LINE AND NO ONE SEEMS TO HAVE A RESOLVE FOR THE ISSUE. THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A DEFECT AND SOMETHING THAT IS RECALLED IMMEDIATELY AS IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

THIS HAS OCCURED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE LAST YEAR. WHEN DRIVING, THE BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON BY THEMSELVES AND YOU HAVE TO TAP THE BRAKES TO GET THEM TO GO OUT. THEN THEY MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT GO OFF AND TOTALLY CANCELS ANY CRUISE CONTROL OPETATION. THERE IS NO ACTUAL BRAKING AND THIS EVEN HAPPENS WHEN ACCELERATING. THIS LAST TIME, THEY WOULD NOT GO OFF AT ALL AND IT EVEN TRIGGERED A 'SERVICE TRACTION' WARNING ON THE DASH. THE FIRST COUPLE OF TIMES I TOOK IT IN, THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY COULD NOT FIX/DIAGNOSE IT UNLESS IT WAS DOING THIS RIGHT THEN. WELL ANOTHER SHOP FOUND A SAFETY BULLETIN ON THIS ISSUE AND COMPLETED THE RECOMMENDED FIX. THIS WORKED FOR QUITE A WHILE UNTIL NOW AND HERE WE ARE AGAIN. I WORRY ABOUT ANOTHER DRIVER TAKING FAULTY ACTION THINKING I AM BRAKING, WHEN I AM NOT. ALSO IT HAS BECOME A RECURRING SAFETY ISSUE AND I SEE OTHER OWNERS ARE DEALING WITH THE SAME ISSUE. PLEASE HELP! *TR

I WAS T BONED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING THE WRONG WAY ON A ONE WAY. I THEN WAS SENT UP A CURB 35 MPH HITTING A TREE HEAD ON DRAGGING THE CAR DOWN THE TREE THEN WENT UP A SMALL HILL ALMOST ENDING UP IN SOMEONES PORCH. I PASSED OUT AT SOME POINT. NOT ONE AIRBAG WENT OFF IN MY VEHICLE. I CONTACTED GM AND THEY REQUESTED PICTURES FIRST. I SENT PICTURES OF THE MALIBU AND WAS TOLD THEY DIDN'T FEEL THE AIRBAGS SHOULD OF DEPLOYED. I WOULD HAVE TO FIND THE VEHICLE FOR THEM TO CHECK THE MODULE. I FOUND THE VEHICLE AND GM SAYS THE MODULE WAS NOW PUT IN ANOTHER VEHICLE AND I NOW HAVE TO FIND THAT VEHICLE. THIS NEXT PERSON MIGHT NOT LIVE THROUGH A ACCIDENT. WHY WOULDN'T THEY FIND THIS.VEHICLE AND CHECK THE MODULE? MY CAR WAS TOTALED. I WORRY ABOUT THE PERSON NOW DRIVING WITH THIS MODULE IN THEIR CAR! ISN'T THIS THE PROBLEM GM HAS NOW? *TR