Fuel system
Filed Nov 2, 2017
SMELL FUEL AND THERE IS A LEAK NEAR UPPER TANK BY THE FUEL PUMP.
- NHTSA ID
- 11042658
- Incident
- Apr 17, 2017
2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
7
Latest Nov 2, 2017
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
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InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
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Overview
Our database contains 7 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid, most frequently naming the electrical, fuel system and steering categories. 176 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 2010 | 1 | 1 |
| Jul 2013 | 1 | 2 |
| Aug 2013 | 1 | 3 |
| Dec 2014 | 1 | 4 |
| Oct 2015 | 1 | 5 |
| Jan 2016 | 1 | 6 |
| Nov 2017 | 1 | 7 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Electrical222.2%
- Fuel system222.2%
- Steering222.2%
- Airbags111.1%
- Interior & seats111.1%
- Powertrain (other)111.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
AirbagsElectricalSteering
Filed Jan 5, 2016
WHEN DRIVING, 2 MESSAGES APPEARED ON DASH - "POWER STEERING" AND "SERVICE AIR BAG." WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE CAR LATER, IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER, AND THE "ANTI-THEFT" LIGHT WAS ON, ALONG WITH THE OTHER 2 WARNING MESSAGES FROM ABOVE. AFTER OTHER LIGHTS TURNED OFF, THE "ANTI-THEFT" AND "SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT" REMAINED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. ODOMETER: 101844
- NHTSA ID
- 10818123
- Incident
- Jan 2, 2016
- Mileage
- 101,844 mi
Fuel system
Filed Oct 18, 2015
VEHICLE IS STRONG GAS SMELL COMING FROM THE REAR. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY CONFIRMED THE FUEL PUMP MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO LEAK. NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUES BY GM TO FIX THIS ISSUE ON THE CHEVROLET MALIBU.
- NHTSA ID
- 10783115
- Incident
- Oct 1, 2015
Interior & seats
Filed Dec 6, 2014
THE LOCK WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK AS YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND OR WHEN THE KEY ARE NOT IN IT. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10662510
- Incident
- Jun 16, 2014
Electrical
Filed Aug 1, 2013
FIRST SUMMER OF OWNERSHIP, HOT DAY, AIRCONDITIONER ON. CAR STARTED FLASHING ALL KINDS OF WARNINGS. PULLED OFF ROAD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE PULLING INTO LOT AND THEN CAR SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN. AT FIRST SERVICE, TOLD DEALERSHIP WHAT HAPPENED BUT THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE CAUSE WAS. THAT SAME YEAR OR NEXT YEAR THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE HYBRID BATTERY AND IT WAS REPLACED. THOUGHT MAYBE MY PROBLEM WOULD NOT OCCUR AGAIN BUT EVERY SUMMER HAD SIMILAR INCIDENTS WITH CAR PULLING INTO STOP AND SHUTTING OFF. WAS ABLE TO START CAR AGAIN AFTER SITTING FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. DIAGNOSTICS SHOW NOTHING WRONG AT DEALERSHIP. JULY 23 2013 ON A RAINY HIGHWAY (AIR CONDITIONER NOT ON BECAUSE NEEDS NEW COMPRESSOR), SAME SITUATION SUDDENLY HAPPENS. FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS, LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND EVENTUALLY ALL POWER AFTER GETTING OFF HIGHWAY(THANKGOD). POLICE HAD TO PUSH CAR OUT OF INTERSECTION AND TOW TRUCK DRIVER GAVE CAR A JUMP AND PARKED CAR IN SAFE PLACE AND GOT A CAB TO A VERY EXPENSIVE CONCERT A HALF HOUR LATE. AFTER CONCERT, CAR STARTED AND TOOK CAR TO SEARS FOR A NEW BATTERY AS TOW TRUCK DRIVER SUGGESTED. JULY 26 MADE DRIVE HALFWAY ACROSS STATE. NO INCIDENT. JULY 29 DRIVING HOME. BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON AFTER MAKING REST STOP. KEPT DRIVING ON HIGHWAY(NICE DAY, NO RAIN) BUT CAR SHUTS OFF AGAIN, FORTUNATELY JUST AFTER GETTING OFF HIGHWAY. THIS IS GETTING DANGEROUS! ONSTAR SEES ELECTRICAL PROBLEM ON DIAGNOSTICS. TOWED TO CHEVY DEALERSHIP. RENT CAR TO GET BACK HOME. ONCE AGAIN DIAGNOSTICS SHOW NO PROBLEM. NOW I HAVE TO TAKE MY RENTAL CAR 2 HOURS TO GET MY OWN CAR. GOING TO CALL GM. WISH ME LUCK ON THE HIGHWAY. HOPE I GET THE CAR BACK HOME! *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10533026
- Incident
- Jul 24, 2009
- Mileage
- 3,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jul 18, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING WITHOUT WARNING. ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE FAILURE THE STEERING SUSPENSION WAS RECALIBRATED BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AFTER THE MALFUNCTION FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,580.
- NHTSA ID
- 10525612
- Incident
- Jul 10, 2013
- Mileage
- 70,580 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 7, 2010
Crash reported
STORMY ,WET NIGHT,I STOPPED AT CORNER IN MY 2008 MALIBU HYBRID-STARTING FORWARD,MY CAR SURGED AND LANDED ME IN A BROOK-NOW SOUNDS LIKE SUA. ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS SORT. WATER TOTALED THE CAR-THERE WAS NO INVESTIGATION. I AM NOT SURE OF COMPONENT AS I HAVE NO MECHANICAL EXPERTISE. THERE WAS A DEFINITE LOUD SURGE. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10317446
- Incident
- Jun 24, 2009
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
13598
New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
PIC5650M
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. Technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Codes B3055, B3060, B3935, C0750, C0755, C0760, C0765, and/or C0775.
PIP5601C
This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.
PIT5074R
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
PIT5074R
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
PIT5074R
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.