2008 Chevrolet Malibu Airbags Problems

My vehicle is experiencing a sudden loss of power steering assist.

NHTSA ID

11663185

Incident

May 1, 2025

On 5/23/2022, we were involved in a crash where a loaded asphalt dump truck pulled out in front of us on major highway. Vehicle was totaled from front end impact. Air bags did not deploy!!

NHTSA ID

11466969

Incident

May 23, 2022

Air bag sensor is reading airbag as a foreign object and not apart of the vehicle. Airbag has never been deployed, nor has it ever been changed. This should not be happening.

NHTSA ID

11447152

Incident

Jan 12, 2022

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT ABOUT 20MPH ON CITY STREETS MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE I WAS TURNING LEFT INTO A BUSINESS AND I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF, THEN BACK ON, AND IT WOULD DRIVE FOR A SHORT WHILE BEFORE POWER STEERING WOULD SHUT OFF AGAIN, USUALLY WHILE MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO TURNS ON ITS OWN WHILE SITTING STILL. I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR. ALSO, THE STEERING WHEEL IS MAKING A GRINDING, POPPING NOISE AND FLASHING "CHECK AIRBAG" MESSAGES WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED ON. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND THE POWER STEERING ISSUE TO BE A BROAD GM VEHICLE PROBLEM. CHEVY MALIBUS FROM 2004 TO 2010 I BELIEVE WERE ALL COVERED FOR A RECALL. MY VIN HOWEVER IS NOT ON THIS LIST AND I AM SUFFERING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS ALL OF THESE OTHER CHEVY MALIBU OWNERS. MY VEHICLE HAS 128,XXX MILES.

NHTSA ID

11243078

Incident

Aug 1, 2019

Mileage

127,800 mi

FIRST TIME CAR WAS IN PARK. THEN THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES BUT DOESN'T TURN OFF. ALSO MESSAGE POPS UP SAYING TO SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL. NEXT WAS STATIONARY, I STOPPED AT A LIGHT AND THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF. NEXT WAS STATIONARY AND THE CAR TURNED ON BUT THEN THE CLUSTER INSTRUMENT LIGHTS DIDN'T COME ON IT WAS COMPLETELY DARK. ALSO WHILE IN MOTION CAR RPM DIDN'T READ ANYMORE AND IT WAS SHIFTING HARD. ANOTHER THING IT SAYS SERVICE TIRE SENSOR AND SERVICE AIRBAG

NHTSA ID

11222933

Incident

May 26, 2019

Mileage

180,056 mi

AIRBAG OFF LIGHT STAYS ON

NHTSA ID

11220190

Incident

Feb 14, 2019

CARS PURCHASED ON OCTOBER 31ST 2018 THE CAR CAN I PASS INSPECTION WITH NO ONE TO DMV THEY GAVE US A CALL BACK SAYING THE CAR WAS TOTALED IN THE SALVAGE CAR DECLARED IN 2016 THE CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SOLD FOR $2,700 WHEN CONTACTED DEALER HE REFUSED TO GIVE US OUR MONEY AND HE SAID ONLY I CAN GET ANOTHER CAR IF I PAY YOUR CAR NOTES AT THIS TIME WOULD JUST LIKE FOR MY MONEY TO BE REFUNDED THE VEHICLE CANNOT PASS INSPECTION AND IS UNSAFE TO BE DRIVEN ON THE STREET I WOULD LIKE MY MONEY BACK HE'S PUTTING MY LIFE IN DANGER

NHTSA ID

11165073

Incident

Dec 29, 2018

DRIVING DOWNTOWN DES MOINES MY MESSAGE CENTER STARTED DINGING, THE MESSAGE OUTPUT WAS: "POWER STEERING" THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN MOVING ON ITS OWN BACK & FORTH, JERKING AND GRINDING. AT ONE POINT JERKED OUT OF MY HAND. IT BECAME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTINUE. I PULLED INTO A CONVIENCE STORE, BOUGHT POWER STEERING FLUID AND STARTED THE VEHICLE. THE STEERING SEEMED NORMAL. THE CAR WAS NOT LOW ON FLUIDS, I DIDN'T TRAVEL FAR BEFORE IT HAPPENED AGAIN. BY THE TIME I MADE IT HOME MY RIBS WERE HURTING FROM TRYING TO MANAUVER THE CAR HOME. THIS MALFUNCTION IS THE EPS SYSTEM AND RECALLS OF THE 2008 BEGAN IN 2014. MY VIN# WASN'T INCLUDED ON THE LIST. HOWEVER, MY CAR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. AT ONE POINT MY STEERING WHEEL JERKED SO HARD IT YANKED STEERING WHEEL AWAY FROM MY GRIP AND I CAME CLOSE TO HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THE ABOVE OCCASION, I WOULD BE STOPPED AT A SIGNAL LIGHT AND THE STEERING WHEEL GRINDED JERKED BACK AND FOURTH AND UNFETTERED.

NHTSA ID

11165414

Incident

Jan 3, 2019

Mileage

128,000 mi

MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AIRBAG ISSUES, I HAVE HAD MY HEADLIGHTS CHECKED THREE TIMES AND THEY KEEP GOING COMPLETELY OUT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE HEADLIGHTS THE STEERING IS ALWAYS SHAKY ITS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH MY CAR

NHTSA ID

11155549

Incident

Jun 15, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, IT WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. ALL OF THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL UPON IMPACT. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND A TEMPORARY LOSS OF ORIENTATION. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPAIRED THE VEHICLE BY RESETTING THE AIR BAG INDICATOR, AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT AND GEAR SHIFT ASSEMBLY WERE REPLACED. ED BOZARTH CHEVROLET (5501 DREXEL ROAD, LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 89130, (702) 967-5500) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE CRASH. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT REFERENCED SEVERAL OCCASIONS OF BECOMING LOCKED OUT AND LOCKED IN THE VEHICLE. ALSO, ON ONE OCCASION, THE TRANSMISSION BECAME STUCK IN THE REVERSE POSITION WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE CRASH AND OTHER FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11141505

Incident

Oct 8, 2011

RED AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON ALSO SERVICE AIR BAG MESSAGE IS ON. THIS IS ON WHILE STATIONARY AND WHILE MOVING. NO ISSUES TO THE VEHICLE THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS TO OCCUR.

NHTSA ID

11115581

Incident

Aug 3, 2018

Mileage

170,000 mi

PASSENGER AIR BAG ERROR MESSAGE THAT AIR BAG SENSOR DOES NOT WORK.

NHTSA ID

11113871

Incident

Dec 1, 2016

Mileage

85,000 mi

THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND IT SAYS TO BE SERVICED. SOMETIMES IT COMES ON AND IT CAN STAY OFF FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT CAN COME ON WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION AND THEN TURN OFF, SOMETIMES IT DOES STAY ON. MY VEHICLE IS GIVING A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR. I NOTICE IT BEING A STRONGER SMELL AFTER I STATION IT AFTER A DRIVE. I HAVE NOT SEEN A NOTICEABLE LEAK YET. I WILL HAVE A MECHANIC CHECK THAT FOR ME.

NHTSA ID

11006661

Incident

Jul 3, 2017

Mileage

120,602 mi

AIR BAR WARNING LIGHT AND TIRE SENSOR WARNING LITE BOTH CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG WAS FAULTY.

NHTSA ID

11001319

Incident

Jun 1, 2017

Mileage

69,600 mi

SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON

NHTSA ID

10981351

Incident

Apr 1, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG WAS DEPLOYING FROM THE DRIVER SEAT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT A SENSOR FAILED, BUT IT WAS NOT A CONCERN. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT OBSERVED A LEAK COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD GASKET FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, ONE MONTH LATER, THE CONTACT OBSERVED A LEAK AGAIN, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, AND AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE HEAD GASKET BEING PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED IMPROPERLY. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. ONE MONTH LATER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING WAS DONE IMPROPERLY AND NOT UP TO SAFETY STANDARDS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,723.

NHTSA ID

10981028

Incident

Dec 27, 2016

Mileage

93,723 mi

SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON TAKEN TO GARAGE SCANNED NO ERRORS RESET LIGHT BACK ON TAKEN BACK TO GARAGE SCANNED AGAIN NO ERROR CODE.THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE UP FOR A RECALL.

NHTSA ID

10946255

Incident

Dec 1, 2016

Mileage

37,000 mi

POWER LOCKS HAVE ONLY WORKED FOR FRONT DOORS FOR AS LONG AS IVE HAD THE CAR, ABOUT A YEAR..... OVER THE PAST MONTH - SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON SHORTLY AFTER STARTING THE CAR ONE DAY. A FEW WEEKS LATER, SERVICE ESC AND TRACTION CONTROL POPPED UP AFTER STARTING THE CAR. NOW MY POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT AND DOES NOT RESET UPON RESTARTING THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

10937527

Incident

Dec 27, 2016

Mileage

100,000 mi

A FEW WEEKS AGO MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HERE 2008 MALIBU AND SHE SMELLED A SLIGHT BURNING AND VERY STRONG CHEMICAL ODOR IN THE CAR, SHORTLY AFTER THAT THE SERVICE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. WINDOWS HAD TO BE OPENED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE 30 MINUTE TRIP. SOMETIME LATER MY WIFE REMOVED SOMETHING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND NOTICE A COLOR CHANGE TO CIRCULAR PALE YELLOW WITH A CENTRAL CHARRED MARK IN PART OF THE COVER MATERIAL, UPON TOUCHING SEAT COVER MATERIAL DISINTEGRATED AND DISAPPEARED INTO THE SEAT. A PICTURE IS ATTACHED OF THE PASSENGER SEAT. LATER I INVESTIGATED THE SERVICE LIGHT AND FOUND B0081 SYMPTOM 71 WAS SET. I BELIEVE THE SEAT SENSOR SHORTED OUT CAUSING THE SEAT COVER AND FOAM TO SMOLDER POSSIBLY ON ITS WAY TO AN OPEN FLAME BEFORE THE POWER SOURCE FAILED. THE VIN NUMBER [XXX]. A COPY OF THIS LETTER WILL ALSO BE SEND TO THE NHTSA. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10926926

Incident

Oct 27, 2016

Mileage

115,000 mi

FRONT END WAS WRECK, DAUGHTER LIP BUSTED , NO AIRBAG EXPLODE

NHTSA ID

10926720

Incident

Oct 17, 2016

Mileage

108,130 mi

TAKATA RECALL, THE VEHICLE CONSTANTLY DISPLAYS SERVICE AIR BAG SYSTEM AND WILL NOT ACTIVATE. DOESNT MATTER IF IN MOTION OR NOT THE WARNING GOES ON AND OFF AT RANDOM.

NHTSA ID

10926375

Incident

Jul 7, 2015

Mileage

80,000 mi

BOUGHT MY CAR 3 MONTHS AGO FROM A CHEVY DEALERSHIP, 3 DAYS LATER MY SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHTS CAME ON. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO GET IT FIXED, THEY SAID THAT MY AIRBAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY IF THIS LIGHT WAS ON. WHY SHOULD I PAY FOR A SAFETY FEATURE THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE PROBLEMS? ITS LIKE SELLING A CAR WITH A PASSENGER SEATBELT ONLY. I DO NOT FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR MY AIRBAGS TO BE WORKED ON. WITH ALL OF THE RECALLS FOR AIRBAGS I THINK THEY MISSED MY YEAR MAKE AND MODEL. ITS REDICULOUS

NHTSA ID

10908758

Incident

Jul 6, 2016

Mileage

58,000 mi

WENT I BOUGHT THE CAR HAD BEEN GIVE PROBLEM NOW THE CAR SMELL LIKE IS LEAKING GAS AND THE AIRBAG SYSTEM TURN ON MY FRONT WHEEL CRACK WENT I TURN RIGHT OR LEFT I TOOK TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THEY FIX THE PROBLEM BUT STILL DOES SAME THING THEY DON'T HELP ANYTHING MAKE ME WASTE MY TIME MY CAR I PEACE [XXX] I WANTED MY ALL MY MONEY BACK. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10846224

Incident

Jan 10, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

NHTSA ID

10807384

Incident

Nov 9, 2015

Mileage

113,000 mi

AN AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT SHOWS ON AND OFF ADVISING THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM NEEDS CHECKED.

NHTSA ID

10783841

Incident

Sep 6, 2015

Mileage

84,000 mi