Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 231 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 231, in the owner's own words
Randomly when I press the brakes the brake lights don't turn on. Other times they work fine. All of the light bulbs are good. All three brake light don't turn on randomly. I have almost been rear-ended on numerous occasions.no dash lights came on. And I have not had it inspected yet just my girlfriend pushing the brake pedal to test the lights. One day they work another they don't then another day they work again.
UNKNOWN
The power steering consistently locks up. It may or may not reset itself if you turn the car off and back on. It’s very dangerous. It’s hard to drive . It definitely licks up if it’s cold outside or if you hit a pothole.
The electrical power steering every time it’s driven so often, car is used for school yes the vehicle was inspected by several mechanics the vehicle was like this when i brought it in september of 2022 i was told by chevrolet that my vin is not accepted in the recall which i don’t understand how if it’s the same car and same issue that the recall entails, i replaced the rack and pinion but it didn’t fix the eps sometimes when turning the car on the steering wheel is locked as in it cannot be moved/turned either way and other times it’s extremely hard to turn. the steering wheel will become extremely hard to turn at random times while driving at any speed and while stalled. when it locks while stalled a grinding noise can be heard
UNKNOWN - Steering is too tight and unable make turns without using force - occurs always
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the gear shifter could be moved without depressing the brake pedal. The contact then stated that the vehicle had failed to start up after several attempts with the traction control and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the gear shift indicator lights failed to illuminate as needed. The vehicle was initially towed to the dealer and was given a diagnostic fee; the vehicle was later towed back to the residence without a diagnostic test being performed. The contact stated that the front headlights and the horn failed to operate after replacing the battery. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V224000 (Power Train). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 245,000.
Interior electrical system right left passenger door will not lock, front speakers stop working and signal handle does not work will not turn on when engaged handle to turn left or right. Temperature gages stop working dial stays on C.. causing air conditioner to blow out warm air never get cool.
The steering assist system abruptly stopped allowing the front wheels of the vehicle to be turned to the right while the vehicle was being driven causing me to crash into a ditch and on into a field and caused myself minor injuries..
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated he was unable to start the vehicle, and the security lock warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while his partner was driving approximately 30 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the brake lights failed to activate or respond as designed. The contact confirmed that at night when the brake pedal was depressed, the brake lights failed to illuminate; however, when the brake pedal was released the brake lights illuminated. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed. The mechanic determined that the brake light switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the brake light failure recurred. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V252000 (Electrical System, Exterior Lighting, Vehicle Speed Control, Electronic Stability Control). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and had informed the contact that NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V252000 (Electrical System, Exterior Lighting, Vehicle Speed Control, Electronic Stability Control) had been repaired in December of 2014. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.
Brake lights automatically come on when you don't touch the brakes and go off when you do. GM has had at least 2 recalls on this problem which this vehicle has gone through and now at 177,000 miles there was a 3 recall which GM won't honor due to high mileage. If it was unsafe at 150,000 miles why is it not unsafe now? We've had it fixed on our own which cost $200.00 and lasted all of 5-6 months.
The car starts to violently shake and the the engine service light starts to flash. The ABS light stays on and the car runes terribly. The system says a spark plug coil has burned out. Locate the ba coil and replace it, car runs great until another coil burns out and the process starts over again. During each occurance the steering is affected by pulling hard to one side or the other when the brake is applied.
I have had trouble with my 2008 Chevy Malibu LS for the last 6 years I did not know that there was a recall on it back in 2008 I called GM I spoke to Chevrolet service representative and she said that it was repaired in 2008 this is what year my car was made so it is impossible for it to be prepared I asked her for where she gave me two the beginning of a name and then she changed her mind and said they are no information or when or where it was repaired this car has had a previous owner and this car stutters and jerks I cannot drive it it needs to be fixed and repaired I have wasted money before I found out this recall she said the recall was closed in 2014 I asked to speak to someone else and she would not give me a number or a name and said that she was the only person who could talk to the manager so I need help with this situation because I have two small grandchildren one seven and one six months and I cannot drive this car knowing if it will stop on the side of the road or middle of the lane
Power steering shuts off, traction control shuts off.
Automatic power steering randomly goes out while driving, posing serious safety risks. Steering wheel locks up and message reads “Power Steering Service ESC”
I was driving down hwy 79 and all of a sudden my car traxtion control light, service ESC,service traction, and,engine reduce power and check engine light came on.
Intermittent issue with symptoms that reflect the conditions documented in GM Recall Bulletin 13063D. GM states that this repair has already been completed however the condition is being experienced in this vehicle. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Campaign ID Number for this recall is 14V252
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that the anti-theft lock warning light was blinking. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted or informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
THE MAIN CONCER I HAVE IS (1)WHILE DRIVING AND CAR IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET, THE CAR ACCERLERATED ON IT'S OWN. ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAS HAPPEN SEVERAL MORE TIMES SINCE. (2)THE CAR BEGINS TO SLOW DOWN. I CANNOT DRIVE MORE THE 10 MILE PER HOUR, THE RPM GAGE GOES HIGH BUT THE CAR DOES NOT. (3)ALSO, THE CAR ABS LIGHT COMES ON WITH NORMAL DRIVING IN THE CITY, UNKNOWN CAUSE. (4)THE CAR SEEMS TO HAVE ELECTRICAL ISSUES, I'VE CHANGED HEAD LIGHTS TWICE, HORN FUSES BLOWN MULTIPLE TIMES, THE AIR CONDITIONER HAS GONE OFF 3X NOW, AND ON THE HEAT/AIR CONTROL PANEL MAKES A CLOCKNG NOISE, EVEN IF I WANT TO USE THE WIPERS.
I AM EXPERIENCING THE EXACT ISSUES DETAILED IN THE RECALL FOR THE LATER CHEVY MALIBU MODELS, ALTHOUGH BEING A 2008, MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED. THE 'SERVICE ESC', 'ESC OFF', CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT, AND TRACTION LIGHTS STAY ON. WITH THESE ON, I CANNOT ACCELERATE PAST 20MPH. IT HAS BEEN AN OFF AND ON PROBLEM FOR THE 2.5 YEARS I'VE HAD THE VEHICLE AND DESPITE TAKING IT IN SEVERAL TIMES TO BE WORKED ON, THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION EVERY TIME THESE WARNINGS HAVE COME ON.
ON 3/15/21 MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER2008 MALIBU DOWN 787 INTERSTATE WHEN TAX STARTED GOING UP AN DOWN ENGINE RAISING FOR NO REASON ALSO THAT SAME MONTH WHEN YOU TURN SHARP TO GO INTO A TURN STEERING HAD MIND OF ITS OWN AN YOU CAN HERE A LOT OF RATTLING UP UNDER DASH ON DRIVERS SIDE.
POWER STEERING FAILURE HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. GET MESSAGE ON DASH OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERING LOSS AND THAT MOMENT IT'S HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. I SEE YOU HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS BUT IVE NEVER RECEIVED THIS REPAIR. THE RECALL NUMBER I HAVE IS N140115.
I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE 3 WEEKS AGO AND FOR THE PAST WEEK IT WON'T START. POWER TO EVERYTHING BUT NO CRANK. I TOOK OUT BATTERY AND STARTER AND THEY'RE BOTH FINE. ALL RELAYS AND FUSES ARE FINE. I TOOK OUT ALL FUSES UNDER HOOD AND CAR STARTED FINE. MADE IT 5 MINUTES UP THE ROAD, MY CAR STARTED SHAKING BADLY,THE POWER STEERING APPEARED ON DASH, SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING, RPMS WORKED, AND CAR WOULDN'T SHIFT OUT OF 1ST. THAT IS DANGEROUS AND MY VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR EPS BUT NO ONE WILL HELP ME AND THIS HAS BEEN A RE OCCURRING ISSUE WITH CHEVY MALIBUS IN GENERAL. I HAD TO TURN AROUND AND JUST COAST THE WHOLE WAY HOME THEN MY CAR LOCKED AND WOULDN'T LET ME TAKE IT OUT OF PARK WHEN I GOT HOME.
I WAS DRIVING THE CAR WAS PERFECTLY FINE I ONLY HAD IT FOR 4 MONTHS IT'S ONLY HAD TWO OWNERS ME AND ONE OTHER PERSON AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE POWER STEERING JUST WENT IT IMMEDIATELY STOPPED WORKING THE GAUGES ARE BOBBIN UP AND DOWN IT'S TELLING ME TO SERVICE ESC SOMETIMES EVEN THE CAR WON'T START RIGHT AWAY THE LIGHTS ON THE GEAR STICK WON'T TURN ON RIGHT AWAY THE ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON THE TRACTION CONTROL TURNS OFF IT'S TELLING ME POWER STEERING SERVICE TIRE MONITOR EVEN THOUGH THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH IT I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON THIS CAR BRANDS LIKE BRAND NEW AT FIRST AND THEN WITHIN A MONTH OF DRIVING IT IT IMMEDIATELY JUST STARTED CRASHING AND THAT'S WHEN I READ THAT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF RECALLS ON THIS MODEL EVERYTHING'S ELECTRICAL THERE'S NO POWER STEERING FLUID NOTHING LIKE THAT SOMETIMES WHEN THE GEARS ARE CHANGING THEY STICK AND IT MAKES BUFFERING SOUNDS NOW IT'S STARTING TO SPUTTER AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S GOING ON THIS IS DANGEROUS HAVING TO STOP AND RESTART THE CAR SOMETIMES JUST TO GET THE COMPUTER TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE SYSTEM IS FINE EVERY TIME I CALL GM AND I TELL THEM THAT THIS CAR WAS NEVER SERVICED WHEN THE RECALLS FIRST HAPPENED THEY AUTOMATICALLY REJECT ME I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO AS I SAID THIS CAR IS BASICALLY BRAND-NEW IT'S ONLY HAD TWO OWNERS ME AND ONE OTHER PERSON IT NEVER WAS BROUGHT IN WHEN THE FIRST RECALL WAS ACKNOWLEDGED SO THIS IS STILL HAS ALL THE ORIGINAL PARTS IN IT IS THERE NO ONE AROUND THAT CAN HELP ME?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS FAILED TO LOCK. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL GRINDING SOUND DETECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE LOCAL DEALER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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