2008 Chevrolet Malibu Engine Problems

The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, it failed to start up. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed DTC: P0016 was retrieved. The contact was informed that the camshaft position correlator and crankshaft and intake were not aligned and needed to be realigned. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 965,162.

NHTSA ID

11733969

Incident

Apr 20, 2026

Mileage

965,162 mi

When I walk up to my car all I smell is gas and my gas tank doesn’t last as long as it should the first half of my tank is gone within 2-4 hours the second half last a couple days . I just had a child and I wanna make sure I can get these things fixed . I just purchased this car like 3 months ago from a dealership .. he’s been giving me the run around so I’m trying to see what I can do

NHTSA ID

11550328

Incident

Jul 9, 2023

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.

NHTSA ID

11476760

Incident

Jul 21, 2022

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.

NHTSA ID

11452980

Incident

Feb 19, 2022

The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at 25-30 MPH, the steering wheel locked. The check engine warning light and the ABS warning light illuminated. The contact shifted into neutral and manually steered the vehicle to a nearby independent mechanic. The independent mechanic diagnosed that the steering wheel and alignment had failed. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred increasingly while reversing. The contact notified the independent mechanic of the failure and he advised her to drive the vehicle for about 15 miles and the steering wheel would loosen up. The contact drove the vehicle; however, the failure persisted. The independent mechanic referred the contact to the dealer for the steering repair under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V153000 (Steering). The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the electric power steering and the torque sensor needed to be replaced. The dealer also informed the contact that she would be responsible for the cost of the repair as the recall repair for NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V153000 (Steering) had already been completed in 2014. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that they could not assist as recalls are repaired one time free of charge and additional related failures would be repaired at her expense. A case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

NHTSA ID

11452192

Incident

Feb 7, 2022

Mileage

180,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11427723

Incident

Apr 1, 2021

Mileage

140,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11373762

Incident

Jan 1, 2017

Mileage

50,000 mi

MY CAR'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON AND FLASHING FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS. I HAVE HAD MY CAR REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES BY AUTOBODY SHOPS. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST HAVE NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE TODAY. MY CAR IS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THE RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED LAST YEAR. I HIT A DEER AND ACCORDING TO THE REPAIR SHOP I ONLY HAD BODY DAMAGE. SIX MONTHS LATER THEY ARE TELLING ME I NEED TO REPLACE MY ENGINE. I HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKES ON THIS CAR MORE THAN SEVEN TIMES. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THE ROTORS REPLACED. THEN EVERY FOUR MONTHS I HAVE TO GET MY TIRES REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

11323030

Incident

May 2, 2020

Mileage

260,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL WOBBLES AND WHEN AT A STOP LIGHT THE VEHICLE STALLED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS BULB WAS REPLACED ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTION THE REAR SIGNAL INSIDE THE VEHICLE WOULD CLICK VERY FAST AND THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT STAYED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS DIAGNOSED BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 136,006.

NHTSA ID

11311142

Incident

Dec 1, 2017

Mileage

136,006 mi

AT 97000 MILES, FOLLOWING ALL SERVICE AND OIL CHANGES, ENGINE BLEW OUT. IT SHEARED OFF HEAD BOLTS, BROKE THE TIMING CHAIN, LARGE AMOUNTS OF METAL BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER THE OIL FILTER. I HAVE TALKED TO MANY MECHANICS, AS WELL HAVE TALKED TO NUMEROUS PEOPLE THAT OWN THESE VEHICLES. THEY ALL SAY THE SAME THING. THERE IS SOMETHING GOING ON WITH THE BUILD OF THESE ENGINES THAT IS CAUSING FAILURE. CAR WAS STATIONARY AFTER A 45 MINUTE DRIVE. THE NEXT DAY THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM TURNING THE KEY. CHEVY HAS BEEN GETTING AWAY WITH THESE TYPE OF ENGINE PROBLEMS FOR YEARS AND I BELIEVE SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE IN THEIR QUALITY CONTROL DEPARTMENT. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON THIS SHOULD HAPPEN WITH SUCH LOW MILES, LET ALONE ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLE.S.

NHTSA ID

11296898

Incident

Nov 24, 2019

Mileage

97,000 mi

ESC WARNING LIGHT, SERVICE ESC, ESC OFF, SERVICE TRACTION, TRACTION OFF LIGHTS ARE CONTINUOUSLY COMING ON WHEN DRIVING, FRONT END SHUDDERS/SHAKES WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND I LOSE SPEED.

NHTSA ID

11291342

Incident

Nov 1, 2019

Mileage

138,000 mi

(ESC) TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM NEEDS REPAIRS COMES ON CAUSING THE CAR TO REDUCE ENGINE POWER IMMEDIATELY. NO MATTER HOW FAST YOU ARE DRIVING. I WAS LUCKY WAS GOING AROUND A CURVE ON A HWY AND HIT A SMALL BUMB IN IN ROAD WHEN IT HAPPENED TO ME. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP FOR THEM TO FIX THEY COMB THROUGH THE CAR THEY SAID AFTER RESETTING ESC THEY COULD NOT REPEAT ESC CODE AGAIN, BUT TOLD ME IF IT KEEPS HAPPENING JUST BRING BACK. LUCKILY THEY DIDN'T CHARGE ME THIS VISIT BUT WAS SECOND TIME TO TAKE TO THEM. FIRST TIME THEY SAID IT WAS SOME OTHER SENSORS AND CHANGED THEM WHICH DIDN'T FIX PROBLEM. THEY SAID I HAD RODENT DAMAGE BUT NOT ENOUGH TO CUT INTO THE WIRES TO CAUSE THE PROBLEM. THEY SEEMED CLUELESS AS TO WHY IT DOES THIS. I READ OTHER PEOPLE'S FORMS ON THERE CHEVY CARS AND IT'S NOT JUST MY MAILBU. I WAS TOLD PRETTY MUCH DON'T TRUST FOR A TWO TRIP I HAD PLANNED. THEY TAPED UP SOME OF MY WIRES AND HOPED IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN, BUT I BELIEVE THIS WILL BE THE START TO A LARGER PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11277016

Incident

Oct 19, 2019

Mileage

131,500 mi

2008 CHEVY MALIBU ENGINE SHUT OFF IN MID DRIVE ON CITY HIGHWAY DURING HIGH TRAFFIC. MY WIFE AND CHILDREN WERE IN THE VEHICLE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS DISPLAYED AND CONTINUE TO CODE P0365/6. HOWEVER THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSORS, THE CAMSHAFT POSITION ACTUATORS, THE ALTENATOR AND THE BATTERY HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED. THE ISSUE HAS UPSET ME DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT IS IN LINE WITH 2 KNOWN CONCERNS AND REPORTS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ANSWERED BY CHEVY OR GM. 1) DISCUSSION OF BATTERY CABLES BEING THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM (UNANSWERED) 2) GM IGNITION SWITCH RECALL FEB 2014 (WHICH SEEMS TO BE VERY IN LINE WITH THIS ISSUE). I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND OFCOURSE PAID FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TO BE TOLD "COULD NOT DUPLICATE". IT IS VERY CONCERNING TO ME AND HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT THESE SYMPTOMS HAVE BEEN REPORTED AND NO ONE KNOWS WHAT COULD BE THE SOURCE. I WAS ABLE TO FIND FORUMS AND REPORTS ON BOTH THE BATTERY CABLES AND THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILURES. THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE WERE SUPPOSEDLY ONLY ISSUES FOR SPECIFIC VEHICLES HOWEVER THE SYMPTOMS WITHIN THE RECORDED MALIBU COMMUNITY ARE TOTALLY IN LINE WITH THE SAME FROM THAT RECALL. WE NOW ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION STRUGGLING TO TURNOVER. THIS IS HIGHLY UNSAFE, FINANCIALLY BURDENING AND STRESSFUL ON THE FAMILIES WHO ARE CURRENTLY DEALING WITH THESE CONCERNS WITH NO ANSWER OR RESPONSE IN SIGHT. REQUESTING ASSISTANCE.

NHTSA ID

11254195

Incident

Sep 5, 2019

Mileage

70,000 mi

IGNITION SWITCH (RELATED TO THE KEY) FAILS INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING VEHICLE TO EITHER NOT START OR QUIT RUNNING WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11220365

Incident

Feb 1, 2019

Mileage

170,000 mi

MY BCM I HAS TERRIBLE WIRING CONNECTION AND THE WAY I BOUGHT IT SOMEONE RAN A NEW WIRE TO THE THIRD COIL BECAUSE THE BAD CONNECT IS CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO TURN ON AND IS SHORTING OUT ALL MY EMISSIONS PARTS SUCH AS MAF SENSOR, O2S, EVAP PURGE SOLENOID AND MY CAR IS RUNNING LIKE CRAP AND A MECHANIC SAID HE HAS HAD THIS HAPPEN BEFORE ON THE SAME VECHILE AS MINE

NHTSA ID

11191547

Incident

Oct 28, 2018

Mileage

120,000 mi

ENGINE POWER FAILURE AND TRACTION CONTROL TURNS OFF, THE CARS POWER IMMEDIATELY REDUCES POWER AND SPEED WITHOUT NOTICE, CAR STALLS OUT. IT IS VERY RANDOM WITHOUT WARNING/NOTICE; QUITE DANGEROUS- IF THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND TURNED BACK ON IT RETURNS TO NORMAL ONLY FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.

NHTSA ID

11173584

Incident

Feb 1, 2019

TAKATA RECALL: TIMING CHAIN AND CRANKSHAFT ISSUE. CAR STARTED TO LOSE SPEED ALL OF A SUDDEN AND THE NEXT DAY I WENT TO START THE CAR, IT WOULDN'T START AT ALL. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO FIND OUT THAT MY TIMING CHAIN IS LOSE AND CRANKSHAFT SENSOR PIECE WAS MISSING OR BROKEN

NHTSA ID

11166596

Incident

Oct 29, 2018

Mileage

130,000 mi

2008 CHEVY MALIBU LIGHTS WILL COME ON BUT ENGINE WON'T CRANK. WE WHERE IN THE HIGHWAY AND TRYING TO JUMP A CAR AND IT JUST TURNED OFF AND WON'T START AT ALL.

NHTSA ID

11165363

Incident

Dec 31, 2018

Mileage

140,000 mi

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS LEAKING BAD, LOSS OF STEERING AT LOW SPEEDS CAUSING FOR MANUEL STRENGTH AND TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T CHANGE GEARS AT 85,000 MILES WITHIN THE 1ST I PURCHASED THE CAR

NHTSA ID

11164333

Incident

Nov 25, 2015

Mileage

1 mi

ENGINE BROKE DOWN 2 WEEKS LATER THEY SAID WE WILL GIVE YOU WARRANTY AND WHEN I REFILL GAS THE FUEL SENSOR DOESN'T REACH FULL TANK AND STEERING LOST ITS GRIP THE SAME WEEK OF PURCHASE

NHTSA ID

11122008

Incident

Nov 18, 2017

TAKATA RECALL, MY 08 MALIBU WILL NOT START AFTER DRIVING NO MATTER HOW LONG. I'VE BEEN STRANDED MULTIPLE TIMES. I BOUGHT A NEW STARTER, RELAY SWITCH, IGNITION, SWITCH, AND PAID FOR MULTIPLE DIAGNOSTIC TESTS. EVERY MECHANIC SENDS ME TO THE DEALER SHIP AND SAYS THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM BUT BELIEVE IT'S THE ECM. I'M TAKING IT TO THE DEALER TODAY AND PRAYING THIS DOESN'T COST ME ANOTHER CAR!

NHTSA ID

11119309

Incident

Aug 1, 2018

Mileage

115,000 mi

FUEL TANK LEAKING SEEN SEVERAL CHEVYS WHERE RECALLED BUT MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDING UNABLE TO DRIVE CARE AS DANGEROUS FUEL LEAK

NHTSA ID

11084568

Incident

Feb 22, 2018

2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE POWER REDUCED AND TRACTION CONTROL MESSAGE LIGHT ISSUES. *SMD *CN

NHTSA ID

10692466

Incident

Feb 18, 2015

CAR STATES ENGINE POWER REDUCE ON MY CAR, WILL BE DRIVING AND THE CODES WILL COME ON, SPEED REDUCED, TRACTION TURNED OFF, ACCELERATION IS SLOW. NO WARNING THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN, CAN HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING HIGH SPEEDS OR REGULARS SPEEDS. HAS HAPPENED OR CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAY. IF YOU FIX ONE THING CODE SOME BACK SAYING IT'S ANOTHER THING. DON'T FEEL SAFE IN DRIVING THE CAR, NEVER KNOW WHEN THIS MODE WILL COME ON.

NHTSA ID

11052926

Incident

Nov 22, 2017

Mileage

10,800 mi

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