2008 Chevrolet Malibu Other / unspecified Problems

UNKNOWN

NHTSA ID

11689400

Incident

Sep 18, 2025

The dash is displaying service power steering service tire monitor system service ESC and traction control. All of which have been recalled on other 2008 Chevy Malibus with different VIN numbers then mine. I feel my Malibu is unsafe and needs to be inspected and placed on the recall list as well. I am available to have the car inspected as soon as possible. The steering is popping and grinding when I turn. The steering wheel jerks when I drive over bumps and the car sways and swerves which makes it hard to control. This is a family vehicle my young child rides in the car daily and I worry about his safety due to the steering locking up like the other recalled Malibus. I am scared to drive it I feel like it is very unsafe. The vehicle has only been inspected by my Certified mechanic. There were warning lights displayed on the dash as I stated above. They've been since I bought the car at the beginning of February.

NHTSA ID

11453335

Incident

Feb 18, 2022

2013- APRIL, RUBBING NOISE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN FOR A FEW MONTHS THEN STEERING BECAME TOO HARD, BARELY MADE TO DEALERSHIP. STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY REPLACED ALONG WITH INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT PART NO. 25979679 AT 38,643 MILES. 2019-DECEMBER RUBBING NOISE AGAIN AND SLIGHT SHIFTING OF CAR TO LEFT PULLING INTO PARKING SPOT, LOWER U JOINT ON INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WITH TOO MUCH PLAY LEADS TO STEERING SHAFT BEING INSTALLED PART NO. 25979679 INSTALLED AT 72,712 MILES. 2020-FEBRUARY RUBBING NOISE STARTING AGAIN CAR WILL BE CHECKED OUT ON APRIL 18TH. THIS CAR HAS HAD NO HARD USE SUCH AS COMMUTING OR MULTIPLE LONG DISTANCE DRIVING.*DT

NHTSA ID

11321202

Incident

Apr 3, 2013

Mileage

38,643 mi

IF I DRIVE REAL FAST WHENEVER IT RAIN IT'LL SAY POWER STEERING SERVICE TRACTION OFF MY CAR WOULD SLID AS I PULL OFF FROM A COMPLETE STOP . IT'S HARD FOR MY CAR TO TURN AND IT'S TRIGGERING MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT .ON THE HIGHWAY WHEELS AND TIRES SHAKE

NHTSA ID

11279702

Incident

Nov 3, 2019

Mileage

20 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, ELECTRIC POWER STEERING, AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT FELT A STRONG VIBRATION COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE STEERING WHEEL FREQUENTLY SEIZED. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON TO RESET THE COMPUTER. IN ADDITION, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14E044000 (STEERING) AND 14V153000 (STEERING). THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME FAILURE AS LISTED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGNS. OCEAN CITY CHEVROLET (2366 OCEAN HWY W, SHALLOTTE, NC 28459, (910) 364-9917) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES, BUT DID NOT DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS TO PROVIDE FURTHER TECHNICAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES AND RECOMMENDATIONS. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE FAILURES NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER TO RECEIVE REPAIRS FROM AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES TO DETERMINE THEIR GUIDELINES TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11155886

Incident

Dec 4, 2018

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

AS I'M DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY GOING ABOUT 70 MPH I HEAR ABOUT 3 OR 4 DINGS GO OFF ALL AT ONE TIME. THE SERVICE ESC , ENGINE PWR REDUCED, SERVICE TRACTION, AND ESC OFF WARNINGS CAME ON MY 2008 CHEVY MALIBU LT DASH AS WELL AS THE TRACTION WARNING LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. MY CAR ALMOST INSTANTLY STARTING TO DECELERATE AT AN EXCEPTIONAL SPEED. I HAD TO "FLOOR IT" TO MAKE IT STOP AND THEN IT SLOWLY ACCELERATED. ONCE I GOT HOME I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE SAYING IT HAS TO DO WITH THE FUSE BOX OR THROTTLE BODY OR BOTH. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT AND I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF EXTRA MONEY RIGHT NOW SO I'M KINDA STUCK DRIVING IT LIKE THIS FOR AWHILE SINCE IT IS NOT UNDER ANY TYPE OF WARRANTY AND I HAVE TO GO TO WORK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10940075

Incident

Dec 27, 2016

Mileage

131,000 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. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ESC AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO REPAIRED THE VEHICLE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATE 01/15/16 MA

NHTSA ID

10789596

Incident

Mar 1, 2013

Mileage

50,000 mi

REAR DOOR LOCKS FAIL TO FUNCTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10676183

Incident

Oct 1, 2014

Mileage

35,000 mi

REGULAR HEADLIGHTS DO NOT WORK. THEY WERE GOING OFF THEN ON FOR AT LEAST 3 WEEKS. SHUTTING OFF ON THE FREEWAY 3 TIMES. FORCING ME TO USE MY HIGH BEAMS. PLEASE REVIEW YOUR RECALL TO INCLUDE MY 2008 ALSO. TIRE SENSOR PROBLEMS SINCE I GOT THE CAR. 3 YEARS AGO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10621333

Incident

Jul 18, 2014

MY 2008 CHEVY MALIBU 2LT IS EXPERIENCING ISSUES WHERE IT BASICALLY LOSES POWER TO THE ENGINE. THE CODE THAT CAME UP IS P2135 AND THE MESSAGES WERE SERVICE TRACTION/SERVICE ESC/ENGINE POWER REDUCED. ONCE THE ENGINE IS SHUT DOWN, IT WON'T START UNTIL THE CODES ARE CLEARED. MY HUSBAND & I WERE DRIVING AT 50MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR WOULDN'T LET US GO MORE THAN 20MPH AND WE WERE ALMOST HIT BY CARS BEHIND US AND BARELY HAD ENOUGH TIME TO GET OVER. I AM VERY UPSET ABOUT THIS ISSUE BECAUSE I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY CAR AND THERE WAS NO WARNING SIGN THAT SOMETHING WAS GOING WRONG PRIOR TO ALL OF THE MESSAGES COMING UP (ENGINE LIGHT ETC). *JS

NHTSA ID

10585695

Incident

Apr 26, 2014

Mileage

95,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING, THE CAR JUST STOPPED AND TURNED OFF, I COULD NOT SWITCH GEARS OR TAKE MY KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED AND I PAID $470.00 TO GAVE THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED, *TR

NHTSA ID

10577405

Incident

Jun 12, 2012

Mileage

58,341 mi

PASSENGER DOORS WILL NOT LOCK (OR UNLOCK ) WITH THE REMOTE OR MANUAL PUSH BUTTON SWITCH ON DRIVERS ARM REST. THE ONLY WAY TO LOCK (OR UNLOCK) REAR DOORS IS CRAWL OVER FRONT SEATS TO MANUALLY PULL UP LEVER ON BACK SIDE OF DOOR. OR.......USE THE ELECTRIC WINDOWS AND LOWER REAR WINDOWS TO REACH IN FROM OUTSIDE......WHICH ANYONE THAT LIVES IN A COLD CLIMATE KNOWS YOU DON'T LOWER AN ELECTRIC WINDOW IN COLD WEATHER.....HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY REFUSE TO COVER ANYTHING.....WHAT IF I HAVE MY GRANDSON STRAPPED IN A CAR SEAT IN THE BACK SEAT AND AN EMERGENCY ARISES ? HOW DO I "QUICKLY" GET HIM OUT??? THIS IS A VERY COMMON SITUATION WITH THE CHEV. MALIBUS. PLUS THERE ARE NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THE FRONT END AND STEERING COMPONENTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10563485

Incident

May 15, 2012

Mileage

38,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ALSO ILLUMINATED EVEN THOUGH HE WAS NOT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 08/15/13*LJ

NHTSA ID

10523233

Incident

Nov 11, 2011

Mileage

37,000 mi

KEY FOB DOES NOT UNLOCK OR LOCK THE FRONT AND BACK DOORS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. IF SOMEONE IS IN THE BACK SEAT THE DRIVER CAN NOT GET THEM OUT AS THE DOOR LOCK WILL NOT OPEN WITH THE FOB. WHEN THE CAR IS PUT IN DRIVE THE DRIVERS DOOR DOES NOT LOCK, SO IT IS ASSUMMED THAT YOU ARE SAFELY LOCKED IN THE CAR, BUT THE DOOR NEEDS TO BE LOCKED MANUALLY AFTER IN THE CAR IS PUT IN DRIVE. WHEN LOCKED MANUALLY WHEN IN CAR, WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN AUTOMATICALLY AND HAS TO BE MANUALLY OPENED BY PULLING THE LOCK ON DOOR UP ON THE DRIVER DOOR AND THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR. WHEN TRYING TO USE THE REMOTE TO LOCK THE DOORS, THE FRONT AND BACK DOORS DO NOT LOCK UNLESS DONE MANUALLY. WHEN THE FOB IS USED TO UNLOCK THE DOORS AS I TRY TO GET INTO THE CAR THE FOB DOES NOT WORK AND I HAVE TO MANUALLY WITH THE KEY UNLOCK THE DOOR. WHEN TRYING TO REMOTE START THE CAR THE REMOTE START DOES NOT WORK, AS THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND BACK DOOR WILL NOT LOCK, SO REMOTE START DOES NOT WORK. I HAD AN INCIDENT WITH THE BACK DOOR WHEN I NEEDED TO GET AN INDIVIDUAL OUT OF THE BACK SEAT QUICKLY AND IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE. I HAD TO RUN TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CAR AND GET THE INDIVIDUAL OUT BY PULLING THEM TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CAR. WHEN I AM APPROACHING MY CAR IN AN AREA THAT I FEEL UNSAFE IN, SUCH AS A GARAGE, I AM NOT ABLE TO OPEN MY CAR DOOR WITH THE FOB AND HAVE TO AGAIN USE THE KEY. AGAIN THEN WHEN I GET IN THE CAR I AM UNSAFE AS THE DOOR DOES NOT LOCK, FRONT OR BACK IF NOT LOCKED MANUALLY. I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY NOT BEING ABLE TO GET SOMEONE OUT OF THE BACK SEAT OR ME OUT OF THE FRONT SHOULD I ENCOUNTER AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, OR IF I AM IN AN ACCIDENT, OR IF FOR ANY REASON I HAVE A FIRE IN THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10498167

Incident

Jul 20, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ADDITIONALLY, THE SERVICE TRACTION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE SENSOR IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL SENSORS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10493085

Incident

Jun 15, 2012

Mileage

100,000 mi

DRIVERSIDE REAR PASSENGER DOOR AND FRONT PASSENGER DOOR UNLOCKS NOT WORKING, OR WORK INTERMITTENTLY. HAVE MANUALLY LOCK/UNLOCK BOTH DOORS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10406064

Incident

Sep 26, 2010

Mileage

46,143 mi

THE POWER STEERING IN THE VEHICLE JUMPS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT GOING DOWN THE ROAD. IT IS VERY HARD TO MAINTAIN YOUR LANE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT HAPPENS AT ALL DIFFERENT POINTS WHETHER THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING OR JUST STARTED, IT CAN LAST UP TO 30 MIN. QUIT THEN START AGAIN IT IS VERY UNSAFE. MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS ALSO GONE OUT IN THIS CAR. IT LOOSES TRANSMISSION POWER, DOESN'T ACCELERATE PROMPTLY. WHEN WE FIRST GOT THE CAR WE HAD IT IN THE SHOP FOR THE BACK TRIM LEAKING, TRUNK RELEASE NOT WORKING, THE CAR WOULDN'T START DO TO THE AFTERMARKET ALARM THE DEALER SHIP PLACED ON IT, AND THE PAINT PEELED. NO I AM HAVING MAJOR ISSUES AND IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CHEVY. THIS WAS THE WORST MISTAKE EVER AND THOSE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10380862

Incident

Feb 2, 2011

Mileage

85,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEEL WELL BROKE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RIM AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD SEND TO THE MANUFACTURER TO SEE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE AND WHETHER IT WAS COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE 17 INCH RIM. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 41000.

NHTSA ID

10359402

Incident

Sep 28, 2010

Mileage

41,000 mi

THE VEHICLE JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING. THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS REPLACED WITHIN 2 WEEKS OF THE PURCHASE THEN ANOTHER PROBLEM OCCURRED AND ANOTHER PART WAS REPLACED. BUT NOW ONE MONTH LATER THE STEERING WHEEL STARTS TO JERK AND WIGGLE WHILE I AM DRIVING OR EVEN WHEN I TURN THE CAR OFF. THEN 2 DAYS AGO THE POWERSTEERING ALERT KEEPS COMING ON. ALLOW SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR THE TRACTION LIGHT WILL COME ON AND SOMETIMES I AM JUST SEATING AT A RED LIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10358931

Incident

Sep 20, 2010

Mileage

37,000 mi

WIRE BURN IN CAR AND IT IS SMELLS LIKE SMOKE AND MY CAR HAD A LEAKY ROOF AND GM REFUSE TO EXCHANGE IT AND IT ALSO GOES IT JERKS INTO GEAR. AND LAST WEEK WHEN I TRIED TO MISS A TIRE IN ROAD I ALMOST GOT KILLED CAR ALMOST TURNED OVER

NHTSA ID

10322458

Incident

Feb 4, 2010

I HAVE A 2008 CHEVY MALIBU THAT HAS SOME STEERING ISSUES. THE STEERING WHEEL WILL JERK BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVING OR WHILE SITTING STILL, STEERING WHEEL MAKES A POPPING NOISE WHEN TURNING. 2 OF THE 4 DOOR LOCKS COMPLETELY QUIT WORKING ELECTRONICALLY. SO MANY MORE PROBLEMS, THIS CAR IS A LEMON AND GM AND THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE ASHAMED FOR MAKING THIS VEHICLE CAR OF THE YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10317688

Incident

Jul 18, 2009

Mileage

45,000 mi

MY 2008 CHEVY MALIBU HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS STARTING WITH RIM BENT, LEAKY ROOF, WET FLOOR, BURNT WIRE UNABLE TO START CAR. *TR THE LEFT REAR DOOR LOCK WAS INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR AND THE SUN ROOF DRAIN WAS CLOGGED. UPDATED 05/12/10. *JB

NHTSA ID

10310121

Incident

Feb 4, 2010

Mileage

250 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE A TIRE, THE JACK FAILED, AND THEN CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO MOVE. AS A CONSEQUENCE HIS RISK FOR SERIOUS INJURY WAS INCREASED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. UPON CONTACT A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE VEHICLE ROLLED BECAUSE THE WHEELS WERE NOT BLOCKED; ALTHOUGH THE EMERGENCY BREAK WAS ENGAGED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10284911

Incident

Jul 21, 2009