2008 Chevrolet Malibu Suspension Problems

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

DISPLAYS, ESC OFF, TRACTION CONTROL SERVICE, AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED. AND WHEN ACCELERATING IT DOESN'T REALLY MOVE . IT TAKES A WHILE TO GET SPEED UP. AND I WAS ALMOST RUN OVER BY A TRACTOR TRAILER. THIS JUST STARTED ALL OF A SUDDEN. AND I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR ABOUT A YEAR. IT IS STATED THAT THE MALIBU HAS RECALLS.

NHTSA ID

10846469

Incident

Jan 8, 2016

Mileage

127,000 mi

MALIBU PASSED THE INSPECTION STICK AT HERB CONNOLLY WHERE I BOUGHT AND AFTER PICK UP THE CAR FOR FIRST TIME SINCE DEPOSIT. I DROVE HOME AND NOTICED CLINK SOMEWHERE IN THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM. I BROUGHT IT TO MY OWN MECHANIC AND MECHANIC FOUND THE PROBLEM-INNER TIE ROD. I AM SURPRISED BECAUSE IT SHOULD BE FAIL THE INSPECTION STICK, PERIOD. MALIBU'S WARRANTY UNDER HERB CONNOLLY AS SAME PLACE WHERE THE INSPECTION STICK. I NEED YOUR ADVISE ON AS HOW TO HANDLE WITH THIS SITUATION WITH HERB CONNOLLY AND TELL THEM THAT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR COVER REPAIR COST.

NHTSA ID

10821883

Incident

Jan 19, 2016

WHILE DRIVING ON CITY ROADS OR 65-70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES. AS OF NOW IT'S A "MILD" SHAKE (BUT IT SEEMS AS IF ITS GETTING "SHAKER" AS THE DAYS GO BY. IM NOT SURE IF THERE AN ALIGNMENT NEEDED. I HAD A NEW TIRE PUT ON (PASSENGER BACK TIRE) APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS AGO HAD TIRES ROTATED BACK IN JULY 2014? *TR

NHTSA ID

10667322

Incident

Dec 17, 2014

Mileage

104,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE U JOINT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

NHTSA ID

10661455

Incident

Jun 12, 2014

Mileage

104,000 mi

FRONT SUSPENSION STARTED TO MAKE A LOT OF NOISE. FRONT PRO-STEER SWAY BAR & F STABILIZER WAS IDENTIFIED CAUSING THE PROBLEM. ALSO DEFAULTED PART IS THE CONTROL ARM W/BALL JOINT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10576200

Incident

Jan 10, 2014

Mileage

94,000 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. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE CONTACT NOTICED A CLUNKING NOISE AND A JERKING MOTION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. WHILE PARKED, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD MOVE INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING THREE TIMES. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000. UPDATED 11/01/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE SIDE. UPDATED 11/01/12

NHTSA ID

10476970

Incident

Jun 15, 2012

Mileage

69,000 mi

I HAVE A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU 2LT WITH 111,000 KM ON IT. I HAVE BEEN NOTICING A FEW THINGS SINCE I PURCHASED THIS FROM BRAND NEW. OVERALL MY CAR HAS BEEN OK WITH GETTING ME FROM PLACE A TO PLACE B. THE ISSUES I HAVE HAD THAT ARE PRETTY SERIOUS FLAWS ARE THE POWER STEERING COLUMN, THE ALIGNMENT, THE AUTOMATIC POWER TRANSMISSION, AND THE DOOR LOCKS. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET BY HOWEVER RECENTLY I HAD TO GET THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED UNDER A SPECIAL WARRANTY POLICY. I HAD TO "KICK AND SCREAM" HOWEVER IN THE END THE PART WAS INSTALLED. THAT WOULD HAVE COST ME ABOUT 900 DOLLARS IF IT WAS NOT COVERED. NOW I AM HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" INDICATOR. THIS CAME ON FOR THE FIRST TIME YESTERDAY AND WHEN I CALLED TO GET A DIAGNOSTIC I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE POWER TRANSMISSION. IT SEEMS AFTER LOOKING ON-LINE THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME CARE AS MINE HAVING ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION. NOW I AM GETTING NERVOUS SINCE I JUST PAID 13,000 TO BUY OUT MY LEASE. I HAVE CALLED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WILL WORK WITH ME AND THE DEALERSHIP TO GET THIS FIXED. BEFORE I GO TO THE DEALERSHIP I WANT TO HAVE ALL MY DOCUMENTATION THAT INDICATES THAT THIS IS A SPECIAL POLICY ISSUE AND NOT SOMETHING THAT I HAVE TO PAY FOR OUT OF MY OWN WALLET. I HAVE PUT ABOUT 38,000 INTO THE PURCHASE OF THIS CAR AND DO NOT HAVE ANY MORE ROOM TO DUMP TONS OF MONEY TO GETTING THIS FIXED ESPECIALLY WHEN OTHER GM CUSTOMERS HAVE PAID OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKET TO REALIZE A FEW WEEKS LATER THAT THERE IS ANOTHER ISSUE ON THE TRANSMISSION THAT NEEDS FIXING. I AM GOING TO DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO HAVE THIS COVERED BY GM. I HAVE BEEN A PROUD GM OWNER ALL MY DRIVING LIFE AND WANT TO MAKE THIS RIGHT. I DREAD NEEDING TO FIX THE CAR AND SELLING IT. THAT IS NOT AN OPTION FOR ME AT THIS TIME. ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10459760

Incident

May 26, 2012

Mileage

68,000 mi

LETTER FROM SENATOR BROWN ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE CONCERNS ABOUT 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU (RESPOND TO CLEVELAND OFFICE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES AND FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY WERE REPLACED. ALSO, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE HEADLIGHTS HAD CONDENSATION WHICH CAUSED THE BULBS TO BLOW OUT. THE DEALER FOUND A SEAL AROUND THE PARAMETER OF THE CAPSULE WAS NOT PROPERLY SEALED AT THE FACTORY. THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT AND POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE WERE REPLACED. ALSO, THE FRONT SEAT HEATER SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED, DUE TO THE HEATER COMING ON WHEN THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10414355

Incident

Jul 1, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO TURN TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT DIRECTION INDEPENDENTLY. THE INTERMITTENT FAILURE OCCURRED FOR A BRIEF PERIOD WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS AND THEN THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD RESUME NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000.

NHTSA ID

10397059

Incident

Apr 18, 2011

Mileage

31,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKES EXCESSIVELY AND MADE A NOISE. THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED IT UNDER WARRANTY ONCE AND THE OTHER TIMES SHE HAD TO PAY THE REPAIR COST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID

10372193

Incident

Mar 22, 2008

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL EXHIBITED A JERKING MOTION. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO PULL TO THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE RESUMED TO NORMAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING AND FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED. THE IDENTICAL FAILURES OCCURRED FIVE MONTHS AFTER THE PRIOR SERVICE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED ART THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 07/14/2010. *LJ

NHTSA ID

10332461

Incident

Oct 15, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO THE LEFT AND THEN TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT HAD TO SLOW DOWN AND GRIP THE WHEEL TIGHT IN ORDER TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY BUT HAD BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER TIME. SHE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE DOOR LOCKS HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THE WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED BUT THE DOORS LOCKS WERE NOT REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED FOR THE STEERING FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000.

NHTSA ID

10326770

Incident

Jul 21, 2009

Mileage

40,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK AND THE VEHICLE MAY HAVE BEEN MISALIGNED. THE DEALER BALANCED THE TIRES AND STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER MAY HAVE JUST "THROWN TIRES" ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED A WEEK LATER AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY 6-7 TIMES, AND 12-14 TIRES HAVE BEEN PLACED ON THE VEHICLE. AFTER RETRIEVING THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER, SHE NOTICED THAT IT FUNCTIONED PROPERLY FOR APPROXIMATELY A WEEK BEFORE THE SHAKING RECURRED. THE SERVICE MANAGERS FROM THE DEALERS AS WELL AS THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE IMPALA AND MALIBU MODELS HAD A VIBRATION THAT WAS STANDARD WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 40-70 MPH. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,149 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 308. UPDATED 11/17/08 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS A VIBRATION AND ALIGNMENT PROBLEM. GM INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE FIXED. UPDATED 11/24/08. *JB

NHTSA ID

10244471

Incident

Mar 17, 2008

Mileage

308 mi