RoadVitals

2008 Chevrolet Malibu Visibility Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Visibility reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Jul 10, 2015
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
<1%
of 987 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. 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. 8 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.

Owner reports naming visibility

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structureInterior & seatsVisibility
Filed Jul 10, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE WIPER TRANSMISSION FAILED TO WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE WIPER TRANSMISSION, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK FAILED TO WORK. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DOOR LOCK MECHANISM, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT HAD TO CLOSE THE DOOR WITH FORCE TO GET THE DOOR TO SECURE. THE CONTACT ALSO HAD TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS TO ENSURE THE DOOR WAS LOCKED AND UNLOCKED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,768.

NHTSA ID
10733317
Incident
Jul 1, 2013
Mileage
140,768 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 29, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUNROOF WAS LEAKING AND CAUSED THE COMPUTER BOARD TO BECOME CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRAIN HOSES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

NHTSA ID
10651036
Incident
Oct 6, 2014
Mileage
44,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Nov 15, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED WATER LEAKING FROM THE SUNROOF AND INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,467 .

NHTSA ID
10484826
Incident
Nov 13, 2012
Mileage
99,467 mi
Body & structureElectricalOther / unspecified+1 more
Filed Feb 12, 2010

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
Visibility
Filed Dec 11, 2009

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. IN TEMPERATURES OF 40 AND BELOW ICE FORMED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE INSTEAD OF OUTSIDE. THE DEFROSTER WAS TURNED ON , BUT IT DOES NOT CLEAR THE GLASS BECAUSE THERE WAS NO FILTER ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. A TECHNICIAN FROM THE DEALER STATED THEY WERE NOT CERTAIN IF THERE WAS A FILTER ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL, OR ONLY ON THE DOOR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA ID
10295398
Incident
Dec 28, 2008
Mileage
30,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jun 10, 2009
1 injury reported

THE SUNROOF IN MY 2008 CHEVY MALIBU BEGAN RATTLING WHEN IN FULL OPEN POSITION. IT FINALLY EXPLODED, SPRAYING THE ENTIRE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT (AND MYSELF) WITH GLASS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10273301
Incident
Jun 8, 2009
Mileage
32,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Nov 19, 2008

I HAVE BOUGHT THIS CHEVROLET MALIBU 2008 BRAND NEW CAR TWO MONTHS AGO. WHEN I BOUGHT IT I DROVE THE CAR AND I ASKED THE CUSTOMER REPRESENTATIVE IF THERE IS SOMETHING ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE REP. FROM DEAN MYERS SAID IS NOTHING AND IT GETS OFF WHEN IS DETAILED. IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE LIKE THAT AS I CAN NOT SEE CLEAR THROUGH ALL THE WINDSHIELDS SO I GOT THE CAR IN FOR INSPECTION. THEY SAID IS NOT THEIR FAULT AND CALLED A GM REPRESENTATIVE. THEY SAID IS NOT THEIR FAULT AS WELL. AT THE END THEY ADVISED ME TO GET IN TOUCH WITH MY INSURANCE AS IT COULD HAVE BEEN AN "ACID RAIN OR SOMETHING". THE CAR WAS LIKE THIS WHEN I BOUGHT IT AND I BOUGHT LIFETIME WARRANTY FOR INSIDE OUTSIDE. THIS IS A RIDICULOUS RESOLUTION FOR MY PROBLEM. I DIDN'T NOTICED THOUGH THIS PROBLEM GOT WORST WHEN THEY RUST PROOF IT. DO NOT BUY FROM DEAN MAYERS CAR DEALER FROM TORONTO!!! *TR

NHTSA ID
10249208
Incident
Sep 18, 2008
Mileage
26 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 5, 2008

MODERN VEHICLES ARE BUILT WITH THE SUN VISOR BUILT INTO THE CEILING OF THE VEHICLE TO AVOID "SCALPING" THE OCCUPANTS DURING A CRASH. HOWEVER, ON MY 2008 CHEVY MALIBU LTZ, THE VISOR IS NOT BUILT INTO THE CEILING AND HAS THE ABILITY TO "SCALP" SOMEONE WHEN THEY ARE INVOLVED IN A TRAFFIC CRASH. THIS APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN DEFECT ON THIS NEW MODEL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10244401
Incident
Oct 5, 2008
Mileage
1 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .