PROBLEMS WITH MY 2008 CHEVY MALIBU. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE THE STEERING WHEEL SHUTTERS AND NOISE COMES FROM STEERING COLUMN. THE "POWER STEERING" DISPLAY MESSAGE COMES UP. THE OWNERS MANUAL REFERS TO SEEING THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT THEY CAN SEEM TO FIX IT FOR ME. IT CAN BE CLEARED, BUT IS VERY ANNOYING TO HAPPEN TO YOUR CAR EVERYDAY. THIS ISSUE STARTED ROUGHLY 3 MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN MARCH OF 2011. THERE'S NO SPEED RANGE THAT THE ISSUE OCCURS IN. IT HAPPENS RANDOMLY AT ANY SPEED. WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL SHUTTERS RANDOMLY, AND STEERING BECOMES DANGEROUS. SEEMS THAT YOU CAN ONLY TURN THE WHEEL IN EXACT 5 DEGREE INCREMENTS, WHICH HAS ALMOST CAUSE SEVERAL COLLISIONS WITH OTHER VEHICLES. IT SEEMS THIS PROBLEM IS EVIDENT IN OTHER MALIBU MODELS EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRIC POWER STEERING, BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN A RECALL OR SERVICE PUBLICATIONS TO REMEDY THE ISSUE. GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS, BUT IS DELIQUENT IN TAKING ANY ACTION TO FIX PERMANENTLY. PLEASE HELP! *TR
2008 Chevrolet Malibu complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2008 record →
VEHICLE BRAKE LIGHTS ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WILL TURN ON WITH OUT ANY APPLICATION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. VEHICLE ALSO HAS ADJUSTABLE PEDALS, YOU CAN MOVE PEDALS FORWARD OR BACK AND GET LIGHT TO GO OUT. GENERAL MOTORS HAS REPLACE BRAKE SWITCH ONCE. LITTLE OVER A YEAR LATER VEHICLE IS DOING EXACT THING AGAIN. THERE IS A BRAKE POSITION SENSOR IN THIS SYSTEM AND IT APPEARS TO BE LOSING ITS CALIBRATION WHEN PEDALS ARE MOVED CAUSING THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO COME ON. THIS CAUSES AN UNSAFE CONDITION FOR ANYBODY FOLLOWING THE VEHICLE OR RIDING IN IT. *TR
DRIVER DOOR DOES NOT UNLOCK WITH REMOTE ALL THE TIME OR LOCK WITH REMOTE ALL THE TIME. ALSO THE COMPUTER THAT GIVES YOU OIL LIFE ,AVERAGE SPEED,AND OTHER READINGS IS GIVING THE WRONG READINGS. I TOOK THIS CAR TO A DEALER WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY SAID IT COULD NOT BE VERIFIED.THE DOOR LOCK IS AN INTERMITTANT PROBLEM. *TR
THE STEERING WHEEL TURNS ON ITS OWN CAUSING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THERE HAS BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS WITH THE 2008 MALIBUS AND OTHERS WITH THE ELECTRIC STEERING MOTORS. I KNOW A FEW OTHER VEHICLES WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM HAVE BEEN RECALLED AND IT IS TIME FOR GM TO RECALL THE MALIBU BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. YOU TUBE HAS A FINE EXAMPLE OF THIS PROBLEM IF ANYONE CARES TO WATCH. THE VEHICLE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE MOVING FOR THE WHEEL TO MOVE ERRATICALLY BACK AND FORTH. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ASAP. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD AFTER BEING PARKED AND SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START UNTIL AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE SHIFTER CABLE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,735.
THE FRONT OF THE CAR SHAKES WHEN DRIVEN OVER 45 MPH. WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT BLINKS AND AN ALERT SOUND BRIEFLY CHIMES. THE CAR IS NOT EASY TO STEER. THE SERVICE POWER STEERING ALERT APPEARS RANDOMLY AND GOES AWAY WHEN THE CAR IS RESTARTED. I HAVE HAD THE CAR REALIGNED MULTIPLE TIMES BECAUSE THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE ALWAYS WEARS QUICKLY. THERE IS AN UNDIAGNOSED OIL LEAK CAUSING THE CAR TO SMOKE FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. *TR
GAS GAUGE FLUCTUATES FROM EMPTY TO FULL MOSTLY REMAINS IN THE EMPTY POSITION EXCEPT AFTER A TURN OR A START/STOP. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. I HAVE ANOTHER 2008 CHEVY MALIBU (THAT MY SON DRIVES), VIN # [XXX] WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE MILEAGE AT FAILURE FOR THAT VEHICLE WAS ABOUT 40000 MILES. I WAS TOLD BY CHEVY CUSTOMER SERVICE REP THAT THESE VIN #S ARE NOT ON THE LIST ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA # 10030685. I CONTEND THAT THERE IS A MATERIAL AND/OR DESIGN DEFECT WITH THE FUEL SENSOR ON THESE VEHICLES AND THAT A RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN INITIATED BY GENERAL MOTORS. FURTHERMORE, THIS FAILURE CAN REPRESENT A SIGNIFICANT HAZARD TO DRIVER AND PASSENGERS OF AFFECTED VEHICLES. I BELIEVE OWNING TWO OF THE SAME MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM REPRESENTS A MORE THAN RANDOM OCCURRENCE. I THEREFORE REQUEST THE NHTSA TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS EQUIPMENT FAILURE AND POSSIBLE SAFETY HAZARD. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAGS UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 70,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR COULD NOT BE LOCKED WITH THE KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM OR MANUALLY. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE DOOR ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,741 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 70,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 04/25/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, WAS ALSO BEGINNING TO DISPLAY THE SAME PROBLEM. UPDATED 04/30/12
DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILED IN REAR, DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. *TR
FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. STARTED OUT DROPPING TO EMPTY AND ACTIVATING THE TROUBLE LIGHT AND LOW FUEL DISPLAY WHEN THERE WAS STILL HALF A TANK OF FUEL. NOW IT DOES IT WITH 3/4 TANK OR MORE. AFTER THE FUEL GETS LOWER THAN 3/4 TANK OFTEN THE FUEL GAUGE WILL DROP TO EMPTY AND STAY THERE UNTIL I FILL THE TANK BACK UP THEN THE GAUGE WILL ONLY MOVE TO FULL AFTER DRIVING A BIT. *KB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 22,732. UPDATED 12/29/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE PULLED OVER AND PARKED, SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND WAITED 10 MINUTES BEFORE RESTARTING IT. SHE THEN NOTICED THE POWER STEERING LIGHT WAS ON. THE STEERING WHEEL STOPPED SHAKING. UPDATED 12/30/11
THE E-BRAKE STRIPPED OUT TO A UNABLE STATE AFTER 50,000 MILES. NOW IF THE BRAKES FAIL I HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE TO STOP THE CAR. THE STEERING POPS WHEN TURNING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AND FROM START OFF AFTER A STOP THIS STARTED AT THE SAME TIME. *TR
THIS VEHICLE IS HAVING ISSUES WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATING WITHOUT PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDALS. WHEN THE BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON BY THEMSELVES, TRYING TO USE THE BRAKES WHEN NEEDED (IE SLOWING DOWN, STOPPING) SHUTS THE BRAKE LIGHTS OFF, WHICH COULD CAUSE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE PERSONS IN THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS PERSONS IN OTHER VEHICLES AROUND MY VEHICLE. IT ALSO TAKES WHAT SEEMS TO BE SOME FORCE TO MAKE THE BRAKE LIGHTS COME BACK ON. SOMETIMES SHUTTING DOWN THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTING IT SOLVES THE ISSUE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THE VEHICLE IS ALSO HAVING A CRUISE CONTROL ISSUE, WHICH I AM ASSUMING IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE ABOVE PROBLEM. THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WANT TO STAY ENGAGED WHEN TURNED ON. IT SEEMS THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE BY THEMSELVES. THIS IS ALSO ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE PERSONS WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE IS ALSO HAVING AN ERROR THAT COMES ON ADVISING THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL IS OFF AND TO SERVICE THE ESC SOON. THIS LIGHT COMES ON FOR NO REASON THAT I CAN DETERMINE. THE ERROR CODE THAT COMES ON IS C0131. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND HAVE MULTIPLE PEOPLE (MORE THAN 50 AT THIS TIME) THAT I HAVE FOUND THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME EXACT ISSUES. THIS IS A VERY HIGH SAFETY CONCERN, THAT I AM UNSURE ON WHY THIS HASN'T BEEN RECALLED AS OF YET. I CAN IMAGINE THERE ARE WAY MORE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO HAVE JUST HAD THIS ISSUE FIXED ON THEIR OWN INSTEAD OF TAKING THEIR TIME OUT TO REPORT TO THE NHTSA FOR THEIR REVIEW. I WOU
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE SLIGHTLY. THE CONTACT APPROACHED A STOP SIGN AND ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE BUT THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE VIGOROUSLY. THE FAILURE WAS CONSTANT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE STEERING MOTOR AND MODULE ASSEMBLY WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,245.
AFTER RETURNING GROCERY SHOPPING I COULD NOT GET GROCERIES INTO BACK SEAT, DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK . THIS COULD HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR MONTHS AS I ALWAYS PUT GROCERIES IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND FLOOR AND NEVER USED REAR DOORS . APPROXIMATELY 1-2 WEEKS LATER OTHER REAR PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK. I CONTACTED DEALER WHO STATED GM MIGHT WORK WITH ME TO HELP A LITTLE BUT DOUBT IT AS MY MILEAGE WAS AT 42000 MILES. AFTER CHECKING ONLINE I FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM MALIBU OWNERS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THEM AT 40,000 - 50,000 MILES AFTER THE WARRANTY IS OVER. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE COVERED BY GM AS IT SHOWS A DEFECT IN THE ACTUATER IN DOORS GO BAD, AS WELL AS A NEGLIGENT SAFETY HAZARD KNOWING MANY CARS HAVING THIS PROBLEM. IS IT GOING TOI TAKE SOMEONE TO DIE IN REAR SEATS DUE TO THIS DEFECT WHEN AN ACCIDENT OR FIRE OCCURS. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD AS CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT CANNOT OPEN DOOR IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT OR FIRE, AS WELL AS A POLICEMAN/FIREMAN/RESCUERER, CANNOT OPEN EITHER REAR DOORS FROM THE OUTSIDE. YOU HAVE TO CRAWL OVER AND SQEEZE IN BETWEEN FRONT SEATS AND HAVE ENTIRE BODY IN BACK SEATS BEFORE YOU CAN REACH THE DOOR LOCKS TO MANUALLY OPEN THEM. THIS IS GOING TO COST ME APPROX $400-$500.00 FOR REAR DOORS AND READING OTHER CUSTOMERS THIS COULD EVENTUALLY APPLY TO ALL DOORS INCLUDING FRONT DOORS (ANOTHER $400-$500.00). THIS IS MY FIRST CHEVY I PURCHASED BRAND NEW AND WILL PROBABLY MY LAST. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK WHEN USING THE REMOTE CONTROL OR WITH MANUAL THE LOCK AND UNLOCK BUTTONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ONLY WAY TO OPEN THE DOORS WAS TO PULL THE KNOB TO UNLOCK IT MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000.
I PURCHASED A 2008 CHEVY MALIBU AT MATT BLATT IN EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP IN NEW JERSEY APPROXIMATELY 5 MONTH (MARCH OR MAY OF 2011) WITH APPROXIMATELY 28,500 MILES. I SPOKE WITH A SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE [XXX] IN REGARDS TO THE POWER STEERING PROBLEM THAT MY VEHICLE WAS HAVING. MY STEERING WAS SHAKING OUT OF CONTROL AND I ALMOST GOT INVOLVED IN TWO VEHICLE ACCIDENTS THIS WEEK 10/19/11. I EXPLAINED THIS SITUATION TO DON, WHO STATED THAT BECAUSE I DID NOT PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE I WILL HAD TO PAY FOR THE SERVICE. I THEN PROCEEDED TO SPEAK TO THE MANAGER [XXX], WHO KINDLY SENT ME TO THE BENNETT CHEVROLET ON THE SAME DATE AND THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED. I OWN A 2008 CHEVY MALIBU WITH 30,700 MILES. I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER LOCKS WHICH I WAS ADVISED THAT I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS. I BELIEVE THAT MY COMPLAINT WAS HANDLED VERY UNPROFESSIONAL BY [XXX], BECAUSE I WAS VERY SPECIFIC THAT I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND HE STATED WE CAN TOWED YOUR VEHICLE, BUT YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY THE FEE. AGAIN I WAS AFRAID BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING MOTOR WAS DAMAGE AND MY VEHICLE WAS DRIVING OUT OF CONTROL. I'M REQUESTING SOME TYPE OF COMPENSATION AND I WILL LIKE THE POWER LOCKS TO BE FIXED FREE OF CHARGE. REMEMBER MY CAR ONLY HAS 30,700 MILES AND WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I WAS ADVISED BY THE SALESMAN [XXX] THAT I HAD WARRANTY FOR 100,000 MILES OR 5 YEARS BUMPER TO BUMPER. I WILL LIKE SOMEONE TO INVESTIGATE THIS. THANK GOD I DIDN'T HAVE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE ELE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD JERK ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BECOME HARD TO STEER ONCE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE RE LEARNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
I HAVE MADE THIS COMPLAINT BEFORE. IT CONCERNS THE FRONT WHEEL SHAKES, VIBRATION. AFTER GETTING TIRED OF THIS I PUT THE CAR ON JACKS REMOVED THE WHEEL AND FOUND THE TIE ROD END BALL NUT TO BE LOOSE AND THE BALL JOINT TO BE FRIGHTENINGLY WORN. I REPLACED THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND TIGHTENED THE TIE ROD BALL NUT MYSELF. THE PROBLEM HAS COMPLETELY DISAPPEARED. FUNNY THE DEALERSHIP COULDN'T FIGURE THIS OUT.I THINK THAT OTHER OWNERS SHOULD BE WARNED OF THIS POTENTIALLY FATAL CONDITION! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU LT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE VEHICLE TRAVELED INTO ANOTHER LANE UNEXPECTEDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND AT ANY SPEED THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MOVE TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT INSTEAD OF REMAINING INSIDE THE LANE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE MOTOR/MODULE ASSEMBLY FOR THE ELECTRIC STEERING WAS FAULTY. THE REPAIR COST WAS $800; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOTIFY HER AND LET HER KNOW IF THEY WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,487.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD WOBBLE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AND WOULD OCCASIONALLY BECOME EXTREMELY TIGHT. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD EVENTUALLY FAIL AND SEIZE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
STEERING BECOMES ERRATIC AND 2 HANDS ARE NEEDED TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL. STEERING WHEEL WILL SHAKE ON IT'S OWN AT A COMPLETE STOP. UPON MOVING FORWARD, CAR BECOMES DIFFICULT TO KEEP IN A STRAIGHT LINE. CAR HAS BEEN BROUGHT BACK TO DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES TO REPAIR, ONLY TO HAVE PROBLEM COME BACK EVERY FEW MONTHS. *TR
DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 65 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY JERKED RIGHT AND LEFT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. IT JERKED HARD ENOUGH THAT IT CAUSED THE CAR TO UNEXPECTEDLY CROSS INTO ANOTHER LANE. THIS HAS BECOME AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AND MAY HAPPEN WHEN IDLING OR DRIVING. GM NOTIFIED ON DATE OF INCIDENT, 8/29/11, AND AWAITING RESPONSE. *TR
SEVERAL TIMES WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED. MY TECHS ARE QUALIFIED AND THESE WERE DEFECTIVE WHEN THE CUSTOMER CAME IN, BUT BECAUSE WE SHOWED THEM TO THE CUSTOMERS THEY FELT WE DAMAGED THEM. IT IS MAKING US NOT WANT TO INFLATE TIRES....AND THIS IS UNSAFE FOR THE CUSTOMER. *TT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, ALMOST CAUSING A CRASH. THE WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER MADE AN ATTEMPT TO ASSIST THE CONTACT WITH THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 119,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS WELL AS THE BRAKE LIGHTS. THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,757.
MY 2008 MALIBU HAS A POWER STEERING PROBLEM. ON A DAILY BASIS THE POWER STEERING BECOMES ERRATIC AND FAILS TO REACT PROPERLY UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, USUALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WHILE STOPPED, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL TURN LEFT AND RIGHT ON ITS OWN. WHEN THIS OCCURS AT HIGHWAY SPEED CONTROL OF THE CAR IS DANGEROUS. TWO HANDS ARE NEEDED TO KEEP CAR IN LANE AND NOT CROSS THE LINE INTO OTHER VEHICLES. PROBLEM BEGAN WHEN MILEAGE HIT 45,000 MILES. OCCASIONALLY, A CHIME WILL OCCUR AND INDICATE POWER STEERING IN THE DISPLAY BUT BY THE TIME THE CHIME OCCURS THE STEERING PROBLEM IS GONE. THIS ISSUE IS CONSISTENT AND INTERMITTENT ON A DAILY BASIS. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM FOR CHEVY MALIBU AND HAVE FOUND THAT THOUSANDS OF MALIBU OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM CAUSED BY IMPROPER ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THIS STEERING PROBLEM IS A FAILURE OF A COMPONENT IN THE STEERING ASSEMBLY THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART!!! AS A PERCENTAGE OF MALIBUS ON THE ROAD THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM I WOULD VENTURE THAT IT IS VERY HIGH AND THE NUMBER IS INCREASING. THE ELECTRONIC ASSIST POWER STEERING IN THE I4 MALIBU'S IS A ROAD HANDLING NIGHTMARE AND GM HAS NO INTEREST IN FIXING THIS PROBLEM. I WOULD EXPECT A SERIOUS PROBLEM LIKE THIS TO BE MADE A RECALL ISSUE BEFORE THERE IS A FATALITY AND THEN GM AND OBAMA MOTORS WILL BE SUED FOR RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT. *KB
AC IN 2008 MALIBU LT1 ERRATIC OPERATION. AC WILL NOT WORK UNLESS THE TEMP CONTROL UNIT IS REPEATEDLY TURN OFF AND ON UNTIL IT DECIDES TO OPERATE. IF INSIDE AIR IS SELECTED IT WILL OPERATE SOMETIMES. VEHICLE AC WILL OPERATE AFTER SECOND START UP OF ENGINE OCCASIONALLY. FAN MUST BE TURNED OFF THEN ON REPEATEDLY TO GET AC TO TURN ON, AC SELECT MUST TURNED OFF THEN ON REPEATEDLY TO GET AC TO OPERATE. *TR
STEERING WHEEL RANDOMLY JERKS RIGHT AND LEFT WHILE DRIVING. IS VERY "NOTCHY" AND DIFFICULT TO RETURN TO THE PRECISELY DESIRED POSITION. *TR
BACK IN APRIL I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY DRIVER SIDE LOCK. IT WOULD GET STUCK. SOMETIMES THE DOOR WOULDN'T EVEN OPEN. I WOULD PRESS THE BUTTON TO UNLOCK THE DOOR, AND THAT WOULDN'T WORK. I WOULD HAVE TO USE MY KEY, ANS SOMETIMES THAT DIDN'T WORK EITHER. I AM STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE LOCK, AND PRETTY MUCH EVERYDAY I HAVE TO USE MY KEY TO OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. I WAS TOLD TO USE WD-40 AND THAT SILL DIDN'T HELP. THE MOST RECENT EVENT WITH MY CAR IS THIS LOUD VIBRATING NOISE THAT HAS BEEN OCCURING OFF AND ON FOR THE PAST TWO MONTHS. I'V HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE CHECK IT OUT AND THEY SAY THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. MY CAR MAKES THE NOISE WHILE SITTING IN PARK, SOMETIMES WHILE I'M DRIVING, OR SITTING STILL AT A LIGHT. ABOUT A 1-1 1/2 MONTHS AGO MY WHEEL WOU;D MOVE BACK AND FORTH. I WENT TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WASN'T ANYTHING WRONG. MY WHEEL MOVES MORE AND MORE. IT MOVES SOMETIMES WHEN I FIRST START MY CAR, WHILE SITTING A LIGHT, AND AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WHILE I AM DRIVING. WHEN I TURN MY STEERING WHEEL BACK IN A NEUTRAL POSITION SOMETIMES IT WOULD TURN THE OTHER WAY. TODAY MY WHEEL WAS MOVING WHILE I WAS DRIVNG AND MY CAR STARTED MOVING IN THE SAME DIRECTION. IT WAS HARD TO CONTROL AND IT WAS VERY SCARY BECAUSE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. I'M SO FED UP WITH THIS CAR, AND I TOTALLY REGRET BUYING IT. I AM PROBABLY NEVER GOING TO BUY A CHEVROLET AGAIN, EVEN IF CHEVROLET'S ARE ALL THAT I HAVE EVER OWNED. *TT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND THE POWER STEERING STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE DEALER THE POWER STEERING FAILURE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING MODULE. THE POWER STEERING MODULE WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 2/22/12 *CN
NOTHING OCCURRED PRIOR TO MY PASSENGER DOOR LOCK NOT WORKING, ELECTRONICALLY. IT DOES NOT LOCK/UNLOCK WHEN THE CAR IS PLACED IN PARK, OR USING THE KEY CONTROL OR DOOR PANEL CONTROL. WE ARE HAVING THE DEALER HOPEFULLY FIX THE PROBLEM TOMORROW. *KB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WHILE STOPPED, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD BEGIN TO TURN BACK AND FORTH. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED AND THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING WAS PULLING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT INVOLUNTARILY. THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO VIBRATE ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.
POWER DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY... THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR POWER DOOR LOCK WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. THE OTHER THREE REMAINING POWER DOOR LOCKS DO NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY AND HAVE TO BE LOCKED MANUALLY. THIS IS AN INCONVENIENCE WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE AND ALSO A HAZARD IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY... *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE WITHOUT PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
DRIVING ON I 40 AT 70 MPH STEERING BECAME ERRATIC AND JERKING, IT TOOK EXTREME EFFORT TO STAY IN PROPER LANE, PULLED TO SHOULDER AND STOPPED. I KILLED THE CAR AND RESTARTED AND STEERING WAS NORMAL UNTIL I EXITED FREEWAY AND THERE WAS A SHORT EPISODE OF LOSS OF POWER STEERING BUT SOON STARTED TO WORK NORMAL. A POPPING NOISE IS NOW HEARD SOMETIMES AT SLOW TURNING SPEEDS AND IS NOT ALWAYS HEARD.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE HE SMELLED A STRONG FUEL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A GASOLINE STATION TO BE REFUELED, BUT THE FUEL TANK WOULD ONLY ACCEPT A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 98,291.
2008 CHEVY MAILBU. THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND PULLS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT WHEN THE CAR IS IN PARK AND FIRST TURNED ON. IT ALSO HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING ON AND OFF THE HIGHWAY. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. CAR HAD 36,000 WHEN PROBLEM STATED. PULLING AND SHAKING IS GETTING WORSE AND HARDER TO CONTROL AND KEEP CAR IN LANE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD MOVE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT ON ITS OWN. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. WHENEVER THE CONTACT MADE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM SHUT OFF AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,852.
THE WAS NOTHING LEADING UP TO THE EVENT, THE CAR WAS WORKING FINE. ONE DAY IN MAY I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR DID NOT UNLOCK AS THE REST OF THE DOORS DID. I PUT THE CARE BACK IN DRIVE, THEN BACK IN PARK, STILL THE DOOR DID NOT UNLOCK, I TRIED THE LOCK BUTTON, AND THE REMOTE FOR THE CAR AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND SINCE MY WARRANTY IS UP, I WAS TOLD ITS $52 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY MY BUMPER-TO-BUMPER WARRANTY ENDED IN DEC 2010. I SEE THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH ONE OR MORE DOORS NOT WORKING AFTER APPROXIMATELY 37K MILES. *TR
REAR DRIVER DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH POWER LOCKS. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO REACH THE MANUAL DOOR LOCK WITHOUT CRAWLING INTO THE BACK SEAT AND THERE IS NO KEYHOLE ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE REAR DOOR. IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET MY CHILDREN OUT OF THE CAR IF THERE WERE AN EMERGENCY. *TT
DRIVERSIDE REAR PASSENGER DOOR AND FRONT PASSENGER DOOR UNLOCKS NOT WORKING, OR WORK INTERMITTENTLY. HAVE MANUALLY LOCK/UNLOCK BOTH DOORS. *TR
STEERING WHEEL MOVES LEFT AND RIGHT 20 DEGREES AT STOP OR WHILE MOVING. PROBLEM COMES AND GOES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. OVER TIME, THE CONTACT BEGAN TO HEAR A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE MAKING TURNS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE IN THE PROCESS OF DIAGNOSING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
MY 2008 CHEVY MALIBU LTZ 4 CYLINDER HAS A VERY SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW WHICH GM/CHEVY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE. IT IS PUTTING MY FAMILY AND I AND POSSIBLE DANGER. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES VERY SEVERE LAGS AND HESITATION AT VARIABLE INTERVALS WHILE DRIVING EITHER STOP AND GO OR ON A HIGHWAY. LAST MONTH WHILE DRIVING ON RT. 95 IN CONNECTICUT, OUR VEHICLE ACTED UP AND IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND SHIFT BETWEEN GEARS PROPERLY. THE SERIOUS LAGS WHERE THE VEHICLE IS INBETWEEN GEARS WITH NO ENGINE/TRANS. ENGAGEMENT, LEFT US CLOSE TO BEING RUN OVER BY A TRACTOR TRAILER. *TR
2008 MALIBU - DRIVERS DOOR LATCH DOES NOT WORK. OFTEN DRIVER GETS STUCK IN VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THERE IS A LOUD KNOCK IN THE STEERING AND IT HAS HAD A RING GEAR REPLACED ALREADY, SAME PROBLEM 12,000 MILES LATER. *TR
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NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu → · Every Malibu year → · How the figures are calculated →