Page 19 of 20 · complaints 901–950 of 989

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 →

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jul 8, 201016,988 milesTX

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE, THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT, THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, THE BATTERY, THE STARTER CABLE WIRES, THE SYSTEM COMPUTER AND THE DOOR LOCKS ON BOTH REAR DOORS. ALL OF THE REPAIRS WERE MADE BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,988 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

Steering
Filed Jul 8, 20104,700 milesNC

2008 CHEVY MALIBU WITH 4700 MILES, BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING. WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD BE HARD TO HANDLE AS IF SOMEONE HAD TAKEN POSSESSION OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THEN WHEN IN IDLE THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD VIBRATE BACK AND FORTH. TOOK IN TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED. FIRST TRIP TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY COULD NOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM. RESEARCHED ONLINE AND ASK IF THEY WERE AWARE OF ANY ISSUES WITH THIS MODEL ANSWER WAS NO. NOT UNTIL I TOLD THEM TO GOOGLE THE PROBLEMS THAT WERE BEING REPORTED DID I FEEL WE RECEIVED A RESPONSE. *TR

Steering
Filed Jul 6, 201055,500 milesIL

2008 CHEVY MALIBU 4 CYL MOTOR. 56,000 MILES, STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AT HIGH AND LOW RATE OF SPEED WHILE DRIVING. STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHILE CAR IS IDLE WITH NO ONE IN AUTO. STEERING ASSIST GIVES OUT AND THEN ENGAGES WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION CAUSING CAR TO JERK FROM SIDE TO SIDE CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF AUTO. *TR

Steering
Filed Jul 3, 201050,300 milesVA

I OWN 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU WITH A LITTLE OVER 50K MILES ON THE ODOMETER. RECENTLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO JERK LEFT AND RIGHT PULLING THE VEHICLE IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. I DROVE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT. AS I WAS WAITING AT A STOP LIGHT I THEN NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL MAKE SLIGHT TURNS TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT BY ITSELF. I ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED AT WHICH POINT THEY TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR A TEST DRIVE BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. WHILE TALKING TO THE MECHANIC AND EXPLAINING HE SAID IT SOUNDS LIKE THE VEHICLE WAS TRYING TO CENTER ITSELF TO ZERO CALIBRATION AND SUGGESTED THAT I GET IT CALIBRATED WHICH I DID. I THEN DROVE HOME AND NOTICED THAT IT WAS DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN. RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THEY THEN STATED THAT I NEED TO HAVE THE COLUMN CONTROL MODULE REPLACED AT THE PRICE OF $700. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED IN TO BEFORE SOMETHING REALLY TRAGIC OCCURS. THE FREQUENCY THE STEERING WHEEL JERK WHILE DRIVING WAS VERY CONCERNING TO THE POINT THAT I THOUGHT I MIGHT BE INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THANK GOD THAT DID NOT HAPPEN. *TR

Steering
Filed Jun 28, 201050,000 milesOH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT THE SPEEDS OF 25 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WAS VERY HARD TO CONTROL WHEN MAKING A TURN. OTHER TIMES WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS BEING PARKED IT WILL SHAKE AND JERK. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT HE WILL NEED A NEW ELECTRONIC MOTOR AND A CONTROL MODULE FOR THE POWER STEERING. THERE HAVE BEEN NO DIAGNOSIS AND NO REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,800.

Steering
Filed Jun 21, 201051,000 milesVT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING A VARIOUS SPEEDS AND ATTEMPTING A TURN, THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE AN UNUSUAL CLUNK NOISE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE STEERING SHAFT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 51,000.

Steering
Filed Jun 21, 201075,200 milesIL

ONE WEEK AGO I NOTICED MY STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE BACK AND FORTH WHEN IDLING. I THOUGHT THE FLUID MAY BE LOW AND LOOKED TO FILL IT ONLY TO FIND OUT THE CAR HAS ELECTRIC STEERING. I DROVE IT TO WORK WITHOUT ISSUE BUT NOW THE SHAKING HAS BEGUN TO APPEAR WHEN DRIVING AT ALL SPEEDS. IT IS AN UNCANNY SHIMMY THAT CAN BE CONTROLLED BUT REQUIRES CONSTANT ATTENTION AND A FIRM GRIP. IT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY ENOUGH(EVERY 10 MIN OR SO) THAT IT HAS BECOME WORRISOME. A CALL TO THE DEALER EVOKED THE RESPONSE OF , "YES, THAT HAPPENS SOMETIMES WITH THIS MODEL AND IT CAN BE FIXED IN A DAY OR TWO AND COST IS AROUND $1000". MY CAR HAS 75,000 MILES ON IT AND IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS NOT THE TYPE OF ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE A CONSUMER PROBLEM. *TR

Steering
Filed Jun 20, 201041,000 milesIA

2008 MALIBU WITH 41K MILES HAS STEERING ISSUE WITH STEERING WHEEL SHAKING LEFT TO RIGHT AT HWY SPEEDS. HAVE TO FIGHT TO KEEP CAR STRAIGHT IN OWN LANE. NO NOTICEABLE INCIDENT LEADING UP TO ISSUE, JUST FELT LIKE THERE WAS NO STEERING ASSIST. HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS. NOTHING DONE AS OF YET, BUT WILL BE CALLING DEALER TOMORROW. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET, THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRONIC STEERING ASSIST. REMEDY APPEARS TO BE TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN MODULE. AT A COST OF $800+, THIS IS NO CHEAP REPLACEMENT. *TR

Steering
Filed Jun 18, 2010MO

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD INVOLUNTARILY JERK TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT. THE FAILURE PERSISTED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE IN THE PROCESS OF DIAGNOSING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,600.

Steering
Filed Jun 17, 201039,000 milesFL

DIFFICULT TO TURN AT LOW SPEEDS, STEERING WHEEL SHAKING AND SHIMMIES LEFT, CLUNKING OR RUBBING NOISE. HAD STEERING COLUMN LUBED, NEW RACK AND PINION INSTALLED AND STILL DOING IT. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Jun 13, 201038,450 milesGA

2008 CHEVY MALIBU AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS FAIL TO OPERATE PROPERLY. BEGAN WITH PASSENGER REAR DOOR AND MOVED TO ALL DOORS. WHEN CAR REACHES 15 MPH THE DOORS ARE SUPPOSED TO AUTO LOCK. THEY DO NOT. KEYLESS ENTRY AND STARTER DO NOT WORK. BATTERY WAS REPLACED IN THE KEY FOB WITH NO CHANGE. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. COST WOULD BE 250 DOLLARS PER DOOR TO REPAIR. CAR WAS TAKEN IN TO DEALERSHIP PRIOR TO 3 YR 36000 MILE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED WITH INTERMITTENT DOOR LOCKS ON REAR DOOR WORKING AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. DOOR LOCKS COMPLETELY FAILED AFTER 36000 MILE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. *TR

Steering
Filed Jun 10, 201036,000 milesPA

I HAVE HAD MY 2008 CHEVY MALIBU IN THE GARAGE NOW 3 TIMES FOR THE SAME RECURRING PROBLEM. MY STEERING WHEEL SHIMMIES AND THEN LOCKS UP AND IT'S VERY HARD TO STEER. IF I WEREN'T AS STRONG IN MY HANDS AND ARMS, I WOULD BE DEAD! IT COMES AND GOES BUT IT IS A PERSISTENT PROBLEM THAT THEY CANNOT OR WILL NOT FIX. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY CANNOT FIX SOMETHING THAT THEY DIDN'T DIAGNOSE AS "BROKE" AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE TOO EXPENSIVE TO JUST START REPLACING PARTS RANDOMLY THAT MIGHT BE THE PROBLEM. I AM VERY SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR BUT HAVE TO MAKE A LIVING AND AM A SINGLE MOM. I FEEL THIS IS PUTTING ME AND MY SONS LIFE IN DANGER!!!!!!!! THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM IN THE STEERING! *TR

Structure
Filed Jun 8, 201056,000 milesTX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED HE NOTICED THAT THE REAR SEATS WERE WET. THE DEALER INSTALLED AN UNKNOWN RING ALONGSIDE THE REAR DOORS TO PREVENT WATER FROM ENTERING THE VEHICLE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THERE WERE NO FURTHER REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

Steering
Filed Jun 1, 2010PA

I HAVE A 2008 CHEVY MALIBU LT. IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO JERK LEFT AND RIGHT WHILE DRIVING. IT WOULD ALSO JERK WHILE BEING STOPPED AND WHILE IN PARK.THERE IS ALSO A POPPING SOUND OR A CLUNKING SOUND LIKE A BAD UNIVERSAL WHILE TURNING AND/OR BACKING UP. I NOTICED THIS ABOUT JANUARY OF '09. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKES AND ROTORS ON THE FRONT,BUT THE PROBLEM DID NOT GO AWAY. ON 5/12/10 THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE LEFT FRONT STRUT AND MOUNT AND THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE JERKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL COMES AND GOES,IT WILL RUN FINE FOR A WHILE THEY ITWILL START UP FOR A WHILE. THERE IS NO WARNING WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN. ON 5/30/10 AND 5/31/10 THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON IN THE INFORMATION CENTER. I CALLED GM TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS AND THERE IS NOT. I TOLD THEM THAT THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND SHOULD BE LOOKED AT. THEY SAID THAT THEY WERE LOOKING INTO IT. I WENT TO THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS WEB STE AND SEEN THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE THE '05 MALIBUS (PS CONTROL MODULE).THERE WERE AT LEAST 7 COMPLAINTS FOR THE '08'S ON THIS SITE THAT I NOTICED. ABOUT A YEAR AGO THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR LOCKS NOT WORKING PROPERLY,THEY WOULD NOT UNLOCK WHEN THE CAR WAS PUT INTO PARK NOR WOULD THE REMOTE WORK ON THEM. WHEN THE LEFT REAR DOOR OUTSIDE HANDLE WAS USED TO OPEN THE DOOR THE DOOR WOULD LOCK. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THIS CONCERNS ME BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING IS ELE

Steering
Filed May 29, 201043,000 milesNY

I AM AT ABOUT 45K MILES ON MY 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. MY CONSOLE WARNING OF "POWER STEERING" CAME ON AND WITH IT MY STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN I START THE CAR. I DON'T DRIVE OR PUT IT IN GEAR IT JUST SHAKES! AFTER BEING TOLD I DO NOT HAVE POWER STEERING FLUID A GM SERVICE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT SOUNDS LIKE MY "ELECTRONIC MOTOR FOR POWER STEERING" SOUNDS LIKE IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE COBALT WAS JUST RECALLED FOR SUCH A PROBLEM. I CALLED GM TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE MALIBU AND WAS TOLD .....AT MY EXPENSE, I NEED TO HAVE THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED, THEN CALL THEM BACK WITH THE REF# THEY GAVE ME, AND THEN THEY WILL PUT IT IN THEIR RECORDS!!!! CALLING AND REQUESTING THAT A RECALL BE PUT IN PLACE WAS BASICALLY IGNORED. I HAVE EXPLAINED THAT IF THEY WERE TO INVESTIGATE JUST THE BLOGS ABOUT THE MALIBU THEY WOULD SEE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM, BUT ARE TOLD TO FIX IT THEMSELVES. THIS IS REALLY DANGEROUS ON SO MANY LEVELS. I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT, BECAUSE I AM SCARED TO DRIVE MOST OF THE TIME,BUT I AM RECORDING EVERY ONE OF MY COMPLAINTS, BECAUSE GOD FORBID I GET HURT, OR WORSE YET, ONE OF MY CHILDREN, THEN MY LAWYER IS READY TO RIP GM APART! I LOST MY JOB ABOUT A YEAR AGO, AND FOR A COMPANY WHO JUST GOT BAILED OUT WITH MY TAX MONEY, THEY SHOULD THINK TWICE BEFORE SMACKING THEIR CUSTOMERS WITH SUCH ARROGANCE AND STUPIDITY. *TR

Steering › Electric Power Assist System
Filed May 27, 2010KY

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

Steering
Filed May 25, 201047,000 milesFL

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) STEERING KEEPS MESSING UP. WHEN I AM DRIVING AT LOW OR HIGHER SPEEDS (35-60) THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES FROM LET TO RIGHT. IT DOES THIS AT LEAST ONCE A DAY. NO LIGHT ON DASH SHOWING THERE IS A PROBLEM. I HAVE 47,000 MILES ON MY CAR. I AM AFRAID I WILL BE IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN AND MY STEERING WILL GO OUT. I AM REALLY SCARED FOR MY CHILDREN'S SAFETY. THIS IS OUR FAMILY AND MY WORK CAR. PLEASE LOOK INTO I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND SHOW OVER 100 COMPLAINTS ON THE STEERING ALSO THE 2006 GM COBALT HAS SAME STEERING AND THE SAME PROBLEMS. PLEASE PLEASE HELP FOR MY AND MY CHILDREN'S SAFETY. [XXX] *TR

Steering
Filed May 19, 201050,000 milesGA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND BEGAN TO SHAKE AND SHIMMY. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT HIS EXPENSE. CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

Latches/Locks/Linkages
Filed May 9, 201037,508 milesLA

MY CAR LOCKS ON ALL 4 DOORS HAS TO BE MANUALLY LOCKED, WHEN THEY ARE ELECTRICAL. AND WHEN I USE THE REMOTE TO UNLOCK THE DOORS, AND I OPEN A DOOR, THE ALARM SOUNDS. THE LOCKS ON MY DOORS HAS NOT BEEN WORKING FOR A LONG TIME, AND OF COURSE I AM OUT OF THE WARRANTY TIME. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THAT. IT REALLY GETS TIRING. THE WARNING LIGHT FOR THE AIR BAGS AND TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR HAS BEEN COMING ON SINCE FOREVER, AGAIN, I THINK A RECALL SHOULD BE CALLED FOR THESE CARS. *TR

Steering › Column
Filed May 6, 201025,000 milesAR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL EXHIBITED CONTINUOUS MOVEMENT WITHOUT WARRANT. THE CONTACT HAD TO FORCIBLY HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM VEERING OFF THE ROAD. SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO HER RESIDENCE WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE SHE WAS ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO A DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT AT THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 25,000.

Steering
Filed May 1, 201050,400 milesWI

MY 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU LT WILL SHAKE VIOLENTLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND BECOMES VIRTUALLY UNCONTROLLABLE. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS IN APRIL 2009 WITH ABOUT 2 K MILES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY SCANNED IT BUT NO CODES WERE PRESENT. THE MECHANIC FOUND A SERVICE BULLETIN WHERE A BRAKE PAD PROBLEM WAS REFERRED TO REGARDING THIS SHAKING PROBLEM, SO HE REPLACED THE FRONT PADS AND RESURFACED THE ROTORS. THE PROBLEM RECURRED IN FEB. 2010 WITH APPROX. 40 K MILES. I AGAIN TOOK IT IN BUT THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. YESTERDAY 4-10-10 ON MY WAY TO WORK IT HAPPENED AGAIN AT APPROX. 70 MPH, I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO CRASH ! WHAT AM I TO DO ? *TR

Steering
Filed May 1, 201070,000 milesTX

2008 MALIBU THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT WITH OUT WARNING SOMETIMES ON THE HIGHWAY IT IS VERY SCARY THIS IS A BIG CONCERN TO ME BECAUSE THIS IS MY WIFE AND KIDS ONLY TRANSPORTATION. *TR

Steering
Filed Apr 29, 201043,500 milesOK

STEERING PROBLEM WITH 2008 CHEVY MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL WILL GO BACK AND FORTH AND HARD TO CONTROL STEERING. ALSO, SOMETIMES WHEN ENGINE IS ON AND CAR NOT MOVING THE WHEEL WILL SHAKE AND GO BACK AND FORTH ON BOTH SIDES. HAVE HAD THE CAR TO A CHEVY DEALER AND THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AND EVERYTHING IS SOLID. ALSO HAD A WHEEL AND TIRE CHECK IT OUT AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING BUT THEY SAY IT MAY BE IN THE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM. IT IS VERY SCARY WHEN YOU HAVE TROUBLE CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE. *TR

Suspension › Front › Wheel Bearing
Filed Apr 21, 201040,000 milesAR

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.

Electrical System
Filed Apr 12, 201038,000 milesGA

2008 CHEVY MALIBU 4 CYLINDER HAS ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING. THIS MORNING DRIVING TO WORK IT RIPPED THE STEERING WHEEL OUT OF MY WIFE'S HANDS IF SHE HAD BEEN GOING MORE THAN 35MPH SHE WOULD HAVE RAN INTO A DITCH. I WENT AND MET HER AND DROVE IT HOME IT VIOLENTLY JERKED BACKED AND FORTH ON ME AS WELL. GOOD THINK WE WERE NOT ON THE INTERSTATE GOING 70MPH SOMEONE WOULD HAVE PROBABLY DIED. *TR

Steering
Filed Apr 7, 201037,600 milesFL

JUST GO OVER MY 36,000 MILE WARRANTY, AND THE POWER STEERING PROBLEM INDICATOR CAME UP ON MY DASH. THE STEERING WHEEL STARTS MOVING FRANTICALLY ON IT'S OWN, WHENEVER IT WANTS TO, EVEN IF YOU ARE DRIVING THE CAR. THIS COULD BE A BIG HAZARD. I CALL THE DEALER, AND OF COURSE IT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH THE POWER STEERING IS ELECTRIC IN MY 2008 4 CYLINDER MALIBU. THE DEALER ALSO STATED NO RECALLS ON MY MALIBU, BUT THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A RECALL, SINCE I SEE CHEVY COBALT IS BEING RECALLED FOR THE SAME THING. PLEASE HELP. I HAVE TO TAKE THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE, THE DEALER STATES IT IS THE POWER STEERING ELECTRIC BOX OR IN THE POWER STEERING COLUMN. *TR

Steering
Filed Apr 3, 201052,000 milesCA

STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP WHILE DRIVING AT 50 - 55 MPH. TROUBLE LIGHT ON DASHBOARD INDICATING STEERING PROBLEM. LOCK-UP SAME AS WHEN CAR IS STOPPED AND TRANSMISSION LEVER PLACED INTO PARK POSITION.

Steering
Filed Apr 2, 201032,165 milesMD

PROBLEM WITH MY 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU POWER STEERING. WAS DRIVING AND SUDDENLY THE STEERING HAD A MIND OF ITS OWN, PULLING SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT AND THEN LEFT. BECAME SOMEWHAT LETHARGIC IN RESPONSIVENESS.

Steering
Filed Apr 1, 201025,334 milesMI

THE STEERING WILL SUDDENLY VIBRATE AND CAUSE ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR AND AS A RESULT I HAVE ALMOST GOTTEN INTO A FEW ACCIDENTS.. IT HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING. THE MANFACTURE HAS A BULLETIN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT REFUSED TO FIX IT. I THEN WENT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO WAS ABLE TO DOWNLOAD THE CORRECT INFORMATION INTO THE POWER STEERING MODULE. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AND FORCE THE MANFACTURE TO CORRECT ALL EFFECTIVE CARS AND NOT GET AWAY WITH REFUSING TO FIX IT AND THUS MAKE IT LOOK LIKE THERE IS NO PROBLEM

EquipmentFire
Filed Mar 27, 2010NC

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

Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal
Filed Mar 22, 2010CA

2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TURN SIGNAL CANNOT BE HEARD WHEN THE CLIMATE CONTROL OR THE RADIO ARE OPERATING. *TGW

Electrical System
Filed Mar 17, 201075 milesOH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE POWER DOOR LOCKS AND WINDOWS HAVE FAILED, LOCKING THE CONTACT INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT AN ESCAPE. THE CONTACT HAD EXPERIENCED SEVERAL ELECTRICAL FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TO HAVE THE FRONT AND REAR DOOR ACTUATORS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WOULD PERSIST. IN ADDITION, THE ALTERNATOR, ENGINE LIGHT AND RADIO HAVE BEEN REPLACED DUE TO ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THE DEALER STATED THAT ALL OF THE FAILURES WERE RELATED TO AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,473.

Steering
Filed Mar 15, 201027,423 milesCA

2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU STEERING FREE WHEELS AT TIMES JERKS SIDE TO SIDE AT TIMES AT ANY SPEED. BRAKES FADE AT TIMES RUMBLE .THIS WEEK I CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS WAITING TO HEAR WHAT I SHOULD DO. DID SEARCH ON INTERNET AND I SEEN HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE SAME PROBLEM .AND THEY SAY DEALER CANNOT REPAIR .HAS ANYONE INVESTIGATED MALIBU STEERING PROBLEMS IT SCARES ME WHEN IT STOPS WORKING .ALL AT ONCE THE STEERING JERKS SIDE TO SIDE .HARD TO TURN AT LOW SPEED .CAR HAS 27000 MILES AND HAS HAD INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH STEERING AND BRAKES SINCE I BOUGHT IT AFRAID TO TAKE IT TO DEALER THEY SAY NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT BUT I SAY THERE WRONG . *TR

Steering
Filed Mar 14, 201037,000 milesCT

THERE WAS A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING MECHANISM, ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEED. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. IT WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $371. *TR

Steering
Filed Mar 10, 2010CA

I AM HEARING A "KNOCKING" WHEN I TURN THE VEHICLE LEFT OR RIGHT. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD MANY INTERNET REPORTS OF STEERING PROBLEMS. I WILL BE TAKING MY VEHICLE IN TODAY MARCH 10,2010 TO SEE IF THIS IS IN FACT THE PROBLEM. I AM JUST BEING PRECAUTIOUS DUE TO THE HIGH VOLUME OF COMPLAINTS BEFORE MINE. THE PROBLEM OCCURS EVERYTIME I TURN. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Mar 8, 201045,000 milesAR

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

Steering
Filed Mar 4, 201031,000 milesOK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE AND IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL IT. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO LOCKED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND THE COMPUTER WAS REPROGRAMMED, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. HE WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN ROD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

Steering
Filed Mar 3, 201020,000 milesPA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION, THERE WAS A HESITATION IN THE VEHICLE RESPONDING TO DRIVER INPUT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING MOTOR IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. LATER, WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE IN EITHER DIRECTION, HE HEARD A CLANKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER ADDED GREASE TO THE STEERING WHEEL TO CORRECT THE FAILURE, HOWEVER THE REPAIRS WOULD ONLY LAST TEMPORARILY AND HE WOULD HAVE TO CONTINUE HAVING GREASE ADDED IN ORDER FOR IT TO FUNCTION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD PERSIST FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE AND ONCE THE VEHICLE REACHED 32,000, THE REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 32,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 08/13/10. *LJ UPDATED 08/23/10*JB

Steering
Filed Mar 2, 201040,000 milesMI

MY 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU HAS THE SAME ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTOR PROBLEMS THAT GM ISSUED RECALLS FOR THE COBALT AND G5 TODAY. THE CAR SPORADICALLY HAS TREMORS THAT HAPPEN MAINLY AT LOW SPEED BUT HAS HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WILL THE RECALL BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE MALIBUS? *TR

Steering
Filed Mar 2, 201030,000 milesFL

STEERING PROBLEM: STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATES WHILE CAR IS IDLING, ALSO HAS A CATCH AT OR NEAR CENTER POINT WHILE DRIVING. IT TRIES TO LOCK AND THEN RELEASE. WILL ALSO OSCILLATE WHILE TRAVELING. HAPPENS AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS BUT IS MOSTLY DRIVEN IN THE 35 TO 55MPH RANGE. ALSO IS AFFECTED WITH BRAKE PRESSURE. DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. IT SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING MORE OFTEN BUT WITH NO PATTERN. *TR

Steering
Filed Mar 2, 201028,800 milesOR

2008 CHEVY MALIBU POWER STEERING FAILURE. *TR

Steering
Filed Mar 2, 201028,800 milesOR

2008 CHEVY MALIBU POWER STEERING FAILURE. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Feb 18, 201020,530 milesCO

MY 2008 CHEVY MALIBU LTZ HAS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IT STALLS OUT WHEN YOU GO FROM PARK TO THE 1ST GEAR, THAN FROM 1ST GEAR TO 2ND AND FROM 2ND GEAR TO 3RD GEAR. WHAT HAPPENS IS THE TRANSMISSION STALLS OUT LONG ENOUGH TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR OTHER TYPE OF INCIDENT. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS MOST OF THE TIME AND HAS BEEN GOING ON NOW FOR SIX MONTHS. IT HAS STALLED OUT CLIMBING VAIL PASS, THE EISENHOWER TUNNEL CLIMB AND DESCENT AND I-70 EST OF I-15 IN UTAH THROUGH THE HIGH ELEVATIONS. THIS VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY GOES INTO NEUTRAL AND THAN RE-ENGAGES. FURTHERMORE, WHEN THE CAR SHIFTS FROM 2ND TO 3RD IT GOES INTO A STALL AND THE RPM'S INCREASE TO AROUND 4000 BEFORE IT ACTUALLY CHANGES INTO THE NEXT GEAR... THE OTHER SEVERE PROBLEM IS WHILE DRIVING MY CAR THROUGH A VERY LONG TUNNEL ON 9-17-09; THE FUEL GAGE WENT FROM FULL TO EMPTY (NO FUEL) AND LOW FUEL LAMP CAME ON. ON-STAR SAID "SYSTEM HAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM". THE CAUSE: FUEL VAPOR LINE HANGING UP FUEL LEVEL SENDER CAUSING GAUGE TO READ INACCURATELY J7815 (CODE P0461) FOUND IN BULLETIN #09-06-04-007A. *TR

Steering
Filed Feb 13, 2010NJ

2008 CHEVY MALIBU STEERING SEEMS TO BE ENTIRELY TOO LOSE. CAR LOSES CONTROL FOR QUICK INSTANCES. CHEVY CANT SEEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM. *TR

Structure
Filed Feb 12, 2010250 milesNC

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

Steering
Filed Feb 9, 201044,001 milesFL

A RECENTLY PURCHASED 2008 CHEVY MALIBU LT HAS SOME SERIOUS STEERING ISSUES, (THIS CAR HAS ELECTRIC STEERING) WHEN DRIVING AT LOW OR HIGH SPEEDS THE WHEEL FEELS LIKE IT IS FIGHTING AGAINST YOU, IT FEELS LIKE THERE IS A LOT OF RESISTANCE THERE. ALSO AT IDLE WITH YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE WHEEL WILL PULSE BACK AND FORTH, LEFT AND RIGHT WITHOUT TOUCHING THE WHEEL. I INFORMED THE DEALER WHO SAID IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY (44,000MILES) AND COULDN'T DO ANYTHING EVEN THOUGH HE ACKNOWLEDGED THERE ARE SOME ISSUES WITH THE CAR. SCARED TO DRIVE. PLEASE HELP! *TR

Steering
Filed Feb 9, 201045,485 milesAL

ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING PROBLEMS CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO JERK TO LEFT AND RIGHT. *TR

Steering
Filed Feb 8, 20105,000 miles00

-2008 CHEV. MALIBUE 2LT 2.4 4 CYLENDER WITH POWER ELECTRIC STEERING. PROBLEM: WHEN YOU 1ST STRUP THE VEHICLE THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES BACK AND FORTH. YOU HAVE TO SHUT DOWN AND RE START THE VEHICLE TO STOP THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP HAS COMPLETELY CHANGED OUT THE STEERING COLUMN BUT IT STILL DOES IT TWICE IT HAS OCCURING WHILE DRIVING WHEN I 1ST STARTED UP AND I HAD TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND SHUT OFF THE MOTOR ETC. TO STOP THE SHAKING. THIS HAS HAPPENED APPROX: 15 TIMES SINCE I GOT THE VEHICLE NEW IN JAN/08

Steering
Filed Feb 2, 201055,000 milesOH

I DRIVE A 2008 MALIBU. 95% OF MY DRIVING IS DONE ON THE FREEWAY. I HAVE 55K MILES ON THE CAR AND THE STEERING STARTED TO SHAKE AND GET STIFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I LIVE IN OHIO AND THE WINTERS GET COLD. I FIRST THOUGHT THAT THIS MIGHT BE THE CAUSE OF IT BUT, AFTER READING SOME BLOGS ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE. I WENT TO MY CAR DEALER AND HE TOLD ME THAT IT IS NOT COVERED BECAUSE OF MY MILEAGE. I DO NOT CONSIDER THIS TO BE THE NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR OF A CAR AND I AM AFRAID THAT IF I DON'T GET THIS FIXED I WILL BE INJURED FROM FAILURE TO CONTROL MY CAR. SOMETIMES I WILL DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP TO WHERE I HAVE TO PULL ON IT HARD TO FREE IT UP. THE ONLY COARSE OF ACTION THAT I SEE THAT I CAN TAKE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE IS PAY GM TO FIX THEIR PROBLEM THAT WAS NOT A RESULT OF ABUSE OR NATURAL WEAR AND TEAR SINCE THEY HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL. IF WHO EVER READS THIS WOULD SIMPLY JUST GOOGLE THIS TOPIC YOU WILL SEE THAT THIS IS BECOMING A GROWING PROBLEM THAT WILL RESULT IN INJURIES IF GM DOES NOT RECALL IT. *TR

Structure
Filed Jan 31, 2010TX

WATER HAS BEEN LEAKING IN THE TRUNK OF MY 2008 CHEVY MALIBU 1LT HAD TAKEN IT IN AND THE SERVICE GUY HAD IT CHECKED OUT BY PUT AN EMPLOYEE INTO THE TRUNK AND IT SHOW THAT IT WAS LEAKING AT THE BACKUP LENS AND THEY WANT ME TO PAY FOR IT TO BE REPAIRED WHEN I DO BELIEVE THAT IT IS A MFT DEFECT. *TR

Reading these

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 →