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2008 Chevrolet Malibu Classic

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 19 of 21 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

21 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE CONTACT WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE REMEDY. WHEN THE KEY WAS INSERTED IN THE IGNITION, THERE WAS NO SUPPORT TO MAINTAIN THE STABILITY OF THE KEY. TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE CONTACT WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE REMEDY. WHEN THE KEY WAS INSERTED IN THE IGNITION, THERE WAS NO SUPPORT TO MAINTAIN THE STABILITY OF THE KEY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOR OVER SIX MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THE IGNITION SWITCH CYLINDER WAS NOT REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10637578

100,000 miles · Jul 5, 2014
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

A SAFETY HAZARD EXISTS DUE TO POWER DOOR LOCKS NOT LOCKING/UNLOCKING CONSISTENTLY ON THREE OUT OF FOUR DOORS OF THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM COULD CAUSE OCCUPANTS, PARTICULARLY CHILDREN IN THE REAR SEATS, TO BECOME TRAPPED DURING AN EMERGENCY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10608366

74,000 miles · Jun 26, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesSuspensionCrashInjury

I WAS T BONED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING THE WRONG WAY ON A ONE WAY. I THEN WAS SENT UP A CURB 35 MPH HITTING A TREE HEAD ON DRAGGING THE CAR DOWN THE TREE THEN WENT UP A SMALL HILL ALMOST ENDING UP IN SOMEONES PORCH. I PASSED OUT AT SOME POINT. NOT ONE AIRBAG WENT OFF IN MY VEHICLE. I CONTACTED GM AND THEY REQUESTED PICTURES …

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I WAS T BONED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING THE WRONG WAY ON A ONE WAY. I THEN WAS SENT UP A CURB 35 MPH HITTING A TREE HEAD ON DRAGGING THE CAR DOWN THE TREE THEN WENT UP A SMALL HILL ALMOST ENDING UP IN SOMEONES PORCH. I PASSED OUT AT SOME POINT. NOT ONE AIRBAG WENT OFF IN MY VEHICLE. I CONTACTED GM AND THEY REQUESTED PICTURES FIRST. I SENT PICTURES OF THE MALIBU AND WAS TOLD THEY DIDN'T FEEL THE AIRBAGS SHOULD OF DEPLOYED. I WOULD HAVE TO FIND THE VEHICLE FOR THEM TO CHECK THE MODULE. I FOUND THE VEHICLE AND GM SAYS THE MODULE WAS NOW PUT IN ANOTHER VEHICLE AND I NOW HAVE TO FIND THAT VEHICLE. THIS NEXT PERSON MIGHT NOT LIVE THROUGH A ACCIDENT. WHY WOULDN'T THEY FIND THIS.VEHICLE AND CHECK THE MODULE? MY CAR WAS TOTALED. I WORRY ABOUT THE PERSON NOW DRIVING WITH THIS MODULE IN THEIR CAR! ISN'T THIS THE PROBLEM GM HAS NOW? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10606098

77,000 miles · Jun 26, 2014
Electrical SystemPower Train

I HAVE HAD TO DRIVE MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM TO RELEASE MY KEY FROM THE IGNITION A COUPLE TIME AND NEVER THOUGHT ANYTHING OF IT, BUT IN JUNE THE BEGINNING THE KEY WOULDN'T COME OUT. SO I CALLED THE DEALER TO FIND OUT I HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH ALONE WITH MY SHIFT THAT COST ME 884.00 DOLLARS. THEY CLAIM NO …

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I HAVE HAD TO DRIVE MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM TO RELEASE MY KEY FROM THE IGNITION A COUPLE TIME AND NEVER THOUGHT ANYTHING OF IT, BUT IN JUNE THE BEGINNING THE KEY WOULDN'T COME OUT. SO I CALLED THE DEALER TO FIND OUT I HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH ALONE WITH MY SHIFT THAT COST ME 884.00 DOLLARS. THEY CLAIM NO WARRANTIES. I CALLED CHEVROLET TO FIND THERE WAS RECALL,BUT IT WAS DONE JUST BEFORE I PURCHASE THE CAR IN 2009. BUT IT KIND OF BIZARRE THE KEY WAS STILL GETTING STUCK IF IT WAS REPLACE. IS THERE ANY WAY YOU CAN HELP ME TO RESOLVE THIS SITUATION. I AM CONCERN WHY THIS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACE,BECAUSE IF CONTINUE TO REPLACE WOULDN'T MEAN IT STILL A DEFEAT PART. PLEASE HELP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10606080

65,000 miles · Mar 31, 2014
Electrical System

THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO MOVE FROM OFF TO START POSITION AND THE GEAR SHIFT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO MOVE INTO GEAR; THIS HAS OCCURRED FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. I CALLED PREVIOUSLY AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VIN WASN'T PART OF ANY RECALL. I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT GM HASN'T RECOGNIZED THAT THIS VIN ALSO HAS AN ISSUE, BUT J…

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THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO MOVE FROM OFF TO START POSITION AND THE GEAR SHIFT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO MOVE INTO GEAR; THIS HAS OCCURRED FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. I CALLED PREVIOUSLY AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VIN WASN'T PART OF ANY RECALL. I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT GM HASN'T RECOGNIZED THAT THIS VIN ALSO HAS AN ISSUE, BUT JUST HASN'T IDENTIFIED MY VIN OR SENT ME THE INFORMATION. I ALSO HAD TO SPEND $1000 ON ANOTHER ISSUE WITH THIS MALIBU, WHICH I CALLED AGAIN TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL AND THERE WASN'T. PLEASE CHECK OUT MY COMPLAINTS BEFORE ANOTHER ACCIDENT OCCURS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10576057

97,600 miles · Mar 28, 2014
Steering

I FEEL THAT I EXPERIENCED THE SAME POWER STEERING FAILURE THAT AFFECTED OTHER MALIBUS (AND CHEVROLETS) AND THAT MY REPAIR SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER CHEVROLET SPECIAL BULLETIN #10183. HOWEVER, SOMETHING ABOUT MY VEHICLE'S BUILD KEPT MY VIN FROM BEING INCLUDED IN THE RANGE FOR THIS EXTENDED COVERAGE. I FIRST EXPERIENCED …

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I FEEL THAT I EXPERIENCED THE SAME POWER STEERING FAILURE THAT AFFECTED OTHER MALIBUS (AND CHEVROLETS) AND THAT MY REPAIR SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER CHEVROLET SPECIAL BULLETIN #10183. HOWEVER, SOMETHING ABOUT MY VEHICLE'S BUILD KEPT MY VIN FROM BEING INCLUDED IN THE RANGE FOR THIS EXTENDED COVERAGE. I FIRST EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS ON FEBRUARY 13, 2014. MY VEHICLE HAD 97,600 MILES ON IT. AFTER I STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE CAR MADE A DINGING SOUND AND THE WORDS "POWER STEERING"' FLASHED ON MY RADIO INFORMATION SCREEN. I TRIED TO DRIVE A FEW FEET BUT FOUND I HAD NO POWER STEERING ASSIST. I HAD TO STOP AND START THE CAR A COUPLE TIMES BEFORE GETTING POWER STEERING BACK. ON FEBRUARY 16, I EXPERIENCED THE SAME LOSS OF POWER STEERING (AUDIBLE DING, DISPLAY READ "'POWER STEERING" AND I HAD NO POWER STEERING). AFTER RESTARTING, THE ASSIST RETURNED. ON FEBRUARY 19, POWER STEERING FAILED THREE TIMES IN THE LAST TWO MILES OF MY COMMUTE. RESTARTING THE VEHICLE AT A STOPLIGHT SOLVED THE PROBLEM TWICE. AFTER THE FINAL FAILURE THAT MORNING, I DROVE THE REST OF THE WAY WITHOUT POWER STEERING. THAT NIGHT, I WAS UNABLE TO KEEP POWER STEERING FUNCTIONING AND DROVE THE 12 MILE TRIP HOME WITHOUT POWER STEERING. IN ADDITION, WHEN STOPPED AND WHILE DRIVING, MY STEERING WHEEL WOULD MOVE BY ITSELF. THIS OCCURRED RANDOMLY BETWEEN FEBRUARY 13 AND 19. THE AMOUNT OF MOVEMENT VARIED FROM A RAPID SHAKE TO UP TO A 1 INCH SWING FROM CENTER. TOOK TO CHEVROLET DEALER WHICH DIAGNOSED "TRACED TO INTERNAL FAULT IN STEERING COLUMN. REPLACED STEERING COLUMN TO CORRECT." *TR

NHTSA ODI #10575401

112,000 miles · Mar 13, 2014
SteeringCrash

I LOST POWER STEERING WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON A SEMI CURVE WHILE RAINING LIGHTLY. THE CAR KEPT GOING TO THE LEFT AND I COULD NOT STEER. I PRESSED BRAKES AND CAR SPUN. I ALMOST HIT A SIGN ON THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THANK GOD NOTHING HAPPENED TO ME NOR MY SON. THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS INVOLVED EITHER. THERE WAS A TRUCK COMING ON THE…

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I LOST POWER STEERING WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON A SEMI CURVE WHILE RAINING LIGHTLY. THE CAR KEPT GOING TO THE LEFT AND I COULD NOT STEER. I PRESSED BRAKES AND CAR SPUN. I ALMOST HIT A SIGN ON THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THANK GOD NOTHING HAPPENED TO ME NOR MY SON. THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS INVOLVED EITHER. THERE WAS A TRUCK COMING ON THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION BUT HE STOPPED. OTHERWISE, WE WOULD HAVE COLLIDED. I GOT ON THE DITCH. I WAS ABLE TO GET BACK ON ROAD AND DRIVE TO NEAREST GM/CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR 2 DAYS AND FOUND OUT THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR CONTROL MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR $703 INCLUDING LABOR. THERE WAS A RECALL IN CANADA FOR THE SAME PART (TRANSPORT CANADA RECALL # 2012331: MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER 12221) BUT AS OF NOW I HAVE NOT FOUND THE RECALL IN USA. WHY?? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10569067

41,000 miles · Sep 4, 2013
Electrical System

MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU (PURCHASED NEW) WITH 41,000 MILES. RECENTLY, I NOTICED MY BACK DOOR CAR LOCKS DID NOT WORK. I CALLED THE DEALER AND AM TOLD WE NEED NEW ACTUATORS; NO RECALL AS IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I DISAGREE - PRESSING A LOCK ON YOUR DOOR SHOULD LOCK YOUR DOOR. PLUS WHEN I MANUALLY LOCK THE D…

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MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU (PURCHASED NEW) WITH 41,000 MILES. RECENTLY, I NOTICED MY BACK DOOR CAR LOCKS DID NOT WORK. I CALLED THE DEALER AND AM TOLD WE NEED NEW ACTUATORS; NO RECALL AS IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I DISAGREE - PRESSING A LOCK ON YOUR DOOR SHOULD LOCK YOUR DOOR. PLUS WHEN I MANUALLY LOCK THE DOORS, IF AN EMERGENCY AROSE I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO UNLOCK THE BACK DOORS WITHOUT CRAWLING INTO THE BACK SEAT TO UNLOCK. THE DEALER QUOTED A COST OF $250 PER DOOR PLUS LABOR. MY POINT IS - THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN TO ME AND MY FAMILY. I PHONED GM AND AM AGAIN TOLD IT IS NOT A SAFETY CONCERN. AGAIN, I POLITELY DISAGREED. IS IT POSSIBLE FOR THE NTSA TO REVIEW THIS ISSUE WITH GM? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CONSIDERING MY CONCERN. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10541886

2,000 miles · Aug 1, 2013
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Structure

WHEN WE PURCHASED THE MALIBU LTZ V6 FULLY LOADED , LEATHER SEATS ALL THE UPGRADED OPTIONS I THOUGHT I WAS GETTING A "EXCELLENT" CAR. I WAS DELUSIONAL ! WITHIN A COUPLE OF MONTHS I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY RADIO, AND COMPONENTS IN THE RADIO SAYING" AUX INPUT DEVICE" AND IT KEPT TURNING ON AND OFF ! I CALLED CHEVROLET IN GREEN COVE S…

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WHEN WE PURCHASED THE MALIBU LTZ V6 FULLY LOADED , LEATHER SEATS ALL THE UPGRADED OPTIONS I THOUGHT I WAS GETTING A "EXCELLENT" CAR. I WAS DELUSIONAL ! WITHIN A COUPLE OF MONTHS I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY RADIO, AND COMPONENTS IN THE RADIO SAYING" AUX INPUT DEVICE" AND IT KEPT TURNING ON AND OFF ! I CALLED CHEVROLET IN GREEN COVE SPRINGS FLORIDA AND ASKED THEM ABOUT IT AND THEY SAID IT WAS "NOTHING" IT WASN'T NOTHING ! I WAS TOLD OF COURSE "AFTER MY WARRANTY EXPIRED" THAT IT WAS THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM! AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY MORE THEN $3,000 TO FIX IT! NICE GM! BECAUSE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS WIRED INTO THE RADIO SO WHEN THEY RADIO HAS A PROBLEM GUESS WHAT LADIES AND GENTLEMEN ? EVERYTHING GOES TO HELL ! ALSO MY MOTORS ON ALL MY DOORS HAVE FAILED AT LEAST ONCE AND NOW BECAUSE MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS GOING MY DOORS OPEN AND CLOSE WHEN THEY WANT TO ! I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 70 MILES AND HOUR AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AS IF I HAD NO POWER AGAIN THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG ! THIS IS MY FIRST CHEVROLET AND MY LAST ! I AM TRADING THIS GARBAGE IN FOR A FOREIGN CAR ! PROBABLY A FIAT ! THANK YOU ! GM SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES WE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE BAILED THEM OUT AND THEY HAVE CHINA WHO BTW HATES US ! MAKING PARTS FOR OUR CARS ! OMG I JUST LOVE THIS COUNTRY ! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10533168

57,200 miles · Jul 21, 2013
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

DOOR LOCKS ARE FAILING TO LOCK AND UNLOCK, WITH THE KEY FOB OR, WITH THE INSIDE SWITCH, FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE OR FROM EITHER ONE OF THE THREE OTHER DOORS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AS, IF SOMEONE IS ABOUT TO GET ROBBED, RAPED, BEAT UP OR A CAR JACKING IS ABOUT TO OCCUR AND, THE DOOR LOCKS FAILS TO LOCK OR UNLOCK THEN, SOMEON…

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DOOR LOCKS ARE FAILING TO LOCK AND UNLOCK, WITH THE KEY FOB OR, WITH THE INSIDE SWITCH, FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE OR FROM EITHER ONE OF THE THREE OTHER DOORS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AS, IF SOMEONE IS ABOUT TO GET ROBBED, RAPED, BEAT UP OR A CAR JACKING IS ABOUT TO OCCUR AND, THE DOOR LOCKS FAILS TO LOCK OR UNLOCK THEN, SOMEONE COULD GET RAPED, INJURED OR EVEN KILLED. PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO THIS MESSAGE AND TAKE ACTION AGAINST GENERAL MOTORS TO GET THIS ISSUE RESOLVED. I THINK, ALONG WITH EVERY OTHER 08 OR 09 MALIBU OWNERS, THAT GENERAL MOTORS IS USING THIS FOR A "CASH COW" AS THEY TOO ARE UNWILLING TO BUDGE AND DO THE RIGHT THING BY MAKING AND INSTALLING AN UPGRADED LOCKING SYSTEM THAT WILL LAST FOR MORE THAN FIVE YEARS. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10526001

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.