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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

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

3 reports
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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

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

125,232 miles · Jan 2, 2013
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EnginePower Train

2008 MALIBU SHOWS "ICE POSSIBLE" AND THEN TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN ENGINE POWER REDUCE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE ENGINE STARTS TO SLOW DOWN. THIS HAPPENS ON THE HIGH WAY, IN TRAFFIC, WHILE ACCELERATING AND HONESTLY GOING UP AND DOWN HILLS. TOOK TO SERVICE CENTER AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, HOWEVER AFTER …

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2008 MALIBU SHOWS "ICE POSSIBLE" AND THEN TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN ENGINE POWER REDUCE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE ENGINE STARTS TO SLOW DOWN. THIS HAPPENS ON THE HIGH WAY, IN TRAFFIC, WHILE ACCELERATING AND HONESTLY GOING UP AND DOWN HILLS. TOOK TO SERVICE CENTER AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, HOWEVER AFTER REPLACING THE VEHICLE IS STILL HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. CONTACTED CHEVROLET AND THEY TOLD ME TO HAVE THE RECALL ON THE VEHICLE DONE HOWEVER THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THE RECALL HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ISSUE AND HE DOESN'T KNOW WHY THE CAR IS DOING THAT. I HAVE LOOKED ON LINE AND NO ONE SEEMS TO HAVE A RESOLVE FOR THE ISSUE. THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A DEFECT AND SOMETHING THAT IS RECALLED IMMEDIATELY AS IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10490800

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.