Steering. Review the 460 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 231 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Exterior Lighting. Review the 106 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

30 crash reports5 fire reports15 injury reports

What owners actually said

987 reports

65,500 miles · Dec 11, 2013

Steering

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FIRST TIME IT HAPPEN SITTING AT A RED LIGHT AND THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED OUT OF MY HANDS AND A MESSAGE CAME A CROSSED THE DASH READING POWER STEERING IT WAS VERY HARD TO STEER BUT I MANAGED TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD TURNED THE CAR OFF AND LET IT SIT THEN STARTED THE BACK UP AND IT WAS WORKING AGAIN.IT HAS HAPPEN 4 MORE TIMES SINCE THE FIRST TIME AND I WAS MOVING THOSE TIMES AND YOU CAN NOT STEER THE CAR IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO HANDLE WHEN THE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER SHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT FROM THEY TOLD ME IT WAS COVERED ON A RECALL BUT THEY HAD TO TAKE IT TO A GM DEALER TO HAVE IT FIXED. NOW THE GM DEALER SAID IT IS NOT COVERED. BUT I HAVE FOUND THE SAME PROBLEM WITH ALOT OF CHEVY OWNERS WITH THE SAME YEAR & MAKE & MODEL AS MINE IT IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE AND I HAVE FOUND WERE GM HAS SENT OUT RECALL LETTERS WITH EXTENDED COVERAGE ON THE POWER STEERING FOR UP TO 100,000 MILES.THEY KNOW IT EXIST WHY ARE THEY PICKING AND CHOOSING WHICH ONES TO FIX AND NOT TO FIX. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT NOT ONLY PUT MY FAMILY IN IT.THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THERE PRODUCT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10555703

72,000 miles · Dec 9, 2013

Electrical SystemSteering

MY 2008 CHEVY MALIBU LTZ 4 CYLINDER LOST COMPLETE POWER TO THE POWER STEERING TODAY WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH. LUCKILY I'M YOUNG AND STRONG AND WAS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR INTO A PARKING LOT AND SAFELY EXIT IT. I SAW THAT THIS MODEL DOES NOT HAVE POWER STEERING FLUID SO NOW I NEED TO CONTACT THE DEALER AND FIX THIS PROBLEM AS THIS WAS V…

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NHTSA ODI #10555404

87,000 miles · Dec 6, 2013

Electrical SystemSteering

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AFTER TURNING THE CAR ON WHILE STILL IN PARK, THE WHEEL WOULD JERK FROM LEFT TO RIGHT BY ITSELF. ALSO OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT BOTH LOW AND HIGH SPEEDS. THE POWER STEERING WAS FAILING WITHOUT WARNING! IT WAS PARTICULARLY FRIGHTENING AT HIGH SPEEDS AND WOULD HAPPEN WITH NO WARNING. THIS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES ON MANY DIFFERENT OCCASIONS BEFORE THE CHIME SOUNDED AND THE WORDS POWER STEERING APPEARED ON MY DASH INFORMATION. AFTER BRINGING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY FIXED IT CITING THE PROBLEM AS "CODE 0475 - POWER STEERING MOTOR SHORTED INTERNALLY, REPLACED POWER STEERING MOTOR AND SET UP NEW MODULE". THE TOTAL COST WAS $847.87. AFTER DOING FURTHER RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT MANY 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBUS HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME EXACT ISSUE. IN TWO DIFFERENT RECALL LETTERS RELEASED BY GM IT WAS STATED "2008 MODEL YEAR CHEVROLET MALIBU...EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRIC POWER STEERING, MAY HAVE A CONDITION WHERE THERE IS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST". THE LETTER FURTHER STATED "FOR 2008 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER STEERING MOTOR CONTROL MODULE". WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ON MY VEHICLE AS PER MY DEALERSHIP RECEIPT. THE LETTER SAID "IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS ON YOUR 2008 MODEL YEAR CHEVROLET MALIBU VEHICLE WITHIN 10 YEARS OF THE DATE YOUR VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PLACED IN SERVICE OR 100,000 MILES, THE CONDITION WILL BE REPAIRED FOR YOU AT NO CHARGE". I CONTACTED GM WITH MY INFORMATION ATTEMPTING TO BE REIMBURSED. AFTER MULTIPLE PHONE CALLS AND EVERYONE TELLING ME MY VIN # WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO I FINALLY GAVE UP. TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY CHEVROLET SENT ME A LETTER STATING "PLEASE ACCEPT THIS LETTER WORTH UP TO $100 TOWARDS YOUR NEXT MAINTENANCE SERVICE OR REPAIR ON YOUR 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU". I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CAR FROM GM AND WILL SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10555071

50,000 miles · Nov 19, 2013

Power Train

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE THEN BECAME HARD TO SHIFT INTO GEAR BETWEEN REVERSE AND DRIVE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVEN OR EIGHT TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10552950

92,000 miles · Nov 15, 2013

Latches/locks/linkagesSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST INTERMITTENTLY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE DOOR LOCKS FOR ALL FOUR DOORS FAILED TO ENGAGE WHEN USING THE KEY FOB REMOTE. ALSO, WHEN SHIFTING THE VEHICLE INTO PARK THE DOORS FAILED TO UNLO…

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NHTSA ODI #10552435

76,277 miles · Nov 6, 2013

Steering

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I WAS DRIVING ON SUNDAY 11-03-2013 AND WAS PULLING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY ONTO A BUSY STREET WHEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN I HAD NO POWER STEERING AND THE WORDS POWER STEERING APPEARED ON MY DASHBOARD. IT TOOK 2 MEN TO HELP STEER THE CAR OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THIS CAR, PAUL MASSE CHEVROLET, EAST PROVIDENCE RI. I TOLD THEM I HAD RECEIVED A LETTER FROM CHEVROLET DATED JUNE 2012 ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM, BUT THE LETTER STATED IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM ,YOU SHOULD NOT BRING THE CAR IN FOR REPLACEMENT PART. THE DEALER LOOKED AT THE CAR AND STATED THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE TORQUE SENSOR NOT THE ELECTRICAL INPUT SIGNAL MENTIONED IN THE LETTER, THEREFORE, THE REPAIR WOULD BE GREATER THAN $900.00. THEY TOLD ME IF THE MODULE GOES OUT THEN BRING IT BACK AND THAT WOULD BE COVERED. NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE THAT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE CAR DOES NOT HAVE STEERING WITH NO WARNING AND ANYONE COULD GET HIT OR HIT ME AS I AM STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF SOME BUSY STREET. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE THE MODULE MENTIONED BECAUSE THEY SAID CHEVROLET WOULD NOT REIMBURSE THEM. I HOPE YOU CAN LOOK INTO THIS BECAUSE LOOKING AT COMPLAINTS ON YOUR SITE THERE ARE OVER 80 COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS VERY PROBLEM. I ALSO LEARNED CANADA RECALLED THESE MALIBU'S FOR THIS VERY SAME REASON. I SPOKE TO SOMEONE AT YOUR OFFICE AND SHE GAVE ME A CONFIRMATION # 10551103 HOWEVER I FELT SHE COULD NOT UNDERSTAND MY SITUATION AND I FELT THE NEED TO EXPLAIN IT IN WRITING. I HOPE SOMEONE CAN LOOK INTO THIS BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE TO ABRUPTLY LOOSE THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE STEERING.[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10551109

76,000 miles · Nov 6, 2013

Steering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 5 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND IT WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE TORQUE AND STEERING SENSOR HAD TO BE RECALIBRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76000. ..UPDATED 12-26-13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE TURNING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY, ONTO A BUSY STREET A MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD THAT READ POWER STEERING. IT TOOK TWO MEN TO PUSH THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.

NHTSA ODI #10551103

74,000 miles · Nov 5, 2013

Steering

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WHILE TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON APRIL 28, 2012, I WAS SITTING STILL ON AN INCLINE AND THE WHEEL BEGAN TO TURN BACK AND FORTH ON ITS ON. THE CAR LOT ASSURED ME IT WAS MOTOR MOUNTS, AN EASY FIX, AND I BOUGHT THE CAR. WITHIN A MONTH OR TWO, THE STEERING BECAME INCREASINGLY WORSE. TODAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013, I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON THE FREEWAY AND I AM A PETITE WOMAN(WEIGHING IN AT AROUND 110 LBS.) SO IT WAS VERY HARD FOR ME TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE ENDING COST FOR MY VEHICLE IS AROUND 15,000 AND IT HAS ONLY BEEN A YEAR AND A HALF SINCE THE TIME I PURCHASED IT. I CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10551012

115,508 miles · Nov 4, 2013

Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,508.

NHTSA ODI #10550845

69,800 miles · Nov 4, 2013

Steering

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STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHILE CAR IS IDLING AND DRIVING. PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT. POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL WHILE DRIVING, PULLING VEHICLE TO THE LEFT.GM HAD RECALLED MANY 2008 MALIBU VEHICLES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. STEERING WHEEL WARNING LIGHT WOULD EMIT. I CHECKED WITH MY LOCAL DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS COVERED. REPLACED DEFECTIVE PART, PROBLEM SOLVED. 2 WEEKS LATER RECEIVED A BILL FOR THE REPAIR, THE BILL STATED IT WASN'T COVERED SINCE MY VIN DIDN'T FALL IN THE BRACKETS OF VINS FOR REPAIR.GM DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT EITHER. THE DEALER DIDN'T CONTACT ME CONCERNING THE NON COVERAGE, JUST SENT ME A BILL. THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AS IT WOULD PULL THE CAR INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC.THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND NOT SURE WHY GM WON'T COVER MY VEHICLE.THEIR ATTITUDE SEEMS THAT SINCE THE VIN DOESN'T FALL IN THE CATEGORY, IT'S NOT THEIR PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10550759

Official recalls

14V252000 · Electrical System:wiring; Electronic Stability Control (esc); Exterior Lighting:brake Lights; Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch; Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control

May 14, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and harness connector, and will relearn the brake pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). GM's number for this recall is 13036.

Additional source detail variants (5)

Electronic Stability Control (esc)