NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
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
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.
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
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
I OWN A 2008 CHEVY MALIBU THAT WAS BOUGHT NEW OFF THE LOT. THE DOOR LOCKS ON BOTH BACK DOORS AND THE PASSENGER DOOR STARTED MALFUNCTIONING A FEW MONTHS AGO, AND NOW EVEN THE DRIVER DOOR LOCK IS INOPERABLE. I HAVE CHANGED THE BATTERIES IN THE FOBS, TO NO AVAIL. I HAD ONSTAR ALSO DO THE AUTO UNLOCK, BUT THIS TOO IN UNSUCCESSFUL. I PURCHASED ALL EXTENDED WARRANTIES THE COMPANY HAD TO OFFER, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THEY ONLY COVER UP TO 36,000 MILES. I AM CURRENTLY AT 36,000 MILES AND UNFORTUNATELY OUT OF LUCK. THE SERVICE CENTER WANTS $90 JUST TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE BEFORE THEY EVEN TELL ME WHAT THE COSTS MAY BE. *TR
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
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 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 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
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
2008 MALIBU CHEVY HAS MAJOR CLINKING NOISE IN STEERING AND STEERING IS SHIFTING TO THE LEFT JUST BOUGHT IT PREOWNED AND HYUNDAI OF 112 IN LONG ISLAND IS GIVING ME A RUN AROUND EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS UNDER A 90 DAY WARRANTY . AND THEY DON'T SEEM TO WANNA KEEP TO THERE END OF THE BARGAIN. THEY HAVE RIPPED ME OFF AND ARE DOING ILLEGAL ACTIONS AGAINST CONSUMERS LIKE ME THEY. HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF ME AND I DON'T HAVE THE TYPE OF MONEY TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS WHEN THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THIS. *TR
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.
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
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
THE POWER DOOR LOCKS DO NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK WHEN THE VEHICLE GEAR SHIFT IS PUT IN PARK OR DRIVE. THE FIRST LOCK BECAME DISABLED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS REPAIRED.. NOW THE REMAINING (3) THREE POWER LOCKS DO NOT FUNCTION.. THEY STOPPED FUNCTIONING WHEN THE WARRANTY ENDED... I DID NOT REPAIR THEM BECAUSE THE COST IS A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS PER LOCK.. I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR IGNITION OFF WHILE THE TRANSMISSION IS IN DRIVE AND THEN PUT THE SHIFTER IN PARK. OTHERWISE I HAVE TO GO AROUND TO EACH DOOR AND LOCK THEM MANUALLY.. VERY EMBARRASSING.. NOT CERTAIN OF THE POSSIBLE SAFETY HAZARD THOUGH. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED BOTH WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND EVEN WHEN IT WAS NOT. THERE WERE NO OTHER WARNING LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE SENSOR, FUSE AND OTHER PARTS. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 42,000.
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
2008 CHEVY MALIBU POWER STEERING FAILURE. *TR
2008 CHEVY MALIBU POWER STEERING FAILURE. *TR
DOORS STOPPED LOCKING WHEN THE CAR IS PUT INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE, AND UNLOCKING WHEN IN PARK. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WE CARRY A TODDLER/CHILD IN THE BACK SEAT AND THEY ARE NOT LOCKED IN, AND COULD OPEN THE DOOR. WE ARE TOLD THIS IS VERY COMMON IN MALIBU'S AND THE DEALER MAINTAINS AN INVENTORY OF ACTUATOR'S TO REPAIR ALL OF THE VEHICLES THAT ARE BROUGHT IN. *TR
MY 2008 CHEVY MALIBU 1LT HAS SEVERAL PROBLEMS, LET ME EXPLAIN. FIRST THE PROBLEM WAS A SLIGHT CLICKING, POPPING IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL, THEN IT STARTING DOING IT EVERY TIME I SLIGHTLY TURN THE WHEEL YOU CAN FEEL IT THROUGH THE STEERING COLUMN, NOTHING BAD BUT ITS ANNOYING, THEN SUDDENLY WITHIN A COUPLE MONTHS OF THAT MY POWER LOCKS SUDDENLY STARTED GOING UP AND DOWN BY THEMSELVES PERIODICALLY WHETHER IT'S PARKED OR BEING DRIVEN, LOCKED ME OUT TWO TIMES, I WAS LATE FOR WORK BECAUSE I HAD TO CALL DOOR UNLOCKING SERVICE, ALSO THE MANUAL LOCKS ON THE DOOR USED TO LOCK AND UNLOCK WON'T WORK AT ALL, YOU HAVE TO MANUALLY USE YOUR HAND, THEN TO BEAT IT ALL MY SEATBELT WONT LOCK I TRIED TO CLICK IT BUT IT WONT EVEN GO DOWN HARDLY AT ALL, THIS IS ONLY THE SEATBELT IN THE DRIVERS SIDE. THIS IS A REAL BAD SAFETY ISSUE AND THE LAW IN KY (CLICK IT OR TICKET) SO FAR THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY IS GOING ON FOR NOW. I DO KNOW THIS FOR A FACT I WILL NEVER BUY A CHEVROLET. *TR
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
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
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
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
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
-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
I HAVE A 2008 CHEVY MALIBU, WITH 42,000 MILES AND IT HAS ELECTRIC POWER STEERING AND IT SEEMS THAT THE POWER STEERING IS ABOUT TO GO OUT. A MESSAGE HAS ONLY APPEARED ONCE ON THE INDICATOR SCREEN IN THE DASH ABOUT THE POWER STEERING, BUT THE STEERING WHEEL CONTINUOUSLY SHAKES AND IT STEERING FEELS LIKE IT WANTS TO LOCK UP. NOW MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. THE DIAGNOSTICS SAYS IT HAS TO DO WITH THE CAM ACTUATOR SENSOR???? *TR
THE DOOR LOCK MOTORS HAVE GONE OUT ON BOTH THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND THE DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER DOOR. THE BACK DOOR WENT OUT FIRST FOLLOWED BY THE FRONT DOOR. THE PROBLEM OCCURS ALL THE TIME, THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK AT ALL. WE HAVE NOT REPAIRED THIS ISSUES SIMPLY BECAUSE WE CANNOT AFFORD THE EXTRA EXPENSE. *TR
ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING, SPEED DOESN'T CHANGE OUTCOME, DOOR LOCKS WILL CONTINUE TO LOCK AND UNLOCK BY THEMSELVES AND CAR ALARM WILL GO OFF AND WILL SET ITSELF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THIS IS VERY DISTRACTING TO THE ME, THE DRIVER AND TO THE DRIVERS AROUND MY CAR. THUS POTENTIALLY CAUSING A CRASH. ALSO, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL ILLUMINATE UNTIL YOU PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL THEN THEY GO OFF. THIS IS DEFINITELY BACKWARD! THE DOORS WILL UNLOCK, SOMETIMES. HOWEVER, YOU WILL HAVE TO GUESS WHICH ONES WILL UNLOCK. USUALLY, THE ONES THAT UNLOCK ARE THE FRONT-RIGHT PASSENGER AND BACK-LEFT PASSENGER. THE REASON THE UNLOCK IS BECAUSE THEY DON'T LOCK! NO ONE CAN "DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM". THE DRIVER DOOR AND RIGHT-BACK DOOR SOMETIMES ARE UNABLE TO BE OPENED. THIS REQUIRING ME TO FIND A DOOR THAT CAN BE OPENED OR THAT DID UNLOCK AND CLIMB THROUGH TO THE DRIVERS SEAT. ALL OF THIS WHILE MAKING SURE MY AUTISTIC SON AND DAUGHTER REMAIN SAFE IN A PARKING LOT. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE, AS I PARK IN A PARKING GARAGE SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK ON A COLLEGE CAMPUS. UNFORTUNATELY, NEITHER KEY LESS REMOTES WORK EITHER! MOST RECENTLY THE SHIFTER CABLE HAS BROKEN. THE CARE WOULDN'T BUDGE. CHEVY WAS NOTIFIED, WE WERE TOLD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE CLOSEST CHEVY DEALER. JUST TO BE CHARGED A DIAGNOSTIC FEE, WE TOLD THEM THE PROBLEM, AND THEY DECIDED NOT TO COVER IT UNDER THE POWER TRAIN LIKE WE WERE TOLD WOULD HAPPEN. THEN TWO WEEKS AGO, THE SHIFTER CABLE BROKE AGAIN! THIS SEEMS VERY ODD. THE ENTIRE TIME I HAVE HAD THIS CAR WHEN I PRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS RUNNING OUT OF GAS OR LIKE ITS HAVING A HARD TIME SHIFTING. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED FROM THE BEGINNING WITH NO HELP. SO, THIS IS MY LAST REACH OUT FOR HELP. AS I HEAR ABOUT ALL THE CARJACKINGS, CARS GETTING STOLEN AND ROBBED, I JUST THINK MY CAR IS AN OPEN INVITATION! PLEASE HELP. CHEVY WOULDN'T HELP US EVEN UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
ERRATIC FUEL GAUGE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. 2008 CHEVY MALIBU. PROBLEM STARTED 2 MONTHS AGO, DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM DUE TO A DEFECTIVE, CHEAP PIECE OF METAL IN THE FUEL GAGE THAT EASILY CORRODES. CHEVROLET REFUSES TO RECALL PART EVEN THOUGH IT IS DEFECTIVE. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYING ON ALL OF THE TIME IS RELATED. I AM REQUESTING THAT AN INVESTIGATION BE CONDUCTED TO MAKE GM RECALL THE DEFECTIVE PART. THE CONSEQUENCE IS THAT I HAVE A CAR THAT HAS A DEFECTIVE PART, I NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH GAS I HAVE, I DON'T KNOW IF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON BECAUSE OF THE DEFECTIVE PART OR A REAL PROBLEM. THE RESALE VALUE OF THIS CAR IS EXTREMELY POOR . I BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE IT WAS "2008 CAR OF THE YEAR". THE COST TO REPAIR THIS CAR IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE AND THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT GM HAS KNOWN ABOUT FOR AT LEAST 10 YEARS YET THEY WILL NOT FIX THE PART. THIS CAN HAPPEN AT ANY SPEED, ANY TIME. I HAVE RUN OUT OF GAS WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED TO DISPLAY THE ACCURATE READING LEVEL AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.
2008 CHEVY MALIBU STEERING SEEMS TO BE ENTIRELY TOO LOSE. CAR LOSES CONTROL FOR QUICK INSTANCES. CHEVY CANT SEEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM. *TR
I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AS I NORMALLY DO. I TURNED THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION AND WENT TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT. IT GOT JAMMED. I HAD TO PULL IT OUT. IT TOOK ABOUT 10 MINS FOR ME TO GET IT OUT. THE FIRST TIME IT HAD HAPPENED WAS 10/27/09 AT ABOUT 9:15PM. *TR
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
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.
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
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
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
I WAS PUTTING AIR IN THE TIRE AND WHEN I RELEASED THE NOZZLE OF THE AIR HOSE THE VALVE STEM BROKE IN HALF AND THE HOSE FLEW BACK AND THE TOP HALF OF THE METAL PART OF THE VALVE STEM FLEW BACK. IT MISSED MY FACE AND FLEW ABOUT 2 FEET BEHIND ME. ALL THE AIR CAME OUT OF THE TIRE AT ONCE. I TOOK THE TIRE TO THE GMC DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE PART UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
POWER STEERING ON VEHICLE TEMPORARILY FAILS WHILE DRIVING. ALSO STEERING WHEEL OFTEN SHAKES FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHILE SITTING IDLE. *TR
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.
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
I WAS DRIVING APPROX 45 MILES PER HOUR ON A ONE LANE ROAD. MY CAR DIC DISPLAYED POWER STEERING THE WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE, PULLED TO THE LEFT AND BECAME VERY HARD TO STEER, ALMOST MAKING ME HIT THE CAR IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC, THE LADY DRIVING THE OTHER VEHICLE SWERVED ONTO THE SHOULDER WHICH PREVENTED THE ACCIDENT. I SHUT THE CAR OFF. A MECHANIC FRIEND OF MINE CAME TO MY LOCATION AND COULD NOT FIND ANY ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE BECAUSE APPARENTLY THE ELECTRIC ASSIST POWER STEERING RESETS ONCE THE VEHICLE IS SHUT OFF. THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC AND BY THE GRACE OF GOD IT WAS NOT. AFTER CHECKING ON THE INTERNET MY UNDERSTANDING IS I AM NOT A SOLE INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCING THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM WITH THE 2005 AND NEWER CHEVY MALIBU. PLEASE PREVENT THESE TYPE OF OCCURRENCES FROM CONTINUING BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. *TR
UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, ALL 3 BRAKE LIGHTS TURN ON AND REMAIN ON. THE LIGHTS REMAIN ON UNTIL THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. AT THAT POINT THE LIGHTS TURN OFF. IF YOU PRESS THE PEDAL AGAIN, THEY WILL COME BACK ON, BUT ONLY IF YOU SLAM YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE LIGHTS CYCLE ON EVERY 5 SECONDS, PROVIDING YOU DEPRESS THE BRAKE TO TURN THEM OFF. PRIMARY CONCERN IS THAT NO ONE KNOWS WHEN YOU ARE GOING TO STOP AND WHEN YOU DO STOP, THE BRAKE LIGHTS TURN OFF (WITH A HARD PUSH ON THE PEDAL). IT APPEARS THIS PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS AT NIGHT. I HAVE BROUGHT MY CAR TO A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES REGARDING THE ISSUE. EVERY TIME IT JUST 'STOPS'. NO REMEDY. THE PROBLEM REMAINS UNSOLVED. *TR
INITIALLY THE LEFT REAR DOOR LOCK MALFUNCTIONED - APPROXIMATELY 17 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE, WOULD NOT UNLOCK; PROBLEM CONTINUED AND THEN THE DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK. SPOKE WITH GM DEALER - NOT COVERED, PARTS COST $165 PLUS, THE NEXT LOCK TO MALFUNCTION WAS THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR, WOULD NOT UNLOCK; PROBLEM CONTINUED AND THEN THE DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK. CONTACTED GM DEALER - NO RECALL NOTICE OUT, NO WARRANTY COVERAGE. CONTACTED GM CUSTOMER CARE - NO RECALL OR WARRANTY COVERAGE.THE LATEST DOOR LOCK TO MALFUNCTION IS THE RIGHT REAR DOOR, WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK. WHET TO GM DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC SERVICE - COST $ 58.80, INFORMED, "NEED RIGHT FRONT AN BOTH REAR DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS, $ 784.24 INSTALLED - HAVE TO ORDER." IRONICALLY, THE ENTRY ALARM SYSTEM STILL FUNCTIONS IF IT HAS BEEN SET ALTHOUGH THE DOOR APPEARS, AND ACTUALLY IS, UNLOCKED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT EVERY TIME HE DROVE THE VEHICLE, HE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. BEFORE THE FAILURE, HE NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. HE HAD TO PULL OVER, TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART IT IN ORDER TO RESET THE POWER STEERING AND IT WOULD FUNCTION PROPERLY FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER WHO ADVISED HIM THAT HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OF THE REPAIR COSTS. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 49,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000. UPDATED 11/11/10 *BF UPDATED 11/18/10
THE DRIVER DOOR LOCKS STOPPED WORKING. WHEN I BROUGHT TO THE DEALER TO REPAIR, IT WAS DETERMINED THE ACTUATOR NO LONGER WORKED PROPERLY AND IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER ANOTHER SIX MONTHS, THE PASSENGER SIDE WENT OUT, THE UNIT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE FOLLOWING YEAR THE SAME PROBLEM RECURRED ON THE DRIVER SIDE. TODAY, NEITHER SIDE WORKS NOR DO THE KEY FOBS. THE COST TO REPAIR IS $350 PER LOCK. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING AND NOTED ISSUE WITH GM. THE MANUAL STATES "UNLOCKED DOORS CAN BE DANGEROUS". MANY MALIBU OWNERS HAVE LODGED COMPLAINTS ON INDEPENDENT SITES INCLUDING CHEVROLET MALIBU FORUM. *TR
THE CAR HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE SYATEM SETTING A CODE TO CHECK TRANSACTION AND ESC AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD STICK ON. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT ONCE EVERY 2 OR 3 MONTHS. NOW THAT THE GM RECALL HAS BEEN DONE IT IS SETTING THESE SAME CODES 2 OR 3 TIMES A DAY. BUT INSTEAD OF MY BRAKE LIGHTS BEING ON, THE BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T WORK, MY CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK, MY TAIL LIGHTS DON'T WORK THE CAR STILL SAYS SERVICE TRANSACTION AND ESC DAILY. THIS RECALL HAS MADE MY PROBLEM MUCH WORSE. IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AS I NEVER KNOW IF MY TAIL LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ARE WORKING OR IF MY ANTILOCKS OR STABILIZATION SYSTEMS WORK. GM NEEDS TO FIND A DIFFERENT SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM.