There are 50 owner-reported electrical system complaints for the 2008 Chevrolet Malibuin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated he was unable to start the vehicle, and the security lock warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while his partner was driving approximately 30 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the brake lights failed to activate or respond as designed. The contact confirmed that at night when the brake pedal was depressed, the brake lights failed to illuminate; however, when the brake pedal was released the brake lights illuminated. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed. The mechanic determined that the brake light switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the brake light failure recurred. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V252000 (Electrical System, Exterior Lighting, Vehicle Speed Control, Electronic Stability Control). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and had informed the contact that NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V252000 (Electrical System, Exterior Lighting, Vehicle Speed Control, Electronic Stability Control) had been repaired in December of 2014. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.
Brake lights automatically come on when you don't touch the brakes and go off when you do. GM has had at least 2 recalls on this problem which this vehicle has gone through and now at 177,000 miles there was a 3 recall which GM won't honor due to high mileage. If it was unsafe at 150,000 miles why is it not unsafe now? We've had it fixed on our own which cost $200.00 and lasted all of 5-6 months.
The car starts to violently shake and the the engine service light starts to flash. The ABS light stays on and the car runes terribly. The system says a spark plug coil has burned out. Locate the ba coil and replace it, car runs great until another coil burns out and the process starts over again. During each occurance the steering is affected by pulling hard to one side or the other when the brake is applied.
I have had trouble with my 2008 Chevy Malibu LS for the last 6 years I did not know that there was a recall on it back in 2008 I called GM I spoke to Chevrolet service representative and she said that it was repaired in 2008 this is what year my car was made so it is impossible for it to be prepared I asked her for where she gave me two the beginning of a name and then she changed her mind and said they are no information or when or where it was repaired this car has had a previous owner and this car stutters and jerks I cannot drive it it needs to be fixed and repaired I have wasted money before I found out this recall she said the recall was closed in 2014 I asked to speak to someone else and she would not give me a number or a name and said that she was the only person who could talk to the manager so I need help with this situation because I have two small grandchildren one seven and one six months and I cannot drive this car knowing if it will stop on the side of the road or middle of the lane
I was driving down hwy 79 and all of a sudden my car traxtion control light, service ESC,service traction, and,engine reduce power and check engine light came on.
Intermittent issue with symptoms that reflect the conditions documented in GM Recall Bulletin 13063D. GM states that this repair has already been completed however the condition is being experienced in this vehicle. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Campaign ID Number for this recall is 14V252
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that the anti-theft lock warning light was blinking. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted or informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
I AM EXPERIENCING THE EXACT ISSUES DETAILED IN THE RECALL FOR THE LATER CHEVY MALIBU MODELS, ALTHOUGH BEING A 2008, MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED. THE 'SERVICE ESC', 'ESC OFF', CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT, AND TRACTION LIGHTS STAY ON. WITH THESE ON, I CANNOT ACCELERATE PAST 20MPH. IT HAS BEEN AN OFF AND ON PROBLEM FOR THE 2.5 YEARS I'VE HAD THE VEHICLE AND DESPITE TAKING IT IN SEVERAL TIMES TO BE WORKED ON, THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION EVERY TIME THESE WARNINGS HAVE COME ON.
THE MAIN CONCER I HAVE IS (1)WHILE DRIVING AND CAR IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET, THE CAR ACCERLERATED ON IT'S OWN. ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAS HAPPEN SEVERAL MORE TIMES SINCE. (2)THE CAR BEGINS TO SLOW DOWN. I CANNOT DRIVE MORE THE 10 MILE PER HOUR, THE RPM GAGE GOES HIGH BUT THE CAR DOES NOT. (3)ALSO, THE CAR ABS LIGHT COMES ON WITH NORMAL DRIVING IN THE CITY, UNKNOWN CAUSE. (4)THE CAR SEEMS TO HAVE ELECTRICAL ISSUES, I'VE CHANGED HEAD LIGHTS TWICE, HORN FUSES BLOWN MULTIPLE TIMES, THE AIR CONDITIONER HAS GONE OFF 3X NOW, AND ON THE HEAT/AIR CONTROL PANEL MAKES A CLOCKNG NOISE, EVEN IF I WANT TO USE THE WIPERS.
HEADLIGHTS NOT WORKING PROPER AND LEAKING GAS TANK JUST BOUGHT THE CAR USED A WEEK AGO THE GAS LEAKS WHILE IM DRIVING
LOW BEAMS ON MY 2008 CHEVY MALIBU INTERMITTENTLY TURN OFF AND ON. INITIALLY, I THOUGHT BULBS HAD DIED SO I REPLACED ONE THEN THE OTHER, HOWEVER, SAME ISSUE STILL EXISTS. SOMETIMES WHEN I AM DRIVING AT NIGHT ON THE FREEWAY, BOTH LIGHTS WILL JUST GO OUT. I HAVE PULLED OVER AND GIGGLED WIRES TO LIGHTS AND USUALLY I CAN GET AT LEAST ONE TO GO BACK ON, HOWEVER, THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS DEFAULT THAT SHOULD BE RESOLVED BEFORE A DEADLY ACCIDENT HAPPENS AS A RESULT OF HEADLAMPS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY.
SO MY HEADLIGHT PASSENGER SIDE TO BE EXACT THE LIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT AN I'VE CHANGE THE BULB AT LEAST 3 TIME IN THE LAST MONTH AND A HALF. *TR
I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS THE COMPUTER CRASHED (CODE U0100 ECM PCMA) UNFORTUNATELY THE CAR DOESN'T START AT ALL SO NOW I MAY HAVE TO GET A NEW CAR BECAUSE THE CAR LOT DOESN'T WANT TO PAY FOR IT. *TR
THE VEHICLE STARTS RIGHT UP WHEN IT HAS NOT BEEN RUNNING. IF I DRIVE THE CAR FOR MORE THAN 20-30 MINUTES AND SHUT THE CAR OFF THE VEHICLE WILL NOT CRANK OR START. I HAVE TO WAIT FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR OR LONGER BEFORE THE VEHICLE STARTING AGAIN. NO MECHANIC HAS BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE THE PROBLEM OUT. I HAVE HAD THE STARTER CHANGED, THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR CHECK OUT GOOD. *TR*DT*JB
MY IGNITION SWITCH WENT BAD. ALL OTHER COMPONENTS WORKING FINE. I DROVE IT AT 7AM WITH NO ISSUES. PARKED UNTIL 3PM, WENT TO START AND I HAD POWER BUT ABSOLUTELY NO START OR CRANK.
LOW BEAM PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WORKS INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. IT TURNS OUT THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS BURNING OUT. THIS IS NOT AN EASY FIX FOR THIS MODEL, TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY THE ENTIRE FRONT BUMPER NEEDS TO BE REMOVED. I WAS TICKETED AND HAD TO PAY THE FINE SINCE I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET A SHOP TO TAKE OFF THE BUMPER WITHIN THE 24 HOUR GRACE PERIOD ALLOTTED BY THE LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT.
CAR WILL NOT START AFTER ENGINE HAS HEATED UP THE FUSE BOX. COLD STARTS ARE OK. ONCE THE FUSE BOX HAS COOLED THE CAR WILL START AGAIN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DUNN CHEVROLET BUICK (LOCATED AT 3000 DUSTIN RD, OREGON, OH 43616, (419) 442-7814) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A TUNE UP WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V2520000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL); HOWEVER, THE DEALER DECLINED TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.
THE VEHICLE STAYS ON AND RUNNING WHEN I CUT THE CAR OFF AND REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT TURN OFF EVEN AFTER THE KEY IS REMOVED AND THE DOORS AND CLOSED. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY RUNNING AND THERE ARE NO KEYS IN THE IGNITION.
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026