There are 10 owner-reported body & structure complaints for the 2008 Chevrolet Malibuin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
PURCHASED A USED 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. VERY SHORTLY AFTER I COULD NOTICE A STRONG ODOR OF GAS COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AFTER DRIVING IT. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO REMOVED THE FUEL TANK AND DISCOVERED THAT A PLASTIC FEED LINE ON TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP MODULE HAD A SEVERE LEAK. I CONTACTED GM IN REGARD TO THE FACT THAT THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE HAS BEEN RECALLED ON THE EXACT SAME YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL AS MY VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD THAT MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL WAS OFFERED NO ADDITIONAL RESOLUTION OR SUPPORT. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE ONLY VEHICLES COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY WERE THOSE BOUGHT AND SOLD OR REGISTERED IN "WARM WEATHER" STATES, BUT KENTUCKY HAS 100 DEGREES VERY HUMID SUMMERS. IT'S IS CONSIDERED PART OF THE SOUTH , A REGION KNOWN FOR BEING VERY HOT IN THE SUMMER. ADDITIONALLY THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR AND REAR PASSENGER DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR DO NOT WORK UNDER POWER. THE ONLY WORK MANUALLY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS ALSO PRESENT ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE WIPER TRANSMISSION FAILED TO WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE WIPER TRANSMISSION, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK FAILED TO WORK. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DOOR LOCK MECHANISM, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT HAD TO CLOSE THE DOOR WITH FORCE TO GET THE DOOR TO SECURE. THE CONTACT ALSO HAD TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS TO ENSURE THE DOOR WAS LOCKED AND UNLOCKED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,768.
SUN ROOF ON PASSENGER DOOR LEAKING WATER AFTER IT RAIN. I WAS TOLD THAT RIGHT SIDE DRAIN WAS STOPPED UP. ON APRIL 12 THE SUN ROOF WAS LEAKING AGAIN. I THINK IT IS A DEFECT AND NEED A RECALL. I HAVE HAD CARS WITH SUN ROOF BEFORE AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH A MALIBU HAVING THIS ISSUE. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE CAR DEALERSHIP TOLD ME HE HAS A MALIBU AND IS ALSO HAVING THIS PROBLEM. OF COURSE IT IS NOT COSTING HIM $100 EVERY SIX MONTHS BECAUSE HE KNOWS HOW TO FIX IT. IF THIS IS HAPPENING EVERY 6 MONTHS, THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE PRODUCT. I SPOKE WITH GM CUSTOMER SERVICE BUT I DIDN'T GET ANY HELP. I WAS TOLD BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ORDERED TO RECALL THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.
DRIVER DOOR DOES NOT UNLOCK WITH REMOTE ALL THE TIME OR LOCK WITH REMOTE ALL THE TIME. ALSO THE COMPUTER THAT GIVES YOU OIL LIFE ,AVERAGE SPEED,AND OTHER READINGS IS GIVING THE WRONG READINGS. I TOOK THIS CAR TO A DEALER WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY SAID IT COULD NOT BE VERIFIED.THE DOOR LOCK IS AN INTERMITTANT PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER LOCKS FAILED ON THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AS WELL AS THE REAR DRIVER SIDE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS REPAIRED PREVIOUSLY BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
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 CAR WAS FLOODED FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASH BOARD OF THE FRONT SIDE OF DASHBOARD. MY CARPET FROM FRONT TO BACK GOT WET AND HAD A DEFECTIVE RIM. *TR
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