What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2008 Chevrolet Malibu

Typical pattern

2.8% of complaints about the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2008 vehicle — around the middle of the 262 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 6.9 yr in service. The most-reported system is steering (463 complaints), typically at 6.8 yr or about 82,000 miles.

Complaints
1,488
Median age at failure
6.9 yr
Median mileage
80,000 n=1165
Crash / fire / tow
5.3% of reports
Safety recalls
5

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Steering
463 reports · 82,000 mi
6.8 yr
3%
Electrical system
231 reports · 80,000 mi
7.0 yr
4.8%
Exterior lighting
105 reports · 90,000 mi
8.9 yr
1.9%
Power train
89 reports · 88,000 mi
6.9 yr
10.1%
Latches / locks
71 reports · 50,000 mi
4.6 yr
0%
Electronic stability control (esc)
68 reports · 100,000 mi
9.0 yr
7.4%
Air bags
65 reports · 85,000 mi
7.1 yr
23.1%
Service brakes
62 reports · 88,000 mi
7.4 yr
6.5%
Engine
61 reports · 93,723 mi
8.2 yr
9.8%
Fuel / propulsion
44 reports · 96,988 mi
9.2 yr
0%
Other
43 reports · 109,000 mi
10.6 yr
2.3%
Speed control
42 reports · 93,000 mi
7.1 yr
7.1%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

14E044000 2014-07-21
Steering

Dorman Products, Inc. (Dorman) is recalling certain replacement intermediate steering shafts sold under the Dorman, OE Solutions, and Solutions brand names, part numbers 425-167, 2425167, and 7-3074, for installation on 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6, and 2007-2009 Saturn Aura vehicles. The affected steering shafts may have a yoke that inadequately supports the u-joint bearing resulting in a premature failure.

A joint bearing that fails prematurely may cause separation of the u-joint resulting in a complete loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

14V252000 2014-05-14
Electrical system:wiring

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

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

14V224000 2014-04-30
Power train:automatic transmission

General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on April 29, 2014, that they are recalling 56,214 model year 2007 and 2008 Saturn Aura vehicles. On May 22, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 1,074,899 model year 2004-2008 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured from May 16, 2003, through October 5, 2007, model year 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured from June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, and model year 2005-2008 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured from May 26, 2004, through September 28, 2007, and equipped with 4-speed transmissions. The total number vehicles being r

If the transmission shift cable fractures while the vehicle is being driven, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash. Furthermore, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, despite selecting the ‘PARK’ position, the transmission may not be in ‘PARK.’ If the vehicle

14V153000 2014-03-31
Steering:electric power assist system

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2006 Malibu Maxx, 2009-2010 HHR (non-turbo), 2010 Cobalt, 2008-2009 Saturn Aura and 2004-2007 Ion, and 2005-2009 Pontiac G6. In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving.

If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

12V460000 2012-09-18
Power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Saturn Aura and model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Malibu and Pontiac G6 vehicles, equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission. On these vehicles, the tabs on the transmission shift cable end may fracture and separate.

If the tabs were to fracture and separate, the shift lever and the actual position of the transmission gear may not match. The driver would be able to move the shifter to 'PARK' and remove the ignition key, but the transmission gear may not be in 'PARK.' The vehicle may not be able to be restarted and the vehicle could roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible cr

In owners’ own words

Electronic stability control (esc) 300 mi 8 mo in service
SERVICE TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON AND ACCELERATION WAS DECREASED, COULD NOT GO OVER 50 MPH. TOWED TO DEALER & THEY SAY A MODULE CAUSED THE BRAKES TO STICK. SAID THEY HAVE TO REPLACE 2 BRAKE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS AND THE MODULE IS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. THEY'VE HAD IT FOR 9 DAYS NOW. *TR
Electronic stability control (esc) 12,785 mi 10 mo in service crash / fire / tow
HAVE HAD TWO ACCIDENTS IN THIS VEHICLE BOTH FRONT END COLLISIONS AND THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. ALSO THE RIMS ARE NO GOOD TIRES KEEP LOOSING AIR. *TR
Electronic stability control (esc) 96,988 mi 6.3 yr in service
THE CAR STARTED JERKING AND THE ENGINE LIGHT STARTED BLINKING. THE SERVICE ESC AND TRACTION LIGHTS CAME ON. THEN THE ESC AND TRACTION OFF LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ON. THE JERKING CONTINUES TO HAPPEN AT 40MPH AND AT 65MPH. *JS
Steering mileage not reported 6 mo in service
THE ELECTRIC STEERING ON MY 2008 CHEVY MALIBU LT 4DR. SEDAN(2.4L-4CYL)IS NOT RIGHT. IT SEEMS TO OVER STEER FOR EVERY CORRECTION THE DRIVER MAKES AND THUS CREATING A CONSTANT MOVING OF THE WHEEL TO KEEP A STRAIGHT LINE. THE ELECTRIC STEERING NEEDS SOME FIXING. THE DEALER SAID I NEED TO GET USED TO IT. *TR

Other Malibu model years

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