2008 Chevrolet Malibu
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Steering is the leading concern among 1,015 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 6th highest complaint count among 26 Malibu model years with reports.
Of the 2008 reports, 33 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 20 people were injured and 2 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
SteeringJul 21, 2014
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.
Dorman will notify owners, and dealers will refund the purchase price or replace the steering shafts, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact Dorman customer service at 1-800-523-2492.
Campaign 14E044000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, wiringMay 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.
Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 14V252000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmissionApr 30, 2014
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 recalled is now 1,131,113.
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 is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
GM will notify owners, and GM dealers will replace the shift cable assembly and mounting bracket, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 14152.
Campaign 14V224000 on NHTSA.gov
Steering, electric power assist systemMar 31, 2014
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.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will perform one of four bulletins. Parts are not currently available. GM expects to send an interim notification around May 28, 2014. When parts are available, owners will be mailed a second letter to come in to have the applicable bulletin applied. Bulletin 14115 covers model year 2004-2007 Saturn Ion, 2009-2010 Chevrolet HHR and 2010 Chevrolet Cobalts. Dealers will replace the EPS motor. Bulletin 14116 covers model year 2004-2006 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx, 2005-2006 Pontiac G6 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from March 1, 2008, through June 27, 2008. Dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly. Bulletin 14117 covers model year 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from February 1, 2008, through February 28, 2008. Dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly and EPS motor controller unit. Bulletin 14118 covers model year 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from October 1, 2007, through January 31, 2008. Dealers will replace the EPS motor controller unit. The recall began on July 17, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, Saturn at 1-800-553-6000, and Pontiac at 1-800-620-7668. GM's number for this recall is N140115. Note: GM bulletin number 14119 will be implemented for model year 2006-2008 and early production of 2009 Chevrolet HHR (non-turbo) and model year 2003 Saturn ION to provide EPS Motor replacement for the life of the vehicle.
Campaign 14V153000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmission, gear position indication (prndl)Sep 18, 2012
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 crash without prior warning.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a retainer over the cable end or replace the shift cable as necessary. This service will be performed free of charge. Notification to owners began on on November 9, 2012. Owners were instructed to not bring their vehicles for repair until January 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.
Campaign 12V460000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
1,015 reports, newest first.
Exterior lighting, Aug 18, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS WELL AS THE BRAKE LIGHTS. THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,757.
Steering, Aug 16, 2011
MY 2008 MALIBU HAS A POWER STEERING PROBLEM. ON A DAILY BASIS THE POWER STEERING BECOMES ERRATIC AND FAILS TO REACT PROPERLY UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, USUALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WHILE STOPPED, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL TURN LEFT AND RIGHT ON ITS OWN. WHEN THIS OCCURS AT HIGHWAY SPEED CONTROL OF THE CAR IS DANGEROUS. TWO HANDS ARE NEEDED TO KEEP CAR IN LANE AND NOT CROSS THE LINE INTO OTHER VEHICLES. PROBLEM BEGAN WHEN MILEAGE HIT 45,000 MILES. OCCASIONALLY, A CHIME WILL OCCUR AND INDICATE POWER STEERING IN THE DISPLAY BUT BY THE TIME THE CHIME OCCURS THE STEERING PROBLEM IS GONE. THIS ISSUE IS CONSISTENT AND INTERMITTENT ON A DAILY BASIS. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM FOR CHEVY MALIBU AND HAVE FOUND THAT THOUSANDS OF MALIBU OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM CAUSED BY IMPROPER ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THIS STEERING PROBLEM IS A FAILURE OF A COMPONENT IN THE STEERING ASSEMBLY THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART!!! AS A PERCENTAGE OF MALIBUS ON THE ROAD THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM I WOULD VENTURE THAT IT IS VERY HIGH AND THE NUMBER IS INCREASING. THE ELECTRONIC ASSIST POWER STEERING IN THE I4 MALIBU'S IS A ROAD HANDLING NIGHTMARE AND GM HAS NO INTEREST IN FIXING THIS PROBLEM. I WOULD EXPECT A SERIOUS PROBLEM LIKE THIS TO BE MADE A RECALL ISSUE BEFORE THERE IS A FATALITY AND THEN GM AND OBAMA MOTORS WILL BE SUED FOR RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT. *KB
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 13, 2011
AC IN 2008 MALIBU LT1 ERRATIC OPERATION. AC WILL NOT WORK UNLESS THE TEMP CONTROL UNIT IS REPEATEDLY TURN OFF AND ON UNTIL IT DECIDES TO OPERATE. IF INSIDE AIR IS SELECTED IT WILL OPERATE SOMETIMES. VEHICLE AC WILL OPERATE AFTER SECOND START UP OF ENGINE OCCASIONALLY. FAN MUST BE TURNED OFF THEN ON REPEATEDLY TO GET AC TO TURN ON, AC SELECT MUST TURNED OFF THEN ON REPEATEDLY TO GET AC TO OPERATE. *TR
Steering, Aug 11, 2011
STEERING WHEEL RANDOMLY JERKS RIGHT AND LEFT WHILE DRIVING. IS VERY "NOTCHY" AND DIFFICULT TO RETURN TO THE PRECISELY DESIRED POSITION. *TR
Steering, Latches/locks/linkages, Aug 5, 2011
BACK IN APRIL I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY DRIVER SIDE LOCK. IT WOULD GET STUCK. SOMETIMES THE DOOR WOULDN'T EVEN OPEN. I WOULD PRESS THE BUTTON TO UNLOCK THE DOOR, AND THAT WOULDN'T WORK. I WOULD HAVE TO USE MY KEY, ANS SOMETIMES THAT DIDN'T WORK EITHER. I AM STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE LOCK, AND PRETTY MUCH EVERYDAY I HAVE TO USE MY KEY TO OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. I WAS TOLD TO USE WD-40 AND THAT SILL DIDN'T HELP. THE MOST RECENT EVENT WITH MY CAR IS THIS LOUD VIBRATING NOISE THAT HAS BEEN OCCURING OFF AND ON FOR THE PAST TWO MONTHS. I'V HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE CHECK IT OUT AND THEY SAY THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. MY CAR MAKES THE NOISE WHILE SITTING IN PARK, SOMETIMES WHILE I'M DRIVING, OR SITTING STILL AT A LIGHT. ABOUT A 1-1 1/2 MONTHS AGO MY WHEEL WOU;D MOVE BACK AND FORTH. I WENT TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WASN'T ANYTHING WRONG. MY WHEEL MOVES MORE AND MORE. IT MOVES SOMETIMES WHEN I FIRST START MY CAR, WHILE SITTING A LIGHT, AND AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WHILE I AM DRIVING. WHEN I TURN MY STEERING WHEEL BACK IN A NEUTRAL POSITION SOMETIMES IT WOULD TURN THE OTHER WAY. TODAY MY WHEEL WAS MOVING WHILE I WAS DRIVNG AND MY CAR STARTED MOVING IN THE SAME DIRECTION. IT WAS HARD TO CONTROL AND IT WAS VERY SCARY BECAUSE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. I'M SO FED UP WITH THIS CAR, AND I TOTALLY REGRET BUYING IT. I AM PROBABLY NEVER GOING TO BUY A CHEVROLET AGAIN, EVEN IF CHEVROLET'S ARE ALL THAT I HAVE EVER OWNED. *TT
Steering, Aug 3, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND THE POWER STEERING STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE DEALER THE POWER STEERING FAILURE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING MODULE. THE POWER STEERING MODULE WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 2/22/12 *CN
Latches/locks/linkages, Aug 1, 2011
NOTHING OCCURRED PRIOR TO MY PASSENGER DOOR LOCK NOT WORKING, ELECTRONICALLY. IT DOES NOT LOCK/UNLOCK WHEN THE CAR IS PLACED IN PARK, OR USING THE KEY CONTROL OR DOOR PANEL CONTROL. WE ARE HAVING THE DEALER HOPEFULLY FIX THE PROBLEM TOMORROW. *KB
Steering, Jul 26, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WHILE STOPPED, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD BEGIN TO TURN BACK AND FORTH. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.
Steering, Suspension, Power train, Exterior lighting, Seats, Jul 20, 2011
LETTER FROM SENATOR BROWN ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE CONCERNS ABOUT 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU (RESPOND TO CLEVELAND OFFICE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES AND FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY WERE REPLACED. ALSO, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE HEADLIGHTS HAD CONDENSATION WHICH CAUSED THE BULBS TO BLOW OUT. THE DEALER FOUND A SEAL AROUND THE PARAMETER OF THE CAPSULE WAS NOT PROPERLY SEALED AT THE FACTORY. THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT AND POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE WERE REPLACED. ALSO, THE FRONT SEAT HEATER SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED, DUE TO THE HEATER COMING ON WHEN THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. *JB
Steering, Jul 18, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED AND THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING WAS PULLING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT INVOLUNTARILY. THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO VIBRATE ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.
Latches/locks/linkages, Jul 17, 2011
POWER DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY... THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR POWER DOOR LOCK WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. THE OTHER THREE REMAINING POWER DOOR LOCKS DO NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY AND HAVE TO BE LOCKED MANUALLY. THIS IS AN INCONVENIENCE WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE AND ALSO A HAZARD IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY... *TR
Exterior lighting, Jul 11, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE WITHOUT PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
Steering, Jul 6, 2011
DRIVING ON I 40 AT 70 MPH STEERING BECAME ERRATIC AND JERKING, IT TOOK EXTREME EFFORT TO STAY IN PROPER LANE, PULLED TO SHOULDER AND STOPPED. I KILLED THE CAR AND RESTARTED AND STEERING WAS NORMAL UNTIL I EXITED FREEWAY AND THERE WAS A SHORT EPISODE OF LOSS OF POWER STEERING BUT SOON STARTED TO WORK NORMAL. A POPPING NOISE IS NOW HEARD SOMETIMES AT SLOW TURNING SPEEDS AND IS NOT ALWAYS HEARD.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Jun 30, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE HE SMELLED A STRONG FUEL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A GASOLINE STATION TO BE REFUELED, BUT THE FUEL TANK WOULD ONLY ACCEPT A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 98,291.
Steering, Jun 29, 2011
2008 CHEVY MAILBU. THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND PULLS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT WHEN THE CAR IS IN PARK AND FIRST TURNED ON. IT ALSO HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING ON AND OFF THE HIGHWAY. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. CAR HAD 36,000 WHEN PROBLEM STATED. PULLING AND SHAKING IS GETTING WORSE AND HARDER TO CONTROL AND KEEP CAR IN LANE. *TR
Steering, Jun 28, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD MOVE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT ON ITS OWN. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. WHENEVER THE CONTACT MADE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM SHUT OFF AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,852.
Latches/locks/linkages, Jun 22, 2011
THE WAS NOTHING LEADING UP TO THE EVENT, THE CAR WAS WORKING FINE. ONE DAY IN MAY I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR DID NOT UNLOCK AS THE REST OF THE DOORS DID. I PUT THE CARE BACK IN DRIVE, THEN BACK IN PARK, STILL THE DOOR DID NOT UNLOCK, I TRIED THE LOCK BUTTON, AND THE REMOTE FOR THE CAR AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND SINCE MY WARRANTY IS UP, I WAS TOLD ITS $52 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY MY BUMPER-TO-BUMPER WARRANTY ENDED IN DEC 2010. I SEE THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH ONE OR MORE DOORS NOT WORKING AFTER APPROXIMATELY 37K MILES. *TR
Latches/locks/linkages, Jun 20, 2011
REAR DRIVER DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH POWER LOCKS. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO REACH THE MANUAL DOOR LOCK WITHOUT CRAWLING INTO THE BACK SEAT AND THERE IS NO KEYHOLE ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE REAR DOOR. IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET MY CHILDREN OUT OF THE CAR IF THERE WERE AN EMERGENCY. *TT
Latches/locks/linkages, Equipment, Jun 13, 2011
DRIVERSIDE REAR PASSENGER DOOR AND FRONT PASSENGER DOOR UNLOCKS NOT WORKING, OR WORK INTERMITTENTLY. HAVE MANUALLY LOCK/UNLOCK BOTH DOORS. *TR
Steering, Jun 10, 2011
STEERING WHEEL MOVES LEFT AND RIGHT 20 DEGREES AT STOP OR WHILE MOVING. PROBLEM COMES AND GOES. *TR
Steering, Jun 7, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. OVER TIME, THE CONTACT BEGAN TO HEAR A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE MAKING TURNS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE IN THE PROCESS OF DIAGNOSING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
Power train, Jun 5, 2011
MY 2008 CHEVY MALIBU LTZ 4 CYLINDER HAS A VERY SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW WHICH GM/CHEVY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE. IT IS PUTTING MY FAMILY AND I AND POSSIBLE DANGER. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES VERY SEVERE LAGS AND HESITATION AT VARIABLE INTERVALS WHILE DRIVING EITHER STOP AND GO OR ON A HIGHWAY. LAST MONTH WHILE DRIVING ON RT. 95 IN CONNECTICUT, OUR VEHICLE ACTED UP AND IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND SHIFT BETWEEN GEARS PROPERLY. THE SERIOUS LAGS WHERE THE VEHICLE IS INBETWEEN GEARS WITH NO ENGINE/TRANS. ENGAGEMENT, LEFT US CLOSE TO BEING RUN OVER BY A TRACTOR TRAILER. *TR
Steering, Latches/locks/linkages, May 31, 2011
2008 MALIBU - DRIVERS DOOR LATCH DOES NOT WORK. OFTEN DRIVER GETS STUCK IN VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THERE IS A LOUD KNOCK IN THE STEERING AND IT HAS HAD A RING GEAR REPLACED ALREADY, SAME PROBLEM 12,000 MILES LATER. *TR
Power train, May 24, 2011
2008 MALIBU V6 ENGINE THE CAR GOING 60 MILES PER HOUR AN GOES TO NEUTRAL HAVE TO HIT BRAKES TO GET IT TO GO BACK TO NORMAL,COULD BLOW UP MOTOR OR CAUSE WRECK. *TR
Steering, Other or unspecified, May 20, 2011
STEERING WHEEL SHAKES INTERMITTENTLY THROUGHOUT EACH DAY FOR APPROXIMATELY THE PAST 50 DAYS AS OF MAY 20, 2011. SOMETIMES OCCURS WHEN CAR IS INITIALLY TURNED ON (SHAKES QUICKLY TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT AS IF A LITTLE CHILD WAS PLAYING WITH THE STEERING WHEEL). SHAKING WILL ALSO TAKE PLACE SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. ON MAY 10, 2011 PASSENGER SIDE POWER LOCKS BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION-WOULD NOT LOCK OR OPEN WHEN USING POWER BUTTON INSIDE CAR OR USING REMOTE. LOCKING AND UNLOCKING HAD TO BE DONE MANUALLY BY PULLING UP OR PUSHING DOWN LOCK.