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.
Electrical system, Engine, Jun 15, 2019
IGNITION SWITCH (RELATED TO THE KEY) FAILS INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING VEHICLE TO EITHER NOT START OR QUIT RUNNING WHILE DRIVING.
Air bags, Jun 14, 2019
AIRBAG OFF LIGHT STAYS ON
Other or unspecified, Jun 13, 2019
FRONT END & STEERING WHEEL WILL START HARD VIBRATING NO MATTER SPEED OR ROAD CONDITION. AFTER PARKING, MOTOR OFF, GOING AGAIN IT MAY OR MAY NOT VIBRATE AGAIN. 3 MECHANICS CAN'T FIND PROBLEM AS IT WON'T DO IT ALL THE TIME. NOW WHAT DO I DO?
Steering, May 31, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE STEERING LOST POWER AND THE POWER STEERING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED OFF, AND RESTARTED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 204,000.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, May 22, 2019
REPLACED PASSENGER HEADLIGHT HARNESS TWICE, AS THE LOW BEAM/ DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT CONNECTOR BURNS UNTIL THE BULB ITSELF BURNS OUT, OR THE CONNECTOR FALLS OFF THE BULB. MOSTLY NOTICED AT NIGHT, AS THE AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS ARE USUALLY NEEDED THEN.
Steering, Service brakes, Apr 24, 2019
LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST WHILE DRIVING. BRAKE LIGHTS GO ON WHEN DRIVING AND DO NOT GO ON WHEN BRAKING
Electrical system, Apr 24, 2019
MY VEHICLE DISPLAYS THE ANTI THEFT ICON AND WILL NOT START. SO FAR THIS HAS ONLY OCCURED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONERY BUT HAS SLIGHTLY STALLED DURING OPERATION. ALTHOUGH THIS HAPPENED RANDOMLY IN THE PAST, IT HAS NOW BECOME AN EVERYDAY OCCURENCE. THE ONLY THING THAT HAS WORKED IS WAITING 10MINS WITH THE KEY IN THE ON POSITION AND THEN JUMPING THE BATTERY. THIS SEEMS TO BE A NONE ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES AND REALLY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I HAVE LOVED MY MALIBU AND WAS ACTUALLY CONSIDERING PURCHASING A NEW ONE, SINCE I'VE HAD SUCH GOOD LUCK WITH THIS ONE, UNTIL THIS SITUATION.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Apr 21, 2019
TAKATA RECALL TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFTER CABLE KEEPS BREAKING I WAS GETTING READY TO PUT MY CAR IN DRIVE AND THE GEAR WASN'T CATCHING
Exterior lighting, Apr 20, 2019
PASSENGER HEADLIGHT KEEPS BLOWING OUT
Steering, Apr 12, 2019
I STARTED THE VEHICLE UP. VEHICLE WAS STILL IN PARK AND THE WHEEL STARTED SHAKING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT OK N IT'S OWN FOR ABOUT 45 SECONDS. POWER STEERING THEN POPPED UP ON THE DASH. THE WHEEL STOPPED SHAKING. I BACKED OUT AND BEGAN DRIVING. I BEGAN ON HIGHWAY AND THE WHEEL STARTS SHAKING AGAIN. THE WHEEL WAS SHAKING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT MAKING IT HARD TO STEER THE VEHICLE. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY.
Steering, Apr 3, 2019
"TAKATA RECALL POWER STEERING ISSUE CAN'T MOVE VERY DANGEROUS
Steering, Mar 28, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. WHEN THE CONTACT PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON, THE FAILURE WENT AWAY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED EVERYDAY SINCE FEBRUARY 15, 2019. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL INPUT TORQUE SENSOR WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000.
Electrical system, Engine, Mar 26, 2019
MY BCM I HAS TERRIBLE WIRING CONNECTION AND THE WAY I BOUGHT IT SOMEONE RAN A NEW WIRE TO THE THIRD COIL BECAUSE THE BAD CONNECT IS CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO TURN ON AND IS SHORTING OUT ALL MY EMISSIONS PARTS SUCH AS MAF SENSOR, O2S, EVAP PURGE SOLENOID AND MY CAR IS RUNNING LIKE CRAP AND A MECHANIC SAID HE HAS HAD THIS HAPPEN BEFORE ON THE SAME VECHILE AS MINE
Steering, Mar 22, 2019
THIS VEHICLE VIN CODE HAS NOT SHOWN UP FOR ELECTRIC POWER STEERING RECALL. 05-07 CHEVY MALIBUS 3.5L. MY 2008 MALIBU WAS MANUFACTURED JULY 2007. MY UNDERSTANDING IS GM VEHICLES MANUFACTURED AFTER THE MONTHS OF MARCH OR APRIL ARE NEXT CALANDER YEAR. SO MY 2008 CHEVY MALIBU IS AN 05-07 BODY AND UNDERSTOOD AS BEST TRIM LEVEL OFFERED BEFORE THE NEXT BODY STYLE AND MODEL. THE 2008 MODEL YEARS BODY STYLE CHANGED.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Mar 20, 2019
ESC LIGHTS, AND TRACTION STABILITY CONTROL LIGHTS COME ON AND OFF OFTEN, REGARDLESS OF CURRENT WEATHER CONDITIONS. I NOTICED IT HAPPENS MORE WHEN THE WEATHER IS COOLER. STARTED AROUND 29K MILES ON MY CAR. WHEN THE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON, MY BREAK LIGHTS STAY ON. COMPUTER DOESN'T KICK BACK ANY CODES UNLESS THE WARNING LIGHTS THAT ARE ON.
Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Mar 14, 2019
BRAKE LIGHTS STAYING ON WHILE CAR IS IN PARKED AND WHILE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF
Steering, Mar 14, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE POWER ASSIST WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO CARTER CHEVROLET (175 HARTFORD TURNPIKE, VERNON, CT 06066, (860) 646-6464), BUT IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,000.
Steering, Mar 12, 2019
POWER STEERING GOES OUT THEN COMES BACK SOMETIMES WHEN I TURN IT OFF THEN BACK ON.
Steering, Mar 9, 2019
THE STEERING WHEEL LOSES POWER DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING ISSUE THAT SHOWS TO HAVE BEEN FIXED BUT IT IS STILL OCCURRING AND COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE LIMITED ABILITY TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Mar 5, 2019
WHILE IN MOTION BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON.
Steering, Mar 3, 2019
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND MY CAR WAS HARD TO STEER.
Steering, Feb 27, 2019
THERE WAS A RECALL ON POWER STEERING. I TOOK TO CHEVY DEALER. THEY SAID THEY FIXED IT. ALITTLE BETTER LATER IT STARTED DOING IT AGAIN SO I CALLED CHEVY DEALER AND THEY SAID RECALL TIME WAS UP THERE WAS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. NOW MY POWER STEERING IS COMPLETELY OUT. I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD FIX IT AND MAKE IT RIGHT. *TR
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 23, 2019
WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STEERED AT LOW SPEEDS PREVENTING ME FROM TURNING INTO MY DRIVEWAY. THE DASH LIT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE AND THE POWER STEERING FAILURE NOTICE APPEARED. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE PRIOR RECALL WAS NOT LARGE ENOUGH AND DID NOT COVER THE POPULATION OF DEFECTIVE VEHICLES. TIME FOR NHTSA AND GM TO EXPAND THE RECALL AND ELIMINATE THIS DANGER.
Steering, Feb 15, 2019
THE STEERING GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING, MAKING IT HARD TO STEER. THE PROBLEM STARTED INTERMITTENTLY NOW IT JUST HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. I DID NOT SEE MY VIN NUMBER ON THE LIST. FROM THE LOOKS OF IT, IT LOOKS LIKE A LOT MORE PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE. ALSO WHEN I'M STOPPED THE STEERING WHEEL MOVES ON IT'S OWN.
Steering, Feb 13, 2019
I JUST PURCHASED MY VEHICLE LAST YEAR. MY STEERING WHEEL KEEPS LOCKING UP AND A MESSAGE COMES UP SAYING POWER STEERING IS OUT. SOMETIMES IT JUST CUTS OFF WHILE I'M DRIVING. KEEP HEARING ABOUT A RECALL WITH THE ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING IN THE 2008 CHEVY MALIBU. WHAT SHOULD I DO?