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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
51,637 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Chevrolet Malibu body / paint problems

body / paint problem

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2008 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments

problem #15

Apr 302020

Malibu

  • 137,460 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

There is some issue with my drivers door. I go to lock it when I get out and it unlocks itself and its only the drivers door that does it. My car was parked and not in motion. I started my car up to go home after work and when I shifted my car into gear the drivers door did not lock. I had to do it manually. On top of that happening my dome light is set to turn on and off when a door is open. All of my doors are closed completely and the dome light is still on.

- Brown Deer, WI, USA

problem #14

Mar 302019

Malibu

  • miles
My 2008 Chevy Malibu has door latch issues. When you close the doors, the latch will not connect and the door will fly back open. We need to keep playing with the locks for the door to eventually latch and lock. Then it also sometimes does it from the inside and you cannot open the door from the inside or the outside and you will need to keep playing with it. One day, I had to role the window down to try to open the door from the outside because it wouldn't open from this inside. This is an extreme safety hazard because in the event something catastrophic happens and the door does not open or close they way its supposed to, it can be life threatening. Expecially since I have a small son. This needs to be addressed and fast!

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #13

Dec 292018

Malibu

  • miles
Cars purchased on October 31st 2018 the car can I pass inspection with no one to dmv they gave us a call back saying the car was totaled in the salvage car declared in 2016 the car should not have been sold for $2,700 when contacted dealer he refused to give us our money and he said only I can get another car if I pay your car notes at this time would just like for my money to be refunded the vehicle cannot pass inspection and is unsafe to be driven on the street I would like my money back he's putting my life in danger

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #12

May 222018

Malibu

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Vehicle was in motion driving on a city street while I was making a left turn onto another city street my steering wheel locked up which enabled me to straighten up my wheel. Due to not being able to straighten up my wheel after steering left I was involved in a car accident knocking off my drivers sides headlight and front bumper completely off of my vehicle. After getting the car back home the car would no longer start. The vehicle is now at capitol cheverolet in austin Texas and before replacing the recall parts they insisted on a battery replacement I did replace the battery and 3 days later they call and insist on an alternator replacement that will cost me $800 in order for them to start on the replacement/ repairs of the recalls. The battery and alternator all were working in good condition before the power steering issue came about while my vehicle was in motion. I should not be reliable of paying for this. The dealership is also charging me a $65 towing fee!

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #11

Jul 222015

Malibu

  • miles
I brought a 2008 chev Malibu ls that had a lot of problems and the dealer refuse to give me my money back the came with a warranty but the warranty didn't cover the thing that need it to be fix the car had a bad catalyst covert and electrical problems the car has been hit all around I bought the car from E&S auto sales in South hackensack New Jersey don't know elias it's nothing but the crook refuse to give my money back and give this to a lot of other people and he needs to be stopped I contacted the better business bureau Consumer Affairs and New Jersey dmv

- Orange, NJ, USA

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problem #10

Mar 092016

Malibu

  • 145,000 miles
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.

- Cadiz, KY, USA

problem #9

Apr 032014

Malibu

  • 82,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Driver's door would not latch shut and door would freely open. After pulling the door shut multiple times it finally latched and I could drive. When trying to exit the vehicle the inside door handle would not open the door. I had to roll my power window down to open the door from the outside. After I got out the door would not latch when I tried to close it. After multiple attempts the door would still not latch shut and I had to physically hold the door shut the rest of the way home where it never would latch. Research online indicates that there are numerous reports that the door latch/lock assemblies fail which doesn't seem safe if you can't exit the car or if it were to come unlatched while driving.

- Carmel, IN, USA

problem #8

Jan 062014

Malibu

  • 55,000 miles
I was driving down a bridge when the vehicles in front of me came to a sudden stop, I hit my brakes and slid into the back of a Dodge Ram and then was rearended by a Chevy Tahoe. My airbags never deployed and a light flashed in the dash saying check airbags. I wasn't aware this could be a defect in my vehicle at the time, it has since be totaled.

- Lake Charles, LA, USA

problem #7

Oct 042012

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 57,353 miles
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.

- Oxford, MS, USA

problem #6

Jan 102011

Malibu

  • 70,000 miles
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.

- Franklin, TN, USA

problem #5

Nov 172011

Malibu

  • 24,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #4

Oct 162012

Malibu

  • 50,000 miles
The door locks do not work. How is this not a safety problem? sometimes the door locks work sometimes they don't. I have a newborn that rides in the backseat. If the doorlocks don't work, the only way to unlock the back door is to either roll down the rear window or crawl into the back seat from the front. If I had to get my child out of the car in an emergency, I don't know how I would do that without working door locks. I have researched this problem online and it appears this is a common problem with this car.

- Raceland, LA, USA

problem #3

Jan 192011

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 60,000 miles
Both back door locks stopped working. They will not unlock or lock without manually doing so. This makes it very hard to quickly get my toddler son out of the car without rolling the window down first to unlock it. Cruise control works on and off due to the break lights flashing off and on even when I'm not pushing the break pedal. This is very dangerous when I am driving on the free way and my break lights stay on. This also occurs more often when it has rained and the car is wet. I assume this is due to a leak of water getting into the electrical... my trunk leaks when it is shut. When it rains heavy I notice the bedding becomes very wet on one side. The radio is also effected along with the cruise control. Certain buttons stop working for periods of time. The screen will also go black and the radio will not work at all then suddenly come back on.

- Toledo, OH, USA

problem #2

Jun 162011

Malibu

  • 8,748 miles
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.

- Roselle Park, NJ, USA

problem #1

Feb 022011

Malibu

  • 85,000 miles
The power steering in the vehicle jumps from left to right going down the road. It is very hard to maintain your lane when this happens. It happens at all different points whether the car has been running or just started, it can last up to 30 min. Quit then start again it is very unsafe. My catalytic converter has also gone out in this car. It looses transmission power, doesn't accelerate promptly. When we first got the car we had it in the shop for the back trim leaking, trunk release not working, the car wouldn't start do to the aftermarket alarm the dealer ship placed on it, and the paint peeled. No I am having major issues and it is out of warranty. I will never buy another Chevy. This was the worst mistake ever and those car is unsafe to drive.

- Euharlee, GA, USA

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