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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
11 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 1
Average Mileage:
77,330 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 steering problems

steering problem

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2008 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 8 of 22)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #295

Feb 162017

Malibu

  • 229,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 35 mph, the steering wheel stiffened and the power steering warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle had to be restarted to operate the steering. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V153000 (steering). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 229,000.

- Fairhope, AL, USA

problem #294

Feb 142017

Malibu

  • 170,000 miles
For some time electronic power steering has been having issues. Took to dealer on multiple occasions but they claimed they could not fix it. Took vehicle again and now find their was extended coverage to cover this safety defect, however, I am 20,000 miles over where they want to cover this issue. (GM knew I was having this steering issue, however, never told me it could be fixed until after the expiration of their special coverage.) I had been reporting issues to both the dealer and GM customer service since approximately 29,000 miles. I gave up trying to get it fixed after dealer told me several times that there was nothing they could do. Vehicle was in motion at highway speed and power steering stops working making control of the vehicle very difficlut.

- Defiance, OH, USA

problem #293

Jan 052017

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 136,000 miles
There is a recall no 14116 and 14116B involving the torque sensor on 2008 Chevrolet Malibu but not on my particular VIN. It causes a loss of power steering which I am having. I do not understand why my particular model is not covered in this safety issue and what can I do about it. I have had no accidents yet but have to pull off the road and restart my car.

- Waldo, AR, USA

problem #292

Dec 272016

Malibu

  • 100,000 miles

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

Power locks have only worked for front doors for as long as ive had the car, about a year..... over the past month - service air bag light came on shortly after starting the car one day. A few weeks later, service ESC and traction control popped up after starting the car. Now my power steering has gone out and does not reset upon restarting the car.

- South Charleston, WV, USA

problem #291

Aug 022016

Malibu

  • 128,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. When turning the vehicle left or right, the steering wheel seized. The dealer diagnosed that the power steering was failing. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 128,000.

- Kansas City, KS, USA

problem #290

Dec 032016

Malibu 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 150,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving 30 mph, the power steering warning message illuminated. The contact called the dealer and was advised that there were no recalls related to the power steering failure. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 150,000. Updated 01/27/17

- Gower, MO, USA

problem #289

Aug 222016

Malibu

  • 118,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving various speeds, the steering column made an abnormal knocking noise. The contact stated that the control arms, inner and outer tie rods, sway bar links, ball joints, front shocks and the axle were all replaced on the vehicle; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14E044000 (steering). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 118,000.

- Newark, NJ, USA

problem #288

Aug 182016

Malibu

  • 76,000 miles
My steering wheel shaking/vibrating while in park, in motion and while turning. Was a recall on it. Unfortunately I bought the car in 2015 and can only find that the recall was supposedly done. No one can tell me where, and I looked online and find that these electrical power assists have been replaced and still yet failed again. Called Chevrolet and they will do nothing--my case for my car "has been closed out"...therefore it will be $700 out of my pocket. Is there any way to be sure a recall was done and/or find out if the parts they replaced were also defective? started acting up in Aug./Sept and has worsened in the last month. Having it looked into while having a separate recall for break lamp malfunction done. Oct. 12, 2016

- Painted Post, NY, USA

problem #287

Sep 042016

Malibu

  • 76,000 miles
I was turning right at about 20 mph, the normal speed I turn at. My Malibu slid and I couldn't turn the steering wheel. The car beeped at me and it said ESC on the dash computer. I called about the recall for eps, and my car does not have one. Kind of weird to see when others are recalled for this issue. I did have the power steering torque replaced in 2015. The car is still drivable, but to me I feel unsafe because the steering wheel now has a mind of its own when turning, and I cannot afford a replacement right now, as well as an accident.

- Lakemoor, IL, USA

problem #286

Sep 272016

Malibu

  • 200,000 miles
Takata recall I lost control of my 08 Chevy Malibu as it was in motion. Driving to school the ABS, brake, traction control and battery light turned on and the power steering locked. I had to forcefully turn the steering wheel to get out of traffics way and park somewhere to avoid an accident.

- Hidalgo, TX, USA

problem #285

Aug 152016

Malibu

  • 159,127 miles

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

The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving 5 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact had to apply force to the steering wheel in order to steer the vehicle. "power steering" was displayed across the message board. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the vehicle needed to be repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 14V153000 (steering). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 159,127.

- Louiseville, KY, USA

problem #284

Aug 272016

Malibu

  • 150,101 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact had not experienced a failure before the vehicle was repaired per a manufacturer recall for the power steering. The dealer completed the recall repair, but the steering wheel seized without warning several times months later. The contact turn the vehicle off and back on to reset the computer, but the failure progressed. The contact was to check with the manufacturer to determine if they may be able to provide a repair solution. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 150,101.

- Garland, TX, USA

problem #283

Jun 022016

Malibu

  • 94,111 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving 40 mph, there was an abnormal vibration coming from the steering wheel. The power steering warning light illuminated and the vehicle lost power steering. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the eps motor control unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 15V153000 (steering); however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 94,111.

- Tonawanda, NY, USA

problem #282

Jul 212016

Malibu

  • 101,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving 40 mph, the vehicle shifted lanes without warning. The contact was able to regain control of the vehicle. The vehicle was diagnosed as having an electronic steering malfunction. The vehicle was repaired, but the issue recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 101,000.

- Strongsville, OH, USA

problem #281

Apr 182016

Malibu

  • 103,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced a failure related to NHTSA campaign number: 14V153000 (steering). The vehicle was repaired per the recall; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.

- Farmington Hills, MI, USA

problem #280

Jan 112016

Malibu

  • 109,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. On several occasions, either while driving or in park, the steering wheel would move up and down and sideways. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 109,000.

- Toledo, OH, USA

problem #279

Apr 262016

Malibu

  • 31,851 miles
Steering rack has been replaced 3 times (2011, 2012, 2016) in 32,000 mi. Noise & clunk when turning while driving on city streets. Roughly 8,000 per failure. Dealer replaced before total failure and/or accident. Worried about future failures in short times which could result in an accident.

- Redding, CA, USA

problem #278

May 072016

Malibu

  • 140,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving 80 mph, the steering wheel began to drift and the transmission shifted erratically while several warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was able to restart after several attempts. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

- Elacentro, CA, USA

problem #277

Apr 202016

Malibu

  • 207,000 miles
Loss of power steering and the electric assist steering, car was extremely hard to steer, I contacted GM and they have no recalls, however doing a search apparently this is a known problem with many other GM cars as well as the Malibu, the person I spoke to from GM said that they offered an extended warranty to make the repair, but only up to 150,000 miles, and my car has 207,000 and she states that I am out of warranty. This is a major safety concern and should be covered under a recall!

- Brick, NJ, USA

problem #276

Aug 042014

Malibu

  • miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at 50 mph, the power steering warning light illuminated and the power steering failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 14V153000 (steering) however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable. The VIN was not available.

- Willingboro, NJ, USA

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