52 complaints reported

2008 Chevrolet Malibu Electrical System

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
52
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Apr 2015

THE POWER DOOR LOCKS (THEIR ASSEMBLIES) ON ALL DOORS HAVE GONE BAD. THIS PREVENTS THE UNLOCKING OF ANY DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE AND BACK DOORS FROM INSIDE VERY DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FRONT SEAT WHICH CAN TRAP INFANTS OR OTHERS INSIDE. FOR ALL DOORS TO GO BAD AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE AND NEWER CAR IS NOT NORMAL. DOORS INITIALLY STARTED GOING BAD 3 YEARS AGO. OTHER OWNERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AND DEALERS APPEAR TO ALSO KNOW THIS ISSUE IS COMMON AS THEY CHECK FOR IT WITHOUT REQUEST. GM SHOULD REIMBURSE OWNERS FOR PREVIOUS REPAIRS AND FIX ANY OTHER NON- FUNCTIONING DOOR LOCKS AS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL DOORS DO NOT HAVE KEYED LOCKS AND ALL DOORS TRY TO AUTOMATICALLY LOCK WHEN VEHICLE IS PLACED IN GEAR. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2013
Mar 2015

WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, MY 16 YEAR OLD SON WAS AT A STOP LIGHT AND A PERSON BEGAN TO ENTER THE PASSENGER SIDE OF HIS 2008 MALIBU DUE TO THE ELECTRIC LOCKS GOING UP AND DOWN ON THEIR OWN RANDOMLY. HE WAS ABLE TO RUN A RED LIGHT AND DRIVE AWAY IN ORDER TO ESCAPE. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED IN A HIGH CRIME CITY. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2015
Mar 2015

AUTOMATIC REMOTE BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION; REPLACED BATTERIES. FAILED. BROUGHT TO DEALER AND THEY TOOK APART THE DOOR $350.00 AND NO REPAIR. STATED THEY NEEDED TO TAKE APART THE DASHBOARD AND PULL UP RUGS TO FIND WHERE THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WAS. ANOTHER $700.00 AND I DIDN'T HAVE IT FIXED. PROBLEM HAS WORSENED AS IT WAS AT FIRST THE DRIVER'S SIDE ONLY; NOW AFFECTING ALL LOCKS. I HAVE TO LOCK IT MANUALLY AND IT'S DIFFICULT BEING DISABLED TO REACH BACK AND LOCK OR UNLOCK THE BACK DOORS. CANNOT AFFORD REPAIR. NOW THE DIRECTIONAL LIGHTS ARE PROBLEMATIC. I HAVE TO MANUALLY SHUT OFF THE DIRECTIONALS AS THEY STICK. VERY DISAPPOINTED AS I AM THE ONLY ONE THAT DRIVES MY CAR AND IT ONLY HAS 38,800 MILES ON IT AND JUST MADE MY LAST CAR PAYMENT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Nov 2014
Feb 2015

POWER LOCKS NOT WORKING.I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, FOR THE REASON THAT IF IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY, YOU WILL NOT HAVE EXIT ACCESS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2013
Jan 2015

THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM IN MY CAR IS GOING OFF RESULTING IN MY CAR NOT BEING ABLE TO START. I HAVE TO WAIT 10 MINUTES AND THEN MY CAR WILL START AND I KNOW EVENTUALLY IT WILL NOT START OR SOMETHING WORSE. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE AND I AM PERSONALLY TERRIFIED TO DRIVE MY CAR NOW. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF MY CAR STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD OR EVEN WORSE, THE HIGHWAY AND IT DOES NOT START BACK UP? RIGHT THERE WOULD BE A SITUATION FOR A POSSIBLE REAR END COLLISION AND AT WHOSE FAULT? THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR HOW MANY TIMES I AM SEEING THE ISSUE. IT IS NOT SOMETHING I CAN SHOVEL $300+ DOLLARS OUT FOR THIS PROBLEM THAT IS CLEARLY GM'S ISSUE. PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING IT A RECALL.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2015
Dec 2014

1.AFTER THE ENGINE IS TURNED ON AND THE GEAR IS SHIFTED TO REVERSE AND THE CAR STARTS TO MOVE, THE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON. EITHER IT SAYS "SERVICE AIR BAGS" OR LOW TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT COMES ON. WHEN I SWITCH OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTART THE ENGINE THE WARNING LIGHTS GOES OFF AND DOES NOT COME BACK AND I AM FINE. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY DAY. MANY TIMES THE TURN SIGNAL DOES NOT SOUND THE AUDIO. IT BLINKS QUIETLY. WHEN I SWITCH OFF THE AUTO HEADLIGHT BY TWISTING THE LEVER TOWARDS ME IT DOES NOT GIVE THE CHIME. 2.WHEN I TURN ON THE IGNITION AND START THE ENGINE I HEAR A NOISE FROM THE SPEEDOMETER WHEN THE NEEDLES ARE MOVING FREELY TO THE FULL AND RETURNING TO ZERO AND SETTLING. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2014
Sep 2014

THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR STOPPED WORKING (BUT OCCASIONALLY START WORKING OFF AND ON). I DIDN'T REALIZE THIS UNTIL A FEW DAYS LATER. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE KNOWING THAT AT ANY MOMENT A STRANGER COULD WALK UP TO MY CAR, AT ANY STOPLIGHT OR STOP SIGN AND BE ABLE TO FREELY OPEN MY DOORS AND ENTER MY CAR WITH EASE. THE DOOR LOCKS WILL RANDOMLY WORK HERE AND THERE WITHOUT MY KNOWING AND THIS IS NOT OK! THIS DEFECT RAISES THE PROBABILITY OF SOMEONE BEING ABLE TO GET INTO MY CAR FREELY WITHOUT ME EVER KNOWING, OR BE ABLE TO GET INTO MY CAR WHILE I'M SITTING AT A STOPLIGHT. I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY IN THIS MATTER AND WISH TO HAVE GM FIX THE ISSUE CONSIDERING THE MANY ONLINE FORUMS WITH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE ON THESE CARS AT ABOUT 80000 MILES. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jul 2014
Sep 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE CONTACT WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE REMEDY. WHEN THE KEY WAS INSERTED IN THE IGNITION, THERE WAS NO SUPPORT TO MAINTAIN THE STABILITY OF THE KEY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOR OVER SIX MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THE IGNITION SWITCH CYLINDER WAS NOT REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2014
Sep 2014

WHILE DRIVING THE DOOR LOCKS STARTED LOCKING/UNLOCKING. SPEED DID NOT AFFECT THE FREQUENCY OF ROUGHLY EVERY 30 SECONDS FOR 5 MINUTES THEN STOPPED. HEARD ALARM CHIME NO WARNING LIGHTS OR INFORMATION ON THE DISPLAY. CAR CONTINUES TO LOCK/UNLOCK WHILE DRIVING AND WHILE IN PARK. ALSO HAPPENS WHILE THE CAR IS PARKED AN KEYS OUT OF IGNITION?? HAS CONTINUED NOW OVER WEEK. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jul 2014
Jun 2014

STEREO SYSTEM SHORT CIRCUITS, AND LOOSES SOUND IN SOME SPEAKERS. WINDOWS, AND DOORS,ALONG WITH THE TRUNK GET STUCK AND WONT RELEASE 20% OF THE TIME. I SEE THE PROBLEM BEING WITH A CRASH, AND POSSIBLE FIRE, THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS NOT BEING ABLE TO ESCAPE THE VEHICLE. THE WINDOW SITUATION HAS BEEN PRESENT FOR SEVERAL YEARS,AND THE WIRING OR CIRCUIT ISSUES SHORTED OUT A STEREO AFTER 2 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Aug 2014
Jun 2014

WHEN VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK, THE AUTO UNLOCK FEATURE ACTIVATED UNLOCKING THE DOORS, BUT I COULD NOT REMOVE KEYS FROM IGNITION, (IGNITION WAS IN OFF POSITION). I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART CAR AND KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO THE START POSITION, AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START, IGNITION FINALLY MOVED TO START POSITION. NOW THE AUTO LOCKS ARE CONSTANTLY TRYING TO UNLOCK EVEN WHEN LOCKS ARE IN UNLOCK POSITION. THIS HAPPENS WITH VEHICLE RUNNING IN PARK AND NOT RUNNING IN PARK WITH NO KEYS IN IGNITION AND MOVING DOWN ROAD. WARNING CHIME CONSTANTLY DINGING BUT NO MESSAGE OR INDICATOR LIGHT IS DISPLAYED. REMOVED FUSE FOR POWER LOCKS PROBLEM WITH LOCKS STOPS (WELL SURE IT DOES, NO POWER TO LOCKS) BUT THE WARNING CHIME STILL IS ACTIVATED BUT NO IDIOT LIGHT ON OR MESSAGE DISPLAYED. VERY FRUSTRATING WITH THIS JUNK GM PRODUCT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2014
May 2014

THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS. WHEN I TURN OFF IGNITION, MY KEY WILL GET STUCK AND WILL NOT COME OUT WITHOUT JERKING THE STEERING WHEEL AROUND. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2014
Apr 2014

I HAVE A POWER DOOR LOCK PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. ALL DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR SEEM TO BE WORKING CORRECTLY WHEN THEY GET THE CORRECT VOLTAGE. AT TIMES THEY LOCK AND OTHER TIMES JUST CERTAIN DOORS LOCK AND THE OTHERS REMAIN UNLOCKED I THEN PRESS THE LOCK BUTTON AGAIN AND THEN COME DOWN ABOUT HALF WAYS BUT DON'T COMPLETELY LOCK ALL THE WAY NOW AFTER THE THIRD TRY IT ACTS AS IF ITS NOT SENDING ENOUGH VOLTAGE AND WILL NOT WORK ANYMORE UNTIL CAR HAS BEEN RAN FOR A MINUTES THEN IT ACTS AS IF IT WAS RECHARGED. AFTER THE CAR IS TURNED OFF ITS BACK TO DOING THE SAME THING TRIED EVEN WITH CAR STILL ON AND ALSO LOSES POWER AFTER A FEW TRY'S.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2013
Mar 2014

THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO MOVE FROM OFF TO START POSITION AND THE GEAR SHIFT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO MOVE INTO GEAR; THIS HAS OCCURRED FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. I CALLED PREVIOUSLY AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VIN WASN'T PART OF ANY RECALL. I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT GM HASN'T RECOGNIZED THAT THIS VIN ALSO HAS AN ISSUE, BUT JUST HASN'T IDENTIFIED MY VIN OR SENT ME THE INFORMATION. I ALSO HAD TO SPEND $1000 ON ANOTHER ISSUE WITH THIS MALIBU, WHICH I CALLED AGAIN TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL AND THERE WASN'T. PLEASE CHECK OUT MY COMPLAINTS BEFORE ANOTHER ACCIDENT OCCURS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2012
Feb 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO TURN. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT HAD TO MAKE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000. UPDATED 09/15/14*LJ

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: May 2014
Feb 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPUTER CHIP FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118, 122.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2014
Jun 2013

2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. PURCHASED NEW NOVEMBER 2007. OCTOBER 2010 FRONT PASSENGER DOOR ACTUATOR FAILED @ 15,584 MILES . FIXED AS WARRANTY WAS TO EXPIRE, NO CHARGE. NOVEMBER 2011 BOTH REAR DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS FAILED. PURCHASED PARTS, REPAIRED @ HOME. NOVEMBER 2012 DRIVER?S DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILED. PURCHASED PART, REPLACED @ HOME. JUNE 2012 SOME RADIO BUTTONS FAIL TO FUNCTION. REPLACED ENTIRE RADIO @ DEALERSHIP . ELECTRICAL FAILURE EXPENSES TOTAL $831, WITH MOST LABOR DONE BY SELF. CAR HAS 30K MILES AS OF JUNE 2013. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2010
Jun 2013

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS STARTING WITH THE FRONT SPEAKERS ON DRIVERS/PASSENGERS DOOR WORK THEN STOP, THE DOOR LOCKS DIS-ENGAGE AT NORMAL DRIVING SPEEDS, THE DOOR CHIME DOES NOT WORK NORMALLY IN THE MORNING, I HEAR DINGING COMING FROM THE CAR WHEN I MANUALLY PUSH THE LOCK BUTTON TO ENGAGE THE LOCKS. WHAT IS WEIRD IS IN THE MORNING THE SPEAKERS DO NOT WORK, BUT AS YOU BLAST THE VOLUME ABOUT FIFTY TIMES WHILE PRESSING ON THE BREAK IT SEEMS TO MAKE ALL THINGS WORK AGAIN. """ PIECE OF JUNK"""" THIS IS PROOF THAT 17 PERCENT OF GM CARS AT BUILT IN CHINA. I WILL BUY A DONKEY NEXT TIME, AT LEAST ALL I NEED IS SOME FEED....... GET RID OF YOUR GM'S ....... *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: May 2012
Apr 2013

THE RIGHT REAR DOOR LOCK NO LONGER FUNCTIONS PROPERLY, AND MUST BE MANUALLY LOCKED OR UNLOCKED. ALL DOORS IN THE VEHICLE ARE SUPPOSED TO, AND ASSUMED TO BE, LOCKED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE AND WHEN THE LOCK IS HIT. HAVING A DOOR THAT DOES NOT FUNCTION AS IT IS ASSUMED THAT IT WILL PRESENTS A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE THROUGH VANDALISM/THIEVES OR IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY AS THE RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT. LOOKING THROUGH THE EXISTING LIST OF COMPLAINTS HERE AND ALSO ON MODEL SPECIFIC FORUMS, THIS ISSUE IS WITHOUT A DOUBT A WIDESPREAD ONE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY GM, CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF CARS IT AFFECTS NOT ONLY FOR THE MALIBU MODEL, BUT ALSO OTHER VEHICLES THAT THEY SELL. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2012
Apr 2013

KEYLESS DOOR FOB WILL NOT UNLOCK REAR DOORS. LOOKING THIS UP ON THE INTERNET HAS SHOWN THIS PROBLEMS IS A COMON COMPLAINT AND NOT COVERED AFTER 3 YEAR OR 36000 MILE WARRANTY THOUGH MILEAGE IS NOT A FACTOR FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE SAFETY FACTOR INVOLVED WOULD BE INABILITY TO OPEN REAR DOOR IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH WITH INJURIES. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2011
Apr 2013

MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU (PURCHASED NEW) WITH 41,000 MILES. RECENTLY, I NOTICED MY BACK DOOR CAR LOCKS DID NOT WORK. I CALLED THE DEALER AND AM TOLD WE NEED NEW ACTUATORS; NO RECALL AS IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I DISAGREE - PRESSING A LOCK ON YOUR DOOR SHOULD LOCK YOUR DOOR. PLUS WHEN I MANUALLY LOCK THE DOORS, IF AN EMERGENCY AROSE I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO UNLOCK THE BACK DOORS WITHOUT CRAWLING INTO THE BACK SEAT TO UNLOCK. THE DEALER QUOTED A COST OF $250 PER DOOR PLUS LABOR. MY POINT IS - THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN TO ME AND MY FAMILY. I PHONED GM AND AM AGAIN TOLD IT IS NOT A SAFETY CONCERN. AGAIN, I POLITELY DISAGREED. IS IT POSSIBLE FOR THE NTSA TO REVIEW THIS ISSUE WITH GM? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CONSIDERING MY CONCERN. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Nov 2013
Jan 2013

FIRST SUMMER OF OWNERSHIP, HOT DAY, AIRCONDITIONER ON. CAR STARTED FLASHING ALL KINDS OF WARNINGS. PULLED OFF ROAD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE PULLING INTO LOT AND THEN CAR SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN. AT FIRST SERVICE, TOLD DEALERSHIP WHAT HAPPENED BUT THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE CAUSE WAS. THAT SAME YEAR OR NEXT YEAR THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE HYBRID BATTERY AND IT WAS REPLACED. THOUGHT MAYBE MY PROBLEM WOULD NOT OCCUR AGAIN BUT EVERY SUMMER HAD SIMILAR INCIDENTS WITH CAR PULLING INTO STOP AND SHUTTING OFF. WAS ABLE TO START CAR AGAIN AFTER SITTING FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. DIAGNOSTICS SHOW NOTHING WRONG AT DEALERSHIP. JULY 23 2013 ON A RAINY HIGHWAY (AIR CONDITIONER NOT ON BECAUSE NEEDS NEW COMPRESSOR), SAME SITUATION SUDDENLY HAPPENS. FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS, LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND EVENTUALLY ALL POWER AFTER GETTING OFF HIGHWAY(THANKGOD). POLICE HAD TO PUSH CAR OUT OF INTERSECTION AND TOW TRUCK DRIVER GAVE CAR A JUMP AND PARKED CAR IN SAFE PLACE AND GOT A CAB TO A VERY EXPENSIVE CONCERT A HALF HOUR LATE. AFTER CONCERT, CAR STARTED AND TOOK CAR TO SEARS FOR A NEW BATTERY AS TOW TRUCK DRIVER SUGGESTED. JULY 26 MADE DRIVE HALFWAY ACROSS STATE. NO INCIDENT. JULY 29 DRIVING HOME. BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON AFTER MAKING REST STOP. KEPT DRIVING ON HIGHWAY(NICE DAY, NO RAIN) BUT CAR SHUTS OFF AGAIN, FORTUNATELY JUST AFTER GETTING OFF HIGHWAY. THIS IS GETTING DANGEROUS! ONSTAR SEES ELECTRICAL PROBLEM ON DIAGNOSTICS. TOWED TO CHEVY DEALERSHIP. RENT CAR TO GET BACK HOME. ONCE AGAIN DIAGNOSTICS SHOW NO PROBLEM. NOW I HAVE TO TAKE MY RENTAL CAR 2 HOURS TO GET MY OWN CAR. GOING TO CALL GM. WISH ME LUCK ON THE HIGHWAY. HOPE I GET THE CAR BACK HOME! *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU HYBRID, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jul 2009
Mar 2012

THE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCK ON THE LEFT SIDE BEHIND THE DRIVER WILL NOT COME UP ALL THE WAY TO UNLOCK THE DOOR MOST OF THE TIME I EITHER HAVE TO GO AROUND THE CAR TO THE OTHERSIDE TO UNLOCK IT OR CRAWL OVER THE FRONT SEAT TO UNLOCK IT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SEVERAL OTHERS WHOM OWN THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE THAT THEY TOO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAVE HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED. I PURCHASED MY CAR USED AND HAVE RECENTLY BEEN TOLD WHEN I CALLED ABOUT THE PROBLEM THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS DOOR LOCK HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACE. IF SO MAY OF THEM HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACE MY CONCERN IS WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A RECALL ON SUCH A DEVICE. TO ME THIS COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD SHOULD YOU BE IN A WRECK AND THE DOORS ARE LOCK AND EMERGENCY PERSONAL TRIED TO GET IN FROM THE BACK TO HELP SOMEONE AND THE DOOR WOULDN'T OPEN. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2011
Dec 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COMPUTER CODES ILLUMINATED AND ALL OF THE TEMPERATURE GAUGES ON THE VEHICLE STOPPED WORKING. THE VEHICLE ALSO BEGAN TO RUN VERY ROUGH. IF THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, OCCASIONALLY SHE HAD TO WAIT 10 MINUTES BEFORE IT WOULD RESTART. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN MODULE, BUT THAT ONLY CORRECTED THE FAILURE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THE WIRES WITHIN THE COMPUTER WERE REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE REPAIR ONLY LASTED A FEW WEEKS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE STATED THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2010
Mar 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE POWER DOOR LOCKS AND WINDOWS HAVE FAILED, LOCKING THE CONTACT INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT AN ESCAPE. THE CONTACT HAD EXPERIENCED SEVERAL ELECTRICAL FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TO HAVE THE FRONT AND REAR DOOR ACTUATORS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WOULD PERSIST. IN ADDITION, THE ALTERNATOR, ENGINE LIGHT AND RADIO HAVE BEEN REPLACED DUE TO ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THE DEALER STATED THAT ALL OF THE FAILURES WERE RELATED TO AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,473.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Nov 2008

Trend Over Time

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Quick Summary

The 2008 Chevrolet Malibu has 52 Electrical System complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.