2008 Chevrolet Malibu Electrical System Problems
- 191
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 191 stored complaint records:
- 6 indicate a crash
- 3 indicate injury
- 1 indicate fire
What owners report
- brake lights · 22 records
- door locks · 18 records
- power steering · 14 records
- steering wheel · 11 records
- traction control · 10 records
- warning lights · 9 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 58 |
| 30–60k mi | 37 |
| 100–150k mi | 27 |
| 1–30k mi | 17 |
| 150–400k mi | 11 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Electrical System
The power door locks stopped working on all but the rear, right passenger door. This is a huge safety concern when it involves young children riding in the back seat, or elderly who find it difficult to manually unlock the door. I don't know how many complaints it takes to trigger a recall, but there appears to be several hundred already on file. Please realize that this is a very serious issue.
ODI 11006580
Electrical System
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that after the vehicle was parked and restarted, the vehicle failed to operate. In addition, the security lock warning light illuminated intermittently. The failure recurred three times. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the safety system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified…
ODI 10905701
Electrical System · Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the engine stalled without warning while driving 40 mph. The contact lost control of the vehicle, drove into a ditch, and stopped in an embankment. The front driver side air bag deployed and the gas inside caused the contact to contract pneumonia. The contact suffered chest pains that required medical attention. The vehicle was towed to storage. A…
Crash reported · 1 injury
ODI 10836468
Electrical System · Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 chevrolet malibu. While driving in a parking lot, the steering wheel locked without warning while turning. The contact had to apply extreme pressure to the brake pedal and the steering wheel. The contact was not notified, but the vehicle was included in nhtsa campaign number: 14v153000 (steering). The vehicle was not diagnosed or remedied. The vehicle was also included in nhtsa campaign…
ODI 10819465
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control
Brake lights would be on when not applying brakes and brakes lights would not come on when applying brakes - esc and service traction indicators remained on. On the way to have this problem repair for the 3rd time, the engine loss power while i was driving approx 75mph on an extremely busy interstate. One of the scariest moments of my entire life. Pulled over, put the car in park & then is shutoff. The engine light…
ODI 10819090
Electrical System · Engine · Power Train
Takata recall: hello my name is [xxx] i am constantly having problem with my chevy malibu 2008. My car shut off while still in drive on my way home on the street and then my gear shifted to park while again the car is in drive. I have bad electrical problems that i gotten fixed and it still acting up but what's is important is that my car is not driving and i cant start it at all. Yes i got a new starter and its…
ODI 10818755
Electrical System · Engine · Steering
When the car was started the information panal was not reading, it consisted of mostly dashes. The car was running much louder than normal and the check engine light came on. It started saying service traction and engine power loss. I placed the car in drive, the interior lights started flashing and locks went up and down rapidly. I shut the car off and re started it, attempted to see if it would drive but it had no…
ODI 10819516
Electrical System
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the vehicle's locks functioned independently while idling and driving. The check air bag, check power module, and service tire monitoring system warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was 80,000.
ODI 10807418
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Service Brakes
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 chevrolet malibu. While driving 30 mph, the contact was notified that the brake lights failed to illuminate when the brake pedal was depressed. In addition, the brake light illuminated without the brake pedal being depressed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who repaired the vehicle under nhtsa campaign number: 14v252000 ( electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior…
ODI 10809318
Air Bags · Electrical System · Fuel/Propulsion System
My gas tank started leaking for no reason (no wear and tear-every mechanic said that is almost unheard of), my power windows and lock stopped working 2 years after purchase and was told that i had to pay almost $300 to fix each motor for the door locks and windows, the service airbag light has been on for more than a year, my ac also have issues; the sensor and thermostat has been changed 6 times within the last 4…
ODI 10783143
Electrical System · Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 chevrolet malibu. While driving 40 mph, the vehicle stopped accelerating without warning. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal with no response. The vehicle was pulled to the side of the road. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to the dealer but not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure…
ODI 10785030
Electrical System · Engine
When i drive the car it drives fine. In the morning when i try to leave at 7 or 8 it refuses to turn on until it is warm i guess. There's definitely an electrical issue i've only had the cat for 2 months and when it does start it says power steering and service esc. Sometimes i can't even drive over 20. It's definitely an issue that needs recalled.
ODI 10795253
Electrical System
Started as passenger door sometimes wouldn't unlock with remotes or by either door passenger or drivers door lock control. Gradually door wouldn't lock or unlock other than manually. Then the same happened with passenger bk door, drivers bk door, then driver door. Now only entry is with the key.it doesn't matter if car is running or not. This is a inconvient problem as much as a personal safety issue. My husband is…
ODI 11075024
Air Bags · Electrical System · Fuel/Propulsion System
Electrical and module problems safety hazards with traction control. Tc on when it should not be. Fuel system problems. Car powers off during driving. Gm refused repair without charging 120 to look at. Had to disconnect fuses and had to pull actuators pressure. Sensors fuel and electrical. Door latches going up and down even when car is off. Cannot drive highway. Gm refused vehicle from repair or compensation.
ODI 10774201
Body · Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
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…
ODI 10925077
Electrical System
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…
ODI 10731455
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control
I am a owner of a 08 chevy malibu lt 2.4 liter. When i first got the car from the dealer (used) for about two years it was running fine with just little maintenance. When the third year comes around i start having problems with the traction control and engine reduce power light. I've looked up fixes for these problems and i'm currently invested over 5,000 on fixing this problem and it's still not fixed the dealer…
Crash reported
ODI 10944237
Electrical System
Doesn't matter if the car is running or turned off - all door locks keep locking and unlocking. Very annoying. Had to remove fuse from under the dashboard to make it stop. Now none of my automatic locks will work without the fuse.
ODI 10882355
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the door locks on the vehicle failed. The failure occurred intermittently. In addition, the contact stated that the security system failed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 72,000.
ODI 10713044
Electrical System
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
ODI 10703007
Electrical System · Engine · Vehicle Speed Control
While on my way to work, suddenly my traction light and service engine light came on and the reduced power notification came on moments later, the car slowed to about 10-20 mph(like it almost died but still running) and the car was shaking. I could not accelerate, i coasted into a parking lot and it was idling rough. I shut it off, waited a few moments and started it like nothing happened. I was scared and just…
ODI 10670870
Electrical System
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…
ODI 10723197
Electrical System
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.…
ODI 10663748
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Dash lights and parking lights just quit working. Took to mechanic and they found out the bcm needed to be replaced. *tr
ODI 10652897
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Exterior Lighting · Power Train · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Vehicle Speed Control
2008 chevrolet malibu. Consumer writes in regards to gm recall #13036 and repair reimbursement. * ld
ODI 10648122