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 · Latches/Locks/Linkages
Chevrolet malibu door locks / latches are failing to operate on three of four doors on the vehicle. Remote lock and unlock cannot be completed due to actuator / latch failure. Safety of vehicle is compromised as chevrolet malibu body control module is supposed to lock all doors as vehicle transmission is placed into drive and unlock all doors when vehilce is placed into park. However, due to apparent design /…
ODI 10579447
Body · Electrical System · Unknown Or Other
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…
ODI 10733154
Air Bags · Electrical System · Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated while driving 35 mph, the check engine, dome light, door ajar sound, seat belt warning lights illuminated at the same time. The engine lost power after the above warning signals displayed. The failure recurred three times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that the body control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was…
ODI 10633855
Electrical System
On numerous occasions the car will lock out and not start due to faulty anti-theft system. I have found jumping battery or disconnecting and reconnecting back will clear lock-out and allow car to start. Also have had problem while driving, suddenly while driving all dashboard warning lights will begin flashing requiring emergency stopping.
ODI 10725066
Electrical System · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
While traveling down the highway with my car on cruise control going about 70mph, a car cut me off and i had to slam on my brakes to avoid a crash. In the process of braking, my knee hit a long key on my keychain and caused the key in the ignition to turn to the off position. I immediately lost all power including the ability to easily steer. Luckily i was able to put on my hazards and get to the side of the rode. I…
ODI 10565235
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Power Train
While maintaining speeds around 35-40 mph. The engine seemed to try to cut out and lose power. The service esc service traction control light came on the dash. The engine was trying to cut out. Later in the day starting out at a stop light the engine stopped completely and i was stuck in the intersection. I was able to get the car to the side of the road. It restarted after about 5 minutes. I took it to a dealership…
ODI 10577247
Electrical System
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.
ODI 10586147
Electrical System · Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that when turning, the turn indicator switch automatically activated but failed to automatically disengage when the steering wheel returned to the normal position. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The vin was not available. The failure mileage was 21000.
ODI 10562956
Electrical System
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…
ODI 10639950
Air Bags · Body · Electrical System
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. *tr
Crash reported
ODI 10617693
Electrical System · Steering
My 2008 chevy malibu ltz 4 cylinder lost complete power to the power steering today while driving 10 mph. Luckily i'm young and strong and was able to turn the car into a parking lot and safely exit it. I saw that this model does not have power steering fluid so now i need to contact the dealer and fix this problem as this was very scary. I saw that many many others have had this problem so a recall needs to be…
ODI 10555404
Electrical System · Steering
I was driving home from work at about 6 pm when my power steering went out and caused my steering wheel to turn by itself. When the steering wheel turned by itself i lost control of the vehicle and almost crashed into a stop sign and a curb in the incoming traffic lane. When i purchased the car i was so excited, it was my first car and i thought it was decent,i was wrong. Since the power steering has gone out i have…
ODI 10557617
Electrical System · Service Brakes · Vehicle Speed Control
Everything everyone has been complaining about is wrong with my car. The alarm doesn't work. We have to manually lock the doors sometimes. Brake lights comes on and off as it wants. Just recently, 05/15/14 the car had been really slow at picking up. It was really hard to get the car to reach 60mph. But some days it'll pick up ok too? I hope they fix these issues sooner. Really disappointed. *tr
ODI 10598496
Electrical System
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…
ODI 10567268
Electrical System · Steering
After turning the car on while still in park, the wheel would jerk from left to right by itself. Also occurred while driving at both low and high speeds. The power steering was failing without warning! It was particularly frightening at high speeds and would happen with no warning. This happened multiple times on many different occasions before the chime sounded and the words power steering appeared on my dash…
ODI 10555071
Electrical System · Service Brakes
The brake light switch is faulty and corroded. The brake light does not come on when brake pedal is pressed. Cruise control does not engage. This is a safety hazard as other drivers are not warned of braking. *tr
ODI 10546154
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Latch · Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that there was an electrical failure, which caused multiple failures with the headlights, the dimmer switch, the console lights, the brake lights, and the turn signals. The contact also stated that the front passenger side bulb failed several times and was replaced, but the failure recurred. In addition, the harness was replaced due to corrosion, but…
ODI 10725599
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Service Brakes
As i was driving the driver behind me told me that there was something wrong with my tail lights. I then noticed while driving that the brake lights stayed on and when i did press down on the brakes there was nothing. This poses a great problem in that i could have been rear ended due to the drivers behind be me not knowing if i was braking or not. This needs to be recalled. My family owns 3 chevy's, but i am…
ODI 10537606
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Vehicle Speed Control
The brake lights come on without braking and go off when you brake. The cruise control shuts off when the brake lights come on without pushing the brake peddle. The traction control warning light on the dash comes on also when the brake lights luminates. *tr
ODI 10572628
Electrical System · Engine
2008 chevrolet malibu. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle sudden acceleration issues. *smd the consumer stated as she attempted to accelerate, the vehicle did not move for several seconds. The engine kept revving and making a loud sound. The odometer went from 60 mph to 0 and the tachometer vacillated from two to five. Suddenly, the vehicle accelerated. Then the engine began revving again and the situation…
ODI 10532514
Electrical System · Engine And Engine Cooling · Seat Belts
I am having similar issues as others with wiring/electrical. Latest incident involved loss of ac/defrost/level controls. Prior to this loss, there was a very strong burning smell coming thru the vents when the control level was set to 1-4. There were no visible sparks or fire; however, the wiring under the glove department was extremely hot. Although there wasn't a fatality or visible fire other risks were involved.…
ODI 10522646
Electrical System · Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System
Chevrolet malibu ltz 3.6l, as you drive down the street at any speed the traction control light comes on check engine light comes on and the display say check traction press esc i have had it checked at the chevy dealership where i purchased the car and the tech said the engine misfired that it was probably due to bad gas or a particle in the gas but it has happened about ten times with gas from several places and…
ODI 10502220
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
Owners of chevy malibus have an issue with 2008 - 2010 power door locks that malfunction. This is a safety issue since the doors can lock and unlock at random times, and mine do not lock and unlock unless done manually, since there is only a key way to unlock the drivers door you have to crawl over the front seats to manually un lock the rear doors. Please launch an investigation and order the manufacturer to recall…
ODI 10758541
Electrical System
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
ODI 10690166
Electrical System
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…
ODI 10713657