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 · Fuel/Propulsion System
The check engine light displays constantly. The fuel gauge will randomly drop down to low/empty even though there is a full tank of gas. Also at random, the tire pressure system light and airbag safety light will randomly display on the car's dash board. There are 49 other similar complaints on repairpal.com http://repairpal.com/the-fuel-gauge-may-not-read-correctly-andor-check-engine-light-with-code-p0455p0461-730.…
ODI 10487386
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
Rear doors will not lock when put in gear or at highway speeds or unlock when put in park. Only will lock or unlock manually. The dealer told me that there is no recall on this problem. The rear lock solenoids go bad. And that they have been selling and installing a lot of them. The solenoids are part of the rear door latch. I paid for two new solenoids and installed them .problem fixed. The parts number has been…
ODI 10576440
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
Three of my car doors do not lock unless manually locked. The electronics have failed on all three doors. I have to replace the motor in each door, at the cost of over $750. The cost is not the only problem. The motors that failed in each door will be replaced by the same faulty part. I can't believe it costs $300 to fix one door's locks alone. The drivers lock had greater problems than the others because sometimes…
ODI 10484062
Body · Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
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…
ODI 10480780
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Service Brakes
The brake lights, including the third brake light, were observed on during normal operation, when the brakes were not being applied. This gives a false indication of intended operation. *tr
ODI 10479499
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Service Brakes
Whilst driving home one night i noticed that my brake lights were on, however i was not applying the brakes. I then pressed the brake pedal and the brake lights turned off. Once i let go of the brake they came back on after a few seconds. At the same time, i received an error that read along the lines of: esc service traction. My husband and i found a forum where other malibu owners seemed to be having the same…
ODI 10494711
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
Automatic door lock failed to open when transmission was put in park. The only way to open the door was to pull up on lock knob which was almost impossible due to limited mobility (arthritis in shoulder). Needed to remove seat belt, slide over and sit on console to reach lock knob. Automatic locks still engage when car is put in drive but will not open when put back in park. I can not easily or quickly exit the car…
ODI 10482032
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
The driver's side rear door lock no longer works when using the power lock button. It must be actuated manually- by manually lifting the knob up. The main problem is the knob is located to the rear of the door and is not accessible unless you are in the back seat- the knob cannot be raised from the front seat area of the vehicle in order to unlock the door to help occupants exit the vehicle, especially in case of…
ODI 10479501
Electrical System · Engine
Tl* the contact owned a 2008 chevrolet malibu. While driving approximately 35 mph, the door lock switch operated independently without warning. After parking, the vehicle caught fire under the hood. The contact sustained a back injury attempting to put the fire out that did not require medical attention. A fire report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure…
Fire reported · 1 injury
ODI 10748366
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Service Brakes
On several occasion i have notice that my brake lights come on without me even pressing the brakes. It also lights up and when i press the brakes it goes off. I have spoken with other malibu owner and they complain of this same brake failure. It is very frustrating and not safe. *tr
ODI 10482262
Electrical System · Steering
Recall: 14118 and 13036 due to these recalls i drive around holding on to the steering wheel so not to loose controll into another car or run off the road. My electrical system is faulty all the time. I am preventing this car from crashing while driving with family and friends. I have called the local gm dealer ship who in turn will not call me back regarding the recall parts. I have been driving like this for 2…
ODI 10643487
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Steering
All the dash board lights coming on and off then car would not start all the computers burnt out don't see how 1,400 dollars later she got it back some things don't work as they did.they said she did something to it. She's a 78 year old woman she can't even check oil. So u tale me what happen it. I think there was a problem and blamed it on her , i had to pay the bill she could not. This car dose not steer rite.…
ODI 10618447
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Latches/Locks/Linkages · Steering
Turn signal arm does not stay in place when signaling to turn. Also the turn signal arm when it does stay in place it will not return to normal position/turn off signal by itself after making a turn. When turning the steering wheel it makes popping noises. Door locks on all doors stay either in the "lock" or "unlock" position at all times. One of the rear passenger door lock has been replaced at the dealership for…
ODI 10476888
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Service Brakes
Brake lights come on without me pressing down the brake pedal. *tr
ODI 10563160
Electrical System · Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
Key fob does not unlock or lock the front and back doors on the drivers side. If someone is in the back seat the driver can not get them out as the door lock will not open with the fob. When the car is put in drive the drivers door does not lock, so it is assummed that you are safely locked in the car, but the door needs to be locked manually after in the car is put in drive. When locked manually when in car, when…
ODI 10498167
Electrical System · Engine · Latches/Locks/Linkages · Steering
Steering shakes violently,while driving or stopped,to the point of losing control. Condition is intermitent. Vehicle has been checked by dealer and diagnosed as needing a steering control module. So far chevrolet has not offered a fix ,except to replace it at a cost of 743 .00$ with the same part that is defective? Engine light came on at 70000 miles and dealer replaced cat conv at no charge . The third issue is…
ODI 10497888
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
REMOTE LOCK WOULD NOT WORK ON DRIVER'S DOOR. *JS
ODI 10462346
Electrical System
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…
ODI 10509605
Electrical System · Power Train · Suspension
I have a 2008 chevrolet malibu 2lt with 111,000 km on it. I have been noticing a few things since i purchased this from brand new. Overall my car has been ok with getting me from place a to place b. The issues i have had that are pretty serious flaws are the power steering column, the alignment, the automatic power transmission, and the door locks. I have been able to get by however recently i had to get the…
ODI 10459760
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
The power door locks do not work on 3 of the four doors. The doors do not automatically lock when car put into drive. You are unable to unlock drivers door or rear doors with drivers automatic controls or the key fob. Have to lift the door lock manually from inside the car. The only way to unlock the rear doors is by climbing into the back seats. A safety hazard when young children are in the rear seats and you need…
ODI 10593485
Electrical System · Equipment Adaptive/Mobility · Suspension
Passenger doors will not lock (or unlock ) with the remote or manual push button switch on drivers arm rest. The only way to lock (or unlock) rear doors is crawl over front seats to manually pull up lever on back side of door. Or.......use the electric windows and lower rear windows to reach in from outside......which anyone that lives in a cold climate knows you don't lower an electric window in cold…
ODI 10563485
Electrical System
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…
ODI 10520260
Electrical System
KEY WON'T TURN TO OFF POSITION IN IGNITION
ODI 10864026
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
My chevy 2008 malibu, the power locks stopped working on 3 out of 4 doors. *tr
ODI 10592991
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
2008 chevrolet malibu 4 door sedan. I purchased the car and approx. One month after purchase the front passenger door lock failed to operate, i took it to the dealer the car was purchased from and they fixed it under the warranty. Approx. One year after the passenger door lock incident, both driver side door locks failed. Took the car back to the dealer and they wouldn't fix it because i was 200 miles over my…
ODI 10452443