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 · Exterior Lighting
Brake lights stay on all the time, except when i first press the brake pedal. I have already applied dielectric grease to connector and plugged/unplugged many many times. Works for about 1 day. *tr
ODI 10514968
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
The door lock actuators on all 4 doors do not operate, i have to use the key to unlock the drivers side door then climb over the seats to unlock the rear doors and reach across to unlock passenger door. *tr
ODI 10514662
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
Door lock actuator failed in rear, driver's side door. *tr
ODI 10438998
Electrical System
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…
ODI 10451641
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Service Brakes
I first experienced a problem october 2011 when the dashboard message indicated service traction and service esc, i took my car to an independent garage where they put dielectric grease on the bcm connectors. They stated if the problem continues, i would have to go to a dealer for the bcm to be reprogrammed. While this fixed the problem of my service brake lights coming on without touching my break pedal and then…
ODI 10504624
Air Bags · Electrical System · Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 chevrolet malibu. While the contact's vehicle was stationary, it was rear ended by another vehicle. All of the warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel upon impact. The air bag did not deploy. A police report was not filed. The contact sustained significant injuries to the head and a temporary loss of orientation. The passenger sustained injuries to the back. Medical…
Crash reported · 2 injuries
ODI 11141505
Air Bags · Electrical System · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Steering
While driving or not driving the steering wheel shakes vigorously and the power steering warning light comes on. Then the brake lights come on when i'm not touching them.when i do apply the brakes the lights go out. Then have to apply a generous amount of pressure to get them to come on. I constantly keep getting the light service esc then it says it is off. I turn off car and it resets but after 2 or 3 minutes it…
ODI 10454793
Electrical System · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Steering
While driving or not driving the steering wheel shakes vigorously and the power steering warning light comes on. Then the brake lights come on when i'm not touching them.when i do apply the brakes the lights go out. Then have to apply a generous amount of pressure to get them to come on. I constantly keep getting the light service esc then it says it is off. I turn off car and it resets but after 2 or 3 minutes it…
ODI 10454608
Electrical System · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Steering
While driving or not driving the steering wheel shakes vigorously and the power steering warning light comes on. Then the brake lights come on when i'm not touching them.when i do apply the brakes the lights go out. Then have to apply a generous amount of pressure to get them to come on. I constantly keep getting the light service esc then it says it is off. I turn off car and it resets but after 2 or 3 minutes it…
ODI 10454605
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
After returning grocery shopping i could not get groceries into back seat, door would not unlock . This could have been going on for months as i always put groceries in front passenger seat and floor and never used rear doors . Approximately 1-2 weeks later other rear passenger door would not lock or unlock. I contacted dealer who stated gm might work with me to help a little but doubt it as my mileage was at 42000…
ODI 10434314
Electrical System
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
ODI 10508207
Electrical System
Incident date is approximate. It started on a trip home from chicago when the front passenger seat warmer kept coming on by itself. My wife had to sit in the back seat most of the way home. What we did not know until june 25th 2015 was that it was coming on due to a condensation line leak at the passenger side cowl. On june 28, 2015 i discovered soaked carpet in the right side rear floor board. I pulled the carpet…
ODI 10730839
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
The power door locks are intermittent or have failed. This has become a problem with children in the back seat leaving them with unlocked doors or making it very difficult to reach across to unlock the door were a baby seat is located. *tr
ODI 10597313
Electrical System · Service Brakes · Vehicle Speed Control
My 2008 chevy malibu has a recurring brake light issue. The brake lights stay on randomly, and when you step down on the brake pedal you get no brake lights randomly. I've almost been hit countless times due to vehicles behind me not knowing when i'm actually stopping due to the brake lights being on for 20 miles straight. This is very dangerous for me and my family. *tr
ODI 10546823
Electrical System · Steering
Steering wheel shook violently when the car was at rest and then began to shake while driving down the highway at approximately 49k miles. Took it to dealer and had the steering column replaced. Then the power door locks began to fail; both passenger door locks and the driver's lock must be operated manually now (well, the driver's door lock works 1/2 of the time...never know if it is actually engaged unless you do…
ODI 10508511
Electrical System
First rear door lock actuator failed. Was replaced under warranty by dealer. About two months out of warranty the other rear door actuator failed. Got a quote of almost $400 to fix. Yeah, right. Then the replaced actuator failed. So we're up to $800 to repair. Then (see my other complaint filed) - the door locks start randomly locking and unlocking whether the car is on or off.
ODI 10882356
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
Back door locks will not lock unless pushed down manually. Both back doors will not lock with power locks or with key fob. I have read on many forums that it is the actuator not working. The car can actually be broken into because the doors are actually unlocked. *tr
ODI 10584087
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
You have to take off front end of car to change headlight bulb(bumper, grill, brackets). Replaced 3 headlight bulbs in little more than 1 year . Problem with replacing bulb......you have to take off front end to change bulb. Last time i changed bulb was 3 weeks ago. Bulb out again. I am not a mechanic or body person so i have to pay someone to change the bulb. Paid someone to take off front end and change the bulb.…
ODI 10504282
Body · Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
Both back door locks stopped working. They will not unlock or lock without manually doing so. This makes it very hard to quickly get my toddler son out of the car without rolling the window down first to unlock it. Cruise control works on and off due to the break lights flashing off and on even when i'm not pushing the break pedal. This is very dangerous when i am driving on the free way and my break lights stay on.…
ODI 10477228
Electrical System
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…
ODI 10373425
Electrical System
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 .…
ODI 10522011
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Exterior Lighting · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Vehicle Speed Control
2008 chevrolet malibu. Consumer writes in regards to unsatisfactory customer service at dealership for unnecessary repair work and seeks reimbursement. *smd the consumer stated the service brake illuminated when the brake was not applied, the cruise control would not engage and the traction control light illuminated intermittently. Instead of fixing the wiring harness as described in the safety recall notice the…
ODI 10701596
Electrical System · Power Train
The power door locks do not lock or unlock when the vehicle gear shift is put in park or drive. The first lock became disabled while under warranty and was repaired.. Now the remaining (3) three power locks do not function.. They stopped functioning when the warranty ended... I did not repair them because the cost is a few hundred dollars per lock.. I have to turn the car ignition off while the transmission is in…
ODI 10588626
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
Doors stopped locking when the car is put into drive or reverse, and unlocking when in park. This is a safety issue as we carry a toddler/child in the back seat and they are not locked in, and could open the door. We are told this is very common in malibu's and the dealer maintains an inventory of actuator's to repair all of the vehicles that are brought in. *tr
ODI 10508793
Electrical System · Rim · Structure · Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
My 2008 chevy malibu have had numerous problems starting with rim bent, leaky roof, wet floor, burnt wire unable to start car. *tr the left rear door lock was inoperative. The dealer replaced the door lock actuator and the sun roof drain was clogged. Updated 05/12/10. *jb
ODI 10310121