Steering. Review the 460 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 231 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Exterior Lighting. Review the 106 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

30 crash reports5 fire reports15 injury reports

Structure complaints

21 reports

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137,460 miles · Apr 30, 2020

Exterior LightingStructure

THERE IS SOME ISSUE WITH MY DRIVERS DOOR. I GO TO LOCK IT WHEN I GET OUT AND IT UNLOCKS ITSELF AND ITS ONLY THE DRIVERS DOOR THAT DOES IT. MY CAR WAS PARKED AND NOT IN MOTION. I STARTED MY CAR UP TO GO HOME AFTER WORK AND WHEN I SHIFTED MY CAR INTO GEAR THE DRIVERS DOOR DID NOT LOCK. I HAD TO DO IT MANUALLY. ON TOP OF THAT HAPPE…

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NHTSA ODI #11322783

Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 2020

Electrical SystemStructureUnknown Or Other

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MY 2008 CHEVY MALIBU HAS DOOR LATCH ISSUES. WHEN YOU CLOSE THE DOORS, THE LATCH WILL NOT CONNECT AND THE DOOR WILL FLY BACK OPEN. WE NEED TO KEEP PLAYING WITH THE LOCKS FOR THE DOOR TO EVENTUALLY LATCH AND LOCK. THEN IT ALSO SOMETIMES DOES IT FROM THE INSIDE AND YOU CANNOT OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE AND YOU WILL NEED TO KEEP PLAYING WITH IT. ONE DAY, I HAD TO ROLE THE WINDOW DOWN TO TRY TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T OPEN FROM THIS INSIDE. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE IN THE EVENT SOMETHING CATASTROPHIC HAPPENS AND THE DOOR DOES NOT OPEN OR CLOSE THEY WAY ITS SUPPOSED TO, IT CAN BE LIFE THREATENING. EXPECIALLY SINCE I HAVE A SMALL SON. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND FAST!

NHTSA ODI #11306794

Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 2019

Air BagsStructure

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CARS PURCHASED ON OCTOBER 31ST 2018 THE CAR CAN I PASS INSPECTION WITH NO ONE TO DMV THEY GAVE US A CALL BACK SAYING THE CAR WAS TOTALED IN THE SALVAGE CAR DECLARED IN 2016 THE CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SOLD FOR $2,700 WHEN CONTACTED DEALER HE REFUSED TO GIVE US OUR MONEY AND HE SAID ONLY I CAN GET ANOTHER CAR IF I PAY YOUR CAR NOTES AT THIS TIME WOULD JUST LIKE FOR MY MONEY TO BE REFUNDED THE VEHICLE CANNOT PASS INSPECTION AND IS UNSAFE TO BE DRIVEN ON THE STREET I WOULD LIKE MY MONEY BACK HE'S PUTTING MY LIFE IN DANGER

NHTSA ODI #11165073

Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 2018

Electrical SystemSteeringStructureCrash

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VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION DRIVING ON A CITY STREET WHILE I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN ONTO ANOTHER CITY STREET MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHICH ENABLED ME TO STRAIGHTEN UP MY WHEEL. DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO STRAIGHTEN UP MY WHEEL AFTER STEERING LEFT I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT KNOCKING OFF MY DRIVERS SIDES HEADLIGHT AND FRONT BUMPER COMPLETELY OFF OF MY VEHICLE. AFTER GETTING THE CAR BACK HOME THE CAR WOULD NO LONGER START. THE VEHICLE IS NOW AT CAPITOL CHEVEROLET IN AUSTIN TEXAS AND BEFORE REPLACING THE RECALL PARTS THEY INSISTED ON A BATTERY REPLACEMENT I DID REPLACE THE BATTERY AND 3 DAYS LATER THEY CALL AND INSIST ON AN ALTERNATOR REPLACEMENT THAT WILL COST ME $800 IN ORDER FOR THEM TO START ON THE REPLACEMENT/ REPAIRS OF THE RECALLS. THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR ALL WERE WORKING IN GOOD CONDITION BEFORE THE POWER STEERING ISSUE CAME ABOUT WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. I SHOULD NOT BE RELIABLE OF PAYING FOR THIS. THE DEALERSHIP IS ALSO CHARGING ME A $65 TOWING FEE!

NHTSA ODI #11100065

Mileage unknown · Nov 8, 2016

Electrical SystemExterior LightingStructure

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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 BACK AND GIVE THIS TO A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE AND HE NEEDS TO BE STOPPED I CONTACTED THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND NEW JERSEY DMV

NHTSA ODI #10925077

145,000 miles · Mar 10, 2016

Fuel/propulsion SystemStructure

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PURCHASED A USED 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. VERY SHORTLY AFTER I COULD NOTICE A STRONG ODOR OF GAS COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AFTER DRIVING IT. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO REMOVED THE FUEL TANK AND DISCOVERED THAT A PLASTIC FEED LINE ON TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP MODULE HAD A SEVERE LEAK. I CONTACTED GM IN REGARD TO THE FACT THAT THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE HAS BEEN RECALLED ON THE EXACT SAME YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL AS MY VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD THAT MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL WAS OFFERED NO ADDITIONAL RESOLUTION OR SUPPORT. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE ONLY VEHICLES COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY WERE THOSE BOUGHT AND SOLD OR REGISTERED IN "WARM WEATHER" STATES, BUT KENTUCKY HAS 100 DEGREES VERY HUMID SUMMERS. IT'S IS CONSIDERED PART OF THE SOUTH , A REGION KNOWN FOR BEING VERY HOT IN THE SUMMER. ADDITIONALLY THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR AND REAR PASSENGER DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR DO NOT WORK UNDER POWER. THE ONLY WORK MANUALLY.

NHTSA ODI #10845910

140,768 miles · Jul 10, 2015

Latches/locks/linkagesStructureVisibility/wiper

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE WIPER TRANSMISSION FAILED TO WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE WIPER TRANSMISSION, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK FAILED TO WORK. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DOOR LOCK MECHANISM, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT HAD TO CLOSE THE DOOR WITH FORCE TO GET THE DOOR TO SECURE. THE CONTACT ALSO HAD TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS TO ENSURE THE DOOR WAS LOCKED AND UNLOCKED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,768.

NHTSA ODI #10733317

82,000 miles · Jul 10, 2015

Electrical SystemStructureUnknown Or Other

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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 SHUT AND I HAD TO PHYSICALLY HOLD THE DOOR SHUT THE REST OF THE WAY HOME WHERE IT NEVER WOULD LATCH. RESEARCH ONLINE INDICATES THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS THAT THE DOOR LATCH/LOCK ASSEMBLIES FAIL WHICH DOESN'T SEEM SAFE IF YOU CAN'T EXIT THE CAR OR IF IT WERE TO COME UNLATCHED WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #10733154

70,000 miles · Aug 22, 2014

Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS ALSO PRESENT ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #10627445

55,000 miles · Jul 30, 2014

Air BagsElectrical SystemStructureCrash

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…

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NHTSA ODI #10617693

Official recalls

14V252000 · Electrical System:wiring; Electronic Stability Control (esc); Exterior Lighting:brake Lights; Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch; Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control

May 14, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and harness connector, and will relearn the brake pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). GM's number for this recall is 13036.

Additional source detail variants (5)

Electronic Stability Control (esc)