Most common 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Classic problems
Share of the 21 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Malibu Classic complaints by model year
Best Malibu Classic years: 1998, 2000, 2001. Years to avoid: 2004, 2005, 2008. Compare all years →
What 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Classic owners say
Electrical system
When we purchased the Malibu ltz v6 fully loaded , leather seats all the upgraded options I thought I was getting a "excellent" car. I was delusional ! Within a couple of months I had a problem with my radio, and components in the radio saying" aux input device" and it kept turning on and off ! I called Chevrolet in green cove springs florida and asked them about it and they said it was "nothing" it wasn't nothing ! I was told of course "after my warranty expired" that it was the electrical system! And that I would have to pay more then $3,000 to fix it! Nice GM! Because the electrical system is wired into the radio so when they radio has a problem guess what ladies and gentlemen ? Everything goes to hell ! Also my motors on all my doors have failed at least once and now because my electrical system is going my doors open and close when they want to ! …
Erratic fuel gauge, check engine light stays on. 2008 Chevy Malibu. Problem started 2 months ago, dealership says that this is a common problem due to a defective, cheap piece of metal in the fuel gage that easily corrodes. Chevrolet refuses to recall part even though it is defective. They also told me that the check engine light staying on all of the time is related. I am requesting that an investigation be conducted to make GM recall the defective part. The consequence is that I have a car that has a defective part, I never know how much gas I have, I don't know if the check engine light is on because of the defective part or a real problem. The resale value of this car is extremely poor . I bought this car because it was "2008 car of the year". …
Steering
I lost power steering when I was driving on a semi curve while raining lightly. The car kept going to the left and I could not steer. I pressed brakes and car spun. I almost hit a sign on the opposite direction. Thank god nothing happened to me nor my son. There were no other cars involved either. There was a truck coming on the opposite direction but he stopped. Otherwise, we would have collided. I got on the ditch. I was able to get back on road and drive to nearest GM/Chevrolet dealership. They kept the car for 2 days and found out that the power steering motor control module had to be replaced for $703 including labor. There was a recall in Canada for the same part (transport Canada recall # 2012331: manufacturer recall number 12221) but as of now I have not found the recall in USA. Why??
I feel that I experienced the same power steering failure that affected other malibus (and chevrolets) and that my repair should have been covered under Chevrolet special bulletin #10183. However, something about my vehicle's build kept my VIN from being included in the range for this extended coverage. I first experienced problems on February 13, 2014. My vehicle had 97,600 miles on it. After I started the vehicle, the car made a dinging sound and the words "power steering"' flashed on my radio information screen. I tried to drive a few feet but found I had no power steering assist. I had to stop and start the car a couple times before getting power steering back. On February 16, I experienced the same loss of power steering (audible ding, display read "'power steering" and I had no power steering). After restarting, the assist returned. …
Locks & latches
Door locks are failing to lock and unlock, with the key fob or, with the inside switch, from the drivers side or from either one of the three other doors. This is a major safety issue as, if someone is about to get robbed, raped, beat up or a car jacking is about to occur and, the door locks fails to lock or unlock then, someone could get raped, injured or even killed. Please pay attention to this message and take action against general motors to get this issue resolved. I think, along with every other 08 or 09 Malibu owners, that general motors is using this for a "cash cow" as they too are unwilling to budge and do the right thing by making and installing an upgraded locking system that will last for more than five years. [redacted]
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Classic. The contact stated that the rear driver and passenger side doors could not be unlocked. The locks on the doors were broke. The contact stated that she attempted to open the doors from the exterior but to no avail. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection where they advised that the locks needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified and offered to cover half of the repair expenses. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 42,000. The VIN was unavailable. Updated 08/07/12 updated 08/15/12
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Classic a good car?
Based on 21 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 Malibu Classic rates use caution: 11.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the Malibu Classic at the same age. It is one of the Malibu Classic years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Classic?
The electrical system — 11 complaints, 52% of all complaints for this model year, most often about ignition › switch. Next are the steering (6) and locks & latches (4).
How many recalls does the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Classic have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Classic. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Malibu Classic?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1998, 2000 and 2001. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2004, 2005 and 2008. See the full Chevrolet Malibu Classic years comparison.
At what mileage do 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Classic problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 65,000 miles; 37% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.