Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2008 Chevrolet Malibu owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. …
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. …
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.
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.
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 happening my dome light is set to turn on and off when a door is open. All of my doors are closed completely and the dome light is still on.
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.
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. This also occurs more often when it has rained and the car is wet. I assume this is due to a leak of water getting into the electrical... My trunk leaks when it is shut. When it rains heavy I notice the bedding becomes very wet on one side. The radio is also effected along with the cruise control. Certain buttons stop working for periods of time. The screen will also go black and the radio will not work at all then suddenly come back on.
The power steering in the vehicle jumps from left to right going down the road. It is very hard to maintain your lane when this happens. It happens at all different points whether the car has been running or just started, it can last up to 30 min. Quit then start again it is very unsafe. My catalytic converter has also gone out in this car. It looses transmission power, doesn't accelerate promptly. When we first got the car we had it in the shop for the back trim leaking, trunk release not working, the car wouldn't start do to the aftermarket alarm the dealer ship placed on it, and the paint peeled. No I am having major issues and it is out of warranty. I will never buy another Chevy. This was the worst mistake ever and those car is unsafe to drive.
Sun roof on passenger door leaking water after it rain. I was told that right side drain was stopped up. On April 12 the sun roof was leaking again. I think it is a defect and need a recall. I have had cars with sun roof before and never had a problem. It is my understanding that I am not the only one with a Malibu having this issue. The service manager at the car dealership told me he has a Malibu and is also having this problem. Of course it is not costing him $100 every six months because he knows how to fix it. If this is happening every 6 months, there is something wrong with the product. I spoke with GM customer service but I didn't get any help. I was told because they have not been ordered to recall there was nothing they could do.
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!
Body complaints in other Malibu years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the body & structure of the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, 2% of the model year's 989 complaints. The component named most often is body (15 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2008 Chevrolet Malibu body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2008 Chevrolet Malibu body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles, and 25% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 0 injuries to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.