Door Lock & Latch complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 | 1% | 84,000 miles |
| 2017 | 1 | 0% | 3,000 miles |
| 2016 | 1 | 0% | 62,000 miles |
| 2014 | 1 | 0% | 31,000 miles |
| 2013 | 1 | 0% | 52,000 miles |
| 2012 | 1 | 0% | 87,000 miles |
| 2011 | 2 | 0% | 75,000 miles |
| 2010 | 17 | 1% | 60,000 miles |
| 2009 | 56 | 4% | 57,000 miles |
| 2008 | 71 | 7% | 50,000 miles |
| 2007 | 1 | 0% | 0 miles |
| 2006 | 3 | 0% | 165,000 miles |
| 2005 | 14 | 1% | 29,000 miles |
| 2004 | 8 | 1% | 44,000 miles |
| 2003 | 4 | 1% | 41,000 miles |
| 2001 | 4 | 1% | 67,000 miles |
| 2000 | 6 | 1% | 82,000 miles |
| 1999 | 4 | 1% | 70,000 miles |
| 1998 | 2 | 0% | 82,000 miles |
| 1997 | 3 | 1% | — |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (door latches, locks, hood and tailgate latches).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the front driver's side door would not open from inside or outside the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 196,000. The VIN was not provided.
Front Driver and Passenger door can not be opened from the inside or outside. Locking mechanism doesn't work. I've tried Unlocking the door with remote, button in the car, manually in the car and sticking the key in the actual door itself. When I pull on the handles nothing happens. You can hear the actuator working inside the doors, and the manual door lock knob goes up and down, but neither front door can be opened. The passenger side had the issue first, but I rarely have passengers in my car so I left it alone. Now, the driver side does the same thing. I've tried everything I can think of to get the door opened, but it does not work. I can not even get the inside of the door panel off to look and see what's wrong because the door is closed. This is a serious safety issue because I would not be able to get out of the car in an emergency. …
Power door locks do not work. I bought this beautiful 2009 Chevy Malibu used w 48,000 miles, I had it only 2 months before problems started with the locks. All locks will not open or close using the interior switch nor the key fob. If you manually open the lock by pulling it up and then start the car and put it in gear, the locks will engage automatically and lock the door properly. I checked online and everyone says the problem with the locks is the BCM connection and lack of dielectric grease.GM needs to also fix the power lock issue, it is very much well known on the internet. Anyway, checking forums it seems GM is aware of the locks failing consistently. We all owners of Chevy Malibu's have this issue with 2008, 2009, 2010 power locks that malfunction. This is a safety issue since the doors can lock and unlock at random times. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving various speeds, the gear automatically changed and the engine stalled. The electronic stability control, service traction, and check engine indicators illuminated. The contact pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road, restarted the engine, and the vehicle returned to normal. The contact also stated that the door locks automatically locked and unlocked while driving. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer stated that the VIN was not included in a recall. The approximate failure mileage was 47,000.
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.
Tla* the contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that when the ignition was turned to the on position, the vehicle was shifted out of park and all of the doors locked. The contact stated that when the vehicle was shifted back to the park position the rear doors did not unlock. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or diagnosed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 18,000. Updated 11/09/15 updated 05/16/18
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the battery warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the BCM was controlling the charging of the alternator, which damaged the bearings and alternator. The bearings and alternator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. After the replacement of the alternator, the power steering, headlights, and all the instrument panel warning indicators intermittently illuminated. Also, when the contact exited the vehicle, the doors independently locked while the engine was running. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 14V224000 (power train), 14V153000 (steering), and 14V252000 (service brakes, hydraulic, electrical system, exterior lighting, vehicle speed control, electronic stability control). …
I parked my car and locked the doors up for the night, just like every other night, but the next morning when I tried to start my car the battery was dead. I knew I had not left anything on to run it down. After getting the battery charged and my car started I headed off to work about 5 minutes into my drive my door locks started going crazy unlocking them selves and making a clicking noise this continued for about 10 minutes when I got to work I locked the car up and went to work got off work to find out the battery again was dead. And this time my doors were unlocked. I had this problem on and off for the next week until I had to buy a new battery. The new battery seemed to fix the issue so I thought. But once again it started unlocking its self repeatedly, I have gotten use to it acting up and pretty much over look it when it does it, but it still happens a few times a week.
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Malibu years have door lock & latch problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2008 (71), 2009 (56), 2010 (17), 2005 (14) and 2004 (8) model years. Door Lock & Latch complaints make up 7% of all complaints for the 2008.
Is there a recall for Chevrolet Malibu door lock & latch problems?
No. NHTSA lists no locks & latches recall for any Chevrolet Malibu model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Chevrolet Malibu door lock & latch problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 55,000 miles; 42% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the doors › latch (32 mentions), followed by the trunk lid › lock (6).
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.