Every record we hold for this vehicle, as plain tables, with nothing added. The consumer page shows the same records with the maintenance schedule, price ranges and nearby shops around them.
vehicle
2008 / chevrolet / malibu
known issues
6 clusters (reviewed 2026-09-16)
complaints
1,015 on file (2008-01-26 → 2026-06-29)
recalls
0
investigations
0
fars
243 occupant deaths, crash years 2010-2024 (legacy-code)
Brake light illumination malfunctionELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES13 complaints2019-03 → 2026-06malibu-2008-brake-light-malfunction
11747296 Randomly when I press the brakes the brake lights don't turn on
11558350 The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the brake lights illuminated without the brake pedal being depressed
11491435 Brake lights automatically come on when you don't touch the brakes and go off when you do
Electronic stability control fault with reduced engine powerELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)15 complaints2019-01 → 2022-02malibu-2008-esc-traction-control-fault
11408211 THE 'SERVICE ESC', 'ESC OFF', CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT, AND TRACTION LIGHTS STAY ON. WITH THESE ON, I CANNOT ACCELERATE PAST 20MPH
11277016 (ESC) TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM NEEDS REPAIRS COMES ON CAUSING THE CAR TO REDUCE ENGINE POWER IMMEDIATELY
11349717 THIS VEHICLE THREW ITSELF INTO LIMP MODE WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUSY INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, AND AFTER SUPPOSSED REPAIRS DID THE SAME AGAIN WHEN SHE WAS IN A BAD SECTION OF THE CITY
Gear shifter and shift cable failurePOWER TRAIN9 complaints2019-01 → 2024-07malibu-2008-shifter-cable-failure
11603674 I backed my car up, put the car in park, opened the door and got out
11364619 THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE, THE GEAR SHIFTER MOVED THROUGH THE GEARS AND WAS STUCK IN PARK
11291319 WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE SHIFT CABLE SNAPPED
Electric power steering loss during drivingSTEERING108 complaints2018-12 → 2026-05malibu-2008-eps-power-steering-loss
11712986 The EPS malfunctions and turns off during normal driving operations at random intervals
11642665 The power steering consistently locks up. It may or may not reset itself if you turn the car off and back on
11463660 The contact then used extra effort to steer the vehicle while pulling into a nearby parking lot, where she turned off the vehicle
11376858 HEADLIGHTS BURN OUT WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OF REPLACEMENT. HAVE HAD TO REPLACE TWO TO THREE TIMES A YEAR
11310753 LOW BEAM PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WORKS INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING
11268010 I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY LOW BEAMS SEVERAL TIMES
Vehicle failure to start or unexpected stallELECTRICAL SYSTEM18 complaints2019-01 → 2026-04malibu-2008-no-start-stall-failure
11733969 The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, it failed to start up
11328629 I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS THE COMPUTER CRASHED (CODE U0100 ECM PCMA) UNFORTUNATELY THE CAR DOESN'T START AT ALL SO NOW I MAY HAVE TO GET A NEW CAR BECAUSE THE CAR LOT DOESN'T WANT TO PAY FOR IT
11165189 IGNITION HEATS UP AND WILL NOT START UNTIL COOLS OFF
FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road.
Cite this
Derived data is CC BY 4.0. Link back to the page you used. Text and BibTeX below.
Wrench.Pro (2026). 2008 Chevrolet Malibu vehicle data [dataset]. https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2008/chevrolet/malibu
@misc{wrenchpro_2008_chevrolet_malibu_2026,
author = {Wrench.Pro},
title = {Wrench.Pro vehicle data: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2008/chevrolet/malibu}},
note = {Derived from NHTSA public records. CC BY 4.0.}
}
