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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
62,245 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Chevrolet Malibu lights problems

lights problem

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2008 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 1 of 5)

problem #95

Oct 292022

Malibu

  • 177,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Brake lights automatically come on when you don't touch the brakes and go off when you do. GM has had at least 2 recalls on this problem which this vehicle has gone through and now at 177,000 miles there was a 3 recall which GM won't honor due to high mileage. If it was unsafe at 150,000 miles why is it not unsafe now? We've had it fixed on our own which cost $200 and lasted all of 5-6 months.

- Turpin, OK, USA

problem #94

Aug 092021

Malibu

  • 150,000 miles
The contact's girlfriend owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving behind the vehicle he noticed that the brake light was illuminated even though the brakes was not applied. Additionally, while depressing the brake pedal, the brake light failed to illuminate. The ESC, and traction control warning lights were illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no further assistance was provided. The contact stated that the failure was like NHTSA Campaign Number 14V252000 (Electrical system, Exterior Lighting, Vehicle Speed Control, Electronic Stability Control). The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

- Panama City, FL, USA

problem #93

Aug 202020

Malibu

  • 161,000 miles
Third break light intermittently working. The other two break lights have no issue. I had the third break light replaced and am still experiencing the same issue. This seems to be a common issue with this car as there are numerous complaints of othe consumers experiencing this same issue.

- Grand Rapids, MI, USA

problem #92

Dec 152020

Malibu

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Tail lights not working and have a problem recall for tail lights problems

- Romeoville, IL, USA

problem #91

Nov 262020

Malibu

  • 145,000 miles
Headlights burn out within a few months of replacement. Have had to replace two to three times a year. Poor design means the entire front end of the car must be removed to access and change headlight bulbs. Bulbs have gone out while driving on the highway, making a very unsafe situation.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

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problem #90

Mar 312016

Malibu

  • 100,000 miles
Headlights continuously go out. I have owned the car for 5 years and have replaced the lights about 4 times but the bulb has never burned out on me the light just quits working. Used to be the passenger side only and every now and then if I hit a bump or hit the light myself it would flicker back on. Now the driver side light has refused to work for a year now. I have replaced it with a new light and new wiring harness and still will not work while the car is running. The light will come on when I unlock the doors though.

- Las Cruces, NM, USA

problem #89

Jul 162020

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 144,743 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Low beams on my 2008 Chevy Malibu intermittently turn off and on. Initially, I thought bulbs had died so I replaced one then the other, however, same issue still exists. Sometimes when I am driving at night on the freeway, both lights will just go out. I have pulled over and giggled wires to lights and usually I can get at least one to go back on, however, this is an extremely dangerous default that should be resolved before a deadly accident happens as a result of headlamps not functioning properly.

- Mesa, AZ, USA

problem #88

Apr 302020

Malibu

  • 137,460 miles
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.

- Brown Deer, WI, USA

problem #87

Dec 012017

Malibu

  • 136,006 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving steering wheel wobbles and when at a stop light the vehicle stalled. In addition, the contact stated that the wiring harness was bulb was replaced on four different occasions. The contact also mention the rear signal inside the vehicle would click very fast and that the ABS warning light stayed illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed but was not repaired. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 136,006.

- Pittsburg, PA, USA

problem #86

Jan 162020

Malibu

  • 60,200 miles
Low beam passenger side headlight works intermittently while driving. It turns out that it was due to the electrical wiring harness burning out. This is not an easy fix for this model, to gain access to the headlight assembly the entire front bumper needs to be removed. I was ticketed and had to pay the fine since I was not able to get a shop to take off the bumper within the 24 hour grace period allotted by the local police department.

- Rye, NY, USA

problem #85

Nov 232019

Malibu

  • 130,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My passenger side low beam stopped working. I changed the bulb and it still wasn't working. When I took a closer look, I noticed the connector was melted.

- Saint Augustine, FL, USA

problem #84

Aug 012019

Malibu

  • 167,000 miles
Lighting not working in car, power lock not working, power truck open not working, bad suspension.

- Markham, IL, USA

problem #83

Aug 012016

Malibu

  • 80,000 miles
I have had the transmission totally lock up and sound like braking plactic, had to replace the transmission. Dashboad lights either do not work or flicker. Fast flashing as if a bulb is out than it fixes itself. Numbers running across the radio screen than stops.

- Denver, CO, USA

problem #82

Dec 052019

Malibu

  • 111,000 miles
Right low beam keeps going out. Even after replacing the bulb with a new bulb it will work for a short period of time then go off but not burnt out.

- Weeki Wachee, FL, USA

problem #81

Nov 132019

Malibu

  • 150,000 miles
I will be driving down the road and my ESC light comes on and it causes my brakes to engage by there selves it has happened several times now

- Ashville, OH, USA

problem #80

Apr 202017

Malibu

  • 170,000 miles
I have been having a lot O problems with my low beams I've changed them 3 times checked out all fuses and wiring sometimes they will work mostly not seen alit of complaints about the same issue just saying thank you

- Santa Rosa, CA, USA

problem #79

Oct 112019

Malibu

  • 95,000 miles
I have had to replace my low beams several times. A couple of times a mechanic replaced the (melted and scorched) housing that holds the bulb and it works for a little while but eventually one of the lights goes out again. I have wasted much time and money on this issue and realize I am not alone!!!

- New York, NY, USA

problem #78

Jul 012018

Malibu

  • 75,000 miles
ESC always turning off. Brake light illuminating randomly and not working randomly when in motion. Cruise control disengaging if ESC light comes on when control

- Wylie, TX, USA

problem #77

May 262017

Malibu

  • miles
Front passenger side headlight keeps shorting out after being fixed multiple times.

- Livonia, MI, USA

problem #76

Jan 052019

Malibu

  • miles
Front low beam lights keep going out replaced low beam bulbs 3 times in 6 months and replaced harnesses once and low beam headlights continues to go out. Brake lights stay on when car is started and continues to stay on while driving. 3rd brake light doesn't work all the time. It lights up bright sometime, dim sometime, and other times it don't work at all.

- Hampton, VA, USA

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