2008 Chevrolet Malibu Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 86 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, 9% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 88,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “shift cable” (14% of reports).
- 86power train complaints
- 88,000median miles at failure
- 5mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $830typical repair cost reported by owners
- 42%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Shift cable: mentioned in 12 of 86 complaints (14%)
- Gear shifter: mentioned in 7 of 86 complaints (8%)
- Failed start: mentioned in 5 of 86 complaints (6%)
- Put park: mentioned in 5 of 86 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu at $830, and half of them between $560 and $1,000.
Based on 5 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2010–2016), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 69 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 86 complaints, 5 mention a crash, 1 an injury.
Chevrolet Malibu power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Malibu | 1 | 9% | — |
| 2024 Malibu | 6 | 14% | 45,000 |
| 2023 Malibu | 8 | 11% | 30,310 |
| 2022 Malibu | 23 | 23% | 38,000 |
| 2021 Malibu | 28 | 31% | 60,000 |
| 2020 Malibu | 58 | 29% | 72,500 |
| 2019 Malibu | 67 | 35% | 48,000 |
| 2018 Malibu | 171 | 24% | 43,150 |
| 2017 Malibu | 139 | 20% | 48,875 |
| 2016 Malibu | 166 | 20% | 42,000 |
| 2015 Malibu | 31 | 11% | 83,000 |
| 2014 Malibu | 52 | 15% | 51,890 |
| 2013 Malibu | 54 | 6% | 66,500 |
| 2012 Malibu | 49 | 5% | 74,500 |
| 2011 Malibu | 112 | 11% | 78,225 |
| 2010 Malibu | 133 | 10% | 74,200 |
| 2009 Malibu | 121 | 8% | 88,000 |
| 2008 Malibu | 86 | 9% | 88,000 |
| 2007 Malibu | 47 | 5% | 88,921 |
| 2006 Malibu | 43 | 4% | 100,000 |
| 2005 Malibu | 65 | 7% | 88,500 |
| 2004 Malibu | 64 | 6% | 100,000 |
| 2003 Malibu | 13 | 2% | 54,500 |
| 2002 Malibu | 5 | 1% | 114,045 |
| 2001 Malibu | 18 | 2% | 50,000 |
| 2000 Malibu | 26 | 3% | 47,597 |
| 1999 Malibu | 21 | 3% | 60,000 |
| 1998 Malibu | 50 | 5% | 60,000 |
| 1997 Malibu | 9 | 2% | 57,800 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:floor shift
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on April 29, 2014, that they are recalling 56,214 model year 2007 and 2008 Saturn Aura vehicles. On May 22, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 1,074,899 model year 2004-2008 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured from May 16, 2003, through October 5, 2007, model year 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured from June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, and model year 2005-2008 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured from May 26, 2004, through September 28, 2007, and equipped with 4-speed transmissions. The total number vehicles being recalled is now 1,131,113.
Risk: If the transmission shift cable fractures while the vehicle is being driven, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash. Furthermore, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, despite selecting the ÂPARK position, the transmission may not be in ÂPARK. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and GM dealers will replace the shift cable assembly and mounting bracket, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 14152.
Power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)
Problem: General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Saturn Aura and model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Malibu and Pontiac G6 vehicles, equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission. On these vehicles, the tabs on the transmission shift cable end may fracture and separate.
Risk: If the tabs were to fracture and separate, the shift lever and the actual position of the transmission gear may not match. The driver would be able to move the shifter to 'PARK' and remove the ignition key, but the transmission gear may not be in 'PARK.' The vehicle may not be able to be restarted and the vehicle could roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible crash without prior warning.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a retainer over the cable end or replace the shift cable as necessary. This service will be performed free of charge. Notification to owners began on on November 9, 2012. Owners were instructed to not bring their vehicles for repair until January 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
I backed my car up, put the car in park, opened the door and got out. I walked a few feet away when I noticed the car rolling backwards. The open car door caught a fence which stopped the car from rolling any further. My door was bent backwards. I got into the car from the passenger side. The…
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the gear shifter could be moved without depressing the brake pedal. The contact then stated that the vehicle had failed to start up after several attempts with the traction control and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) warning…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE, THE GEAR SHIFTER MOVED THROUGH THE GEARS AND WAS STUCK IN PARK. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TERRY MARXEN CHEVROLET CADILLAC (1118 W RTE 66, FLAGSTAFF, AZ 86001…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2008 Chevrolet Malibus have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 86 owner complaints about power train for the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu (9% of the 989 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu power train?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do power train problems start?
The median reported mileage is 88,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu?
Owners report a typical cost of $830 (half paid between $560 and $1,000), from 5 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu?
The most frequent phrase is “shift cable”, in 12 of 86 complaints, followed by “gear shifter” (7).
Other 2008 Chevrolet Malibu problems
See all 2008 Chevrolet Malibu problems or power train problems across all Malibu years.