Car Yearsto Avoid

2008 Chevrolet Malibu Steering Problems

From NHTSA owner complaints and recalls. Updated Oct 17, 2026.

How common are steering problems on the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu?

460 owners have reported steering problems on the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, 47% of all complaints for this year and the most reported problem area. Most reported problems happened at about 50,000–127,000 miles. 2 recalls cover this area.

460 complaints 47% of all 2008 complaints 85,000 miles typical

Which parts fail

The specific part named in each complaint.

Column 5
Electric power assist system 5
Hydraulic power assist system 2

Mileage when it failed

Each dot is a complaint that gave a mileage (370 of 460). The amber line is the middle value.

When problems were reported

Steering complaints by the year the problem happened.

Steering complaints by Malibu year

2008 Malibu 460
2014 Malibu 26
2015 Malibu 9
2016 Malibu 42
2017 Malibu 47
2018 Malibu 42
2019 Malibu 2
2020 Malibu 16
2021 Malibu 2
2022 Malibu 2
2023 Malibu 5
2024 Malibu 1

Related recalls

Steering shaft joint can fail and cause a crash

Crash risk

The steering shaft's universal joint may wear out early because its yoke does not hold the bearing firmly enough. If the joint separates, the driver can lose all steering control, which greatly raises the risk of a crash.

Fix: The dealer will replace the steering shaft or refund the purchase price, and the repair is free of charge.

Recall 14E044000 · Jul 2014

Electric power assist system

In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving. If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will perform one of four bulletins. Parts are not currently available.

Recall 14V153000 · Mar 2014
Check your VIN for open recalls

Get an email when your 2008 Chevrolet Malibu gets a new recall

We check NHTSA every month. If a new recall or safety investigation covers the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, you'll hear about it the same week.

One email per new recall. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

Other 2008 Chevrolet Malibu problems

Common questions

What are common 2008 Chevrolet Malibu steering problems?

Complaints most often name the column, electric power assist system and hydraulic power assist system.

At what mileage do 2008 Chevrolet Malibu steering problems happen?

Most complaints that gave a mileage fell between about 50,000–127,000 miles. The middle value is about 85,000 miles.

Is there a recall for 2008 Chevrolet Malibu steering problems?

Yes: 14E044000, 14V153000. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if the work was done.

Which Malibu year has the most steering complaints?

The 2009 Malibu, with 768 complaints.

Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls databases. Complaints are unverified owner reports.