2008 Chevrolet Malibu Latches & Locks Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR REMAINED IN THE LOCKED POSITION. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. CHUCK NICHOLSON INC (LOCATED AT 7190 OH-39, MILLERSBURG, OH 44654, (330) 275-3522) STATED THAT A WAIVER NEEDED TO BE SIGNED PRIOR TO ANY ATTEMPTS TO UNLOCK THE DOOR DUE TO POSSIBLE DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS, THE LATCHES FAILED TO CONNECT. AS A RESULT, THE DOORS REMAINED OPEN AND THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

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*LJ UPDATED 05/16/18*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE DOOR LOCKS WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK INDEPENDENTLY. AT TIMES, THE LOCKS WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SECURITY LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND NOT ALL THE LOCKS FAILED AT THE SAME TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

REAR DOOR LOCKS FAIL TO FUNCTION. *TR

THE LOCK WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK AS YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND OR WHEN THE KEY ARE NOT IN IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE MASTER DOOR LOCK OR THE KEY FOB WAS USED, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK HAD TO BE LOCKED OR UNLOCKED MANUALLY. THE DEALER RE-PROGRAMMED THE REMOTE, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,700.

DOORS WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK UNLESS DONE MANUALLY. MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR JUST RECENTLY STOPPED UNLOCKING WITH THE REMOTE IT HAS TO BE DONE WITH THE KEY. ITS NOT SAFE I DON'T LIVE IN THAT GREAT OF A NEIGHBORHOOD AND IF MY DOORS ARE UNLOCKED AND SOMEONE IS TRYING TO GET IN ID HAVE TO CRAWL INTO THE BACK SEAT TO LOCK EACH DOOR. ITS NOT SAFE I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED YET. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS ON THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT LOCK WITH THE KEY FOB, BUT IT DID LOCK WITH THE KEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE AIR CONDITIONER SMELLED LIKE THE COOLANT WAS BURNING; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE DID NOT OVERHEAT. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER OR MECHANIC. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR LOCKS WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. *TR

I AM HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AS MANY ON THE CHEVY.COM WEBSITE. THE ISSUE HAS TO DO WITH THE DOOR LOCKS NOT LOCKING. THE POWER DOOR LOCKS ATTEMPT TO PULL THE LOCK DOWN BUT HAVE LOST THE ABILITY TO CONSISTENTLY DO SO. IT IS TOT HE POINT WHERE THE ONLY WAY TO LOCK THE DOOR IS TO MANUALLY DO SO. THIS WOULDN'T BE AN ISSUE IF THE CAR HASN'T ALREADY TRAINED YOU TO BE USE TO THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCKING WHEN THE CAR IS PUT IN DRIVE AND LOCK WITH THE KEY FOB WHILE WALKING AWAY FROM THE CAR WITH A CLICK AND A HONK. THERE ARE SOME SAFETY ISSUES HERE AS YOU AREN'T QUITE SURE WHEN YOU CAR IS LOCKED OR NOT. THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME ISSUE WAS DISTURBING WHEN I LOGGED ONTO THE CHEVY.COM FORUM WHICH DISCUSS SUCH ISSUES. A RECALL SEEMS INEVITABLE AND VERY MUCH NEEDED FOR SAFETY REASONS. *TR

2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE DOOR LOCK PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK USING THE KEY.

THE PASSENGER DOOR LOCK DOES NOT OPERATE. THE LOCKS MOVES SLIGHTLY BUT NOT ENOUGH TO LOCK OR UNLOCK THE DOOR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NONE OF THE DOORS WOULD LOCK OR UNLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT ALL FOUR DOOR ACTUATORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. UPDATED 09/05/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED IN ORDER TO UNLOCK THE DOORS THE WINDOW HAD TO BE ROLLED DOWN TO BE ABLE TO REACH INSIDE AND MANUALLY UNLOCK THEM. THE CONSUMER'S THREE GRANDCHILDREN WERE IN THE PARKED VEHICLE WITH THE IGNITION OFF WHEN THE LOCKS FAILED. THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WITH 56,000 MILES. UPDATED 09/10/2012 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER LOCKS FAILED TO LOCK AND UNLOCK. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE AFFECTED THE REAR DOORS AND THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO LOCK THE DOORS USING THE INNER DOOR LOCK CONTROL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE OFTEN WHEN THERE WERE HIGHER TEMPERATURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE; HOWEVER NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,600. UPDATED 09/05/12*LJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS COULD NOT BE UNLOCKED. THE LOCKS ON THE DOORS WERE BROKE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE DOORS FROM THE EXTERIOR BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE LOCKS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED TO COVER HALF OF THE REPAIR EXPENSES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 08/07/12*LJ UPDATED 08/15/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU LT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER DOOR LOCKS FAILED TO SECURE BOTH FRONT DOORS AND THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE LOCKING MECHANISMS FAILED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR COULD NOT BE LOCKED WITH THE KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM OR MANUALLY. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE DOOR ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,741 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 70,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 04/25/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, WAS ALSO BEGINNING TO DISPLAY THE SAME PROBLEM. UPDATED 04/30/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK WHEN USING THE REMOTE CONTROL OR WITH MANUAL THE LOCK AND UNLOCK BUTTONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ONLY WAY TO OPEN THE DOORS WAS TO PULL THE KNOB TO UNLOCK IT MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

NOTHING OCCURRED PRIOR TO MY PASSENGER DOOR LOCK NOT WORKING, ELECTRONICALLY. IT DOES NOT LOCK/UNLOCK WHEN THE CAR IS PLACED IN PARK, OR USING THE KEY CONTROL OR DOOR PANEL CONTROL. WE ARE HAVING THE DEALER HOPEFULLY FIX THE PROBLEM TOMORROW. *KB

POWER DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY... THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR POWER DOOR LOCK WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. THE OTHER THREE REMAINING POWER DOOR LOCKS DO NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY AND HAVE TO BE LOCKED MANUALLY. THIS IS AN INCONVENIENCE WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE AND ALSO A HAZARD IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY... *TR

THE WAS NOTHING LEADING UP TO THE EVENT, THE CAR WAS WORKING FINE. ONE DAY IN MAY I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR DID NOT UNLOCK AS THE REST OF THE DOORS DID. I PUT THE CARE BACK IN DRIVE, THEN BACK IN PARK, STILL THE DOOR DID NOT UNLOCK, I TRIED THE LOCK BUTTON, AND THE REMOTE FOR THE CAR AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND SINCE MY WARRANTY IS UP, I WAS TOLD ITS $52 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY MY BUMPER-TO-BUMPER WARRANTY ENDED IN DEC 2010. I SEE THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH ONE OR MORE DOORS NOT WORKING AFTER APPROXIMATELY 37K MILES. *TR

REAR DRIVER DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH POWER LOCKS. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO REACH THE MANUAL DOOR LOCK WITHOUT CRAWLING INTO THE BACK SEAT AND THERE IS NO KEYHOLE ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE REAR DOOR. IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET MY CHILDREN OUT OF THE CAR IF THERE WERE AN EMERGENCY. *TT

DRIVERSIDE REAR PASSENGER DOOR AND FRONT PASSENGER DOOR UNLOCKS NOT WORKING, OR WORK INTERMITTENTLY. HAVE MANUALLY LOCK/UNLOCK BOTH DOORS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK WOULD NOT ACTIVATE UPON THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE KEY FOB OR THE INTERIOR DOOR LOCK DEVICE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,638.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU LTZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGERS DOORS WERE UNABLE TO OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 47,000.

THE DOOR LOCK MOTORS HAVE GONE OUT ON BOTH THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND THE DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER DOOR. THE BACK DOOR WENT OUT FIRST FOLLOWED BY THE FRONT DOOR. THE PROBLEM OCCURS ALL THE TIME, THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK AT ALL. WE HAVE NOT REPAIRED THIS ISSUES SIMPLY BECAUSE WE CANNOT AFFORD THE EXTRA EXPENSE. *TR

I OWN A 2008 CHEVY MALIBU THAT WAS BOUGHT NEW OFF THE LOT. THE DOOR LOCKS ON BOTH BACK DOORS AND THE PASSENGER DOOR STARTED MALFUNCTIONING A FEW MONTHS AGO, AND NOW EVEN THE DRIVER DOOR LOCK IS INOPERABLE. I HAVE CHANGED THE BATTERIES IN THE FOBS, TO NO AVAIL. I HAD ONSTAR ALSO DO THE AUTO UNLOCK, BUT THIS TOO IN UNSUCCESSFUL. I PURCHASED ALL EXTENDED WARRANTIES THE COMPANY HAD TO OFFER, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THEY ONLY COVER UP TO 36,000 MILES. I AM CURRENTLY AT 36,000 MILES AND UNFORTUNATELY OUT OF LUCK. THE SERVICE CENTER WANTS $90 JUST TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE BEFORE THEY EVEN TELL ME WHAT THE COSTS MAY BE. *TR

I OWN A 2008 MALIBU LT2. SHORTLY AFTER THE 36,000 MILE WARRANT RAN OUT THE PASSENGER FRONT DOOR LOCK WOULD NOT UNLOCK WITH THE REMOTE OR BY THE UNLOCK BUTTON. IT HAS TO BE MANUALLY UNLOCKED. ABOUT ONE MONTH LATER THE REAR DRIVERS DOOR BEGAN DOING THE SAME THING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CHARGED ME $80 DOLLARS TO TELL ME IT WOULD COST $400 TO REPLACE BOTH ACTUATORS ON THE LOCKS. I SEE THERE HAVE BEEN MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE DOOR LOCKS ON 2008 MALIBU'S. WHEN IT BECOMES A NORMAL OCCURRENCE THAT PARTS ON A CAR ARE GOING BAD IT SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MANUFACTURER TO FIX THEM. IN READING THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE MALIBU I SEE A LOT ON THE STEERING SHAKING AND JERKING. THIS IS REALLY SCARY AS I DRIVE OVER 400 MILES TO SEE MY SON AT COLLEGE. TO THINK THIS MIGHT HAPPEN WHEN I WOULD BE DRIVING IN THE MOUNTAINS OF VIRGINIA IS REALLY SCARY. CHEVY NEEDS TO STEP UP AND PUT OUT RECALLS ON THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

BOTH REAR DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS ARE INOPERABLE. THE DOORS WILL NOT LOCK AUTOMATICALLY OR UNLOCK AUTOMATICALLY. BOTH DOORS WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK WHEN THE POWER DOOR LOCK BUTTON IS ACTUATED. BOTH DOORS WILL NOT LOCK WHEN THE CAR IS PLACED INTO DRIVE. THE REAR DOORS CAN BE OPENED WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING. BOTH DOORS WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK USING THE REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY. BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, GM WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIRS. *TR

I HAVE AUTOMATIC LOCKS ON MY CAR AND I HAVE ALREADY HAD TO TAKE THE CAR IN TWICE TO HAVE THE LOCKS REPAIRED OR REPLACED AND NOW THE LOCKS ARE GIVING ME PROBLEMS AGAIN. THE CAR IS STILL UNDER THE WARRANTY PERIOD, BUT THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THAT I'M GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE THE CAR IN FOR THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM. *TR

BOUGHT A USED 2008 MALIBU WITH 36K, BY THE TIME I HIT 43K THE DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR LOCK WOULD NOT WORK ELECTRONICALLY. BY THE TIME I HIT 45K THE DRIVER DOOR IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I LOOKED INTO THE ISSUE AND THERE ARE MANY OTHERS OUT THERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. CHEVY DEALERS THEN CHARGE OVER $1000 TO FIX THE LOCK MOTORS, EVEN THOUGH IT SEEMS TO BE A FACTORY DEFECT. *TR

MY CAR LOCKS ON ALL 4 DOORS HAS TO BE MANUALLY LOCKED, WHEN THEY ARE ELECTRICAL. AND WHEN I USE THE REMOTE TO UNLOCK THE DOORS, AND I OPEN A DOOR, THE ALARM SOUNDS. THE LOCKS ON MY DOORS HAS NOT BEEN WORKING FOR A LONG TIME, AND OF COURSE I AM OUT OF THE WARRANTY TIME. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THAT. IT REALLY GETS TIRING. THE WARNING LIGHT FOR THE AIR BAGS AND TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR HAS BEEN COMING ON SINCE FOREVER, AGAIN, I THINK A RECALL SHOULD BE CALLED FOR THESE CARS. *TR

UNEXPECTEDLY THE INTERIOR DOOR LOCKS STARTS TO UNLOCK AND LOCK BY THEM SELF. IF I PUT THE CAR IN GEAR, THE LOCKS ARE SUPPOSE TO LOCK, THESE LOCKS I HAVE UN-LOCK THEM SELF IN THIS PROCESS. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW IN SEPTEMBER OF 2008, ON A 2008 CHEVY MALIBU. *TR