2008 Chevrolet Malibu Air Bags
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
AIR BAG MODULE IS NOT WORKING ACCORDING TO DEALER. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND DID NOT GO OFF. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ITEM AND SHOULD GOOD FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. *JS
PASSENGER AIR BAG WILL NOT ARM ALL THE TIME WITH PASSENGER IN SEAT. STILL DOING THE SAME THING TO DATE! *JS
MY SON WAS DRIVING HOME FROM COLLEGE AND HIS DRIVER AND PASSENGER CURTAIN AIRBAGS AND DRIVER SEAT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. HE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING AND NOTHING HIT HIM. HE SUSTAINED MILD INJURIES DUE TO THIS MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRBAGS. HE WILL BE GOING TO THE DOCTORS DUE TO RESIDUE IN THE EYE, A BURNING FEELING ON SIDE OF FACE, AND NECK HURTING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WAS ONE INJURY REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WHEN STARTING VEHICLE. BROUGHT TO DEALER. WAS TOLD BOTH FRONT IMPACT SENSORS HAD FAILED. VERY EXPENSIVE FIX. *TR
THE SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND TOO THE CAR TO THE DEALER. DEALER STATED THAT THE CODE WAS "DIAG SIR B0081 (71) PSS1 INVALID DATA RECEIVED PPS/3025". DEALER STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG MAY, OR MAY NOT WORK PROPERLY IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. THE SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. DEALER STATED THAT THE ISSUE WAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CUSTOMER AND NOT THE MANUFACTURE. *TR
THE "SERVICE AIR BAG" LIGHT STARTED TO COME ON WHEN THE WEATHER WAS VERY HOT OR VERY COLD FROM TIME TO TIME STARTING IN 2009. IN THE WINTER OF 2013, THE LIGHT REMAINED ON CONSTANTLY. WHEN THIS WARNING WAS ON, THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS NOT WORKING. EVEN IF SOMEONE WAS SITTING IN THE FRONT SEAT, THE LIGHT INDICATED THAT THE SENSOR COULD NOT DETECT A PERSON AND THE AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY. OUR DEALER VERIFIED THAT THE SENSOR WASN'T WORKING AND IF WE GOT INTO A CRASH, THE AIRBAG WOULD NOT WORK. WE FELT THAT THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE DEALT WITH BY CHEVROLET AT NO COST TO US, BUT CHEVROLET CLAIMED THAT SINCE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS, THEY COULD NOT REPLACE IT AT NO COST. WE HOPE THIS REPORT HELPS TO SHED LIGHT ON THE ISSUE, AND IF IT IS COMMON, LEADS TO A RECALL OR VOLUNTARY REPLACEMENT OF THE FAULTY SENSOR AT NO COST TO CONSUMERS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT AND REAR AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ERRONEOUSLY WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ALSO STATED THAT TOXIC FUMES EMITTED FROM THE AIR BAGS ONCE DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT AND A PASSENGER, AS WELL AS A CHILD PASSENGER, SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES FROM THE SHARDS AND FUMES OF THE AIR BAG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE AND THE REPAIR OF THE AIR BAGS COULD COST APPROXIMATELY $5,000 AT THE CONTACT EXPENSIVE. THE DEALER OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAGS UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 70,000.
TL*THE CONTACT RENTED A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED ON THE EXPRESSWAY, THE CONTACT SWERVED TO AVOID DEBRIS FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, SHE STRUCK A GUARDRAIL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND EXPLODED, BUT THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE VIN AND MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON DURING THE FIRST 24 HOURS AFTER WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. A PART IN THE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Trend Over Time
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Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 2008 Chevrolet Malibu has 37 Air Bags complaints on file. 3 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.