2008 Chevrolet Malibu: key fob or push-button start problems

Filed Apr 12, 2018 · Electrical · 68,000 miles · IN

The door lock actuator failed on all doors. This is a common problem and should be a recall with gm. Check the forums to see the number of people with the same problem. The doors will not unlock/lock from key fob or from driver's door panel.

Filed Jun 6, 2016 · Electrical · 45,000 miles · NE

The door lock actuators have failed in the front drivers side door and the rear passenger side door. The door locks do not operate or only operate intermittently when using the electronic door lock/unlock feature on either the key fob or the door switch. The door locks also do not operate when the vehicle is shifted into or out of park, potentially leaving the doors either unlocked while the vehicle is operating or locked after the vehicle is shifted into park. The biggest concern with the locks is in the placement of the manual pull on the rear doors. I have 2 small children in child seats that have been temporarily locked in the vehicle when the rear doors fail to unlock. The rear door lock pull is located near the "c" pillar of the vehicle instead of a more conventional "b" pillar location, making manual access to the door lock pull impossible from the passenger side of the vehicle. If the passenger in incapable of unlocking the door themselves (such as in the case of small children or the disabled) another person has to either climb over the front seats or across the rear seat from the drivers side to access the passenger and/or door lock pull to unlock the door. I feel that this is a safety hazard for certain vehicle occupants as well as for the vehicle operator, who may believe that the vehicles doors are in a locked position while the vehicle is in motion, when in fact, they may not be.

Filed Jun 9, 2014 · Locks · 65,700 miles · LA

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.

Filed May 22, 2014 · Electrical, Locks · 31,383 miles · IA

The power door locks do not work on 3 of the four doors. The doors do not automatically lock when car put into drive. You are unable to unlock drivers door or rear doors with drivers automatic controls or the key fob. Have to lift the door lock manually from inside the car. The only way to unlock the rear doors is by climbing into the back seats. A safety hazard when young children are in the rear seats and you need to get them out of the car quickly!! Had to have the door locks replaced on the three doors which cost $750.00.

Filed May 20, 2014 · Electrical, Locks · 35,000 miles · OR

The driver door locks stopped working. When I brought to the dealer to repair, it was determined the actuator no longer worked properly and it was repaired under warranty. After another six months, the passenger side went out, the unit was no longer under warranty. The following year the same problem recurred on the driver side. Today, neither side works nor do the key fobs. The cost to repair is $350 per lock. After researching this seems to be a recurring and noted issue with gm. The manual states "unlocked doors can be dangerous". Many malibu owners have lodged complaints on independent sites including chevrolet malibu forum.

Filed May 16, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 39,555 miles · LA

Turn signal isn't operating correctly, it no longer cuts off automatically, three of my four door latches aren't working--don't respond to key fob (the one that works), have to lock all three doors manually. Check engine light comes on after filling up car and has been on for about 7 months with no one at the dealership knowing why. Also have a problem with water settling in my car every time it rains. Key fobs both went out also but only one is now working at 75%. All of these problems have been going on since I first got the car with the dealership either pretending as if I did it or that they do not have enough staff to correct the problem. I know this was only done because I am a female and the car was under warranty. I am so disappointed!!! I bought this car brand new with only 100 miles on it and it seems as if gm wants their dealerships to do this. I know so many people with the same problems from the same parent manufacturer (tahoe, enclave, impala, malibus) this car seems to have a lot of minor/major problems that all rear their ugly heads at various times of ownership..thinking about getting rid of it even though it was my dream car and almost paid for!!!! Gm needs to get on the ball!!!

Filed Apr 21, 2014 · Electrical, Locks · 50,000 miles · MO

Back door locks will not lock unless pushed down manually. Both back doors will not lock with power locks or with key fob. I have read on many forums that it is the actuator not working. The car can actually be broken into because the doors are actually unlocked.

Filed Nov 15, 2013 · Locks, Steering · 92,000 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the power steering assist intermittently failed without warning. In addition, the door locks for all four doors failed to engage when using the key fob remote. Also, when shifting the vehicle into park the doors failed to unlock. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 92,000.

Filed Jul 23, 2013 · Engine, Locks · GA

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.

Filed Jun 21, 2013 · Locks · 55,000 miles · IN

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.

Filed Feb 14, 2013 · Electrical · DE

Key fob does not unlock or lock the front and back doors on the drivers side. If someone is in the back seat the driver can not get them out as the door lock will not open with the fob. When the car is put in drive the drivers door does not lock, so it is assummed that you are safely locked in the car, but the door needs to be locked manually after in the car is put in drive. When locked manually when in car, when the car is turned off the door will not open automatically and has to be manually opened by pulling the lock on door up on the driver door and the back passenger door. When trying to use the remote to lock the doors, the front and back doors do not lock unless done manually. When the fob is used to unlock the doors as I try to get into the car the fob does not work and I have to manually with the key unlock the door. When trying to remote start the car the remote start does not work, as the driver side door and back door will not lock, so remote start does not work. I had an incident with the back door when I needed to get an individual out of the back seat quickly and it was not possible. I had to run to the other side of the car and get the individual out by pulling them to the other side of the car. When I am approaching my car in an area that I feel unsafe in, such as a garage, I am not able to open my car door with the fob and have to again use the key. Again then when I get in the car I am unsafe as the door does not lock, front or back if not locked manually. I feel very strongly that this is a safety issue, especially not being able to get someone out of the back seat or me out of the front should I encounter an emergency situation, or if I am in an accident, or if for any reason I have a fire in the car.

Filed Apr 20, 2011 · Locks · 24,638 miles · FL

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.