2008 Chevrolet Malibu: gas smell in the cabin

Filed Sep 3, 2018 · Fuel system · 87,000 miles · FL

Strong gas smell from rear of vehicle (interior/exterior). Leak confirmed from fuel pump when in motion. Also, vehicle hesitates when accelerated, usually after vehicle sits for an extended period of time.

Filed Jan 31, 2018 · Fuel system, Steering · 110,000 miles · IA

We have had two issues. First broken fuel pump spilling gas on top of the fuel tank this has been an issue with this type of vehicle but not this specific vehicle. Cost to repair 400 dollars. Issue two. Bad torque sensor on electric power steering column. Causing power steering failure at will. Major safety issue as well. Chevy told me this specific part was not part of an earlier recall. Cost to fix 622 dollars at chevy dealer. Power steering failure happened while driving on city streets in madison sd. Gas leaking issue was noticed by a strong smell of gasoline. We stopped driving until repair could be made. They are both recalll issues on the 08 malibu. Talked to chevy. With no offer to cover repairs being made.

Filed Oct 16, 2017 · Fuel system · 50,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 chevrolet malibu. The contact called on behalf of his mother-in-law who stated that the fuel was leaking underneath the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle also emitted a fuel odor. The contact took the vehicle to the city chevrolet dealer in san diego, california where it was diagnosed that the fuel pump module failed and needed to be replaced. The contact was unsure if the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.

Filed Aug 22, 2017 · Fuel system · 56,000 miles · CA

Gas leaking, module fuel pump & sender assembly had to be replaced, article in times paper said it was recalled because of this problem in 2012, I never received a recall notice. This could have been a very dangerous problem as the gas odor was very strong and I kept having to fill my car up with gas. Did not take it to the dealership because I did not receive a notice and wanted it fixed before someone got hurt or killed so I took it to my mechanic. It was leaking gas when it was stationary, in motion but I smelled it the most when it was in the garage locked up.

Filed Aug 1, 2017 · Fuel system · 107,000 miles · IA

Noticed a strong fuel smell coming from the back of the car. An inlet line on the fuel pump was cracked allowing fuel to leak on the top of the tank and on the exhaust.

Filed Jul 20, 2017 · Airbags, Fuel system · 120,602 miles · TX

The air bag light comes on and it says to be serviced. Sometimes it comes on and it can stay off for long periods of time. The service air bag light can come on while the car is in motion and then turn off, sometimes it does stay on. My vehicle is giving a strong smell of fuel coming from the rear of the car. I notice it being a stronger smell after I station it after a drive. I have not seen a noticeable leak yet. I will have a mechanic check that for me.

Filed Feb 4, 2016 · Fuel system · 130,000 miles · TX

Car leaking fuel from fuel tank. Just notice gas smell for about a year now. Kept getting worse, then check engine came on around december 2015, about a fuel pressure sensor. Finally looked under the car and fuel is coming out of the top of the fuel tank. Actually see fuel leaking from the tank, and dirt stains were fuel has been leaking

Filed Dec 13, 2015 · Fuel system · 68,000 miles · MO

Upon entering the back passenger side seat of my daughter's car, I noticed a strong fuel smell. Upon returning to the car, I noticed the strong fuel smell outside the car, too. When we started looking around under the car, we saw fuel leaking onto the parking lot. The car has 68,000 miles. The independent garage she took it to said the plastic part of the fuel line was leaking and replaced the fuel line assembly and fuel pump. A $740 repair for a young woman in her first job after graduating from college. We also own a chevy cobalt, which gm has issued a recall in warm weather states for this very issue. I called gm and a vice president told me this wouldn't be a covered repair. I shudder to think what would have happened if a cigarette had been thrown down by her car. She did take a picture, which I will get to upload.

Filed Oct 5, 2015 · Fuel system · 140,000 miles · TX

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle emitted a fuel odor. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the vehicle was leaking fuel from the fuel tank and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.

Filed Dec 30, 2014 · Engine · 120,000 miles · NH

The exhaust manifold of the 2008 has a severe crack which allows exhaust fumes into the cabin of the vehicle. I cannot keep the fan on while the vehicle is stopped, idling, or in slow traffic as the fumes are so strong that it causes headaches and nausea. The vehicle was taken to two different chevrolet dealerships to pinpoint the source of the exhaust fumes and nothing could be found. Afterwards, it took my husband less than 10 minutes to locate and photograph the exhaust leak on the exhaust manifold. Two other close friends also have 2008 malibu's and both of their cars have the same dangerous issue of exhaust fumes leaking into the cabin. One has had this replaced at chevrolet dealership with oem parts at a cost of $1500 with the explanation of the high cost for the repair being that the exhaust manifold is connected to the catalytic converter and the whole unit had to be replaced. One year after this expensive repair, her exhaust manifold has cracked again. Another friend got a quote of $1300 but cannot afford the repair. I cannot afford this repair either and it baffles me that chevrolet will issue a service bulletin to replace my chrome wheel covers but when I called to ask about the well known issue of cracked exhaust manifolds, told me that they hadn't heard anything about the issue and simply passed me off to a local dealership to make a repair appointment. This is a dangerous situation and one that is common and well documented with a quick internet search on exhaust cracks on chevrolet malibu's and cobalt's in the 2007-2009 years. Given the dangerous nature, the high cost of the repair that many cannot afford, and the common occurrence of the problem, chevrolet should issue a recall to address this issue.

Filed Dec 20, 2014 · Fuel system · 78,023 miles · CA

Noticed gas smell for a couple of weeks and progressively got worse. Took vehicle to chevy dealer and they immediately noticed the smell of gasoline. They found that the vehicle was leaking fuel from the fuel module hose. They stated that the entire fuel module had to be replaced at a cost of $868.35 which was not covered under warranty or manufacturer recalls even though there have been recent issues with the fuel modules on many gm modules including chevrolet in areas that have extremely hot summers like the san joaquin valley in california where I live. The mechanics stated that we were fortunate that the vehicle did not catch fire and I don't understand that such a thing could not be related to a defective product. The chevy cobalt 2007-2009 models and equinox 2007 model had the similar issue. Thank you.

Filed Nov 24, 2014 · Fuel system · 122,000 miles · NV

Car has a fuel smell after car is turned off. Took to chevrolet dealer service and was told fuel pump has crack and is leaking. Is there a recall on this vehicle part?