What's Wrong with the 7th Generation (2008–2012) Malibu?

Malibu owners have made 799 complaints about the 2008–2012 model years. Using our PainRank™ system we've ranked it 76th out of 80 Chevrolet generations in overall reliability, with real interior and transmission concerns.

Compare With Other Malibu Generations

Common 2008-2012 Chevrolet Malibu Problems

Some of the worst issues 7th generation Malibu owners have to deal with.

  1. Delayed Acceleration Problems

    Many Chevrolet generations suffer from delayed acceleration due to a slow response in the drive-by-wire electronic throttle system. The throttle lag can be frustrating at best, but can also leave drivers in dangerous situations. Unfortunate…

    Continue reading article "Delayed Acceleration Problems" A snail on the road

  2. What Are We Missing?

    We know there's more problems than this. Let us know which one you'd like to see us cover next.

    Continue A snail on the road

What Owners Complain About

Sometimes it helps just to tally up the complaints and see where the biggest stacks are. Use this information to learn about troublespots or to run for the hills.

Worst Issues

What Breaks the Most

Years to Avoid

7th Generation (2008–2012) Malibu Key Numbers

  1. 5 model years

    Grouping all models by their year can reveal some baddies.

  2. 799 complaints

    Running tally of owner grievances filed to CarComplaints.com.

  3. 76th in reliability

    Overall reliability rank out of 80 eligible generations.

Recent 7th Generation (2008–2012) Malibu News

There's a lot of news out there, but not all of it matters. We try to boil down it to the most important bits about things that actually help you with your car problem. Interested in getting these stories in an email? Signup for free email alerts over at CarComplaints.com.

  1. Airbag inflators are exploding in the 2010-2011 Malibu, but this time it’s not one made by Takata.

    GM says more than 1,100 sedans have ARC driver-side airbag inflators that are over-pressurizing, rupturing during an airbag deployment, and sending metal shrapnel through the cabin.

    The automaker has sent out a notice about the (obvious) danger this creates, but affected owners will have to wait for a second notice until the recall actually begins.

    Let’s hope GM is feeling “over-pressurized” to get those replacement parts ready ASAP.

    keep reading article "Malibu Recalled for Exploding Inflators"