YearToAvoid

2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

33/100

#5 most-complained of 7 Malibu Hybrid years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid has 7 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 33 out of 100 — #5 highest of 7 Malibu Hybrid model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is electrical system (2 complaints, 29% of the total). Complaints report 1 crash.

Complaints
7
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
27
24 city / 32 hwy

Top 2008 Chevy Malibu Hybrid problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System2 (29%)
  2. Fuel System2 (29%)
  3. Steering2 (29%)
  4. Airbags1 (14%)
  5. Structure & Body1 (14%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain1 (14%)
2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid complaints: complaints filed per month3Mar 2010Jul 2013Aug 2013Dec 2014Oct 2015Jan 2016Nov 2017
9 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2010 to Nov 2017; peak Jan 2016 (3).

2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid fuel economy and fuel cost

City
24 MPG
Highway
32 MPG
Combined
27 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,400
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2008 compared with other Malibu Hybrid years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002008200920102016201720182019
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2008Good337027
2009Avoid8325029
2010No verdict02029

All Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid ranks #5 of 7 among Malibu Hybrid model years (Complaint Index 33/100, verdict: Good). It has 7 complaints and 0 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid?
The most reported problem areas are electrical system (2 complaints), fuel system (2 complaints), and steering (2 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 70,580 miles.
Does the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid have any recalls?
No safety recall campaigns list the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid in NHTSA’s recall database at the time of the last data update.
What is the fuel economy of the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid?
EPA rates the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid at 27 MPG combined (24 city / 32 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,400. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.