2008 Chevrolet Malibu vs 2008 Hyundai Elantra
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2008 Chevrolet Malibu | 2008 Hyundai Elantra |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 987 | 314 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 7 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 1,074 | 44 |
| Investigations | 0 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 30 | 38 |
| Fire reports | 5 | 23 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–27 | 27–28 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 80,000 mi | 59,600 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Chevrolet Malibu | Hyundai Elantra |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 460 | 55 |
| Electrical System | 231 | 30 |
| Exterior Lighting | 106 | 24 |
| Power Train | 86 | 29 |
| Air Bags | 64 | 38 |
| Service Brakes | 62 | 32 |
| Engine | 61 | 24 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 68 | 6 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Vibration / shaking | 97 | 10 |
| Steering problems | 58 | 13 |
| Check engine light | 39 | 19 |
| Stalling | 37 | 40 |
| Loss of power | 35 | 10 |
| Airbag warning light | 27 | 9 |
| Won’t start | 20 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 15 | 0 |
2008 Chevrolet Malibu
2008 Hyundai Elantra
Compare all Chevrolet Malibu vs Hyundai Elantra years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.