2008 Chevrolet Malibu vs 2008 Lexus ES350
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2008 Chevrolet Malibu | 2008 Lexus ES350 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 987 | 255 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 1,074 | 174 |
| Investigations | 0 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 30 | 27 |
| Fire reports | 5 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–27 | 22 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 80,000 mi | 30,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Chevrolet Malibu | Lexus ES350 |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 460 | 4 |
| Electrical System | 231 | 9 |
| Air Bags | 64 | 170 |
| Exterior Lighting | 106 | 2 |
| Power Train | 86 | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 42 | 39 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 71 | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 68 | 2 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Vibration / shaking | 97 | 0 |
| Steering problems | 58 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 39 | 0 |
| Stalling | 37 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 35 | 0 |
| Airbag warning light | 27 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 20 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 15 | 0 |
2008 Chevrolet Malibu
2008 Lexus ES350
Compare all Chevrolet Malibu vs Lexus ES350 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.