This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The break lights turn on without the pedal being press down while the car moving. Also while the car in not moving and the engine running. Also another problem that I have is that tire monitor light come on all the time without the tire needing air.
The brake lights would turn on while driving and the RPM tach would rev uncontrollably. When the brake is applied, the light turns off and the ESC warning appears on the dash. Fixed in 2014 as part of the exterior lighting recall (14V252000). As of the last two months, the problem started up again. First, I went and diagnosed it at a repair shop and it told me the brake position sensor needed to be calibrated. After that was fixed, the problems occurred again and replaced the sensor. After the second time, the problem was still not fixed. After going to another dealership and getting the concern fixed, it is still not fixed.
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 45 mph, the contact was alerted by another motorist that the brake light was constantly illuminated, as if she were applying the brakes. The brake light dimmed when the brake pedal was depressed. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired per a manufacturer recall in April of 2015 for the same failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.
Door lock actuators on this vehicle have failed within 30,000 miles of manufacture. This is a widespread problem with door lock actuators on 2008-2009 models documented all over the internet. I am unable to lock or unlock my doors electronically due to this chronically faulty part. It is unsafe for me to drive the car with my kids in the backseat because I would be unable to get them out of the locked car in an emergency (I currently have to roll down the window and manually unlock the door because the lock button is at the rear of the door). From what I can tell, GM has replaced this part with newer versions that resolved the issues, but they never contacted the public to offer to replace the faulty part. Many GM customers are having to spend over $1,000 in parts and labor to fix this safety issue. While GM will argue that power locks are a convenience issue and not a safety issue, I would invite NHTSA to look at my car and see how it is physically impossible to unlock the back doors from the front seat and the process involved in rolling down the window to unlock and open the door. In an emergency, seconds count and I would not be able to get my kids out. They need to recall these actuators and replace them with the redesigned part number.
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving 60 mph, the vehicle jerked when the brake pedal was depressed and stalled as the traction control, electronic stability control, and check engine warning lights illuminated. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the fuse box was missing some fuses and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The contact stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, service brakes). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 60,000.
- Waukegan, IL, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. While the vehicle was stopped at a red light, the check engine, traction control off, and stability control off warning lights illuminated. While the vehicle was parked on a hill, it independently rolled backwards without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control). The contact stated that the passenger side headlight failed to operate intermittently. The contact mentioned that the bulb was replaced multiple times, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the wiring harness was burned and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 09V073000 (power train) and 12V460000 (power train). The failure mileage was 95,000.
Theft system light is on and I'm not able to start my car. The radio still works and all the lights and heater and A/C. I try to start the car a few times and sometimes it take several trys to get the car to start. This has been happening quite a bit
2009 Chevy Malibu - we've been having issue with the power window controllers/buttons to operate for several years but haven't had a change to get them checked. We have been avoiding to open and close the windows because there were times that they will open and close back up but yesterday, I open the window from the driver side and tried multiple times to close it and don't have any sucess.
A little over a year ago we noticed the drivers side power seat seemed to be moving at times. It has since broken loose from part of the frame. As long as the seat is in the down position it sits kinda steady. Any attempt to move it up or down causes it to become dislodged. It happens regardless of the motion of the car. About the same time frame, the rear door locks started acting up. Depends on their attitude of the day, they either will not lock or unlock by remote or switch. Only way to access the rear seat area is to roll the window down and reach in from outside to unlock since the lock button is not located in a handy spot. Could see a large problem in an accident with children in the backseat needing to exit quickly. Have not reported to dealer as the blogs have numerous complaints and stories that are being ignored by the manufacturer. Seat malfunction is a huge safety concern if any other bracing fails and car is in motion
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that there was a progressing failure in which the key was turned over and the vehicle would not start. The contact experienced the failure numerous times without warning and had to wait an extended period of time for the vehicle to randomly restart. The contact had not received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control). The vehicle was taken to a repair shop where it was diagnosed that the starter needed to be replaced. A mechanic replaced the starter and the key still would not turn over to start the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 180,830. Parts distribution disconnect.
Consistent problems with headlamps failing frequently. Alternator fine. Cause is due to corrosion of the wiring and wiring harness. Manufacturer defect prevents replacement of headlamps, wires or wiring harnesses without removing front bumper, wheel and wheel well, making maintenance virtually impossible. Headlamps failed in October 2014 and again in March of this year. General Motors unwilling to help with problem. When operating the vehicles in low light conditions or at night, insufficient lighting makes it difficult to spot other vehicles, pedestrians, animals and other road hazards.
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving at various speeds, the ESC light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the ESC failed and the module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the ESC light illuminated on the instrument panel due to the injecting harness failure, and would need to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 69,154. Updated 06/29/16
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a dealer for a manufacturer recall concerning NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control). The contact was not experiencing any failures before the recall repair was performed by the dealer. The contact stated that the ESC and traction control warning lights randomly illuminated. The dealer and the manufacturer indicated that the brake light sensor switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and an independent mechanic for inspection. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.
The contact owned a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at 65 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to turn and the vehicle also started decelerating while the accelerator pedal was being depressed. As a result, the contact was involved in a crash but the details were not available. The contact was able to get the vehicle pulled to the side of the road and shut it down. The vehicle became difficult to restart. The vehicle was driven a little further and the failure recurred. The vehicle was shut off and would not restart. The vehicle was towed. The vehicle was side swiped by another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. There was no police report filed. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was not destroyed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 171,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving at any speed, the brake light remained illuminated, the traction control light illuminated, and the cruise control failed to function. In addition, the interior lighting would go from bright to dim and the daytime running lamps also failed to illuminate. The failure recurred everyday. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 98,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. While attempting to restart the engine, the security sensor light illuminated and the engine would not restart. The light dimmed after 5-10 minutes and the vehicle could not be restarted. The contact indicated that the failure was intermittent. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 167,000.
My power locks want to unlock & lock while I am operating the vehicle. I am concerned because because with grandchildren if the doors malfunction as they have been they can open the doors while I am driving. This is a problem with these particular years. On carcomplaints.com 29 complaints not a lot however it is a safety hazard that needs fixing.
My electric steering pump suddenly stop working yesterday while driving on street. Two warning messages appeared on eic. " check steering" "ESC off check". I have read on many forums, by Chevy Malibu owners, have complain having same issue. I' M concern for my family safety if this steering pump fails again at greater speed.
Engine power reduced and car cranks but wont start. It also slowed down when that engine power reduced came on almost had an accident and my family was in the car.
There is something faulty in the system which is causing the battery to become completely drained if the car sits 2/3 days without being started. I have replaced my 3 times and still something in the car is continuing to drain the battery. There is hundreds of people all over the internet that are having this same issue. Not even the dealership could fix the issue. I am not physically leaving anything on in the car but it continues to keep dying. This is definitely a defect with this car that needs to be fixed. My car is a 2009, and it has been dying 2011.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Bakersfield, CA, USA