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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
5 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
68,178 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

2009 Chevrolet Malibu electrical problems

electrical problem

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2009 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 12 of 18)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #134

Sep 292014

Malibu

  • 110,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

First issue happened with the driver low beam not working then work again a few days later. The problem keeps going on from passenger and driver low beams. I've noticed the connectors were melted and changed them and they would both work for a few weeks then one would go out again. Second issue is the passenger airbag doesn't turn on when passengers are in the vehicle. It works sometimes but not everytime. Third issue is the passenger side door locks. The door locks work sometimes and again not everytime like they should. There's a lot of people reporting these same issues but nothing gets done unless it's out of our pockets.

- Homeland, GA, USA

problem #133

Aug 012015

Malibu

  • 101,000 miles
My door locks are locking and unlocking while I'm driving and also while the vehicle is parked.

- Gary, IN, USA

problem #132

Jul 062015

Malibu

  • 130,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the warning lights illuminated for the electronic stability control and the service stability traction control. The cruise control also failed to work. When the brake pedal was depressed, the lights did not illuminate and would remain illuminated when the contact was not applying the brakes. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control), manufacturer recall numbers: 103668 (exterior lighting brake lights) and 103664 (service brakes hydraulic and switches). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided no remedy. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.

- Rayland, OH, USA

problem #131

Aug 052015

Malibu

  • 63,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. While parked, the exterior and interior front driver doors and the passenger and rear doors failed to open. The contact stated that the front driver side door had to be left open to enter or exit the vehicle. The failure recurred constantly. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the solenoid in all doors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 63,000.

- Watts, OK, USA

problem #130

Aug 052014

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 125,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate on several occasions while driving at various speeds. In addition, the contact stated that the power steering, the door locks, windows and rear tail gate failed. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V153000 (steering). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 125,000. MA 10/23/15

- Niantic, CT, USA

problem #129

Jul 032015

Malibu

  • 97,730 miles
The door actuators don't lock. The car is open at all times. Very unsafe for children and adults.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #128

Jul 152015

Malibu

  • 93,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The ignition seems to shutoff going down the highway. I was doing 65 mph down the interstate and the car all of sudden shuts off for a second. The security light appears on the dash. Then it fires back up and continue down the highway. Happened multiple times on trip home. Read on line how to fix the security light. Did that ran fine for about a week. Then did it again on another trip. Believe it is the same issue that the other Malibu are having with the ignition. Just haven't recalled for 2009 as of yet.

- Franklin, PA, USA

problem #127

Jul 212015

Malibu

  • 73,800 miles
Every now and then the dash lights will either go dim or brighten without touching the control.

- Poughkeepsie, NY, USA

problem #126

Jul 162015

Malibu

  • 75,000 miles
When parked or when driving, doors randomly lock and unlock. Have seen several other complaints online from consumers around the country with this exact same problem. They all say that Chevrolet dealerships refuse to repair at their cost and that cost is too high for most consumers ($300/lock). I also believe this is a safety concern, my grandchildren often ride with me, what if they open the door on the freeway"! locked inside the car while it's on fire?! to say that this is not a safety concern is simply gross negligence! negligence case law has shown that failure to act with prior knowledge is complicity of/to manslaughter, and this turns an accidental death into manslaughter. GM! wake up, get into gear here. Does your new CEO really want to deal with another recall cover up?"!!!!

- Ojai, CA, USA

problem #125

May 282015

Malibu

  • 76,555 miles
Bought my 2009 Chevy Malibu ltz in April 2015 in May 2015 my service ESC service traction control lights started to come on and my taillights are lighting up as if on the breaks when I am not.( they come on while I am stoped at a red light have never come on while moving) returned to the dealership where I got my car and the lights were off so they said they could not do anything until the lights were on(the lights reset when I shut my car off). They came on last night went to Chevy dealership last night 7/20/2015 and they told me to replace the break pedal switch and we did that but my break lights are still coming on when they want, it looks like there was a recall for this before I got my car and I don't know if it was fixed or not and if it could be fixed again under the recall...... very unhappy about this.

- North Versailles, PA, USA

problem #124

Nov 052009

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 53,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving 65 mph, the tire pressure monitoring system warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that a sensor needed to be re-learned. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred and low pressure, check svc was displayed across the message board. In addition, the contact stated that the defroster failed to function. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was aware of NHTSA campaign number: 08V634000 (visibility); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 53,000. Updated 09/25/15 updated 10/13/15

- North Arlinton, NJ, USA

problem #123

Mar 152015

Malibu

  • 75,000 miles
Attempted to unlock passenger doors from driver door panel switch when the driver rear door lock failed to open. This occurred intermittently until it completely failed about 3 months later in which time the other doors began having the same issue progressing clockwise around the vehicle. If door lock-unlock is cycled more than twice, 3 (non-driver) doors fail about 95% of the time. This failure occurs both when the door is locked and unlocked. Ref: Cfr 571.206 S4.3.1

- Jackson, MS, USA

problem #122

Mar 202015

Malibu 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 101,000 miles
When I am driving the dashboard light would go black and then after a few minutes come back on then ABS, brake lights, anti-theft, air pressure, and all the warning lights would flash! then come off and on while car is in motion and I have no signal or brake lights and gas gauge and speedometer goes to zero. If I turn the car off while those lights are on it won't restart. Sometimes I cannot get into the car because the remote doesn't work, I would go back out after a few hours and sometimes it would work. I just got this 2009 Chevy Malibu 5 months ago from a dealer and been having this issue shortly after I bought it!! I am unemployed and my husband lost his job I can't afford the car payment and insurance and having to fix this problem!! I have been reading online thousand of Chevy Malibu are having this issue!! something needs to be done and not wait until someone gets killed!! updated 09/15/15 updated 10/30/2017

- Crown Point, IN, USA

problem #121

Jan 042010

Malibu

  • 0 miles
From day 1, the right rear door lock actuator hasn't worked. After we got it fixed, the left rear door lock actuator also stopped working. GM has provided partial coverage for our repair costs, but nothing for our inconvenience. (my husband had to take 4-5 hours off work each time to bring the car to the dealer for the repairs).

- Wheaton, MD, USA

problem #120

Jun 152015

Malibu

  • 100,064 miles
There have been multiple repairs done on this car because of recalls and potential recall items. I still owe $7,000 on this vehicle! I feel like the manufacturer owes me money as well as the dealership who fixed the recalled items and the items that are not yet in recall that need to be repaired are going to cause a complete accident if this is not handled promptly. I have two small children and organize volunteer work in my area and do not have the money to fix it. I feel like this is entitled to me and I should not have to have a faulty car when I am also paying on it. I can offer more details when you contact me.

- Mayodan, NC, USA

problem #119

May 012015

Malibu

  • 133,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 30 mph, the engine light illuminated. The vehicle lost power and decelerated independently. The vehicle regained power. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician diagnosed that the spark plugs, coil springs and the wire harness needed to be replaced. The failure recurred. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer, who replaced the electronic control module. However, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 133,000.

- Willow Park, TX, USA

problem #118

Sep 102014

Malibu

  • 90,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the rear interior power door locks failed to unlock when the key fob and power lock module were activated. The doors failed to unlock manually. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was unavailable. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

- Brunsville, IA, USA

problem #117

May 132015

Malibu

  • miles
Door actuators do not work by remote or when vehicle is placed in park. This possess a serious safety risk if in an accident or if the vehicle catches fire. Dealer said that they have had many complaints and have also replaced actuators on many different types of GM vehicles. I have already had one replaced under warranty and the other three went out shortly after warranty expired. This potential safety issued needs to be considered aggressively and in a timely manner before fatalities happen because of this problem.

- Atlanta, TX, USA

problem #116

May 092015

Malibu

  • 47,000 miles
The door locks on this vehicle will not secure and must be secured manually when entering or exiting the vehicle, also unlocks and locks during driving.. very unsafe vehicle at this time due to these door lock issues. Not able to feel comfortable as much with this vehicle due to these issures. Please fix.

- London, OH, USA

problem #115

May 072015

Malibu

  • 88,269 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the door locks would independently lock and unlock without warning. The contact stated that the doors would not unlock to allow exiting the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 88,269.

- Kansas City, MO, USA

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