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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 8 of 18)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #214

Mar 072018

Malibu

  • miles

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

Have lost all power steering, sensor is messed up, brakes are barely working, why wasn't a recall issued for all 2009 Malibu? this is beyond dangerous.

- Holly Springs, MS, USA

problem #213

Jan 272018

Malibu

  • 90,000 miles
I have replaced my passenger side headlight three times now within the last two years. I dont think headlights need to be replaced this often. My passenger headlight will go on and then a little while later will go off. I just recently replaced my headlight two weeks ago and its now doing the same thing...it comes on and later goes off...

- Clinton Township, MI, USA

problem #212

Jan 012018

Malibu

  • 137,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving 65 mph, the vehicle shut off. The vehicle was able to be restarted and was driven to the contact's residence. The contact drove the vehicle to merel Chevrolet (800 w henderson ave, porterville, ca 93257), but a failure code could not be produced and the dealer could not assist. The manufacturer was aware of the failure. The vehicle had not been repaired and continued to shut off without warning. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 137,000.

- Portervill, CA, USA

problem #211

Jan 192018

Malibu

  • 150,000 miles

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

Takata recall I was at a stop sign at a very busy intersection. When I pulled out my power steering went out. I had no way in turning the vehicle. I had to reverse the vehicle and put it in park then turn off the vehicle. When turning back on vehicle was fine. Drove a mile to local bank and it did it again in the drive thru. As I was trying to make it to work it went out as I was pulling into parking lot. The first time power steering went out two lanes of oncoming traffic had to stop to keep from hitting my vehicle. I was completely exposed. This is a family vehicle and in 9 years this should not be a concern for my family. The car said "power steering" & "ESC" when it locked down. There is a recall # 14772 for 2004-2007 Malibu's that state the same issue I am having.

- Sylva, NC, USA

problem #210

Oct 062017

Malibu

  • 130,129 miles
Driving the Malibu down the country road and some code flashed on the dash and then said power reduction and now its making a weird noise and car only drives slow, if this happens on a highway their will be a crash as when the power reduction kicked on it turned off traction control and power steering making it hard to move the steering wheel thank goodness I was in the country with little traffic.

- Jamestown, NY, USA

problem #209

May 252014

Malibu

  • miles
Rear door locks will not open when car is put in park also will not open with remote.

- Mckees Rocks, PA, USA

problem #208

Sep 142017

Malibu

  • miles

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

Car will not start and it gives message of service traction, service ESC. I see that other 2009 maliibu have been recalled for the same reasons. Why not mine? I have been researching and I think it may be the wiring. The recall #14V252000 covers this.

- Richmond, TX, USA

problem #207

Nov 032010

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 15,578 miles
BRAKE LIGHTS COME ONE WHEN DRIVING AND BRAKE PEDAL IS NOT PRESSED. BRAKE LIGHTS GO OFF WHEN BRAKES ARE PRESSED. BEEN TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND THEY PUT SOME GEL ON THE BCM CONNECTION AS PER A SAFETY BULLETIN FROM GM. IT FIXED PROBLEM FOR A WEEK. PROBLEM HAS RETURNED 4 TIMES NOW. I THINK NHTSA SHOULD TAKE MY CAR TO THE TEST TRACK AND PROVE THAT A SAFETY RECALL SHOULD BE MADE ON THIS VEHICLE. NHTSA DID ONCE PRIOR TAKE MY CHEVY TAHOE 1997 TO THE TEST TRACK AND PROVED THAT GM HAD INDEED HAD AN ELECTRONIC ISSUE. SO PLEASE COME GET MY CAR AND TEST THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH OR BCM. IT IS UNSAFE AND THOUSANDS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME ITEM ON THE INTERNET. I INDICATE IN THE FORM THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, IT HAS NEVER WORKED FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME MATTER OF FACTI TOOK IT TO SERVICE FACILITY TODAY 7/24/17 AGAIN :[XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Brecksville, OH, USA

problem #206

May 192014

Malibu

  • 84,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. After the dealer repaired the vehicle per NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000 (service brakes, hydraulic, electrical system, exterior lighting, vehicle speed control, electronic stability control), the contact experienced a failure. The contact notified the dealer several times that the brake lights remained illuminated when the brake pedal was not depressed. When the brake pedal was depressed, the exterior brake lights failed to illuminate. The dealer (cox Chevrolet, 2900 cortez rd w, bradenton, fl 34207, (941) 749-2699) was unable to replicate the failure and stated that further diagnostic testing was required. The contact felt as if the recall repair provided no solution. The manufacturer was notified and provided no assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 84,000.

- Bradenton, FL, USA

problem #205

Aug 172016

Malibu

  • 46,000 miles
Service traction, service electronic stability control, electronic stability control off occurs while sitting and driving. Car jerks skips and shakes. Hard to pick up speed or go to the next gear, door lock on driver side stop working.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #204

Jul 172017

Malibu

  • 70,000 miles

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

The car's power steering went out while I was in motion, turning in a parking garage. An error message displayed saying "power steering failure - service ESC". the first time this came up was about three months ago, and I took it to the Chevy dealership and they fixed it under warranty. This same problem just came up again and I am beginning to think that this is a known problem, given the amount of recall information I've seen about this issue.

- Arlington, VA, USA

problem #203

Jul 102017

Malibu

  • 131,000 miles
The brake lights on my Malibu are not working. The brake lights illuminate without the brake pedal applied and turn off when the pedal is applied. Also, my electronic stability control and cruise control do not work. I have had this fixed four times already, two which I paid for out of pocket, and then two from a subsequent recall. I brought my car in today to get it repaired for this problem the fifth time. Is there something systemically wrong beyond what the recall addresses?

- Minneapolis, MN, USA

problem #202

Jun 292017

Malibu

  • miles
The door locks go up and down by there self.. which resorts to battery going dead... they never stop.. even when car is off they still flick up and down..

- Phenix City, AL, USA

problem #201

Feb 012017

Malibu

  • 57,000 miles
Both rear door locks do not operate with the remote. Safety hazard!

- North Dighton, MA, USA

problem #200

May 012017

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 20,835 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that there was a progressing failure in which the door failed to unlock with the fob for the rear passenger side door lock. The other three doors had been able to lock and unlock with the fob. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle also received an inspection from an independent mechanic but the results were not available. The approximate failure mileage was 20,835. Updated 08/24/17

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #199

Jan 152017

Malibu

  • 125,900 miles
While in motion going to fl on rt 95 my speed control stopped working, what I didn't know until I got to fl. That my break lights were on all the time and when I would hit the breaks they would go off and then come back on. I took the car to a dealer in fl and they could not dublacate the problem. They did replace the third break light and after researching about the problem I told them to change the break peddle switch. I drove back from fl to pa. With no problems. I know there were recalls about the BCM and did receive other letters that if a break light problem like above would happen to take it to a dealer. This is a very dangerous problem. Sent reinversment papers tochev. But they sent me S letter telling me they would not pay for repairs.

- Jim Thorpe, PA, USA

problem #198

Jan 312017

Malibu

  • 67,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving various speeds, the windshield started to frost. The contact attempted to use the defroster, but the HVAC defroster failed to function. As a result, the interior windshield became foggy. The contact also stated that the control head module failed to function and failed to clear the windshield. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was informed that she needed the proper documentation to service the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 67,000.

- Durham, NC, USA

problem #197

Apr 012017

Malibu

  • 209,410 miles
My power steering goes out and at the same time my traction control light comes on as well as the ESC light my car VIN is not on the recall but it is having the same problems as the recalled cars

- Green Bay, WI, USA

problem #196

Apr 252017

Malibu

  • 216,000 miles
Car turned off while sitting in the drive thru line. Car turned off driving down the road at various speeds. Sometimes will start back, sometimes will not start back and has to be towed. After waiting a few days the car will drive as normal and then the next time the car will turn off again. The car will turn over, but not crank. If you wait a few minutes, hours or days, the car may start and drive as normal for a few weeks and then have the problem again.

- Cameron, NC, USA

problem #195

Dec 012009

Malibu

  • miles
When first got car doors locked and unlocked with remote for apps 1 week. Then over appx month stopped working 1 door at a time. At this point the power locks inside (on door) do not work and lock/ unlock intermittently and even if I can unlock manually my drivers door it still stays locked even when lock is in fully unlocked position. Quite scary for someone that drives alone at night and my doors are unlocking themselves. God forbid I do get into an accident and need to get out of the car quickly. Also this makes it so my panic does not work on my fob. Yes I've changed batteries multiple times. Also my power steering has been cutting in and out while moving most often during turns. What happens if I am moving on a highway and I cannot steer correctly? feeling very unsure of my safety at this point.

- Kennebunk, ME, USA

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