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2.1

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
73,294 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2009 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 2 of 4)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #49

Aug 152018

Malibu

  • 130,000 miles

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

When driving the vehicle the service traction service ESC & ESC off lights come off/on seems to be worse when I turn the vehicle will drive rough at times, also the cruise control will fail to work. Got a recall on this in 2017 took it into a dealer shop who applied gel to connectors said that fixed the problem, it certainly did not.I do not know if this is safe to drive my vehicle since it is the only one I own I do not have a choice. Since this has been going on for more than a year now I can not give an exact date but it does happen daily..I need the repairs made by GM not

- Jena, LA, USA

problem #48

Jul 092018

Malibu

  • 148,000 miles
My 09 Malibu began acting up 1 yr ago when using cruise control, the security light would come on the car would bog down like it was losing power and the service ESC and traction control off light would come on, then about 3 min liter it would all turn off, my mechanic did not know why. Recently it has been misfiring and showing lights that say service ESC, traction control off and the check engine light blinks as car bugs down like it is losing power. It does this at 30 mph and 50 mph. When I get the light check it says misfire in cylinder 3. I have changed the plug and coil multiple times in last 2 months. Upon googling I found many others had the same issue with the same make and model. This started June 2017

- Shakopee, MN, USA

problem #47

May 152018

Malibu

  • 91,000 miles
My brake lights and fifth light in window come on without braking and go off when brake is pressed

- Salisbury, MD, USA

problem #46

Aug 102017

Malibu

  • 98,000 miles

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

The brake lights do not always come on when the brake pedal is pressed. Other times the brake lights, including the center brake light is on without the pedal being pressed. Note this occurs both when stationary and moving.

- New Haven, WV, USA

problem #45

Mar 082017

Malibu

  • 130,000 miles
My brake lights stay on when I am driving the car. The cruise control will just stop working and the car of course slows down at this point. Yesterday the low traction and eic light came on. This has been going on for several months with the brake lights and cruise control the low traction and eic problem just started yesterday. I have read page after page of complaints on this same thing happening on this model year make of car. I have had to take my car in for several recalls but I have not seen one on this particular issue. My car has 138,000 miles on in it and of course this happens while it is in motion on the highway road street etc. It could not happen if the car was not in motion. This is a scary thing to be driving your vehicle and pray your going to make it to where you are going without a crash.

- Trout, LA, USA

problem #44

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 #43

Mar 082017

Malibu

  • miles

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

A few minutes after I start driving the ESC off/service traction light will come on and it keeps flashing back and fourth between error messages. My check engine light is not on, but when I go to accelerate my car jumps kind of. And if I let my foot off the gas it feels like I'm shifting gears and my car will start going slow. I'll push back down on the gas and I will seem like it's trying to get speed but takes a min. They are trying to say I don't have a recall but something is wrong clearly. The error lights will go on no matter if I'm driving or parked.

- Rockford, IL, USA

problem #42

Nov 292016

Malibu

  • miles
My rear passenger door lock disengaged from the automatic locks and can only be opened from the inside. (spring 2016) my traction control is periodically saying that it has malfunctioned but does not always. When the light comes on, I feel a pulse as I'm braking and sometimes if it comes on while I'm driving I'll feel a slight jolt through the accelerator pedal. I also hear a click noise like the pedal may disengage. (late summer 2016) I don't know if it's related but since most things seem electrical, my radio sometimes will not turn off and seems to do what it wants during times when other things are seemingly malfunctioning (I.e. in conjunction with the traction control issue). On several occasions, I have taken the key out of the ignition, opened the door but my radio doesn't turn off. (late summer 2016) on several occasions, I have taken the key out of the ignition, but the car seems to still be running, like idling. I've thought it was the cooling system, but I've never had this happen in the last 22 years I've been driving nor heard it from anyone else I ask. (late summer 2016) I have also been driving, on several occasions, with cruise control engaged and then realize that I'm slowing down only to find the cruise is no longer engaged. The first few times I thought it was me. Now, I rarely use it because it's not consistently reliable. (late summer 2016) while my fuse and bulbs are fine, both of my taillights are not working. (late November, 2016 when someone brought it to my attention).

- Douglasville, GA, USA

problem #41

Feb 012015

Malibu

  • 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. While the cruise control was activated, it randomly deactivated. Also, when the brake pedal was depressed, the center brake light would not illuminate and the rear brake lights illuminated very dimly. The contact also indicated that the transmission was replaced due to failures that prevented the vehicle from accelerating normally. No further information was available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,000.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #40

Jul 132016

Malibu

  • 86,700 miles
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.

- Whitney Point, NY, USA

problem #39

May 192016

Malibu

  • 250,000 miles

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

Recall fix failure - the recall fix was applied by the dealership for the 'brake lights may or may not randomly illuminate' issue, NHTSA action 13005, however it is only temporary. After a few months the identical symptoms occur at the same frequency. No new symptoms are present and no previous symptoms are absent. These include; brake lights illuminating with no pressure on the brake pedal, brake lights turning off when pressure is applied to brake pedal (including holding the brakes at a stop), cruise control failing to activate, traction control turning off, ESC turning off, and vehicle gearing down (as low as 3rd gear at 60 mph before intervention) to assist by engine braking. Most symptoms occur at standstill as well as city and highway speeds. The dealership's stance is that, once a recall is applied, the ticket is closed and is the vehicle owner's responsibility to cover the cost of further fixes.

- Bristol, VA, USA

problem #38

Apr 072016

Malibu

  • 38,068 miles
In December of 2014, a Chevrolet dealer performed repairs to address NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000 (I had not experienced any problems related to this issue at the time). Recently I have been experiencing the symptoms related to this recall, including the "service ESC" and "service traction" messages, the brake pedal requiring extra pressure to get the vehicle out of park, and the disabling of cruise control. I have not had the opportunity to check if the brake lights also exhibit the problem described in the recall. The problem has triggered while I'm braking, as well as when I was at highway speed with the cruise control engaged, without applying the brakes.

- Amherst, NY, USA

problem #37

Oct 242015

Malibu

  • 42,000 miles
Driving at 65 mph on the interstate and ESC light, check engine light, and security light came on. The speedometer needle and the fuel guage needle started jumping sporadically and then I lost power for a moment and could not accelerate. Had to coast to the side of the road. Very dangerous situation. Turned the car off and restarted, and it happened numerous more times. Had to end up having it towed. It is in the shop now, and they haven't determined what is wrong yet.

- Radcliff, KY, USA

problem #36

Jun 272014

Malibu 4-cyl

  • miles
2009 Chevrolet Malibu. Consumer writes in regards to body control module connection system recall reimbursement. The consumer stated in June 2014, the vehicle wasn't running smoothly. It seemed to exhibit a jerk motion and felt as though it was going to stall. The ESC light would illuminate and then go out. The dealer made some repairs on June on June 27, 2014. After the repairs were made, the consumer received a recall letter. However, the parts were not available. GM informed the consumer, the repairs were not covered by the recall. According to the invoice, the fuel injector wire was replaced. Recall # 14V252000 updated 12/30/15.

- Geneva, IL, USA

problem #35

Feb 042014

Malibu

  • 65,000 miles
While driving the car at any speed the vehicle will accelerate on its own and the RPM will increase to 4 or higher as if I am smashing the gas. During this time of the RPM fluctuation you can hear the engine sound louder and feel the acceleration almost like a jolt. At night when driving the car you can see the brake light illuminate without ever touching the brakes. I've taken the car to the dealership several times regarding this matter they claim it has been fixed, however I'm still having the same problem. When it is warm/hot outside, when using the keyless remote to lock/unlock the car all locks will stick. The only way I can get into the vehicle is to use the key to open the doors and if I have groceries in the back seat I will have to crawl from the front to the back to open the doors.

- Brewton, AL, USA

problem #34

Jan 012014

Malibu

  • 98,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the anti lock brake system and the electronic stability control warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the BCM wiring harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control). The contact stated that after the repairs, it was discovered that the brake lights failed to illuminate when the brake pedal was depressed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 98,000.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #33

Feb 022015

Malibu

  • 115,000 miles
Service ESC light comes on &power steering goes out. Happens over and over randomly. Dealership told me it was a battery issue since the power steering is electrical, however I replaced the battery and the issue persists. After searching the internet I saw a ton of other Chevy Malibu owners have the exact same issue.

- Sheboygan, WI, USA

problem #32

Feb 262015

Malibu

  • 152,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while making a left turn at 4 mph, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to accelerate. The contact stated that ESC off was displayed across the message board. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000( electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control). The failure mileage was 152,000.

- Columbia, IL, USA

problem #31

Feb 232015

Malibu

  • 104,000 miles
Sudden loss of power steering, nearly caused a wreck in parking lot. Impossible to steer car due to resistance in wheel.

- Brookings, OR, USA

problem #30

Feb 032015

Malibu

  • 148,000 miles
On Tuesday February 3rd 2015 I was on my way home from work when my 2009 Chevy Malibu cut off on me. The check engine and traction lights came on and a message of power steering service ESC came on. Cars had to swerve around me to avoid collision luckily I had not yet made it onto the interstate. I turned the engine off, waited for five minutes and restarted the vehicle. Upon restart all of the lights and messages were gone and the car was operable. I researched this issue and found that is a known issue and even on recall. I called GM and I was informed by a rep that while this is a known issue and is a recall for my model my VIN number does not meet the recall. I do not understand how a known issue that I am currently experiencing is not covered by GM. This is a extreme hazard to myself, other drivers and my newborn child that I travel with. I am very angry, disappointed and I feel betrayed by GM and Chevrolet. I will be contacting my lawyer, sending letters to GM and blogging to warn people of the dangers and hassles of purchasing and driving a Chevy.

- Marrero, LA, USA

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