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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
13 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
99,186 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 steering problems

steering problem

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2009 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 4 of 38)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #685

Sep 072021

Malibu

  • 77,227 miles

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

The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while pulling out of a parking space, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The power steering assist warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who informed the contact that they could not duplicate the failure. The battery was replaced; however, the failure reoccurred while pulling out of a parking space. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the power steering torque sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 77,227.

- Brunswick, OH, USA

problem #684

Jun 232022

Malibu

  • miles
The vehicle loses power steering at random moments while driving. I have had to stop and turn off the vehicle in order to regain power steering function in the middle of intersections several times and lost control while driving around corners barely avoiding accidents.

- Arlington, WA, USA

problem #683

Jun 142022

Malibu

  • miles
After exiting the highway, I came to a four-way stop sign, started a left-turn when I heard a chime, I think a light came on & suddenly my power steering went out completely in the middle of the turn. I had to fight to complete the turn without hitting other cars as well as a biker who was crossing the lane I was leaving. I had just left I-40, traveling highway speeds, with my daughter & 2-year-old granddaughter in the car with me. The car has NEVER done anything like this before. I am terrified to think what would have happened if it had done this while we were traveling at 70 MPH with the cruise control engaged. I called the dealership & they can't repair my car until 6/24/22, over a week after this event. I REFUSE to drive this car again until they fix it. I thank God no one was hurt.

- Wilmington, NC, USA

problem #682

Apr 252022

Malibu

  • miles

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

After I-??ve been driving the car for a while, the steering wheel doesn-??t just shakes, it jerks violently very quickly in the left/right direction as if it-??s trying to turn. It happens so fast to where I couldn-??t stop the wheel if I wanted to without injuring myself. It also places grave danger while driving anywhere. I-??ve turned the car off & back on, it-??s fine for maybe 20-30 mins. But now it-??s worsen to where immediately once I start the car, the steering wheel spins left and right as if it-??s trying to find a direction to turn. No one (mechanic) seems to be able to identify the issue leaving me with a vehicle I-??m unable to drive or fix.

- Paterson , NJ, USA

problem #681

Apr 122022

Malibu

  • miles
Lost power steering while driving on the highway. The display board is reading power steering, service ESC, and the traction control symbol is on.

- Indianapolis , IN, USA

problem #680

Apr 182022

Malibu

  • 144,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the power steering failed to operate with the electronic stability control and power steering warning lights illuminated. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The approximate failure mileage was 144,000.

- Clarence Center, NY, USA

problem #679

Apr 062022

Malibu

  • 152,000 miles

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

The contact's son owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while his son's wife was driving 45 MPH, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact stated that the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) warning light was illuminated. The driver parked on the side road, restarted the vehicle, and was able drive to her residence. The contact's son called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Upon further investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 14E044000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The contact attempted to call the manufacturer but was unable to speak to a representative. The failure mileage was approximately 152,000.

- Gallipolis, OH, USA

problem #678

Apr 072022

Malibu

  • miles
Power steering shut off

- Cheltenham, PA, USA

problem #677

Mar 252022

Malibu

  • 149,450 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the power steering warning light and the message to "Service ESC" illuminated. The contact stated he turned off and restarted the vehicle, the warning light and warning message were no longer illuminated; however, the vehicle lost power steering while driving and making a turn. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and assisted the contact with setting up an appointment with the dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering assist control motor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring daily while driving. The failure mileage was approximately 149,450.

- Jersey Shore, PA, USA

problem #676

Feb 012022

Malibu

  • miles
experience a sudden loss of electric power steering assist. If power steering assist is lost, a message displays on the Driver Information Center and a chime sounds to inform the driver. Steering control can be maintained because the vehicle will revert to manual steering, but greater driver effort would be required at low vehicle speeds, which could increase the risk of a crash. the power steering motor, the steering column, the power steering motor control unit or a combination of the steering column and the power steering motor control unit.

- Fairfield, IA, USA

problem #675

Mar 082022

Malibu

  • miles

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

I was diving when my power steering stops working. Stop the car, turn it off restart it and it works again. It's been happening for the past few weeks and is happening more often as time goes on.

- Waterford, MI, USA

problem #674

Mar 192022

Malibu

  • miles
While driving my car my steering wheel locked up and I could not steering my car at all.

- East Lansing, MI, USA

problem #673

Mar 182022

Malibu

  • miles
I OWN A 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. I noticed a few times while stopped at a traffic light, the steering wheel started to vibrate. On start up, intermittently the power steering assist and traction control warning light will illuminate. I also noted no power steering when this happened. I shut the vehicle off. Upon restart the problem was solved.

- Nv - Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #672

Mar 102022

Malibu

  • miles
Electric power steering randomly shuts off

- East Greenville, PA, USA

problem #671

Oct 132021

Malibu

  • miles
Power steering intermittently fails.

- Galveston, IN, USA

problem #670

Feb 212022

Malibu

  • miles
Steering affected, unable to control direction of vehicle. Luckily I was not on highway driving at high speed....it very well had caused a serious accident. Warning lights on : dashboard monitor messaged " power steering " traction control light First time it happened was on December 22, 2021. The most recent time was on February 21, 2022.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #669

Feb 162022

Malibu

  • 123,025 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the steering wheel suddenly seized. The power steering warning light and the traction warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted however, the vehicle failed to regain power steering functionality. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 123,025.

- Fairfield, IA, USA

problem #668

Mar 022022

Malibu

  • miles
I was driving and my steering wheel got extremely tight not allowing me to turn the car steering left or right. My service ESC light is on and power steering came across the dash.

- Blackshear, GA, USA

problem #667

Feb 232022

Malibu

  • miles
I was driving on a main road when my steering wheel locked up and was almost impossible to turn. It read SERVICE ESC and POWER STEERING. Barely made it home without an accident.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #666

Feb 172022

Malibu

  • miles
I started to smell a slight burning smell, as I pulled off the road to investigate at the gas station my power steering failed upon restarting the vehicle. On the message center it says power steering, service ESC, ESC off. This could have caused an accident if i had not pulled off the road. Upon research, it shows a recall bulletin has been issued for 2008-2009 Chevy Malibu for a torque sensor, which appears to be the same issue. Bulletin No.: 14116B Date: October 2014 GM recall search returns no results for this VIN#, so we were not notified of a recall. This appears to be a mistake, as the recall is for the same issue as what we have experienced.

- South Saint Paul, MN, USA

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