Print this page

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
13 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
100,262 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

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2009 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 4 of 37)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #677

Mar 252022

Malibu

  • 149,450 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 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
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

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

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

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

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

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

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

problem #665

Feb 162022

Malibu

  • miles
When i start my car the TC light will cut on them my steering wheel will start being rough and rough to start, i would turn my car off and turn it back on, it would run good for a few mins then it would do it again

- Elkton, MD, USA

problem #664

Sep 042021

Malibu 4-cyl

  • miles
well it all started at one, i fixed the electrical myself after inspecting 6 months worth of it sitting, finally found electrical problems that i got it running afterwords 2 fuel pumps later knowing pumps werent the issue then, now I almost have it paid off, its really began to just be a piece of junk after dearly taking care of it when i bought the car I loved it, now I found on it, no steering, comes and goes, like I know how to put a steering asst. in... i pulled one from the J yard, its in the backseat now, airbags indicator saying it needs servicing, tires I bought brand new last summer, they are baby butt smooth now, the car cant even squeal the tires so whatever on that, 5 days ago I threw a new alternator in it, similar to every alternator when they go it was normal... no problem, now I'm pooped out, I want the problems fixed so when its paid off in April I can sell it legally without anyone getting hurt, also the value is poor, not even close to what you value it as on here. [XXX] if I didn't spend more on costs on parts, repair, labor (thankfully I know wyf I'm doing when I work on a GM) it would be more than the car loan I took out on the junk on October 19th 2019. I think somebody is responsible in repairing these issues as I knew nothing about the problems gm had when buying this vehicle. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Coon Rapids, MN, USA

problem #663

Feb 152022

Malibu

  • miles
Power steering failed at driving speed. Could have caused an accident. Research 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.

- Sweet Home, OR, USA

problem #662

Jan 202022

Malibu

  • miles
I couldbt turn tge car out of nowhere an nout ran off the road

- Miami, OK, USA

problem #661

Feb 122022

Malibu

  • miles
My cars power steering failed while making a right turn the steering wheel locked up and wouldn-??t move I turn the car off and the issue went away but I know it will come apparently there has been a recall on this cars EPS but there-??s no open recall on my vehicle

- Brooklyn , NY, USA

problem #660

Jan 192022

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 188,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently decelerated with several unknown warning lights and messages displayed. The contact stated he pulled over and waited 45 minutes to restart the vehicle. Upon restart, the vehicle resumed normal operation. The contact mentioned that the failure occurred several times and he was able to restart the vehicle with normal operation. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a dealer who diagnosed the failure as a power steering failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that he found Manufacturer Technical Service Bulletin: 14116B however, the dealer and manufacturer declined repairs as he was over the allowed mileage. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V153000 (Steering). The contact stated that the manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The manufacturer referred the contact to NHTSA to file a complaint. The approximate failure mileage was 188,000.

- Natchez, MS, USA

problem #659

Jan 252022

Malibu

  • 48,477 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel locked up. The Electronic Stability Control (ESC) warning light and power steering assist warning message were displayed. The failure nearly caused a collision. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the dealer could not duplicate the failure. The dealer performed a P-Module program and relearn, a T-S module unit, and a multi-point inspection; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic, who related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V153000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 48,477.

- Orange, NJ, USA

problem #658

Feb 022022

Malibu

  • miles
The power steering goes out and the light for service ESC and power steering comes on. The steering becomes nearly impossible to use even at higher speeds. Took to GM they acknowledged the problem and said that there is a recall on other VINs, just not mine.

- Canton, OH, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?