NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
BACK OF DRIVERS SEAT BROKE AT HINGE AREA AS I WAS LEANING BACK AND UPWARD TO PLACE WALLET IN REAR POCKET. THE SEAT BACK IS NOW LOOSE AND UNSTABLE AS IT TILTS TO CENTER CONSOLE AND IS UNSTABLE BOTH IN ACCELLERATION AND DECELLERATION AND FEELS LIKE IT WILL SEPERATE FROM THE BOTTOM SEAT. *TR
WHILE DRIVING MY 2009 CHEVY MALIBU MY POWER STEERING WILL STOP WORKING AND MY ESC LIGHT COMES ON. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING ON AND OFF AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. SOMETIMES I CAN TURN CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND IT WILL RUN FINE OR RESET FOR A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME. VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
INTERMITTENT LOSS OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. UPON STARTING VEHICLE, POWER STEERING, ESC OFF, SERVICE ESC ALERTS ARE PRESENT. RESTARTING VEHICLE USUALLY CLEARS ALERTS AND RE-ESTABLISHES ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND THE TCS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE SENSOR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 14V153000 (STEERING) BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE RPM METER FLUCTUATED INDEPENDENTLY. ALSO, THE BRAKE WARNING LAMPS ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE FLASHED INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
I WAS TRAVELING WB IH-30 WEST OF E. GRAND AVE IN THE HOV LANE. A CAR WAS STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME DUE TO HEAVY TRAFFIC. I WAS COMING TO A STOP. A TRUCK REAR ENDED ME DUE COMING INTO THE HOV LANE VERY FAST, MADE CONTACT WITH ME FROM BEHIND KNOCKING ME INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN THE TRUCK HIT ME, HE SMASHED THE WHOLE BACK END FORCING THE BACK WINDSHIELD TO BREAK AND MY FACE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING SEVERE BRUISING AROUND MY LEFT EYE. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE TRUCK CRASHED INTO ME. *TR
WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTENED UP AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE TRACTION CONTROL KICKED ON AND ESC SERVICE CAME ACROSS THE SCREEN, AND THE WHEEL IS HARD TO TURN. IT WILL KICK ON AND OFF AND BEFORE IT KICKS ON THE STEERING WHEEL JERKS BACK AND FORTH. THEN WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND CAME UP ON A EXIT AND WENT TO HIT THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKES WENT OUT BUT THEN CAMEBACK ON. CAR KEEPS DOING IT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL IT WILL GO ON AND OFF. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER IGNITING THE VEHICLE, THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V153000 (STEERING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,820.
THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LATCH FAILED TO OPEN. NEITHER THE INSIDE NOR OUTSIDE HANDLES WORKED. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, ABUSE OR INDICATION OF IMMINENT FAILURE. IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO EXIT THE VEHICLE; MY DAUGHTER NEEDED TO CRAWL ACROSS THE CONSOLE. WOULD BE EVEN MORE DIFFICULT (PERHAPS IMPOSSIBLE) IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. I SEARCHED THE CHEVROLET OWNER FORUMS ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM GOING BACK YEARS. DEALER SERVICE PERSONNEL KNEW OF THE PROBLEM; OFFERED TO WAIVE USUAL $108 DIAGNOSTIC FEE FOR REPAIR. CHEVROLET CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AGREED TO PAY $37 TOWARDS NECESSARY CORRECTION IF I PAID THE FIRST $200. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN IN ANY DIRECTION. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE AND VEER TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR INSPECTION OR DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
AS I WAS APPROACHING A RED LIGHT THERE WAS A CAR IN FRONT OF ME, I WENT TO PUSH THE BRAKE AND THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK, I ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME BUT THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN BEFORE I COULD HIT THE CAR. *JS
I WAS DRIVING AND MY ESC LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD A DIFFICULT TIME STEERING MY CAR IN THE WORSE TRAFFIC I COULD BE IN. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH I GOT OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE I HIT SOMEONE AND PUT IT IN A DITCH. ALSO, LUCKY ENOUGH IT WAS ME DRIVING AND NOT MY [XXX] YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY GOT ME RIGHT IN TO GET IT FIXED, BUT I HAD TO PAY FOR IT OUT OF MY OWN POCKET. HOWEVER, WHEN I CONTACTED GM I WAS TOLD I WOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THIS AND I WOULD GET A LETTER AS OF APRIL 28TH. I NOTICED IT WAS MOVED TO MAY 28TH AND AS OF TODAY I HAVE STILL YET TO BE NOTIFIED? DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO BE INJURED OR KILLED TO GET AN ACTUAL RESPONSE FROM SOMEONE? UPDATED 1/9/2015 *JS PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
ESC AND TRACTION CONTROL WOULD NOT ENGAGE. IT STATED IT NEEDED SERVICING AN DASH INFO CENTER. TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND FIRST THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. AFTER 4 HOURS THEY CALL AND SAID THE FRONT WHEEL HUB HAD TO BE REPLACED. CODE # C0040, RIGHT FRONT HUB WAS DROPPING SIGNAL.. THIS WAS DONE AT A COST OF $636.70 TO ME. A CAR WITH 16,000 MILES, DON'T THINK THIS SHOULD HAPPEN. JUST RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON THIS CAR FROM GM, SO FAR I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF ANY FIX FOR THIS RECALL./ RECALL # 13036. I FEEL GM OWES ME SOME MONEY FOR THIS REPAIR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. *TR
WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, MY SON WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE CAR QUICK ENOUGH BECAUSE IT CAUGHT HIM OFF GUARD AND HIT A PARKED CAR. *TR
I AM STILL IN SHOCK THAT THERE ARE STILL SO MANY COMPLAINTS WITH LOOKS TO BE THE SAME VIN THAT IS BEING OVERLOOKED BY GM. MY CAR WAS FIXED LAST YEAR, YET IT STILL FEELS UNSTABLE AFTER HAVING TO PAY 890 OUT OF POCKET FOR A NEW COLUMN. HOW CAN A COMPANY JUST PICK SOME VIN'S FROM THAT YEAR, WHEN IT IS OBVIOUS IT HAS CAUSED THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS FOR VINS THAT WERE NOT INCLUDED. ARE WE SUPPOSE TO HIRE A LAWYER AND PAY EVEN MORE OUT OF POCKET FORTH. LOOK AT THESE COMPLAINTS STILL POURING IN. I WILL NEVER BE BUYING ANOTHER GM VEHICLE DUE TO THE LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY, AND I HIGHLY WILL BE SUGGESTING THAT ANYONE STAY CLEAR OF THEM AS WELL. A MONTH AFTER I GOT MY CAR FIXED THEY ISSUED THE RECALL, MINE WAS NOT INCLUDED AND I CANNOT DO A [XXX] THING ABOUT IT. MEANWHILE OTHERS GET THEIR CARS FIXED, ID LIKE TO KNOW WHAT MAKES MINE SO DIFFERENT THAT IT DOESN'T QUALIFY?? *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
I WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE POWERING STEERING ALERT SOUNDS. I LOST POWER STEERING AND THE ESC IS TURNED OFF. *TR
EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKE. LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD AND THEN HAVE NO EMERGENCY BRAKE. TOOK TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD THAT IT WAS OWNER FAULT, REAR BRAKE PAD WERE UNDER THEIR SPECIFICATION AND THAT CREATED TOO MUCH STRESS TO THE CABLE, SNAPPING IT. GM SHOULD REVISE THEIR ENGINEERING DESIGN FOR THIS SAFETY DEVICE. EMERGENCY BRAKES SHOULD BE AVAILABLE EVEN IF PADS ARE LOW. DEFINITIVELY IT IS AND MANUFACTURING (DESIGN) DEFECT. IT COULD BE A FATAL ACCIDENT IF MAIN BRAKES FAIL AND NEED TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THEN CABLE SNAP LEAVING YOU WITHOUT A PROPER BRAKING DEVICE TO STOP YOUR VEHICLE. GM STILL BEHIND THAT IT WAS CUSTOMER FAULT AND WILL NOT FIX THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR
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. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED MAKING THE STEERING WHEEL VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTING, THE DEFECT WAS CORRECTED. THE NEXT MORNING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE POWER STEERING SENSOR LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE DEFECT HAD RECURRED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE DEFECT WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT MULTIPLE SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHTS WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V153000(STEERING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT LISTED IN THE RECALL.THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
I BOUGHT MY CAR NEW IN 2009 AND I ONLY HAVE NOW JUST A LITTLE OVER 40,000 MILES. I AM A SINGLE MOM AND MY CAR IS USED FOR DRIVING MY [XXX] YEAR OLD SON TO AND FROM DAY CARE AND MYSELF TO AND FROM WORK. ON FEBRUARY 3RD I NOTICED MY STEERING WHEEL FELT FUNNY LIKE SOMETHING WAS LOOSE, I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT UNTIL MY TRACTION LIGHT THEN SUDDENLY STARTED TO GO ON AND OFF IN THE MORNING ON MY WAY TO WORK. BY THE TIME I PULLED INTO WORK THE POWER STEERING HAD GONE COMPLETELY OUT. I THEN PULLED ONTO A SIDE STREET IN FEAR OF GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT, I'M SMALL AND WEIGH NO MORE THAN 115 LBS, SO IT WAS EXTREMELY ROUGH AND SCARY TO ME. I STOPPED THE CAR AND SHUT IT OFF AFTER LOOKING UP ON MY PHONE ABOUT SIMILAR PROBLEMS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVING. I SHUT IT OFF WAITED A FEW MINUTES THEN IT WAS FINE, UNTIL I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE THEN IT WENT OUT AGAIN. I DID THIS A FEW TIMES IN ORDER TO MAKE IT TO WORK. BY LUNCH TIME MY CAR WAS RUNNING FINE BUT STILL FELT FUNNY FOR THE NEXT 4 DAYS. FRIDAY 2/7/14 MY CARS POWER STEERING HAD GONE OUT FOR GOOD AND THE TURNING IT ON AND OFF DIDN'T HELP, I ENDED UP PAYING $840 DOLLARS TO GET THE ENTIRE COLUMN REPLACED.THAT WAS OUT OF POCKET BECAUSE OF COURSE THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE MANUFACTURES WARRANTY OR THE PT WARRANTY. A MONTH LATER I HEARD ABOUT THE RECALL, SO I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, THEY HEARD NOTHING SO I CALLED GM, MY VIN WASN'T LISTED. I HAVE CALLED BACK SEVERAL TIMES SINCE AND CHECK THE "OWNER" SECTION ON GM'S WEBSITE AND STILL NOTHING, AND ALL THEY KEEP TELLING ME IS THAT ONLY SOME WERE RECALLED AND MINE MIGHT NOT BE APART OF IT EVEN THOUGH AFTER READING THE RECALL, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE. *TR PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO OPERATE IN COLD TEMPERATURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,349.
WITHIN A WEEK OF OWNING CAR ERROR CODE P0011 CAMSHAFT ALIGNMENT?CAME UP. DEALER GOT LIGHT TO GO OFF. SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH CAR. ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH POWER LOCKS ALSO, NOW MY COMPLETE STEERING COLUMN IS GONE.5 ERROR CODES C0545/C0561, NON FUNCTIONING ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. I AM LUCKY THAT I DIDN'T DIE IN THIS CAR OR WORSE KILL SOMEONE. I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS CAR. PLENTY OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE. ARE WE WAITING FOR PEOPLE TO DIE???? SERIOUSLY. MY CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP TODAY AND GM DISTRICT SPECIALIST IS DEALING WITH THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO. I THINK THIS WILL BE THE LAST CHEVROLET THAT I EVER PURCHASE. UNSAFE. I HOPE PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO COMPLAIN ON HERE BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE. 2008 WAS RECALLED FOR SAME ISSUES. MAYBE THEY USED SOME OF THEIR OLD PARTS IN MY CAR FROM 2008. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH OVER AN ICE PATCH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS IT SPUN IN A 360 DEGREE TURN. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED AND PROCEEDED TO SLIGHTLY CRASH, AND SLIDE AGAINST A GUARDRAIL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED HOWEVER, THE FRONT BUMPER AND GRILL WERE DAMAGED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER THE INCIDENT AND PROCEED NORMALLY. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AFTER THE CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.
STEERING WHEEL SHAKING, UNABLE TO TURN. *TR
OVER LAST SUMMER I HAD A HOSE GO. NOT A BIG DEAL. ONLY A $200 DOLLAR REPAIR. LAST WEEK IS WHEN THE REST OF THE POWER STEERING FAILED. MY POWER STEERING PUMP BLEW WHEN I WAS TRYING TO LEAVE WORK. I ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE CAR BUT I COULD BARELY STEER, SO I HAD TO GET A TOW. WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THE SHOP, A NEW PUMP WAS INSTALLED. 15 MINUTES LATER THAT PUMP BLEW OUT. WHEN THIS FIRST PUMP BLEW IT SUCKED METAL INTO THE POWER STEERING GEAR WHICH THEN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS REPAIR COST ME $900. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. I SEE LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND IF IT WERE TO HAPPEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. *TR
TRANSMISSION BELL HOUSING AND TORQUE CONVERTER SEALS. WHY WAS THE TRANSMISSION NOT UNDER WARRANTY FOR THIS REPAIR. I PURCHASED THE CAR AT 36,045 MILES, AT 78,798 MILES THIS TRANSMISSION PAN LEAKAGE OCCURS. THIS RESULT IN 3RD GEAR SHIFT SLIPPING. RENDERING ME TO PAY A TOTAL TO ROGER DEAN OF 1,234.15, MIND YOU THE SEALS WERE 30.00 AND THE LABOR 1086.40. THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A DEFECT IN THE SEALS FOR THAT SITUATION TO OCCUR IN THE TRANSMISSION. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. PURCHASE CAR FROM ROGER DEAN ON 7/30/11 AT 36,045 MILES. HAD REPAIRS DONE ON 1/28/14 AT 78,798 MILES.
IN 2014, THE HEATER IN THE SEAT MALFUNCTIONED AND BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND THROUGH THE COAT I WAS WEARING WHILE DRIVING. NOW, THE SEAT HEATER ON NEITHER SIDE WORKS. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO GM AND THEY SAY THAT THE CAR WAS NOT ON RECALL AND IT WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO.
LEFT REAR DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILED TO OPERATE. THIS IS THE 3RD REAR DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR TO FAIL ON THIS CAR. ORIGINAL OWNER, REPLACED 2 LOCKS UNDER WARRANTY, NOW A 3RD ACTUATOR FAILURE. THIS DOOR IS THE PRIMARY DOOR USED FOR ENTRY/EGRESS BY CHILDREN. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN DUE EITHER THE INABILITY TO SAFELY REMOVE A CHILD IN AN EMERGENCY, OR LEAVE THE DOOR UNLOCKED WHILE DRIVING. THERE ARE MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE NATION WIDE OVER THE LAST 5 YEARS. PLEASE INITIATE AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
EXITING AN OFF RAMP AT APRX. 15-20 MILES PER HOUR, MY POWER STEERING WENT. I PULLED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE CAR OFF TO CALL MY HUSBAND. POWER STEERING BACK ON. DROVE TO MY DESTINATION. ON THE WAY HONE, IT WENT AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL OTHER TIMES THROUGHOUT THE MONTH. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE POWER STEERING. OTHER MALIBUS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS PURPOSE, BUT NOT MINE. *TR
IN JANUARY OF 2014, I EXPERIENCED TWO SEPARATE INSTANCES OF THE ELECTRICAL POWER ASSIST STEERING FAILING SUDDENLY IN MY 2009 MALIBU. FORTUNATELY I WAS TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA BOTH TIMES AND WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR. THE PROBLEM WOULD NOT CORRECT UNTIL I STOPPED THE CAR, TURNED IT OFF AND RESTARTED IT. WHEN GENERAL MOTORS ACKNOWLEDGED A PROBLEM WITH POWER ASSIST STEERING IN 2008-2009 MALIBUS IN MARCH OF 2014, I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO GENERAL MOTORS' CUSTOMER SERVICE. I EXPECTED THAT THE RECALL WOULD INCLUDE MY VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY GENERAL MOTORS THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I FIND IT TROUBLING THAT IF I EXPERIENCED TWO INSTANCE OF THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND REPORTED IT TO GM, THAT MY CAR WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I'M WRITING TO ADVISE OF MY EXPERIENCES SO YOU CAN INCLUDE MY 2009 MALIBU IN THE SCOPE OF THE RECALL. *TR
DROVE FROM MY BOYFRIENDS HOUSE APPROX. 2 MILES AND PARKED IN A WALGREENS PARKING LOT AND WHEN I GOT OUT I TOLD HIM I SMELL SOMETHING BURNING, HE LOOKED OVER AND THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE BACK PART OF THE SEAT WITH SMOKE COMING OUT HE GRABBED A BOTTLE OF WATER THAT I HAD IN THE CENTER CONSOLE AND POURED IT ON THE BURNING PART OF THE SEAT. IT ALSO BURNED A HOLE IN MY COAT AND INTO THE SHIRT I WAS WEARING.. CONTACTED GM THAT DAY. *TR
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN TWO YEARS THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT HAS WENT OUT. THE FIRST TIME WAS THREE WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. NOW AGAIN, THIS CAN NOT BE A SIMPLE HEADLIGHT JUST GOING OUT ON THE EXACT SAME SIDE. *TR
WHILE DRIVING (EXITING FREEWAY) THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILED MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. (NO REPORT FILED AT THE TIME, BUT A COUPLE MONTHS LATER HEARD THAT GM WAS RECALLING '09 MALIBUS FOR POWER STEERING FAILURES. UPON CONTACTING GM THIS WEEK TO FIND OUT WHY I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL, I HAVE FOUND THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT AFFECTED BY THE RECALL AND DECIDED TO REPORT THE FAILURE IN CASE IT IS A PATTERN OF FAILURES BEYOND THE INITIAL RECALL SCOPE.) *TR
I OWN A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU THAT I BOUGHT BRAND NEW FROM A DEALERSHIP. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO (2014) MY POWER LOCKS STARTED FAILING. PRIMARILY THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND THE REAR DRIVER'S DOOR, ALTHOUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOORS HAVE FAILED ON OCCASION. THE LOCKS WILL NOT UNLOCK OR LOCK, INTERMITTENTLY. THE REAR DRIVER'S DOOR WON'T WORK AT ALL ANYMORE AND YOU HAVE TO CLIMB OVER THE SEATS TO MANUALLY PULL UP THE LOCK. I NOTICE THIS OCCURS MORE OFTEN WHEN THE WEATHER IS HOT OUTSIDE, AND LESS FREQUENTLY WHEN IT IS COOLER OUTSIDE. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY HAZARD AND I AM AFRAID THAT IF I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT THERE WILL BE ISSUES IN GETTING MYSELF OR PASSENGERS OUT OF THE VEHICLE SAFELY. I ONLY HAVE 44,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS I SEE MANY MANY MALIBU OWNERS HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR
START CAR UP FOR WORK AT 6:15AM AN SERVICE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT WAS ON NEVER WAS ON BEFORE. AS OF JAN5 2014. *TR
BOTH FRONT SPEAKERS, IN THE DOORS, DO NOT WORK. I CANNOT HEAR CHIMES FROM TURN SIGNALS BEING ON TOO LONG, FROM KEYS BEING IN THE IGNITION WHEN THE DOORS ARE OPEN AND OTHER SUCH WARNING SIGNALS. IT HAS CAUSED CONFUSION AT TIMES WHEN THE WARNING SIGNALS ARE NOT ALERTING ME TO PROBLEMS WHILE DRIVING.
THE ELECTRONIC STEERING IS INTERMITTENTLY FAILING CAUSING VIOLENT SHAKING AND A POWER STEERING FAULT. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL HAD BECOME TIGHT AND EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V153000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,590. UPDATED 12/22/14*LJ UPDATED 9/28/2015 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS REQUIRED TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V153000 (STEERING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
TL* 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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT REPLACEMENT HEADLIGHTS WERE NEEDED AN AVERAGE OF ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS THAT WAS CONNECTED TO THE HEADLIGHTS WAS FAULTY, WOULD OVERHEAT, AND BURN OUT, CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS TO FAIL. THE WIRING HARNESS HAD NOT BEEN REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,200.
RE-OCCURRENCE OF A PRIOR COMPLAINT. DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY WHEN THE SERVICE TRACTION AND SERVICE ESC DISPLAYS CAME ON. CAR BEGAN TO SPUTTER AS THOUGH IT WERE GOING TO STALL. COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, AND AFTER IDLING FOR A MINUTE THE DISPLAYS RETURNED TO NORMAL. AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 2 MILES FURTHER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. IT CONTINUED TO HAPPEN THROUGHOUT THE REST OF MY DRIVE. THE NEXT DAY, IT RAN FINE FOR ABOUT 10 MILES OR SO, AND THEN BEGAN STALLING AGAIN AND BEGAN TO LOSE SOME BRAKING AND STEERING. LAST TIME THIS ISSUE OCCURRED, THE BRAKE LIGHTS ALSO LOCKED ON LEAVING THE DRIVERS BEHIND ME THINKING THAT I WAS BRAKING. LAST TIME THESE ALERTS WERE DISPLAYED MY VEHICLE DIED COMPLETELY AND HAD TO BE SERVICED. NOW, IT SEEMS TO BE PROGRESSING TOWARDS THE SAME RESULT. GM WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE, BUT HUNDREDS OF MALIBU AND HHR OWNERS SINCE 2008 SEEM TO DISAGREE. I ONCE AGAIN CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP THAT GAVE ME THE EXPLANATION OF IT REQUIRING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO DIAGNOSE. SEEING THAT THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR AT LEAST 5 YEARS, I WOULD IMAGINE THAT GM IS AWARE THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE. UNFORTUNATELY, IT ALWAYS SEEMS THAT IT TAKES THE DEATH OF SEVERAL DRIVERS BEFORE THERE IS A RESPONSE. ONE DRIVER IN A PRINTED CHAT WITH A GM REP STATED THAT THE ISSUE CAUSED HIS VEHICLE TO CRASH DUE TO THE LOSS OF ABS AND POWER STEERING, AND HIS AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. ISN'T A LOSS OF BRAKING, STEERING, AIR BAG, BRAKE LIGHTS AND ACCELERATION A SAFETY CONCERN? *TR
THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL COME ON RANDOMLY. THIS ALSO CAUSES THE CRUISE CONTROL TO KICK OFF. THE LIGHTS WILL STAY ON FOR VARYING LENGTHS. *TR
WAVE PLATE FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION RESULTED IN SUDDEN LOSS OF 5TH GEAR AND LOSS OF SPEED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS RESULTED IN A NEAR COLLISION AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS. ALSO, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN AROUND AND GET THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE STOPPING POINT OFF THE INTERSTATE THE VEHICLE LOST REVERSE RESULTING IN A SECOND NEAR T-BONE COLLISION DUE TO HAVING TO PUSH THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED IN 12/2013 AT THE DEALERSHIP UNDER WARRANTY A SECOND WAVE PLATE FAILURE RESULTING IN LOSS OF TRANSMISSION OCCURRED IN 11/2014. *TR
WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT IN THE REAR WINDOW WOULD RANDOMLY COME ON CAUSING THE CRUISE CONTROL TO SHUT OFF. SOON AFTER THIS HAPPENS I GET WARNINGS ON THE DASH TO SERVICE THE ECS AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. IT HAS BEEN GETTING GRADUALLY WORSE AND WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT ACTIVATING, COULD CAUSE DRIVERS BEHIND ME TO THINK I AM STOPPING WHEN I AM NOT. THIS PROBLEM WAS MENTIONED IN AN ARTICLE IN USA TODAY A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, THAT GM WILL BE ISSUING A RECALL FOR. *TR
THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE PASSENGER POSITION SENSING SYSTEM WHICH CAUSE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SYSTEM TO BECOME DISABLED, NOTWITHSTANDING A PASSENGER BEING SEATED IN THE AFFECTED PASSENGER SEAT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WOULD DIM WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE DEALER LOCATED A FAILURE CODE AT THE BRAKE PEDAL POSITION SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,694.
TO THE NHTSA PERSON REVIEWING THIS: PLEASE ASSIST ON THIS ISSUE, WE DEPEND ON YOU ESCALATING THIS ISSUE. THE PROBLEM CONTAINED HERE IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC CONDITION WAITING TO HAPPEN. WE (OWNERS OF CHEVY MALIBUS OF YEARS 2008-09, AND 10') NEED AN INVESTIGATION TO BE INITIATED. SUMMARY OF PROBLEM: THE CHEVROLET MALIBU 2008,2009, AND 2010 HAS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS (WHICH OPEN AND CLOSE THE LOCKS ON THE DOORS). FOR THE MALIBU YEAR 2009, AT APPROXIMATELY 35K MILE MARK ALL POWER LOCKS OF ALL FOUR DOORS RANDOMLY OPEN AND LOCK AT ANY VEHICLE FORWARD SPEED AT RANDOM TIMES. AN UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNT OF LACK OF SAFETY CONCERNS HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP FROM COUNTLESS CUSTOMERS THROUGH DIFFERENT WEBSITES AND ARE BEGINNING TO COME IN A MORE FORMAL MANNER SUCH AS THIS PUBLIC TOOL. SAFETY FLAW: SINCE THE OPENING AN CLOSING OF THE LOCKS ON DOORS IS OF RANDOM MANNER AND OF RAPID FREQUENCY (OPENS AND CLOSES VERY FAST) IT POSES ALL OCCUPANTS TO REMAIN INSIDE THE VEHICLE UNABLE TO ESCAPE IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE, VEHICLE CRASH, OR ANY OTHER EMERGENCY. LIKEWISE, WHEN THE INTENT IS TO HAVE THE DOORS LOCKED IT POSES THE ISSUE THAT THE DOOR LOCKS WILL BECOME OPEN AT UNEXPECTED TIMES. SOLUTION: AVOID CASUALTIES, INCIDENTS, AND KEEP THE SAFETY OF OUR LOVED ONES IN MIND. WE NEED THE NHTSA TO LAUNCH AN INVESTIGATION ON THIS ISSUE. *TR