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.
AFTER PULLING AWAY FROM ESPRESSO STAND THE POWER STEERING ON 2009 CHEVY MALIBU COMPLETELY FAILED W/OUT WARNING. THIS OCCURRED AS I WAS JUST GOING INTO A RIGHT HAND TURN IN A PARKING LOT AT APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 10MPH. I NEARLY HIT THE DRIVERS DOOR OF A VEHICLE IN THE INTERSECTION AS THEY WERE TAKING A LEFT TURN INTO THE PARKING LOT. THE STEERING WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND REQUIRED BOTH HANDS. I CAME TO A STOP AS I COMPLETED THE TURN, JUST BEFORE THE PARKING LOT EXITED TO A SIDE ROAD. THE TRUCK BEHIND ME WAS HONKING AND MY VEHICLE WAS BARELY POSITIONED SAFELY ON 'MY' SIDE OF THE DRIVEWAY. I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO TURN RIGHT ONTO THE ROADWAY AND PULL AS FAR OFF TO THE SHOULDER AS I COULD. THE SHOULDER; IS ABOUT TWO CAR LENGTHS LONG BEFORE IT TURNS INTO A SIDEWALK. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN EASY TASK HOWEVER, DUE TO THE STEERING I COULD BARELY GET OFF THE ROADWAY- MY FRONT TIRES ALL BUT RESTING ON THE START OF THE SIDEWALK. THE MESSAGE CENTER ON MY DASH READ "POWER STEERING" FOLLOWED BY "SERVICE ESC" AND THE ESC/ TRACTION CONTROL INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASH WAS LIT UP. I CALLED FOR HELP & THEY ARRIVED WITHIN MINUTES. WE ARE UNABLE TO ACCESS THE POWER STEERING UNIT AS IS LOCATED UNDERNEATH THE ALTERNATOR, AND REQUIRES REMOVAL OF THE ALTERNATOR. ABOUT 30 MIN AFTER INCIDENT I MOVED CAR BACK SEVERAL FEET - STEERING WAS STILL HARD. I TURNED IT OFF. A FEW MINUTES LATER I TURNED BACK ON. STILL GETTING MESSAGE, BUT DECIDED TO DRIVE THE 5 MI BACK SINCE ONLY 2 TURNS WERE NECESSARY. ONE PERSON HELPING WAS IN FRONT AND ONE PERSON FOLLOWING. IT WAS UNEVENTFUL HOWEVER WARNING INDICATORS WERE STILL ON & STEERING EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. 3HRS LATER I TURN CAR ON TO GET MILEAGE AND NOTICED THAT INDICATORS ARE OFF. TESTED THE STEERING- IT HAS RESUMED TO NORMAL. VEHICLE IS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 8MI HM. MESSAGE DISPLAYED TWICE DURING THIS DRIVE. VEHICLE HAD PRE-TRIP INSPECTION 1WK PRIOR. 108K MILE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING SEIZED AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN OFF AND RESTART THE VEHICLE FOR IT TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PHIL LONG FORD AT CHAPEL HILLS (1565 AUTO MALL LOOP, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80920, (844) 234-1769) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE EPS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVEN TIMES. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V153000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 122,000.
1) RE-OCCURRING RECALL FAULT 13036 -BRAKE LIGHTS ON - ESC - TRACTION CONTROL - ETC, THESE WERE REPAIRED BUT YOU CANT REPAIR A DEFECT 2) POWER STEERING TURNS OFF AND ON - MENTIONED TO DEALER END LAST YEAR 2019 - MENTIONED DID NOT RECEIVE RECALL 14116 - SPOKE WITH GM REP TODAY 8/21/20 (JOHN) AT NBR 800-222-1020 HE STATED THIS RECALL EXPIRED DEC LAST YEAR ANY REPAIRS GOING FORWARD COST ON ME WHICH ISNT RIGHT. THESE REPAIRS - RECALLS - SHOULD BE HANDLED NO MATTER MILEAGE/AGE. UPON ATTEMPTING A RIGHT TURN ALL POWER TO STEERING WHEEL WAS LOST BUT REGAINED SLOWLY - MY THOUGHT WAS LOW POWER FLUID. I PARKED THE NIGHT AND IN MORNING SEARCHED VEHICLE FOR POWER STEERING RESERVOIR TO NO AVAIL DID I FIND IT - DEALER ADVISED IT WAS ELECTRONIC - STILL AT THAT DATE I RECEIVED NO RECALL TO POWER STEERING TRBL - THIS SHOULD BE REPAIRED AT GM EXPENSE
MY CARS PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHT CONNECTOR KEEPS FRYING OUT. IVE CHANGED THE BULB NUMEROUS TIMES AND THE LIGHT NEVER STAY ON LONGER THAN 2 WEEKS AT A TIME. I WAS LOOKING INTO THE ISSUE AND NOTICED THAT THE WHOLE CONNECTOR HAS MELTED AND THE WIRING TOO.
PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. THE CONNECTOR TO THE HEADLIGHT IS MELTED THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME IT HAS HAPPENED. GENERAL MOTORS WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. IT GETS REPLACED EVERY TIME AND THAT CONNECTOR KEEPS GETTING MELTED MAKING IT HARD TO SEE WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT
WHEN I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT MY PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. HAVE HAD IT REPLACED FOR OTHER TIMES AND THE CONNECTOR TO THE HEADLIGHT KEEPS MELTING. THEN THERE IS A SMELL OF PLASTIC MELTING ALMOST LIKE IT IS GOING TO CATCH ON FIRE
PASSENGERS SIDE HEADLIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT. HARNESS IS ACTUALLY MELTING CAUSING CONNECTION PROBLEMS. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BEFORE A FIRE STARTS IN THESE VEHICLES.
CAR DIES WHILE DRIVING. NO WARNING. STARTS BACK UP AFTER STOPPING AND TURNING KEY OFF AND THEN BACK ON. HAPPENED 5 TIMES NOW.
MY BRAKE LIGHTS ARE COMING ON BY THEMSELVES AND WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKES IT GOES OFF BUT MY BRAKE LIGHT WANT WORK AT ALL IT A BIG SAFE ISSUE
SMELL OF GAS REAR OF CAR AFTER FILL UP. VISIBLE MOISTURE TOP OF FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT. LEAK FROM TOP OF TANK AND OR FIXTURE.
THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR MULTIPLE "RECALL FIXES", FOR ELECTRICAL AND LIGHTING ISSUES. THE REGISTRY SHOWS THAT ALL RECALLS WERE FIXED (PURELY COSMETIC WORK) WITH REGARDS TO THE VEHICLES LIGHTS BEING REPLACED (RECEIVED FIX IT TICKETS BY THE AUTHORITIES). BUT MY CAR DIDN'T BURN OUT LIGHTS, SHE MELTED THEM, WHILE I WAS DEPLOYED, HER ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FRIED THE SECURITY SYSTEM AND THE CAR'S COMPUTER (BRAIN). REPAIRS WERE MADE IN 2014 WHEN I RETURNED FROM OVERSEAS, AND SHE WAS FINE FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS. THEN STARTED MALFUNCTIONING AGAIN IN 2015 AND 2016. I WAS CHARGED FOR REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENTS FROM CHEVY DEALERSHIPS AND THEY FIXED THE MINOR ISSUES. NOW IN 2019 THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS SHORTING OUT AGAIN STATING THAT THE ENGINE IS WORKING AT DECREASED POWER AND MY CAR IS DRAINING HER OWN BATTERY AND LOCKING UP. I BOUGHT HER USED BACK IN 2009, AND EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS OR YEARS THERE IS AN ELECTRONICS MALFUNCTION AND I'VE HAD SUCH HORRIBLE LUCK FINDING A TRUSTWORTHY DEALERSHIP TO TAKE HER TO FOR REPAIRS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. SHE STILL CONTINUES TO HAVE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS WHERE SHE'LL BURN OUT OR MELT A COMPONENT IN THE VEHICLE. SHE JUST STARTED MALFUNCTIONING AGAIN AND WHEN I INSPECTED THE BATTERY, SHE HAD MELTED THE PLASTIC HOUSING UNIT.
WELD ON SEAT FRAME IS BROKEN. IN A CRASH DRIVER COULD BE EJECTED, ALONG WITH SEAT. SEATBELT IS ATTACHED TO SEAT SO BECOMES LESS USEFUL AND MORE UNSAFE. 1000'S OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE ALREADY.
ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING WHEN TRAVELING OVER 30MPH.
PASSENGER HEADLIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT. CHANGED THE BULBS, STILL OUT. CHANGED THE WIRING HARNESS, STILL OUT. NEXT STEP IS THE SIGNAL SWITCH! THE HIGH BEAM WAS WORKING UNTIL I CHANGED EVERYTHING AND NOW I HAVE NO LOW OR HUGH BEAM ON THAT SIDE!!I HAVE CHANGED THE BULBS NUMEROUS TIMES ON THAT SAME SIDE OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. THE TIME PRIOR THE CONNECTOR ON THE BULB WAS MELTED!! I HAVE BEEN READING ALL OVER THE INTERNET NUMEROUS PEOPLE WHO CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS ISSUE. REPLACING THESE ITEMS OVER AND OVER AGAIN IS COSTLY. IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING TOO MANY TIMES!! THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL! IT IS CLEARLY AN ISSUE IN MANUFACTURING. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO CONSTANTLY COME OUT OF OUR POCKETS FOR LAZY WIRING AND MANUFACTURING.DO RIGHT BY YOUR CUSTOMERS AND MAKE IT A RECALL ISSUE GM!!
I HAVE A 2009 MALIBU 2.4 ENGINE WITH ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WHEN IT GOT COLD OUTSIDE POWER STEERING STARTED GOING OUT AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AND SERVICE ESC MESSAGE COMES ACROSS THE MESSAGE CENTER. TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND THE LIGHT GOES OUT AND THE POWER STEERING WORKS AGAIN IT DOES IT WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING OR EVEN IF THE CAR IS PARKED AND I TURN THE WHEEL IT HAS DONE 3 TIMES WHILE DOING 65 ON HIGHWAY LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TURN CAR OFF AND BACK ON SO THE STEERING CAN WORK AGAIN THE COLDER TEMPERATURES GET THE MORE OFTEN THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT I'M AFRAID I MIGHT HAVE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS SEIZED INTERMITTENTLY. CORNING CHEVROLET BUICK (2087 SOLANO ST, CORNING, CA 96021, (530) 838-4371) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BULBS MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.
PASSENGER LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT ON 2009 CHEVY MALIBU. I HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS, AND THE PIGTAIL HARNESS 3 TIMES A YEAR FOR THE LAST 4 YEARS.
THE WIRE HARNESS FOR THE PASSENGER FRONT HEADLIGHT KEEPS BURNING OUT THE LIGHTBULB NOW THE HARNESS HAS BURNED OUT
PURCHASED VEHICLE ON 8/8/19 AND STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED OUT PLATE OR TITLE HAVE WENT THERE 2 TIME TOLD ME IT WAS SENT IN, CALLED DMV AND THEY SAID PAPERWORK WAS NOT SENT IN UNTIL NOV 4 AND THEY DID NOT SEND ALL THE MONEY, STILL NOTHING, MY CAR IS PARKED WITH AN EXPIRED TEMPORARY PLARE
WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON AND STAY ON WHEN YOU PRESS THE PEDAL THE BRAKE LIGHTS GO OFF AND THEN COME BACK ON WHEN YOU RELEASE THE PEDAL 3 SECONDS LATER THE BRAKE LIGHTS COME BACK ON AND STAY ON.
HAS A PROBLEM WITH COLD START NEEDS A JUMP ALOT, SERVICE ESC COMES ON WITH LOSE OF TRACTION AND POWER STEERING, SENSOR IN WHEELS GO OUT OFTEN WHEELS SOUND WEIRD WHEN TURNING, HEADLIGHT GOES OUT OFTEN WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE OUT ,GEARSHIFT LINKAGE HAS BROKEN WHILE TRYING TO SHIFT GEARS PROBLEM OCCURS BOTH NON-STATIONARY
POWER OF STEERING KEEPS GOING OUT I HAVE TO TURN MY CAR OFF AND BACK ON JUST TO GET IT TO STEER AGAIN. USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN I'M BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPOTS OR DRIVING SLOW OR TURNING. MY HEADLIGHTS WIRING HARNESS HAS A SHORT IN IT AND ONE OF MY LIGHTS CUTS OFF AND ON THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY WHILE I'M DRIVING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS FAULTY AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WHILE MAKING A TURN. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL RETURNED TO NORMAL; HOWEVER, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ESC INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT COULD NOT BE SERVICED BECAUSE THE FAILURE WAS ELECTRIC AND THE MECHANIC DID NOT HAVE THE PROPER TOOLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,520.
EVERYONE THAT I KNOW THAT HAS A CHEVROLET MALIBU IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR HEADLIGHTS. I AM GETTING TICKETS AND REPLACING BULBS EVERY 2/3 WEEKS. REPLACING THEM CONSTANTLY IS GETTING EXPENSIVE AND IT'S GETTING EXPENSIVE BECAUSE I KEEP GETTING TICKETS.
TAKATA RECALL PASSENGER AIR BAG IS SUNKEN IN TO THE DASHBOARD.
DRIVERS POWER SEAT ON MY 2009 CHEV MALIBU 52000 MILES IS LOWER ON RIGHT SIDE AND RUBS ON CONSOLE WHEN YOU TRY AND MOVE, THERE IS BAR UNDER SEAT WITH BROKEN WELD SEAT MOVES WHILE DRIVING WHEN I CHECKED ONLINE THERE WERE A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM
2009 MALIBU DOWNSHIFTED ALL AT ONCE ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT
STARTING LAST WEEK, I'VE NOTICED THAT MY BRAKE LIGHTS TURN ON WHEN I'M NOT EVEN TOUCHING THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS TURN ON WHEN I'M ACCELERATING AND THEN TURN OFF WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES. I HAVE TO REALLY PUSH DOWN HARD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO HAVE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TURN ON. THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL AND TRACTION LIGHTS ALSO APPEARED ON MY DASHBOARD AND THAT'S WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE CAR SHOP TODAY, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY BRAKES, BRAKE PADS OR SUSPENSION SYSTEM. I LOOKED ONLINE TO FIND THE RECALL NUMBER 14V252000 MATCHING THE EXACT DESCRIPTION OF WHAT I'M EXPERIENCING IN MY CHEVY MALIBU. I SEARCHED ON VIN ON THE ONLINE DATABASE, BUT MY CAR DIDN'T APPEAR IN THE SEARCH EVEN THOUGH MY CAR MATCHES THE MAKE, MODEL, YEAR AND MANUFACTURE DATE RANGE (AUGUST 2008).
ELECTRICAL-I WAS FOLLOWING SOMEONE WHO WAS DRIVING MY MALIBU, AND WE CAME UP TO A STOPLIGHT. I NOTICED THAT MY BRAKES LIGHTS DIDN'T ILLUMINATE WHEN HE WAS STOPPING, THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND WE PROCEEDED DOWN THE ROAD. I THEN SAW THE BRAKES LIGHTS GOING ON AND OFF A COUPLE OF TIMES. WE WERE NOT COMING UP ON A LIGHT, NOR WAS THERE ANYONE IN FRONT OF HIM. WHEN WE GOT TO OUR DESTINATION, I ASKED IF HE WAS TAPPING THE BRAKES WHEN WE PULLED AWAY FROM THAT RED LIGHT, AND HE SAID NO, NOT ONCE. THIS ISSUE CONTINUES TO HAPPEN, ALMOST CAUSING ME TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. STEERING- THE POWER STEERING WILL JUST STOP WORKING WHEN I AM DRIVING. IT DOES THIS OFTEN. TO CORRECT IT, I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO DO THIS A FEW TIMES RIGHT IN A ROW BEFORE IT CORRECTS THE PROBLEM. I HAVE LOOKED UP RECALLS FOR MY YEAR VEHICLE. CURRENTLY, THERE ARE RECALLS FOR BOTH OF THESE ISSUES, JUST NOT FOR MY VIN. I CANNOT HELP BUT THINK THAT IF THE SAME EXACT ISSUES HAVE BEEN HAPPENING WITH OTHER VEHICLES FROM THE SAME YEAR AS MINE AND THEY HAVE GOTTEN THE RECALLS, THAT THERE IS A VERY GOOD CHANCE THAT MINE SHOULD PROBABLY BE INCLUDED IN THESE RECALLS AS WELL. THOSE RECALLS ARE 14V153000 AND 14V252000.
I HAVE A 2009 CHEVY MALIBU .RECALL WEBISITE REFLECTS NUMEROUS RECALLS REGARDING MY AUTO , MAKE AND MODEL. WHILE DRIVING ON A 6 LANE HWY,, I HAVE LOST POWER STEERING TWICE. WHICH IS ALMOST IMPOSSABLE TO CONTROL. ALSO, THE AUTOMATIC LOCKS HAVE STOPPED OPERATING EVEN WHEN PRESSING THE DOOR AUTO LOCK/ UNLOCK BUTTON .YOU CAN HEAR THEN TRYING TO FUNCTION HOWEVER DOES NOT. ALSO, WHILE SITTING IN PARK, I CRANK MY CAR AND SHIFT TO REVERSE, MY CAR DOES NOT GO INTO REVERSE. SOMETIME IT WILL HIT VERY HARD AND SOMETIME NOT GO INTO GEAR AT ALL. I PLACE MY CAR IN DRIVE AND MOVE FORWARD THEN TO REVERSE , THE CAR GOES INTO REVERSE . ON OTHER OCCASIONS , I TURN THE CAR OFF, RE-CRANK IT AND ITS FINE. THESE PROBLEMS ARE LISTED AS RECALLS FOR THE MAKE AND MODEL OF MY AUTO HOWEVER, DOESN'T APOEAR UNDER MY VIN WHEN I SEARCH. WHAT CAN I DO I AM AFFRAID FOR MY SAFETY WHILE DRIVING MY CAR AND ALSO RELUCTANT TO DRIVE IT. THESE ISSUES NEED TO BE RESOLVED AS THEY APPEAR AS RECALLS. WHEN YOU LOOSE CONTROL WHILE DRIVING AND YOUR SAFETY IS IN JEOPARDY, ITS TIME TO EXPECT RESULTS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT AND REAR BRAKE LIGHTS BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE REPAIRED. THE PARTS REPLACED WAS NOT STATED BY THE CONTACT. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.
ESC CAR, CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN AND ESC TRACKING LIGHT COMES ON AND IT SAYS NO POWER/LOW POWER ESC - THIS CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN!
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. JUST AS DESCRIBED IN BULLETIN 114116, MAKING IT HARD FOR ME TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO SHAKE TERRIBLY.
Steering is difficult after driving and components get hot, research shows many other Vehicles have same issue. costing 300.00 to 1200.00 for repairs. Needs reported this to GM and the NHTSA. You never know, GM might cover some of the replacement cost. There is a video on youtube that covers replacing the torque tube sensor but what if that is not the cause? Yes, a GM tech 2 scan tool is required to set up the front end once the part has been replaced. Keep any bills you acquire during this job so that GM may reimburse you in the future should they decide to cover this repair. it also could be a module in the steering colum plus the turn signals do not shut off making it a hazard to drive while turn signals are still on! SEE LINK BELOW: THIS IS HARD TO TURN WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS! https://www.chevymalibuforum.com/threads/2009-esc-service-light-no-power-steering.47242/
I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE FROM DAY ONE. I FILED A REPORT PREVIOUSLY AND I AM FILING ANOTHER ONE IN REFERENCE TO MY POWER TRANSMISSION. I HAVE A 2009 CHEVY MALIBU, 4 SPEED, AUTOMATIC. I WAS DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED ITSELF WITHOUT MY DOING ANYTHING, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO HIGH GEAR. SOMETHING POPPED IN THE VEHICLE AND THE GEAR SHIFTED FOR A LITTLE BIT AND WORKED AND THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I THINK THE SHIFTING CABLE MAY HAVE FRACTURED OR SEPARATED. THIS WAS VERY NERVE WRACKING, BECAUSE IT WAS IN THE LATE EVENING HOURS AND TRAFFIC WAS EXTREMELY HEAVY. NOW IT IS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY.
THE DOORS ON MY 2009 CHEVY MALIBU DO NOT OPEN NO MATTER WHAT I DO WITH THE LOCKS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IF I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE THE PROBLEM HAS GONE ON AND OFF FOR THE LAST YEAR AND SOMETIMES THEY WON'T WORK AND SOMETIMES THEY WILL WORK. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THINK IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE
"TAKATA RECALL" RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING AND IN PARK, EVEN WHEN I AM SITTING AT A RED LIGHT MY CAR MY LOCKS WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK WITHOUT ME PUSHING THE BUTTONS ON THE DOOR, WHICH ARE BROKEN AND THE DEALER WOULD NOT FIX IT UPON REQUEST. ALSO MY CAR WILL STALL AT TIMES BECAUSE THE DOOR LOCKS ARE MOTIONING ON THEIR OWN. FOR SOME REASON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE CAR MESSED WITH THE LOCKS WHEN THE PRIOR OWNER PUT IN A AUTO START IN THE CAR, WHICH I DID NOT KNOW OF UNTIL THE CAR WAS OWNED AND IT WAS'NT TOLD TO ME EITHER. I FEEL THIS CAR WAS A ROUGH STRUGGLE SINCE GETTING IT AND NOW ITS SO HARD TO GET FIXED BECAUSE OF SOMEONE ELSE'S NON KNOWLEDGE BEFORE SELLING IT.
ISSUE STARTED WITH GEAR SHIFT NOT GOING INTO PARK AND THEN POWER STEERING STARTED HAVING ISSUES AND QUIT WORKING WHILE DRIVING WITH WHEEL SHAKING BACK AND FORTH. NEXT TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING AND NOW BARELY SHIFTS. WHEEL JERKS SO HARD WHEN I TURN NOW THAT IT KICKS MY HAND OFF WHEEL. COUGHLIN AUTOMOTIVE IN LONDON, OHIO TOLD US THAT RECALL HAD BEEN FIXED BUT REFUSES TO GIVE US PROOF. POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF TURNING.
RANDOMLY WITHOUT WARNING THE ESC LIGHT WILL COME ON AND THE CARS ELECTRIC STEERING GOES OUT AND MAKES IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. AS OF NOW YOU CAN SHUT THE CAR DOWN AND WAIT A FEW MINUTES AND START THE VEHICLE AND IT WILL WORK BUT THEN SHUT DOWN WITHIN 10 MILES. THIS MAKES THE CAR EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE.
TAKATA RECALL. ESC TRIGGERS WITH TURNS, POWER STEERING SHUTS DOWN MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO TURN. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS STEERING HAS FAILED CAUSING ME TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, LUCKILY ABLE TO AVOID ACCIDENTS. 09' MALIBU @ 148K
I RECENTLY BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR MY SON. THE SELLER TOLD ME THAT THE STEERING WAS NOT RIGHT . SO WHILE DRIVING IT HOME IT BECAME VERY HARD TO STEER. THE DASH FLASHED "POWER STEERING". SO I SEARCHED RECALLS AND FOUND THE ATTACHED PRINT OUT. BUT WHEN I SEARCH THOUGH YOUR WEBSITE IT SAYS NO OPEN RECALLS. SEEMS TO BE HARDER TO STEER WHILE TURNING AND AT ALL DIFFERENT SPEEDS.
WHEN DRIVING MY CAR, IT FELT AND SOUNDED LIKE THE SEAT POPPED OUT OF ITS TRACK. THE SEAT NOW LEANS IN TOWARDS THE CENTER OF THE VEHICLE. YOU CAN PULL AROUND ON IT AND FEEL IT MOVING. THE SEAT IS NOT TIGHTENED DOWN TO THE BODY OF THE CAR.
WARNING LIGHTS ON DASH CONTANTLY FLASH: ESC, BRAKE LIGHTS, TIRE SENSORS, TIRE TRACTION, ENGINE REDUCE SPEED. THE CAR TURNS OFF WHILE ACTIVELY DRIVING (IN MOTION) , SOMETIMES WILL START UP IN NEUTRAL OR PARK RIGHT AWAY AND SOMETIMES NOT. ON I-95 AND CITY STREET. DEALERSHIP STATED THE TIMING CHAIN NEED TO BE DONE SO IT GOT DONE AND CAR STILL DOING THE SAME THING. SENSORS ALSO HAS BEEN REPLACED.
POWER STEERING LIGHT IS ON. BEFORE THE LIGHT CAME ON THE WHEEL RANDOMLY BECAME HARD TO TURN AND A DANGER TO DRIVE
IT PULLS TO THE RIGHT. IT STARTED ALL OF A SUDDEN. IT IS A FIGHT TO KEEP IT ON ROAD. I HAVE A FLAT ON RIGHT SIDE ONCE A WEEK. IT WAS FINE UNTIL ABOUT 6MONS AGO AND I STARTED DOWN THE STREET HEARD A NOISE AND THAT'S WHEN IT STARTED.
REPLACED BATTERY, STARTER, AND ALTERNATOR DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY ESU WARNING AND TRACTION SERVICE LIGHT COME ON POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON. CAR LOSS POWER AND CUT OFF
DRIVING THE CAR DOWN THE ROAD AND THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY QUITS WORKING MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER THE CAR AND INCREASING THE CHANCE OF AN ACCIDENT. RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR SEVERAL MALIBU'S WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM BUT THIS CAR HAS BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO COURTESY CHEVROLET SAN DIEGO (750 CAMINO DEL RIO N, SAN DIEGO, CA 92108) WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT METAL FRAGMENTS WERE INSIDE THE THROTTLE BODY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, ON ANOTHER OCCASION WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER HAD WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,150.
STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP IN COLD WEATHER EVEN AFTER BEING WARMED UP FOR MORE THAN 5 MINUTES. HAPPENED TWICE, SECOND TIME I DID A NORMAL TURN TO THE RIGHT IT LOCKED UP AND HAD TO PULL OVER RIGHT AWAY. ALWAYS UNLOCKS WHEN RESTARTING THE CAR. RIGHT HEADLIGHT ALSO DOESN'T PROPERLY WORK. CHANGED THE LIGHT BULB TWO WEEKS AGO AND TURNED OFF JUST TODAY. CHECKED THE BULB AND STILL WORKS. I'VE RESEARCHED THE PROBLEMS ONLINE AND THERE'S BEEN RECALLS AND COMPLAINTS ABOUT BOTH OF MY PROBLEMS.
I PURCHASED THE CAR MARCH 14, 2019 FROM A FAMILY MEMBER. THE FRONT PASSENGER LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WAS NOT WORKING. THE PRIOR OWNER STATED THEY HAD TAKEN THE CAR IN TO HAVE THE LIGHT REPAIRED AT LEAST 6 TIMES IN SINCE 2009. APRIL 2, 2019 I TOOK THE CAR TO CLINT NEWELL CHEVROLET TO HAVE THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT FIXED. THE PROBLEM WAS THE WIRE THAT PLUGS INTO THE LIGHT WAS MELTED. THE REPAIR COST WAS $172.33. ON APRIL 4, 2019 THE REAR PASSENGER TURN SIGNAL QUIT WORKING. I REPLACED THE BULB. APRIL 9, 2019 THE PASSENGER TAIL LIGHT QUIT WORKING. APRIL 11, 2019 I REPLACED THE BULB. AS SOON AS THAT WAS DONE THE FRONT PASSENGER LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT QUIT WORKING AGAIN. I CHECKED THE LOW BEAM FUSE AND IT WAS FINE. I CANNOT AFFORD 172.00 AGAIN 9 DAYS LATER FOR THIS REPAIR. I HAVE ALSO FOUND ONLINE IN CHEVY FORUMS, THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM FOR MANY PEOPLE THAT OWN CHEVROLET MALIBUS.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026