There are 20 owner-reported body & structure complaints for the 2009 Chevrolet Malibuin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
MY TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON AND STOPS MY WHOLE CAR AND DRIVE EXTREMELY SLOW AND MY WHOLE JUST MESSED UP AND I NEED IT FIXED ASAP I CAN'T EVEN GET TO WORK WITHOUT MY CAR MESSING UP
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FAIL TO OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE OF THE DOOR HANDLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
I AM HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH THE LATCHES ON MY DOORS. IT STARTED WITH MY PASSENGER FRONT DOOR. I WOULD CLOSE THE DOOR AND IT WOULD POP OPEN A LITTLE AND WOULDN'T CLOSE. AFTER A FEW TRIES IT CLOSED BUT THIS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY HAPPEN FROM TIME TO TIME. EVENTUALLY IT CLOSED PERMANENTLY AND NOW WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL. IT IS A SAFETY HAZZARD THAT THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED. THIS IS NOW BEGINNING TO HAPPEN WITH THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT DOOR, WHERE WHEN I CLOSE IT AND IT WON'T STAY CLOSED, I HAVE TO HOLD IT WHILE DRIVING ON OCCASION. THEN IT WILL SHUT AND WORK AND THEN IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO HAVE TO DRIVE AND HOLD THE DOOR CLOSED AND I CANNOT IMAGINE HAVING TWO FRONT DOORS THAT WON'T OPEN. THIS REALLY HAS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY.
3 OF THE 4 DOOR ACTUATORS ARE FAILING. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AS I DRIVE WITH A 2-YEAR OLD AND CANNOT OPEN THE REAR DOORS IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY WITHOUT EXTREME HARDSHIP IN REACHING THE MANUAL REAR DOOR PEGS NEAR BACK OF EACH DOOR. THIS IS A HUGE COMPLAINT ON THE INTERNET AND ALL ARE REFERENCING THE SAFETY ASPECTS OF IT WHICH THE NTSB IS DOING NOTHING AND GM IS OFFERING TO REPLACE AT FULL COST SAYING UNTIL THE NTSB PUSHES A RECALL THAT THIS WILL REST ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE CONSUMER. HTTP://WWW.CHEVYMALIBUFORUM.COM/FORUMS/6-PROBLEMS-SERVICE-ISSUES-TROUBLESHOOTING-GENERATION-7/7950-DOOR-LOCK-ACTUATOR-RECALL.HTML HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/CHEVROLET/MALIBU/2009/ACCESSORIES-INTERIOR/POWER_DOOR_LOCKS_MALFUNCTIONING.SHTML HTTP://WWW.GMINSIDENEWS.COM/FORUMS/F31/2008-MALIBU-DOOR-LOCK-ACTUATORS-107426/ HTTP://WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/CHEVROLET/MALIBU/POWER-DOOR-LOCKS-NOT-WORKING-PROBLEMS.PHP
REAR DOOR POWER LOCKING MECHANISM FAILS TO ACTUATE. FAILS TO LOCK PASSENGER DOOR WHEN DRIVING, FAILS TO UNLOCK IN THE EVENT OF NEED TO QUICKLY EXIT. LOCKS ARE DIFFICULT TO ACCESS MANUALLY.
I WAS REENDED SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT. ABOUT THE SAME TIME THAT HAPPENED, MY DOOR LOCKS STARTED ACTING UP. I'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO LOCK THE DOORS ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR, BEFORE GETTING OUT. I'VE ALWAYS HAD TO USE MY KEY FOB. I HAVE GOOGLED THE ISSUE, AND ACCORDING TO WHAT I HAVE FOUND, FOR ALL 4 DOORS IT WILL COST AROUND 1600 DOLLARS TO FIX. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL, SIMPLY BECAUSE I'VE HAD TO HAVE PEOPLE CRAWL OVER SEATS JUST TO GET OUT BECAUSE THE DOORS WOULDN'T UNLOCK. IF IT SITS OUT IN THE SUN, THEY WILL EITHER LOCK AND WONT UNLOCK, OR THEY WONT LOCK AT ALL. IS THIS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE? SOMEONE BEING LOCKED IN THEIR CAR????
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOORS FAILED TO OPEN. THE CONTACT HAD TO ENTER AND EXIT THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,622. MA 08/06/15 UPDATED 8/14/15 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS JAMMED. THE DOOR WAS ABLE TO FUNCTION AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.
DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. TRIED EVERY MEANS TO OPEN DOOR. PASSENGER HAD TO CLIMB OVER CENTER CONSOLE AND IN DOING SO INJURED KNEE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER WAS LEAKING INTO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
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
I'VE HAD THIS TERRIBLE SMELL IN THE CAR SO I WENT EXPLORING TO SEE WHAT IT COULD BE. I OPENED THE TRUNKS AND NOTICED SOME MOLD SO I LIFTED THE LINER AND MY WHEEL WELL WAS FILLED UP WITH WATER. AFTER SOME MORE EXPLORATION, I FOUND THE FLOORBOARD IN THE BACK SEAT TO BE SOPPING WET. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED. THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL THE DOOR HANDLE SEVERAL TIMES IN BEFORE IT WOULD OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR ON BOTH REAR DOORS FAIL TO UNLOCK THE DOOR. APPARENTLY THIS IS VERY COMMON IN 2008 AND 2009 MALIBU'S. CONSIDERING THAT MY CHILDREN (AS I AM SURE MANY OTHERS), IT IS UNSAFE TO HAVE VEHICLES DOORS UNLOCK FROM THE OUTSIDE. FURTHER, GIVEN THE PLACEMENT OF THE PHYSICAL NOBS (IN THE FAR REAR) IT IS IMPRACTICAL TO ALLOW SOMEONE IN THE FRONT SEAT UNLOCK THE REAR DOORS QUICKLY. *TR
WE'VE HAD PROBLEMS WHERE THE DOORS AT TIMES WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL. NOT ONLY WOULD WE TRY TO UNLOCK WITH THE PUSH BUTTON, BUT WE WOULD TRY WITH THE KEY. THIS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS & WE HAVEN'T HAD THE CAR FOR A FULL YEAR YET. WE WOULD HAVE TO CLIMB THROUGH THE BACK TO GET OUT. WE HAD INSTANCES WITH BOTH OF THE FRONT DOORS. IT'S A CONCERN BECAUSE ANYTHING COULD BE GOING ON (CAR ON FIRE, LEAKING GAS, ETC) & IF WE NEED TO GET OUT THE CAR QUICKLY & THE DOORS WILL NOT OPEN EVERY TIME, THEN WE'RE IN TROUBLE. *TR
CONDENSED WATER FROM MY CARS AIR CONDITION IS DRAINING INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND ACCUMULATES BEHIND THE RIGHT PASSENGERS SEAT ON THE FLOORBOARD. I HAVE NOTICE IT WHEN THE WATER WAS ABOUT 1 INCHES HIGH. AFTER CLEANING THE DRAIN PIPE, WHICH IS VERY HARD TO GET TO AND $150.00 LATER, THE PROBLEM IS SOLVED FOR A DAY. I FEEL THAT THE SYSTEM IS NOT ENGINEERED CORRECTLY AND IS ALLOWING MOLD, MILDEW, AND ALGAE TO GROW IN MY CAR. DRIVER AND PASSENGER ARE BREATHING CONTAMINATED AIR IN A CLOSED IN ENVIRONMENT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILED AND COULD NOT BE OPENED AUTOMATICALLY OR MANUALLY. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER LUBRICATED THE DOOR, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,858.
VEHICLE REMOTE FAILURE AFTER USE. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THE REMOTE FAILS BECAUSE THE SOLDER CONNECTION DETERIORATES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE SUN WOULD SHINE ON THE CHROME INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WOULD BECOME BLINDED BY THE REFLECTION AND GLARE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THERE WERE NO REPAIRS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN MADE TO STOP THE GLARE OF THE CHROME. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO MODIFY THE ACTUAL DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50. UPDATED 02/03/12 UPDATED 02/22/12*LJ UPDATED 03/01/12
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026