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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
5 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
68,621 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 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2009 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 10 of 18)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #168

May 132016

Malibu

  • 138,000 miles

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

Theft system light is on and I'm not able to start my car. The radio still works and all the lights and heater and A/C. I try to start the car a few times and sometimes it take several trys to get the car to start. This has been happening quite a bit

- Delta, MO, USA

problem #167

May 192016

Malibu

  • 50,000 miles
2009 Chevy Malibu - we've been having issue with the power window controllers/buttons to operate for several years but haven't had a change to get them checked. We have been avoiding to open and close the windows because there were times that they will open and close back up but yesterday, I open the window from the driver side and tried multiple times to close it and don't have any sucess.

- Conroe, TX, USA

problem #166

Feb 022016

Malibu

  • 92,000 miles
A little over a year ago we noticed the drivers side power seat seemed to be moving at times. It has since broken loose from part of the frame. As long as the seat is in the down position it sits kinda steady. Any attempt to move it up or down causes it to become dislodged. It happens regardless of the motion of the car. About the same time frame, the rear door locks started acting up. Depends on their attitude of the day, they either will not lock or unlock by remote or switch. Only way to access the rear seat area is to roll the window down and reach in from outside to unlock since the lock button is not located in a handy spot. Could see a large problem in an accident with children in the backseat needing to exit quickly. Have not reported to dealer as the blogs have numerous complaints and stories that are being ignored by the manufacturer. Seat malfunction is a huge safety concern if any other bracing fails and car is in motion

- Greenwood, LA, USA

problem #165

Apr 252016

Malibu

  • 180,830 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 that there was a progressing failure in which the key was turned over and the vehicle would not start. The contact experienced the failure numerous times without warning and had to wait an extended period of time for the vehicle to randomly restart. The contact had not received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control). The vehicle was taken to a repair shop where it was diagnosed that the starter needed to be replaced. A mechanic replaced the starter and the key still would not turn over to start the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 180,830. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Memphis, TN, USA

problem #164

Mar 012016

Malibu

  • miles
Consistent problems with headlamps failing frequently. Alternator fine. Cause is due to corrosion of the wiring and wiring harness. Manufacturer defect prevents replacement of headlamps, wires or wiring harnesses without removing front bumper, wheel and wheel well, making maintenance virtually impossible. Headlamps failed in October 2014 and again in March of this year. General Motors unwilling to help with problem. When operating the vehicles in low light conditions or at night, insufficient lighting makes it difficult to spot other vehicles, pedestrians, animals and other road hazards.

- Albany, NY, USA

problem #163

Jan 182016

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 69,154 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving at various speeds, the ESC light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the ESC failed and the module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the ESC light illuminated on the instrument panel due to the injecting harness failure, and would need to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 69,154. Updated 06/29/16

- Owensboro, KY, USA

problem #162

Nov 102015

Malibu

  • 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 that the vehicle was taken to a dealer for a manufacturer recall concerning NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control). The contact was not experiencing any failures before the recall repair was performed by the dealer. The contact stated that the ESC and traction control warning lights randomly illuminated. The dealer and the manufacturer indicated that the brake light sensor switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and an independent mechanic for inspection. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.

- Smyrna, GA, USA

problem #161

Mar 262016

Malibu

  • 171,000 miles
The contact owned a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at 65 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to turn and the vehicle also started decelerating while the accelerator pedal was being depressed. As a result, the contact was involved in a crash but the details were not available. The contact was able to get the vehicle pulled to the side of the road and shut it down. The vehicle became difficult to restart. The vehicle was driven a little further and the failure recurred. The vehicle was shut off and would not restart. The vehicle was towed. The vehicle was side swiped by another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. There was no police report filed. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was not destroyed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 171,000.

- Riverdale, GA, USA

problem #160

Feb 172016

Malibu

  • 98,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving at any speed, the brake light remained illuminated, the traction control light illuminated, and the cruise control failed to function. In addition, the interior lighting would go from bright to dim and the daytime running lamps also failed to illuminate. The failure recurred everyday. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 98,000.

- Sturgeon Bay, WI, USA

problem #159

Oct 012015

Malibu

  • 167,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. While attempting to restart the engine, the security sensor light illuminated and the engine would not restart. The light dimmed after 5-10 minutes and the vehicle could not be restarted. The contact indicated that the failure was intermittent. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 167,000.

- Lawrenceburg, TN, USA

problem #158

Feb 162016

Malibu

  • 106,533 miles

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

My power locks want to unlock & lock while I am operating the vehicle. I am concerned because because with grandchildren if the doors malfunction as they have been they can open the doors while I am driving. This is a problem with these particular years. On carcomplaints.com 29 complaints not a lot however it is a safety hazard that needs fixing.

- Hartselle, AL, USA

problem #157

Jan 302016

Malibu

  • 120,000 miles
My electric steering pump suddenly stop working yesterday while driving on street. Two warning messages appeared on eic. " check steering" "ESC off check". I have read on many forums, by Chevy Malibu owners, have complain having same issue. I' M concern for my family safety if this steering pump fails again at greater speed.

- Converse, TX, USA

problem #156

Dec 262015

Malibu

  • miles
Engine power reduced and car cranks but wont start. It also slowed down when that engine power reduced came on almost had an accident and my family was in the car.

- Pflugerville, TX, USA

problem #155

Dec 212015

Malibu

  • 155,000 miles
There is something faulty in the system which is causing the battery to become completely drained if the car sits 2/3 days without being started. I have replaced my 3 times and still something in the car is continuing to drain the battery. There is hundreds of people all over the internet that are having this same issue. Not even the dealership could fix the issue. I am not physically leaving anything on in the car but it continues to keep dying. This is definitely a defect with this car that needs to be fixed. My car is a 2009, and it has been dying 2011.

- El Paso, TX, USA

problem #154

Dec 102015

Malibu

  • 120,000 miles
Door locks randomly engage and disengage while driving they may unlock may not unlock when car is not in motion then randomly they lock and unlock while the car is in motion constantly at slow speed less often during highway driving they engage and disengage constantly multiple complaints on the internet involving the same issue on the same vehicle

- South Wilmington, IL, USA

problem #153

Dec 042015

Malibu

  • 108,000 miles
High mounted brake light randomly works, similar to previous recall. Chevy dealer tries to tell me light is "fried" when it actually works, intermittently. GM has yet to contact me on whether they will cover the cost

- Saline, MI, USA

problem #152

Dec 072015

Malibu

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that when the ignition key was turned to the start position, the vehicle failed to start without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.

- Americus, GA, USA

problem #151

Nov 182015

Malibu

  • 56,000 miles
Rt front headlight became inoperative took vehicle to Chevrolet dealership for repair mechanic found headlight connector burned and melted--light bulb connector burned possibility of electrical fire

- Maywood, IL, USA

problem #150

Nov 012015

Malibu

  • 47,000 miles
The brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features. This occurs after we have had the work done that was for GM recall number 13036/NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000 multiple times.

- Wauconda, IL, USA

problem #149

Oct 192015

Malibu

  • 86,000 miles
While driving the car at 55 mph it started jumping/skipping while I was driving on a 3 lane highway and then it just died. I couldn't get it in reverse and it wouldn't shift at all. The electrical information on the dash went out as well. I had to arrange a tow. I'm being told it needs a new transmission and there is electrical failure as well. The car has 86,000 miles on it and has been serviced routinely. How does a transmission go from working to dead in seconds?

- Crofton, MD, USA

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