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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 9 of 18)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #188

Jan 292017

Malibu

  • 112,000 miles

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

Vehicle has electronic stability control lights and the traction control service lights lit on dash. Also rear brake lights will come on and or off intermittently. Car has been repaired with a new brake light switch and a engine harness in the past year at the dealer. Car is well taken care of and should be on the recall list but for some reason it is not.

- Waterford, MI, USA

problem #187

Jan 252017

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 92,000 miles
I went to the pharmacy to pick up my prescriptions having no issues with my 2009 Chevy Malibu. When I started to leave the pharmacy, the steering locked for know known reason making the car unable to be driven.

- Cortland, OH, USA

problem #186

Jan 142017

Malibu

  • 50,000 miles
My 2009 Malibu, which I purchased new in 2009: About 1&1/2 years ago it started running irregular, service ESC-service traction messages came on car skidding emblem came on. I have had it to dealership where I bought it 3 times-each time they could find nothing wrong-took it to independent mechanic-he told me same thing. About a week ago I called General Motors-first person I talked to said to call NHTSA that they couldn't do anything until a recall. Called NHTSA told me to call GM again and start a case: I called and talked to [xxx], who was very helpful and contacted another dealership about fixing my car. I took it to them; they replaced the brake lam switch thinking that would fix it-did not. Called GM again and wads told to take it back to dealership that there was nothing they could do as far as cost for fixing it was concerned. My car is just sitting idle because I am afraid to drive it more than a few miles-afraid it will stall out in traffic. I have looked this up on the internet hoping to get some information as to what is wrong. There are numerous people who are having this same problem with their Malibu. None of the dealerships seem to know what is wrong and owners are stuck with paying to have numerous things replaced that do not fix the problem. It is timer someone took responsibility for this flaw and issue a recall. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Oktaha, OK, USA

problem #185

Jan 022017

Malibu

  • 104,123 miles

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

My electronic power steering failed to operate while driving suddenly and without warning. Along with this happening, an ESC inoperative light is illuminated along with a service power steering message on the instrument display. Vehicle steering very hard to operate. Have to turn car off and on multiple times to clear message and for some reason the power steering resumes to work. This now is a constant occurrence, to the point that I am unable to rely on this vehicle for safe travels.

- Monroe, NY, USA

problem #184

Dec 072016

Malibu

  • miles
Brake lights, radio, trunk opener on drivers door, left turn signal, doors randomly lock, 3rd brake light dim, sometimes driver door won't open from inside or outside with door unlocked, sometimes drivers door won't shut, 105K miles on this car. This is the most expensive vehicle I've owned and it's the worst vehicle I've ever owned. The drivers door is stuck shut currently.

- Friedens, PA, USA

problem #183

Nov 292016

Malibu

  • miles
My rear passenger door lock disengaged from the automatic locks and can only be opened from the inside. (spring 2016) my traction control is periodically saying that it has malfunctioned but does not always. When the light comes on, I feel a pulse as I'm braking and sometimes if it comes on while I'm driving I'll feel a slight jolt through the accelerator pedal. I also hear a click noise like the pedal may disengage. (late summer 2016) I don't know if it's related but since most things seem electrical, my radio sometimes will not turn off and seems to do what it wants during times when other things are seemingly malfunctioning (I.e. in conjunction with the traction control issue). On several occasions, I have taken the key out of the ignition, opened the door but my radio doesn't turn off. (late summer 2016) on several occasions, I have taken the key out of the ignition, but the car seems to still be running, like idling. I've thought it was the cooling system, but I've never had this happen in the last 22 years I've been driving nor heard it from anyone else I ask. (late summer 2016) I have also been driving, on several occasions, with cruise control engaged and then realize that I'm slowing down only to find the cruise is no longer engaged. The first few times I thought it was me. Now, I rarely use it because it's not consistently reliable. (late summer 2016) while my fuse and bulbs are fine, both of my taillights are not working. (late November, 2016 when someone brought it to my attention).

- Douglasville, GA, USA

problem #182

Oct 182016

Malibu

  • 75,332 miles

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

Vehicle shut off while I was driving on city street to pick up my daughter from school, and has not started since. No traction, service ESC and power loss messages appeared on the dash display. The dealer was unable to communicate with the onboard computers.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #181

May 012010

Malibu

  • 16,000 miles
Third brake light works when it wants to.this is a on and off problem. I believe this to be a safety problem G.M. should address this problem or a least tell owners how to fix.

- Versailles, KY, USA

problem #180

Mar 012016

Malibu

  • 135,000 miles
2009 Chevrolet Malibu ls 2.4L gas all door locks intermittently locking or unlocking by using either the key fob or the door panel buttons. The failure to lock and unlock occurs almost always when it's hot outside and the car sits in the sun, then the doors need to be locked and unlocked manually.locks are controlled by the (BCM) body control module which already has a recall #13036 for a faulty connector that causes brake lamp malfunctions. Extreme safty issue that needs to be addressed asap!!!

- Temecula, CA, USA

problem #179

Aug 222016

Malibu

  • 47,800 miles
Not sure why my car wasn't on the GM safety recall 13036. The problems that are listed on this recall are the same problems I am having now. Brake lights staying on while driving, cruise control not working, traction control and ESC service lights coming on, brake pedal not working properly, etc. I am afraid someone will end up hitting me. I don't have the $ to fix it. And in this recall, which I'm not on, GM would service/perform at no charge. My car is in the guidelines (yr: 2004-2012 chev Malibu) of this safety issue.

- Oshkosh, WI, USA

problem #178

Sep 012016

Malibu

  • 80,000 miles

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

All 4 door locking latches are not functioning correctly, right front door was locked in the lock position and would not open from inside or the outside, even after manually unlocking the lock or pulling the lock lever in the unlock position. I feel this is a safety issue and there should be a safety recall investigation performed on this mater. There is a possibility that the doors will not unlock manually or automatically in the event of a vehicle emergency leaving the drivers and passengers trapped inside the vehicle. The vehicle was in part at the time of the occurrence.

- Tomball, TX, USA

problem #177

Jun 012016

Malibu

  • 27,000 miles
The rear door electric door locks don't function all the time to lock or unlock the doors. Operation is intermittent. I'm very concerned when children are in the car. The problem has existed for several months.

- Ellicott City, MD, USA

problem #176

May 102015

Malibu

  • miles
Door locks and windows stopped working in suspect due to some electrical problems. And when I'm on the gas it won't pick up any speed and I think that's due to the cam shaft. And I know im not the only one having the same problems with the same car. It's really becoming a problem

- Dekalb, MS, USA

problem #175

Jul 092016

Malibu 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 179,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. While operating the vehicle, the traction control, brake, and ESC sensor lights illuminated. Also, the brake lights would illuminate even though the brake pedal was not depressed. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000 (electrical system, service brakes). The contact stated that the vehicle experienced the same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 179,000. Updated 10/04/16

- East Alton, IL, USA

problem #174

Jul 012014

Malibu

  • miles
The break lights turn on without the pedal being press down while the car moving. Also while the car in not moving and the engine running. Also another problem that I have is that tire monitor light come on all the time without the tire needing air.

- Bakersfield, CA, USA

problem #173

Jul 132016

Malibu

  • 86,700 miles
The brake lights would turn on while driving and the RPM tach would rev uncontrollably. When the brake is applied, the light turns off and the ESC warning appears on the dash. Fixed in 2014 as part of the exterior lighting recall (14V252000). As of the last two months, the problem started up again. First, I went and diagnosed it at a repair shop and it told me the brake position sensor needed to be calibrated. After that was fixed, the problems occurred again and replaced the sensor. After the second time, the problem was still not fixed. After going to another dealership and getting the concern fixed, it is still not fixed.

- Whitney Point, NY, USA

problem #172

Jun 152016

Malibu

  • 135,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 45 mph, the contact was alerted by another motorist that the brake light was constantly illuminated, as if she were applying the brakes. The brake light dimmed when the brake pedal was depressed. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired per a manufacturer recall in April of 2015 for the same failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.

- Lake Villa, IL, USA

problem #171

Jul 062016

Malibu

  • 25,000 miles
Door lock actuators on this vehicle have failed within 30,000 miles of manufacture. This is a widespread problem with door lock actuators on 2008-2009 models documented all over the internet. I am unable to lock or unlock my doors electronically due to this chronically faulty part. It is unsafe for me to drive the car with my kids in the backseat because I would be unable to get them out of the locked car in an emergency (I currently have to roll down the window and manually unlock the door because the lock button is at the rear of the door). From what I can tell, GM has replaced this part with newer versions that resolved the issues, but they never contacted the public to offer to replace the faulty part. Many GM customers are having to spend over $1,000 in parts and labor to fix this safety issue. While GM will argue that power locks are a convenience issue and not a safety issue, I would invite NHTSA to look at my car and see how it is physically impossible to unlock the back doors from the front seat and the process involved in rolling down the window to unlock and open the door. In an emergency, seconds count and I would not be able to get my kids out. They need to recall these actuators and replace them with the redesigned part number.

- Springfield, MO, USA

problem #170

Mar 152016

Malibu

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving 60 mph, the vehicle jerked when the brake pedal was depressed and stalled as the traction control, electronic stability control, and check engine warning lights illuminated. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the fuse box was missing some fuses and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The contact stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, service brakes). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 60,000.

- Waukegan, IL, USA

problem #169

Feb 022016

Malibu

  • 95,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. While the vehicle was stopped at a red light, the check engine, traction control off, and stability control off warning lights illuminated. While the vehicle was parked on a hill, it independently rolled backwards without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control). The contact stated that the passenger side headlight failed to operate intermittently. The contact mentioned that the bulb was replaced multiple times, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the wiring harness was burned and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 09V073000 (power train) and 12V460000 (power train). The failure mileage was 95,000.

- Shreveport, LA, USA

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