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2.0

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
78,846 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 drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2009 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 1 of 6)

problem #103

Mar 282023

Malibu

  • miles

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

My vehicle can overheat at times and the thermostat won-??t work. That-??s during the summer and winter so the temperature could rise above normal and I wouldn-??t know because of the electric problems. It-??s happened too many times to count. The ESC sign comes on across the dash for me letting me know there are issues with power steering and traction. I can drive on my way to work and on the highway and it happens randomly. It-??s dangerous and scary I have to pull over on the side of the road to turn it off and on. Sometimes more than three to four times before it acts normal again. I tried to go to GM because my car has the symptoms of the cars being repaired in the recalls. But I-??m told there are none for my car but yet the car still locks on me. It jumps too as it-??s accelerating.

- Trenton, NJ, USA

problem #102

May 032023

Malibu

  • miles
The car suddenly turns off while driving shutting down the power steering making it difficult or impossible to maneuver. It is a death trap. This happened 3 times today May 5, 2023 Losing power while driving is a major safety issue that is putting innocent people's lives at risk.

- Rincon, GA, USA

problem #101

Apr 172023

Malibu

  • miles
Loss of power steered. Power steering esc code appears. Steering wheel locks when I first start vehicle.

- Blue Island , IL, USA

problem #100

Jun 142022

Malibu

  • 83,763 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 while driving 30 MPH while and approaching a traffic light, the vehicle started driving rough. The contact that several unknown warning lights illuminated and the vehicle lost motive power. The contact scheduled an appointment for the vehicle to be diagnosed. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 83,763.

- Saint Clair Shores, MI, USA

problem #99

Mar 162021

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 153,224 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving approximately 55-60 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently decelerated to 40 MPH and the warning messages; -€œService ESC-€ and -€œEngine Power Reduced-€ was displayed. The contact continued to drive the vehicle however, the vehicle failed to exceed 40 MPH. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the throttle body and the accelerator pedal needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic who replaced the computer software; however, the failure persisted. The independent mechanic advised the contact to purchase the throttle body from the dealer and have it replaced by an independent mechanic. The contact purchased the part from an unknown dealer and it was replaced by an independent mechanic; however, the failure persisted with the Traction Control warning light illuminated. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 153,224.

- Rocky Mount, NC, USA

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problem #98

Jan 202022

Malibu

  • miles
I couldbt turn tge car out of nowhere an nout ran off the road

- Miami, OK, USA

problem #97

Nov 162021

Malibu

  • miles

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

I purchased the car used and been driving one week. I was driving at approx 55-60 and attempted to accelerate going over hill. The car rpm went up to about 3000 and was reving high until I let of gas. I attempted again to push pedal which repeated same acceleration of rpm. I stopped and checked Trans fluid and oil both were fine. Pulled into drive and turned off ignition to check fluids again. Which were ok. Got back in car to move and had no reverse. Car would slowly go forward but Nothing else. In searching onstar ran codes and I found info about 3/5-r wave plate -€œservice bulletin-€. Had car towed to dealer who confirmed and said metal flakes in tranny and was due to -€œcommon issue of wave plate-€ Contacted gm several times and gm will not cover cost of tranny replacement because my car is inoperable. This is a -€œcommon problem-€ with 09 Malibu. Why isn-€™t it recalled tranny. Very sad I feel I-€™ll never buy a Chevy/gm product again

- Ionia, MI, USA

problem #96

Oct 012021

Malibu

  • miles
Transission was recalled by GMC, however my VIN# was not included. I was told to contact you to include the VIN# in the recall. I paid $3300 to repair the transmission only to be told after the fact I need to contact NHTSA to include.

- Cranston, RI, USA

problem #95

Feb 192021

Malibu

  • 149,000 miles
Power steering flashes on dash board and I lose complete control. I then have to use my strength to turn the wheel while the vehicle slows down. Sometimes this goes away and it drives fine. I've experienced it shutting down while going down the high way and this cannot be safe! after researching recalls, it appears I am experiencing the details of the recall for the torque sensor. The vehicle is below 150,000 miles. It also randomly will flash 'service air bag'.

- Jamestown, NY, USA

problem #94

Jan 022021

Malibu

  • 172,498 miles
It is January 4, 2021. My car has 172,000 miles on it and this winter I have been experiencing a problem with the power steering and traction control. I will be driving and next thing you know my traction control light comes on with the power steering warning. I have red Chevy Malibu forms and it seems like I'm not the first one to experience this problem. It sounds like this is something that should have been recalled but obviously it wasn't. the only way I'm able to clear it while driving is putting my car in park in the middle of the road with my hazard lights on turning my car off and back on then they go away. And then it doesn't appear for a couple days the next thing you know it pops back up multiple times. I just want to know if there can be a solution for me for the situation. It happens both while driving and even sitting at a light.

- Lansing, MI, USA

problem #93

Nov 012020

Malibu

  • 130,000 miles

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

I've been having an issue with my vehicle registering which gear it is in. The gears shift hard, and when placing the vehicle in reverse, the vehicle vigorously jerks back and forth. While driving the vehicle on the road, it slowed down to a complete stop in the middle of traffic. The vehicle would not accelerate, and when it finally did, it just takes off with no warning. When placing the vehicle on park, at times it would still roll.. there is also the power steering and traction control sensors that are both illuminated on the dashboard. The steering stiffening in the vehicle is an issue only sometimes. However, it still worries me while driving on the road with my toddler in the vehicle as well. I did research recalls associated with the make, model, and year of my vehicle and found that there is a recall in each area I'm having trouble in. However, when I spoke with a Chevrolet associate, I was told that there was nothing they could do for me. I won't drive the vehicle because I don't feel it's safe and I'm afraid of an accident taking place.

- Shelby Township, MI, USA

problem #92

Aug 142020

Malibu

  • 134,000 miles
I was driving down the road ( a country backroad and not a highway luckily), and suddenly my car lost all power to the powertrain. I was going about 45 when it happened, and I lost power steering, all power to the motor, and my brakes were incredibly hard to push. After this happened, the car has a no start no crank condition. If I were in the middle lane of a highway, or a the right lane of a busy highway or freeway, or even just going around a sharp curve, I have no doubt that I would have wrecked.

- Bainbridge, OH, USA

problem #91

Aug 112020

Malibu

  • 0 miles
I went to the store came back out an it wouldn't turn over I got a new battery an got the same result

- Myrtle Beach, SC, USA

problem #90

Apr 172019

Malibu

  • 168,150 miles
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.

- Lemon Grove, CA, USA

problem #89

Mar 052020

Malibu

  • 140,000 miles
Transmission won't go in reverse when stepping on the gas pedal. Also, power steering keeps going out when first starting car. Vehicle was in my driveway when this happened.

- Westernville, NY, USA

problem #88

Dec 092019

Malibu

  • 115,000 miles
Stopped behind another vehicle, when I started moving again there was a severe shudder or vibration. Then my car did not want to start moving again. Once it did start moving it would not shift out of first gear.

- Linden, AL, USA

problem #87

Nov 122019

Malibu

  • 17,000 miles
While vehicle is traveling along at interstate traffic speeds(60-65 mph) the car will go into an engine reduced power mode, and emergency traction displays on the dash. The vehicle will not increase in speed, (20 mph max) have to hurriedly find an exit to the right to avoid a crash. At the end of recall 14V252, it states service ESC and/or traction control tell-tales illuminate with this condition. The dealer has agreed to repair the brake light malfunction recall # 13036 but will not repair the engine stalling issues, or the problem previously stated.

- Suffolk, VA, USA

problem #86

Nov 062019

Malibu

  • 167,500 miles
On November 6, 2019 was driving my kids to school on a regular street, when suddenly without warning my power steering goes completely out. Ran up on a curb almost hitting a pole because I was unable to turn wheel. I took vehicle to get power steering fluid and was told it was electrical. Took to another place to have tested and a recall came up for vehicle. Took to dealership and was told it was not a recall but it is listed as one. Refuse to help fix the problem due to over mileage and me not being the original owner. Refusal for rental or even a loaner.

- Ravenna, OH, USA

problem #85

Aug 152018

Malibu

  • 115,000 miles
I have not had my 2009 Malibu for almost a year now. I took it to the dealership to get looked at and they want to charge me 140 dollars for looking at it, just to tell me the transmission is messed up. I knew this. It started when I was driving to work and a light came on and it was really hard to turn the steering wheel. I had to slow way down because I could barely turn the wheel. This was a huge safety issue. I was terrified for my life with my three year old son in the back seat. I pulled off to the side and shut the car off, then started it up again. The steering wheel was fine. Then again I got into my car the next day and it did it again! but only this time, it didn't stop. No matter what. Then my car stopped shifting. I capped they Chevy dealership and they set me up an appointment to bring my car in. I explained it was unsafe to drive it so they scheduled a tow for me. That following week, (carless) I was waiting for the tow to show up and no one came. I called the dealship and she said that something happened and I had to drive my vehicle in, I explained, again, that it was unsafe to drive. She told me that I couldn't get my vehicle looked at then if it wasn't there. I drove 20 miles going ten miles an hour with my hazards on to get it there, just to leave it there for three days then be told that my transmission is messed up and they needed four thousand dollars to fix it. Needeless to say, my car has been sitting there for almost a year now. Nothing being done to it. If my transmission is messed up... which it is.... it's because of them!! I checked my recalls and I have recalls for all of these things on a website. But not yours? I don't understand. Please help.

- Hamilton, IN, USA

problem #84

Jun 072019

Malibu

  • 70,000 miles
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!

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

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