2009 Chevrolet Malibu Problems

High Complaint Volume

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu.

20082010
Complaints
2,354
Crashes
64
Fires
13
Injuries
64
Fatalities
5
Recalls
7

Worst 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1763 complaints

STEERING

Avg mileage:124,885 mi
Crash-related:13
Fires:1
#2359 complaints

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Avg mileage:92,471 mi
Crash-related:5
Fires:4
#3255 complaints

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

Avg mileage:119,963 mi
Crash-related:5
Fires:1
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu.

ComponentComplaintsCrashesFiresAvg MileageVolume
STEERING763131124,885 mi
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3595492,471 mi
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)25551119,963 mi
EXTERIOR LIGHTING154197,528 mi
SERVICE BRAKES1423101,038 mi
POWER TRAIN10395,543 mi
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL7190,308 mi
ENGINE6111106,168 mi
AIR BAGS602276,540 mi
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES54172,423 mi
UNKNOWN OR OTHER531190,222 mi
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM2997,556 mi
SEATS291183,483 mi
STRUCTURE:BODY22580,389 mi
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM2286,048 mi
WHEELS19184,119 mi
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION172124,958 mi
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS1393,694 mi
VISIBILITY/WIPER1294,990 mi
SUSPENSION9293,891 mi
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING748,900 mi
SEAT BELTS7263,750 mi
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR760,520 mi
VISIBILITY623,512 mi
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE582,667 mi
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC534,833 mi
TIRES529,167 mi
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS499,898 mi
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH486,000 mi
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH369,247 mi

Recalls for 2009 Chevrolet Malibu

7 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~14,002,037 vehicles.

14V252000ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
~2,440,524 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: 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; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.

14V252000VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
~2,440,524 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: 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; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.

14V252000EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
~2,440,524 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: 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; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.

14V252000EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
~2,440,524 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: 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; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.

14V252000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
~2,440,524 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: 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; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.

14V153000STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
~1,373,177 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2006 Malibu Maxx, 2009-2010 HHR (non-turbo), 2010 Cobalt, 2008-2009 Saturn Aura and 2004-2007 Ion, and 2005-2009 Pontiac G6. In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving.

12V460000POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
~426,240 affected

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Saturn Aura and model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Malibu and Pontiac G6 vehicles, equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission. On these vehicles, the tabs on the transmission shift cable end may fracture and separate.

Other Chevrolet Malibu Years

Wider context: See the full Chevrolet Malibu reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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