Worst 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Steering Defects
Electrical Faults
Electronic Stability Control
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering Defects | 763 | 13 | 1 | 124,885 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 359 | 5 | 4 | 92,471 mi | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 255 | 5 | 1 | 119,963 mi | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 154 | — | 1 | 97,528 mi | |
| Brakes | 142 | 3 | — | 101,038 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 103 | — | — | 95,543 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 71 | — | — | 90,308 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 61 | 1 | 1 | 106,168 mi | |
| Airbags | 60 | 22 | — | 76,540 mi | |
| Latches / Locks | 54 | — | 1 | 72,423 mi | |
| Fuel System | 29 | — | — | 97,556 mi | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 29 | 1 | 1 | 83,483 mi | |
| Body Structure | 22 | 5 | — | 80,389 mi | |
| Traction Control System | 22 | — | — | 86,048 mi | |
| Wheel Issues | 19 | 1 | — | 84,119 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 17 | 2 | 1 | 24,958 mi | |
| Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights | 13 | — | — | 93,694 mi | |
| Wipers & Visibility | 12 | — | — | 94,990 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 9 | 2 | — | 93,891 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 7 | — | — | 48,900 mi | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 7 | 2 | — | 63,750 mi | |
| Structure:Body:Door | 7 | — | — | 60,520 mi | |
| Visibility | 6 | — | — | 23,512 mi | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 5 | — | — | 82,667 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 5 | — | — | 34,833 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 5 | — | — | 29,167 mi | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 3 | — | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~4,239,941 vehicles.
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.
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.
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
2009 Chevrolet Malibu — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
What are common problems with the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu?
How safe is the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu?
Does the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Chevrolet Malibu reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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