10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
5 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
104,900 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #214

Dec 132019

Malibu

  • 113,500 miles
While driving, I noticed the steering wheel would pulse, especially when turning the wheel left. After about 3 or 4 days, I left work(12/17/19), and "power steering service ESC" showed on the dash display. Since that time, the power steering has been intermittent. Most times it goes out while I'm driving.

- Reynoldsburg, OH, USA

problem #213

Dec 162019

Malibu

  • 157,000 miles
Today I lost power steering again (also happened 2 times about a month ago). I was driving in downtown madison wi today when it happened, very unsafe situation. GM's website says there was a recall for some 2009 Malibu in 2014, but when I just called GM now they say my vehicle wasn't included in the recall. But obviously, there is an issue with my vehicle. Based on all the other complaints on the website, GM should be forced to recall these vehicles again! this time, all of them.

- Fond Du Lac, WI, USA

problem #212

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 #211

Dec 052019

Malibu

  • 127,000 miles
I had a power steering light come one, and my ESC light come on. These lights came on with no warning and disable those features while I was driving down the highway, going 57 mph, after a major ice and snow storm. I am unable to control my vehicle while it is on the road.

- Negaunee, MI, USA

problem #210

Nov 272019

Malibu

  • 203,000 miles
While driving down the road multiple warning lights popped up on the dash 'power steering' 'service ESC off' 'brake light' 'service air bag' and the steering wheel becomes very hard to turn. Trying to get the car pulled over to the nearest parking lot to my left I was almost T-boned by another vehicle because the turning process was so hard. After pulling into the parking lot and turning the vehicle off then back on it goes away then all the warning lights pop on again. This time after a few seconds everything on the dashboard goes blank including the radio and then the car dies out draining the cars battery completely.

- Saint Louis, MO, USA

problem #209

Nov 242019

Malibu

  • 19,235 miles
Lost power while driving on main road at 55 speed zone and car would only do 15 mph finally got to a store and got it stopped and steering was shaking and car shakes when I hit brakes

- Newberry, SC, USA

problem #208

Nov 202019

Malibu

  • 138,000 miles
The power steering goes out and the traction control light comes on and service ESC message comes across the message center. I cannot turn the wheel when this happens. I turn the car off and back on and the light goes out, power steering comes back for a second then the light trips again and it's out again as soon as I turn the wheel. This occurs while driving the vehicle at a slow pace.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #207

Nov 152019

Malibu

  • 98,000 miles
Tcs, ABS, ESC, etc intermittently stop working. Electronic power steering occasionally stops working, usually when turning at low speeds. Brake lights sometimes do not illuminate when pedal is pressed. I also replaced the wiring harness to the passenger head light that had shorted out and melted. There is a slew of electrical issues, and they usually get worse as the weather gets wetter and colder.

- Niagara Falls, NY, USA

problem #206

Nov 092019

Malibu

  • miles
Gauges go crazy on dashboard

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #205

Oct 152019

Malibu

  • 108,000 miles
After pulling away from espresso stand the power steering on 2009 Chevy Malibu completely failed w/out warning. This occurred as I was just going into a right hand turn in a parking lot at approximately 5 to 10mph. I nearly hit the drivers door of a vehicle in the intersection as they were taking a left turn into the parking lot. The steering was extremely difficult and required both hands. I came to a stop as I completed the turn, just before the parking lot exited to a side road. The truck behind me was honking and my vehicle was barely positioned safely on 'my' side of the driveway. I had no choice but to turn right onto the roadway and pull as far off to the shoulder as I could. The shoulder; is about two car lengths long before it turns into a sidewalk. It should have been an easy task however, due to the steering I could barely get off the roadway- my front tires all but resting on the start of the sidewalk. The message center on my dash read "power steering" followed by "service ESC" and the ESC/ traction control indicator light on the dash was lit up. I called for help & they arrived within minutes. We are unable to access the power steering unit as is located underneath the alternator, and requires removal of the alternator. About 30 min after incident I moved car back several feet - steering was still hard. I turned it off. A few minutes later I turned back on. Still getting message, but decided to drive the 5 mi back since only 2 turns were necessary. One person helping was in front and one person following. It was uneventful however warning indicators were still on & steering extremely difficult. 3hrs later I turn car on to get mileage and noticed that indicators are off. Tested the steering- it has resumed to normal. Vehicle is driven approximately 8mi hm. Message displayed twice during this drive. Vehicle had pre-trip inspection 1wk prior. 108K mile

- Tulalip, WA, USA

problem #204

Feb 232019

Malibu

  • 180,000 miles
Brake lights on with out pressing brake. When pressing brake the lights shut off. Cruise control will not work, traction control light, and ESC light stays on. Brake lights stays on while stationary and in motion.some times everything works just fine and out of no where these problems start to happen. I bought the car in February of 2019 from a private party. And have been having problems ever since

- Paulding, OH, USA

problem #203

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 #202

Sep 232019

Malibu

  • 0 miles
The vehicle was taken in for multiple "recall fixes", for electrical and lighting issues. The registry shows that all recalls were fixed (purely cosmetic work) with regards to the vehicles lights being replaced (received fix it tickets by the authorities). But my car didn't burn out lights, she melted them, while I was deployed, her electrical system fried the security system and the car's computer (brain). Repairs were made in 2014 when I returned from overseas, and she was fine for a couple of months. Then started malfunctioning again in 2015 and 2016. I was charged for repairs and replacements from Chevy dealerships and they fixed the minor issues. Now in 2019 the electrical system is shorting out again stating that the engine is working at decreased power and my car is draining her own battery and locking up. I bought her used back in 2009, and every couple of months or years there is an electronics malfunction and I've had such horrible luck finding a trustworthy dealership to take her to for repairs, I don't know what to do. She still continues to have electronic system malfunctions where she'll burn out or melt a component in the vehicle. She just started malfunctioning again and when I inspected the battery, she had melted the plastic housing unit.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #201

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

problem #200

May 202019

Malibu

  • 146,000 miles
Issue started with gear shift not going into park and then power steering started having issues and quit working while driving with wheel shaking back and forth. Next transmission began slipping and now barely shifts. Wheel jerks so hard when I turn now that it kicks my hand off wheel. Coughlin automotive in london, Ohio told us that recall had been fixed but refuses to give us proof. Power steering has gone out in the middle of turning.

- Springfield, OH, USA

problem #199

Jul 012019

Malibu

  • 120,000 miles
Starting last week, I've noticed that my brake lights turn on when I'm not even touching the brake pedal. It happens all the time and the brake lights turn on when I'm accelerating and then turn off when I apply the brakes. I have to really push down hard on the brake pedal to have the brake lights turn on. The electronic stability control and traction lights also appeared on my dashboard and that's when I took my vehicle to the car shop today, but there was nothing wrong with my brakes, brake pads or suspension system. I looked online to find the recall number 14V252000 matching the exact description of what I'm experiencing in my Chevy Malibu. I searched on VIN on the online database, but my car didn't appear in the search even though my car matches the make, model, year and manufacture date range (August 2008).

- Newark, DE, USA

problem #198

Jun 022019

Malibu

  • 209,000 miles
While driving down the highway there was a sudden loss of electric power steering. Just as described in bulletin 114116, making it hard for me to turn the steering wheel which caused the car to shake terribly.

- Enterprise, AL, USA

problem #197

May 182019

Malibu

  • 172,000 miles
Randomly without warning the ESC light will come on and the cars electric steering goes out and makes it nearly impossible to steer. As of now you can shut the car down and wait a few minutes and start the vehicle and it will work but then shut down within 10 miles. This makes the car extremely dangerous to drive.

- Fort Myers, FL, USA

problem #196

Feb 152019

Malibu

  • 101,000 miles
While driving on highway, traction service indicator would come on as well as ESC indicating it was off, also brake lights would stay on all the time and cruise control would not work, vehicle would downshift at highway speeds (approximately 60 mph). Passenger side lower beam light continues to blowout (have replaced three times in as many months) also turn signal will not always click off after turning. As far as repairs on traction, ESC brake lights and downshifting, I removed the BCM connector, cleaned it and used dielectric grease on it and as of now seems to have resolved the problem, however, the headlight problem is ongoing as well as the turn indicator, if you will go online, (google) lower beam headlight problem on Chevy Malibu's as well as as the other electrical problems, you will find numberous complaints, but no recalls

- Corpus Christi, TX, USA

problem #195

Feb 282019

Malibu

  • 105,000 miles
Brake lights stay on while driving and brake light goes off when stepping on the brake pedal. The lights are intermittently working and I've taken the car to get the problem taken care of, but it returns.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

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