10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 2
Average Mileage:
79,387 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #140

Dec 032023

Malibu

  • miles
I have a 2009 chevy malibu that is under the NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V252000. The recall fix on this vehicle was performed but did not fix the issue and when contacting the local gm dealerships (multiple ones) I was told that the recall was closed on this vehicle and they refused to help at all. this is a very deadly issue the brake lights staying on until you press the brake pedal then they go out when stopped can cause a fatal accident these vehicles need to be properly fixed or repurchased by GM. this is a recurring issue with these vehicles.

- Gladstone, MI, USA

problem #139

Oct 232023

Malibu

  • miles
Per GM July2014 recall 13036 This issue with the BCM has caused my rear window break lights to function the opposite of how they are to work. I continue to experience Service ESC and Traction Control messages while driving the car. This is the second issue I have had since the recall. Per the recall, it is for the owners safety. I cannot take this chance and I need to have GM revisit the original recall and note it has not resolved the issue for my car. I fear I will be hit from behind because the brake light is not illuminated. I drive children!! Please look into why the break pedal position sensor is faulty.

- Plano, TX, USA

problem #138

Mar 262023

Malibu

  • miles
As I'm driving down the road my vehicle will engage the brake without warning while I'm in a curve or turning and it's extremely dangerous. I had a 18 wheeler behind me and my car came to an abrupt stop without warning as I was getting onto the interstate

- White Oak, TX, USA

problem #137

Mar 152023

Malibu

  • miles
When I am going down the road the vehicle comes to a complete stop in a curve sometimes and it's dangerous. Only the bright lights work on the vehicle. The esc activates and turns off a lot when you least expect

- Gilmer, TX, USA

problem #136

Sep 012022

Malibu

  • miles
My 2009 malibu has had the recall fixed a few years ago for the brake lights but they are currently turning on when I let off the brake peddle and turn off when I press the brake peddle but at random times. Everytime I drive I never know if my brake lights are on when they need to be or if I'm driving with no lights. My ESC and traction control error keeps coming on and going away as well. Not sure if these issues are connected but started around the same time.

- Wisconsin Rapids, WI, USA

problem #135

Jun 022021

Malibu

  • miles
My brake light illuminate while driving when not touched.. if I tap the brake they will turn off. they do not always come on when I press the brake.I have taken the vehicle to the shop and they did work on the brake system and it still does the same thing.I then found out there was a recall for 2009 Chevy malibus but for some reason my car does not fall under the category and I am unsure as to why considering I have the exact same issue as the recall States. This has continued for the past year (everytime I drive the car no matter how far or fast or how long ) and is getting worse. My drive to work daily is an hour and 15 minutes one way and it happens at least 30-40 times in one trip.

- Newman, CA, USA

problem #134

Aug 172022

Malibu

  • miles
There is a recall that was preformed on my vehicle before I bought it for brake light issues NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V252000. The issue has come back I just bought the car. I called the dealer and they said it had been fixed in 2014 but it has started doing the same thing and they said that they can fix it but I will have to pay. I have tried to call the corporate gm office but keep getting sent back to the dealer near

- Denton, TX, USA

problem #133

Jun 052018

Malibu

  • miles
My brake lights illuminate when the brake pedal is not pressed and fails to illuminate when the brake pedal is pressed. This issue is part of a previous recall and has not been repaired.

- Pickerington, OH, USA

problem #132

May 222021

Malibu

  • miles
Electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control

- Gladewater, TX, USA

problem #131

Sep 012020

Malibu

  • 98,514 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the brake lights, service traction, and ESC warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the cruise control was inoperable. While driving the brake pedal was depressed however, the brake lights failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the brake pedal switch and calibration needed to be repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the brake pedal switch was replaced. The manufacturer was notified and referred the contact to the NHTSA. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V252000 (Electrical system, Exterior Lighting, Vehicle Speed Control, Electronic Stability Control). The failure mileage was 98,514.

- Lansing, MI, USA

problem #130

Jan 012021

Malibu

  • 151,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in, and repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000 (Electrical System, Exterior Lighting, Vehicle Speed Control, Electronic Stability Control). After the vehicle was repaired, the ESP system with the warning light illuminated. Due to the failure, the braking system activated without the brake pedal being depressed. Additionally, on occasions, the brakes failed to operate as intended with the brake pedal depressed. The contact stated that the brakes functioned opposite to what was intended. The failure was intermittent but started occurring more frequently. The contact contacted the local dealer who confirmed the failure however, the dealer was not able to do the repair under the recall. The contact was informed that in 2017 the manufacturer released information for a special coverage regarding the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 151,000.

- Humboldt, TN, USA

problem #129

Jun 012018

Malibu

  • miles
My power steering wheel has been replaced once then not less than a year my power steering wheel goes out again. My brake lights are also on and never turn off. It's scary because no one knows when I'm actually braking.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #128

Jul 012020

Malibu

  • 35,000 miles
I am having issues associated with recall number 14V252000, but I don't know if my vehicle was ever recalled and/or repaired.

- Woodland Park, NJ, USA

problem #127

Jan 012016

Malibu

  • miles
For years now I have had a few issues. One of which is the locks with in the vehicle. At one point one lock wouldnt be recognized by the fob or internal locking mechanism and then eventually all locks would be unresponsive. I now have to manually lock and unlock all doors. Second issue is the 3rd brake light. It appears that it wants to work when it feels like it. I typically see it working in early mornings when its cold, and then eventually it dims out and completely stops working. I have noticed this in other Malibu's that I see driving and I have read on many other forums that both of these issues exist. I really wish the manufacturer would issue a recall for both of these. Third, im roughly 200lbs soaking wet and for whatever reason the seat bracket that is used to lift and tilt has broke. My driver seat now leans to one side and I can no longer lift it up because of this.

- Stafford, VA, USA

problem #126

Feb 282020

Malibu 4-cyl

  • miles
2009 Chevrolet Malibu. Consumer writes in regards to loss of hydraulic braking. The consumer stated the hydraulic braking failure was due to corrosion of the primary and secondary pipes. The vehicle was repaired by the owner.

- De Tour Village, MI, USA

problem #125

Jun 012020

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 162,730 miles
Since 2018 my brake lights will come on without touching the brakes. When this happens, my cruise control won't work. I can tap the brakes and they'll go off for about 3-5 seconds and then come back on. After awhile, the ESC and traction control lights will pop up on my dashboard. I've had the sensor replaced/reset 5-6 times since August of 2018, with the most recent June 2020. It worked fine that day, but the next day they all came back on. Today, it was fine, but later will probably be another story.,

- Marshall, MN, USA

problem #124

Feb 282020

Malibu

  • 249,141 miles
On 28 February 2020, my 2009 Chevrolet Malibu experienced a total loss of hydraulic braking as a result of a loss of hydraulic brake pressure due to corrosion-induced failure of both the primary and secondary hydraulic brake pipes that supply brake fluid from the master cylinder to the brake pressure modulation valve (bpmv), which would not have occurred but for a defect in the design of the primary and secondary hydraulic brake pipes. Both hydraulic brake pipes failed within an hour of one another after traveling about 50 miles, fortunately without resulting in an accident. Each of the primary and secondary hydraulic brake pipes had failed due to severe corrosion. These pipes were not nylon coated as were the remaining brake lines in the vehice, and each extended downwards about 8 inches from the master cylinder, to a corresponding elbow defining a corresponding low point, from which each line extended upwards ' via a flexible link portion ' to the bpmv. The elbows ' being located about 8 inches below the master cylinder ' are in proximity to the bottom of the vehicle body, and are therefore exposed to road splash, include salt spray during winter months. With the elbows defining low points of the associated hydraulic brake pipes, any water or salt-water sprayed onto those pipes will gravitate, and then cling, to those elbows until being evaporated therefrom, leading to corrosion thereof at a substantially accelerated rate relative to what would occur if the hydraulic brake pipes did not extend below ' or at least so far below ' the master cylinder; or if at least the elbows had been otherwise coated with nylon as are all the remaining steel hydraulic brake lines from the bpmv to the wheel cylinders.

- Detour Village, MI, USA

problem #123

Feb 042020

Malibu

  • 180,000 miles
I was driving and the power steering light came on and steering got real hard to turn and now I have no steering power to drive and I'm scared to drive and also my car be in reverse and it went forward

- Warren, MI, USA

problem #122

Jun 172019

Malibu

  • 113,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated on several occasions while driving, the drivers side headlight and rear brake lights became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be repaired. The parts replaced was not stated by the contact. A dealer was not contacted. The contact referenced the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000 (service brakes, hydraulic, electrical system, exterior lighting, vehicle speed control, electronic stability control). The manufacturer was not contacted or informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 113,000.

- Tobyhanna, PA, USA

problem #121

Feb 022020

Malibu

  • 133,000 miles
My electric power steering just went out while driving and my anti lock break lights came on, after researching this is a common issue in 09's in very dangerous, there were recalls on this but my VIN number is saying my car is not included, I find that hard to believe.

- Battle Creek, MI, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »