10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
13 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
98,920 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.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #507

Jan 022020

Malibu

  • miles
I was driving and the steering wheel was really hard to steer

- S.Floral Pk, NY, USA

problem #506

Dec 142019

Malibu

  • 14,100 miles
Power steering goes out at random moments it could be 1 mile of driving this vehicle or 1000 miles of driving this vehicle so it's very difficult to know when or if this car needs to be taken to the shop and I'm sure if there is a survey these vehicle have more owners due to the fact that this defect is so difficult to detect and they are sold off when detected. But this is extremely dangerous if the power steering suddenly gets extremely hard driving (cuts off) at high speeds. Someone could crash and get seriously injured or potentially die. This should be considered a safty recall not an extended warranty and should be reopened because more people would go get thier car fixed if you tell them thier safety is at stake. And also the doors get locked shutt rendering passengers or drivers locked and unable to escape if danger is immanent.

- Tifton, GA, USA

problem #505

Dec 262019

Malibu

  • 95,100 miles
Over the past week, my vehicle was sending me a ESC service message and I noticed there was something wrong with my power steering. This happens when my car is turned on. The power steering turns itself to manual steering making it hard to turn. I have to turn the car off resetting it to make the power steering work again. While the car is in motion the steering wheel is pulsating and I'm afraid it will go into manual steering. I brought it down to my mechanic and he informed me it was a torque sensor. He then said he did some research and found there was a recall back in 2014 (bulletin 14116B.) this bulletin explains the exact same symptoms my car is having. He called hurd Chevy in johnson ri and they told him there was a recall. I then called hurd and they told me there was no recall for my vehicle and there was nothing they could do. I then called the dealership where I bought my vehicle (diamond Chevy, auburn MA) and spoke to an advisor named sean. He told me there was a recall but the special extended warranty expired 3/25/19 and there was nothing they could do. I then contacted GM on their website and explained to them the situation. They told me there was no recall for my vehicle and there was nothing they could do. The problem is, I never received anything notifying me of this recall. It sounds like diamond knew about the recall but they never contacted me or fix it the last time I was there for maintenance. Now I'll have to pay over $500 out of my own pocket to have my vehicle fixed. I have provided bulletin 14116B and the paperwork my mechanic researched and gave me.

- Chepachet, RI, USA

problem #504

Nov 012019

Malibu

  • 149,000 miles
Power steering will work when it wants to some days it works all day other days it wont work at all and some days I loose power steering while driving my power steering light and service ESC lights come on when power steering fails this is a scary problem to have when transporting my 4 kids

- Jay, ME, USA

problem #503

Sep 062019

Malibu

  • 90,000 miles
I have a 2009 Malibu 2.4 engine with electric power steering when it got cold outside power steering started going out and the traction control light comes on and service ESC message comes across the message center. Turn the car off and back on and the light goes out and the power steering works again it does it when the car is moving or even if the car is parked and I turn the wheel it has done 3 times while doing 65 on highway luckily I was able to pull over turn car off and back on so the steering can work again the colder temperatures get the more often the power steering goes out I'm afraid I might have a serious accident

- Muscatine, IA, USA

problem #502

Dec 162019

Malibu

  • miles
The car will display an ESC service light and then the power steering will go out once that happens. When you turn the car off then back on the light goes away and then the power steering will go out again and the ESC service will display again.

- Gilbert, AZ, USA

problem #501

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 #500

Dec 112019

Malibu

  • 153,000 miles
Sudden loss of electronic power steering. Can happen while driving or at idle and can cause tough steering or loss or vehicle control. From the complaints ive read this seems to be more common during colder temperature days. Could happen while driving in icy conditions... my daughter is now terrified to drive her vehicle. I have contacted GM and they refuse to cover any costs for this issue even though its a nation wide known issue with these vehicles.

- Clawson, MI, USA

problem #499

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 #498

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 #497

Dec 032019

Malibu

  • 93,846 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. While making a right turn, the steering wheel became difficult to turn and forced the contact to drive forward. In addition, the ESC service needed warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was towed initially to an independent mechanics and then another independent mechanic at a different location. The contact was informed that the steering gear sensor needed to be repaired. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 14V153000 (steering). The contact called alan webb Chevrolet (located at 3712 ne 66th ave, vancouver, wa 98661, (360) 574-1131) and informed them of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 93,846.

- Vancouver, WA, USA

problem #496

Nov 212019

Malibu

  • 96,000 miles
Malubu 2009 bought new on 2009 April, even the first year the steering would become hard to turn while parallel parking. In the parking circle while climbing it would stiffen, it happens maybe 5 to 6 times a year and recently 2019 my wife was driving with kids and the steering froze. I was really afraid after learning about the incidence from my wife. It also happened to me in the city street, and in the parking lot while turning round and round. I am terrified that it would happen on the highway or on road again. I do not feel safe in this Malibu car while driving any more. Need help.

- West Haven, CT, USA

problem #495

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 #494

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 #493

Nov 252019

Malibu

  • 110,000 miles
Stopped car, got gas, turned car back on and had no power steering. Then turned car off, waited a few minutes, turned it back on and power steering returned but power steering notice came up on the display.. noticed that there has been a recall for this but when entering the VIN, this vehicle did not fall under the recall. I believe it should due to obvious safety concerns. I also read that Chevrolet had a special recall for this that didn't show up in recall lists.

- Chattanooga, TN, USA

problem #492

Nov 242019

Malibu

  • 111,350 miles
Power steering stopped working while driving twice today.

- East Lansing, MI, USA

problem #491

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 #490

Nov 182019

Malibu

  • 111,100 miles
Start the car and ESC is off and power steering is off. Shut the car off, restart and it comes on. Sometimes it takes a couple of times. Also when it is on and sitting with the car in drive, the steering wheel shakes back and forth.

- East Lansing, MI, USA

problem #489

Nov 212019

Malibu

  • 12,870 miles
Twice while starting my car the indicator for power steering and service ESC came on. When I would turn it off and restart it the indicators would go away. While driving in traffic on the parkway the indicators came back on and my steering locked. I had to wait until traffic slowed down enough to stop my car and restart quickly, hoping it would unlock. Thank god it did and that my kids were not in the car with me. Scary

- Mastic Beach, NY, USA

problem #488

Nov 142019

Malibu

  • miles
While driving my 2009 Chevy Malibu in the city, the steering wheel locked up and I was not able to turn the wheel at all. This has happened twice in the past few weeks

- Norwood, MA, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »