2009 Chevrolet Malibu problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Steering (721) · Service Brakes (92) · Exterior Lighting (84)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Chevrolet Malibu model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
1,197 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (4)
Steering 2014-07-21 · campaign 14E044000 · 7,304 vehicles
Defect: Dorman Products, Inc. (Dorman) is recalling certain replacement intermediate steering shafts sold under the Dorman, OE Solutions, and Solutions brand names, part numbers 425-167, 2425167, and 7-3074, for installation on 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6, and 2007-2009 Saturn Aura vehicles. The affected steering shafts may have a yoke that inadequately supports the u-joint bearing resulting in a premature failure.
Risk: A joint bearing that fails prematurely may cause separation of the u-joint resulting in a complete loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dorman will notify owners, and dealers will refund the purchase price or replace the steering shafts, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact Dorman customer service at 1-800-523-2492.
Electronic Stability Control (Esc) 2014-05-14 · campaign 14V252000 · 2,440,524 vehicles
Defect: 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
Risk: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and harness connector, and will relearn the brake pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (Satu
Steering:electric Power Assist System 2014-03-31 · campaign 14V153000 · 1,373,177 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will perform one of four bulletins. Parts are not currently available. GM expects to send an interim notification around May 28, 2014. When parts are available, owners will be mailed a second letter to come in to have the applicable bulletin applied. Bulletin 14115 covers model year 2004-2007 Saturn Ion, 2009-2010 Chevrolet HHR and 2010 Chevrolet Cobalts. Dealers will replace the EPS motor. Bulletin 14116 covers model year 2004-2006 Chevrolet Malibu and M
Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (Prndl) 2012-09-18 · campaign 12V460000 · 426,240 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: If the tabs were to fracture and separate, the shift lever and the actual position of the transmission gear may not match. The driver would be able to move the shifter to 'PARK' and remove the ignition key, but the transmission gear may not be in 'PARK.' The vehicle may not be able to be restarted and the vehicle could roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible cr
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a retainer over the cable end or replace the shift cable as necessary. This service will be performed free of charge. Notification to owners began on on November 9, 2012. Owners were instructed to not bring their vehicles for repair until January 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.
Service bulletins (1,097)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2025-09-09 · 13598 · Other
new vehicle monitoring programs section in ivh
Unknown Or Other 2025-08-07 · PIC5650M · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. technician may find diagnostic trouble codes b3055, b3060, b3935, c0750, c0755, c0760, c0765, and/o
Unknown Or Other 2025-07-18 · PIP5601C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this pi communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from tac.
Unknown Or Other 2025-05-30 · PIT5074R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about the use of j-35616-64b and mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
Unknown Or Other 2025-05-30 · PIT5074R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about the use of j-35616-64b and mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
Unknown Or Other 2025-05-30 · PIT5074R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about the use of j-35616-64b and mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
Showing the 6 most recent of 1,097 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-28 · Air Bags · 68,000 mi“the contact owned a 2009 chevrolet malibu. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver's side air bag deployed without impact. the air bag struck the ear of the contact. the contact sustained a loss of hearing in the left ear. the contact received medical treatment for the injury. the vehicle was towed to a local tow y…”
2026-10-27 · Steering“power steering and esc lights came on, lost power assist.…”
2026-06-20 · Steering“the power steering motor failed ,esc , traction and power steeringg lights came on, i am a woman and coould not control the car and my safety and others was at risk for an accident or crash ,there was nothing prior to this just suddenly loosing control of my car and a very scary position to be in , yes the chevy dealer has the component.i know t…”
2026-06-17 · Air Bags · 68,000 mi“the contact owned a 2009 chevrolet malibu. the contact stated that while driving approximately 20 mph, the driver's side curtain air bag erroneously deployed and struck the left side of the contact's head. the contact immediately pulled over to the side of the road. no warning light was illuminated before or after the failure. police officers arriv…”
2026-03-12 · Steering · 70,560 mi“the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. additionally, the traction and power steering assist motor warning lights were illuminated. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with power steering…”
2026-03-04 · Steering“i was cruise control 80mph and my.power steering went out. esc power steering warning on dash. car is incredibly hard to steer. when i turn car off and back on it might go away for a few minutes but then come.back randomly in a scary scenarios. thing is a death trap. …”
2026-02-23 · Steering · 111,000 mi“the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. in addition, the contact noticed a vibrating and clicking sound coming from the steering wheel. the “service esc” warning light was illuminated. the vehicle was turned off and restarte…”
2026-02-11 · Electrical System:instrument Panel:speedometer/Odometer · 234,000 mi“odometer fraud. the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. the vehicle was a private sale. at the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was approximately 120,000 however, the contact researched and discovered in a carfax report that the mileage was approximately 234,000. the contact stated that…”
2026-02-10 · Traction Control System · 107,000 mi“the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. the contact stated that while the vehicle was idling, it lost power steering functionality. the contact pulled over to the side of the road and restarted the vehicle, and the power steering functionality returned. the failure reoccurred every mile while driving, requiring the driver to pull over to the side…”
2026-02-06 · Steering“driving down the interstate i noticed the steering wheel lightly jumping intermittently like it wanted to take control and turn itself. a few minutes later the power steering completely went out and the dash board display esc off, power steering. i had no control of the vehicle. after turning the car off and then back on it would go away but happen…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.