2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Steering (6) · Power Train (4) · Electrical System (3)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
21 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).
Service bulletins (185)
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 185 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2019-05-17 · Traction Control System“2009 chevrolet malibu hybrid. consumer writes in regards to transmission slipping. *ld the consumer stated the vehicle experienced numerous issues. the dashboard warned to service the traction control and hybrid. *js…”
2019-04-10 · Electronic Stability Control (Esc) · 95,000 mi“takata recall: i don't know if i'm doing this right but my car's warning system alerted me that the esc was turned off and to "service esc", this always happens while driving my car, never stationary.it's an intermittent problem but one that is mentioned as a recall for my make, model and year. when i search my vin i get no alerts on recalls for my…”
2019-04-09 · Steering“tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu hybrid. while driving various speeds, the steering wheel seized and the traction control warning indicator illuminated. the contact mentioned that the steering wheel violently vibrated when the failure occurred. the vehicle was towed to gr chevrolet buick gmc cadillac (930 fairystone park hwy, stanleytow…”
2019-03-04 · Electrical System · 124,000 mi“the passenger side low beam goes out because of a bad connection.…”
2019-03-01 · Electronic Stability Control (Esc) · 1,788,000 mi“this morning on my way to work i experienced the most scariest moment, when i was in motion making a left turn midway on a busy intersection my steering wheel locked making me unable to control it ,while locked the (tsc) lights came on , i was freaking out i was heading towards the other cars on my right side turning left with me as well , i quickl…”
2019-02-11 · Steering · 126,000 mi“power steering goes out and traction control light and service esc message comes on. if i turn car off and back on the error message goes away and power steering is restored till it happens again. happened yesterday on highway suddenly i had no steering. looked online and saw numerous complaints with others having same problem. stating that steerin…”
2019-01-29 · Steering · 141,000 mi“beginning in dec/jan of 2016/2017 i began having major issues with my power steering where it would stop while i wasn't driving but also when i was driving. the steering wheel will start to aggressively shake and my traction control would cut off. it got to the point i couldn't even drive my vehicle. i then contacted gm after researching that this …”
2018-05-21 · Unknown Or Other · 130,000 mi“on may 18, 2018 all doors on my chevy malibu were working properly. when my fiance left to leave for work on may 19, 2018 the front passenger door would not open from neither the inside nor outside of the vehicle; it wasn't until may 21, 2018 we were able to get the door to open and found that the latch on the side of the door was not working prope…”
2018-01-18 · Steering · 10,119 mi“my electronic or electric power steering goes out in the middle of driving with my children in the car a 1 year old daughter and 3 year old son not safe at all. very difficult to drive i already have to other recalls on this car but i noticed other exact same model of cars have the same issue and have been recalled but my car and vin # is not liste…”
2016-06-28 · Engine · 142,000 mi“pulling out of side street on to highway and the car would not accelerate and stuttered. almost hit by 18 wheeler. low engine light came on with service engine light as well. turned around and drove home going no more than roughly 10-15 mph.the next day i planned to take it to get checked out and the car ran fine and engine light was off. a few day…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.