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Electronic stability controlPart report

2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid Electronic stability control Problems

Complaints
6about this part
Share
24%of 25 total for the year
Median mileage
52,625miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the electronic stability control of the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid, 24% of the 25 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 52,625 miles.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“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 specific vehicle but wanted to be sire it wasn't skipped or missed. …”

NHTSA complaint #11195403, filed 2019-04, 95,000 miles

“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 was a known issue. They then told me that the warranty was extended. I got it fixed and everything was fine until this week january 2019. I contacted GM to let them know of the issue, and that it was the same issue I had before. …”

NHTSA complaint #11172870, filed 2019-01, 141,000 miles

“Car refused to go above 30 MPH when accelerating from light on river road even when applying full throttle. Went about half mile until I smelled friction material. Pulled car over to side of road. Walked from wheel to wheel to see how hot they were. Left front wheel was exceedingly hot as was right rear wheel. Left rear wheel & right front wheel were cool enough to touch. Car had been driven about 5 minutes in urban traffic when this happened. When car was restarted, the brakes released & no further trouble encountered. …”

NHTSA complaint #10399127, filed 2011-05, 8,300 miles

“Vehicle would not go more than 20 MPH after startup from intersection. Left front & right rear brakes applied themselves. Vehicle would not go above 20 MPH even at 4100 RPM. Pulled off to side of road. Turned engine off. Went from wheel to wheel - left front and right rear too hot to touch. Right front & left rear cool to touch. Applied moisture to left front and right rear brake rotors; boiled off immediately. Turned engine back on & vehicle resumed normal operation. Same failure happened in may 2011 at 8,601 miles. Not tdc's either time. …”

NHTSA complaint #10411238, filed 2011-07, 10,250 miles

“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 quickly reacted and let go of the gas pedal and let the car slow down on its own and let everyone turning pass me, once pulled over hazards on , I turned the car off and on and the steering wheel went back to working. …”

NHTSA complaint #11183561, filed 2019-03

Electronic stability control: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
201715%
201614%
2009624%

Other parts of the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid

Steering
6 complaints
Electrical system
5 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
5 complaints
Brakes
3 complaints
Air bags
2 complaints
Engine
2 complaints
Other or unknown
2 complaints
Equipment
1 complaints
Exterior lighting
1 complaints
Body and structure
1 complaints
Vehicle speed control
1 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology