2009 Chevrolet Malibu Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe losing electric power steering while driving, usually accompanied by a Service ESC or traction-control warning and steering that is hard to turn until the car is restarted. Complaints about warning lights, stalling or reduced-power messages, brake-light and lighting faults, and door-lock trouble are also common, and many describe these as intermittent, weather-related problems that recur over months or years.

1. 1
   Steering

   Loss of electric power steering assist

   • 701 complaints (46%)
   • median 120,000 mi at 9.1 yrs old (551 state mileage)
   • 17 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $900 (median of 39 quotes)
   • filed 2009–2026

   Drivers describe the steering suddenly becoming very hard to turn while moving, often alongside a Service ESC, power steering, or traction-control message. Many say the assist returns after switching the ignition off and on, sometimes only briefly, and some report the wheel feeling stiff, twitching, or pulling to one side beforehand. Complaints mention dealers diagnosing a failed power steering assist motor, torque sensor, or steering column, and several owners note their vehicle was not covered by the power steering recall. Reported across a wide mileage range, from roughly 60,000 to over 200,000 miles, with several owners saying it happens more in cold weather.

   Recall 14V1530001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Drive the car and confirm the steering assist warning light stays off through full lock turns; ask whether the steering column or assist motor has been replaced and whether the vehicle is covered under recall 14V153000.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Intermittent issue with power steering failure. This has happened while driving. So far, if I shut the vehicle down and restart, the power steering works again. But while driving the vehicle I feel a slight tugging to the right on the steering wheel. The tugging also happens when stopped if I slightly turn the wheel.”

   NHTSA complaint #11306265, filed 2020-01, 119,600 miles

   “Power of steering keeps going out I have to turn my car off and back on just to get it to steer again. Usually happens when I'm backing out of parking spots or driving slow or turning. My headlights wiring harness has a short in it and one of my lights cuts off and on this happens randomly while I'm driving.”

   NHTSA complaint #11387093, filed 2021-01, 130,000 miles
2. 2
   Electronic stability control

   Service ESC and traction-control warnings

   • 477 complaints (32%)
   • median 115,950 mi at 9.0 yrs old (381 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $820 (median of 18 quotes)
   • filed 2011–2026

   Owners describe the Service ESC or traction-control message appearing on the dash, sometimes with a loss of power or speed control and reduced engine power. In several accounts the warning shows up again after a recall repair or a sensor replacement, and owners report the message coming and going without a clear pattern. Most often described between roughly 80,000 and 185,000 miles, in some cases during hot weather or on startup.

   Recall 14V252000

   What to check: Ask whether the ESC recall 14V252000 work was completed and whether any warning lamps reappear after a test drive; note that some owners report recurring lights even after the repair.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driving at about 60 MPH on a straight away, car lost power steering and sensor light service ESC/power steering started flashing. The steering felt no different prior to losing, no noises. Drove it this way until I reached my destination about 4 miles away. Car sat for 4 hours, turned it back on and had regained all steering and no warning lights came back on. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11364504, filed 2020-10, 175,000 miles

   “Driving down the interstate yesterday and started feeling small jerks in the steering wheel. Like something on the other side jerking it in my hand. Not enough to move the car just in my hand. Now today go outside, crank it and steering wheel will not move. The ESC and power steering indicators came on.”

   NHTSA complaint #11310892, filed 2020-02, 178,000 miles
3. 3
   Exterior lighting

   Brake lights on without pedal or not working

   • 202 complaints (13%)
   • median 83,000 mi at 6.4 yrs old (165 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2024

   Complaints describe brake lights staying lit or flashing on when the pedal is not pressed, and in other cases no brake lights at all. Owners link this to cruise control not engaging and to ESC and traction-control lights appearing, and report sensor replacements that only worked briefly before the problem returned. Reported from about 120,000 to 180,000 miles in the sample, sometimes after years of intermittent recurrence.

   Recall 14V2520001 related service bulletin

   What to check: With a helper, check that the brake lights come on only when the pedal is pressed and go fully dark when released, and ask whether the brake pedal sensor has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.,”

   NHTSA complaint #11330317, filed 2020-06, 162,730 miles

   “The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the ESC and traction control warning lights illuminated. The contact continued driving to his residence. The contact was informed that while pulling into the driveway, the brake lights were not operational. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the brake sensor and Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) sensor was faulty and needed to be replaced. The parts were replaced. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11440814, filed 2021-11, 120,000 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Hard starting or no-crank with security light

   • 83 complaints (6%)
   • median 82,000 mi at 6.2 yrs old (70 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2009–2022

   Owners describe intermittent no-crank or no-start conditions with the security light on and, in some cars, the whole instrument cluster dropping to zero and the radio losing power. Several also mention door locks that stop responding or lock and unlock on their own, more often in hot weather. Described from roughly 90,000 to 175,000 miles, often as an intermittent problem that worsens over time.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Start the car several times and watch for a security lamp or dead cluster, test every door lock with the remote and the switch, and ask whether battery cables and grounds have been checked.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Power steering stops working. Power steering service ESC off on dash. Dash warnings light up periodically. Simultaneously all dials go down to 0 even when moving. Radio has no power. Manual steering all the time.”

   NHTSA complaint #11318400, filed 2020-03, 114,000 miles

   “The locks on this year make and model have a long history of door lock failure, sometimes they go up while driving, sometimes they wont go up or down at all with remote or car on/off, and this happens the worst and mostly in heat and hot weather. There are complaints all over the internet for years. Gm refuses to take responsibility. This is a serious safety issue, especially for children in the back. Please do something, im not the only one at all that ever said anything about this.”

   NHTSA complaint #11327189, filed 2020-06, 140,000 miles
5. 5
   Other or unknown

   Engine stalling or reduced power in hot weather

   • 88 complaints (6%)
   • median 93,000 mi at 6.9 yrs old (73 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2009–2026

   A few owners report the engine stalling or the front of the car jerking when outside temperatures are high, with the temperature gauge still reading low. Others describe a Service ESC or Engine Power Reduced message while driving, with the vehicle limited to lower speed, and mention throttle body or accelerator pedal replacement as the suggested repair. Reported mainly above roughly 100,000 miles, with several owners tying it to very hot weather.

   What to check: Ask about any history of Engine Power Reduced messages or stalling and whether the throttle body has been cleaned or replaced; a scan for stored codes before purchase is worth the cost.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Whenever it's extremely hot outside my vehicle start to act up as in the 2 front wheels would jerk like they're not getting enough power. My car would also stall out whenever it's extremely hot but the temperature gauge would still show as the car being 1/4 near cold. All of this would have at a stationary position or city street or highway position.”

   NHTSA complaint #11342917, filed 2020-08, 100,145 miles

   “Was driving down busy street and then a service ESC light came on my car and started loosing power to car and the dash board kept flashing service ESC and power steering light. It kept doing the same thing like every minute. Even it finally starts running out starts jerking but then it looses power again but goes neck on.”

   NHTSA complaint #11331520, filed 2020-06, 130,000 miles

Buying note. Because so many of these complaints center on intermittent steering assist, warning lights, and starting or locking faults, a thorough test drive and a scan for stored codes matter more than cosmetic condition. Ask for service records covering the two steering and ESC recalls and confirm those repairs were actually performed on the specific vehicle.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.