2009 Chevrolet Malibu Electronic stability control Problems
- Complaints
- 255about this part
- Share
- 17%of 1,510 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 119,750miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 255 complaints about the electronic stability control of the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 17% of the 1,510 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 119,750 miles. 5 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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“When I bought it worked good for bout 2 days and I started noticing a light would be blinking like the engine light and a light with like a exclamation mark in side of like a bowl and the speed would reduce and then it would just quit even while your in traffic at a stop light ,going up a hill it would do it just when it got ready”
NHTSA complaint #11355033, filed 2020-09, 113,000 miles“While sitting idle my steering wheel shakes erratically. Sometimes when I start the car the service ESC and power steering shows on my dash, when I turn the car off and back on again it will not appear again and the steering is back. The steering wheel shakes while driving if I turn the steering wheel slightly to one side it stops. It seems to happen when it is very cold out.”
NHTSA complaint #11306534, filed 2020-02, 155,000 miles“My steering wheel wobbles/shakes extremely during stop of vehicle as well as in drive. At one point it said power steering service etc. I came across recall #14v153000, dealers and website says not found on my vehicle. I am wondering why that is since my problems are the same as the ones stated along with the same make, mode and year”
NHTSA complaint #11185956, filed 2019-03, 107,800 miles“My ESC light came on randomly while in park and I lost power steering. Shut the car off and then back on it was fine, light went away. A few days later driving down the highway ESC light comes on, wheel begins shaking and lost power control, tried to pull off and turn the car off, like before, the light will not go off. No power steering at all in my car for about 3 days.”
NHTSA complaint #11166384, filed 2019-01, 200,000 milesRelated recalls
- 14V252000May 14, 2014General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007…Covers: Chevrolet Malibu 2004–2012, Pontiac G6 2005–2010, Chevrolet Malibu Maxx 2004–2007 +1 more
Electronic stability control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 1% |
| 2020 | 2 | 1% |
| 2019 | 1 | 1% |
| 2018 | 21 | 3% |
| 2017 | 53 | 8% |
| 2016 | 76 | 9% |
| 2015 | 16 | 6% |
| 2014 | 31 | 9% |
| 2013 | 72 | 9% |
| 2012 | 129 | 14% |
| 2011 | 174 | 18% |
| 2010 | 227 | 17% |
| 2009 | 255 | 17% |
| 2008 | 68 | 7% |
| 2007 | 22 | 2% |
| 2006 | 29 | 3% |
| 2005 | 30 | 3% |
| 2004 | 22 | 2% |
| 2003 | 3 | 1% |
| 2002 | 1 | 0% |
| 2001 | 2 | 0% |
| 2000 | 1 | 0% |
| 1999 | 1 | 0% |
| 1998 | 1 | 0% |
Other parts of the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
769 complaintsElectrical system
368 complaintsExterior lighting
172 complaintsBrakes
153 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
121 complaintsOther or unknown
75 complaintsVehicle speed control
73 complaintsAir bags
62 complaintsEngine
61 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
56 complaintsFuel system
34 complaintsBody and structure
31 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 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