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EnginePart report

2009 Chevrolet Malibu Engine Problems

Complaints
61about this part
Share
4%of 1,509 total for the year
Median mileage
113,000miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 61 complaints about the engine of the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 4% of the 1,509 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 113,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.

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

“I have been experiencing an issue with the check engine light coming on almost every fuel fill up I have replaced the cap 3 times already and I keep getting the same code. Now I am getting a p0420 code for either the catalytic converter or the oxygen sensor. Is there a way for checy to assist with the repair costs? I need my car and I am affected by covid-19.”

NHTSA complaint #11326084, filed 2020-05, 126,000 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

“Currently my car has about 86,000 miles always have kept up with any fixes that need to be made randomly I start hearing this noise like a wheel bearing so I fix all my wheel bearings come to find out it's my transmission bearing. It went out and it'll be 3,800. Mechanic said they sent out the car at the manufacturer plant knowing full well it was going to go out because these things don't just go out.”

NHTSA complaint #11396496, filed 2021-02, 86,000 miles

“I was driving on the parkway my vehicle started making a loud sound idling high then it made a loud pop sound then began to smoke by the time I pulled over smoke was coming through the vents and fire was coming from the hood I was able to get my two small boys out before it completely went up in flames”

NHTSA complaint #11383153, filed 2020-12, 7 miles

Related service bulletins

Engine: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202437%
20231318%
20222929%
20211517%
20205930%
20196534%
201828140%
201725336%
201630436%
20157026%
201412536%
201320424%
20129911%
201116016%
20101158%
2009614%
2008626%
2007283%
2006333%
2005495%
2004171%
2003478%
2002224%
2001264%
2000192%
199951%
199820%
199741%

Other parts of the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu

Steering
768 complaints
Electrical system
368 complaints
Electronic stability control
255 complaints
Exterior lighting
172 complaints
Brakes
153 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
121 complaints
Other or unknown
75 complaints
Vehicle speed control
73 complaints
Air bags
62 complaints
Latches, locks and linkages
56 complaints
Fuel system
34 complaints
Body 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 28, 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