2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. This model year has 1,507 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Steering Defects.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Steering Defects
Electrical Faults
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
Considering a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu?
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering Defects | 767 | 13 | 1 | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 368 | 5 | 5 | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 255 | 5 | 1 | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 172 | — | 1 | — | |
| Brake System | 152 | 3 | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 121 | 2 | 1 | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 73 | — | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 70 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 61 | 23 | — | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 56 | — | 1 | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 53 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Structural Problems | 31 | 5 | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 30 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 29 | — | — | — | |
| Traction Control System | 22 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 21 | 1 | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 12 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 11 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 11 | 2 | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 7 | 2 | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Lane Departure | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Parking-Brake Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electric | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 400 most recent complaints of 1,507 total. View all on NHTSA ↗
POWER STEERING WENT OUT
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. Additionally, the traction and power steering assist motor warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken …
I was cruise control 80mph and my.power steering went out. Esc power steering warning on dash. Car is incredibly hard to steer. When I turn car off and back on it might go away for a few minutes but then come.back randomly in a scary scenarios. Thing is a death trap.
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. In addition, the contact noticed a vibrating and clicking sound coming from the steering wheel. The “Service ESC” …
Odometer Fraud. The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was approximately 120,000 however, the contact researched and discovered in a Carfax Repo…
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idling, it lost power steering functionality. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and restarted the vehicle, and the power steering functionality returned. The failure reoccurred e…
Driving down the interstate I noticed the steering wheel lightly jumping intermittently like it wanted to take control and turn itself. A few minutes later the power steering completely went out and the dash board display ESC OFF, Power Steering. I had no control of the vehicle. …
Power steering has failed. There are numerous complaints for these model and year cars. There has also been recalls for certain VIN numbers but not all. Very unsafe!
So just recently I was on my way home from my parents house, and I take a highway to get there from my home. It’s a direct shot, fastest way to get to and from. I was merging right to get in the turn lane to the highway I take, and I heard a click, and my steering wheel felt like…
Power steering went out and Esc warning came on the dash . This has happened multiple times mostly while sitting at idle. Turned off car and restarted and it was corrected. This is becoming more frequent.
The power steering fails and SERVICE ESC is displayed on the dash. This has been happening intermittently on my daughter’s car and she struggles to control the vehicle when it loses power steering. A quick internet search revealed is a known issue and is extremely dangerous. Plea…
power steering will shut off when moving at slow speeds or when stopped with car running such as at a stop light. warning lights will flash. Saw that there was a recall in 2014 for the same issue and was never informed. when checking recall alerts, i don't see my VIN however i a…
The power steering went out while driving and is available for inspection right now. The car has 145k miles. The vehicle has been inspected by an independent service center and reproduced but has not been inspected by manufacturer/police/insurance. There were no indicators on das…
2009 chevy malibu i lost of Electric Power Steering it happened to me twice both when i was driving one was in the freeway the bad thing my car or vin wasn't included in the recall the dealer said its not included in the affected cars unfortunately it deed my vehicle has 40k mile…
My 2009 chevy malibu is 40k miles only! The Electronic Power Steering failed almost causing me into an accident they had a recall on this but unfortunately the dealer said my car was not on the list. I went to the dealer and had it diagnose for $240 i paid out of pocket a day lat…
The power steering keeps going in and out and the vehicle only has 85,000 miles on it. I also keep having weird electrical issues. I had to replace my headlight wiring harnesses as well as my taillights harnesses. But the power steering issue is coming from the rack and pinion. T…
Experiencing power steering issues, Power steering goes off randomly and airbag light has come on and won’t go off.
While driving the car, the power steering suddenly goes out and a message displays saying something like "service ESC Power Steering". It seems completely random. Some days, power steering works all day and other days it is completely intermittent. There is a recall for this exac…
The steering recently failed in my 2009 Chevrolet Malibu (VIN # [XXX] ) and I feel that my car should have been included in the October 2014 safety recall related to the Torque Sensor. I called General Motors/Chevrolet on [XXX] and they told me that my car would not be covered. H…
The power steering in my 2009 Chevy Malibu went out on . The car is available for inspection upon request. This is very unsafe because I am unable to turn the car quickly, if needed. This is a safety risk to not only me, but other drivers on the road. I took the car to Tire Ram…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu.
Recalls for 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
6 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2009 Chevrolet Malibu — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2009 Chevrolet Malibu has 1,507 NHTSA owner complaints, 41 crash-related, and 6 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Steering Defects (767 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu?▾
#1: Steering Defects (767 complaints). #2: Electrical Faults (368 complaints). #3: Electronic Stability Control (Esc) (255 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu?▾
The 2009 Chevrolet Malibu has 41 crash-related complaints and 9 fire reports out of 1,507 total NHTSA complaints. 43 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu have any recalls?▾
Yes — 6 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The largest issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu?▾
The 2009 Chevrolet Malibu has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Steering Defects issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Chevrolet Malibu reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.