The contact owned a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver's side air bag deployed without impact. The air bag struck the ear of the contact. The contact sustained a loss of hearing in the left ear. The contact received medical treatment for the injury. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The vehicle was deemed as a total loss by the insurance company. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.
The worst 2009 Chevrolet Malibu problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Steering769
- Electrical368
- Driver assistance264
- Lights172
- Brakes153
- Transmission121
- Acceleration73
- Engine70
- Airbags63
- Locks56
- Fuel system34
- Body31
- Seats30
- Visibility23
- Wheels21
- Suspension11
- Seat belts7
- Tires6
Specific symptoms reported on the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
Power steering loss 244Loss of power 106Headlights 94Door locks 85Steering lock-up 84Adaptive cruise 59Engine failure 48Jerking 43Check engine light 42Stalling 39ABS 25Won't start 22No deployment 18Airbag light 16Fuel pump 16Fuel smell 16Key fob 15Fuel leak 12Fire or smoke 11Won't shift 11Pulling 10Harsh shifting 9Hesitation 9Grinding brakes 8Transmission failure 8Wipers 8Steering noise 7Warning lights 7Ball joint 5Brake failure 5Overheating 5Slipping 5
Trouble codes owners of the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu mention
C0545 6C0561 2P0011 2P0013 2P0420 2
Recalls 5
Electronic stability control (ESC)
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.
- Risk
- Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and harness connector, and will relearn the brake pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020 (Chevrolet), 1‑800‑762‑2737 (Pontiac), 1‑800‑553‑6000 (Saturn). GM's number for this recall is 13036.
Recall number 14V252000 · Recall details
Steering: electric power assist system
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2006 Malibu Maxx, 2009-2010 HHR (non-turbo), 2010 Cobalt, 2008-2009 Saturn Aura and 2004-2007 Ion, and 2005-2009 Pontiac G6. In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving.
- Risk
- If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will perform one of four bulletins. Parts are not currently available. GM expects to send an interim notification around May 28, 2014. When parts are available, owners will be mailed a second letter to come in to have the applicable bulletin applied. Bulletin 14115 covers model year 2004-2007 Saturn Ion, 2009-2010 Chevrolet HHR and 2010 Chevrolet Cobalts. Dealers will replace the EPS motor. Bulletin 14116 covers model year 2004-2006 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx, 2005-2006 Pontiac G6 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from March 1, 2008, through June 27, 2008. Dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly. Bulletin 14117 covers model year 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from February 1, 2008, through February 28, 2008. Dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly and EPS motor controller unit. Bulletin 14118 covers model year 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from October 1, 2007, through January 31, 2008. Dealers will replace the EPS motor controller unit. The recall began on July 17, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438, Saturn at 1‑800‑553‑6000, and Pontiac at 1‑800‑620‑7668. GM's number for this recall is N140115. Note: GM bulletin number 14119 will be implemented for model year 2006-2008 and early production of 2009 Chevrolet HHR (non-turbo) and model year 2003 Saturn ION to provide EPS Motor replacement for the life of the vehicle.
Recall number 14V153000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)
- What is wrong
- General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Saturn Aura and model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Malibu and Pontiac G6 vehicles, equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission. On these vehicles, the tabs on the transmission shift cable end may fracture and separate.
- Risk
- If the tabs were to fracture and separate, the shift lever and the actual position of the transmission gear may not match. The driver would be able to move the shifter to 'PARK' and remove the ignition key, but the transmission gear may not be in 'PARK.' The vehicle may not be able to be restarted and the vehicle could roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible crash without prior warning.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a retainer over the cable end or replace the shift cable as necessary. This service will be performed free of charge. Notification to owners began on on November 9, 2012. Owners were instructed to not bring their vehicles for repair until January 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1‑800‑521‑7300.
Recall number 12V460000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift
- What is wrong
- General motors is recalling 276,729 my 2009 buick enclave, chevrolet cobalt, hhr, malibu, traverse, gmc acadia, pontiac g5, g6 and saturn aura and outlook passenger vehicles. These vehicles fail to comply with federal motor vehicles safety standard 102, "transmission shift position sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect", and fmvss 114, "theft protection and rollaway prevention". On some of these vehicles, the transmission shift cable adjustment clip may not be fully engaged. If the clip is not fully engaged, the shift lever and the actual position of the transmission gear may not match. With this condition, the drive could move the shifter to "park" and remove the ignition key, but the transmission gear may not be in "park".
- Risk
- The driver may not be able to restart the vehicle and the vehicle could roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible crash without prior warning.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and ensure that the shift cable adjustment clip is fully engaged. In the event that the clip does not engage, the shift cable will be replaced free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on or before march 24, 2009. Owners may contact buick at 1‑866‑608‑8080, chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438, gmc at 1‑866‑996‑9463, pontiac at 1‑800‑620‑7668 and saturn at 1‑800‑972‑8876 or at www.gmownercenter.com.
Recall number 09V073000 · Recall details
Visibility: defroster/defogger/HVAC system
- What is wrong
- Gm is recalling 77 my 2009 chevrolet malibu hybrid vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 103, "windshield defrosting and defogging system." the heating, ventilation, and airconditioning (HVAC) system may become inoperative. If this were to occur, the blower would not function properly and the mode selector would remain in the last known setting.
- Risk
- If the windshield began to fog or frost, there may not be enough airflow to clear the windshield, resulting in reduced driver visibility and a possible crash without prior warning.
- Remedy
- Dealers will reprogram the HVAC control head module. The recall is expected to begin on december 17, 2008. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438 or through their website at http://www.gmownercenter.com .
Recall number 08V634000 · Recall details
See all 5 recalls for the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
Defect investigations
Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit
On November 18, 2010, the federal safety agency's Recall Management Division (RMD) opened an audit query (AQ10-001) to investigate recall remedy completion by rental car companies on safety recall campaigns.It was expected to provide the agency an indication of how completely and how quickly rental car fleets perform necessary recall-related remedies on the vehicles owned and then rented/leased for use on the roadways.RMD queried three (3) major motor vehicle manufacturers (Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors) and requested data regarding completion figures for fifteen (15) discreet safety recalls.Analysis of this data demonstrated that rental car recalls completion was neither complete nor consistent.The rental car companies representing the largest market share in the industry were then queried as to their respective policies for the rental, lease, and sale of vehicles with open recalls.The data and responses from the manufacturers and the rental car companies can be found in the document repository by accessing the ?Associated Documents link above.In December 2015, Congress enacted the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act.One section of the Act prohibits rental car companies from renting, leasing, or selling motor vehicles subject to open safety recalls.With the passage of the FAST Act and its prohibition, there is no continuing need for the agency to investigate rental car recall completions.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The agency reserves the right to open any future investigations, including audits of individual recalls, or groups of recalls, or rental car companies, to examine more closely safety recalls performance and completion issues in this area.
AQ10001
Technical service bulletins for the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu 1,098
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Unknown or other
- New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
- Unknown or other
- This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.
- Unknown or other
- Unknown or other
- Unknown or other
- Electrical system
- This service bulletin provides information for maintenance cleaning of the fuel injectors and gasoline...
- This service bulletin provides information on some vehicles that may rock or move slightly forward or...
2009 Chevrolet Malibu fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4‑cyl Hybrid | FWD | 26 | 34 | 29 |
| 2.4L 4‑cyl | FWD | 22 | 30-33 | 25-26 |
| 3.5L 6‑cyl | FWD | 18-19 | 29 | 22-23 |
| 3.6L 6‑cyl | FWD | 17 | 26 | 20 |
What 2009 Chevrolet Malibu owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Power steering and esc lights came on, Lost power assist.
The power steering motor failed ,ESC , TRACTION and power steeringg lights came on, i am a woman and coould NOT control the car and my safety and others was at risk for an accident or crash ,there was nothing prior to this just suddenly loosing control of my car and a very scary position to be in , yes the chevy dealer has the component.I know ther was a recall on this problem and other s beside myself are still having this problem so with the low milage on this car this should NOT have happened , General Motoors should stand behind a recall no matter how long, a recall is a recall 10 years or the life off the car.
The contact owned a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH, the driver's side curtain air bag erroneously deployed and struck the left side of the contact's head. The contact immediately pulled over to the side of the road. No warning light was illuminated before or after the failure. Police Officers arrived at the scene, but no police report was filed. The contact sustained a headache and a partial left-ear hearing loss. The contact received a paramedic evaluation. The following day, the contact was taken to the Emergency Room, where it was confirmed that the contact had not sustained a concussion. The vehicle was towed to an autobody shop, where it was deemed totaled by the insurance company. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that a field inspector would be sent to investigate the failure; however, the contact was later informed that the case was closed because the root cause of the air bags deployment could not be determined upon inspection. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.
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 to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with power steering assist failure. The contact was informed that the power steering assist motor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact referenced the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 14V153000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not associated. The failure mileage was approximately 70,560.
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” warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was turned off and restarted, and the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was purchased. The vehicle was diagnosed with a failed torque sensor within the steering column. The contact was informed that the torque sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.
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 Report that the mileage was approximately 234,000. The contact stated that the vehicle had several issues, leading the contact believe that the odometer had been tampered with. The contact stated that the current approximate mileage on the vehicle was 141,000, which the contact believed to be inaccurate.
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 every mile while driving, requiring the driver to pull over to the side of the road to restart the vehicle. The power steering, ESC, and the traction control warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated who was a retired independent mechanic, determined that the failure was related to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 14V153000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included. The dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000.
Compare the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
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Other model years
19971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Questions about the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
Is the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
Owners have filed 1,511 complaints about the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 2.1 times a typical Malibu model year. It is one of the years we flag to avoid.
What is the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu year score?
The 2009 Chevrolet Malibu scores 45 out of 100 (below average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Chevrolet Malibu: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu?
Steering, with 769 complaints, typically around 120,000 miles. Next is electrical (368).
How many recalls does the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu have?
5 recalls, covering electronic stability control (esc), steering and power train.
Was there a recall on the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu steering?
Yes, 1 recall: 14V153000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Chevrolet Malibu have bad steering?
The Chevrolet Malibu model years with the most steering complaints are 2006 (812 complaints), 2004 (799 complaints) and 2009 (769 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu get?
Official estimates for the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu range from 20 to 29 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.4L 4-cyl hybrid, FWD) gets 26 city and 34 highway.
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