2009 Chevrolet Malibu: ABS light or ABS activating

Filed Jan 12, 2026 · Electrical, Steering · MO

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 it locked up. I look at the dash, and see it says “power steering” and then “ESC OFF”. The turn to merge onto the highway is a pretty sharp turn over a very steep hill. I had to force the steering wheel to the right, and crush on the brakes to get on the side of the road, where I could stop and inspect. I inevitably ended up giving up, because it’s freezing outside and I am not a mechanic. But it didn’t happen the rest of the way to my home. Since then though, it happens every time I drive the car. Turning the car off and on, while moving the steering wheel from left/right seems to temporarily fix the issue. Until the cars is idling again, and then it clicks off. I have a video of my steering wheel shaking and moving on its own, but this website only lets you upload pics or files. This started the next time I drove the car. Which was the day after the incident. I have not had any service done to it, as I can’t afford it. It is available for servicing upon request. I have had an check engine light and ABS light on for sometime. But I think that’s because the warning lights weren’t reset after my dad changed my oil, and my brake pads.

Filed Nov 19, 2025 · Steering · IN

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 dash before the power steering went out. Now the power steering ESC indicator as well as traction light and ABS warning show on dash now and the power steering is still out.

Filed Dec 22, 2022 · Acceleration, Electrical · MI

Bought a 2009 Malibu (2.4 engine with electric power steering) a few weeks ago. Pulled into my driveway today and the power steering goes out and the traction control light comes on and service ESC message comes across the message center. Turn the car off and back on and the light goes out, power steering comes back for a second then the light trips again and it's out again as soon as I turn the wheel. It’s absolutely insane and I can’t even drive it half the time. I’m a nurse and a mother of two. This is the same recall in many of the same year and vehicle type, and we have snow. Severe snow. It can kill me. The ESC LIGHT TRACTION CONTROL ABS POWER STEERING AND CHECK ENGINE LOGHT ARE ALL ON BECAUSE OF THIS DEATHTRAP OF AN electronic steering system you have

Filed Jan 21, 2022 · Steering · MI

Steering wheel locks while driving. Only way to unlock steering is by parking the car, turning off the ignition, starting the ignition and it will unlock. Parking brake light, ABS and traction control lights come on when this happens.

Filed Jan 12, 2022 · Electrical, Steering · WI

Steering failed when driving on freeway, abruptly stopped and had to restart on the road to can control of steering. Spent several hundred dollars, replacing breaks and to fix the check engine light error. Despite service, ABS, service tire pressure, service + passenger air bag and other controls flash in and out when driving at various speeds/times. Breaks seem not to work right when stopping and speeding up is strained. Now cruise control is not disengaging consistently.and power steering issues are returning this winter. Dashboard lights are in and out and I can't read speed. Do not purchase!

Filed Dec 15, 2021 · Electrical, Steering · WI

December 25th, 2019- Driving home from work, steering wheel twitched then began to shake. Thought it was just needing alignment or tires. Drove on highway (70mph) 8.5months pregnant and then abs light, Traction off/service traction, service ESC and Power steering pop up on cluster panel and then steering became hard and my car shut off on its own. Wouldn't start back up. For 2 days. After it being look at by 4 DIFFERENT mechanics they all seem to have no idea except one. Complete Steering Column replacement. This is extremely unsafe for anyone and I have 2 kids I can't risk to drive in this vehicle AND just paid off.Recalls shouldn't expire and they should be honored if a new owner has the same issue. This is deadly and if I wasn't as strong as I am, I doubt I'd be able to steer it like I did.

Filed Feb 10, 2021 · Steering · 165,000 miles · IN

Loss of power steering while driving but if you turn the car off and turn it back on it corrects the problem. This seems to be happening more frequently in cold wheather. Esc service light and ABS light comes on when this happens. This is very dangerous since it only happens while the car is in drive. Power steering seems to lock on when the wheel is turning. This has been an ongoing problem for us since we bought the vehicle in september of 2020.

Filed Nov 15, 2019 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 98,000 miles · NY

Tcs, ABS, ESC, etc intermittently stop working. Electronic power steering occasionally stops working, usually when turning at low speeds. Brake lights sometimes do not illuminate when pedal is pressed. I also replaced the wiring harness to the passenger head light that had shorted out and melted. There is a slew of electrical issues, and they usually get worse as the weather gets wetter and colder.

Filed Nov 8, 2019 · Engine, Steering · 100,000 miles · CO

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that an abnormal noise was heard coming from the engine. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a defective catalytic converter. The contact also stated that when turning the steering wheel, the wheels failed to respond. In addition, the ABS and ECM warning indicators illuminated when the failure occurred. Ed bozarth chevrolet (2001 s havana st, aurora, co 80014, (720) 746-2716) and autonation chevrolet north (7320 n broadway, denver, co 80216, (303) 720-7609) were contacted and stated that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed Mar 27, 2019 · Electrical, Steering · 150,000 miles · MI

My car power steering goes out and comes pack after I turn my car off and on. Sometimes the car won't start and the ABS light and the traction control light is on on the dash and the inside lock and unlock buttons don't work. They will go up and down on their own in the beginning now if I open my door it locks on me. I changed the wheel barring on the front right tire because bell tire said that the sensor was bad and you have to replace the whole thing g. Still having issues. I don't feel safe where I work I travel and I don't always work in the best of neighborhoods and I don't want to get my car broken into or robbed. And I surely don't want my power steering to go out again while driving on the high way and me crashing and possibly injuring or killing someone else.

Filed Mar 2, 2019 · Driver assistance, Steering · 140,000 miles · OH · crash

Power steering works randomly but mostly not at all. Power steering, service traction control light. Abs light and ESC flash on dash display all in one week. Driving to work made a left hand turn and power steering went out causing me to drive off the road. Power steering came back on and then out again. And has been off since

Filed Dec 20, 2018 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 127,000 miles · NY

While driving my ESC - enhances stability control light, ABS and traction control lights came on. When I stopped at a light and then tried to drive forward I was able to move my vehicle until the brakes kicked in and started slowing me down. After driving about 5mikes my husband who was driving behind me signaled to pull over. My brake lights were on and when I engaged the brake pedal to come to a stop the brake lights went off. After I released the brakes, and got out of the car with it still running my brake lights came back on.