Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the all four doors locked and unlocked independently while driving. The contact removed the battery out of the remote, but the failure recurred multiple times even when the key was out of the ignition. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact also stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the cruise control was engaged, but disengaged independently. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was repaired under the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control); however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 72,000.
2009 Chevrolet Malibu electrical complaints
Page 9 of 13: complaints 221 to 250 of 368, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. While driving at 30 MPH, the contact noticed smoke coming from the front passenger side head lamp. In addition, both the passenger and driver side high and low beam head lamps failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who diagnosed that the wiring harness and the head lamp assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred on numerous occasions. The contact also stated that while at a stop light, "service ESC, service traction. Esc off" was displayed across the message board. The ESC warning light illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who was unable to diagnose or repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control). The failure mileage was unknown.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle stalled and was coasted to the side of the road. After restarting, the vehicle resumed normally. In addition, the vehicle failed to start until after a few moments when the ignition key was turned to the accessory position. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 21,000.
Electric door lock on the rear driver side door does not work properly in warm or hot weather. You can hear the actuator trying, but it will only "partially"l ock/ unlock the door or not even budge the internal manual lever whether the remote fob or internal control switch is used. Things work fine when it is cold. This is definitely related to heat because in the spring and fall this is only a problem when the sun shines on the driver's side of the car. Furthermore, in the summer the lock will often work after running the A/C for 30 minutes or so. I think this problem started when the car was 3-4 years old. We can use the key to unlock the door, and if we use the remote fob first, the alarm won't sound. Just the same, it is aggravating.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. While driving at approximately 35 MPH, the rear brake lights illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was serviced under the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control), but the remedy failed to repair the vehicle. The contact mentioned that the brake lights remained illuminated after the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 118,000.
When driving my vehicle the brake lights are currently illuminating without me pressing the brake pedal and not illuminating when I do press the brake pedal (brake light reversal). In addition my electronic stability control (ESC) and cruise control turn off. I previously reported this problem to the agency under the federal safety agency id number 10548365. I had the recall work performed in the summer of 2014. In addition I previously had the brake pedal position sensor replaced prior to that, but it did not fix the problem. The problem has reappeared even though the suggested fix was applied. Please note that this problem was originally reported in rhinelander, wi.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the brake lights constantly remained illuminated. Prior to the failure, the vehicle was serviced under the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control). The contact mentioned that the brake light briefly deactivated when the brake pedal was depressed and illuminated afterwards. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the brake switch, the brake assembly light, and the multifunction switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 127,000.
2009 chevrolet malibu. Consumer writes in regards to body control module connection system recall reimbursement. *smd the consumer stated in june 2014, the vehicle wasn't running smoothly. It seemed to exhibit a jerk motion and felt as though it was going to stall. The ESC light would illuminate and then go out. The dealer made some repairs on june on june 27, 2014. After the repairs were made, the consumer received a recall letter. However, the parts were not available. Gm informed the consumer, the repairs were not covered by the recall. According to the invoice, the fuel injector wire was replaced. Recall # 14v252000 updated 12/30/15.
First issue happened with the driver low beam not working then work again a few days later. The problem keeps going on from passenger and driver low beams. I've noticed the connectors were melted and changed them and they would both work for a few weeks then one would go out again. Second issue is the passenger airbag doesn't turn on when passengers are in the vehicle. It works sometimes but not everytime. Third issue is the passenger side door locks. The door locks work sometimes and again not everytime like they should. There's a lot of people reporting these same issues but nothing gets done unless it's out of our pockets.
My door locks are locking and unlocking while I'm driving and also while the vehicle is parked.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the warning lights illuminated for the electronic stability control and the service stability traction control. The cruise control also failed to work. When the brake pedal was depressed, the lights did not illuminate and would remain illuminated when the contact was not applying the brakes. The vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control), manufacturer recall numbers: 103668 (exterior lighting brake lights) and 103664 (service brakes hydraulic and switches). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided no remedy. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. While parked, the exterior and interior front driver doors and the passenger and rear doors failed to open. The contact stated that the front driver side door had to be left open to enter or exit the vehicle. The failure recurred constantly. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the solenoid in all doors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 63,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate on several occasions while driving at various speeds. In addition, the contact stated that the power steering, the door locks, windows and rear tail gate failed. The vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v153000 (steering). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 125,000. Ma 10/23/15
The door actuators don't lock. The car is open at all times. Very unsafe for children and adults.
The ignition seems to shutoff going down the highway. I was doing 65 MPH down the interstate and the car all of sudden shuts off for a second. The security light appears on the dash. Then it fires back up and continue down the highway. Happened multiple times on trip home. Read on line how to fix the security light. Did that ran fine for about a week. Then did it again on another trip. Believe it is the same issue that the other malibus are having with the ignition. Just haven't recalled for 2009 as of yet.
Every now and then the dash lights will either go dim or brighten without touching the control.
When parked or when driving, doors randomly lock and unlock. Have seen several other complaints online from consumers around the country with this exact same problem. They all say that chevrolet dealerships refuse to repair at their cost and that cost is too high for most consumers ($300/lock). I also believe this is a safety concern, my grandchildren often ride with me, what if they open the door on the freeway?! Locked inside the car while it's on fire?! To say that this is not a safety concern is simply gross negligence! Negligence case law has shown that failure to act with prior knowledge is complicity of/to manslaughter, and this turns an accidental death into manslaughter. Gm! Wake up, get into gear here. Does your new ceo really want to deal with another recall cover up??!!!!
Bought my 2009 chevy malibu ltz in april 2015 in may 2015 my service ESC service traction control lights started to come on and my taillights are lighting up as if on the breaks when I am not.( they come on while I am stoped at a red light have never come on while moving) returned to the dealership where I got my car and the lights were off so they said they could not do anything until the lights were on(the lights reset when I shut my car off). They came on last night went to chevy dealership last night 7/20/2015 and they told me to replace the break pedal switch and we did that but my break lights are still coming on when they want,it looks like there was a recall for this before I got my car and I don't know if it was fixed or not and if it could be fixed again under the recall...... Very unhappy about this.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. While driving 65 MPH, the tire pressure monitoring system warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that a sensor needed to be re-learned. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred and low pressure, check svc was displayed across the message board. In addition, the contact stated that the defroster failed to function. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was aware of the federal safety agency campaign number: 08v634000 (visibility); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 53,000. Updated 09/25/15*lj updated 10/13/15
Attempted to unlock passenger doors from driver door panel switch when the driver rear door lock failed to open. This occurred intermittently until it completely failed about 3 months later in which time the other doors began having the same issue progressing clockwise around the vehicle. If door lock-unlock is cycled more than twice, 3 (non-driver) doors fail about 95% of the time. This failure occurs both when the door is locked and unlocked. Ref: cfr 571.206 s4.3.1
When I am driving the dashboard light would go black and then after a few minutes come back on then ABS, brake lights, anti-theft, air pressure, and all the warning lights would flash! Then come off and on while car is in motion and I have no signal or brake lights and gas gauge and speedometer goes to zero. If I turn the car off while those lights are on it won't restart. Sometimes I cannot get into the car because the remote doesn't work, I would go back out after a few hours and sometimes it would work. I just got this 2009 chevy malibu 5 months ago from a dealer and been having this issue shortly after I bought it!! I am unemployed and my husband lost his job I can't afford the car payment and insurance and having to fix this problem!! I have been reading online thousand of chevy malibu are having this issue!! Something needs to be done and not wait until someone gets killed!! Updated 09/15/15*lj updated 10/30/2017
From day 1, the right rear door lock actuator hasn't worked. After we got it fixed, the left rear door lock actuator also stopped working. Gm has provided partial coverage for our repair costs, but nothing for our inconvenience. (my husband had to take 4-5 hours off work each time to bring the car to the dealer for the repairs).
There have been multiple repairs done on this car because of recalls and potential recall items. I still owe $7,000 on this vehicle! I feel like the manufacturer owes me money as well as the dealership who fixed the recalled items and the items that are not yet in recall that need to be repaired are going to cause a complete accident if this is not handled promptly. I have two small children and organize volunteer work in my area and do not have the money to fix it. I feel like this is entitled to me and I should not have to have a faulty car when I am also paying on it. I can offer more details when you contact me.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the engine light illuminated. The vehicle lost power and decelerated independently. The vehicle regained power. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician diagnosed that the spark plugs, coil springs and the wire harness needed to be replaced. The failure recurred. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer, who replaced the electronic control module. However, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 133,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the rear interior power door locks failed to unlock when the key fob and power lock module were activated. The doors failed to unlock manually. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was unavailable. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.
Door actuators do not work by remote or when vehicle is placed in park. This possess a serious safety risk if in an accident or if the vehicle catches fire. Dealer said that they have had many complaints and have also replaced actuators on many different types of gm vehicles. I have already had one replaced under warranty and the other three went out shortly after warranty expired. This potential safety issued needs to be considered aggressively and in a timely manner before fatalities happen because of this problem.
The door locks on this vehicle will not secure and must be secured manually when entering or exiting the vehicle, also unlocks and locks during driving.. Very unsafe vehicle at this time due to these door lock issues. Not able to feel comfortable as much with this vehicle due to these issures. Please fix.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the door locks would independently lock and unlock without warning. The contact stated that the doors would not unlock to allow exiting the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 88,269.
I own a 2009 chevrolet malibu that I bought brand new from a dealership. Approximately one year ago (2014) my power locks started failing. Primarily the driver's door and the rear driver's door, although the passenger side doors have failed on occasion. The locks will not unlock or lock, intermittently. The rear driver's door won't work at all anymore and you have to climb over the seats to manually pull up the lock. I notice this occurs more often when the weather is hot outside, and less frequently when it is cooler outside. This is a big safety hazard and I am afraid that if I get into an accident there will be issues in getting myself or passengers out of the vehicle safely. I only have 44,000 miles on the vehicle. This needs to be addressed as I see many many malibu owners have filed a complaint with this issue.
Passenger doors (front and back) stopped locking/unlocking. Although they click to reflect that it is attempting, it does not complete. I have read on countless sites that this is a problem for many 2009 chevrolet malibu's and voicing my complaint as well in hopes that gm is forced to deal with their growing and continued issue.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2009 Chevrolet Malibu?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history