2009 Chevrolet Malibu: check engine light

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 Sep 7, 2024 · Steering · IN

I recently bought this car used a month ago, currently I still do not have any check engine lights. The other day while turning my power steering went out and “service esc” flashed on my dash. My vehicle is normal when you start it but as soon as I start driving and make a turn in any direction my power steering goes out and the traction control gets turned off.

Filed Nov 21, 2023 · Electrical, Lights · NY

Having problems with my rear stop lights, traction control/ indicator light, ECS/ indicator light. When driving center brake light remains on but when I need to apply brakes they go off, lights on dashboard have been on since I purchased the vehicle which were never addressed the only light addressed was the check engine light. All other issues were voided being that they let me drive down to N.C. knowing it would void my warranty with them after putting 1 thousand miles on the vehicle without notication to me.

Filed Jan 18, 2023 · KS

It’s going on with a lot of Malibu’s with the starting issue with the whole fuse box the copper in the fuse box is making a hairline split in the copper in the fuse box one the car heats up enough to make the plastic fuse box hot there no engine light for this so people would go threw thousands of dollars and never find the issue this really needs a recall because it’s happening to mys and if you take the fuse box apart and don’t see a split in the copper your going have to have a hot gun to warm it it up to show I did what many people did I change the starter I change the starter relay and a few other fuses and still have a starting problem sometimes my car starts up fine then other times it won’t start after trying aleast 6 times then I got wait 20 to 30 mins then it will start this is a major problem for these models and for a mechanic to find unless you explain the situation this need to be recall for the fuse boxes with it over heating in splitting the wire inside to cause starting problems and power problems and sometimes throwing out faulty codes please resolve this issue so I can bring my car in for new fuse box are a recall to shouldering the wire as they call it this is major

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 Oct 27, 2022 · Steering · MI

My power steering suddenly stopped working in a very unsafe location. This has happened several times. In the past, I've been able to shut the car off, wait for a couple minutes, start the car back up, and the warning lights are no longer lit (the road hazard light and the check engine light come on during this episode, which has happened on more than one occasion, both times in unsafe locations. This model with this specific 2.4L motor has not been recalled but I have been told that these malibus with the larger motors have at least had bulletins issued for the same exact characteristic. My fear is that one of my daughters will be driving this car and the power steering pump will go out when they are on the highway. So even though my car has 156,000 miles on it, this has happened since I bought the car with 48,000 miles on the odometer.

Filed May 19, 2022 · Electrical, Visibility · IL

Just bought the car and it started acting funny. The windshield wipers haven't worked almost the whole time we've had the car. We have attempted to fix them and we think the problem is fixed all for them to stop working again. So needless to say we either can't drive while it's raining or we attempt to risk ours and others lives by driving with no windshield wipers at all. Now the temperature gauge, and ac are randomly deciding to stop working. Plus the check engine light would randomly come on and off. Found that there was a recall out for these exact problems. So we took it to the dealership and they told us there's nothing they can do the recall has expired almost 3 years ago. Now we just bought the car and all this stuff started and now we're being told it's pretty much our problem because the last owner didn't stay up to date on the car and it's recalls. so I'm trying to figure out how we can still get this fixed specially since we have kids and even grandkids that ride in this car. But now as of these last few days we haven't been able to drive it at all. So we're trying to figure out how we can get the problem that is now ours and shouldn't be fixed.

Filed Jan 19, 2022 · Steering · 140,000 miles · MI

The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact’s daughter stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the residence. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer to be inspected. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 14V153000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in an active recall. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

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 Oct 4, 2020 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 246,672 miles · TN · crash

I have a 2009 chevy malibu and it's very unsafe to drive. I have a 4 cylinder car with electric power steering and it was not apart of the recall. Yet it's having the same symptoms as the recall cars. I had to have my car pushed out of a ditch yesterday because it's so hard to turn my steering wheel I lost control of my car. My traction control light is on, and pressing the button does not work. I sometimes don't have control to unlock my door and have to call someone to physically open it from the outside. My check engine light is on, also my battery light. And they are all good and up to date. My traction and system light is on too. And my head lights, brake lights, and battery is constantly drained and going out. It's hard to find reasonable price's from auto shops, and the dealership prices are too expensive. I shouldn't have to struggle to turn and work my car because of a computer system that's out. It's very dangerous. I'm going to upload a picture of my car after it was pushed out the ditch. But my steering wheel has been hard to turn and I've been having this problem since january of 2020. And it makes a loud whining noise while trying to turn the wheel.

Filed Sep 14, 2020 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 113,000 miles · MS

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

Filed May 26, 2020 · Engine, Fuel system · 126,000 miles · SC

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.