Power steering becomes stiff after idling for a few moments. Shut the engine off and restart and problem goes away. Brake lights work intermittently. Power door locks work intermittently when lock button is pushed several times. Unlocking doesn't work at all unless car is put in reverse then back into park.
2009 Chevrolet Malibu lights complaints
Page 4 of 7: complaints 71 to 100 of 172, newest first, as owners wrote them.
I have had the car serviced 3 times for the headlights going out on me. I was driving home from work at 930pm and noticed my lights were not on. It was pitch black because I have to go through the park to get home. I almost hit the curb because I could not see. I panicked but I tried the brights and they worked so I used them to get home. The greenwood chevrolet replaced the head light bulbs 3 times but it has to be electrical being that it went out 3 times in 2 months I haven't even had the car a year! On my way home from the grocery store on 3/6/2018 I almost wrecked because the power steering went out on the vehicle. I attempted to turn and almost ran into the back of the vehicle in front of me. The suspension doesn't work either. As of today I cannot drive at night because I do not have any head lights (that's been for 3 months) I cannot drive the car now because I do not have power steering to drive the car. I'm making payments on a death trap because I almost wrecked twice thank goodness god was with me.
High mounted stop lamp, works intermittently,stopped or in motion,(I have read online its a connection at the LED high mounted stop lamp).left and right fender stop lamps work correctly. Not part of recall 13036
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that he had to replace the driver side head lamp several times because it failed to operate without warning. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The VIN was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.
The low beam lights are constantly going out. Sometimes they will come back on by themselves or if we move things around a bit, but most of the time they stay off. Most of the time it is one or the other, but as of today both of my low beam lights are out. This is a huge safety issue
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that when the brake pedal was applied, the brake lights failed to function. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer stated that the VIN was not part of a recall and that the contact had to pay for the repair. The approximate failure mileage was 152,000.
While driving with my lights on the left headlight goes on and off. I've placed another bulb in and it's still doing the same. It only happen on dime the brights works fine.
My name is [xxx]. I have a 2009 chevy malibu(VIN #[xxx]), which I purchased in 2012. I have been having steering/traction issues, that enables me to turn without manpower'.and getting worse by the day. I was made aware that there is a recall for the steering issues on 2009 chevy malibu's as well as other chevy cars. I was getting ready to take in to for repair and was told by ntb when brought in for a wheel alignment that there is a recall for steering issues. I called chevy dealership(jack schmitt) and gm customer service and was told that my car was not on the recall list. How can over a million chevy cars be recalled for the same issue and I'm being told mine is not'make no sense to me. Please help me understand ....as this is a life threatening and can cause total loss of control and cause me to crash, which can be fatal to me and other people. Also my brake light illuminates all day long...took my car in to have it checked out and the chevy dealership repaired it at no cost to me...because it was a recall issue that I again did not know anything about..now the brake lights are illuminating again and I was told that since I had it repaired the 1st time its no longer covered under the recall....never knew recalls expired. I am not at fault for either of these issues. I refuse to pay out of pocket for known recall issues,,, information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Serious safety issue for 2009 chevrolet malibu. Headlights low beam both right and left keep going out soon after replacement of the pigtail connector that connects the headlamps to the electrical system. Burns out within one or two weeks of being replaced. The local repair shop and chevrolet dealership service departments say it cannot be repaired to stop the pigtail from burning out. We called chevrolet and they will not help. In researching this issue in chevrolet malibu 2009 chatrooms this is a very common safety problem. If the lights burn out at night we are in trouble. To replace the pigtail connector the front bumper has to be removed, costing over $200 per incident. This is a serious safety issue that cannot be resolved at chevrolet service departments. How is it possible to not permanently be able to repair this serious safety issue?
The brake lights do not always come on when the brake pedal is pressed. Other times the brake lights, including the center brake light is on without the pedal being pressed. Note this occurs both when stationary and moving.
1) awhile back, after starting and warming engine and taking off, while making a left turn on city street, car turn off completely..wheel froze after turn. I turned key off and restarted car and it would work ok. It happened 3 0r 4 times. No warning light came on. I took it to dealership and they could not find the problem. 2) while on freeway, tire monitor warning light came on twice, I bought tires but did not have monitors checked. A few days later engine light came on. Now, I needed smog done, had to replace catalic converter (1400.00) and mechanic has a problem with car communications system. Its costing me too much. There is recall on something having to do with brakes.. Could this communications problem be related? I did have brake pads replaced last year. The recall has to with bcm and bas (my dashboard lights occassionally fluctuate and take a while for lights to come on bright with dashboard button all way to bright.). Remote control stopped working 6 months after I bought car in 2010...doors have to be locked manually..except for passenger side door, power windows do not work. My concern right now is having it smogged and tire monitors.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. After the dealer repaired the vehicle per the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v252000 (service brakes, hydraulic, electrical system, exterior lighting, vehicle speed control, electronic stability control), the contact experienced a failure. The contact notified the dealer several times that the brake lights remained illuminated when the brake pedal was not depressed. When the brake pedal was depressed, the exterior brake lights failed to illuminate. The dealer (cox chevrolet, 2900 cortez rd w, bradenton, fl 34207, (941) 749-2699) was unable to replicate the failure and stated that further diagnostic testing was required. The contact felt as if the recall repair provided no solution. The manufacturer was notified and provided no assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 84,000.
The brake lights on my malibu are not working. The brake lights illuminate without the brake pedal applied and turn off when the pedal is applied. Also, my electronic stability control and cruise control do not work. I have had this fixed four times already, two which I paid for out of pocket, and then two from a subsequent recall. I brought my car in today to get it repaired for this problem the fifth time. Is there something systemically wrong beyond what the recall addresses?
The chmsl - center high mount stop light (3rd LED brake light) works for a short period until it overheats or not at all failing to illuminate. It is not an wiring issue but the LED unit itself. Note - this issue is not associated to the bcm (body control module) gm is addressing. I have notice this is an issue not only with my individual car but several others I have seen on the road of same make/module-generation and corresponding model/year plus also mentioned in forums. I feel this is an very important safety feature that should not fail given it is an LED lighting system to assist in preventing rear end collisions. Once the warranty period expires, gm will not cover and is up to the individual to cover costs to replace/repair and is required to work for some states safety inspections. Led lighting units like this should not fail, should be addressed by the car manufacturer for repair/replace costs and not passed on to the consumer. Pictures can be provided if requested.
We have had to replace the dim lights on the passenger side last november and now my left side dim light has gone out. Is this common in these cars? Someone said that there might be a recall for this. How do I find out.
Loud winding noise while driving. Service traction/ESC off light illuminates while car is on. Accelerates very slowly and brake lights come on randomly
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the contact noticed other vehicles flashing their headlights and blowing their horns. The contact realized that the driver side low beam headlight was out. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and repaired. Two weeks after the repair, the failure recurred. The vehicle was repaired again, but the failure recurred three weeks later. An independent mechanic stated that the wiring to the driver side low beam head lamp was faulty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 179,500.
There is a recall on my 3rd break light.
The vehicle continuously locks itself and the power lock buttons do not work to open the doors, you have to physically turn the car on and put it in gear then back in park to get the locks to disengage. There are times that the brake/head lights do not work or they turn on by themselves when the car is not running. Earlier today 04-09-17 the vehicle would not start at first, after a few tries the engine turned over but while driving it in town it completely died. The vehicle restarted but could have caused an accident.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. The contact received a recall repair for the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v252000 (service brakes, hydraulic, electrical system, exterior lighting, vehicle speed control, electronic stability control). Two years later, the brake lights failed to illuminate when applied, but would illuminate when the brake pedal was not depressed. The service ESC and traction control warning indicators flashed. Also, the cruise control shut off and operated intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing and repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available. Updated 11/01/17*lj
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. The contact took the vehicle to be serviced per the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v252000 (service brakes). The contact was informed that the high mount brake light failed without warning. It was diagnosed that the high mount brake wiring and the light needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.
The high mount brake light does not always illuminate when the brake pedal is engaged. On a 1 hour commute, the brake light can start working, stop working, and then start working again. The vehicle appears to have the same problem described in the federal safety agency campaign 14v‑252 but as not included in gm recall 13036 even though the recall included other 2009 chevy malibus. I tried calling the number for gm listed in the federal safety agency campaign but was told that my vehicle was not part of the recall and there was nothing they could do until I took it to a dealership to have a diagnostic performed.
Brake lights, radio, trunk opener on drivers door , left turn signal, doors randomly lock , 3rd brake light dim, sometimes driver door won't open from inside or outside with door unlocked , sometimes drivers door won't shut, 105k miles on this car. This is the most expensive vehicle I've owned and it's the worst vehicle I've ever owned. The drivers door is stuck shut currently.
My rear passenger door lock disengaged from the automatic locks and can only be opened from the inside. (spring 2016) my traction control is periodically saying that it has malfunctioned but does not always. When the light comes on, I feel a pulse as I'm braking and sometimes if it comes on while I'm driving I'll feel a slight jolt through the accelerator pedal. I also hear a click noise like the pedal may disengage. (late summer 2016) I don't know if it's related but since most things seem electrical, my radio sometimes will not turn off and seems to do what it wants during times when other things are seemingly malfunctioning (I.e. In conjunction with the traction control issue). On several occasions, I have taken the key out of the ignition, opened the door but my radio doesn't turn off. (late summer 2016) on several occasions, I have taken the key out of the ignition, but the car seems to still be running, like idling. I've thought it was the cooling system, but I've never had this happen in the last 22 years I've been driving nor heard it from anyone else I ask. (late summer 2016) I have also been driving, on several occasions, with cruise control engaged and then realize that I'm slowing down only to find the cruise is no longer engaged. The first few times I thought it was me. Now, I rarely use it because it's not consistently reliable. (late summer 2016) while my fuse and bulbs are fine, both of my taillights are not working. (late november, 2016 when someone brought it to my attention).
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. While the cruise control was activated, it randomly deactivated. Also, when the brake pedal was depressed, the center brake light would not illuminate and the rear brake lights illuminated very dimly. The contact also indicated that the transmission was replaced due to failures that prevented the vehicle from accelerating normally. No further information was available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,000.
The break lights turn on without the pedal being press down while the car moving . Also while the car in not moving and the engine running. Also another problem that I have is that tire monitor light come on all the time without the tire needing air.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the contact was alerted by another motorist that the brake light was constantly illuminated, as if she were applying the brakes. The brake light dimmed when the brake pedal was depressed. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired per a manufacturer recall in april of 2015 for the same failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. While the vehicle was stopped at a red light, the check engine, traction control off, and stability control off warning lights illuminated. While the vehicle was parked on a hill, it independently rolled backwards without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. 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 contact stated that the passenger side headlight failed to operate intermittently. The contact mentioned that the bulb was replaced multiple times, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the wiring harness was burned and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign numbers: 09v073000 (power train) and 12v460000 (power train). The failure mileage was 95,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. While depressing the brake pedal, the brake lights failed to operate. When the brake pedal was released, the brake light illuminated. In addition, the dis active stability control warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The vehicle was previously repaired under the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic, speed control). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.
Consistent problems with headlamps failing frequently. Alternator fine. Cause is due to corrosion of the wiring and wiring harness. Manufacturer defect prevents replacement of headlamps, wires or wiring harnesses without removing front bumper, wheel and wheel well, making maintenance virtually impossible. Headlamps failed in october 2014 and again in march of this year. General motors unwilling to help with problem. When operating the vehicles in low light conditions or at night, insufficient lighting makes it difficult to spot other vehicles, pedestrians, animals and other road hazards.
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