My steering wheel shakes and jerks while driving and when I start the car. Also, my car steers and pulls to the left while I’m driving until the electric power steering light comes on and then the steering locks up and I am unable to turn the steering wheel to make a turn which can lead to a crash because I have to force the wheel in order to turn. I was driving on the highway and my steering locked and I pulled over safely and tried turning the car off and on. This has turned the electric power steering light off and I was able to turn the wheel but my steering wheel still shakes and jerks and the car pulls to the left. To add, a few minutes later my steering locks up and the electric power steering light comes on again and I am unable to turn the steering wheel. A couple of days ago I was coming off of an exit and the power steering light came on and I could turn the wheel to make the turn, almost causing an accident. Fortunately, I was able to force the steering to make the turn. *This has been a reoccurring issue. I will post the date below for the latest occurrence.
2009 Chevrolet Malibu: jerking or lurching
43 of the 1,511 complaints about the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu describe jerking or lurching.
- owner complaints
- 43
- of this car's complaints
- 3%
- typical mileage
- 105,000
- recalls
- 2
Jerking or lurching by model year
What owners say
After I’ve been driving the car for a while, the steering wheel doesn’t just shakes, it jerks violently very quickly in the left/right direction as if it’s trying to turn. It happens so fast to where I couldn’t stop the wheel if I wanted to without injuring myself. It also places grave danger while driving anywhere. I’ve turned the car off & back on, it’s fine for maybe 20-30 mins. But now it’s worsen to where immediately once I start the car, the steering wheel spins left and right as if it’s trying to find a direction to turn. No one (mechanic) seems to be able to identify the issue leaving me with a vehicle I’m unable to drive or fix.
Power Steering and ESC both failed at the same time randomly, no warning lights or signals until after the incident. Can get it to turn back on by starting car and jerking wheel, steering wheel shakes back and forth, power steering and ESC goes back out once wheel is turned even slightly. Electronic power steering is constant, so I am fighting my car just to drive it, and I have no electronic stability control in snow/ice. Impossible to react/turn quickly enough to prevent an accident in the worst case scenario. Most likely torque sensor, extremely common issue with 09 Malibu’s, no recall issued.
There is a clicking noise in the steering wheel column while it jerks both left and right while driving. Happening every time it is driven hard to turn steering wheel both left and right.
When driving and at a stop/light, the car shuts off, or it shakes as if it gonna die out. The ESC service light appears on dashboard. Sometimes when just driving at any speed, it jerks and both ESC service light and traction control both come on the dashboard.
I've been having an issue with my vehicle registering which gear it is in. The gears shift hard, and when placing the vehicle in reverse, the vehicle vigorously jerks back and forth. While driving the vehicle on the road, it slowed down to a complete stop in the middle of traffic. The vehicle would not accelerate, and when it finally did, it just takes off with no warning. When placing the vehicle on park, at times it would still roll.. There is also the power steering and traction control sensors that are both illuminated on the dashboard. The steering stiffening in the vehicle is an issue only sometimes. However, it still worries me while driving on the road with my toddler in the vehicle as well. I did research recalls associated with the make, model, and year of my vehicle and found that there is a recall in each area I'm having trouble in. However, when I spoke with a chevrolet associate, I was told that there was nothing they could do for me. I won't drive the vehicle because I don't feel it's safe and I'm afraid of an accident taking place.
Whenever it's extremely hot outside my vehicle start to act up as in the 2 front wheels would jerk like they're not getting enough power. My car would also stall out whenever it's extremely hot but the temperature gauge would still show as the car being 1/4 near cold. All of this would have at a stationary position or city street or highway position.
Was driving down busy street and then a service ESC light came on my car and started loosing power to car and the dash board kept flashing service ESC and power steering light. It kept doing the same thing like every minute. Even it finally starts running out starts jerking but then it looses power again but goes neck on.
Same issue as everybody else. I lose steering while driving down the road. Something to do with the power steering. My steering wheel locks up and im anybody to turn the car. This happens while driving down the road parked or pretty much at anytime. When it does work my steering wheel jerks. While driving it jerks as well very scary stuff. When it happens the ESC and power steering light comes on. This was special type of recall with a exp date? Really so you only care about the people driving your car for 5 years? After that who cares if they die huh.
Driving down the interstate yesterday and started feeling small jerks in the steering wheel. Like something on the other side jerking it in my hand. Not enough to move the car just in my hand. Now today go outside, crank it and steering wheel will not move. The ESC and power steering indicators came on.
Electric power steering went out on my chevy malibu 2009, 2.4 liter engine. The car can be turned on and the power steering will shut off and I am unable to move the steering wheel when driving. The sensor will pick up an error and it will display 'power steering' on the dash. Then I will turn the car off and the power steering will turn back on. Turning when the power steering is still working causes it to have a weird twitch or jerk when driving where it moves the steering wheel by itself when turning and driving straight. Gm had a recall for this issue with my exact model but I called the dealership and they said they were unable to help me and that my car wasn't on the recall bulletin yet my car is the same model and year that on the bulletin having the exact same problem. It is also not me, I see others having the same problem and that gm is not doing anything about this dangerous issue. I just purchased this vehicle and it has 160,000 miles on it. This needs to be addressed because power steering is essential to driver safety. This happens anywhere at anytime the power steering decides to just shut itself off.
While driving ESC light came on, steering wheel jerks/shakes unable to full steer or control vehicle. Cuts on and off while driving
Service bulletins that may apply
- This service bulletin provides information on some vehicles that may rock or move slightly forward or...
- GM is receiving damaged (cracked or broken) transmission cores returned to the reman facilities
- This bulletin provides information on the harmful effects of water or ethylene glycol in transmission fluid.
- This Warranty Admin service bulletin provides guidelines for Dealers Not Required and for Dealers Required...
- The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle...
- Power train
- This bulletin provides information on Policies Applicable to All U.S. Dealers for Engine and Transmission...
- This service bulletin provides information on OEM and Remanufactured Engine and Automatic...
Related recalls
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
Questions about the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu jerking
Is jerking or lurching a common problem on the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu?
43 of 1,511 owner complaints about the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu (3%) mention jerking or lurching. The model year with the most reports is 2008.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu?
There are 2 recalls and 73 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
Power steering loss 244Loss of power 106Headlights 94Door locks 85Steering lock-up 84Adaptive cruise 59Engine failure 48Check 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
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