2009 Chevrolet Malibu
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Steering is the leading concern among 1,509 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 2nd highest complaint count among 26 Malibu model years with reports.
Of the 2009 reports, 41 involved a crash and 9 involved a fire. 44 people were injured and 3 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
SteeringJul 21, 2014
Dorman Products, Inc. (Dorman) is recalling certain replacement intermediate steering shafts sold under the Dorman, OE Solutions, and Solutions brand names, part numbers 425-167, 2425167, and 7-3074, for installation on 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6, and 2007-2009 Saturn Aura vehicles. The affected steering shafts may have a yoke that inadequately supports the u-joint bearing resulting in a premature failure.
A joint bearing that fails prematurely may cause separation of the u-joint resulting in a complete loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dorman will notify owners, and dealers will refund the purchase price or replace the steering shafts, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact Dorman customer service at 1-800-523-2492.
Campaign 14E044000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, wiringMay 14, 2014
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.
Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and harness connector, and will relearn the brake pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). GM's number for this recall is 13036.
Campaign 14V252000 on NHTSA.gov
Steering, electric power assist systemMar 31, 2014
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2006 Malibu Maxx, 2009-2010 HHR (non-turbo), 2010 Cobalt, 2008-2009 Saturn Aura and 2004-2007 Ion, and 2005-2009 Pontiac G6. In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving.
If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will perform one of four bulletins. Parts are not currently available. GM expects to send an interim notification around May 28, 2014. When parts are available, owners will be mailed a second letter to come in to have the applicable bulletin applied. Bulletin 14115 covers model year 2004-2007 Saturn Ion, 2009-2010 Chevrolet HHR and 2010 Chevrolet Cobalts. Dealers will replace the EPS motor. Bulletin 14116 covers model year 2004-2006 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx, 2005-2006 Pontiac G6 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from March 1, 2008, through June 27, 2008. Dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly. Bulletin 14117 covers model year 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from February 1, 2008, through February 28, 2008. Dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly and EPS motor controller unit. Bulletin 14118 covers model year 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from October 1, 2007, through January 31, 2008. Dealers will replace the EPS motor controller unit. The recall began on July 17, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, Saturn at 1-800-553-6000, and Pontiac at 1-800-620-7668. GM's number for this recall is N140115. Note: GM bulletin number 14119 will be implemented for model year 2006-2008 and early production of 2009 Chevrolet HHR (non-turbo) and model year 2003 Saturn ION to provide EPS Motor replacement for the life of the vehicle.
Campaign 14V153000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmission, gear position indication (prndl)Sep 18, 2012
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.
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.
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.
Campaign 12V460000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmission, lever and linkage, column shiftMar 6, 2009
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".
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.
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.
Campaign 09V073000 on NHTSA.gov
Visibility, defroster/defogger/hvac systemDec 2, 2008
GM IS RECALLING 77 MY 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU HYBRID VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 103, "WINDSHIELD DEFROSTING AND DEFOGGING SYSTEM." THE HEATING, VENTILATION, AND AIRCONDITIONING (HVAC) SYSTEM MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE BLOWER WOULD NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AND THE MODE SELECTOR WOULD REMAIN IN THE LAST KNOWN SETTING.
IF THE WINDSHIELD BEGAN TO FOG OR FROST, THERE MAY NOT BE ENOUGH AIRFLOW TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD, RESULTING IN REDUCED DRIVER VISIBILITY AND A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE HVAC CONTROL HEAD MODULE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON DECEMBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .
Campaign 08V634000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
1,509 reports, newest first.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Jun 29, 2009, crash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER DUE TO A VERY STRONG CHEMICAL SMELL INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM TO DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN, KEEP THE VEHICLE OUT OF DIRECT SUNLIGHT, AND ALLOW IT TO AIR OUT. AFTER A FEW WEEKS OF AIRING OUT THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 40 MPH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE STRONG SCENT IN THE VEHICLE CAUSED HIM TO BECOME DISORIENTED WHILE DRIVING. HE BELIEVED THAT THE SCENT WAS SO STRONG THAT IT CAUSED HIM TO DRIVE POORLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE CONTACT DOES NOT WANT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE ODOR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 800. UPDATED 07/14/09 *BF THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED AFTER CRASHING INTO SEVERAL CARS, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE REASON HE CRASHED WAS DUE TO THE CHEMICAL SMELL IN THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED HIM TO BECOME DISORIENTED. UPDATED 07/16/09.*JB
Power train, Jun 11, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARK GEAR DOES NOT REMAIN ENGAGED. IF PARKED ON A HILL, THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL DOWN. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SHIFT LOCK CABLE FOR FREE. A RECALL WAS ISSUED AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE RECALL BECAUSE OF WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THERE ARE MORE 2009 MALIBUS WITH THIS ISSUE. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,543 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,400. UPDATED 062909 *BF UPDATED 07/01/09.*JB
Air bags, May 21, 2009, crash
I WAS SB ON SHIRLEY AVENUE IN SIOUX FALLS, SD. I WAS MAKING A LEFT ON A GREEN LIGHT WHEN A LADY TRAVELING EB RAN A RED LIGHT AND HIT ME ON THE RIGHT FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. I WAS INJURED. MY VEHICLE IS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
Steering, May 13, 2009
MY 2009 CHEVY MALIBU HAS AS SEVERE STEERING BIAS TO THE LEFT THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIX. *TR
Power train, May 6, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT'S RELATIVE OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATES WHILE ACCELERATING. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAS A 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION THAT HESITATES, BUT THE DEALER CANNOT REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS A STANDARD FEATURE ON THIS TYPE OF TRANSMISSION, WHICH WAS TESTED BY GM. THE CONTACT ASKED THE DEALER TO INSTALL A FOUR CYLINDER TRANSMISSION FROM THE CHEVROLET IMPALA, BUT GM REFUSED WITHOUT PROVIDING AN EXPLANATION. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,300 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Steering, May 3, 2009
2009 CHEVY MALIBU WITH 6 CYLINDER ENGINE. HAS A SEVERE AND SIGNIFICANT TORQUE STEER ON ACCELERATION (MOST NOTICEABLE FROM A STOP) CAUSING CAR TO DRAMATICALLY AND DANGEROUSLY PULL TO LEFT. HAS ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENTS MORE THAN ONCE. . IN ADDITION IT REQUIRES A LOT OF PRESSURE TO PUT THE EMERGENCY (PARKING) BRAKE DOWN TO WHERE IT WILL HOLD THE CAR ON A HILL. HAVE HAD THIS CHECKED OUT BY 3 SEPARATE CHEVROLET DEALERS AND ALL TELL ME THEY ARE DESIGN ISSUES, NORMAL CONDITIONS THAT CANNOT BE CORRECTED. *TR
Power train, Apr 20, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V073000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT). SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT EVERYTHING LOOKED NORMAL. ONE MONTH LATER, WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO PLACE THE GEAR INTO PARK, IT WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CONTACT MOVED THE VEHICLE TO A SPOT WHERE IT WOULD NOT ROLL AWAY AND PLACED THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL. SHE THEN APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT CURRENTLY REMAINS. THE CONTACT IS WAITING ON A RESPONSE FROM THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 2,600.
Visibility, Structure, Nov 12, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING, THE GLARE FROM THE DASH DISPLAYED ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. AS A RESULT, VISIBILITY WAS GREATLY REDUCED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION; HOWEVER, THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 250. UPDATED 12-04-08 *BF UPDATED 12/10/08. *JB
Exterior lighting, Oct 19, 2008
ALTHOUGH THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN ACCIDENT YET, DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE CARS HEADLIGHTS, AND TAIL LIGHTS, (AND THE REMOVAL OF THE SIDE REPEATER LAMP FOR TURN SIGNAL INDICATION ON THE 2009 MODEL YEAR MALIBU), THERE IS NO VISIBLE TURN INDICATOR FOR OTHER DRIVERS TO SEE INDICATION OF A SIGNAL FROM THE CAR UNLESS OTHER DRIVERS ARE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF, OR BEHIND THE CAR. FOR EXAMPLE, IF A DRIVER IS SITTING AT A 4 WAY STOP, OR LIKEWISE, BECAUSE THE TURN SIGNAL DOES NOT WRAP AROUND THE FRONT OR BACK OF THE CAR, DRIVERS TO THE LEFT, AND RIGHT OF THE CAR, CANNOT SEE THE TURN SIGNAL, WHICH POSES A SAFETY HAZARD. ON THE 2008 MALIBU, THERE WAS A SIDE MARKER REPEATER LAMP ON THE FRONT QUARTER PANEL, AND IT WAS REMOVED FROM THE 2009 MY. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A LARGE SAFETY CONCERN, AND THEY SHOULD BE PUT BACK ONTO THE CARS, OR A REDESIGN OF THE HEADLAMP ASSY. *TR