79 complaints reported

2009 Chevrolet Malibu Electrical System

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
79
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Injuries
2

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Jun 2017

BOTH REAR DOOR LOCKS DO NOT OPERATE WITH THE REMOTE. SAFETY HAZARD!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2017
Jun 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROGRESSING FAILURE IN WHICH THE DOOR FAILED TO UNLOCK WITH THE FOB FOR THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK. THE OTHER THREE DOORS HAD BEEN ABLE TO LOCK AND UNLOCK WITH THE FOB. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE ALSO RECEIVED AN INSPECTION FROM AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT THE RESULTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,835. UPDATED 08/24/17*LJ *CN

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2017
Mar 2017

THE ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING ON THE CHEVY MALIBU 2009 DISENGAGES ITSELF WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST, THAT OCCUR ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING AND SOMETIME LOCKS ITSELF IN. WHEN POWER STEERING IS LOST, GREATER DRIVER EFFORT S REQUIRED TO STEER THE VEHICLE, INCREASING RISK OF CRASHING. THIS HAPPENED TO ME WHILE ON A HIGHWAY, AND HAS COMPLETELY LOST POWER STEERING.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2017
Feb 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jun 2017
Oct 2016

2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU LS 2.4L GAS ALL DOOR LOCKS INTERMITTENTLY LOCKING OR UNLOCKING BY USING EITHER THE KEY FOB OR THE DOOR PANEL BUTTONS. THE FAILURE TO LOCK AND UNLOCK OCCURS ALMOST ALWAYS WHEN IT'S HOT OUTSIDE AND THE CAR SITS IN THE SUN, THEN THE DOORS NEED TO BE LOCKED AND UNLOCKED MANUALLY.LOCKS ARE CONTROLLED BY THE (BCM) BODY CONTROL MODULE WHICH ALREADY HAS A RECALL #13036 FOR A FAULTY CONNECTOR THAT CAUSES BRAKE LAMP MALFUNCTIONS. EXTREME SAFTY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ASAP!!!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2016
Sep 2016

NOT SURE WHY MY CAR WASN'T ON THE GM SAFETY RECALL 13036. THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE LISTED ON THIS RECALL ARE THE SAME PROBLEMS I AM HAVING NOW. BRAKE LIGHTS STAYING ON WHILE DRIVING, CRUISE CONTROL NOT WORKING, TRACTION CONTROL AND ESC SERVICE LIGHTS COMING ON, BRAKE PEDAL NOT WORKING PROPERLY, ETC. I AM AFRAID SOMEONE WILL END UP HITTING ME. I DON'T HAVE THE $ TO FIX IT. AND IN THIS RECALL, WHICH I'M NOT ON,GM WOULD SERVICE/PERFORM AT NO CHARGE. MY CAR IS IN THE GUIDELINES (YR: 2004-2012 CHEV MALIBU) OF THIS SAFETY ISSUE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Aug 2016
Sep 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROGRESSING FAILURE IN WHICH THE KEY WAS TURNED OVER AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE NUMEROUS TIMES WITHOUT WARNING AND HAD TO WAIT AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME FOR THE VEHICLE TO RANDOMLY RESTART. THE CONTACT HAD NOT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STARTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A MECHANIC REPLACED THE STARTER AND THE KEY STILL WOULD NOT TURN OVER TO START THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,830. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Apr 2016
Aug 2016

ALL 4 DOOR LOCKING LATCHES ARE NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY, RIGHT FRONT DOOR WAS LOCKED IN THE LOCK POSITION AND WOULD NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE, EVEN AFTER MANUALLY UNLOCKING THE LOCK OR PULLING THE LOCK LEVER IN THE UNLOCK POSITION. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THERE SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL INVESTIGATION PERFORMED ON THIS MATER. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK MANUALLY OR AUTOMATICALLY IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE EMERGENCY LEAVING THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS TRAPPED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN PART AT THE TIME OF THE OCCURRENCE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2016
Jul 2016

THIRD BRAKE LIGHT WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO.THIS IS A ON AND OFF PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SAFETY PROBLEM G.M. SHOULD ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM OR A LEAST TELL OWNERS HOW TO FIX.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2010
Jun 2016

DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS ON THIS VEHICLE HAVE FAILED WITHIN 30,000 MILES OF MANUFACTURE. THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS ON 2008-2009 MODELS DOCUMENTED ALL OVER THE INTERNET. I AM UNABLE TO LOCK OR UNLOCK MY DOORS ELECTRONICALLY DUE TO THIS CHRONICALLY FAULTY PART. IT IS UNSAFE FOR ME TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH MY KIDS IN THE BACKSEAT BECAUSE I WOULD BE UNABLE TO GET THEM OUT OF THE LOCKED CAR IN AN EMERGENCY (I CURRENTLY HAVE TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW AND MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DOOR BECAUSE THE LOCK BUTTON IS AT THE REAR OF THE DOOR). FROM WHAT I CAN TELL, GM HAS REPLACED THIS PART WITH NEWER VERSIONS THAT RESOLVED THE ISSUES, BUT THEY NEVER CONTACTED THE PUBLIC TO OFFER TO REPLACE THE FAULTY PART. MANY GM CUSTOMERS ARE HAVING TO SPEND OVER $1,000 IN PARTS AND LABOR TO FIX THIS SAFETY ISSUE. WHILE GM WILL ARGUE THAT POWER LOCKS ARE A CONVENIENCE ISSUE AND NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, I WOULD INVITE NHTSA TO LOOK AT MY CAR AND SEE HOW IT IS PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO UNLOCK THE BACK DOORS FROM THE FRONT SEAT AND THE PROCESS INVOLVED IN ROLLING DOWN THE WINDOW TO UNLOCK AND OPEN THE DOOR. IN AN EMERGENCY, SECONDS COUNT AND I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET MY KIDS OUT. THEY NEED TO RECALL THESE ACTUATORS AND REPLACE THEM WITH THE REDESIGNED PART NUMBER.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jun 2016
May 2016

2009 CHEVY MALIBU - WE'VE BEEN HAVING ISSUE WITH THE POWER WINDOW CONTROLLERS/BUTTONS TO OPERATE FOR SEVERAL YEARS BUT HAVEN'T HAD A CHANGE TO GET THEM CHECKED. WE HAVE BEEN AVOIDING TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE WINDOWS BECAUSE THERE WERE TIMES THAT THEY WILL OPEN AND CLOSE BACK UP BUT YESTERDAY, I OPEN THE WINDOW FROM THE DRIVER SIDE AND TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES TO CLOSE IT AND DON'T HAVE ANY SUCESS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: May 2016
May 2016

THE REAR DOOR ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS DON'T FUNCTION ALL THE TIME TO LOCK OR UNLOCK THE DOORS. OPERATION IS INTERMITTENT. I'M VERY CONCERNED WHEN CHILDREN ARE IN THE CAR. THE PROBLEM HAS EXISTED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2016
Apr 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ESC LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ESC FAILED AND THE MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ESC LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DUE TO THE INJECTING HARNESS FAILURE, AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,154. UPDATED 06/29/16*LJ *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2016
Mar 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE BRAKE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO FUNCTION. IN ADDITION, THE INTERIOR LIGHTING WOULD GO FROM BRIGHT TO DIM AND THE DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS ALSO FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED EVERYDAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Feb 2016
Feb 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE ENGINE, THE SECURITY SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE LIGHT DIMMED AFTER 5-10 MINUTES AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2015
Feb 2016

MY POWER LOCKS WANT TO UNLOCK & LOCK WHILE I AM OPERATING THE VEHICLE. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE BECAUSE WITH GRANDCHILDREN IF THE DOORS MALFUNCTION AS THEY HAVE BEEN THEY CAN OPEN THE DOORS WHILE I AM DRIVING. THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE PARTICULAR YEARS. ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM 29 COMPLAINTS NOT A LOT HOWEVER IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT NEEDS FIXING.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Feb 2016
Dec 2015

DOOR LOCKS RANDOMLY ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE WHILE DRIVING THEY MAY UNLOCK MAY NOT UNLOCK WHEN CAR IS NOT IN MOTION THEN RANDOMLY THEY LOCK AND UNLOCK WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION CONSTANTLY AT SLOW SPEED LESS OFTEN DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING THEY ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE CONSTANTLY MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET INVOLVING THE SAME ISSUE ON THE SAME VEHICLE

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2015
Aug 2015

THE CENTER HIGH MOUNT STOP LIGHT WORKS AND THEN DOES NOT WORK AT TIMES. DEALER SAID 3 THIRD BRAKE LIGHT NEEDS REPLACED. LED BULB DOES LIGHT AT TIMES SO ITS NOT IN THE LED BUT SOMETHING UP IN LIGHT ASSEMBLY .

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jun 2015
Jul 2015

THE DOOR ACTUATORS DON'T LOCK. THE CAR IS OPEN AT ALL TIMES. VERY UNSAFE FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2015
Jul 2015

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jul 2015
Jul 2015

EVERY NOW AND THEN THE DASH LIGHTS WILL EITHER GO DIM OR BRIGHTEN WITHOUT TOUCHING THE CONTROL.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jul 2015
Jul 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE IGNITION KEY WAS TURNED TO THE START POSITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jul 2015
Jul 2015

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: May 2015
Jun 2015

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).

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Apr 2010
Jun 2015

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*CN

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2015

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2009 Chevrolet Malibu has 79 Electrical System complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.