2009 Chevrolet Malibu problems
Owners have filed 2,356 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. Steering is the most reported problem area, at 33% of complaints. After that come electrical system (16%) and stability control (11%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 2,356 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Steering 33% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 64 and 13
- Injuries and deaths
- 65 and 5
- Typical mileage
- 100,000 miles 1,833 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 113 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 86 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 197 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 240 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 263 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 257 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 245 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 175 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 121 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 65 |
| 200k+ miles | 71 |
What the data shows
Among the 1,833 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 100,000 miles. For steering specifically, the median reported mileage is about 120,000 miles (593 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 64 complaints mention a crash; 13 complaints mention a fire; 65 injuries reported; 5 deaths reported. Its complaints are less severe on average than those of 80% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2009 ranks 11th most-complained-about out of 28 model years of the Chevrolet Malibu with enough data (715 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 5 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
On september 14, 2008 at approximately 12:30 am, the car I was driving suddenly went into a skid after which I aggressively deployed the brakes when the airbags deployed leaving me unconscious and not in control of the car. The car then hit the barrier and then a parked disabled car at a high speed. I was injured and the driver of the parked car was fatally killed. I went to prison for five years because no one would believe my story.
I was on my way to work south bound on 1 st avenue when another vehicle turn from on coming traffic to cross in front of me to head west bound when we impacted my seat belt did not restrain me at all my head hit the drivers door window very hard and deflected off and continued to the hit the front window then airbag then deployed after to throw be back into my seat after.
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.
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. The traction control warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed as power steering assist failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.