2009 Chevrolet Malibu Electrical System Problems
- 273
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 273 stored complaint records:
- 4 indicate a crash
- 1 indicate injury
- 3 indicate fire
What owners report
- power steering · 42 records
- brake lights · 31 records
- brake pedal · 18 records
- traction control · 16 records
- stability control · 14 records
- door locks · 14 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 75 |
| 100–150k mi | 61 |
| 30–60k mi | 49 |
| 150–400k mi | 22 |
| 1–30k mi | 17 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
Recently, i experienced a failed door locking actuator in my 2009 chevy malibu while driving my 2yr old to daycare. I was turning right out of my neighborhood, when my door(driver's door) swung open. I grabbed it and tried shutting, but the locking mechanism was locked, so it wouldn't shut. I pulled over and had to manually unlock the door so my door would shut. I couldn't even imagine if this situation occurred to…
ODI 10508585
Electrical System · Seats
Heating element of heated seat feature burned a hole completely through the front of the driver's seat back. The hole is centered in the lower lumbar area of the seat back. *tr
ODI 10501018
Electrical System · Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. While driving at approximately 50 mph, the vehicle made an abnormal noise. The steering wheel seized and the power steering warning light illuminated. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.
ODI 10705949
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
Power door locks do not work. I bought this beautiful 2009 chevy malibu used w 48,000 miles, i had it only 2 months before problems started with the locks. All locks will not open or close using the interior switch nor the key fob. If you manually open the lock by pulling it up and then start the car and put it in gear, the locks will engage automatically and lock the door properly. I checked online and everyone…
ODI 10706576
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
Driver side and passenger side automatic door locks have failed. Intermittently, opening any of the four doors at any given time will cause all locks to engage. *tr
ODI 10495265
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
My rear driver door lock will not activate. Only manually. Very dangerous. It seems to be a very common thing with these cars. They have bad actuators. This should be a recall by general motors... *tr
ODI 10495124
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Service Brakes
Brake light turn on without braking, brake lights don work while braking, traction control becomes disabled, cruise will not activate, will not come out of park. *tr
ODI 10608318
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
Both passenger side doors locks only stopped working electrically and only work manually, i began to notice this about two weeks ago, they were only working about half the time. I took it to the dealer and they told me the car is out of warranty, and even its a common problem they want me to pay roughly $500.00 dollars for the repair. I think this is a safety concern because in the event of a traffic collision i…
ODI 10488139
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
The passenger front headlight burned out. I took it to the dealership and had it replaced. Within a week or so, it had burned back out. At that time the dealership determined that the entire headlight assembly needed to be replace. I researched the problem on.chevymalibuforum.com and this is apparently very common. *tr
ODI 10671181
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Back driver side turning light bulb keeps burning out. Before it goes out it will work sometimes. So i don't think it is the bulb, but some other issue. At this time my car is 6 years old with 32,000 miles and this will be the 4th time of changing this bulb. *tr
ODI 10629602
Electrical System · Steering
Malibu has had a couple of different problems. While driving the electrical panel including warning lights would flicker on and off along with the vehicle losing power. Multiple times the vehicle was taken to a local dealership who ultimately told me a grounding wire had some problems and they fixed the issue. The vast majority of the problems were solved with that fix. Since then the vehicle has had issues with the…
ODI 10597172
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Service Brakes
I had a problem with the brake light function. When driving, the brake lights would be on. When pressing the brake, the lights would turn off. I had to pay to have a switch replaced by the dealership to fix this issue. *tr
ODI 10503943
Electrical System · Power Train
Within a one year period, had to have all 4 wheel bearings replaced, a strut, and the front sway bar linkage. 2009 malibu ltz, 3.6 l v6 with approx. 32,000 miles.
ODI 10537831
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the doors would sporadically become locked and unlocked independently. Additionally, the contact noticed a burning odor inside the vehicle and the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was taken to dealer for inspection and the contact was awaiting diagnosis of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vin was unavailable.…
Fire reported
ODI 10505695
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
The power locks on the car would not unlock the doors, leaving the passengers trapped inside. We were unable to open the doors manually, electrically or even with inserting the key into the door. Passengers had to crawl out of the windows. After trying the key and remote numerous times the driver side door unlocked but would not relatch when the door was closed or even after starting the engine and placing the…
ODI 10457960
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
I had a headlight go out over a year ago, had to pay 300$ to get it replaced (new design.... Makes everything complicated, thanks gm!). Not even 3 months later, same headlight out again (passenger). My mechanic noticed water in the light compartment (condensation) which he says will cause them to overheat and die. Got the light changed again, hoping avoiding car-washes was the solution. Nope. Out again. And then on…
ODI 10547689
Door · Electrical System
Rear passenger side door does not unlock unless manually unlocked. Vehicle was sold to me used by cadillac west of las vegas. Upon selling of the vehicle, i was told this was a malfunction and the dealership would fix this. Tried calling once and they refused to do so, saying it was gm's issue. Figured they just sold it "as is", wasn't aware that this was so common. *tr
ODI 10577538
Electrical System · Power Window Devices And Controls
After lowering the left-side passenger window several inches, i was unable to raise it via the driver's door control panel. I could make it descend all the way using that panel but not ascend at all. I was able to raise the window only by using the left-side passenger door switch; the driver's door control panel was useless for that particular window only. *kb
ODI 10446345
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
The car door locks cycle on and off at any given time. Mostly stays unlocked, although the other day it did lock me in the car this was just as frightening as them not being locked. I can be stopped a stop light or driving 70 mph and the locks are cycling on and off. The unlock/lock bottom in the door panel does not work. I feel very unsafe with my door locks cycling on/off. I work downtown by the county jail and i…
ODI 10442829
Electrical System
The car door locks cycle on and off at any given time. Mostly stays unlocked, although the other day it did lock me in the car this was just as frightening as them not being locked. I can be stopped a stop light or driving 70 mph and the locks are cycling on and off. The unlock/lock bottom in the door panel does not work. I feel very unsafe with my door locks cycling on/off. I work downtown by the county jail and i…
ODI 10442813
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the driver's side headlight failed to illuminate. The contact mentioned that the failure occurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the bulb and harness were replaced, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the…
ODI 11265373
Electrical System · Engine And Engine Cooling · Exterior Lighting · Fuel/Propulsion System
I have had so much trouble with the 2009 chevy malibu i bought it brand new no miles thinking i was going to be stress free but it has given me the most headaches ever. I have had to replace the shift gear and that my head lights have had to been replace at least once a year since i got it the headache about that is that the whole bumper has to be removed to have them replace. I also had to replace the catalytic…
ODI 10637184
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
The rear right door won't unlock unless done manually .this is a safety issue in case of an emegancy. The left door cannot be locked from the button i have to reach over drivers side to lock the rest of the doors. The remote will not lock doors or remote start because the power switch will not lock on drivers side. *tr
ODI 10627944
Electrical System
I have had problems with the battery, wiring problems and lock problems. I am hoping that the wiring repair took care of that problem and the battery problem, but the lock problem persists, and it is a safety issue! I had no luck getting the dealer to fix the lock problem. It needs to be a required recall to fix. Recently i heard of another recall for my car, called the dealer, they said no there wasn't any, but…
ODI 10626447
Brake Lights · Cruise Control · Electrical System · Vehicle Speed Control
The brake lights on my daughter's 2009 chevrolet malibu come on while she is driving & her cruise control stops working. She took her car into the dealer & 2 other people were there with the same complaint. The service dept. Said it was fixed but the same day as she picked it up, it happened again. While driving down the highway @ 70 mph with the cruise on, the brake lights come on and stay on until she presses the…
ODI 10419795