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 · Electronic Stability Control · Steering
The electrical power steering and esc control are turned off as soon as i start the cars ignition. When the car is parked , the power steering begins to twitch the wheel and does not stop. When you turn the car off then back on, it resolves the problem for several seconds then continues to do the same thing. This problem creates a very dangerous car when combined when traveling down the road. The power steering has…
ODI 11184540
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Exterior Lighting
Brake lights stay on while driving and brake light goes off when stepping on the brake pedal. The lights are intermittently working and i've taken the car to get the problem taken care of, but it returns.
ODI 11208397
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Service Brakes
While driving on highway, traction service indicator would come on as well as esc indicating it was off, also brake lights would stay on all the time and cruise control would not work, vehicle would downshift at highway speeds (approximately 60 mph). Passenger side lower beam light continues to blowout (have replaced three times in as many months) also turn signal will not always click off after turning. As far as…
ODI 11208430
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Steering
My power source in car won't work, my cruise control won't work, my power steering went out fist i would just have to restart the car and it would be fine not anymore. Some times my car completely locks up in the middle of driving, my headlights sometimes work and sometimes don't
ODI 11190173
Electrical System · Service Brakes
When driving the car, the brake lights go on when not braking and go off when applying the brakes. This happens on city streets and highways.
ODI 11171701
Electrical System · Steering
Vehicle was in drive but stopped in a drive thru. Service esc, power steering light came on. Power steering went out and wheel would not turn. Turned off car. Problem went away after restarting.
ODI 11170997
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Vehicle Speed Control
While driving the power locks goes off. They go lock and unlock when driving down the road they unlock and lock when wr are at home and the ignition is off. Tge brake ligjts stay on like i am hitting the brake peddle and the cruis control wont work bc the break lights stay on it cuts it off. I have been hearing noises coming from the shifter area a buzzing noise like a wire has crossed.
ODI 11176084
Electrical System · Steering
The car has the 2.4 4 cylinder with the unreliable electric power steering unit that shuts off almost everytime the car is driven.it shuts off and the car must be turned off then restarted before steering is restored.it goes off under all driving situations sitting,in motion,turning,going forward or backing up.on city streets or major highways..it happens at all speeds and all weather conditions ...
Crash reported
ODI 11175844
Electrical System · Visibility/Wiper
The windshield wipers stop for no apparent reason on the low setting. They will make approximately one full pass to clear the windshield and the stop halfway through the second in the middle of the windshield. This makes it difficult to see while driving in inclimate weather.
ODI 11162170
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Steering
Powersteering starting periodically going out and esc notification would appear. Eventually it completely quit. Called chevrolet and was told my car is not part of the recall for that issue.
ODI 11182306
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Steering
The esc was turned off making it difficult to steer the vehicle. There was a recall for this issue but my vehicle was not included. How is that possible?! I have also had issue with the fuel pump, headlights and arm bars. I bought this as a used vehicle 3 years ago and have had nothing but mechanical issue after issue. Poorly manufactured vehicle. Including having to change out the entire fuse box.
ODI 11166245
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Passenger side low beam keep going out. Replaced bulb multiple times, still doesnt work. Replaced wiring harness within first week of purchasing vehicle and having repeated problems.
ODI 11156926
Electrical System · Steering
After driving the car one mile from home steering became difficult and a message appeared in the dic power steering. I pulled the steering wheel with two hands to get to the side of the road, turned the car off and when turned on the message was gone but the steering was still awkward and not as smooth as it should be
ODI 11156441
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Service Brakes
While driving, sometimes my brake lights come on when i am not depressing the brake pedal, sometimes, when i press the brake pedal the break lights do not come on, the traction control light comes on and stays of then later it goes off.
ODI 11142410
Electrical System · Steering
Well driving my car got hard to steer, the power steering light come on then i turned the car off, and restarted it then it began to drive back normal then it began to do the same thing again and every time i turned it off and started it back up it would return to normal but in order for the steering to return to normal i have to cut my car off and then turn it back on. It seems to happen as i am driving straight or…
ODI 11151022
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Passenger side headlight issue . Headlight lowbeam specifically on passenger side keep going out . After research and testing to find out it's not the actual bulb that's the issue. It's that headlight wiring on several different malibu's . Changed bulb 3 times in 6 month window .
ODI 11124001
Electrical System
Passenger rear and front door automatic lock doesn't work and passenger has to manually pull it up to get out of car. Electrical panel will reset and then come back normal. Speed, gas, and rpm needles will bounce to 0, e, 0 and then go normal.
ODI 11102123
Electrical System
Body control module causing braking lights, turn signals not to function while in motion and stationary. Three times i've had the bulbs repaired and wiring harness checked. Given that te front end needs to be pulled just to change the bulbs, this has led to some high repair bills. My understanding is that 2004-2014 malibu have been recalled for this problem. Chevy recall #13036 nhtsa campaign #14v252000. For…
ODI 11139416
Air Bags · Electrical System · Engine
I have had multiple ignition switch failures resulting in loss of airbag systems, the engine not shutting off when the key is removed, the battery dying, a brand new battery started smoking and leaking acid due to a 3rd faulty ignition switch. The issue can be spotty but indefinitely becomes more prevalent as whatever short in the switch gets worse. This is also across multiple switch manufacturers including bwd, ac…
ODI 11132396
Electrical System
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. While driving 45 mph, the check engine indicator illuminated. Twenty minutes later, the traction control and service esc warning indicators illuminated. The contact stated that a message appeared on the dashboard indicating "engine power reduced" and the speed decreased to 20 mph. The vehicle was taken to moran chevrolet clinton twp ([redacted], charter twp of clinton,…
ODI 11082585
Electrical System
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the front driver's seat heating system failed, causing the front driver's seat to overheat and cause two burnt holes. In addition, the contacts jacket burned due to the failure. There were no injuries sustained. A dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate…
Fire reported
ODI 11081237
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Steering
The car keeps dying and shutting off. I have replaced 2 new batteries and an alternator. When i am driving the car will either just die or start to die and all of the lights come on, power steering, esc emergency brake all of them and then the car eventually dies.
ODI 11082291
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Takata recal, my cars lock button stopped working and my key pads as well as my headlights go out and come back on on their own. My car was in my driveway and all this happened a few weeks of eachother. Went to change my bulb and old bulb came back on. As well as when all my electrical went bad it was sitting in my driveway all night and battery quit working.
ODI 11089552
Electrical System · Service Brakes · Steering
Have lost all power steering, sensor is messed up, brakes are barely working, why wasn't a recall issued for all 2009 malibus? This is beyond dangerous.
ODI 11076588
Electrical System
I have replaced my passenger side headlight three times now within the last two years. I dont think headlights need to be replaced this often. My passenger headlight will go on and then a little while later will go off. I just recently replaced my headlight two weeks ago and its now doing the same thing...it comes on and later goes off...
ODI 11065478