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
Rear right door (rear passenger) lock failing to open. Started to randomly open and now it's totally dead. If the door fails to open getting my kid out of the car in an emergency can be impossible even for other passengers sitting on the back. This needs an urgent investigation. A lot of owners have the same issue and surprised to see a lot of complaints here as well regarding the locks/actuators. Gm is aware of the…
ODI 10574929
Electrical System · Steering
I was driving at highway speed (approx. 75 mph) the steering wheel began to shake and the traction control to turn on and off. Then suddenly i had no power steering. This happened to me at night and suddenly, with our any warning. It is concerning to me that this problem has not been recalled! I found it to be extremely challenging not to loose control of the car since i had been traveling comfortably at 75mph, then…
ODI 10574418
Electrical System · Vehicle Speed Control
I did not have an accident yet. There was a recall for my car. The information i provided above on march 13, 204 i took the car back to the dealer to have it fixed. But the problems are still happening..i took it back and they said it was just some water leaking on the electrical wiring and would need replaced. I did not have the money at the time but did take it to my local mechanic where he also put it on the…
ODI 10680969
Electrical System · Steering
While luckily driving on city streets around 35mph the "power steering needs servicing" light came on. Thought it might need power steering fluid and was told my model didn't use fluid - it was all electrical in the steering column. Since it was still under warranty i took it the next day to the chevy dealer who sold it to me and was told it wasn't covered at a cost of over $600. *js
ODI 10608949
Electrical System · Steering
Within a week of owning car error code p0011 camshaft alignment?came up. Dealer got light to go off. Said nothing was wrong with car. Electrical problems with power locks also, now my complete steering column is gone.5 error codes c0545/c0561, non functioning electric power steering. I am lucky that i didn't die in this car or worse kill someone. I can't believe there is no recall on this car. Plenty of complaints…
ODI 10562721
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
Left rear door lock actuator failed to operate. This is the 3rd rear door lock actuator to fail on this car. Original owner, replaced 2 locks under warranty, now a 3rd actuator failure. This door is the primary door used for entry/egress by children. This is a serious safety concern due either the inability to safely remove a child in an emergency, or leave the door unlocked while driving. There are many, many…
ODI 10565829
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
This is the second time in two years the passenger headlight has went out. The first time was three weeks after purchasing the vehicle. Now again, this can not be a simple headlight just going out on the exact same side. *tr
ODI 10561434
Electrical System
I own a 2009 chevrolet malibu that i bought brand new from a dealership. Approximately one year ago (2014) my power locks started failing. Primarily the driver's door and the rear driver's door, although the passenger side doors have failed on occasion. The locks will not unlock or lock, intermittently. The rear driver's door won't work at all anymore and you have to climb over the seats to manually pull up the…
ODI 10713838
Electrical System · Unknown Or Other
Both front speakers, in the doors, do not work. I cannot hear chimes from turn signals being on too long, from keys being in the ignition when the doors are open and other such warning signals. It has caused confusion at times when the warning signals are not alerting me to problems while driving.
ODI 11142412
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that they had to replace the headlights an excessive amount of times. The contact stated that replacement headlights were needed an average of once or twice a year. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who diagnosed that the wiring harness that was connected to the headlights was faulty, would overheat, and burn out, causing the…
ODI 11269323
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Service Brakes · Vehicle Speed Control
The brake lights will come on randomly. This also causes the cruise control to kick off. The lights will stay on for varying lengths. *tr
ODI 10559448
Brake Lights · Electrical System
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the brake lights illuminated while driving at various speeds and would dim when the brake pedal was depressed. The dealer located a failure code at the brake pedal position sensor. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer stated that the vin was excluded from nhtsa campaign number: 14v252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control,…
ODI 10610394
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
To the nhtsa person reviewing this: please assist on this issue, we depend on you escalating this issue. The problem contained here is a major safety issue potentially catastrophic condition waiting to happen. We (owners of chevy malibus of years 2008-09, and 10') need an investigation to be initiated. Summary of problem: the chevrolet malibu 2008,2009, and 2010 has a manufacturing problem with the door lock…
ODI 10574050
Electrical System · Visibility/Wiper
The drive linkage bushing keeps separating from the ball joint causing the windshield wipers not to work at all. This has happened multiple times, even after purchasing and installing brand new windshield wiper bushings. *tr
ODI 10626589
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Service Brakes
Brake lights malfunction. Thank god, i was driving behind my wife and her malibu's brake lights were not on when she braked. And then turned on when she didn't have her foot on the brake pedal. Took to dealership, and he said he's been seeing that alot lately. Please recall before someone has major accident! Thank you *tr
ODI 10543354
Electrical System
For several months my passenger side door will either lock (and you cannot get out of the car) or, once you are out, the door lock prevents the door from closing. This has occurred only when stopped, at this point.the problem has been intermittent and gives no warning. I am also having issues with the lighting on the instrument panel; when outside lighting is dim, it often will not come on if set in auto mode. Both…
ODI 10542774
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Service Brakes · Vehicle Speed Control
The cruise control was malfunctioning and after researching the problem i discovered that the brake lights could also be affected. When applying the brake the light in the rear window would actually go completely off. The repair is described in tsb 08-05-22-009c and was completed. The problem appears to be fixed. However it appears there was a previous recall for this type of problem with earlier general motors…
ODI 10548748
Electrical System
Both keyless remotes had to be replaced due to malfunctions when trying to lock or unlock vehicle. Both transmitters had to be replaced according to dealer? Vehicle only had 42,245 miles and purchased new. *tr
ODI 10632382
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
The malibu my wife and i own have had problem with the left passenger door lock not being actuated when commanded. For example, when the door was commanded to lock, it would stay unlocked. But more seriously, it would stay locked when commanded to unlock. I took it to neuville motors in waupaca, wi, a gm/chevy dealer, to have it fixed. According to a service manager at the dealership, door lock actuator malfunctions…
ODI 10550275
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Exterior Lighting
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. While driving at 30 mph, the contact noticed smoke coming from the front passenger side head lamp. In addition, both the passenger and driver side high and low beam head lamps failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who diagnosed that the wiring harness and the head lamp assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure…
Fire reported
ODI 10779641
Body · Electrical System
Suddenly the door locks on the drivers side of the vehicle, front and back, began working intermittently.the remote key fob does not work, and the manual button to lock and unlock the doors does not always work. The locks only partially lock, resulting in the doors being able to be partially pulled open from the outside. Sometimes the two locks on the drivers side do not lock at all. Also, the electric windows…
ODI 10607468
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the rear interior power door locks failed to unlock when the key fob and power lock module were activated. The doors could only be unlocked manually. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not notified. The vin was unavailable. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.
ODI 10597597
Electrical System
Electric door lock on the rear driver side door does not work properly in warm or hot weather. You can hear the actuator trying, but it will only "partially"l ock/ unlock the door or not even budge the internal manual lever whether the remote fob or internal control switch is used. Things work fine when it is cold. This is definitely related to heat because in the spring and fall this is only a problem when the sun…
ODI 10779096
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Service Brakes
Brake lights come on without pressing the pedal and when u press the pedal they go off for a second and come back on this has happened numerous times. *tr
ODI 10513240
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
I was in my driveway preparing for windshield installation. Kept on hearing intermittent clicking. Realized it was the power door locks. They were not fully locking or unlocking, only attempting to. It continued for a few days then stopped for a few weeks. Yesterday we were on a [redacted] and 75 miles back with the locks incessantly going through their intermittent rapid cycling. I never know for certain if my…
ODI 10514345