2009 Chevrolet Malibu Steering Problems
- 519
- 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 519 stored complaint records:
- 6 indicate a crash
- 2 indicate injury
- 1 indicate fire
What owners report
- power steering · 149 records
- steering wheel · 57 records
- turn steering · 15 records
- hard turn · 15 records
- steering goes · 13 records
- steering light · 12 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 100–150k mi | 171 |
| 150–400k mi | 123 |
| 60–100k mi | 122 |
| 30–60k mi | 31 |
| 1–30k mi | 19 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. While driving approximately 65 mph, the stability and traction indicators illuminated and the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was taken to parkway chevrolet at 25500 tx-249, tomball, tx 77375 where it was diagnosed that the torque sensor assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure and informed the contact…
ODI 11073086
Steering
Power steering comes and goes as vehicle is in motion. This happens whether in town or on the highway straight or going into a turn.
ODI 11072277
Steering
I experienced sudden loss of power steering while driving on multiple occasions. The driver information center flashes a warning regarding the loss of power steering and also traction control. There is no power steering until the car is turned off and re-started. This happened while driving on surface roads and also on the expressway driving at over 50 mph. It has happened in the process of turning at low speeds and…
ODI 11067374
Steering
My 2009 chevy malibu lt (2.4l, 4 cylinder) showed me a message on the dashboard screen stating ' power steering service esc' after my steering wheel was extremely difficult to turn while driving in my neighborhood at 25 mph zone. I believe that i have an electric power steering wheel assist since i couldn't locate the steering power wheel reservoir around the engine. Please help. Thank you
ODI 11072707
Steering
We already had the power steering fixed once two years ago. It has recently went out again. My husband was driving 70 miles a hour down the highway. When i was driving it also went out on the highway. It mostly happens when you start the car. You have to keep shutting it off and starting it to turn it back on.
ODI 11072305
Electronic Stability Control · Steering
My car was working perfectly fine until the power steering just completely stopped working. The esc comes up and stops working as does the power steering message. This makes it near impossible to turn the wheel and it is the same problem as other recalled vehicles but for some reason my vehicle isn't part of the recall. I can't pay for the problem right now and i shouldn't have to because this is clearly a problem…
ODI 11066502
Steering
My malibu has experienced an issue with the power steering torque sensor going out which causes the power steering to fail while driving. There is a recall on other malibu vehicles for this issue, but not mine. We are having our vehicle fixed as this is a huge safety issue. I have seen other malibus with this issue outside of the recall. Should the recall be expanded?
ODI 11065586
Electronic Stability Control · Steering
I lost power steering while driving. My esc light came on at the same time as a warning about my power steering. This has happened intermittently since 1/19/18. It is very hard to control the car at this point, of course and is a safety issue. My car is also very well-maintained.
ODI 11064212
Electrical System · Power Train · Steering
Takata recall i was at a stop sign at a very busy intersection. When i pulled out my power steering went out. I had no way in turning the vehicle. I had to reverse the vehicle and put it in park then turn off the vehicle. When turning back on vehicle was fine. Drove a mile to local bank and it did it again in the drive thru. As i was trying to make it to work it went out as i was pulling into parking lot. The first…
ODI 11063778
Steering
The power steering shuts off while driving displaying the code esc on the dash. It makes the vehicle very difficult to steer especially at slower speeds. There is a recall currently on this model and year but i have been informed by two dealers that my vehicle is not included. This is really peculiar seeing it's the exact same problem.
ODI 11071934
Electronic Stability Control · Steering
While driving my steering wheel locked up making it impossible for me to turn and the esc off displayed also with power steering alert
ODI 11061514
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Steering
Power steering becomes stiff after idling for a few moments. Shut the engine off and restart and problem goes away. Brake lights work intermittently. Power door locks work intermittently when lock button is pushed several times. Unlocking doesn't work at all unless car is put in reverse then back into park.
ODI 11079503
Electronic Stability Control · Steering
01/04/2018 while driving on the freeway the power steering went out and service esc light came on. Continued to drive it all the way into work and had no power steering.
ODI 11058440
Steering
My son's 2009 malibu's power steer is going out at times. If he turns off the car and restarts it will come back on. This is a huge safety concern due to the potential of the steering going out while driving the car.
ODI 11065588
Steering
Issue with steering vehicle when in motion or parking.
ODI 11058492
Steering
The steering wheel almost locks, have to use all my power to make any turns. This happens on all road ways whether stationary or in motion. I have see there are recalls for this in the exact year make and model. However, it says there is no recall with my vin.
ODI 11113653
Steering
My 2009 malibu has an intermittent steering and traction control problem. I was turning into my driveway (under 10mph) and lost power steering and traction control, almost hit our snowmobile trailer the first time. The message center displayed both. There is a recall (recall number 14v153000) for other 2009 malibu's for the electric power steering but not for the 4 cylinder model like mine. This is a common safety…
ODI 11061049
Steering
Everytime i start my car my steering wheel is almost impossible to turn, & comes along the dashboard screen "service esc"? This has been going on since i've purchased the car and it's only getting worse. Recently even started to out of the blue just lose all steering wheel movement while driving, went and had it estimated for the cost of repair & the dealership wanted $1,398? Something needs to be done!
ODI 11058218
Steering
Takata recall. I was starting my car in a parking lot an hour from home and my dash lights come on after starting. It went through abs, power steering and others. This has happened in the past but had never done power steering. As a result, the power steering turned off. I turned the car off and restarted it and it was fine up until the next day. This time it happens at night as i was driving down the road.…
ODI 11057861
Steering
Electronic power steering stops working randomly and then just stops with messages: power steering, service esc, esc off. Power steering stopped working driving on the expressway in the middle of traffic and in regular city driving which is completely unsafe. Steering wheel also shakes back and forth by itself. It happens while driving, while at a red light. This could be potentially dangerous due to not being able…
ODI 11057431
Steering
My 2009 malibu 4 cylinder power steering(esc) locked while driving in my community.
ODI 11057172
Electronic Stability Control · Power Train · Steering
Sudden loss of electric power steering when i drive in cold weather, am accelerating and turning to the left at any variation of degree. Frightening that it happens while i'm driving and have no upper body strength. The sensor flashed and then disappeared. Once the car was shut off and turned on again there were no more issues. Took it to the dealer and they said they could not recreate the issue so i'd have to…
ODI 11093697
Steering
Lost power steering ability-turns off and on at certain times. Occurs while driving or is already on immediate to starting car. Very difficult to turn wheel. All other vin's were fixed or replaced by gm for this exact same problem.
ODI 11056840
Electronic Stability Control · Steering
Service esc will come on and power steering will lock up
ODI 11056973
Electronic Stability Control · Steering
The servie esc power steering notification is on my dash and the power steering went out while i was driving and almost caused me to wreck. I cannot drive without the power steering and there was a recall #14116 but it doesn't cover the 2.4 4 cylinder models and my car also has 164,000 miles so gm stated that it is not covered.
ODI 11054483