2009 Chevrolet Malibu Electronic Stability Control Problems
- 222
- 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 222 stored complaint records:
- 3 indicate a crash
- 2 indicate injury
- 1 indicate fire
What owners report
- power steering · 109 records
- steering wheel · 30 records
- brake lights · 25 records
- service traction · 18 records
- traction control · 17 records
- stability control · 15 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 100–150k mi | 69 |
| 150–400k mi | 45 |
| 60–100k mi | 40 |
| 30–60k mi | 25 |
| 1–30k mi | 10 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Electronic Stability Control
Upon startup of the vehicle, the yellow warning lamp illuminates with the messages "service esc" followed by "esc off". This is concurrent with loss of power to the electronic power steering making low-speed turns incredibly difficult, but still manageable. Putting the car in park, turning the ignition off and then restarting the engine mitigates this issue. *tr
ODI 10704597
Electronic Stability Control · Steering
I went to start my car and the service esc light flashed along with the power steering light. I turned the ignition off and back on again. This seemed to solve the problem temporarily. As a few days went by, the problem was more frequent. Currently, the vehicle will start with the error lights flashing more times than it will not. The vehicle can be driven. However, it is very difficuly to turn, especially at slow…
ODI 10704066
Electronic Stability Control · Engine · Steering
I was driving just a few blocks from my house when i stopped at a red light. The light turned green so i went to go. My car then flashed a service esc warning, then it flashed esc off & then flashed engine power reduced. My check engine light also came on and has stayed on. My car wouldn't even go over 10mph, and was shaking so bad i thought i was going to lose control of the vehicle. Thank god i didn't make it out…
ODI 10701515
Electronic Stability Control · Steering
While driving into a parking lot my power steering suddenly quit working and the service esc and power steering lights started flashing. I looked up my vin to see if it qualified for a recall but it didn't fit under recall #14v153000 even though my car was built the same year and same model and is experiencing the same issues as described in this recall. This recall needs to be expanded to include more vehicle…
ODI 10701421
Electronic Stability Control · Steering
I was driving east on colonel glenn highway in dayton oh, when the electric power steering went out. It caused the car to jerk and caused my wife's neck to strain. I came home and checked and learned that chevrolet had a recall notice for some 2009 malibus, but our car was not included. It seems strange that chevrolet did not include all 2009 malibus. *tr
1 injury
ODI 10692639
Electronic Stability Control · Steering
Power steering will quit intermittently and will esc light will come on. Steering is very difficult and could result in a accident. *tr
ODI 10692722
Electronic Stability Control · Steering
While driving down the highway at 60mph at approximately 8pm on feb 26, my steering wheel began to vibrate and then the driver info display panel showed power steering and service esc. I then lost all power steering in my vehicle. This made it extremely difficult to steer and operate safely. Luckily i was able to get the vehicle off the highway safely. The next day, i took the vehicle to my dealer and was told that…
ODI 10691614
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Vehicle Speed Control
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that while making a left turn at 4 mph, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to accelerate. The contact stated that esc off was displayed across the message board. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vin was included in nhtsa campaign number: 14v252000( electrical system,…
ODI 10690963
Electronic Stability Control · Steering · Vehicle Speed Control
Sudden loss of power steering, nearly caused a wreck in parking lot. Impossible to steer car due to resistance in wheel. *tr
ODI 10690161
Electronic Stability Control · Steering
Vehicle loss power steering and had to be manually steered to shoulder. Alarm indication: "power steering, esc sensor needs service". This condition keeps repeating itself over and over and over again. The fault and condition can be temporarily cleared by turning off ignition and re-starting ignition. The steering wheel rocks back in forth in idle and feels like the power steering is pulsating. My vin somehow is not…
ODI 10691152
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Steering
I was driving home with my children in the car and my electrical power steering locked up and nearly caused an accident. Happy that everyone made it home safely, i then tried to find probably causes in to what is the cause and what i can do. I saw nothing but gm recalls for 2008 -2009 chevy malibu's that are having this problem. No one can help but the dealership, so i drove down to the dealership on a saturday, and…
ODI 10689528
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Steering
Abrupt power-steering failure. The steering wheel turns and jerks (shutters back and forth) on its own while the car is at rest at a stoplight or stop sign. Took to chevy dealer and they advised me there is a recall for this issue but my vin and part# are not included as of now. Dealer told me it is due to faulty positioning sensor part # 23232310 sensor ki. *tr
ODI 10691941
Electronic Stability Control · Steering
While driving, power steering failed, heard a ding and a dash warning came on saying power steering/esc off. I took it to chevrolet to have a brake recall performed and they looked at it saying it was the torque sensor. This item is a recall for over 1.5 million chevrolets but somehow, mine is the exception. I have fought with chevy over this and they refuse to fix it. Poor service. Poor company. *tr
ODI 10684244
Electronic Stability Control · Steering
For the past several weeks upon starting my 2009 chevy malibu lt ... A light comes on the dashboard and says service esc and power steering. At this time i lose all power assist to my car and steering is very hard. When i restart my car it resets itself and then i am able to steer again unless it trips again. This is super dangerous and appears to be getting worse and worse. It is the same recall listed for several…
ODI 10683502
Electronic Stability Control · Engine · Steering
Friday morning at 8am, attempted to backup car from parking space and go to work but had the hardest time turning the wheel and googled information and found recall id # 105304 for steering issue recalled july 21, 2014 & found recall id # 103669 for esc recall date may 14,2014, i've contacted chevrolet at [redacted] and had case#: [xxx] initiated for steering and had a rep call gmc royal to service my car but found…
ODI 10680622
Electronic Stability Control · Steering
As i was driving my steering wheel start shaking out of no were and stop at the store and started it back and my steering is locked up and hard to turn. *tr
ODI 10680949
Electronic Stability Control · Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. While driving 30 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact had to apply force to the steering wheel in order to steer the vehicle. The service electronic stability control (esc) was displayed across the message board. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who diagnosed that the steering wheel torque input sensor…
ODI 10764460
Electronic Stability Control · Traction Control System
Tl* the contact owns 2009 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that while driving 60 mph, the steering wheel seized as the traction control and electronic stability control warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vin was not available. The approximate failure was 110,000.
ODI 10677048
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Steering
While driving down the highway with my son going at rates of 70mph. My power steering gave out and i was unable to turn wheel. Trying to find out what was wrong i found out the power steering torque sensor gave out. I contacted gm and my local dealer about incident because there has been reports of this happening on several of this year and model car. Other gm cars have put recall on the power steering, not mine. I…
ODI 10676154
Electronic Stability Control · Steering
Driving vehicle around a curve when esc light came on and lost power steering. Parked car over night and waited for dealership to open. After research, realized the vehicle has a recall number of 14v252 which may root of the problem. When i turned on the vehicle to take to the dealer, the light was off and power steering returned. While driving to the dealer, light came on and lost power steering again. *tr
ODI 10670948
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Steering
I was driving at around 45mph and suddenly lost power steering assistance, making it difficult to steer, and increasing the risk of a crash. The problem persists. There have already been multiple recalls for this issue but my car is not included in these recalls. *tr
ODI 10679208
Electronic Stability Control · Steering
Loss of electric power steering assist. Has happened literally dozens of times. Can be driving or at a stop and the power steering assist will go away, the dash will chime, and messages will be displayed saying "power steering", "service esc", and "esc off". After that point there will be no steering assist until the vehicle is restarted. Seems to be the same symptoms as cars affected by the power steering recall,…
ODI 10671974
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Exterior Lighting · Service Brakes · Traction Control System
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. The contact received a recall repair for nhtsa campaign number: 14v252000 (service brakes, hydraulic, electrical system, exterior lighting, vehicle speed control, electronic stability control). Two years later, the brake lights failed to illuminate when applied, but would illuminate when the brake pedal was not depressed. The service esc and traction control warning…
ODI 10957904
Electronic Stability Control · Steering
Pulled into parking lot and as i was pulling into parking place my steering went out, traction control light came on and service esc message flashed across the screen. A power steering message also flashed acrossed the screen. This has happened to me alot and i am afraid it will go out when i am on a busy highway and i will be killed. My car has the electric power steering and i have read many other complaints about…
ODI 10683652
Electronic Stability Control · Steering
The wheel turn triggers the esc to turn off. Sometimes mid parking lot. Sometime mid highway on ramp at 45 mph. Some days i can go without having any issues. Other days i can't get the steering to come on. Worst is when i am in mid turn and it triggers. Very frustrating and annoying to just buy a car and have it be so unsafe that we can barely use it. Called dealer but was told i would have to pay $109 to diagnose…
ODI 10680763