71 of the
2,356 complaints about the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu are about the
engine — 3% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
107,421 miles.
A
71
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Engine
6185.9%
Engine AND Engine Cooling
79.9%
Catalytic Convertor
22.8%
Exhaust System
11.4%
Engine & Cooling across every Chevrolet Malibu year
My car is having issues driving over 60miles per hr, I have to keep pressing the gas to get the car to move, the car battery is dead and won’t turn on, I got the car repaired twice and the second time I got it repaired, it just was even worse then before . The car smells like gas , the salesman only told me that I needed a value cover gasket and he had someone repair it , but when I went to auto zone , it was still cracked, I have a oil leak and my car eats up gas.
NHTSA complaint #11545541 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sheffield Village, OH
ENGINE
Service traction light/ service esc / esc off has come three times replace what was told to be to problem three times
NHTSA complaint #11457593 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ionia, MI
ENGINE
I purchased the car used and been driving one week. I was driving at approx 55-60 and attempted to accelerate going over hill. The car rpm went up to about 3000 and was reving high until I let of gas. I attempted again to push pedal which repeated same acceleration of rpm. I stopped and checked Trans fluid and oil both were fine. Pulled into drive and turned off ignition to check fluids again. Which were ok. Got back in car to move and had no reverse. Car would slowly go forward but Nothing else. In searching onstar ran codes and I found info about 3/5-r wave plate “service bulletin”. Had car towed to dealer who confirmed and said metal flakes in tranny and was due to “common issue of wave plate” Contacted gm several times and gm will not cover cost of tranny replacement because my car is inoperable. This is a “common problem” with 09 Malibu. Why isn’t it recalled tranny. Very sad I feel I’ll never buy a Chevy/gm product again
NHTSA complaint #11444327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bastrop, LA
ENGINE
As I drive on highway and go a certain speed it slows down and engine power reduced and service traction pops up on my dashboard if cut it off it will not crank back up until I let the car cool down
NHTSA complaint #11435159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 86,000 milesFond DU LAC, WI
ENGINE
CURRENTLY MY CAR HAS ABOUT 86,000 MILES ALWAYS HAVE KEPT UP WITH ANY FIXES THAT NEED TO BE MADE RANDOMLY I START HEARING THIS NOISE LIKE A WHEEL BEARING SO I FIX ALL MY WHEEL BEARINGS COME TO FIND OUT IT'S MY TRANSMISSION BEARING. IT WENT OUT AND IT'LL BE 3,800. MECHANIC SAID THEY SENT OUT THE CAR AT THE MANUFACTURER PLANT KNOWING FULL WELL IT WAS GOING TO GO OUT BECAUSE THESE THINGS DON'T JUST GO OUT.
NHTSA complaint #11396496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 7 milesCollege Park, MDFire
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING ON THE PARKWAY MY VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A LOUD SOUND IDLING HIGH THEN IT MADE A LOUD POP SOUND THEN BEGAN TO SMOKE BY THE TIME I PULLED OVER SMOKE WAS COMING THROUGH THE VENTS AND FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE HOOD I WAS ABLE TO GET MY TWO SMALL BOYS OUT BEFORE IT COMPLETELY WENT UP IN FLAMES
NHTSA complaint #11383153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 113,000 milesCalhoun City, MS
ENGINE
WHEN I BOUGHT IT WORKED GOOD FOR BOUT 2 DAYS AND I STARTED NOTICING A LIGHT WOULD BE BLINKING LIKE THE ENGINE LIGHT AND A LIGHT WITH LIKE A EXCLAMATION MARK IN SIDE OF LIKE A BOWL AND THE SPEED WOULD REDUCE AND THEN IT WOULD JUST QUIT EVEN WHILE YOUR IN TRAFFIC AT A STOP LIGHT ,GOING UP A HILL IT WOULD DO IT JUST WHEN IT GOT READY
NHTSA complaint #11355033 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 134,000 milesBainbridge, OH
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ( A COUNTRY BACKROAD AND NOT A HIGHWAY LUCKILY), AND SUDDENLY MY CAR LOST ALL POWER TO THE POWERTRAIN. I WAS GOING ABOUT 45 WHEN IT HAPPENED, AND I LOST POWER STEERING, ALL POWER TO THE MOTOR, AND MY BRAKES WERE INCREDIBLY HARD TO PUSH. AFTER THIS HAPPENED, THE CAR HAS A NO START NO CRANK CONDITION. IF I WERE IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF A HIGHWAY, OR A THE RIGHT LANE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY OR FREEWAY, OR EVEN JUST GOING AROUND A SHARP CURVE, I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT I WOULD HAVE WRECKED.
NHTSA complaint #11349647 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 171,000 milesRichmond, VACrash1 injured
ENGINE
WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON MY WAY TO WORK GOING 45 MILES AN HOUR THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY LOCKED UP ON ME ALMOST AS IF THE CAR WAS OFF AND I LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE CAR RESULTING IN CRASHING INTO A STREET LIGHT POLE HEAD ON.
NHTSA complaint #11349596 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,145 milesWoolwich, NJ
ENGINE
WHENEVER IT'S EXTREMELY HOT OUTSIDE MY VEHICLE START TO ACT UP AS IN THE 2 FRONT WHEELS WOULD JERK LIKE THEY'RE NOT GETTING ENOUGH POWER. MY CAR WOULD ALSO STALL OUT WHENEVER IT'S EXTREMELY HOT BUT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD STILL SHOW AS THE CAR BEING 1/4 NEAR COLD. ALL OF THIS WOULD HAVE AT A STATIONARY POSITION OR CITY STREET OR HIGHWAY POSITION.
NHTSA complaint #11342917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 130,000 milesBurbank, IL
ENGINE
WAS DRIVING DOWN BUSY STREET AND THEN A SERVICE ESC LIGHT CAME ON MY CAR AND STARTED LOOSING POWER TO CAR AND THE DASH BOARD KEPT FLASHING SERVICE ESC AND POWER STEERING LIGHT. IT KEPT DOING THE SAME THING LIKE EVERY MINUTE. EVEN IT FINALLY STARTS RUNNING OUT STARTS JERKING BUT THEN IT LOOSES POWER AGAIN BUT GOES NECK ON.
NHTSA complaint #11331520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 159,590 milesPerris, CA
ENGINE
THE ESC LIGHT COMES ON AND THE STEERING GETS KINDA STIFF LIKE IT'S GOING TO LOCK UP AND THEN IT FLASHES ENGINE POWER REDUCED AS I WAS AT A STOP SIGN I PRESSED ON THE GAS TO GO AND THE CAR TOOK OFF AS NORMAL THEN AS I WAS TURNING ONTO THE OTHER STREET TO ENTER THE FREEWAY ON-RAMP THE ESC LIGHT STARTED FLASHING THE STEERING BEGAN FEELING LIKE IT WAS GOING TO LOCK UP AND THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED STARTED FLASHING.
NHTSA complaint #11328357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 126,000 milesFort Mill, SC
ENGINE
I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING AN ISSUE WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON ALMOST EVERY FUEL FILL UP I HAVE REPLACED THE CAP 3 TIMES ALREADY AND I KEEP GETTING THE SAME CODE. NOW I AM GETTING A P0420 CODE FOR EITHER THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER OR THE OXYGEN SENSOR. IS THERE A WAY FOR CHECY TO ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR COSTS? I NEED MY CAR AND I AM AFFECTED BY COVID-19.
NHTSA complaint #11326084 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 115,000 milesLinden, AL
ENGINE
STOPPED BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE, WHEN I STARTED MOVING AGAIN THERE WAS A SEVERE SHUDDER OR VIBRATION. THEN MY CAR DID NOT WANT TO START MOVING AGAIN. ONCE IT DID START MOVING IT WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR.
NHTSA complaint #11288962 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 17,000 milesSuffolk, VA
ENGINE
WHILE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING ALONG AT INTERSTATE TRAFFIC SPEEDS(60-65 MPH) THE CAR WILL GO INTO AN ENGINE REDUCED POWER MODE, AND EMERGENCY TRACTION DISPLAYS ON THE DASH. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT INCREASE IN SPEED,(20 MPH MAX) HAVE TO HURRIEDLY FIND AN EXIT TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID A CRASH. AT THE END OF RECALL 14V252, IT STATES SERVICE ESC AND/OR TRACTION CONTROL TELL-TALES ILLUMINATE WITH THIS CONDITION. THE DEALER HAS AGREED TO REPAIR THE BRAKE LIGHT MALFUNCTION RECALL # 13036 BUT WILL NOT REPAIR THE ENGINE STALLING ISSUES, OR THE PROBLEM PREVIOUSLY STATED.
NHTSA complaint #11279804 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Washington, DC
ENGINE
GAUGES GO CRAZY ON DASHBOARD
NHTSA complaint #11279122 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,000 milesDenver, CO
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A DEFECTIVE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, THE WHEELS FAILED TO RESPOND. IN ADDITION, THE ABS AND ECM WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. ED BOZARTH CHEVROLET (2001 S HAVANA ST, AURORA, CO 80014, (720) 746-2716) AND AUTONATION CHEVROLET NORTH (7320 N BROADWAY, DENVER, CO 80216, (303) 720-7609) WERE CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
NHTSA complaint #11278888 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 112,000 milesSaddle Brook, NJ
ENGINE
ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING WHEN TRAVELING OVER 30MPH.
NHTSA complaint #11255599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 70,000 milesPittsburgh, PA
ENGINE
ESC CAR, CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN AND ESC TRACKING LIGHT COMES ON AND IT SAYS NO POWER/LOW POWER ESC - THIS CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN!
NHTSA complaint #11242992 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BEL AIR, MD
ENGINE
I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE FROM DAY ONE. I FILED A REPORT PREVIOUSLY AND I AM FILING ANOTHER ONE IN REFERENCE TO MY POWER TRANSMISSION. I HAVE A 2009 CHEVY MALIBU, 4 SPEED, AUTOMATIC. I WAS DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED ITSELF WITHOUT MY DOING ANYTHING, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO HIGH GEAR. SOMETHING POPPED IN THE VEHICLE AND THE GEAR SHIFTED FOR A LITTLE BIT AND WORKED AND THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I THINK THE SHIFTING CABLE MAY HAVE FRACTURED OR SEPARATED. THIS WAS VERY NERVE WRACKING, BECAUSE IT WAS IN THE LATE EVENING HOURS AND TRAFFIC WAS EXTREMELY HEAVY. NOW IT IS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY.
NHTSA complaint #11217191 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 145,000 milesBarberton, OH
ENGINE
THE SERVICE ESC LIGHT CAME ON, THEN THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS IN MOTION AT THE TIME ABOUT TO MAKE A TURN. AFTER A FEW DAYS OF THE PROBLEM BEING INTERMITTENT, MY CAR WOULDN'T START AT ALL. I TRIED TO START IT AND NOTHING. REPLACED BATTERY AND A ENGINE POWER REDUCED LIGHT CAME ON. CAR STILL WON'T START.
NHTSA complaint #11192746 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 90,000 milesGreendale, WI
ENGINE
CAR LOSS OF POWER, AND STEERING ASSIST, ENGINE STOPS. MAY START AFTER A MINUTE.
NHTSA complaint #11190444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Newfield, NY
ENGINE
CAR WILL INTERMITTENTLY NOT START. WHILE CAMPING IN ARIZONA MY CAR WOULDN'T START. I TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY REPLACED THE STARTER AND FUEL PUMP. IT STARTED FINE FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND THEN DECIDED TO RANDOMLY STOP STARTING AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #11176170 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 118,368 milesLakeland, FL
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO REGAL LAKELAND (925 BARTOW RD, LAKELAND, FL 33801, 863-904-1170) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 118,368.
NHTSA complaint #11173374 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 186,262 milesBEL AIR, MD
ENGINE
I HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY CAR ALMOST FROM THE TIME OF PURCHASE. MY VEHICLE IS HAVING SOME TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IT IS HAVING PROBLEMS PICKING UP SPEED AND JERKS WHEN GEARS ARE SHIFTED. I HAVE ALSO NOTICE THAT WHEN THE BUTTON IS PUSHED TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW, THE LIGHT FLICKERS A BIT. MY CAR HAS NUMEROUS RECALLS ON IT BUT EVERYTIME I TAKE IT TO THE SHOP, THEY TELL ME THEY ARE CLOSED OUT. THAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, HOW CAN THEY LEGALLY CLOSE OUT A RECALL OF SOMETHING THAT IS UNSAFE? HE SAID THEY PUT A CERTAIN NUMBER OUT OF HOW MANY VEHICLES HAVE GOTTEN THE RECALL TAKEN CARE OF. THE OTHERS ARE CONSIDERED LOST OR STOLEN. I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED AND I DID NOT HAVE IT IN THE TIME THE RECALLS WERE ISSUED. MY VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN LOST OR STOLEN. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO BOB BELL NUMEROUS TIMES, ONLY TO BE TOLD THE RECALLS ARE CLOSED. I HAD TO GET MY INSURANCE TO PAY FOR ONE OF THE RECALL ISSUES BECAUSE MY STEERING WHILE LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING AND I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL. THIS TRANSMISSION ISSUE I AM HAVING HAS TO DO WITH ANOTHER RECALL ISSUE BUT THEY TELL ME IT IS CLOSED OUT. THERE IS ALSO AN OPEN RECALL FOR THE TAKATA INFLATORS. WHEN I GET INTO THE VEHICLE AND START IT THEN PUT IT IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT, I CAN FEEL IT JERK AND OFTEN HEAR A POP SOUND. SOMETIMES IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET IT TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE. IT SEEMS STUCK. THE VEHICLE SEEM SLUGGISH, LIKE IT DOES NOT HAVE FULL POWER.
NHTSA complaint #11163311 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 153,000 milesNorth Tonawanda, NY
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 DELCO AND BMG. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM MAY REMAIN ON EVEN WITH THE VEHICLE OFF AND, THE BATTERY DRAINAGE IS MUCH MORE PREVALENT WHEN THE AIRBAG STAYS EITHER IN THE ON OR OFF POSITION WITH THE VEHICLE OFF. THE OTHER ISSUE THIS CAUSES IS THE AIRBAG SYSTEM TO COMPLETELY GO OFF LINE IN WHICH CASE THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WILL GO OFF BUT THIS USUALLY RESOLVES ITSELF AFTER 2 TO 10 STARTS.
NHTSA complaint #11132396 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 5 milesEmpire, CA
ENGINE
THE CAR LOSES SPEED WHILE DRIVING THEN REDUCE POWER SHOWS ON DASHBOARD. WHEN STOP ENGINE SHAKING AND SOMETIMES DOES NOT START.. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY COULDN'T FIND PROBLEM I ALREADY SPEND OVER 4000 AND STILL HAPPEN.
NHTSA complaint #11123960 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 138,000 milesValdosta, GA
ENGINE
THE SECOND DAY I HAD THE VEHICLE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I WAS DRIVING IN HOUSTON TEXAS IN FULL TRAFFIC AND MY MOTOR HAD ENGINE POWER LOSS. THEY FIXED MY POWER STEERING. NOW MY CAR GOES INTO ENGINE POWER LOSS WHEN DRIVING. ESC, TRACTION CONTROL AND ENGINE POWER LOSS COME ON THE DISPLAY. WE'VE CHANGED THE SPARK PLUGS AND THROTTLE BODY BUT STILL NOTHING. THE CAR SHAKES AT REDLIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS. THE AC SMELLS LIKE FUMES. WHEN THE CAR IS STATIONARY WITH THE AC ON THE CAR GOES INTO ENGINE POWER LOSS. LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT GOES OUT AND COMES BACK ON.
NHTSA complaint #11105426 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 153,000 milesNotasulga, AL
ENGINE
CAR STALLED GOING UP A HILL AND TURNING LEFT. DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC. DIFFICULT TO STEER OFF THE ROAD. NOW, UNRELIABLE ABILITY TO START THE CAR. CHUGGING GOING UP A HILL HAPPENED BOTH ON A CITY STREET AS WELL AS HIGH SPEED HIGHWAY. TURNING LEFT STALLING OCCURRED ON A CITY STREET AS WELL AS ON AN OFF RAMP FROM HIGHWAY TO CITY STREET.
NHTSA complaint #11092025 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 126,700 milesMelbourne, FL
ENGINE
THE SHIFT CABLE TO THE TRANSMISSION BECAME LOOSE WHILE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING. I WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE CABLE WAS RECONNECTED BY HAND. THE VEHICLE HAS AN ISSUE WITH ACCELERATING ESPECIALLY WHEN TRYING TO GO HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT CANT FLOW INTO TRAFFIC NORMALLY. THE CHECK ENGINE CODE IS P0420 FOR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER.
NHTSA complaint #11081712 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.