FaultScore

2009 Chevrolet Malibu window and wiper problems

23 of the 2,356 complaints about the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu are about the glass, mirrors and wipers — 1% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 65,000 miles.

A

23

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Visibility/Wiper 12 52.2%
Visibility 6 26.1%
Power Window Devices AND Controls 3 13.0%
Sun/Moon Roof Assembly 1 4.3%
Exterior 1 4.3%

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers across every Chevrolet Malibu year

1997 49 12.8%
1998 69 18.0%
1999 31 8.1%
2000 13 3.4%
2001 13 3.4%
2002 14 3.7%
2004 10 2.6%
2009 23 6.0%
2010 24 6.3%
2011 14 3.7%
2012 31 8.1%
2013 41 10.7%
2014 21 5.5%
2015 14 3.7%
2016 16 4.2%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Middletown, OH

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

Sunroof glass seperated from frame And broke

NHTSA complaint #11616963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Madison, IL

VISIBILITY/WIPER

Just bought the car and it started acting funny. The windshield wipers haven't worked almost the whole time we've had the car. We have attempted to fix them and we think the problem is fixed all for them to stop working again. So needless to say we either can't drive while it's raining or we attempt to risk ours and others lives by driving with no windshield wipers at all. Now the temperature gauge, and ac are randomly deciding to stop working. Plus the check engine light would randomly come on and off. Found that there was a recall out for these exact problems. So we took it to the dealership and they told us there's nothing they can do the recall has expired almost 3 years ago. Now we just bought the car and all this stuff started and now we're being told it's pretty much our problem because the last owner didn't stay up to date on the car and it's recalls. so I'm trying to figure out how we can still get this fixed specially since we have kids and even grandkids that ride in this car. But now as of these last few days we haven't been able to drive it at all. So we're trying to figure out how we can get the problem that is now ours and shouldn't be fixed.

NHTSA complaint #11465246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 130,000 miles Lancaster, OH

VISIBILITY/WIPER

HAS A PROBLEM WITH COLD START NEEDS A JUMP ALOT, SERVICE ESC COMES ON WITH LOSE OF TRACTION AND POWER STEERING, SENSOR IN WHEELS GO OUT OFTEN WHEELS SOUND WEIRD WHEN TURNING, HEADLIGHT GOES OUT OFTEN WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE OUT ,GEARSHIFT LINKAGE HAS BROKEN WHILE TRYING TO SHIFT GEARS PROBLEM OCCURS BOTH NON-STATIONARY

NHTSA complaint #11399436 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 153,000 miles Indianapolis, IN

VISIBILITY/WIPER

THE BCM (BODY CONTROL MODULE) ON MY 2009 CHEVY MALIBU SHORTED OUT.. CHEVY ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE SAME YEAR, MAKE ON THE HYBRID MODEL. I HAVE NO HEAT NO DEFROSTING NO CLIMATE CONTROLS WORK AT ALL.. ALL THE FUSES AND RELAYS ARE IN GOOD WORKING CONDITION.

NHTSA complaint #11310398 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 130,000 miles Roseburg, OR

VISIBILITY/WIPER

I PURCHASED THE CAR MARCH 14, 2019 FROM A FAMILY MEMBER. THE FRONT PASSENGER LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WAS NOT WORKING. THE PRIOR OWNER STATED THEY HAD TAKEN THE CAR IN TO HAVE THE LIGHT REPAIRED AT LEAST 6 TIMES IN SINCE 2009. APRIL 2, 2019 I TOOK THE CAR TO CLINT NEWELL CHEVROLET TO HAVE THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT FIXED. THE PROBLEM WAS THE WIRE THAT PLUGS INTO THE LIGHT WAS MELTED. THE REPAIR COST WAS $172.33. ON APRIL 4, 2019 THE REAR PASSENGER TURN SIGNAL QUIT WORKING. I REPLACED THE BULB. APRIL 9, 2019 THE PASSENGER TAIL LIGHT QUIT WORKING. APRIL 11, 2019 I REPLACED THE BULB. AS SOON AS THAT WAS DONE THE FRONT PASSENGER LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT QUIT WORKING AGAIN. I CHECKED THE LOW BEAM FUSE AND IT WAS FINE. I CANNOT AFFORD 172.00 AGAIN 9 DAYS LATER FOR THIS REPAIR. I HAVE ALSO FOUND ONLINE IN CHEVY FORUMS, THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM FOR MANY PEOPLE THAT OWN CHEVROLET MALIBUS.

NHTSA complaint #11195957 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 120,000 miles MT Sterling, KY

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.

NHTSA complaint #11162170 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 119,000 miles Warren, PA

VISIBILITY/WIPER

DOORS LOCK AND YOU CANT GET OUT OF OR IN THE CAR EVEN IF YOUR HOLDING AN INFANT CHILD AND ITS 3 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND I CAN'T USE THE UNLOCK BUTTON TO GET IN AND THE [XXX] KEY WONT EVEN OPEN THE DOOR. ITS JUST STUCK AND WHO KNOWS FOR HOW LONG SOMETIMES IN LAST JUST 3-5 MINS OTHER OTHERS GOING ON 40 MINS. THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES COUNTLESS TAIL LIGHTS. I HAD TO PUT REPLACE THE WINDHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLY THAT ONE SUCKED I COULD NOT OPERATE THE CAR FOR A WEEK UNLESS IT WOULD RAIN AND THIS WAS HAPPENING THIS APRIL WHEN ITS ALWAYS RAINING THEY ACTUALLY QUIT WORKING ON FOURTH OF THE JULY GOING 70MPH DOWN INTERSTATE 79 IN POURING RAIN. I PURCHASED AS MANY RAIN DETERRENTS AS I COULD TRY OUT WHICH NONE LAST BUT A FEW MINS.. THEN BETWEEN GETTING PULLED OVER BY POLICE COUNTLESS TIMES FOR HEADLIGHT BEING OUT AND I FIX IT THEN THE SAME ONE OR EVEN THE OTHER SIDE THE NEXT WEEK WILL GO OUT JUST 1 MONTH LATER IT GOES BACK OUT AND THAT SAME COP STOP YOU AGAIN AND THEY DON'T BELIEVE YOU THAT IT WAS JUST REPLACED. THEN THE INTERIOUR LIGHTS ALL OF THEM FROM GAUGES AND HEADLAMPS TURN ON. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY TELLING ME TO SERVICE SVC TIRE SENSORS AND OTHER ABBREVIATED SENSORS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT IS ON. ALSO AND MAYBE THE MOST DANGEROUS IS THE CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS WHICH RANGE FROM ONLY WORKING OCCASIONALLY TO ACCELERATION ENGAGES IF YOU SCROLL THREW SCREEN OPTIONS AND USE CRUISE CONTROL SIMULTANEOUSLY . AND SOMETIMES MY TRUNK WILL JUST POP OPEN WHEN THE CAR STARTS. THE PLASTIC HUB CAPS CONSTANTLY FALL OFF AND THE BACK OF THE DRIVERS SEAT PLASTIC BACKING HAS BROKEN LOOSE THE STEERING COLUM IT SOUNDS LIKE U JOINTS THAT HAVE WORN OR A HYDRAULIC ISSUE PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #11013603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 39,250 miles Champaign, IL

VISIBILITY/WIPER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS TURNED ON, BUT THE AIR FAILED TO FLOW CORRECTLY. AS A RESULT THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO SEE OUT THE WINDSHIELD AS IT FOGGED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SULLIVAN-PARKHILL AUTOMOTIVE CHEVROLET & CADILLAC (440 W ANTHONY DR, CHAMPAIGN, IL 61821 (217) 352-4275) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A MALFUNCTIONING DRIVER SIDE ACTUATOR THAT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE MANUFACTURER AND THE LOCAL DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V634000 (VISIBILITY). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 39,250.

NHTSA complaint #10994938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 67,000 miles Durham, NC

VISIBILITY/WIPER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE WINDSHIELD STARTED TO FROST. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO USE THE DEFROSTER, BUT THE HVAC DEFROSTER FAILED TO FUNCTION. AS A RESULT, THE INTERIOR WINDSHIELD BECAME FOGGY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CONTROL HEAD MODULE FAILED TO FUNCTION AND FAILED TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT SHE NEEDED THE PROPER DOCUMENTATION TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

NHTSA complaint #10985093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,000 miles Destin, FL

VISIBILITY/WIPER

**LOW BEAM ON PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE** WHILE OFF - UNLOCKING WITH THE KEY FOB ILLUMINATES THE HEADLAMP (STATIONARY) WHILE ON - HEADLAMP DOES NOT WORK (STATIONARY & IN MOTION) IT WAS THOUGHT THAT THE BULB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, SO IT WAS REPLACED, AND IT HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10783245 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 53,000 miles North Arlinton, NJ

VISIBILITY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A SENSOR NEEDED TO BE RE-LEARNED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND LOW PRESSURE, CHECK SVC WAS DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEFROSTER FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V634000 (VISIBILITY); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000. UPDATED 09/25/15*LJ UPDATED 10/13/15

NHTSA complaint #10735108 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 62,000 miles Williamsville, NY

VISIBILITY/WIPER

THE BALL AND SOCKET JOINT THAT CONNECTS THE MODULE WIPER SYSTEM TO THE WIPER MOTOR HAS FAILED TWICE. ONCE AT APPROXIMATELY 62,000 MILES AND AGAIN THIS WEEK AT APPROXIMATELY 104,000. BOTH FAILURES OCCURRED DURING A LOW VISIBILITY CONDITION (STORM EVENT) WHEN THE WIPERS WERE ON "HIGH." THIS IS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE THAT DISABLES THE WIPERS AND BOTH TIMES CREATED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE SOCKET PORTION OF THE BALL AND SOCKET JOINT IS A PLASTIC PART THAT IN MY OPINION IS POORLY DESIGNED. OVER TIME THE SOCKET WEARS AND EVENTUALLY IT IS NOT ABLE TO WITHSTAND THE FORCE WHEN THE WIPERS ARE SWITCHED TO HIGH/FAST MODE. OF COURSE THE HIGH/FAST MODE IS USED ONLY DURING VERY LOW VISIBILITY CONDITIONS AND, AS SUCH, THE FAILURE CAUSES A DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITION.

NHTSA complaint #10663756 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 59,645 miles Lima, NY

VISIBILITY/WIPER

OBSERVED THAT BOTTOM HALF OF HEATED DRIVER SIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR HAD BECOME SCORCHED - LIMITING VISIBILITY IN BOTTOM HALF OF MIRROR. COULD THIS BE A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD?

NHTSA complaint #10663842 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Lake Orion, MI

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.

NHTSA complaint #10626589 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 5,000 miles SAN Diego, CA

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE VIEW MIRROR CONTINUOUSLY BECAME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM AND STATED THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,500. UPDATED 02/11/14*LJ THE MIRROR WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. UPDATED 02/11/14

NHTSA complaint #10550981 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

South Jordan, UT

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

AFTER LOWERING THE LEFT-SIDE PASSENGER WINDOW SEVERAL INCHES, I WAS UNABLE TO RAISE IT VIA THE DRIVER'S DOOR CONTROL PANEL. I COULD MAKE IT DESCEND ALL THE WAY USING THAT PANEL BUT NOT ASCEND AT ALL. I WAS ABLE TO RAISE THE WINDOW ONLY BY USING THE LEFT-SIDE PASSENGER DOOR SWITCH; THE DRIVER'S DOOR CONTROL PANEL WAS USELESS FOR THAT PARTICULAR WINDOW ONLY.

NHTSA complaint #10446345 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 10,000 miles Richview, IL

VISIBILITY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE WASHING THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE, THE INTERIOR CARPET BECAME SATURATED WITH WATER. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT MILDEW HAD BEGUN TO GROW ON THE CARPET. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS LEAK WITHIN THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

NHTSA complaint #10442675 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 68,000 miles Medina, OH

VISIBILITY

LAST WINTER I HAD TO REPAIR THE HEATER, SWITCHING FROM HOT TO COLD, CAUSING WINDOWS TO FOG UP AND ICE, MY HEATER IS NOW DOING IT AGAIN. SUMMER TIME THE AIR WORKS FINE AS SOON AS COLD SEASON STARTS IT FREEZES UP IN THE COLD SETTING. YOU CAN HERE A SOUND LIKE THE VENT IS SUCKING AIR NOT FULLY SWITCHING TO THE HOT SETTING.

NHTSA complaint #10433818 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Gibsonville, NC

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

IN MARCH, 2011, I BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE DOORS NOT OPENING FROM THE INSIDE. I UNHOOKED THE BATTERY TERMINAL TO RESET THE COMPUTER THEN THE WINDOWS STARTED WORKING AGAIN. IN APRIL MY DRIVER'S WINDOW WOULD NOT GO UP. I REPLACED THE 30A FUSE AND GOT THE WINDOW TO GO UP. ONCE I TRIED TO USE ONE OF THE OTHER WINDOWS, THE FUSE BLEW AGAIN. NOW MY WINDOWS WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN WITHOUT BLOWING A FUSE. THE SWITCH IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR WAS REPLACED AND THE RELAY WAS REPLACED WITH NO RESOLUTION. MY WINDOWS WILL NOT WORK AT ALL AND YESTERDAY, JULY 19, MY DOORS BEGAN ACTING UP AGAIN AND WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. I FEEL LIKE I'M GOING TO GET TRAPPED INSIDE THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10413860 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 65,000 miles Rowland Heights, CA

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RECENTLY EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL FAILURES WITH THE POWER WINDOWS AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO OPEN OR SHUT THE POWER WINDOWS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A SHORTAGE IN THE WIRE ON THE DRIVER SIDE PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA complaint #10376738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 6,810 miles Lowell, MA

VISIBILITY

I WAS WARMING THE CAR UP IN THE MORNING, 32 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND A LAYER OF ICE ON EVERYTHING. THE DEFROST WAS JUST STARTING TO MELT THE WINDOW SO I TURNED ON THE WIPERS. THE DRIVER SIDE DID NOT MOVE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE CROSSED OVER IT GETTING STUCK THERE. I WENT OUT AND PHYSICALLY UNTANGLED THE WIPERS AND THEY SEEMED TO WORK OK FOR A WHILE BUT ON THE HIGHWAY THE DRIVER SIDE COULD NOT KEEP UP AND BECAME STUCK UNDER THE PASSENGER WIPER. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TIGHTENED THE BOLT AT THE END OF THE WIPER CONTROL ARM, TOOK TWO SECONDS, AND IT HAS SEEMED TO BE OK SINCE.

NHTSA complaint #10296213 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 3,015 miles Newfoundland, PA

VISIBILITY

I BOUGHT A 2009 MALIBU FROM CHEVY THE PROBLEM I HAVE IS WHEN YOU DRIVE THE CAR WITH THE REAR WINDOWS DOWN YOU GET THIS TERRIBLE NOISE SOUNDS LIKE A HELICOPTER IN YOUR CAR. IF YOU DRIVE LONG ENOUGH IT GIVES YOU HEADACHES, NOISE GETS SO BAD IT VIBRATES THE DOOR PANELS AND SUNROOF. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE WITH THIS PROBLEM WHAT EFFECT WILL IT HAVE ON CHILDREN RIDING IN THE CAR. I TALKED TO GM THEY TELL ME ALL CARS MAKE THAT NOISE JUST DEAL WITH IT . SPEND 28,000. DOLLARS TO GET YOUR HEAD POUNDED.

NHTSA complaint #10294524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 250 miles Hyattsville, MD

VISIBILITY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING, THE GLARE FROM THE DASH DISPLAYED ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. AS A RESULT, VISIBILITY WAS GREATLY REDUCED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION; HOWEVER, THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 250. UPDATED 12-04-08 *BF UPDATED 12/10/08.

NHTSA complaint #10248548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2009 Chevrolet Malibu problems

← Full 2009 Chevrolet Malibu report