294 problems related to electrical system have been reported for the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu based on all problems reported for the 2009 Malibu.
Power steering failed when turning from a stop and/or low speed into traffic. Steering was nearly impossible and required great effort from driver. A brief message flashed on the driver information center and a unique chime was heard. The safety of the driver was affected by oncoming traffic. The failure has not been inspected by a mechanic as of yet, but the vehicle is available for inspection at any time.
Power steering will stop working while driving. Eps light will start blinking. Once you shut off car and turn it back on it works again.
Unknown I was driving to work last week on Thursday and when I attempted to make a right turn my steering wheel was difficult to turn and a few seconds later it locked and the car turned off and on the dash board the battery light turned on and the words that appeared were service traction, service esc, and power steering.
I started my vehicle and began to drive it as I normally would. After stopping at a stop sign, I began accelerating and turning 90° left onto the street. Mid-turn my power steering completely shut off and I almost got into an accident. Luckily there was a turn around right there I was able to veer to. Turning this vehicle without power steering is nearly impossible. I'm a strong guy and it was pretty tough for me. This issue happened completely out of the blue without any warning whatsoever. When it happened, the esc light came on as well as saying something about power steering. I turned the car off and then back on and noticed that the esc light and power steering message were now gone and the car drive as it should. But it decides to go out randomly at any given time while driving and that is a huge safety hazard for not only me but others on the road as well. It has come to my attention after plenty of research that this seems to be massive issue among Chevrolet Malibu owners. The issue was recalled for different models/engines but not the 2. 4 liter. At this point it's obvious that this is a vehicle wide issue and needs to be recalled for all models/engines.
Well it all started at one, I fixed the electrical myself after inspecting 6 months worth of it sitting , finally found electrical problems that I got it running afterwords 2 fuel pumps later knowing pumps werent the issue then, now I almost have it paid off, its really began to just be a peice of junk after deerly taking care of it when I bought the car I loved it, now I fround on it, no steering,comes and goes, like I know how to put a steering asst. In. . . I pulled one from the j yard, its in the backseat now, airbags indicator saying it needs servicing, tires I bought brand new last summer, they are baby butt smooth now, the car cant even squeel thye tires so whatever on that, 5 days ago I threw a new alternator in it, similar to every altornator when they go it was normal. . . No problem, now im pooped out, I want the problems fixed so when its paid off in April I can sell it legally without anyone getting hurt, also the value is poor, not even close to what you value it as on hear. Shit if I didnt spend more on costs on parts, repair, labor (thankfully I know wyf im doing when I work on a gm) it would be moe than the car loan I took out on the junk on October 19th 2019. I think somebody is responsible in repairing these issues as I knew nothing about the problems gm had when buyinh this vehical.
Occassionally and unpredictably, the service esc, power steering, traction control and anti theft light come on and the car goes on limp mode, unable to shift past first gear. Also power locks do not work (all four doors) and tire pressure sensor is on and service tire sensor pressure light is on all the time. Took car to an independant mechanic who stated that when using his diagnostic tool, no code or fault indicated for esc, power steering, traction control or anti theft device. It should be noted that these reset themselves when car is turned off and then go back on unpredictably, once you start driving the car. This mechanic then tried fixing the powerlocks, and stated that after replacing two of the powerlocks, he realized that they still did not work. This mechanic contacted gm and was told that the issue with the powerlocks came from the the body control module, which aparently was causing the powerlocks to fail and was also the cause of the tire pressure sensors being on all the time, since the body control module controlled the powerlocks and the tire pressure sensors. He also stated that the chevy dealer was the only ones who could change the body control module, since they were the only ones who reprogram the new module to the car. This mechanic also stated that all four tires pressure sensors were working. I took the car to a chevy dealer with same problem. The dealer claimed that gasoline which contained a high level of ethanol was causing the esc, traction control and limp mode problem. They suggested for me to run the gas out and fill the car up three times with regular gasoline (87 octane) and that this would resolve this issue. They claimed that the tire pressure sensors on two of the tire were not reading properly and needed to be replaced and that the power lock switch was the root of the powerlocks not working, since two of them (the ones that were not replaced by the first mechanic) were not working. Problem with esc wasnt resolved.
Electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control.
The steering wheel moves back and forth on its own while idling. It gets hard to steer when the traction light comes on. The light above our heads don't work. The brake light comes on while we're driving when I'm not pressing on the brakes. The tire pressure don't work to let us know how much air is in the tire and the tire caution light is on at all times. The front fender on the bottom is broke. We just bought this vehicle last month.
I'm having power steering issues and the dealer told me that the recall parts have expired! I'm very upset because they are trying to charge me 2,700 out of my pockets because they don't want to do the work for free. These parts that they need are recall parts!!.
My car keep showing the engine reduced light and esc service light I have paid to get a new computer and gas petal and a throttle body from the chevy computer and it’s still doing the same thing.
Power steering goes out while driving. Makes steering/driving/turning almost impossible.
Son driving home from college, loses power steering and traction control light comes on. Readout bar service power steering and esc. There are several recalls on this exact problem and exact year of vehicle but his vehicle VIN is not included. So irritating when manufacturers will not stand behind and fix a known issue. . . Clearly they know the ramifications, they have a recall already!.
Service esc light on, loss of power steering, cruise control, and traction control. . . Turnoff vehicle and turn back on and problem is rectified . Vehicle was in motion at highway speed 60-65 making turning extremely difficult.
I have had recurring and constant problems with the low beam headlights and electrical connections in this car. I've already had the passengers side headlight and drivers side headlight "fixed" between 3 and 4 times. The drivers side low beam is out again as of 2 days ago. As far as the electrical problems, my trunk pop button doesn't work, the rr passengers side door doesn't lock, and I sometimes have trouble getting any of the buttons on my dash to work to change or control anything in the car. I have the same problem with the buttons on my steering wheel. My car has just over 70,000 miles on it. The headlight being out is always an issue when I'm driving. I got pulled over twice the other night because the headlight was out. There needs to be a recall issued for this problem - I've done my research and I know that lots of people have the same problem with this car. Not to mention the labor involved to even access the headlight. It's maddening to have wasted a lot of money to not have this issue fixed. I've had the bulb replaced multiple times, new pigtails installed and even removed the day time running lights connection from the fuse box because I read that having that connected might contribute to the headlight issue. Even that didn't work. Chevy needs to issue a recall. 2 working headlights is a basic need to drive a car. To have this constant issue is ridiculous.
Power steering fails while driving, had to shut my car off while I tried to make a turn on the higway. The 1st time it happened at home on may 2020, car locked up and wouldn't move at all. Dashboard will say traction off, esc off and it won't let me move my steering wheel. I have to shut off the car and wait a few minutes for it to come back. Car is at roughly 133k miles and had no issues prior to this. Also, when I drive my front side of the car shakes as if it is going over stuff. I replaced both cv joints, gotten the car aligned, and balanced my tires and they still can't find the issue with it. Only recall that pops up is the electronic, but I believe it has the steering recall as well.
My door locks were automaticly going up and down. Now doors lock out of blue. Kinda discouraging now my power steering and service has acted up 2 times on Dec 06 2020. Both times the power steering warning came on I have been sitting still. Heard there has been recall on previous Malibu.
Power steering failure with eps service warning. Sudden loss of power steering and a warning that states service esc. When I turn off the vehicle and turn back on systems may return but eventually fail with sudden loss of power steering and esc. This occurs while driving or stationary intermittently at stop lights while driving and parked.
Passenger low beam bulb repeatedly burns out. Lasts for less than a day.
Power steering fails while driving. Dashboard will say "traction off, esc off" and I won't be able to move steering wheel. This has happened in busy intersections. I have to stop the vehicle and restart in order to gain power steering again. Mechanic has diagnosed it as torque sensor/steering column. This was recalled on many other Malibus, but not mine. A lot of people are having this same problem but weren't included in the recall. This has been happening since I purchased vehicle seven years ago at 80,000 miles (about once per year) and has gotten worse recently at 170,000 miles (multiple times per month). This is dangerous and very expensive.
I have a 2009 chevy Malibu and it's very unsafe to drive. I have a 4 cylinder car with electric power steering and it was not apart of the recall. Yet it's having the same symptoms as the recall cars. I had to have my car pushed out of a ditch yesterday because it's so hard to turn my steering wheel I lost control of my car. My traction control light is on, and pressing the button does not work. I sometimes don't have control to unlock my door and have to call someone to physically open it from the outside. My check engine light is on, also my battery light. And they are all good and up to date. My traction and system light is on too. And my head lights, brake lights, and battery is constantly drained and going out. It's hard to find reasonable price's from auto shops, and the dealership prices are too expensive. I shouldn't have to struggle to turn and work my car because of a computer system that's out. It's very dangerous. I'm going to upload a picture of my car after it was pushed out the ditch. But my steering wheel has been hard to turn and I've been having this problem since January of 2020. And it makes a loud whining noise while trying to turn the wheel.
Car shuts off while driving problems electrical.
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the brake lights, service traction, and esc warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the cruise control was inoperable. While, driving the brake pedal was depressed however, the brake lights failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the brake pedal switch, and calibration needed to be repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the brake pedal switch was replaced. The manufacturer was notified and referred the contact to the NHTSA. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA campaign number: 14v252000 (electrical system, exterior lighting, vehicle speed control, electronic stability control). The failure mileage was 98,514.
I went to the store came back out an it wouldn't trun over I got a new battery an got the same result.
When trying to use the remote to unlock the doors, the doors will not unlock. It started with the passenger side rear door. The passenger side front door started having the same issue and now it has also come to the drivers side front door. You cannot use the fob from outside nor can you use the unlock button on the inside to get the doors to unlock. In order to get to the back seat, you have to climb over the seat and pull the unlock button by the window. We have check the child safely locks and they are not engaged. . Read more...
Since 2018 my brake lights will come on without touching the brakes. When this happens, my cruise control won't work. I can tap the brakes and they'll go off for about 3-5 seconds and then come back on. After awhile, the esc and traction control lights will pop up on my dashboard. I've had the sensor replaced/reset 5-6 times since August of 2018, with the most recent June 2020. It worked fine that day, but the next day they all came back on. Today, it was fine, but later will probably be another story. ,.
The headlights continually burn out and melt connectors on multiple Malibus around this year model, myself, my friends and many online have all been effected, the issue seems to have started as early as 2014 and still continues to this day. I have been fighting this issue myself for many years now. I once had a connector smoke so bad I had to run to turn everything off and make sure it wasn't burning.
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.
Recently bought a Malibu 2009 ,4 cylinder. When I bought the car the steering wheel was shaky as I drove the car. After a 4 days of purchase I went on the freeway and the service esc / power steering came on the dash board . I exited the freeway when making a left turn it was difficult to turn the steering wheel . I pulled over to the side and turned the car off and then back on the car was again drivable but after about 5 mins the car did the same thing again and I could not manage to steer the wheel to make left or right turns.
Power steering service ecs light loss of power shut the steering on mid road very dangerous it's a shame we don't have a recall yet and I read over 100 complaints of the same problems on these cars most on the 2009 chevy Malibu.
Power steering stops working. Power steering service esc off on dash. Dash warnings light up periodically. Simultaneously all dials go down to 0 even when moving. Radio has no power. Manual steering all the time.
Post recall repair for breaklights, break lights stay illuminated when not pressing the break pedal. 3rd break light doesn't always turn on. Random episodes of car sputtering and then dash warnings including: service esc, service traction, service hill start. Head lamps requiring replacement every 3 to 6months.
Was driving home from work on Friday and the power steering went out and I almost ended up in a field, could not turn it. Stopped and turned it off and back on again and it went back to normal, and it went out again as I was pulling into the drive. The next day I started car up and it had its warnings across my dash and the steering was out again. I just picked it up from the shop and it cost me $1562. 00 to get it repaired. The steering assist motor, a new steering column(electric) and r&r steering column w/sgl switch and new turn signal switch. It's all connected. I have yet to find a recall for my car on my VIN number but yet there were a few recalls on many cars including my 2009 Malibu for this exact issue but yet I never received anything in the mail about it. I hope that they intend on doing something about this, I could have been killed while trying to take a curve and had to struggle just to keep it on the road in the other persons lane until I could get pulled off the road and out of the way. From reading all that I have read on here it seems that I am not the only one with the issue.
There is a clicking noise in the steering wheel column while it jerks both left and right while driving. Happening every time it is driven hard to turn steering wheel both left and right.
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.
My 09 chevy Malibu lt brake lights will illuminate without the brake pedal being pressed. Therefore signalling to other drivers that I am slowing, when in fact I am not. Also when the brake pedal is deliberately pressed to indicate the vehicle is slowing, the lights go out entirely, signalling to other drivers that I am not slowing down when in fact I am! this is a huge safety issue! I parked my vehicle today January 1, 2020 to test the functionality of my brake lights and the brake lights illuminated while I was outside of the vehicle, indicating I was pressing the brake pedal. Once the pedal was compressed, the rear lights went out entirely indicating the brake pedal was not compressed. Also the cruise control of the vehicle has never worked properly since purchasing the vehicle. It will not initiate or maintain set speed causing fluctuations in travel speed. So I refuse to use the feature as this too is a real safety concern.