2009 Chevrolet Malibu Powertrain (other) Problems

My vehicle can overheat at times and the thermostat won’t work. That’s during the summer and winter so the temperature could rise above normal and I wouldn’t know because of the electric problems. It’s happened too many times to count. The ESC sign comes on across the dash for me letting me know there are issues with power steering and traction. I can drive on my way to work and on the highway and it happens randomly. It’s dangerous and scary I have to pull over on the side of the road to turn it off and on. Sometimes more than three to four times before it acts normal again. I tried to go to GM because my car has the symptoms of the cars being repaired in the recalls. But I’m told there are none for my car but yet the car still locks on me. It jumps too as it’s accelerating.

NHTSA ID

11532030

Incident

Mar 28, 2023

The car suddenly turns off while driving shutting down the power steering making it difficult or impossible to maneuver. It is a death trap. This happened 3 times today May 5, 2023 Losing power while driving is a major safety issue that is putting innocent people's lives at risk.

NHTSA ID

11520247

Incident

May 3, 2023

Loss of power steered. Power steering esc code appears. Steering wheel locks when I first start vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11517536

Incident

Apr 17, 2023

The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH while and approaching a traffic light, the vehicle started driving rough. The contact that several unknown warning lights illuminated and the vehicle lost motive power. The contact scheduled an appointment for the vehicle to be diagnosed. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 83,763.

NHTSA ID

11469229

Incident

Jun 14, 2022

Mileage

83,763 mi

The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving approximately 55-60 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently decelerated to 40 MPH and the warning messages; “Service ESC” and “Engine Power Reduced” was displayed. The contact continued to drive the vehicle however, the vehicle failed to exceed 40 MPH. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the throttle body and the accelerator pedal needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic who replaced the computer software; however, the failure persisted. The independent mechanic advised the contact to purchase the throttle body from the dealer and have it replaced by an independent mechanic. The contact purchased the part from an unknown dealer and it was replaced by an independent mechanic; however, the failure persisted with the Traction Control warning light illuminated. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 153,224.

NHTSA ID

11456935

Incident

Mar 16, 2021

Mileage

153,224 mi

I couldbt turn tge car out of nowhere an nout ran off the road

NHTSA ID

11451804

Incident

Jan 20, 2022

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 ID

11444327

Incident

Nov 16, 2021

Transission was recalled by GMC, however my VIN# was not included. I was told to contact you to include the VIN# in the recall. I paid $3300 to repair the transmission only to be told after the fact I need to contact NHTSA to include.

NHTSA ID

11443326

Incident

Oct 1, 2021

POWER STEERING FLASHES ON DASH BOARD AND I LOSE COMPLETE CONTROL. I THEN HAVE TO USE MY STRENGTH TO TURN THE WHEEL WHILE THE VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN. SOMETIMES THIS GOES AWAY AND IT DRIVES FINE. I'VE EXPERIENCED IT SHUTTING DOWN WHILE GOING DOWN THE HIGH WAY AND THIS CANNOT BE SAFE! AFTER RESEARCHING RECALLS, IT APPEARS I AM EXPERIENCING THE DETAILS OF THE RECALL FOR THE TORQUE SENSOR. THE VEHICLE IS BELOW 150,000 MILES. IT ALSO RANDOMLY WILL FLASH 'SERVICE AIR BAG'.

NHTSA ID

11397061

Incident

Feb 19, 2021

Mileage

149,000 mi

IT IS JANUARY 4, 2021. MY CAR HAS 172,000 MILES ON IT AND THIS WINTER I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING AND TRACTION CONTROL. I WILL BE DRIVING AND NEXT THING YOU KNOW MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON WITH THE POWER STEERING WARNING. I HAVE RED CHEVY MALIBU FORMS AND IT SEEMS LIKE I'M NOT THE FIRST ONE TO EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM. IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED BUT OBVIOUSLY IT WASN'T. THE ONLY WAY I'M ABLE TO CLEAR IT WHILE DRIVING IS PUTTING MY CAR IN PARK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON TURNING MY CAR OFF AND BACK ON THEN THEY GO AWAY. AND THEN IT DOESN'T APPEAR FOR A COUPLE DAYS THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW IT POPS BACK UP MULTIPLE TIMES. I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF THERE CAN BE A SOLUTION FOR ME FOR THE SITUATION. IT HAPPENS BOTH WHILE DRIVING AND EVEN SITTING AT A LIGHT.

NHTSA ID

11386520

Incident

Jan 2, 2021

Mileage

172,498 mi

I'VE BEEN HAVING AN ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE REGISTERING WHICH GEAR IT IS IN. THE GEARS SHIFT HARD, AND WHEN PLACING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE VIGOROUSLY JERKS BACK AND FORTH. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD, IT SLOWED DOWN TO A COMPLETE STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, AND WHEN IT FINALLY DID, IT JUST TAKES OFF WITH NO WARNING. WHEN PLACING THE VEHICLE ON PARK, AT TIMES IT WOULD STILL ROLL.. THERE IS ALSO THE POWER STEERING AND TRACTION CONTROL SENSORS THAT ARE BOTH ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE STEERING STIFFENING IN THE VEHICLE IS AN ISSUE ONLY SOMETIMES. HOWEVER, IT STILL WORRIES ME WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD WITH MY TODDLER IN THE VEHICLE AS WELL. I DID RESEARCH RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THE MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR OF MY VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECALL IN EACH AREA I'M HAVING TROUBLE IN. HOWEVER, WHEN I SPOKE WITH A CHEVROLET ASSOCIATE, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME. I WON'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL IT'S SAFE AND I'M AFRAID OF AN ACCIDENT TAKING PLACE.

NHTSA ID

11372618

Incident

Nov 1, 2020

Mileage

130,000 mi

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 ID

11349647

Incident

Aug 14, 2020

Mileage

134,000 mi

I WENT TO THE STORE CAME BACK OUT AN IT WOULDN'T TRUN OVER I GOT A NEW BATTERY AN GOT THE SAME RESULT

NHTSA ID

11349255

Incident

Aug 11, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO COURTESY CHEVROLET SAN DIEGO (750 CAMINO DEL RIO N, SAN DIEGO, CA 92108) WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT METAL FRAGMENTS WERE INSIDE THE THROTTLE BODY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, ON ANOTHER OCCASION WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER HAD WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,150.

NHTSA ID

11327315

Incident

Apr 17, 2019

Mileage

168,150 mi

TRANSMISSION WON'T GO IN REVERSE WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL. ALSO, POWER STEERING KEEPS GOING OUT WHEN FIRST STARTING CAR. VEHICLE WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED.

NHTSA ID

11316522

Incident

Mar 5, 2020

Mileage

140,000 mi

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 ID

11288962

Incident

Dec 9, 2019

Mileage

115,000 mi

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 ID

11279804

Incident

Nov 12, 2019

Mileage

17,000 mi

ON NOVEMBER 6, 2019 WAS DRIVING MY KIDS TO SCHOOL ON A REGULAR STREET, WHEN SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING MY POWER STEERING GOES COMPLETELY OUT. RAN UP ON A CURB ALMOST HITTING A POLE BECAUSE I WAS UNABLE TO TURN WHEEL. I TOOK VEHICLE TO GET POWER STEERING FLUID AND WAS TOLD IT WAS ELECTRICAL. TOOK TO ANOTHER PLACE TO HAVE TESTED AND A RECALL CAME UP FOR VEHICLE. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT A RECALL BUT IT IS LISTED AS ONE. REFUSE TO HELP FIX THE PROBLEM DUE TO OVER MILEAGE AND ME NOT BEING THE ORIGINAL OWNER. REFUSAL FOR RENTAL OR EVEN A LOANER.

NHTSA ID

11278588

Incident

Nov 6, 2019

Mileage

167,500 mi

I HAVE NOT HAD MY 2009 MALIBU FOR ALMOST A YEAR NOW. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET LOOKED AT AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME 140 DOLLARS FOR LOOKING AT IT, JUST TO TELL ME THE TRANSMISSION IS MESSED UP. I KNEW THIS. IT STARTED WHEN I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND A LIGHT CAME ON AND IT WAS REALLY HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD TO SLOW WAY DOWN BECAUSE I COULD BARELY TURN THE WHEEL. THIS WAS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. I WAS TERRIFIED FOR MY LIFE WITH MY THREE YEAR OLD SON IN THE BACK SEAT. I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE AND SHUT THE CAR OFF, THEN STARTED IT UP AGAIN. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS FINE. THEN AGAIN I GOT INTO MY CAR THE NEXT DAY AND IT DID IT AGAIN! BUT ONLY THIS TIME, IT DIDN'T STOP. NO MATTER WHAT. THEN MY CAR STOPPED SHIFTING. I CAPPED THEY CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND THEY SET ME UP AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING MY CAR IN. I EXPLAINED IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE IT SO THEY SCHEDULED A TOW FOR ME. THAT FOLLOWING WEEK, (CARLESS) I WAS WAITING FOR THE TOW TO SHOW UP AND NO ONE CAME. I CALLED THE DEALSHIP AND SHE SAID THAT SOMETHING HAPPENED AND I HAD TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE IN, I EXPLAINED, AGAIN, THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. SHE TOLD ME THAT I COULDN'T GET MY VEHICLE LOOKED AT THEN IF IT WASN'T THERE. I DROVE 20 MILES GOING TEN MILES AN HOUR WITH MY HAZARDS ON TO GET IT THERE, JUST TO LEAVE IT THERE FOR THREE DAYS THEN BE TOLD THAT MY TRANSMISSION IS MESSED UP AND THEY NEEDED FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS TO FIX IT. NEEDELESS TO SAY, MY CAR HAS BEEN SITTING THERE FOR ALMOST A YEAR NOW. NOTHING BEING DONE TO IT. IF MY TRANSMISSION IS MESSED UP... WHICH IT IS.... IT'S BECAUSE OF THEM!! I CHECKED MY RECALLS AND I HAVE RECALLS FOR ALL OF THESE THINGS ON A WEBSITE. BUT NOT YOURS? I DON'T UNDERSTAND. PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA ID

11266930

Incident

Aug 15, 2018

Mileage

115,000 mi

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 ID

11242992

Incident

Jun 7, 2019

Mileage

70,000 mi

ISSUE STARTED WITH GEAR SHIFT NOT GOING INTO PARK AND THEN POWER STEERING STARTED HAVING ISSUES AND QUIT WORKING WHILE DRIVING WITH WHEEL SHAKING BACK AND FORTH. NEXT TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING AND NOW BARELY SHIFTS. WHEEL JERKS SO HARD WHEN I TURN NOW THAT IT KICKS MY HAND OFF WHEEL. COUGHLIN AUTOMOTIVE IN LONDON, OHIO TOLD US THAT RECALL HAD BEEN FIXED BUT REFUSES TO GIVE US PROOF. POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF TURNING.

NHTSA ID

11240656

Incident

May 20, 2019

Mileage

146,000 mi

I HAVE A 2009 CHEVY MALIBU .RECALL WEBISITE REFLECTS NUMEROUS RECALLS REGARDING MY AUTO , MAKE AND MODEL. WHILE DRIVING ON A 6 LANE HWY,, I HAVE LOST POWER STEERING TWICE. WHICH IS ALMOST IMPOSSABLE TO CONTROL. ALSO, THE AUTOMATIC LOCKS HAVE STOPPED OPERATING EVEN WHEN PRESSING THE DOOR AUTO LOCK/ UNLOCK BUTTON .YOU CAN HEAR THEN TRYING TO FUNCTION HOWEVER DOES NOT. ALSO, WHILE SITTING IN PARK, I CRANK MY CAR AND SHIFT TO REVERSE, MY CAR DOES NOT GO INTO REVERSE. SOMETIME IT WILL HIT VERY HARD AND SOMETIME NOT GO INTO GEAR AT ALL. I PLACE MY CAR IN DRIVE AND MOVE FORWARD THEN TO REVERSE , THE CAR GOES INTO REVERSE . ON OTHER OCCASIONS , I TURN THE CAR OFF, RE-CRANK IT AND ITS FINE. THESE PROBLEMS ARE LISTED AS RECALLS FOR THE MAKE AND MODEL OF MY AUTO HOWEVER, DOESN'T APOEAR UNDER MY VIN WHEN I SEARCH. WHAT CAN I DO I AM AFFRAID FOR MY SAFETY WHILE DRIVING MY CAR AND ALSO RELUCTANT TO DRIVE IT. THESE ISSUES NEED TO BE RESOLVED AS THEY APPEAR AS RECALLS. WHEN YOU LOOSE CONTROL WHILE DRIVING AND YOUR SAFETY IS IN JEOPARDY, ITS TIME TO EXPECT RESULTS.

NHTSA ID

11234322

Incident

Jun 22, 2019

Mileage

155,000 mi

2009 MALIBU DOWNSHIFTED ALL AT ONCE ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT

NHTSA ID

11228921

Incident

Jul 2, 2019

Mileage

150,000 mi

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 ID

11217191

Incident

May 31, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO PARK. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE SHIFT CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000.

NHTSA ID

11185837

Incident

Feb 25, 2019

Mileage

34,000 mi