RoadVitals

2009 Chevrolet Malibu Visibility Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Visibility reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
23
Latest Sep 27, 2024
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
2%
of 1,509 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 23 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming visibility

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Visibility
Filed Sep 27, 2024

Sunroof glass seperated from frame And broke

NHTSA ID
11616963
Incident
Nov 30, 2023
ElectricalVisibility
Filed May 19, 2022

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 ID
11465246
Incident
May 15, 2022
ElectricalSteeringVisibility
Filed Mar 5, 2021

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 ID
11399436
Incident
Aug 1, 2019
Mileage
130,000 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Feb 20, 2020

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 ID
11310398
Incident
Jan 24, 2020
Mileage
153,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Apr 13, 2019

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 ID
11195957
Incident
Apr 11, 2019
Mileage
130,000 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Dec 18, 2018

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 ID
11162170
Incident
Dec 18, 2018
Mileage
120,000 mi
Driver assistanceSteeringVisibility
Filed Aug 8, 2017

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 ID
11013603
Incident
Apr 27, 2017
Mileage
119,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jun 13, 2017

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 ID
10994938
Incident
Apr 16, 2017
Mileage
39,250 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed May 12, 2017

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 ID
10985093
Incident
Jan 31, 2017
Mileage
67,000 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Oct 19, 2015

**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 ID
10783245
Incident
Sep 1, 2015
Mileage
75,000 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Jul 20, 2015

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*JB

NHTSA ID
10735108
Incident
Nov 5, 2009
Mileage
53,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Dec 12, 2014

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? *TR

NHTSA ID
10663842
Incident
Jul 12, 2014
Mileage
59,645 mi
Visibility
Filed Dec 12, 2014

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. *TR

NHTSA ID
10663756
Incident
Sep 1, 2012
Mileage
62,000 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Aug 20, 2014

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. *TR

NHTSA ID
10626589
Incident
Oct 25, 2013
Mileage
90,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Nov 5, 2013

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 ID
10550981
Incident
Mar 10, 2010
Mileage
5,000 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Feb 2, 2012

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. *KB

NHTSA ID
10446345
Incident
Jan 31, 2012
Visibility
Filed Jan 6, 2012

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 ID
10442675
Incident
Jul 1, 2009
Mileage
10,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Nov 1, 2011

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. *TR

NHTSA ID
10433818
Incident
Nov 11, 2010
Mileage
68,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seatsVisibility
Filed Jul 20, 2011

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. *KB

NHTSA ID
10413860
Incident
Mar 10, 2011
Visibility
Filed Jan 14, 2011

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 ID
10376738
Incident
Jan 7, 2011
Mileage
65,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Dec 17, 2009

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. *TR

NHTSA ID
10296213
Incident
Dec 12, 2009
Mileage
6,810 mi
Visibility
Filed Dec 4, 2009

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. *TR

NHTSA ID
10294524
Incident
Nov 11, 2009
Mileage
3,015 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Nov 12, 2008

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. *JB

NHTSA ID
10248548
Incident
Nov 9, 2008
Mileage
250 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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