RecallMyCar

2009 Chevrolet Malibu Recalls, Complaints & Specs

5 safety recalls list the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu, and owners have filed 1,509 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

5
safety recalls
1,509
owner complaints to NHTSA
41 / 9
complaints citing a crash / fire
20–29
MPG combined (EPA)

5 safety recalls for the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Electronic stability control (esc) and 4 other components

    NHTSA 14V252000 Reported 2,440,524 vehicles potentially affected General Motors LLC

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura…

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and harness connector, and will relearn the brake…

  2. Electric power assist system (steering)

    NHTSA 14V153000 Reported 1,373,177 vehicles potentially affected General Motors LLC

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2006 Malibu Maxx, 2009-2010 HHR (non-turbo), 2010 Cobalt, 2008-2009 Saturn Aura and 2004-2007 Ion, and 2005-2009 Pontiac G6. In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur…

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will perform one of four bulletins. Parts are not currently available. GM expects to send an interim notification around May 28, 2014. When parts are available, owners will be mailed…

  3. Gear position indication (prndl) (power train)

    NHTSA 12V460000 Reported 426,240 vehicles potentially affected General Motors LLC

    General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Saturn Aura and model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Malibu and Pontiac G6 vehicles, equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission. On these vehicles, the tabs on the transmission shift cable end may fracture and separate.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a retainer over the cable end or replace the shift cable as necessary. This service will be performed free of charge. Notification to owners began on on November 9, 2012.…

  4. Column shift (power train)

    NHTSA 09V073000 Reported 276,729 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    General motors is recalling 276,729 my 2009 buick enclave, chevrolet cobalt, hhr, malibu, traverse, GMC acadia, pontiac g5, g6 and saturn aura and outlook passenger vehicles. These vehicles fail to comply with federal motor vehicles safety standard 102, "transmission shift position sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking…

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and ensure that the shift cable adjustment clip is fully engaged. In the event that the clip does not engage, the shift cable will be replaced free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on or…

  5. Defroster/defogger/hvac system (visibility)

    NHTSA 08V634000 Reported 77 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    GM is recalling 77 my 2009 chevrolet malibu hybrid vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 103, "windshield defrosting and defogging system." the heating, ventilation, and airconditioning (HVAC) system may become inoperative. If this were to occur, the blower would not function…

    Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the HVAC control head module. The recall is expected to begin on december 17, 2008. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or through their website at <a…

1,509 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu have filed 1,509 complaints with NHTSA; 41 describe a crash and 9 describe a fire. Reports cite 44 injuries and 3 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 101,592 miles. Complaints peaked in 2015 with 231 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“The power steering motor failed ,ESC , TRACTION and power steeringg lights came on, i am a woman and coould NOT control the car and my safety and others was at risk for an accident or crash ,there was”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 20, 2026 · Steering

“The contact owned a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH, the driver's side curtain air bag erroneously deployed and struck the left side of the contact's”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 17, 2026 · Air bags

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu (Malibu Hybrid). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined20–29 mpg
City / Highway17–26 / 26–34
FuelGasoline or E85, Regular
EPA classMidsize Cars
Engine4/6 cyl, 2.4/3.5/3.6 L
TransmissionAutomatic (S6); Automatic 4-spd

Compare Chevrolet Malibu model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Chevrolet Malibu model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1964 Chevrolet Malibu01
1973 Chevrolet Malibu10
1974 Chevrolet Malibu01
1975 Chevrolet Malibu02
1977 Chevrolet Malibu10
1978 Chevrolet Malibu72
1979 Chevrolet Malibu54
1980 Chevrolet Malibu55
1981 Chevrolet Malibu23
1982 Chevrolet Malibu22
1983 Chevrolet Malibu21
1986 Chevrolet Malibu01
1989 Chevrolet Malibu03
1997 Chevrolet Malibu4443
1998 Chevrolet Malibu3976
1999 Chevrolet Malibu1789
2000 Chevrolet Malibu3922
2001 Chevrolet Malibu2721
2002 Chevrolet Malibu2567
2003 Chevrolet Malibu2569
2004 Chevrolet Malibu61,147
2005 Chevrolet Malibu3975
2006 Chevrolet Malibu61,116
2007 Chevrolet Malibu3977
2008 Chevrolet Malibu4988
2009 Chevrolet Malibu51,509
2010 Chevrolet Malibu31,361
2011 Chevrolet Malibu3978
2012 Chevrolet Malibu2907
2013 Chevrolet Malibu10836
2014 Chevrolet Malibu6351
2015 Chevrolet Malibu3270
2016 Chevrolet Malibu9837
2017 Chevrolet Malibu4702
2018 Chevrolet Malibu6699
2019 Chevrolet Malibu1191
2020 Chevrolet Malibu1198
2021 Chevrolet Malibu289
2022 Chevrolet Malibu198
2023 Chevrolet Malibu270
2024 Chevrolet Malibu242
2025 Chevrolet Malibu111

Checking a specific 2009 Chevrolet Malibu

How do I know if my 2009 Chevrolet Malibu has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 5 campaigns currently list the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Chevrolet dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 08V634000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Chevrolet models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.