2009 Chevrolet Malibu Reliability
The 2009 Chevrolet Malibu has 1,536 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about steering and electrical system. Compared with nearby Malibu model years (2007–2011), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Malibu's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
1,536
NHTSA owner complaints
6
Recall campaigns
42
Complaints citing a crash
9
Complaints citing a fire
2009 Chevrolet Malibu complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2009 model year, filed between 2008 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 775 | 50% |
| Electrical system | 373 | 24% |
| Stability control | 261 | 17% |
| Exterior lighting | 173 | 11% |
| Service brakes | 155 | 10% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 126 | 8% |
| Speed control / throttle | 74 | 5% |
| Air bags | 65 | 4% |
2009 Chevrolet Malibu recalls
6 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2009 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08V634000 | Dec 2, 2008 | Visibility / wipers — defroster/defogger/hvac system | 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… |
| 09V073000 | Mar 6, 2009 | Powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission / lever and linkage / column shift | 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,… |
| 12V460000 | Sep 18, 2012 | Powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission / gear position indication (prndl) | 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… |
| 14V153000 | Mar 31, 2014 | Steering — electric power assist system | 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… |
| 14V252000 | May 14, 2014 | Electrical system — wiring | 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… |
| 14E044000 | Jul 21, 2014 | Steering | Dorman Products, Inc. (Dorman) is recalling certain replacement intermediate steering shafts sold under the Dorman, OE Solutions, and Solutions brand names, part numbers 425-167, 2425167, and 7-3074, for installation on 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu, 2005-2010… |
How the 2009 compares with nearby Malibu years
Verdicts compare these Malibu model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 1,036 | 6 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2008 | 1,017 | 5 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2009 (this page) | 1,536 | 6 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2010 | 1,365 | 4 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2011 | 978 | 4 | Electrical system | Caution |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
- Steering: check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering and clunks over bumps; power-steering faults show up at low speed.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Lights: check headlights (low and high), brake lights and turn signals; condensation inside the housings is worth noting.
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 6 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2009 Chevrolet Malibu can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2009 Chevrolet Malibu reliability FAQ
Is the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
The 2009 Chevrolet Malibu has 1,536 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about steering and electrical system. Compared with nearby Malibu model years (2007–2011), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Malibu's typical year.
What are the most common 2009 Chevrolet Malibu problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu are steering (775), electrical system (373), stability control (261), exterior lighting (173). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu have recalls?
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu, including 08V634000 (visibility / wipers — defroster/defogger/hvac system) and 09V073000 (powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission / lever and linkage / column shift). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu compare with the 2008 and 2010 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2008 has 1,017 complaints and 5 recalls (avoid); the 2010 has 1,365 complaints and 4 recalls (avoid). The 2009 has 1,536 complaints and 6 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2009 Chevrolet Malibu?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Chevrolet Malibu research
Other Chevrolet Malibu model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2009 Malibu, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.