2009 Chevrolet Malibu reliability record
NHTSA consumer complaints and recall campaigns for the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu from the dataset labeled 2026. The source file does not provide an exact snapshot date. Use the reported issues to guide further checks; these counts do not establish failure rates or repair costs.
- NHTSA complaints
- 2,354
- Dataset year: 2026; snapshot day not provided
- Top problem area
- STEERING
- 763 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 3
- see below
- Reported harm
- 64 reported crashes · 64 injuries · 5 deaths · 13 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesCounts are not adjusted for vehicles sold, time in service or reporting frequency. A larger count does not establish a higher chance of failure, and these comparisons do not set the maintenance budget in our calculator.
Complaint rank
#55
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Chevrolet median
+2,046
median 308 across 473 Chevrolet records
Vs 2007-2011
+2,095
median 260 complaints in 736 records
Top component share
32%
Steering: 763 complaints
What owners report fails — 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
- STEERING 763
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 359
- ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 255
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING 154
- SERVICE BRAKES 142
3 recalls on record for the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
- NHTSA 14V153000 · 2014 · STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing
- NHTSA 14V252000 · 2014 · ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 12V460000 · 2013 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR If the tabs were to fracture and separate, the shift lever and the actual position of the transmission gear may not matc
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
Build a separate budget with your purchase price, insurance quote, mileage and maintenance estimate. Complaint counts do not enter that calculation. Unknown local taxes and fees stay listed as costs to confirm.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2009 Chevrolet Malibu units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Dataset year: 2026; exact snapshot day not supplied. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
NHTSA has 2,354 consumer complaints on record for the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu and 3 recalls. The most-reported problem area is steering (763 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2009 Chevrolet Malibu units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu?
Owners most often report problems with: steering (763), electrical system (359), electronic stability control (esc) (255), exterior lighting (154). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu?
This complaint dataset does not measure repair prices or predict a maintenance budget for the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. Use your purchase price, insurance quotes, fuel use and a maintenance estimate in the separate five-year cost calculator. It does not convert complaint counts into repair costs, and any unknown taxes remain excluded and clearly listed.