2009 Chevrolet MALIBU HYBRID: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
25 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
59,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 21 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electronic Stability Control (Esc) is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 25 complaints (24.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 8 | 32.0% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 16.0% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 16.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 8.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 8.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 6 |
| Steering | 6 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Power Train | 5 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 |
| Equipment | 1 |
Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 6; Steering: 6; Electrical System: 5; Power Train: 5; Air Bags: 2; Engine: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2; Equipment: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 4 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 7 |
2010: 3; 2011: 3; 2012: 3; 2014: 4; 2015: 2; 2016: 1; 2018: 2; 2019: 7
Pattern summary
Electronic Stability Control (Esc) leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10357191 · 2010-09-23 (September 23, 2010)
THERE IS A RECALL OF MY VEHICLES BATTERY HYBRID PACK. I BROUGHT IN THE CAR 2 WEEKS AGO B/C THE ENGINE CEASES AND RESTARTS BY ITSELF AND JERKS FORWARD AT EVERY STOP SIGN AND RED LIGHT. THE DEALER SAID TODAY THAT THE PARTS WONT BE IN FOR ANOTHER 2 WEEKS. THE CAR IS HAZARDOUS TO DRIVE AND THEY WONT GIVE ME A LOANER. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 14,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10357191 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10357412 · 2010-09-24 (September 24, 2010)
2009 MALIBU WITH 8000 MILES HAS DEVELOPED MELDEW IN THE AIR VENTS. THE ODOR THAT COMES THROUGH THE VENTS NOT ONLY SMELLS BAD BUT IS CAUSING MYSELF AND FAMILY MEMBERS TO BECOME SICK WITH ASTHMA AND ALLERGY CONDITIONS. THIS CAN NOT BE HEALTHY. THE ODOR IS SO STRONG AT TIMES, IT EMBEDS INTO YOUR CLOTHING AND MAKES YOUR EYES BURN AND WATER. I TOOK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE VERY FAMILIAR OF THE PROBLEM, WHICH TELLS ME IT IS A COMMON COMPLAINT. THEY DEODORIZED THE VENTS WITH SPRAY AND SAID THEY DRILLED A DRAINAGE HOLE FOR THE AIRCONDITIONING CON…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10357412 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10360384 · 2010-10-13 (October 13, 2010)
ON 4/29/10, I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER BECAUSE OF NOT ACCELERATING OVER 45. ON 6/18/10, I WAS TRYING MERGE ONTO A INTERSTATE AT RUSH HOUR, BUT THE CAR HAD NO POWER. I ALMOST WAS HIT BECAUSE OF THIS. IMMEDIATELY THE SERVICE HYBRID LIGHT CAME ON SO TOOK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY FOUND A LEAKING BATTERY AND BAD SENSOR. CAR REPAIRED AND BEGAN TO DRIVE HOME. AFTER STOPPED AT A LIGHT, I TRIED TO ACCELERATE. THE CAR STARTED TO GO BUT THEN STARTED TO CHUG LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL. IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ANY MORE THAN AROUND 5 MPH. KEPT CHUGGING …
Owner-reported narrative. 17,588 miles reported. Look up ODI 10360384 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10399127 · 2011-05-04 (May 4, 2011)
CAR REFUSED TO GO ABOVE 30 MPH WHEN ACCELERATING FROM LIGHT ON RIVER ROAD EVEN WHEN APPLYING FULL THROTTLE. WENT ABOUT HALF MILE UNTIL I SMELLED FRICTION MATERIAL. PULLED CAR OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD. WALKED FROM WHEEL TO WHEEL TO SEE HOW HOT THEY WERE. LEFT FRONT WHEEL WAS EXCEEDINGLY HOT AS WAS RIGHT REAR WHEEL. LEFT REAR WHEEL & RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WERE COOL ENOUGH TO TOUCH. CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN ABOUT 5 MINUTES IN URBAN TRAFFIC WHEN THIS HAPPENED. WHEN CAR WAS RESTARTED, THE BRAKES RELEASED & NO FURTHER TROUBLE ENCOUNTERED. TWO DAYS EARLY…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10399127 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10411238 · 2011-07-05 (July 5, 2011)
VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO MORE THAN 20 MPH AFTER STARTUP FROM INTERSECTION. LEFT FRONT & RIGHT REAR BRAKES APPLIED THEMSELVES. VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 20 MPH EVEN AT 4100 RPM. PULLED OFF TO SIDE OF ROAD. TURNED ENGINE OFF. WENT FROM WHEEL TO WHEEL - LEFT FRONT AND RIGHT REAR TOO HOT TO TOUCH. RIGHT FRONT & LEFT REAR COOL TO TOUCH. APPLIED MOISTURE TO LEFT FRONT AND RIGHT REAR BRAKE ROTORS; BOILED OFF IMMEDIATELY. TURNED ENGINE BACK ON & VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. SAME FAILURE HAPPENED IN MAY 2011 AT 8,601 MILES. NOT TDC'S EITHER…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10411238 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10432875 · 2011-10-26 (October 26, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE SHIFT CABLE FOR THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BECAME DETACHED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS STUCK IN GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFT CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V073000 ( POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RE…
Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10432875 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10461485 · 2012-06-13 (June 13, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHTS DEVELOPED CONDENSATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THEY WOULD CONTACT HER AT A LATER DATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,772. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,002.
Owner-reported narrative. 66,772 miles reported. Look up ODI 10461485 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10464272 · 2012-07-05 (July 5, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES AS A RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD FURTHER ASSESS THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 23,000. UPDATED 08/30/2012 *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10464272 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.