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#BS-2009-CHEMAL-5B50

2009 Chevrolet Malibu

Based on reports from 1,000 owners and 6 recalls for this exact model.

Complaints
1,000
Crashes
28
Fires
5
Recalls
6
TSBs
1,098
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 1,000 complaints, 28 crashes, 5 fires, and 6 recalls. Complaint rate is 4.3x the class average.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

power door locks malfunctioning

31 complaints • Severity 7.4/10

$X,XXX
2

transmission went out

17 complaints • Severity 8.8/10

$X,XXX
3

clunks when turning

7 complaints • Severity 5.4/10

$X,XXX

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the SteeringHIGH

300 owners reported steering issues — failures commonly reported around 86K miles.

!Inspect the ElectricalMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

73
0–30K
168
30–60K
210
60–90K
171
90–120K
108
120–150K
133
150K+

Peak failure range: 60–90K miles (210 reports) • Median: 86K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Steering (300 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Steering300 (30%)
Electrical150 (15%)
Stability Control99 (10%)
Brakes73 (7%)
Lights60 (6%)
Drivetrain50 (5%)
Airbags36 (4%)
Latches & Locks31 (3%)

2009 Chevrolet Malibu: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Steering Issues

Steering complaints account for 30% of all reports filed for the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu, with 300 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 86,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 86K-mile mark.

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 15% of all reports filed for the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu, with 150 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Stability Control Issues

Stability Control complaints account for 10% of all reports filed for the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu, with 99 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to stability control-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Brakes Issues

Brakes complaints account for 7% of all reports filed for the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu, with 73 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to brakes-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

3
08
13
09
23
10
30
11
31
12
72
13
204
14
217
15
110
16
119
17
156
18
22
19

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. Recent trend: decreasing.

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Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (6 recalls)

08V634000Dec 2008

VISIBILITY: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 MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE BLOWER WOULD NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AND THE MODE SELECTOR WOULD REMAIN IN THE LAST KNOWN SETTING.

09V073000Mar 2009

POWER TRAIN: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, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT POSITION SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK, AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT", AND FMVSS 114, "THEFT PROTECTION AND ROLLAWAY PREVENTION". ON SOME OF THESE VEHICLES, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE ADJUSTMENT CLIP MAY NOT BE FULLY ENGAGED. IF THE CLIP IS NOT FULLY ENGAGED, THE SHIFT LEVER AND THE ACTUAL POSITION OF THE TRANSMISSION GEAR MAY NOT MATCH. WITH THIS CONDITION, THE DRIVE COULD MOVE THE SHIFTER TO "PARK" AND REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY, BUT THE TRANSMISSION GEAR MAY NOT BE IN "PARK".

12V460000Jan 2013

POWER TRAIN: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 fracture and separate.

14E044000Sep 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 Pontiac G6, and 2007-2009 Saturn Aura vehicles. The affected steering shafts may have a yoke that inadequately supports the u-joint bearing resulting in a premature failure.

14V153000Jul 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 may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving.

+ 1 more recall in the full report

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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The worst model year for the Chevrolet Malibu is the 2010 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.

2009 Chevrolet Malibu vs. Class Average (Midsize Cars)

This vehicle

1,000

Class avg

230

4.3x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical midsize cars vehicles.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 1,000 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 6 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Other Chevrolet Malibu Model Years

20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000199919981997199619951994199319921991199019891988198719861985198419831982198119801979197819771976197519741973197219711970196919681967196619651964
View all Chevrolet Malibu years →

2009 Chevrolet Malibu: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu is related to the steering, with 300 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
The 2009 Chevrolet Malibu has 1,000 complaints, 28 crash reports, and 5 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is 4.3x the class average — higher than typical for its segment.
How much does it cost to fix 2009 Chevrolet Malibu problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu have any recalls?
Yes, the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu has 6 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Chevrolet Malibu problems start?
Based on 863 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 86,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 60–90K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 1,000 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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