IllustrationDRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS HAVE FAILED. INTERMITTENTLY, OPENING ANY OF THE FOUR DOORS AT ANY GIVEN TIME WILL CAUSE ALL LOCKS TO ENGAGE. *TR
2009 Chevrolet Malibu
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Malibu years
Owner complaints for the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu are substantially higher than the model-year median of 310.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Malibu years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
870–25K
9825–50K
19350–75K
21775–100K
373100–150K
232150K+
1,200 reports with mileage · 309 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Steering. Review the 768 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 368 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 255 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
41 crash reports9 fire reports31 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
368 reportsMY REAR DRIVER DOOR LOCK WILL NOT ACTIVATE. ONLY MANUALLY. VERY DANGEROUS. IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON THING WITH THESE CARS. THEY HAVE BAD ACTUATORS. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL BY GENERAL MOTORS... *TR
BOTH PASSENGER SIDE DOORS LOCKS ONLY STOPPED WORKING ELECTRICALLY AND ONLY WORK MANUALLY, I BEGAN TO NOTICE THIS ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, THEY WERE ONLY WORKING ABOUT HALF THE TIME. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND EVEN ITS A COMMON PROBLEM THEY WANT ME TO PAY ROUGHLY $500.00 DOLLARS FOR THE R…
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BOTH PASSENGER SIDE DOORS LOCKS ONLY STOPPED WORKING ELECTRICALLY AND ONLY WORK MANUALLY, I BEGAN TO NOTICE THIS ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, THEY WERE ONLY WORKING ABOUT HALF THE TIME. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND EVEN ITS A COMMON PROBLEM THEY WANT ME TO PAY ROUGHLY $500.00 DOLLARS FOR THE REPAIR. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE IN THE EVENT OF A TRAFFIC COLLISION I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET MY KIDS OUT OF THE VEHICLE QUICKLY SINCE YOU CANNOT UNLOCK THE REAR DOORS THROUGH THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE MANUALLY WITH A KEY. I CONTACTED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ADDRESSED MY CONCERN TO NO AVAIL. I DON'T THINK IT IS RIGHT FOR A 3 YEAR OLD CAR TO BE HAVING SUCH PROBLEMS, I ALSO OWN A 1996 HONDA CIVIC WHOSE DOORS STILL WORK PROPERLY?? THANK YOU.. THERE ARE A LOT OF UNSATISFIED CUSTOMERS ON THIS FORUM....HTTP://WWW.CHEVYMALIBUFORUM.COM/FORU...EAD.PHP?T=7950. *TR
THE POWER LOCKS ON THE CAR WOULD NOT UNLOCK THE DOORS, LEAVING THE PASSENGERS TRAPPED INSIDE. WE WERE UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOORS MANUALLY, ELECTRICALLY OR EVEN WITH INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE DOOR. PASSENGERS HAD TO CRAWL OUT OF THE WINDOWS. AFTER TRYING THE KEY AND REMOTE NUMEROUS TIMES THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR UNLOCKED BUT WOULD NOT…
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THE POWER LOCKS ON THE CAR WOULD NOT UNLOCK THE DOORS, LEAVING THE PASSENGERS TRAPPED INSIDE. WE WERE UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOORS MANUALLY, ELECTRICALLY OR EVEN WITH INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE DOOR. PASSENGERS HAD TO CRAWL OUT OF THE WINDOWS. AFTER TRYING THE KEY AND REMOTE NUMEROUS TIMES THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR UNLOCKED BUT WOULD NOT RELATCH WHEN THE DOOR WAS CLOSED OR EVEN AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE AND PLACING THE TRANSMISSION IN GEAR. THE LOCKS SOUND LIKE THEY ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE LEAVING ONE TO THINK EVERY THING IS OKAY BUT, IT IS NOT. THIS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD AND ONE THAT COULD BE LIFE THREATENING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY MELTED AND LEAKED ACID ONTO THE ENGINE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE AIR BAG LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. AN ACID ODOR ALSO BECAME PRESENT AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS IN…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY MELTED AND LEAKED ACID ONTO THE ENGINE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE AIR BAG LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. AN ACID ODOR ALSO BECAME PRESENT AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BATTERY SUFFERED A MELTDOWN AND RELEASED ACID ONTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY, THE NEGATIVE CABLE, AND CLEANED THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THE FAILURE MAY RECUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 38,000.
AFTER LOWERING THE LEFT-SIDE PASSENGER WINDOW SEVERAL INCHES, I WAS UNABLE TO RAISE IT VIA THE DRIVER'S DOOR CONTROL PANEL. I COULD MAKE IT DESCEND ALL THE WAY USING THAT PANEL BUT NOT ASCEND AT ALL. I WAS ABLE TO RAISE THE WINDOW ONLY BY USING THE LEFT-SIDE PASSENGER DOOR SWITCH; THE DRIVER'S DOOR CONTROL PANEL WAS USELESS FOR …
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AFTER LOWERING THE LEFT-SIDE PASSENGER WINDOW SEVERAL INCHES, I WAS UNABLE TO RAISE IT VIA THE DRIVER'S DOOR CONTROL PANEL. I COULD MAKE IT DESCEND ALL THE WAY USING THAT PANEL BUT NOT ASCEND AT ALL. I WAS ABLE TO RAISE THE WINDOW ONLY BY USING THE LEFT-SIDE PASSENGER DOOR SWITCH; THE DRIVER'S DOOR CONTROL PANEL WAS USELESS FOR THAT PARTICULAR WINDOW ONLY. *KB
THE CAR DOOR LOCKS CYCLE ON AND OFF AT ANY GIVEN TIME. MOSTLY STAYS UNLOCKED, ALTHOUGH THE OTHER DAY IT DID LOCK ME IN THE CAR THIS WAS JUST AS FRIGHTENING AS THEM NOT BEING LOCKED. I CAN BE STOPPED A STOP LIGHT OR DRIVING 70 MPH AND THE LOCKS ARE CYCLING ON AND OFF. THE UNLOCK/LOCK BOTTOM IN THE DOOR PANEL DOES NOT WORK. I FEE…
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THE CAR DOOR LOCKS CYCLE ON AND OFF AT ANY GIVEN TIME. MOSTLY STAYS UNLOCKED, ALTHOUGH THE OTHER DAY IT DID LOCK ME IN THE CAR THIS WAS JUST AS FRIGHTENING AS THEM NOT BEING LOCKED. I CAN BE STOPPED A STOP LIGHT OR DRIVING 70 MPH AND THE LOCKS ARE CYCLING ON AND OFF. THE UNLOCK/LOCK BOTTOM IN THE DOOR PANEL DOES NOT WORK. I FEEL VERY UNSAFE WITH MY DOOR LOCKS CYCLING ON/OFF. I WORK DOWNTOWN BY THE COUNTY JAIL AND I FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING ANYWHERE DOWN THERE WITH MY DOORS UNLOCKED. I PARK IN A PARKING GARAGE THAT HAS HAD SOME THEFT, I HOPE MY CAR DOES NOT GET ROBBED. I ALSO HAVE SMALL CHILDREN THAT RIDE IN THE CAR AND FEEL UNSAFE DRIVING AROUND THE CITY OR HIGHWAYS WITH THE DOORS UNLOCKED. I HOPE THE DOORS DON'T FLY OPEN OR IF IN A WRECK THERE WOULD BE NOTHING PREVENTING THE DOORS FROM OPENING. I NEED TO TAKE THIS CAR ON A FIVE HOUR ROAD TRIP NEXT WEEKEND, WITH KIDS IN THE CAR, THE SOUND OF THE LOCKS CYCLING ON/OFF WILL BE A DISTRACTION WHILE DRIVING. I HOPE THIS PROBLEM CAN BE REPAIRED SOON. I HAVE READ MANY CHEVY MALIBU'S WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM AND WHEN I CALLED GM REGARDING THIS ISSUE THEY KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM, UNSURE IF THE ARE GOING TO HELP ME AT THIS POINT. I TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP ON MONDAY. I SURE HOPE GM AND THE CAR DEALERSHIP SEES THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE. A WELL KNOWN GM LOCK MALFUNCTION AND REPAIRS THIS PROBLEM AT THEIR COST. *TR
THE CAR DOOR LOCKS CYCLE ON AND OFF AT ANY GIVEN TIME. MOSTLY STAYS UNLOCKED, ALTHOUGH THE OTHER DAY IT DID LOCK ME IN THE CAR THIS WAS JUST AS FRIGHTENING AS THEM NOT BEING LOCKED. I CAN BE STOPPED A STOP LIGHT OR DRIVING 70 MPH AND THE LOCKS ARE CYCLING ON AND OFF. THE UNLOCK/LOCK BOTTOM IN THE DOOR PANEL DOES NOT WORK. I FEE…
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THE CAR DOOR LOCKS CYCLE ON AND OFF AT ANY GIVEN TIME. MOSTLY STAYS UNLOCKED, ALTHOUGH THE OTHER DAY IT DID LOCK ME IN THE CAR THIS WAS JUST AS FRIGHTENING AS THEM NOT BEING LOCKED. I CAN BE STOPPED A STOP LIGHT OR DRIVING 70 MPH AND THE LOCKS ARE CYCLING ON AND OFF. THE UNLOCK/LOCK BOTTOM IN THE DOOR PANEL DOES NOT WORK. I FEEL VERY UNSAFE WITH MY DOOR LOCKS CYCLING ON/OFF. I WORK DOWNTOWN BY THE COUNTY JAIL AND I FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING ANYWHERE DOWN THERE WITH MY DOORS UNLOCKED. I PARK IN A PARKING GARAGE THAT HAS HAD SOME THEFT, I HOPE MY CAR DOES NOT GET ROBBED. I ALSO HAVE SMALL CHILDREN THAT RIDE IN THE CAR AND FEEL UNSAFE DRIVING AROUND THE CITY OR HIGHWAYS WITH THE DOORS UNLOCKED. I HOPE THE DOORS DON'T FLY OPEN OR IF IN A WRECK THERE WOULD BE NOTHING PREVENTING THE DOORS FROM OPENING. I HAVE READ MANY CHEVY MALIBU'S WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM AND WHEN I CALLED GM REGARDING THIS ISSUE THEY KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM, UNSURE IF THE ARE GOING TO HELP ME AT THIS POINT. I TAKE MY CAR IN ON MONDAY. I SURE HOPE GM SEES THIS AS SAFETY ISSUE AND FIXES THIS PROBLEM AT THEIR COST. *TR
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE DASH LIGHT WILL JUST GO OFF AND ON, THE POWER DOOR LOCKS STOP WORKING THE POWER WINDOWS STOP WORKING THE RADIO WILL JUST TURN ON WHEN IT WANTS TO AND THE VOLUME CONTROL WILL NOT WORK SO WHEN IT TURNS ON ITS AT THE PEAK VOLUME. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. CHEVROLET WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. ITS PAS…
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DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE DASH LIGHT WILL JUST GO OFF AND ON, THE POWER DOOR LOCKS STOP WORKING THE POWER WINDOWS STOP WORKING THE RADIO WILL JUST TURN ON WHEN IT WANTS TO AND THE VOLUME CONTROL WILL NOT WORK SO WHEN IT TURNS ON ITS AT THE PEAK VOLUME. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. CHEVROLET WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. ITS PAST ITS WARRANTY. *TR
THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON MY DAUGHTER'S 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU COME ON WHILE SHE IS DRIVING & HER CRUISE CONTROL STOPS WORKING. SHE TOOK HER CAR INTO THE DEALER & 2 OTHER PEOPLE WERE THERE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. THE SERVICE DEPT. SAID IT WAS FIXED BUT THE SAME DAY AS SHE PICKED IT UP, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGH…
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THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON MY DAUGHTER'S 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU COME ON WHILE SHE IS DRIVING & HER CRUISE CONTROL STOPS WORKING. SHE TOOK HER CAR INTO THE DEALER & 2 OTHER PEOPLE WERE THERE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. THE SERVICE DEPT. SAID IT WAS FIXED BUT THE SAME DAY AS SHE PICKED IT UP, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY @ 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE ON, THE BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON AND STAY ON UNTIL SHE PRESSES THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE BRAKE LIGHTS GO OUT WHILE SHE IS APPLYING THE BRAKES & COME BACK ON WHEN SHE RELEASES THE BRAKE PEDAL. ALSO, SHE ALSO CAN NO LONGER SET HER CRUISE CONTROL. AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED FOR A FEW HOURS, THE CRUISE & BRAKE LIGHTS WORK PROPERLY. ANYONE FOLLOWING HER, ESPECIALLY @ NIGHT, MIGHT ASSUME THAT SHE IS STOPPING WHILE DRIVING & DRIVING WHILST STOPPING. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE IF THE PROBLEM IS ELECTRICAL IN NATURE, (BOTH TAILLIGHT BULBS HAVE RECENTLY BURNT OUT OR SHORTED OUT & BEEN REPLACED). I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *KB
Official recalls
514V252000 · Electrical System:wiring; Electronic Stability Control (esc); Exterior Lighting:brake Lights; Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch; Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control
May 14, 2014
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 vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
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 pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). GM's number for this recall is 13036.
Additional source detail variants (5)
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
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 vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.
Consequence: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
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 pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). GM's number for this recall is 13036.
Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control
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 vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.
Consequence: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
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 pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). GM's number for this recall is 13036.
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
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 vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.
Consequence: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
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 pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). GM's number for this recall is 13036.
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights
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 vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.
Consequence: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
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 pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). GM's number for this recall is 13036.
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 manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.
Consequence: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
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 pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). GM's number for this recall is 13036.
14V153000 · Steering:electric Power Assist System
Mar 31, 2014
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
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 a second letter to come in to have the applicable bulletin applied. Bulletin 14115 covers model year 2004-2007 Saturn Ion, 2009-2010 Chevrolet HHR and 2010 Chevrolet Cobalts. Dealers will replace the EPS motor. Bulletin 14116 covers model year 2004-2006 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx, 2005-2006 Pontiac G6 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from March 1, 2008, through June 27, 2008. Dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly. Bulletin 14117 covers model year 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from February 1, 2008, through February 28, 2008. Dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly and EPS motor controller unit. Bulletin 14118 covers model year 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from October 1, 2007, through January 31, 2008. Dealers will replace the EPS motor controller unit. The recall began on July 17, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, Saturn at 1-800-553-6000, and Pontiac at 1-800-620-7668. GM's number for this recall is N140115. Note: GM bulletin number 14119 will be implemented for model year 2006-2008 and early production of 2009 Chevrolet HHR (non-turbo) and model year 2003 Saturn ION to provide EPS Motor replacement for the life of the vehicle.
12V460000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
Sep 18, 2012
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the tabs were to fracture and separate, the shift lever and the actual position of the transmission gear may not match. The driver would be able to move the shifter to 'PARK' and remove the ignition key, but the transmission gear may not be in 'PARK.' The vehicle may not be able to be restarted and the vehicle could roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible crash without prior warning.
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. Owners were instructed to not bring their vehicles for repair until January 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.
09V073000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift
Mar 6, 2009
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".
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AWAY AFTER THE DRIVER HAS EXITED THE VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
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 BEFORE MARCH 24, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 AND SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 OR AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
08V634000 · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System
Dec 2, 2008
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE WINDSHIELD BEGAN TO FOG OR FROST, THERE MAY NOT BE ENOUGH AIRFLOW TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD, RESULTING IN REDUCED DRIVER VISIBILITY AND A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
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 HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1AQ10001 · Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit
Opened Nov 18, 2010 · Closed Dec 28, 2015
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Unknown Or Other
On November 18, 2010, NHTSA's Recall Management Division (RMD) opened an audit query (AQ10-001) to investigate recall remedy completion by rental car companies on safety recall campaigns.It was expected to provide the agency an indication of how completely and how quickly rental car fleets perform necessary recall-related remedies on the vehicles owned and then rented/leased for use on the roadways.RMD queried three (3) major motor vehicle manufacturers (Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors) and requested data regarding completion figures for fifteen (15) discreet safety recalls.Analysis of this data demonstrated that rental car recalls completion was neither complete nor consistent.The rental car companies representing the largest market share in the industry were then queried as to their respective policies for the rental, lease, and sale of vehicles with open recalls.The data and responses from the manufacturers and the rental car companies can be found in the document repository by accessing the ?Associated Documents link above.In December 2015, Congress enacted the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act.One section of the Act prohibits rental car companies from renting, leasing, or selling motor vehicles subject to open safety recalls.With the passage of the FAST Act and its prohibition, there is no continuing need for the agency to investigate rental car recall completions.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The agency reserves the right to open any future investigations, including audits of individual recalls, or groups of recalls, or rental car companies, to examine more closely safety recalls performance and completion issues in this area.