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2009 Chevrolet Malibu Electrical Problems

From NHTSA owner complaints and recalls. Updated Oct 17, 2026.

How common are electrical problems on the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu?

368 owners have reported electrical problems on the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 24% of all complaints for this year and the 2nd most reported problem area. Most reported problems happened at about 60,000–125,000 miles. 1 recall covers this area.

368 complaints 24% of all 2009 complaints 90,000 miles typical

Which parts fail

The specific part named in each complaint.

Switch 3
Ignition 2
Fuses and circuit breakers 1
12v / 24v / 48v battery 1
Wiring harness 1

Mileage when it failed

Each dot is a complaint that gave a mileage (263 of 368). The amber line is the middle value.

When problems were reported

Electrical complaints by the year the problem happened.

Electrical complaints by Malibu year

2009 Malibu 368
2014 Malibu 86
2015 Malibu 68
2019 Malibu 62
2020 Malibu 57
2021 Malibu 30
2022 Malibu 33
2023 Malibu 12
2024 Malibu 18

Related recalls

Wiring, Brake lights

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. Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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.

Recall 14V252000 · May 2014
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Other 2009 Chevrolet Malibu problems

Common questions

What are common 2009 Chevrolet Malibu electrical problems?

Complaints most often name the switch, ignition and fuses and circuit breakers.

At what mileage do 2009 Chevrolet Malibu electrical problems happen?

Most complaints that gave a mileage fell between about 60,000–125,000 miles. The middle value is about 90,000 miles.

Is there a recall for 2009 Chevrolet Malibu electrical problems?

Yes: 14V252000. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if the work was done.

Which Malibu year has the most electrical complaints?

The 2013 Malibu, with 376 complaints.

Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls databases. Complaints are unverified owner reports.