Problems · by component

2009 Chevrolet Malibu electronic stability control (esc) problems

255 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu cite electronic stability control (esc), 17% of all 1,511 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
255
17% of all complaints
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electronic stability control (esc)

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idling, it lost power steering functionality. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and restarted the vehicle, and the power steering functionality returned. The failure reoccurred every mile while driving, requiring the driver to pull over to the side of the road to restart the vehicle. The power steering, ESC, and the traction control warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated who was a retired independent mechanic, determined that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V153000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included. The dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 10, 2026Steering, Electronic stability control (esc), Traction control systemODI 11716945
“The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that in 2017 the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V252000 (Electrical System, Exterior Lighting, Vehicle Speed Control, Electronic Stability Control) however, the brake lights would illuminate randomly without the brake pedal being depressed. The contact stated that the brake lights would fail to illuminate whenever the brake pedal was depressed. The failure recurred at various speeds. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who added di-electric grease to the harness, replaced the brake harness, replaced the position sensor, and inspected the brake light. The vehicle had been taken to the dealer approximately 7 times since the recall repair was performed; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 104,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 25, 2022Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11490852
“I'VE BEEN HAVING AN ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE REGISTERING WHICH GEAR IT IS IN. THE GEARS SHIFT HARD, AND WHEN PLACING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE VIGOROUSLY JERKS BACK AND FORTH. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD, IT SLOWED DOWN TO A COMPLETE STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, AND WHEN IT FINALLY DID, IT JUST TAKES OFF WITH NO WARNING. WHEN PLACING THE VEHICLE ON PARK, AT TIMES IT WOULD STILL ROLL.. THERE IS ALSO THE POWER STEERING AND TRACTION CONTROL SENSORS THAT ARE BOTH ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE STEERING STIFFENING IN THE VEHICLE IS AN ISSUE ONLY SOMETIMES. HOWEVER, IT STILL WORRIES ME WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD WITH MY TODDLER IN THE VEHICLE AS WELL. I DID RESEARCH RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THE MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR OF MY VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECALL IN EACH AREA I'M HAVING TROUBLE IN. HOWEVER, WHEN I SPOKE WITH A CHEVROLET ASSOCIATE, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME. I WON'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL IT'S SAFE AND I'M AFRAID OF AN ACCIDENT TAKING PLACE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 2, 2020Steering, Power train, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11372618
“POWER STEERING FAILS WHILE DRIVING. DASHBOARD WILL SAY "TRACTION OFF, ESC OFF" AND I WON'T BE ABLE TO MOVE STEERING WHEEL. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN BUSY INTERSECTIONS. I HAVE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND RESTART IN ORDER TO GAIN POWER STEERING AGAIN. MECHANIC HAS DIAGNOSED IT AS TORQUE SENSOR/STEERING COLUMN. THIS WAS RECALLED ON MANY OTHER MALIBUS, BUT NOT MINE. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM BUT WEREN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I PURCHASED VEHICLE SEVEN YEARS AGO AT 80,000 MILES (ABOUT ONCE PER YEAR) AND HAS GOTTEN WORSE RECENTLY AT 170,000 MILES (MULTIPLE TIMES PER MONTH). THIS IS DANGEROUS AND VERY EXPENSIVE.*DT *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 26, 2020Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11366516
“WHEN GOING OVER ANY BUMP OR TURNING THE FRONT END SHAKES AND MAKES A CLACKING NOISE. ESC IS OFF. TRACTION CONTROL IS ALWAYS OFF. ERROR CODES READ P0010 P0449 P0013 P0722 P0011”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 24, 2020Steering, Suspension, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11366176
“DRIVING AT ABOUT 60 MPH ON A STRAIGHT AWAY, CAR LOST POWER STEERING AND SENSOR LIGHT SERVICE ESC/POWER STEERING STARTED FLASHING. THE STEERING FELT NO DIFFERENT PRIOR TO LOSING, NO NOISES. DROVE IT THIS WAY UNTIL I REACHED MY DESTINATION ABOUT 4 MILES AWAY. CAR SAT FOR 4 HOURS, TURNED IT BACK ON AND HAD REGAINED ALL STEERING AND NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. I HAVE NOTICED THAT FOR ABOUT THE PAST 4 YEARS, DURING THE COLDER MONTHS, THE SERVICE ESC/SERVICE TRACTION NOTIFICATION WILL RANDOMLY POP ON FOR NO OTHER REASON THEN THE COLD AND I LOSE TIRE TRACTION. PRETTY POSITIVE THIS IS WHAT CAUSED ME TO SLIDE OFF THE ROAD 2 YEARS AGO. WHENEVER I HAVE TAKEN IT TO DEALERSHIP FOR ANALYSIS, THEY CLAIM THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, BECAUSE THE LIGHT POPS OFF AS QUICK AS IT COMES ON. I HAVE ALSO SPECIFICALLY ASKED ABOUT AND LOOKED UP A RECALL FOR THIS, AND WHEN MY VIN IS ENTERED IT SHOWS THAT IT IS NOT NEEDED. I FOUND THE RECALL FROM 2014 FOR THE POWER STEERING ISSUE, SO EITHER THE PRIOR OWNER HAD IT FIXED AND IT DIDN'T LAST, OR IT WAS NEVER DONE TO BEGIN WITH BECAUSE SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY WRONG HERE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MAJOR ISSUE AND THE FIRST TIME I HAVE LOST MY…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 15, 2020Steering, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11364504

Showing 6 of 255 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.