Problems · by component

2009 Chevrolet Malibu latches/locks/linkages problems

56 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu cite latches/locks/linkages, 4% of all 1,511 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
56
4% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the latches/locks/linkages

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON OR OFF, ALL THE DOORS UNLOCKED INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 15, 2019Latches/locks/linkagesODI 11280279
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE GEAR AUTOMATICALLY CHANGED AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, SERVICE TRACTION, AND CHECK ENGINE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, RESTARTED THE ENGINE, AND THE VEHICLE RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCKS AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED AND UNLOCKED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 8, 2017Power train, Latches/locks/linkages, Electronic stability control (esc), Traction control system, EngineODI 11013751
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE DOOR LATCHES WERE DEFECTIVE, WHICH RESULTED IN THE DOOR LOCKS HAVING TO BE LOCKED AND UNLOCKED MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR ACTUATOR MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT CONSIDER IT A SAFETY ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 7, 2017Latches/locks/linkagesODI 10950120
“MY REAR PASSENGER DOOR LOCK DISENGAGED FROM THE AUTOMATIC LOCKS AND CAN ONLY BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE. (SPRING 2016) MY TRACTION CONTROL IS PERIODICALLY SAYING THAT IT HAS MALFUNCTIONED BUT DOES NOT ALWAYS. WHEN THE LIGHT COMES ON, I FEEL A PULSE AS I'M BRAKING AND SOMETIMES IF IT COMES ON WHILE I'M DRIVING I'LL FEEL A SLIGHT JOLT THROUGH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I ALSO HEAR A CLICK NOISE LIKE THE PEDAL MAY DISENGAGE. (LATE SUMMER 2016) I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S RELATED BUT SINCE MOST THINGS SEEM ELECTRICAL, MY RADIO SOMETIMES WILL NOT TURN OFF AND SEEMS TO DO WHAT IT WANTS DURING TIMES WHEN OTHER THINGS ARE SEEMINGLY MALFUNCTIONING (I.E. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL ISSUE). ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, I HAVE TAKEN THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, OPENED THE DOOR BUT MY RADIO DOESN'T TURN OFF. (LATE SUMMER 2016) ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, I HAVE TAKEN THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, BUT THE CAR SEEMS TO STILL BE RUNNING, LIKE IDLING. I'VE THOUGHT IT WAS THE COOLING SYSTEM, BUT I'VE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN IN THE LAST 22 YEARS I'VE BEEN DRIVING NOR HEARD IT FROM ANYONE ELSE I ASK. (LATE SUMMER 2016) I HAVE ALSO BEEN DRIVING, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 5, 2016Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Latches/locks/linkages, Vehicle speed controlODI 10929854
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR FAILED TO LOCK AND UNLOCK ON THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR. IN ADDITION, AS THE FAILURE PROGRESSED, THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE. THE CONTACT AND VARIOUS PASSENGERS WERE UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND PROVIDED AN ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 04/20/16*LJ”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 23, 2016Latches/locks/linkagesODI 10837702
“2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE DOOR LOCKS ACTUATOR PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE DOOR LOCKS BEGAN LOCKING AND UNLOCKING BY THEMSELVES CONTINUOUSLY. IT STARTED AFTER A MONTH. HOWEVER, RECENTLY THE PROBLEM RETURNED. IT WOULD HAPPEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ON, OFF OR WHILE DRIVING. AN INSPECTION REVEALED, ALL FOUR LOCKING ACTUATORS WERE BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 27, 2015Latches/locks/linkagesODI 10761596

Showing 6 of 56 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.