Problems · by component

2009 Chevrolet Malibu seats problems

30 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu cite seats, 2% of all 1,511 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
30
2% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the seats

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I went to move the Lever to the driver side seat to adjust the back of the seat for support. And I went to go pull the level and the seat assembly snapped and broke off causing the seat to move backwards and forwards(up and down) and won't sit still. the seat can move at almost all angles. It does not slide just moves side to sides. It was a perfectly fine and I never used that level before until the first time ever and it just complete fell apart. It still looks like it's intact but I took it to the dealership and they said part of the assembly snapped.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 6, 2022SeatsODI 11455385
“Driver seats horizontal bar has snapped it now leans to th e left. Comes up off of floor when breaking and accelerating. Concerned that the seat will become detached if ever in a rear or front end collision sending me out of the vehicle”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 12, 2021SeatsODI 11428885
“Question: What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Answer: The drivers seat frame failed via a broken weld. The weld is located on the front and right hand side of the seat (assuming you are sitting in the seat). The seat became very unstable and I do not believe the seat is safe if a crash would occur. The seat is available for inspection. I am an average sized adult in terms of weight (<200 lbs). Question: How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Answer: The seat is no longer rigid and thus in the event of a crash I cannot believe the seat is safe. Question: Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Answer: It is clear the seat failed - see the picture. Searching online I found many people with the same problem and the pictures online of the failure matched what happened with my seat. Question: Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Answer: No, reading online people with the same problem were not happy with GM's lack of response so I did not bother to consult with GM on…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 11, 2021SeatsODI 11428630
“IN 2014, THE HEATER IN THE SEAT MALFUNCTIONED AND BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND THROUGH THE COAT I WAS WEARING WHILE DRIVING. NOW, THE SEAT HEATER ON NEITHER SIDE WORKS. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO GM AND THEY SAY THAT THE CAR WAS NOT ON RECALL AND IT WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 23, 2019SeatsODI 11257298
“WELD ON SEAT FRAME IS BROKEN. IN A CRASH DRIVER COULD BE EJECTED, ALONG WITH SEAT. SEATBELT IS ATTACHED TO SEAT SO BECOMES LESS USEFUL AND MORE UNSAFE. 1000'S OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE ALREADY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 21, 2019SeatsODI 11257079
“DRIVERS POWER SEAT ON MY 2009 CHEV MALIBU 52000 MILES IS LOWER ON RIGHT SIDE AND RUBS ON CONSOLE WHEN YOU TRY AND MOVE, THERE IS BAR UNDER SEAT WITH BROKEN WELD SEAT MOVES WHILE DRIVING WHEN I CHECKED ONLINE THERE WERE A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 1, 2019SeatsODI 11241070

Showing 6 of 30 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.