Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2009 Chevrolet Malibu owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while his wife was backing out of the driveway, the power steering failed without warning. Due to the failure, his wife hit a pole on their property. The contact's wife was not injured, the air bags did not deploy due to low impact, a police report was not filed, and no property damage was reported. The contact went to assist his wife after the failure and used excessive force to steer the vehicle back into the driveway. The contact called the dealer and informed him that the vehicle was not under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V153000 (Steering). The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was 76,500.
In 2012, I was driving down a somewhat of a curvy road when all of a sudden when approaching a curve, the car would not turn!!! I was headed straight for a tree as well as traveling into opposing traffics lane. Fortunately, no one was coming. Eventually the steering came back which sent me back in the other direction as I was pulling on the wheel trying to get it to turn. This sent me over a curb that was on my side of the road, resulting in damage that had to be repaired at a collision center. I was scared to drive the car after this because of what happened, but everyone I talked to said there wasn't nothing wrong with the car. I started driving it again and everything was fine, until in 2022 as I was pulling into my mother's driveway, and it happened again!! I started the turn and boom no steering and ended up in her front yard. …
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH and exiting a highway exit ramp, the steering wheel and column started to shake and vibrate abnormally. The contact stated she drove the vehicle to a nearby independent mechanic. The contact was able to place the vehicle in park P) and turned off the vehicle. The contact returned to the vehicle to drive to a maintenance bay however, the power steering function was unavailable. The contact stated she observed an unknown warning light. The vehicle was diagnosed, and the independent mechanic determined that the steering motor and the steering angle sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was driven back to the same mechanic who diagnosed that the u-joint on the steering shaft had failed and needed to be replaced. …
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving 5 MPH and making a turn, the vehicle lost power steering functionality with an alarm engaged. Additionally, the message "Service ESC" was displayed. The contact pulled into his driveway and turned off the vehicle. The contact stated upon restarting the vehicle, the power steering responded as needed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle could not repair the vehicle under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V153000 (Steering) because an unknown TSB had expired. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 81,230. The dealer diagnosed the defect as the torque sensor and along with the power assist motor needed to be replaced to fix the power steering loss issue. …
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently decelerated with several unknown warning lights and messages displayed. The contact stated he pulled over and waited 45 minutes to restart the vehicle. Upon restart, the vehicle resumed normal operation. The contact mentioned that the failure occurred several times and he was able to restart the vehicle with normal operation. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a dealer who diagnosed the failure as a power steering failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that he found Manufacturer Technical Service Bulletin: 14116B however, the dealer and manufacturer declined repairs as he was over the allowed mileage. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V153000 (Steering). …
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH the contact heard a chime and then the "Service Power Steering Loss SC" illuminated. The contact was able to steer the vehicle using extra effort to drive the vehicle. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and the vehicle regained power steering functionality. The contact continued driving and the power steering failure reoccurred. The contact pulled off the roadway and turned off and restarted the vehicle and the vehicle regained power steering functionality. The contact stated that that failure was intermittent but had become a recurring failure. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V153000 (Steering). …
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. In addition, the contact noticed a vibrating and clicking sound coming from the steering wheel. The "Service ESC" warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was turned off and restarted, and the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was purchased. The vehicle was diagnosed with a failed torque sensor within the steering column. The contact was informed that the torque sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the power steering warning light and the message to "Service ESC" illuminated. The contact stated he turned off and restarted the vehicle, the warning light and warning message were no longer illuminated; however, the vehicle lost power steering while driving and making a turn. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and assisted the contact with setting up an appointment with the dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering assist control motor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring daily while driving. The failure mileage was approximately 149,450.
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.
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel locked up. The Electronic Stability Control (ESC) warning light and power steering assist warning message were displayed. The failure nearly caused a collision. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the dealer could not duplicate the failure. The dealer performed a P-Module program and relearn, a T-S module unit, and a multi-point inspection; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic, who related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V153000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 48,477.
Related recalls
Steering › Electric power assist system
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.
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.
Steering complaints in other Malibu years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu?
NHTSA has 768 complaints about the steering of the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 51% of the model year's 1,509 complaints. The component named most often is column (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2009 Chevrolet Malibu steering problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 14V-153 (electric power assist system, Mar 31, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2009 Chevrolet Malibu steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 120,000 miles, and 4% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 13 crashes, 1 fire and 3 injuries to steering problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.