2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU Complaints

The power steering in my 2009 Chevy Malibu went out on . The car is available for inspection upon request. This is very unsafe because I am unable to turn the car quickly, if needed. This is a safety risk to not only me, but other drivers on the road. I took the car to Tire Rama in Helena, Montana on February 12, 2025. The receipt stated that there was a steering column internal wire issue. The car has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representative or others. The message, ESC (electronic steering control) occurred at the same time the power steering stopped working. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

My Power Steering stops working. I have to shut the car off and on several times and it will come back on. There is a recall for the 2009 Malibu, although my VIN is showing it’s not part of the recall. The air conditioner works some days, but other days not at all. It also shows that this is under recall, although my VIN shows not affected by this recall either. The air conditioner is inconvenient, but the steering is a safety issue. My wheel will barely turn when it stops working.

My chevy malibu has been losing power steering multiple times per day. It comes back on after turning the car off and on again, but then goes out again after just a few miles. I understand this is an issue with the 4 cylinder, electric power-steering malibus from that year. However, my VIN is not covered by the recall for this.

After no issues with my electric power steering for the vehicles whole life, it randomly started shutting off and back on. If I were to park and restart the car, the power steering will return, then shut off again once I steer while driving. The next day, no power steering at all and none since. After taking it into a shop, they told be the steering sensor needed to be replaced and would cost about $1000. I read on this and found there was a recall for '09 Malibus for the electric power steering, but my car was not part of the recall. All of the symptoms of the issue listed in the recall are the same and many people online report the same. Same issues, same shutting on and off and a complete shutdown.

Power steering failing intermittently. While driving get message power steering and check ESC. After stopping and restarting the car the failure goes away but returns few miles later. It's very hard turning with no power steering. If I had to avoid something I probably wouldn't be able to respond quickly enough. I probably will go to car shop to have it checked. I see that on Chevy forums this issue is common. Some VINS recalled and some not? No warning lamps other than when it happens I get the power steering indication and check ESC.

Powering steering intermittently goes out. Sometimes when backing up sometimes while driving straight and sometimes while trying to take a ramp on the highway. The battery on the car was replaced and the alternator was checked and all there is good. This model has an electric power steering pump and the same pump was recalled on other malibus. Why has this one not been recalled?

Without notice, as I was driving down the road, I turned the turn signal on to turn right and then the steering wheel stiffened up and was unable to turn so I hit the curb ,as i kept on struggling to force hardened steering wheel to the right.. I managed to straighten it to pull over safely.. I was very fortunate not to be rear-ended or hit something else in front of me besides the curb.. I was thinking I could pour power steering fluid into it, but I was unaware until someone else looked at it , that it is not like the cars back in the day where you can pour it in …I was told (not by a mechanic, just someone who stopped to help me get home.) that there was no reservoir and that it was an electrical power steering unit , that needed to be replaced, from inside the car, & that they had heard of a recall on this problem. Sooo, can you help me with this in some way ?? ??

Power Steering light and function kept shutting on and off. Stated with shaking wheel. Eventually just stopped working completely. Took to Dealership to get diagnosed. I see this is a common issue/recall on 2009 chvy malibus.

Driving and suddenly lose power steering. Service ESC comes on and service power steering. Seems dangerous has happened multiple times past few years

Sudden Loss of Electrical Power Steering - it is the exact problem listed in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V153000 . When the VIN number is scanned it does not list this vehicle as falling under the recall, but it is the same year, make, & models as those that do. The steering failure occurs randomly, several times a week, including today.