2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 36 complaints
36
Total Complaints
56,000mi
Median Mileage
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
Top Issue
1
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

15,572 25th Percentile
56,000 Median Mileage
129,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
6
STEERING
6
POWER TRAIN
5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2
AIR BAGS
2
ENGINE
2
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1
EQUIPMENT
1
STRUCTURE
1

Severity Assessment

1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"THERE IS A RECALL OF MY VEHICLES BATTERY HYBRID PACK. I BROUGHT IN THE CAR 2 WEEKS AGO B/C THE ENGINE CEASES AND RESTARTS BY ITSELF AND JERKS FORWARD AT EVERY STOP SIGN AND RED LIGHT. THE DEALER SAID TODAY THAT THE PARTS WONT BE IN FOR ANOTHER 2 WEEKS. THE CAR IS HAZARDOUS TO DRIVE AND THEY WONT GIV..."
"2009 MALIBU WITH 8000 MILES HAS DEVELOPED MELDEW IN THE AIR VENTS. THE ODOR THAT COMES THROUGH THE VENTS NOT ONLY SMELLS BAD BUT IS CAUSING MYSELF AND FAMILY MEMBERS TO BECOME SICK WITH ASTHMA AND ALLERGY CONDITIONS. THIS CAN NOT BE HEALTHY. THE ODOR IS SO STRONG AT TIMES, IT EMBEDS INTO YOUR CLOTHI..."
"2009 MALIBU WITH 8000 MILES HAS DEVELOPED MELDEW IN THE AIR VENTS. THE ODOR THAT COMES THROUGH THE VENTS NOT ONLY SMELLS BAD BUT IS CAUSING MYSELF AND FAMILY MEMBERS TO BECOME SICK WITH ASTHMA AND ALLERGY CONDITIONS. THIS CAN NOT BE HEALTHY. THE ODOR IS SO STRONG AT TIMES, IT EMBEDS INTO YOUR CLOTHI..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28