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Used 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Consumer Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
199 reviews
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Pros
Cons
4 out of 5 stars

Good car for getting around

Connor Sweeney , 01/19/2018
updated 10/12/2021
2009 Chevrolet Malibu LT1 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 4A)
38 of 39 people found this review helpful

I have had this car for almost 6 years now and got it with 72,000 miles on it. I now have around 158k miles on it. Here is a list of Pros and Cons Pros -Interior is good looking -gets around 22-25 mpg (in town) -stock speakers are nice and loud Cons -The turning radius is terrible where it handles worse than a truck -the parts inside the vehicle are all cheaply made so they break quicker -seats are a little uncomfortable for longer rides. The seats fold inward where it creates a divet where the back seat and the butt seat connect (not good for lower back) -no lumbar support. Here’s what I’ve had to fix so far -all new door lock actuators (prices at $350 a piece professionally) -turning signal knob -catalytic converter and exhaust manifold -tire rods multiple times *UPDATE* (10/10/21) Well, I found the lumbar support after all these years! My car is breaking down with 206,000 miles on it now. Here are the list of things that is wrong with my car… 1. Loud squeak noise when putting it reverse 2. The sway bar is loose and needs replacement, which causes a loose rattling sound from underneath the car 3. Left side mirror rattles 4. Windshield wiper motor went bad so that it only works sometimes 5. The alternator went bad, so it’s causing the following to happen… -Windows roll up slow -Battery dies if you don’t start it every day -Lights flicker 6. The steering wheel makes a clank sound anytime you go from left to right, quite annoying 7. Seatbelt sensor is bad, causes the beeping sound to go off every 10 min 8, O2 sensor that connects up to the catalytic converter is bad, causing slow acceleration 9. Door lock actuators are bad, sometimes they won’t lock or unlock At this point, i’m trying to just find another car…

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1 out of 5 stars

Malibu of Shame

Brent Evans, 07/13/2015
2009 Chevrolet Malibu LS 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 4A)
42 of 46 people found this review helpful

I bought a used 2009 Malibu LS for my daughter and have had nothing but trouble. Recall after recall for some odd reason does not apply to my car and I've spent well over $1000 to replace steering column, power steering, stability control, traction control module. The biggest joke on these cars is replacing the front headlights because you have to take off the front end to get to the headlights to replace the bulbs. I was determined to not take it to the dealer so my son and I found a YouTube Video and 1 hr later had one replaced. This is ridicules because on my Honda and Acura it takes me all of 3 minute tops!!! My stereo also quit working so I ordered one for a reasonable price on E-Bay but as you might imagine it's not just a swap. No that would be way too convenient. You have to schedule an appointment with the dealer to have it programmed which is around $45 labor charge. The Malibu is a great looking car and has good styling and features BUT Chevrolet and their engineers should be embarrassed they have produced such a mechanical FAILURE!! Chevrolet should recall every Malibu manufactured from 2009-2012 and admit the created a "LEMON"!

Safety
3 out of 5 stars
Technology
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
3 out of 5 stars
Interior
3 out of 5 stars
Comfort
3 out of 5 stars
Reliability
1 out of 5 stars
Value
2 out of 5 stars
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2.38 out of 5 stars

Worst Car I have Ever Owned!

sthrn05stnggrl, 03/19/2012
2009 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
25 of 28 people found this review helpful

I bought this car new in Dec 2008. After having it just under a year, completely died on me when I was driving in my neighborhood. They had to replace a wiring harness in it. Then a year later the battery died. Another year later the car's transmission started to shift hard. They told me it was normal. I've had the car in & out of the shop since the end of January 2012, It is now almost the end of March and the car still is having issues. They replaced the torque converter, exhaust manafold, and the fuel injector wiring. Guess what? The car is now leaking pink fluid, hard shifting, and now there is a dull rattling sound coming from under the hood passenger side when ever the road is uneven

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1 out of 5 stars

120,000 long, expensive miles

trophel, 09/23/2015
2009 Chevrolet Malibu LT1 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 4A)
23 of 26 people found this review helpful

Here's a summary of how this car has done so far, with 120,00 miles on it after being bought brand new (6 miles) in April of 2009 (6 1/2 years ago). Keep in mind I"m a neat freak who washes his car daily, doesn't smoke, and cleans the inside weekly. It's a 4 cyl, 6 speed auto, LT2. The Traction Contol Module / ABS module has been replaced 6 times! Yes, it's been recalled now, but has been replaced twice since then, too. The transmission completely failed (wouldn't shift out of 1st gear) at 94,000 miles. New one installed under warranty occasionally slips, too. Both brake lights have been replaced. This is an easy fix. Both headlights went out the same day. This does require removing the front bumper as indicated elsewhere on here. Cost was $200 per the pair. The radio occasionally stops working. Bluetooth capability hasn't worked since the most recent reprogram by the dealer. The rear door locks must be manually activated on one side (passenger). The key fob failed at 8, 000, 15, 000, 22,000 miles, then the transmitter unit on the car itself failed at 60,000 miles and hasn't worked since. Now the car can only be unlocked manually on the driver door. The leather on the shift handle began wearing off at 100,000 miles. The leather on the driver seat began wrinkling at 90,000 miles and has completely torn since then. The turnsignals won't shut off automatically after making a turn ... sometimes. Sometimes they do, sometimes they dont. The power steering sometimes fails for a few minutes, then begin working again. The engine, however, has worked very well. Original battery, original belts, no oil use. ,

Safety
4 out of 5 stars
Technology
2 out of 5 stars
Performance
2 out of 5 stars
Interior
2 out of 5 stars
Comfort
3 out of 5 stars
Reliability
1 out of 5 stars
Value
2 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

best four door on the market

eriebuckeye, 11/05/2011
2009 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
15 of 18 people found this review helpful

i have 24k miles on it and it drives like a dream. i get 38 mpg hwy and about 28 city. big trunk space. i also own a cadillac cts and this rides even better than it.

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