2009 Acura TL vs 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2009 Acura TL | 2009 Chevrolet Malibu |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 42 | 1,509 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 89 | 1,098 |
| Investigations | 0 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 5 | 41 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 9 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–21 | 20–29 |
| Median reported mileage | 70,000 mi | 100,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Acura TL | Chevrolet Malibu |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 2 | 768 |
| Electrical System | 3 | 368 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 0 | 255 |
| Exterior Lighting | 0 | 172 |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 142 |
| Power Train | 5 | 121 |
| Air Bags | 19 | 62 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 0 | 73 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Steering problems | 0 | 111 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 87 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 64 |
| Stalling | 0 | 45 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 33 |
| Electrical failures | 0 | 20 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 16 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 15 |
2009 Acura TL
2009 Chevrolet Malibu
Compare all Acura TL vs Chevrolet Malibu years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.