2009 Cadillac CTS vs 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2009 Cadillac CTS | 2009 Chevrolet Malibu |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 167 | 1,509 |
| Recall campaigns | 5 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 1,248 | 1,098 |
| Investigations | 0 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 10 | 41 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 9 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–21 | 20–29 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 68,300 mi | 100,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Cadillac CTS | Chevrolet Malibu |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 12 | 768 |
| Electrical System | 26 | 368 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 6 | 255 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 172 |
| Service Brakes | 8 | 142 |
| Power Train | 28 | 121 |
| Engine | 49 | 61 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 | 73 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 23 | 33 |
| Vibration / shaking | 13 | 64 |
| Loss of power | 9 | 87 |
| Stalling | 8 | 45 |
| Steering problems | 0 | 111 |
| Electrical failures | 0 | 20 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 16 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 15 |
2009 Cadillac CTS
2009 Chevrolet Malibu
Compare all Cadillac CTS 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.