10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 62,245 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
The brake lights illuminate when the brake pedal isn't pressed. When the brake pedal is pressed the brake lights are not illuminated. Taken vehicle to dealership more than 3 times in order to relearn the brake pedal position. This affects the cruise control, as it turns off because the cruise control doesn't know the brake pedal position. This affects the traction control, as it turns off because the traction control doesn't know the brake pedal position.
- Chicago, IL, USA
About a month ago I noticed that my brake lights were stuck on. I didn't pay it any mind since then until yesterday 07/01/2013. A friend of mines was following me home and advised me that my brake lights were on the entire time. I checked to make sure I wasn't riding with the emergency brakes on. Now my car seems like it is pulling and there is a burning smell under my car. I'm not quite sure if this is a known issue or not. I did find an article from the huffington post that stated that there were a few complaints/issues regarding that. What could be causing this to happen. Why hasn't then been considered a recall?
- Virginia Beach , VA, USA
Brake lights stay on all the time, except when I first press the brake pedal. I have already applied dielectric grease to connector and plugged/unplugged many many times. Works for about 1 day.
- Greenbrier, TN, USA
You have to take off front end of car to change headlight bulb(bumper, grill, brackets). Replaced 3 headlight bulbs in little more than 1 year. Problem with replacing bulb......you have to take off front end to change bulb. Last time I changed bulb was 3 weeks ago. Bulb out again. I am not a mechanic or body person so I have to pay someone to change the bulb. Paid someone to take off front end and change the bulb. Because it only lasted about 2 weeks or less, I am assuming there is a problem with electrical. I never know when bulb will go out. I can pay to fix it again, but, I cannot see at night with one light and others cannot see me. It is a hazard and I don??T know what to do. Chevy quoted me $320 to do this. I paid 1st $220 2nd $180 3rd $180. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- because of lock problem described below, that is why I think it may be electrical my brother and I got a car (same car 3 months apart) his car did the same thing - all door locks malfunctioned - he took in to Chevy. Gave him some weird excuse and said it would cost him so much money to fix which was a ridiculous amount. He traded his 2008 Chevy Malibu in finally because of all the problems and bought a Toyota Camry. The cost quoted him was the reason I did not take mine in to repair. I couldn't afford to pay for Chevy malfunction. ## VIN failed ##
- Houston, TX, USA
Whilst driving home one night I noticed that my brake lights were on, however I was not applying the brakes. I then pressed the brake pedal and the brake lights turned off. Once I let go of the brake they came back on after a few seconds. At the same time, I received an error that read along the lines of: ESC service traction. My husband and I found a forum where other Malibu owners seemed to be having the same issue, so we removed the panel on the passenger side floor to check for any corrosion, then replaced the panel. The problem stopped, however this issue is re-occurring, and has occurred several other times since then. I always receive the same ESC service traction error each time this happens and I am not able to use cruise control as the brake lights are being engaged without the pedal being pressed.
- Chuluota, FL, USA
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving, the brake lights were illuminated without the brake pedal being engaged. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 70,000.
- Genola, UT, USA
On several occasion I have notice that my brake lights come on without me even pressing the brakes. It also lights up and when I press the brakes it goes off. I have spoken with other Malibu owner and they complain of this same brake failure. It is very frustrating and not safe.
- Houston, TX, USA
The brake lights, including the third brake light, were observed on during normal operation, when the brakes were not being applied. This gives a false indication of intended operation.
- Blue Springs, MO, USA
Turn signal arm does not stay in place when signaling to turn. Also the turn signal arm when it does stay in place it will not return to normal position/turn off signal by itself after making a turn. When turning the steering wheel it makes popping noises. Door locks on all doors stay either in the "lock" or "unlock" position at all times. One of the rear passenger door lock has been replaced at the dealership for $300 and the door lock still fails. The only way to unlock the passenger doors is to do it manually and climb over the seats. The driver door has to be unlocked with the key and manually locked when exiting the vehicle.
- Burleson, TX, USA
Vehicle brake lights on the rear of the vehicle will turn on with out any application of the brake pedal. Vehicle also has adjustable pedals, you can move pedals forward or back and get light to go out. General Motors has replace brake switch once. Little over a year later vehicle is doing exact thing again. There is a brake position sensor in this system and it appears to be losing its calibration when pedals are moved causing the brake lights to come on. This causes an unsafe condition for anybody following the vehicle or riding in it.
- Dexter, NY, USA
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving 65 mph, the traction control light illuminated as well as the brake lights. The brake lights remained illuminated until the brake pedal was engaged. The failure recurred on an intermittent basis. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer on several occasions, where they were unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 57,757.
- Minden, LA, USA
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 40 mph, the rear brake lights began to illuminate without pressure applied to the brake pedal. The failure occurred intermittently. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 59,000.
- Murfreesboro, TN, USA
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu ltz (na). While driving approximately 55-60 mph, the contact applied the accelerator pedal and the vehicle hesitated. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who stated that the vehicle was performing as normal. The failure continued. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer several times where the dealer performed a front end alignment. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer as the failure occurred again. The dealer replaced the transmission line. The vehicle was taken to a local repair shop but had not been repaired. The headlights also did not function properly. The failure mileage was 33,000 and the current mileage was 36,300.
- Windsor Mills, MD, USA
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the brake lights constantly illuminated both when the brake pedal was depressed and even when it was not. There were no other warning lights. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who replaced the sensor, fuse and other parts. The failure continued. The manufacturer had not been notified. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.
- Vallejo, CA, USA
- Northville, MI, USA