1.8

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
93,694 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.

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problem #13

Apr 052022

Malibu

  • 181,326 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the brake lights would illuminate briefly but for a shorter period than the normal time duration. Additionally, the brake lights would illuminate spontaneously without depressing the brake pedal. The electronic stability control warning light was illuminated. The contact also stated that the driver-??s side lock would malfunction causing the door to remain locked. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 181,326.

- Donna, TX, USA

problem #12

Nov 012021

Malibu

  • 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the ESC and traction control warning lights illuminated. The contact continued driving to his residence. The contact was informed that while pulling into the driveway, the brake lights were not operational. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the brake sensor and Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) sensor was faulty and needed to be replaced. The parts were replaced. The manufacture was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

- Kansas City, MO, USA

problem #11

Jan 012021

Malibu

  • 151,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in, and repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000 (Electrical System, Exterior Lighting, Vehicle Speed Control, Electronic Stability Control). After the vehicle was repaired, the ESP system with the warning light illuminated. Due to the failure, the braking system activated without the brake pedal being depressed. Additionally, on occasions, the brakes failed to operate as intended with the brake pedal depressed. The contact stated that the brakes functioned opposite to what was intended. The failure was intermittent but started occurring more frequently. The contact contacted the local dealer who confirmed the failure however, the dealer was not able to do the repair under the recall. The contact was informed that in 2017 the manufacturer released information for a special coverage regarding the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 151,000.

- Humboldt, TN, USA

problem #10

Mar 052017

Malibu

  • 152,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that when the brake pedal was applied, the brake lights failed to function. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer stated that the VIN was not part of a recall and that the contact had to pay for the repair. The approximate failure mileage was 152,000.

- Gainesville, GA, USA

problem #9

May 192014

Malibu

  • 84,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. After the dealer repaired the vehicle per NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000 (service brakes, hydraulic, electrical system, exterior lighting, vehicle speed control, electronic stability control), the contact experienced a failure. The contact notified the dealer several times that the brake lights remained illuminated when the brake pedal was not depressed. When the brake pedal was depressed, the exterior brake lights failed to illuminate. The dealer (cox Chevrolet, 2900 cortez rd w, bradenton, fl 34207, (941) 749-2699) was unable to replicate the failure and stated that further diagnostic testing was required. The contact felt as if the recall repair provided no solution. The manufacturer was notified and provided no assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 84,000.

- Bradenton, FL, USA

problem #8

Feb 012015

Malibu

  • 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. While the cruise control was activated, it randomly deactivated. Also, when the brake pedal was depressed, the center brake light would not illuminate and the rear brake lights illuminated very dimly. The contact also indicated that the transmission was replaced due to failures that prevented the vehicle from accelerating normally. No further information was available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,000.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #7

Jun 152016

Malibu

  • 135,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 45 mph, the contact was alerted by another motorist that the brake light was constantly illuminated, as if she were applying the brakes. The brake light dimmed when the brake pedal was depressed. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired per a manufacturer recall in April of 2015 for the same failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.

- Lake Villa, IL, USA

problem #6

May 142016

Malibu

  • 75,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. While depressing the brake pedal, the brake lights failed to operate. When the brake pedal was released, the brake light illuminated. In addition, the dis active stability control warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic, speed control). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.

- Hughesville, MO, USA

problem #5

Feb 132013

Malibu

  • 66,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 45 mph, the brake lights failed to illuminate when the brake pedal was depressed. The contact mentioned that the brake lights illuminated when the vehicle was in motion. In addition, the traction control and ESC warning indicators illuminated continuously. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control); however, the part needed for the repair was unavailable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 66,000.

- Center, NH, USA

problem #4

Dec 012013

Malibu

  • 53,694 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the brake lights illuminated while driving at various speeds and would dim when the brake pedal was depressed. The dealer located a failure code at the brake pedal position sensor. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer stated that the VIN was excluded from NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control). The failure mileage was 53,694.

- Odenton , MD, USA

problem #3

Jun 152009

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 60,000 miles
Brake lights fail to light and/ or fail to turn off after depressing/releasing brake pedal both while car was parked with engine on as we'll as while in motion including at highway speeds.

- Bartonsville, PA, USA

problem #2

Oct 052011

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 30,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that when driving at various speeds, the service traction, service ESC and ESC off warning lamps illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician advised that the body control module was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but only offered to cover part of the repair costs. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 30,000 and the current mileage was 67,000...updated 01/16/2013 the consumer stated when the driver's foot is on the brake the brake lights go off. Upon taking foot off the brake the brake lights stay on. This happens when the service traction light comes on. Updated 1/28/2013

- Detroit , MI, USA

problem #1

Aug 012011

Malibu

  • 40,000 miles
The brake lights on my daughter's 2009 Chevrolet Malibu come on while she is driving & her cruise control stops working. She took her car into the dealer & 2 other people were there with the same complaint. The service dept. Said it was fixed but the same day as she picked it up, it happened again. While driving down the highway @ 70 mph with the cruise on, the brake lights come on and stay on until she presses the brake pedal. The brake lights go out while she is applying the brakes & come back on when she releases the brake pedal. Also, she also can no longer set her cruise control. After the vehicle has been parked for a few hours, the cruise & brake lights work properly. Anyone following her, especially @ night, might assume that she is stopping while driving & driving whilst stopping. I am concerned that this could cause a fire if the problem is electrical in nature, (both taillight bulbs have recently burnt out or shorted out & been replaced). I am very concerned that this could cause a serious accident.

- Clio, MI, USA