Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 95 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 95, in the owner's own words
Randomly when I press the brakes the brake lights don't turn on. Other times they work fine. All of the light bulbs are good. All three brake light don't turn on randomly. I have almost been rear-ended on numerous occasions.no dash lights came on. And I have not had it inspected yet just my girlfriend pushing the brake pedal to test the lights. One day they work another they don't then another day they work again.
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the brake lights illuminated without the brake pedal being depressed. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the brake lamps failed to illuminate intermittently. The contact stated that the brightness of the brake lamps was reduced. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who repaired the vehicle however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while his partner was driving approximately 30 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the brake lights failed to activate or respond as designed. The contact confirmed that at night when the brake pedal was depressed, the brake lights failed to illuminate; however, when the brake pedal was released the brake lights illuminated. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed. The mechanic determined that the brake light switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the brake light failure recurred. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V252000 (Electrical System, Exterior Lighting, Vehicle Speed Control, Electronic Stability Control). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and had informed the contact that NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V252000 (Electrical System, Exterior Lighting, Vehicle Speed Control, Electronic Stability Control) had been repaired in December of 2014. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.
The car starts to violently shake and the the engine service light starts to flash. The ABS light stays on and the car runes terribly. The system says a spark plug coil has burned out. Locate the ba coil and replace it, car runs great until another coil burns out and the process starts over again. During each occurance the steering is affected by pulling hard to one side or the other when the brake is applied.
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at 25-30 MPH, the steering wheel locked. The check engine warning light and the ABS warning light illuminated. The contact shifted into neutral and manually steered the vehicle to a nearby independent mechanic. The independent mechanic diagnosed that the steering wheel and alignment had failed. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred increasingly while reversing. The contact notified the independent mechanic of the failure and he advised her to drive the vehicle for about 15 miles and the steering wheel would loosen up. The contact drove the vehicle; however, the failure persisted. The independent mechanic referred the contact to the dealer for the steering repair under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V153000 (Steering). The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the electric power steering and the torque sensor needed to be replaced. The dealer also informed the contact that she would be responsible for the cost of the repair as the recall repair for NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V153000 (Steering) had already been completed in 2014. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that they could not assist as recalls are repaired one time free of charge and additional related failures would be repaired at her expense. A case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.
The contact's girlfriend owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving behind the vehicle he noticed that the brake light was illuminated even though the brakes was not applied. Additionally, while depressing the brake pedal, the brake light failed to illuminate. The ESC, and traction control warning lights were illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no further assistance was provided. The contact stated that the failure was like NHTSA Campaign Number 14V252000 (Electrical system, Exterior Lighting, Vehicle Speed Control, Electronic Stability Control). The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
THE MAIN CONCER I HAVE IS (1)WHILE DRIVING AND CAR IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET, THE CAR ACCERLERATED ON IT'S OWN. ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAS HAPPEN SEVERAL MORE TIMES SINCE. (2)THE CAR BEGINS TO SLOW DOWN. I CANNOT DRIVE MORE THE 10 MILE PER HOUR, THE RPM GAGE GOES HIGH BUT THE CAR DOES NOT. (3)ALSO, THE CAR ABS LIGHT COMES ON WITH NORMAL DRIVING IN THE CITY, UNKNOWN CAUSE. (4)THE CAR SEEMS TO HAVE ELECTRICAL ISSUES, I'VE CHANGED HEAD LIGHTS TWICE, HORN FUSES BLOWN MULTIPLE TIMES, THE AIR CONDITIONER HAS GONE OFF 3X NOW, AND ON THE HEAT/AIR CONTROL PANEL MAKES A CLOCKNG NOISE, EVEN IF I WANT TO USE THE WIPERS.
THIRD BREAK LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY WORKING. THE OTHER TWO BREAK LIGHTS HAVE NO ISSUE. I HAD THE THIRD BREAK LIGHT REPLACED AND AM STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS CAR AS THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF OTHE CONSUMERS EXPERIENCING THIS SAME ISSUE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS FAILED TO LOCK. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL GRINDING SOUND DETECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE LOCAL DEALER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
I WILL BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND MY ESC LIGHT COMES ON AND IT CAUSES MY BRAKES TO ENGAGE BY THERE SELVES IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES NOW
FRONT LOW BEAM LIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT REPLACED LOW BEAM BULBS 3 TIMES IN 6 MONTHS AND REPLACED HARNESSES ONCE AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS CONTINUES TO GO OUT. BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON WHEN CAR IS STARTED AND CONTINUES TO STAY ON WHILE DRIVING. 3RD BRAKE LIGHT DOESN'T WORK ALL THE TIME. IT LIGHTS UP BRIGHT SOMETIME, DIM SOMETIME, AND OTHER TIMES IT DON'T WORK AT ALL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DUNN CHEVROLET BUICK (LOCATED AT 3000 DUSTIN RD, OREGON, OH 43616, (419) 442-7814) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A TUNE UP WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V2520000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL); HOWEVER, THE DEALER DECLINED TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.
ALL THREE BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON WHEN THE CAR IS IN DRIVE, REVERSE, OR PARK. WHEN I STEP ON THE BRAKE IT WILL SHUT OFF THEN GO ON AGAIN. WHEN I RELEASE THE BRAKE THE LIGHTS WILL SHUT OFF THEN GO BACK ON A COUPLE MINUTES LATER.
LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST WHILE DRIVING. BRAKE LIGHTS GO ON WHEN DRIVING AND DO NOT GO ON WHEN BRAKING
ESC LIGHTS, AND TRACTION STABILITY CONTROL LIGHTS COME ON AND OFF OFTEN, REGARDLESS OF CURRENT WEATHER CONDITIONS. I NOTICED IT HAPPENS MORE WHEN THE WEATHER IS COOLER. STARTED AROUND 29K MILES ON MY CAR. WHEN THE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON, MY BREAK LIGHTS STAY ON. COMPUTER DOESN'T KICK BACK ANY CODES UNLESS THE WARNING LIGHTS THAT ARE ON.
BRAKE LIGHTS STAYING ON WHILE CAR IS IN PARKED AND WHILE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, ELECTRIC POWER STEERING, AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT FELT A STRONG VIBRATION COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE STEERING WHEEL FREQUENTLY SEIZED. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON TO RESET THE COMPUTER. IN ADDITION, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14E044000 (STEERING) AND 14V153000 (STEERING). THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME FAILURE AS LISTED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGNS. OCEAN CITY CHEVROLET (2366 OCEAN HWY W, SHALLOTTE, NC 28459, (910) 364-9917) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES, BUT DID NOT DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS TO PROVIDE FURTHER TECHNICAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES AND RECOMMENDATIONS. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE FAILURES NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER TO RECEIVE REPAIRS FROM AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES TO DETERMINE THEIR GUIDELINES TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
MY DRIVE SHAFT LINE BROKE BY MY THE GEAR SHIFT
PURCHASED 2008 MALIBU IN EARLY 2017. PREVIOUS OWNER STATED BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON AND OFF ON THEIR OWN. HAD IT CHECKED OUT WAS TOLD THAT THEIR WAS A RECALL ON IT. HAD RECALL 13036 WORK DONE 3/31/17. STILL HAD PROBLEMS. TOOK TO DEALER ON 7/03/17 WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE AND NO CODES THEY RECALIBRATED BPPS. STILL HAD PROBLEMS DROVE IT THAT WAY TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER ON 7/06/18. WAS TOLD SAME THING AND SAME WORK PERFORMED. SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. READ ONLINE THAT RECALL DIDN'T SOLVE PROBLEM. ON 9/10/18 DEALER STATED BEEN HAVING A LOT OF SAME PROBLEMS WITH OTHER CARS THEY REPLACED BCM & BRAKE PEDAL SENSOR. HAD WORK DONE. SO FAR SEEMS TO HAVE WORKED. NEVER FELT SAFE WHILE DRIVING WITH BRAKE LIGHTS ON AND WHILE STOPPED NO BRAKE LIGHTS ON. CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD LET THIS PROBLEM GO ON AS WELL AS DEALERS
WHEN DRIVING BRAKE LIGHT CONTINUE TO STAY ON. WHEN PRESSED THEY GO OFF AND PRESSING TO FLOOR THEY COME ON BUT WHEN RELEASED AROUND 6 SECONDS LATER THEY COME ON AGAIN. WAS TAKEN TO DEALER SHIP TO BE FIXED FOR A RECALL . WORKED FOR LESS THAN A MONTH AND IT CONTINUES AGAIN. HAD BRAKE PEDAL SWITCH REPLACED AND IT STILL CONTINUES. NOW I'M GETTING THE LIGHTS COMING ON SAYING ESC OFF AND ALSO A TRACTION LIGHT. IN MY OPINION ALL CHEVY MALIBU'S SHOULD BE RECALLED AND DONE RIGHT. WORST CAR I EVER OWNED. FIX YOUR MISTAKES PLEASE. THESE THINGS I'M DESCRIBING HAPPENS ANYWHERE I'M DRIVING CONSTANTLY
BRAKE LIGHTS RANDOMLY ILLUMINATE! WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATING. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR A WHILE NOW.
A POLICE OFFICER PULLED BESIDE ME AND SAID MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING AT ALL. BRAKE LIGHTS WILL COME ON AND STAY ON OR WILL NOT COME ON AT ALL. TOOK THIS VECHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND IT HAS TO DO WITH THE CONNECTION WITH THE BCM. THOUGHT THIS WAS RECALLED BUT THERE IS NO RECALLS ON MY VECHICLE. I ASKED SOME OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME MODEL AND THEY ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD.
BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE DURING NORMAL DRIVING WHEN BRAKES PEDAL IS NOT BEING PUSHED. BRAKE LIGHTS THEN TURN OFF WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS PUSHED AND DON'T COME BACK ON UNTIL BRAKE PEDAL IS PUSHED AT LEAST HALF WAY DOWN. CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK WHEN THIS IS HAPPENING. PROBLEM HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT A MONTH THIS TIME. WAS PREVIOUSLY FIXED UNDER A RECALL BUT THE FIX IS NOT WORKING.
TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON, ESC TURNS OFF, VEHICLE SPUTTERS WHEN THESE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE AND ENGINE LIGHT BLINKS WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, SIMILIAR RECALL FOR OLDER MODEL WAS FOUND NHTSA RECALL 14V252 BUT MY YEAR OF VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED, CAN THIS BE THE SAME ISSUE
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLES BRAKE LIGHTS WILL SUDDENLY ILLUMINATE EVEN WHEN THE BRAKES ARE NOT BEING PRESSED. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, I TAP THE BRAKES AND THE LIGHTS GO OFF, ONLY TO TURN ON AGAIN WITHIN A FEW SECONDS OF NO LONGER BEING PRESSED. ALSO, IN MY DASH PANEL I AM RECEIVING A "SERVICE TRACTION" AND "SERVICE ESC" WARNING. THIS OCCURANCE HAS HAPPENED BEFORE AND WAS CORRECTED IN 2014 AFTER A RECALL WAS ISSUED - HOWEVER THE SAME ISSUE IS HAPPENING AGAIN. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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