Print this page

7.5

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$250
Average Mileage:
78,050 miles
Total Complaints:
16 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (14 reports)
  2. dealership applied electric grease to brake sensor (1 reports)
  3. replace brake pedal position sensor (1 reports)
2010 Chevrolet Malibu brakes problems

brakes problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2010 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments

problem #16

Mar 152017

Malibu LS 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 235,800 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I bought this car in Feb 2017. In March I noticed that my brake light remained on and I replaced all my brakes, rotors, and one caliper and the tracking sensor keeps popping on while I'm driving.

- Prophet J., Saint Louis, MO, US

problem #15

Jul 232019

Malibu 4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 117,451 miles

Fix the brake light. Someone is going to get hurt.

- Michael S., Freeman, MO, US

problem #14

Oct 312015

Malibu

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles

Bought my 2010 Chevy Malibu brand new in 2010. Love this car! In 2015 my traction control would come on, then service escape light would come on and then all my brake lights would come on while driving!! When I put my foot on the brake pedal they would all go off!! So no one knew if I was slowing or stopping. I have been pulled over by police twice for this.vI received a notice that this is a recall. I have had it into Shaheen Chevrolet in Lansing, MI at least 6 times to have fixed! It is a recall for 2010 Malibu's! After the third fix, they wanted to charge me because they said it had been fixed, but I said no it has not!!! Now it's doing the same thing again!!! I just had it in for repairs that cost me $1800.00!! It's doing it again!!! It scares me because my daughter and grandbabies use this car too!!! If GM has a recall, fix the damn car!!!! I have to take it in, take time off work, but it never gets fixed!!!!

- Tracy B., Holt, MI, US

problem #13

Oct 012018

Malibu LT 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 39,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS? SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM.

- Gus N., Eleva, WI, US

problem #12

Oct 022018

Malibu LTZ

  • Automatic transmission
  • 103,000 miles

I brought this car brand new (34 miles on it) in 2011. I have had nothing but problems with it since approximately 2 months after I go it. The brake light comes on and stay on and when I apply the brake it goes off. It is driving me crazy. I went to the dealership and they told me it was a recall. They did something and three days later it was back on. They told me that it was reported that the recall was fixed so it no longer applied.....I'm three months into this new car. I then took the car to a shop and they replaced the brake light switch. That fixed the problem for about two months. I still have this car but I have to replace the brake light switch every few months.

- LaTanya C., Dahlgren, VA, US

problem #11

May 222018

Malibu 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 68,459 miles

Had a recall for the power steering system in my car. Got that fixed by dealership at no charge, only to have my ESC and traction light come on. To top that off, I discover my brake light stays on while driving and turns off once I press the brake pedal. I called GMC and Chevrolet only to be told my VIN number does not qualify my car for the recall. I'm so frustrated with this car!

- dayshuana, Richmond, US

problem #10

Feb 112017

Malibu

  • Automatic transmission
  • 56,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2010 Chevrolet Malibu while driving at any speed, the brake lights stay illuminated until I depress the brake pedal and the illumination goes off leaving me with no brake lights to indicate to other drivers that I am stopping or slowing down. Chevrolet dealership said they test drove it and no lights and or messages came on so they could not fix it.

- Nancy S., Bigelow, US

problem #9

Apr 012016

Malibu

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,000 miles

This did not allow me to say what the problem of the car is correctly. I received a letter ( not a recall letter) saying that my vehicle may have a condition where increased resistance in the body control module connection system can result in voltage fluctuations or intermittency in the brake apply sensor bas circuit that can cause brake lamp malfunction.

Specifically, the brake lamps may either illuminate w/o the brake pedal applied, or turn off when the pedal is applied. I took to a Chevy Dealership to have fixed since I have this problem at random times. I have also experienced at the same time and only at the same time the service traction and service ESC light comes on in the dash board and cruise control will not work during this time. So when I mentioned that to the dealership they right away said that is not connected to the warranty this letter is willing to fix only the brake lamp issue is and would have to pay to have it fixed.

I asked them to find what is causing it and they said it was the brake pedal position sensor. So I had them replace that part which part is $16.29 labor is $234.32. I had paid for them to fix it and I left there thinking everything was now fixed. The very next day all the same problems were still there. The brake light issue, service ESC light and service traction light back on, on my way to work. I left work that night and the problem wasn't there. So it is coming and going just like it has been for a year now.

I did my research on this vehicle and found the recall that explains these very problems but my VIN # is not included in this recall. So I have the issue and can't get it fixed or paid for by Chevy and I'm screwed. I'm taking back to dealership to have addressed but if they find it is something other than the pedal position sensor that I already paid for then I have to pay for it because even though my year/make model is listed in the recall my specific VIN is not. The thing is, it only happens randomly and I work a full time job during their same hours so how I can pin point the exact time it is going to happen again and take it in. If I take it in when the problem isn't there then I look like a fool so... IDK what to do. I just hope that it doesn't cause a death in any way.

I have a little girl and I wouldn't want anything to happen to her or anyone else. I hope that enough people will complain about this vehicle so my VIN will be included. I called the customer service assistant the letter told me to if dealer couldn't fix the problem and they told me to take back to dealer and have them look at it. And that there is no way that I can get my car listed in recall even though I have all the possible problems that the recall lists for my year/make model. Makes no sense.

- jdowdy4878, Owens Cross Rds, US

problem #8

Sep 052016

Malibu LT V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 59,000 miles

I have a 2010 Malibu LT. Last night, the brake light came on without touching the brake pedal, and goes off when pedal is released. This had a recall last year, the dealer told me it had been fixed at that time. This morning, the brake light totally off. What should I do?

- Jane L., Henrico, VA, US

problem #7

May 302016

Malibu

  • Automatic transmission
  • 97,000 miles

The brake light came on last night without touching the brake pedal, and goes off when pedal is depressed. I think this was under recall before and I've already had it fixed but it seems to be doing the same thing again. Then today my Service ESC light came on. I thought I had received a letter about it but can't find it. When I called the dealer they were no help. Said I had no open recalls. I called Chevrolet and after being on hold for 40 minutes I was told to take it back to the dealer. So it's going in today.

- Barbara S., Lees Summit, MO, US

problem #6

Sep 032015

Malibu LT

  • Automatic transmission
  • 129,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My brake light stays on even if I am not pressing. When I do press, it goes off. I have almost been rear-ended twice. I have taken it to the dealership four times. I was told that it was fixed, yet my problem still exists. They say nothing is coming up when the scan it. On the dash, lights indicating to service ESC and Traction are on and I can't set my cruise control. Car also surges periodically. Seems like I have donated $300 for nothing.

I've been told that only a dealership can fix this problem. I've read that there was a recall on these issues, so I know I am not the only one who has experienced these problems. I am concerned for my safety if I have to drive this car, in case of an emergency. If the dealership can't fix it, what other options do I have?

- Sherron S., Hamilton, AL, US

problem #5

Sep 192015

Malibu

  • Automatic transmission
  • 106,000 miles

So, my 2010 Chevy Malibu has been in the shop for the brake light issue 3 times now! First, the recall (Report Receipt Date: MAY 14, 2014 NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V252000 Component(s): ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) was addressed~ brake lights operated properly for sometime.....then about a month ago or so, the brake lights started malfunctioning again!!!!!!

So back to the dealership I went, after having my car ALL day, they could not tell me what the problem was and that they suspected the brake light switch......

So Today, I took the car into to another repair shop (they handle all my brake n tire needs) to have the brake light switch replaced~ GUESS WHAT~~~~the problem is still there!!!!! HELP anyone?

This is a safety issue and Chevy is not willing to take care of their problem!!!!! I have replaced what they told me to replace and the brake lights still illuminate when the brake pedal is not pressed and vice versa!

I plan on contacting Chevy again on Monday~ any other advice would be greatly appreciated!!!

- Dawn O., Dewey, OK, US

problem #4

Sep 062012

Malibu

  • Automatic transmission
  • 18,000 miles

I purchased my 2010 Malibu in July 2012 after 3 weeks was back in dealership with ESC and traction control light on. They replaced brake module. I noticed the nite before that when driving my brake lights were constantly on when driving. Either accelerating or coasting ect. I would try and apply the break and the brake lights would go off. They would then kick back either if i applied the brake more or if i waited apx 5 sec. they would light back up. It is def. annoying cause at nite all i see is the brake lights in the rear view mirror. This also doesn't allow me to set the cruise cause it thinks you are braking all the time, and that is the only way i can tell during the day is when i try to use the cruise control and it won't set. So, I contacted Chevy and took to dealership they tested and said that i needed this electric grease around a brake module for the connection. This did resolve the issue at first and now (2 wks later) the problem is back. Not all the time it i hit and miss. What worries me is what do drivers behind me think? What if i get hit from behind, I have 2 kids in the car at times and would not want that to happen at all. Any ideas on what would cause this?

- Greg R., Lakwood, NY, US

problem #3

Jun 082012

Malibu LT Ecotec

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,000 miles

The brake lights would be on with foot OFF of brake pedal-key on. When applying brakes light would go off. Dealer replaced BPPS switch. Problem returned. This also may be tied into the "Service Traction Control" I keep getting on the dash. The ''Traction Control'' switch also stops functioning at this point. Making my wife very upset. Dealer is not sure what to do. I feel that there might be a pressure switch f some sort in the A.B.S. system that is kind of hit and miss. Not sure. I'm sure that this will be a common problem eventually. Just not enough people reporting it yet. Looking for any input and /or related symptoms.

- Kevin M., Mannsville, OK, US

problem #2

May 282012

Malibu LT 4 C

  • Automatic transmission
  • 51,000 miles

When I go to the dealer they say they can't find the problem cause everything is working, so I just got to wait to it gets worse.

- Demetrius T., Marietta, GA, US

problem #1

Apr 112012

Malibu 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 29,000 miles

Have had my 2010 Chevy Malibu to dealer 6 times for brake lights staying on at all times while driving. The last time I took it to dealer they said they fixed the problem. Now brake lights do not come on at all unless you push brake all the way to the floor.

Just waiting for an accident to happen related to this problem. Then who will be at fault??

- bgp3377, Winchester, TN, US

Not what you are looking for?