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9.1

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$0
Average Mileage:
86,800 miles
Total Complaints:
16 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (12 reports)
  2. dealer replaced brake sensor (part #22666955) and bcm module (4 reports)
2006 Chevrolet Malibu brakes problems

brakes problem

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2006 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments

problem #16

May 142016

Malibu LX V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 198,000 miles

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

Not sure how long this has been going on. We discovered it by following my 16 year old daughter and seen when she was going down the road her brake lights were on. When she came to a stop or applied the brakes lights went off and about caused other cars to hit her. She had been saying she had thought before other cars weren't going to stop, when she was stopping and I am sure this is what was happening.

This is very dangerous and they are needing to do a recall for this. My husband did google on the Internet to see how to fix it and it has fix it so far but not guaranteed to keep it that way. We have always bought General Motor Vehicles and we bought this new in 2006. If they want us to keep coming back to them they will fix this problem or we will start going else where. Other than this and a few other little issues with light engine it has been a good vehicle.

- Jennifer S., poseyville, US

problem #15

Sep 052015

Malibu

  • Automatic transmission
  • 110,000 miles

I've had this car since 2011 and this is the fourth time that his has happened. When I brake, the lights do not come on and they come on while I'm driving. Most of the time I don't even know it's happening until someone tells me. How safe is this?! There has only been one recall and the rest of the times, the dealership wants to charge out of pocket to fix it. I will never buy another Chevy again. Besides being unsafe, it's a pain in the ass!!!

- Jen B., Clearwater, FL, US

problem #14

Jul 212015

Malibu LX V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120,000 miles

Have had this problem fixed three times. Brake lights come on when not applied and when applied they go off. Cruise control fails is how I know the lights aren't working. Every time I take it in they re-diagnose and charge a grip. The solution is to grease the module with isometric paste and reinstall. It lasts around three months. It had a recall but after fixed didn't fix the problem. The Chevy dealership just wants to diagnose and charge more money. Don't buy this car, they don't stand behind the defect. Simple fix for three months is to reapply grease to the part. Super safety hazard that needs to kill someone then we can do a class action lawsuit!

- Stacy B., West Richland, WA, US

problem #13

May 162011

Malibu

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles

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

My mom and I have been dealing with this problem for several years now. At first, we thought nothing of it and had the brake-lights fixed, but until recently we've known something was wrong with the model itself. The lights would come on as I was driving and turn off when I braked. We've had them "fix" this problem 3 times now, all costs out of our pockets. Every day I turn on my car anticipating that the brake lights aren't going to function properly. Thankfully there's a recall now and we WILL be getting our money back.

- Sam C., Bowie, MD, US

problem #12

Jun 012012

Malibu LT 2.3L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 110,000 miles

had the brake light switch changed still didn't fix the brake lights coming on and staying on till you pressed on brake and then they went off for about 7 or 8 sec and brake lights would come back on. very dangerous. only way tell in day was to try cruise control, if cruise didn't work brake lights were on, if cruise did work lights were working properly. most of time brake lights are malfunctioning. guess I'm gonna have to take to dealer.

- Wes V., Brazoria, TX, US

problem #11

Jun 082012

Malibu LT V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 122,000 miles

The brake lights have always been a problem with this vehicle since we bought it used from the dealership in Feb 2010. It does seem to "come and go" but it makes me look like a two-footed driver and is unsafe as vehicles behind can't count on the accuracy of the brake lights.

Update from Mar 12, 2013: Found article today that would help others: http://news.yahoo.com/feds-could-add-million-gm-140049593.html

Looks like this problem isn't uncommon...

Update from Jul 1, 2013: Applied the repair suggested by a GM bulletin (isoelectric paste applied to the connectors within the dash). This corrected the problem for approximately 3 months but the issue has returned again. Hoping the NHTSA looks into this more closely than the smoke and mirrors used by GM. This vehicle is still not safe at 157,000 miles.

- jj92801, Mount Bethel, PA, US

problem #10

Apr 032009

Malibu LS

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,000 miles

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

I WILL NEVER EVER BUY ANOTHER CHEVY. HOW CAN THEY MAKE A VEHICLE WITH A PROBLEM THAT THEY CANNOT EVEN FIX. ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE SEEN ABOUT THIS, AND THEY DO NOTHING. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR IN OVER AND OVER, THEY ADJUSTED THE SENSOR SWITCH ETC, LUBED THINGS TO NO AVAIL. THEY TEST IT AND THEIR FAV. EXCUSE IS THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, YET 90% OF THE TIME I HAVE THE CAR IT HAS THE PROBLEM OCCUR. I AM DISHEARTENED. I HAVE 8 YEAR OLD TWINS I DRIVE AROUND WITH. IF I GET HIT, IT IS CHEVROLET'S FAULT AND THEY DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT IT. NOTHING I SEE BY OTHERS OR MYSELF HAS FIXED THIS PROBLEM. MY BEST FRIEND HAS THE EXACT SAME CAR WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. AGAIN I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CHEVROLET FOR THE WAY THEY HANDLE THIS. I THINK A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT IS IN ORDER.

- openskybeach, Myrtle Beach, SC, US

problem #9

Sep 142009

Malibu LS 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 99,000 miles

I have had problems with the brake lights coming on and staying on until you hit your brakes then the lights go off after 8 seconds they come back on. I have taken it to the dealer 7 times. I have had the brake switch replaced, brake switch has been calibrated, connections have been checked. And of course the most recent reprogramming of the brakes. So if i get rammed in the back in you better believe Chevrolet will hear from me. I have had this problem since 2009.

- Tonya B., Hope Hull, AL, US

problem #8

Sep 022011

Malibu LT 3.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 87,794 miles

The car has been to the dealer 4 times for this problem. They changed the BCM and the Break Switch last Nov.and it worked up until Sept.,but the problem still is present. The car has been in the shop all together for 12 days and is in the shop right now. The dealer is stumped. The break lights will stay on ,when the break pedal is LIGHTLY depressed the lights go out. The cruise control will not work when the brake lights are on, and sometimes when I step on the brake and the cruise is working the car will accelerate. It is like the two are working against each other. This is a very dangerous problem. The car should NOT speed up when the brake is applied!

- Scott A., Lakin, KS, US

problem #7

Jun 162009

Malibu LS V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,071 miles

I was originally made aware of the brakes lights being lit while traveling down highway when pulled over by Texas Hwy Patrol in June 2009. I took car to Arlington TX Chev. dealer. Dealer stated that the problem could not be duplicated so nothing accomplished on this visit. I checked for problem by web search and then realized it was likely a manufacturer's defect. Took car back to same Chev. dealer on June 28, 2011 (brake lights were on at the time), service manager acknowledged seeing the problem, and I left car with dealer. Dealer replaced Brake sensor kit (part #22666955) and BCM module (part #15940467) at no charge (covered by Chevrolet). Brakes lights are functioning at this time.

- rcunn2662, Mansfield, TX, US

problem #6

Sep 052010

Malibu V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 20,000 miles

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

I have tried to have this problem fixed a number of times. My brake lights come on while I'm pressing the gas pedal so it looks like I am braking when I'm not. Sometimes they just stay on the whole time I'm driving. Mechanics keep saying it is the brake light switch so they change it but it doesn't fix the problem. I have bought brake light switches from Chevy, Strauss Auto, and Auto Zone and none of them work. I actually bought two from Chevy. Nobody seems to know what's wrong and when they run a diagnostic on the car the problem doesn't show up. I am tired of spending money on this problem!!!

- kthail, Kinston, NC, US

problem #5

Aug 312010

Malibu

  • Automatic transmission
  • 107,000 miles

My brake lights are doing the same as everyone else's! They come on when you do not have your foot on the break and they go off when you do press the break! It is very dangerous and I have taken it to my local dealership 3 times now and they can't find the problem. It is as if I am riding my breaks when I go down the road or have my emergancy break on. My car is at the shop as we speak with no hopes of finding a solution!! If anyone knows of anything please let me know!! I am so frustrated with CHEVROLET!!!

- Gayla M., Hogansville, GA, US

problem #4

Jun 072010

Malibu 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 89,000 miles

Brake lights come on and off when they want to. Sometimes the lights stay on and shut off when I hit my brakes. My cruise control also only works sometimes, think it's related to brake lights?

- jesus is lord, Alexandria, MN, US

problem #3

Dec 012009

Malibu 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 53,000 miles

The brake lights on my 2006 Malibu come on while driving which disengages the cruise control. Sometimes the brake lights do not come on at all when I press the brake pedal. When I press on the accelerator, the brake lights will go off, but when I take my foot off the gas pedal, the brake lights will come back on. I brought the vehicle in for repairs 3x with the dealer having it for almost a week. The brake pad sensor was changed 2x and then some parts under the dashboard inside the vehicle were changed. This was done around Christmas in '09. The lights worked ok for about 3 months and started doing it again. Nobody can seem to correct the problem. It must be bad when the dealer can't locate the problem. I'm tired of spending the money for the repairs along with spending money on my monthly note and still having the problem. I'm going to have to get rid of this car.

- Pierre P., Mandeville, LA, US

problem #2

Jun 012010

Malibu SS 3.9L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 47,224 miles

This is bull____! It's a nice car but it has been costing me a small fortune to keep on the road. This new problem is nuts. Nobody seems to know how remedie the problem. Sure you can spend a fortune trying different solutions but they don't work.

So my brake lights feel like comming on when they want. They go off when you apply the brake pedal. So what is the F$%#@& reason why. Nobody knows. You can spend a lot of money but it dosen't solve the problem.

No wonder the Japanese and Koreans are taking over the car trade.

- Craig M., Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada

problem #1

Feb 042010

Malibu

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,000 miles

The brake lights come on while driving and go off when the brake pedal is pushed. Have been flagged by several drivers the the brake lights are backwards. A Chevrolet dealership has worked on twice - so far second time it is still working. They said that the aftermarket alarm system that was installed in 2-07 was the cause of this problem, but the problem started only 2-3 months ago. We had to have the alarm system turned off and know we can't use the keyless entry. The audio shop who installed the alarm and gave us the keyless entry keys said that the alarm was not the problem and that the dealership does not know what is wrong and are blaming them. When the brake lights are not working properly it also disables the cruise control.

- Karen H., Oklahoma City, OK, US

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