This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
As I was approaching a red light there was a car in front of me, I went to push the brake and the brakes did not work, I almost hit the car in front of me but the light turned green before I could hit the car.
While night driving at 55 mph on a busy, wet highway, I noticed in my rearview mirror that the center brake light had illuminated on my car. I checked to see if the pedal was stuck by lifting it with my foot; it was not stuck. Then I quickly tapped the brakes - the brake light went off only to re-illuminate seconds later. I quickly exited the highway as motorists were beginning to beep at me. I continued to press and release the brake pedal on the off ramp, only to receive the same response from the brake light system. While driving, the brake light would stay on; upon slowing or stopping, the brake light would go off. I have looked at this issue online and see that this is a common complaint from owners of the 2009 Malibu. A recall has been in question since March of 2013; I stress that the NHTSA needs to address this issue, as the malfunction is severe enough to cause fatalities.
While driving the brake lights will come on for no reason and the service traction control warning will activate. If you tap the brakes the lights will go off for a few seconds but then come back on. If you apply the brakes to stop the lights go out and people behind you are confused. We get honked at and hand gestures constantly. We replaced the brake light switch and it was recalibrated and the problem still exists. We checked the fuse and put dialetric grease on it as suggested by the dealer and still the brake lights activate without touching the pedal. GM needs to fix this before someone is killed.
Brake lights turn on when brake pedal is not pressed, and goes off when brakes are touched lightly; shortly after, the brake lights come back on when pedal is released. Several cars have come close to rear-ending me due to the brake light failure. Took to Chevrolet dealer, they said the wiring harness looked good, no service performed on it.
I went to start the car and pressed the parking brake pedal, when suddenly I heard a loud noise and have no parking brake. I took the car to the dealer and their diagnose was that the parking brake cable broke because the rear brake pads were low, I am claiming them this is a mechanical defect that can cause an accident, due to a car roll over or not having an emergency brake. The pads were low but did not were on metal.
- Rincon, GA, USA
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On September 14, 2008 at approximately 12:30 am, the car I was driving suddenly went into a skid after which I aggressively deployed the brakes when the airbags deployed leaving me unconscious and not in control of the car. The car then hit the barrier and then a parked disabled car at a high speed. I was injured and the driver of the parked car was fatally killed. I went to prison for five years because no one would believe my story.
ESC light stays on has been replaced 3 times. Causes traction control not to work properly also brake lights fail to work or will stay on and or stay off. Have reported to Chevy dealer in traver city Michigan they say nothing is wrong.. but something is wrong... or not right I never know if my tail lights or brake lights are going to work and traction control...
For the last year or so I have been having issues with my brake lights ingaging and my cruise control inoperable. I currently have a 2009 Malibu. A friend was driving behind me once and mentioned later that I was riding my brakes all the way home. I was not. I notice a few days later this happened again, but it was dusk and I could see from my rear window the reflection of my break light, it was on and my brake was not ingaged. This has happened several other times, to my knowledge. If I tap my brakes the lights will go off, however will come back on within a few seconds. I'm highly concerned about a rear end collision. If I actually do have to stop quickly and the person behind me hitting me because my break lights are not functioning properly. I've taken it in to a mechanic and they can't replicate the issues. It's intermittent.
Was driving down the road and the steering wheel tightened up and the power steering light came on and the traction control kicked on and ESC service came across the screen, and the wheel is hard to turn. It will kick on and off and before it kicks on the steering wheel jerks back and forth. Then was driving down the road and came up on a exit and went to hit the brakes and the brakes went out but then cameback on. Car keeps doing it with the steering wheel it will go on and off.
The brake lights on my 2009 Chevrolet Malibu ltz come on for no reason even when I remote start my vehicle and the brake lights have never been engaged. When I am driving my brake lights will stay on and if I tap my brakes they will go off but 5 - 6 seconds later they will come back on and stay on. When I then need to stop and apply my brakes my brake lights will go off once I engage the pedal but will not come back on unless I slam on my brakes. It seems to be worse during the summer months or when it rains. Also, when I am in stop and go traffic and my brake lights are having this issue on my dashboard service lights begin to come on. My car with flash "service ESC" then flash "service traction". I have taken the vehicle to my dealership on several occasions and have the paperwork they provide me stating they cannot duplicate the issue. I am concerned because I have an infant child and I travel a very congested interstate with him in the car every day. I have on many occasions heard tires/brakes screeching from the vehicles behind me because they have no warning I am stopping. I fear that I am going to be rear ended every day. I am not sure of the exact start date of the issue but I know this has been going on for at least 50,000 miles and my dealership keeps stating they cannot reproduce the issue. I fear for my families safety. Please help in any way.
The cruise control was malfunctioning and after researching the problem I discovered that the brake lights could also be affected. When applying the brake the light in the rear window would actually go completely off. The repair is described in tsb 08-05-22-009C and was completed. The problem appears to be fixed. However it appears there was a previous recall for this type of problem with earlier General Motors models and the problem is still recurring. Chevrolet has not send any kind of notice to owners about this potentially dangerous situation. The computer code C0131 is activated when this occurs.
Brake lights turn on for no reason. When they are on for no reason pressing the brake pedal turns them off. They do not illuminate when pressing brake pedal. Later on the ESC and traction control turn off on their own.
I own a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. 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 vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 57,000 and the current mileage was 67,000 plus. When my foot is on the brake the brake lights go off. Upon taking foot off the brake the brake lights stay on.
Brakes lights are staying on when car is in motion and brake lights go off when brakes are applied. Release brake and brake lights go on. Press brakes and brake lights off. The problem is persistant.
2009 Malibu brake lights stay on while driving then when I press my brakes the lights would go off no one knew when I was using my brakes. This was brought to my attention when I was on a major hwy/speed limit 70 mph when all of a sudden traffic was stopping. The cars behind me were coming at a high speed, but luckily the car directly behind me just short of crashing into my rear missed me.. he got out of his car while the traffic was stopped and approached me to let me know I had no break lights and he also noticed that prior to stopping my break lights were on. In the meantime I had warnings pop up on my car service traction/ESC service. Well of course, my car was taken to a shop where it showed a break switch needed to be replaced and switch brake needed to be calibrated by the dealership. The car was taken to the dealership and the break switch failed when they performed brake position calibration. The gentlemen said that the switch could be bad even thou it was a new one that was purchased from the dealership. They replaced it again and re-calibrated and afterwards said everything works well. Within two weeks the problem with breaks are still there. There is a major problem we have with the 2009 Malibu. I"M just lucky I"M still alive. What upsets me the most is the problem is there, but dealerships want to keep replacing parts and charging you $$$$ for something that needs to be recalled before someone gets killed!
The traction control warning light came on then I noticed the brake light would go on when I pressed the gas pedal and the brake light would go off when I pressed the brake pedal.
2009 Malibu brake lights stay on while driving then when I press my brakes the lights would go off no one knew when I was using my brakes. This was brought to my attention when I was on a major hwy/speed limit 70 mph when all of a sudden traffic was stopping. The cars behind me were coming at a high speed, but luckily the car directly behind me just short of crashing into my rear missed me.. he got out of his car while the traffic was stopped and approached me to let me know I had no break lights and he also noticed that prior to stopping my break lights were on. In the meantime I had warnings pop up on my car service traction/ESC service. Well of course, my car was taken to a shop where it showed a break switch needed to be replaced and switch brake needed to be calibrated by the dealership. The car was taken to the dealership and the break switch failed when they performed brake position calibration. The gentlemen said that the switch could be bad even thou it was a new one that was purchased from the dealership. They replaced it again and re-calibrated and afterwards said everything works well. Within two weeks the problem with breaks are still there. There is a major problem we have with the 2009 Malibu. I"M just lucky I"M still alive. What upsets me the most is the problem is there, but dealerships want to keep replacing parts and charging you $$$$ for something that needs to be recalled before someone gets killed!
Brake lights malfunction. Thank god, I was driving behind my wife and her Malibu's brake lights were not on when she braked. And then turned on when she didn't have her foot on the brake pedal. Took to dealership, and he said he's been seeing that alot lately. Please recall before someone has major accident! thank you
Brake lights come on intermittently while driving. There is no indicator when or how this is happening. It has affected the cruise control option as well as the traction control on the vehicle. This is a safety concern for all motorists - unsure when a care is actually stopping and or accelerating.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Tampa, FL, USA