There are 27 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2008 Chevrolet Malibuin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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.
TOOK VEHICLE TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP BECAUSE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. THEY INFORMED ME THAT VEHICLE HAD A RECALL ON THE BRAKE PEDAL POSITION SWITCH SYSTEM. THEY PERFORMED THE RECALL. BRAKE LIGHTS WORKED FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS, THEN QUIT WORKING AGAIN. THEY THEN INFORMED ME THAT SINCE THE RECALL WAS ALREADY COMPLETED THAT THIS REPAIR WOULD BE OUT OF POCKET. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THIS. I PURCHASED THE MODULE, HAD GM DEALERSHIP PROGRAM IT AND THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ALSO. NOW THE BRAKE LIGHTS ONLY WORK UNDER HARD BRAKING. THEY HAVE RECALIBRATE DO THE BRAKE PEDAL POSITION SENSOR NUMEROUS TIMES. THE LIGHTS WILL WORK AS SHOULD UNTIL VEHICLE IS PARKED FOR 2 HOURS OR MORE, THEN THEY START ONLY WORKING UNDER HARD BRAKING CONDITIONS. RECALIBRATE THE SENSOR AND THEY WORK FINE UNTIL VEHICLE SITS PARKED
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE AND ENGAGED INDEPENDENTLY WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO ENGAGE THE BRAKE PEDAL AND REGAIN NORMAL BRAKE FUNCTION. THE LOW TRACTION CONTROL AND SERVICE ELECTRONIC SPEED CONTROL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT TWO WASHERS LOCATED AT THE REAR BRAKE BOOSTER PEDAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,287.
REAR BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE WHEN BRAKE PEDAL NOT APPLIED. ALSO AFFECTS CRUISE CONTROL. I ALMOST GOT IN AN ACCIDENT ON BUSY HIGHWAY. APPARENTLY MY BRAKE LIGHTS HAD BEEN ON AND WHEN I NEEDED TO SLOW DOWN, I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND MY LIGHTS WENT OUT. I CAME VERY CLOSE TO BE REAR-ENDED. I SEE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM BUT MY VIN DOES NOT SHOW AS BEING IN RECALL FOR ISSUE.
ON SUNDAY MARCH 8TH, 2015 I TURNED MY CAR ABOUT 7 PM IN THE EVENING TO REALIZE THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, SERVICE ESC WAS POPULATING ON THE DASH AND TRACTION CONTROL HAD BEEN LOST IN THE CAR. I WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY BRAKING AS IF THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM WAS NOT WORKING IN THE CAR. I DROVE IT IMMEDIATELY HOME FROM WORK AND PARKED IT AT MY HOME ADDRESS. ON MONDAY MORNING AT 7:30 AM I CALLED THE CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SUPPORT TO DISCUSS THE CURRENT RECALL WHICH APPEARED TO BE THE ISSUE. I WAS INSTRUCTED THAT I COULD DROP MY CAR OFF AT BEST CHEVROLET AND THEY WERE AWARE OF THE RECALL AND WOULD ASSIST ME. I DROPPED MY CAR OFF, EXPLAINED THE SITUATION, I ALSO ASKED THEM TO QUOTE A PRICE ON A LEAK AND LEFT. THEY CALLED ME TO LET ME KNOW THE RECALL WASN'T THE ISSUE EVEN THOUGHT EVERYTHING I EXPERIENCED WAS LISTED IN THE RECALL. THEY HELD MY CAR FOR TWO EXTRA DAYS AFTER THE CAR WAS NO LONGER DISPLAYING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND NO ONE INFORMED ME. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT FAILED TO FUNCTION. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED HOWEVER, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR CUTS AND BRUISES TO THE HANDS THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) AND 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER STATES HE RECEIVED 2 RECALL NOTICES AND HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH HIS VEHICLE THAT ARE OUTLINED IN THE RECALL NOTICE. *TGW
2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO GM RECALL #13036 AND REPAIR REIMBURSEMENT. * LD
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE CROSSED AN INTERSECTION AND CRASHED INTO AN IRON FENCE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL); HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DELAY. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL ABNORMALLY TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD AND FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE CAUSING A CRASH TO OCCUR. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED WHERE THERE WAS AN INJURY REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH MY CAR ON CRUISE CONTROL GOING ABOUT 70MPH, A CAR CUT ME OFF AND I HAD TO SLAM ON MY BRAKES TO AVOID A CRASH. IN THE PROCESS OF BRAKING, MY KNEE HIT A LONG KEY ON MY KEYCHAIN AND CAUSED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION TO TURN TO THE OFF POSITION. I IMMEDIATELY LOST ALL POWER INCLUDING THE ABILITY TO EASILY STEER. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PUT ON MY HAZARDS AND GET TO THE SIDE OF THE RODE. I THEN PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND IT WAS ABLE TO RESTART. *TR
BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON WITHOUT MY DEPRESSING BRAKES AND A DELAY WHEN BRAKES ARE ACTUALLY PRESSED. I TOOK CAR INTO THE LOCAL DEALER IN TOWN AND TOLD COULDN'T LOCATE A PROBLEM AND TO BRING CAR IN THE NEXT TIME AS THE PROBLEM WAS OCCURRING, ALSO CRUISE CONTROL TURNS OFF WHILE I'M DRIVING AND HAVE BEEN GETTING SERVICE ERROR MESSAGES . JUST 5/10/14 I NOTICED ANOTHER MALIBU WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS, WHILE THIS CAR WAS ACCELERATING AND GOING AROUND OTHER CARS IT'S BRAKE LIGHTS WERE CONSTANTLY ON. *TR
BOTH HOSES BUSTED. THEY WERE REPLACED GM PARTS. SAME THING HAPPENED 10/28/14. BACKING OUT FROM PARKING ABOUT 2 MPH AND HEARD A NOISE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. BOTH HOSES BUSTED AGAIN, SAME CAR. *TR
WHEN I WOULD BE DRIVING MY BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD BE ILLUMINATED. WHEN I WOULD BRAKE AT STOP, MY BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED MANY MANY TIMES. TRACTION CONTROL ERROR KEPT COMING ON FOR A MINUTE AND THEN WOULD GO OFF. I'VE GOTTEN IT FIXED AND THE PROBLEM HAS RECURRED AGAIN. ALTHOUGH THERE IS NOW A RECALL FOR THESE ISSUES FOR THE 08 MALIBU THE DEALERSHIP SAYS MY VIN# IS NOT INCLUDED. *TR
AFTER PURCHASING MY 2008 MALIBU IN JUNE OF 2012, I HAVE NOTICED MULTIPLE TIMES THAT MY BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON WHEN ACCELERATING, AND TURN OFF WHILE BRAKING. IF I PUSH THE BRAKE HARD ENOUGH THE LIGHT EVENTUALLY DOES COME ON. I TOOK THIS INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT EXAMINED, AND THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN ON A WEEKLY, IF NOT DAILY BASIS. *TR
THERE NEEDS TO BE AN OFFICIAL GM RECALL ON THE CHEVY MALIBU 2008. MY BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK. THEY WORKED IN REVERSE. EVERY TIME I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP, THE LIGHTS WOULDN'T TURN ON TO INDICATE TO OTHER DRIVERS THAT I WAS SLOWING DOWN. WHEN MY FOOT WAS OFF THE BRAKE, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD TURN ON. FOR ME, AND THE FAMILY THAT I DRIVE IN THIS CAR, I FELT THIS WAS HAZARDOUS. THIS WAS NOT SAFE DRIVING FOR ME AND FOR EVERYONE AROUND ME. IF I HAD TO SUDDENLY STOP AND APPLY MY BRAKES, I COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE BRAKE LIGHT ISSUE IS ONLY RECALLED FOR 2004-2007 MALIBU'S. THIS ISSUE HAS CONTINUED ON PAST 2007. *TR
THIS VEHICLE IS HAVING ISSUES WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATING WITHOUT PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDALS. WHEN THE BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON BY THEMSELVES, TRYING TO USE THE BRAKES WHEN NEEDED (IE SLOWING DOWN, STOPPING) SHUTS THE BRAKE LIGHTS OFF, WHICH COULD CAUSE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE PERSONS IN THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS PERSONS IN OTHER VEHICLES AROUND MY VEHICLE. IT ALSO TAKES WHAT SEEMS TO BE SOME FORCE TO MAKE THE BRAKE LIGHTS COME BACK ON. SOMETIMES SHUTTING DOWN THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTING IT SOLVES THE ISSUE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THE VEHICLE IS ALSO HAVING A CRUISE CONTROL ISSUE, WHICH I AM ASSUMING IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE ABOVE PROBLEM. THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WANT TO STAY ENGAGED WHEN TURNED ON. IT SEEMS THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE BY THEMSELVES. THIS IS ALSO ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE PERSONS WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE IS ALSO HAVING AN ERROR THAT COMES ON ADVISING THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL IS OFF AND TO SERVICE THE ESC SOON. THIS LIGHT COMES ON FOR NO REASON THAT I CAN DETERMINE. THE ERROR CODE THAT COMES ON IS C0131. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND HAVE MULTIPLE PEOPLE (MORE THAN 50 AT THIS TIME) THAT I HAVE FOUND THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME EXACT ISSUES. THIS IS A VERY HIGH SAFETY CONCERN, THAT I AM UNSURE ON WHY THIS HASN'T BEEN RECALLED AS OF YET. I CAN IMAGINE THERE ARE WAY MORE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO HAVE JUST HAD THIS ISSUE FIXED ON THEIR OWN INSTEAD OF TAKING THEIR TIME OUT TO REPORT TO THE NHTSA FOR THEIR REVIEW. I WOULD APPRECIATE SOME SORT OF CONTACT TO BE MADE BY THIS DEPARTMENT TO MYSELF. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THESE SAFETY ISSUES. *TR
BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON AND STAY ON WHEN YOU DON'T EVEN PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE CONTINUED; THEREFORE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THE BRAKES WERE PARTIALLY ENGAGING AND CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO TOLD THE BRAKES WERE OVERHEATED WHILE THEY WERE PARTIALLY ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ADJUSTED TO TILT DOWNWARDS AT THE LOWEST SETTING. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 37,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Showing 1–20 of 27 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026