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.
In 2012, I was having issues with the cruise control disengaging and refusing to re-engage. I noticed that the brake lights would be lit without the brakes being activated, as long as the vehicle was not in "park" (automatic transmission). The Chevrolet dealer applied dielectric grease to a connector in November 2012, and the problem went away. The problem reappeared this year (2013), including an instance when the brake lights did not light when the brakes were activated! the dealer charged me over $250 in parts and over $300 in labor to replace two parts. On my way to the dealer, I saw another Malibu with the same body design with the same problem. This is obviously a design, part, or manufacturing defect, and I should not have to pay to fix a faulty design, replace a faulty part, or due to poor manufacturing.
The brake lights come on and do not shut off (this is an intermittent problem but has gradually worsened to the point where it is happening almost all of the time now). Also, the cruise control does not work and at times it is difficult shifting out of park. We have brought the car to two different Chevy dealerships twice each, and to a private mechanic twice (for a total of 6 service trips). Despite spending several hundred dollars, none of them have fixed the problem. Someone almost hit me from behind a couple weeks ago because my brake lights did not change - he followed me to a gas station and yelled at me! it is so bad now that we don't dare drive the car for safety reasons, and cannot sell it for the same reason. My girlfriend bought this car when it was brand new and it is not only unsafe and dangerous, but unbeleiveably frustrating that they just keep charging us more money but don't fix the problem.
The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the cruise control was activated at 50 mph. The cruise control then became inoperable as the brake lights independently illuminated without the brakes being depressed. The failure recurred at any speed being driven by the contact. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000. Updated 12/20/13
The brake lights stay on while driving and turn off while applying the brakes. Cruise control does not always work. Car is hard to put in gear - you have apply brakes hard to put the car in gear.
On my 2007 Chevy Malibu, the cruise control will shut off by itself going down the road, the brake lights work backwards by step on brake they are off, foot off brake the lights are on. The steering wheel will lock up and have to shut car off and restart to get it to unlock and idling the car the steering wheel shakes and while driving down the road it shakes also. The part of the fuel pump that controls the gas gauge no longer works. I have taken to the dealer and they don't know of any recalls as of yet. But I have researched and have found this to be common problems, so why aren't there any recalls?
- Shelbyville, TN, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
Brake lights are working backwards! when brake peddle is pushed the break lights do not come on. When you are not pressing the break peddle; the brake lights are on. Cruise control doesn't engage and the gear shift is very difficult to move into place. Of course the brake light situation is the most hazardous!! after multiple shop visits, attempted fixes and even a call to GM; (which they lied about never having this issue on other makes/model/years) there was a recall in 2009 for Malibu's that had this exact issue and supposedly all GM dealerships were to know how to fix this issue should this "problem arise in other models". out of the 5 dealers I called explaining my issues not one knew how to fix the problem. Did a lot of research on my own and explained it to a dealer of how others had fixed the issue. That worked and fixed every one of the problems I was having. Now, in March 2013 the issues are starting again. First it starts with the gear shift being very hard to shift gears into place. Then the cruise stops engaging. Hopefully the brake light issue wont happen again.
Brake light do with cruise control something like....... Chevrolet/Pontiac/Saturn: Intermittently brake lights (stop lamps) do not function correctly, extended travel to shift out of park, cruise control inoperative, dtcs C0161/C0277 set (perform repair as outlined). [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Car will not accelerate when needed and when it finally picks up speed it shoots ahead, have to worry about being hit from behind and hitting the person in front of me when it shoots ahead. Has been back to dealer 5 times, they cannot find out what is wrong with car. Have contacted Chevrolet also to no avail. Problem keeps happening.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Glyndon, MN, USA