Problems · by component
2005 Chevrolet Malibu service brakes problems
53 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu cite service brakes, 4% of all 1,393 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
53
4% of all complaints
Crashes
7
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
Reported by owners
What owners say about the service brakes
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Brake lights malfunctioning due to faulty wiring in body control module, a prior recall 2 dealerships are currently refusing to honor; stating your recall has expired. According to the below link, recalls are never to expire. This condition creates an increased risk of rear end collisions, while the driver is completely unaware his or her brake lights are inoperable. [XXX]”
“Came back from running an errand and when I went to go back out to the car to start it to run another errand it wouldn't turn over. The lights and alarm, the radio wipers a/c everything else would come on but it just wouldn't turn over! And I need my vehicle I have upcoming appointments and it's the only thing I have to get around. I've been without a vehicle for almost three weeks now. I need help, I'm low income and I need help getting it back on the road.”
“I LOST ALL POWER ASSIST IN MY STEERING WHEEL ON THE INTERSTATE. IT WAS SHOWING A RECALL FOR THE ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING BUT WHEN I CALLED CHEVROLET, THEY DIDN'T SEE IT.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT 51 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS DISCONNECTED AND THE SCREW WAS LOOSE. MEGA MOTORS, INC. (565 S BUCKNER BLVD, DALLAS, TX) WAS CONTACTED, BUT REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE SAFETY ISSUES DUE TO THE CONTACT PURCHASING THE VEHICLE 'AS IS'. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE ABSOLVED OF ALL LIABILITY. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 222,248.”
“2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. BRAKES SYSTEM AND TRANSMISSION RECALL NOTICES. *SMD CONSUMER SENT ADDITIONAL CORRESPONDENCE. *SMD *CN”
“I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BREAKS ON MY CAR SIX TIMES IN TWO YEARS. I REPLACED EVERYTHING I CAN THINK OF AND THE BRAKES ARE WEARING OUT ONLY ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT.”
Showing 6 of 53 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.