Problems · by component

2008 Chevrolet Malibu service brakes problems

63 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu cite service brakes, 6% of all 1,017 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
63
6% of all complaints
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the service brakes

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Randomly when I press the brakes the brake lights don't turn on. Other times they work fine. All of the light bulbs are good. All three brake light don't turn on randomly. I have almost been rear-ended on numerous occasions.no dash lights came on. And I have not had it inspected yet just my girlfriend pushing the brake pedal to test the lights. One day they work another they don't then another day they work again.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 29, 2026Electrical system, Service brakesODI 11747296
“The car starts to violently shake and the the engine service light starts to flash. The ABS light stays on and the car runes terribly. The system says a spark plug coil has burned out. Locate the ba coil and replace it, car runs great until another coil burns out and the process starts over again. During each occurance the steering is affected by pulling hard to one side or the other when the brake is applied.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 31, 2022Electrical system, Service brakes, EngineODI 11476760
“The contact's girlfriend owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving behind the vehicle he noticed that the brake light was illuminated even though the brakes was not applied. Additionally, while depressing the brake pedal, the brake light failed to illuminate. The ESC, and traction control warning lights were illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no further assistance was provided. The contact stated that the failure was like NHTSA Campaign Number 14V252000 (Electrical system, Exterior Lighting, Vehicle Speed Control, Electronic Stability Control). The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 23, 2021Exterior lighting, Service brakesODI 11430203
“THE MAIN CONCER I HAVE IS (1)WHILE DRIVING AND CAR IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET, THE CAR ACCERLERATED ON IT'S OWN. ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAS HAPPEN SEVERAL MORE TIMES SINCE. (2)THE CAR BEGINS TO SLOW DOWN. I CANNOT DRIVE MORE THE 10 MILE PER HOUR, THE RPM GAGE GOES HIGH BUT THE CAR DOES NOT. (3)ALSO, THE CAR ABS LIGHT COMES ON WITH NORMAL DRIVING IN THE CITY, UNKNOWN CAUSE. (4)THE CAR SEEMS TO HAVE ELECTRICAL ISSUES, I'VE CHANGED HEAD LIGHTS TWICE, HORN FUSES BLOWN MULTIPLE TIMES, THE AIR CONDITIONER HAS GONE OFF 3X NOW, AND ON THE HEAT/AIR CONTROL PANEL MAKES A CLOCKNG NOISE, EVEN IF I WANT TO USE THE WIPERS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 25, 2021Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Service brakesODI 11413840
“THIRD BREAK LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY WORKING. THE OTHER TWO BREAK LIGHTS HAVE NO ISSUE. I HAD THE THIRD BREAK LIGHT REPLACED AND AM STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS CAR AS THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF OTHE CONSUMERS EXPERIENCING THIS SAME ISSUE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 22, 2021Exterior lighting, Service brakesODI 11397293
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS FAILED TO LOCK. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL GRINDING SOUND DETECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE LOCAL DEALER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 9, 2020Electrical system, Service brakes, EngineODI 11373762

Showing 6 of 63 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.