2009 Chevrolet Malibu Exterior Lighting Problems
- 133
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 133 stored complaint records:
- 0 indicate a crash
- 0 indicate injury
- 1 indicate fire
What owners report
- brake lights · 44 records
- brake pedal · 26 records
- passenger side · 25 records
- brake light · 20 records
- traction control · 18 records
- side headlight · 12 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 100–150k mi | 32 |
| 60–100k mi | 32 |
| 30–60k mi | 13 |
| 150–400k mi | 12 |
| 1–30k mi | 7 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Exterior Lighting · Service Brakes · Vehicle Speed Control
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. *tr
ODI 10542583
Exterior Lighting
The vehicle rear brake lights are coming on while driving without me pressing the brake pedal. When the brake pedal is applied the brake lights temporary goes off before coming back on. *js
ODI 10538397
Exterior Lighting · Service Brakes
The brake lights illuminate when the brake pedal is up & sometimes won't illuminate when pedal is depressed. *tr
ODI 10533533
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Exterior Lighting
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. While driving at 30 mph, the contact noticed smoke coming from the front passenger side head lamp. In addition, both the passenger and driver side high and low beam head lamps failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who diagnosed that the wiring harness and the head lamp assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure…
Fire reported
ODI 10779641
Exterior Lighting · Service Brakes
I have the same issue another person wrote about. I was driving when a car pulled up next to me to tell me that when i brake, my brake lights don't go on but when i begin to drive again, they go on. I went home and told my husband. And at that time it worked just fine. But then in july of 2013 my 23 year old daughter was driving my car and she said the same thing happened. A car in back of her asked her to pull over…
ODI 10535592
Electronic Stability Control · Exterior Lighting · Service Brakes
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... *tr
ODI 10573271
Exterior Lighting
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the passenger's side headlight failed. The vehicle was taken to a body shop for inspection where the wires were adjusted. The contact stated that the driver's side headlight recently failed. The vehicle was not taken back to the body shop. The failure mileage was 139,000 and the current mileage was 140,000.
ODI 10523252
Exterior Lighting · Service Brakes
Brake lights remain on while driving. Go off when braking. Have been stopped several times by folks passing by to tell me that the brake lights were on. *tr
ODI 10512785
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Service Brakes
Brake lights come on without pressing the pedal and when u press the pedal they go off for a second and come back on this has happened numerous times. *tr
ODI 10513240
Exterior Lighting · Service Brakes · Vehicle Speed Control
When driving my 2009 malibu my brake lights will come on. When tapping the brake they go off, but when i need to use the brake no lights show. When this happens my service esc and service traction lights also come on. Im getting very aggravated, i have only owned this car since june 2012, and constantly having problems. *tr
ODI 10514874
Exterior Lighting
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the center brake light failed intermittently and without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for a diagnostic. The failure was not reported to the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 50,000. The current mileage was 62,000. Updated 07/10/13*lj the consumer stated the dealer could not diagnose the vehicle without a fee until the failure…
ODI 10513800
Exterior Lighting · Service Brakes · Vehicle Speed Control
The brake lights began to turn on when the brake pedal was not depressed, even when the vehicle was in park. When driving, the brake lights will stay on and the cruise control does not work. These problems may only last a couple of minutes but may also persist for greater than an hour at a time. The problem manifests itself somewhat unpredictably but its frequency and duration have increased over time. *tr
ODI 10520212
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
The passenger front headlight burned out. I took it to the dealership and had it replaced. Within a week or so, it had burned back out. At that time the dealership determined that the entire headlight assembly needed to be replace. I researched the problem on.chevymalibuforum.com and this is apparently very common. *tr
ODI 10671181
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Back driver side turning light bulb keeps burning out. Before it goes out it will work sometimes. So i don't think it is the bulb, but some other issue. At this time my car is 6 years old with 32,000 miles and this will be the 4th time of changing this bulb. *tr
ODI 10629602
Exterior Lighting · Service Brakes
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. *tr
ODI 10548365
Air Bags · Exterior Lighting
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. While driving various speeds, the passenger side headlight failed to work without warning. The contact stated that the bulb was changed; however, the failure recurred. The contact also stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated and would not recognize if someone were seated in the passenger side of the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The…
ODI 10780087
Exterior Lighting · Service Brakes
The brake lights on my vehicle stay illuminated when the brake pedal is not pressed. This causes other drivers to think that i am braking when i am not. When i press the brake pedal, the brake light goes off for two seconds and then comes back on. After releasing the brake pedal, the brake lights stay on. The vehicle has been to the dealership four times. The dealer has replaced the brake position sensor twice, the…
ODI 10521832
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Service Brakes
I had a problem with the brake light function. When driving, the brake lights would be on. When pressing the brake, the lights would turn off. I had to pay to have a switch replaced by the dealership to fix this issue. *tr
ODI 10503943
Electronic Stability Control · Exterior Lighting · Service Brakes
I have to change head lights 3 times. Only can take to dealer ($150.00). When having tires replaces and brakes. The abs/esc/traction control alarms lights stays on while driving. I contact chevrolet now for last three years. I was told because my car is out warranty they will not approval repair. I recently taken car to dealer recall # 13036. That my car would be approval for loaner. Chevrolet/ dealer. All warranty…
ODI 10630955
Exterior Lighting
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. While parked, the contact noticed that the turn signals and the hazard lights would not function. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostics. The mechanic replaced the hazard switch unit and the relay however, the failure continued after the repair. The vehicle was taken back to the mechanic where the turn signal unit and ignition were replaced but…
ODI 10471701
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
I had a headlight go out over a year ago, had to pay 300$ to get it replaced (new design.... Makes everything complicated, thanks gm!). Not even 3 months later, same headlight out again (passenger). My mechanic noticed water in the light compartment (condensation) which he says will cause them to overheat and die. Got the light changed again, hoping avoiding car-washes was the solution. Nope. Out again. And then on…
ODI 10547689
Exterior Lighting
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the brake lights illuminated when the brake pedal was not being depressed. Additionally, when the brake was being depressed, the brake lights would not illuminate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis where the technician was unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of…
ODI 10521091
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the driver's side headlight failed to illuminate. The contact mentioned that the failure occurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the bulb and harness were replaced, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the…
ODI 11265373
Electrical System · Engine And Engine Cooling · Exterior Lighting · Fuel/Propulsion System
I have had so much trouble with the 2009 chevy malibu i bought it brand new no miles thinking i was going to be stress free but it has given me the most headaches ever. I have had to replace the shift gear and that my head lights have had to been replace at least once a year since i got it the headache about that is that the whole bumper has to be removed to have them replace. I also had to replace the catalytic…
ODI 10637184
Exterior Lighting
Rear brake lights intermittently turn on. There doesn't appear to be a reason as to when or why it turns on. Dealership shrugs their shoulders as they 'fix' the car 'hoping that what they do fixes the problem'. Driver doesn't know that rear brakes are on unless driving at night or attempting to use cruise control. I believe this is a safety issue. *tr
ODI 10416397
Catalog parts for this system
Catalog year/make/model rows for 2009 Chevrolet Malibu.
Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.