2009 Chevrolet Malibu: brake failure

Filed Jun 9, 2021 · Brakes, Lights · 151,000 miles · TN

The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in, and repaired under the federal safety agency campaign number: 14V252000 (Electrical System, Exterior Lighting, Vehicle Speed Control, Electronic Stability Control). After the vehicle was repaired, the ESP system with the warning light illuminated. Due to the failure, the braking system activated without the brake pedal being depressed. Additionally, on occasions, the brakes failed to operate as intended with the brake pedal depressed. The contact stated that the brakes functioned opposite to what was intended. The failure was intermittent but started occurring more frequently. The contact contacted the local dealer who confirmed the failure however, the dealer was not able to do the repair under the recall. The contact was informed that in 2017 the manufacturer released information for a special coverage regarding the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 151,000.

Filed Dec 9, 2014 · Brakes · 55,500 miles · GA

Emergency brake failed when releasing the brake. Loud noise was heard and then have no emergency brake. Took to the dealer and they told that it was owner fault, rear brake pad were under their specification and that created too much stress to the cable, snapping it. Gm should revise their engineering design for this safety device. Emergency brakes should be available even if pads are low. Definitively it is and manufacturing (design) defect. It could be a fatal accident if main brakes fail and need to use the emergency brake and then cable snap leaving you without a proper braking device to stop your vehicle. Gm still behind that it was customer fault and will not fix this manufacturing defect.

Filed May 19, 2014 · Brakes · FL

As I was approaching a red light there was a car in front of me, I went to push the brake and the brakes did not work, I almost hit the car in front of me but the light turned green before I could hit the car.

Filed Feb 28, 2014 · Brakes, Steering · OH

Was driving down the road and the steering wheel tightened up and the power steering light came on and the traction control kicked on and ESC service came across the screen, and the wheel is hard to turn. It will kick on and off and before it kicks on the steering wheel jerks back and forth. Then was driving down the road and came up on a exit and went to hit the brakes and the brakes went out but then cameback on. Car keeps doing it with the steering wheel it will go on and off.

Filed Dec 19, 2013 · Airbags, Driver assistance · 81,652 miles · MI

Re-occurrence of a prior complaint. Driving my vehicle on a local highway when the service traction and service ESC displays came on. Car began to sputter as though it were going to stall. Coasted to the side of the highway, and after idling for a minute the displays returned to normal. After driving about 2 miles further, it happened again. It continued to happen throughout the rest of my drive. The next day, it ran fine for about 10 miles or so, and then began stalling again and began to lose some braking and steering. Last time this issue occurred, the brake lights also locked on leaving the drivers behind me thinking that I was braking. Last time these alerts were displayed my vehicle died completely and had to be serviced. Now, it seems to be progressing towards the same result. Gm will not acknowledge that there is an issue, but hundreds of malibu and hhr owners since 2008 seem to disagree. I once again contacted the dealership that gave me the explanation of it requiring hundreds of dollars to diagnose. Seeing that this has been occurring for at least 5 years, I would imagine that gm is aware that there is an issue. Unfortunately, it always seems that it takes the death of several drivers before there is a response. One driver in a printed chat with a gm rep stated that the issue caused his vehicle to crash due to the loss of ABS and power steering, and his airbag failed to deploy. Isn't a loss of braking, steering, air bag, brake lights and acceleration a safety concern?