24 problems related to brake light have been reported for the 1998 Chevrolet Malibu. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
: the contact stated while driving and depressing the brakes for any length of time the brakes light fail. The lights over heat and smoke then explode causing them to fail. The vehicle has not been inspected nor has the manufacturer been alerted.
Driving the car to work on a regular basis and it seems every two months the tail light bulbs need replacing. I keep replacing them but it is not working. It is dangerous because one minute they work. Drive down the road and it is not working. Is there a recall on this? there should be.
Plastic base of sylvania 3057 dual filament tail lamps melt causing stop lights to fail.
My brake lights are continueing to not work. I have replaced bulbs etc. The issue is the bulb sockets are over heating and the right side brake light socket is beginning to melt due to excess heat.
The brake light was inoperative.
When brakes were applied right side brake light didn't work. Had fuse and bulb checked, nothing wrong with them.
All 4 back brake light bulbs burned out and appeared to be somewhat melted on the connection part of the bulb. Replaced, 4 weeks later drivers side bulb burnt out again. Fuses are blowing if I have the passenger side bulb panel connected.
Brake lights light bulbs power melt plastic of cover, causing no vision for other drivers on brake lights. Please add additional information.
Rear brake lights continued to fail. Brake lights have failed approximatley 5 times within past year. Dealership changed bulbs, but had failed to correct repeated failure of brake lights, either right/left or both lights. Please provide any additional information/attachments.
No summary.
Shorlty after purchasing this vehicle while it was still under warranty we had the passenger side headlight assembly replaced because of condensation building up. Then a couple months later somone told me that my stop lights on the passenger side were out, I thought it was the bulbs but it wasn't , it was because of water building up inside. I contacted several orginizations to see if this was possibly recalled, it wasn't. Since they want $250 for the light assembly I've been waiting to see if they would recall them considering that just in the central mass area I have seen 2 - 3 dozen Malibu's with that stop light not working. I have been able to get it working by taking it apart drying it out and cleaning the electrodes with a wire brush but within a week of any rain it blows out again. I even went as far as two weeks ago resealing the seal around the housing and when we got rain that day went out and checked it and there was about a pint of water inside. I pulled the whole assembly out still together, tipped it every way possible and could not get the water to leak out from anywhere. I feel this is a safety issue because it is the stop lights. The other lights still work(the backup, directional , and even the 2 marker lights on the same bulb as the stop) its just the stop lights. Now I've noticed a little condensation in the left side assembly. I hope something can be done about this. Thank you jason jerome.
My husband noticed that one of my brake lights were not working,l/h side. He removed the tail light assy and pulled out the bulb. The bulb had melted at the plastic portion of the bulb, causing it to fail. My husband saved the bulb so I could show the dealer what was occurring. Hawaii motors said they fixed it. I still have the same problem and I'm affraid this might be happening to all Malibus. I'm affraid my vehicle is going to go up in flames. My husband just found that to more bulbs had burned today l/h and r/h side. I'm going to talk to hawaii motors tomorrow about this same problem. If you have any sugestions for me please advise. Sincerely, marie malavenda.
2 of 4 brake lamps failed. I removed the lamps from the sockets and discovered that the filaments were intact. Upon closer inspection of the failed lamps I noticed the lamp base had melted at one of four wires extending down the plastic lamp base. This is a serious safety issue and an unnecessary component replacement for the untrained eye. I scraped the melted plastic and slightly repositioned the wire on the lamp base and all is well. Seems to me an overcurrent situation occurred. Suggest a lamp base with a higher operating temperature range such as ceramic compound be specified. No other burning or melting of wires was indicated. Thank you. Dan bruckart.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Other driver told us of inoperative r/r brake light. (2 bulb side by side set-up) my disassembly of unit and inspection of bulbs showed bulbs with intact filiments, but signs of heat damage at bulb to receptacle connection. Tail light portion of system, o. K. . The failure of both brake lights, I assume at the same time, should be of concern. Thank you. Ray.
Intermittent operation of tail lights / brake lightt. Appoinment being made for dealer's inspection.
3 times pass side rear brake light out and noticed numerous other vehicles of same make and model with same bulb out. Manufacture has no bullitens on this repair but appears to be happening to more folks than just me as I noticed in traffic a lot of them with this very same brake light out on same make and model. 3 times have replaced bulb and its out again for no apparent reason. No water getting there , no loose connections etc.
Malibu suspension is unsafe. Front control arms , rear struts, brake lights, rear turn signal , rear tires worn because of struts, headlamps failures make it obvious chevy is marketing unsafe Malibu's . Chevy should buy back these defective cars especially mine it's an unsafe piece of junk!( dot number: tire size: 215-60r15 ).
Consumer states that the brake lights on the vehicle do not work properly the consumer has replaced the bulb several times but the problem still occurs. Contacted dealer.
All four brake lights failed, wires melted interrupting the lamp socket connection. Yh.
The plastic assembly on the brake stop lights are melting on the bulb, has been replaced sets of brake stop lights. Nlm.
Brake lights have gone out several times.
Brake lights becomes inoperable due to a malfunction within the panel and the wiring assembly. Please give any further details.
Right brake light is inoperative, electrical wires are corroded and water is leaking into brake light cover. Dealer has yet to be contatced.