NHTSA Complaint #11613481 β 2020 CHEVROLET MALIBU
SERVICE BRAKES issue reported to NHTSA
Complaint Details
| ODI Number | 11613481 |
| Vehicle | 2020 CHEVROLET MALIBU |
| Component | SERVICE BRAKES |
| Date of Incident | |
| Date Filed | |
| Mileage | N/A miles |
| Crash | No |
| Fire | No |
| Injuries | 0 |
| Deaths | 0 |
| Vehicle Towed | No |
| State | TX |
Consumer Description
On [XXX] I was driving to work and my check engine light came on. Immediately after this I was completely unable to brake. My brake pedal became so stiff and impossible to press. I very narrowly avoided an accident. I had the car towed to an auto shop where I was informed that I had a vacuum pump failure that essentially exploded and destroyed my cam shaft and shot fragments of metal into my engine in the process. I was quoted over $12,000 in repairs. After receiving this quote I began searching online to find what could have caused this to happen. I stumbled upon a class action lawsuit for this EXACT same thing (plaintiff [XXX] ). In addition to the suit there were 12 PAGES of comments from other Malibu owners who have experienced similar issues with their vacuum pump and braking system. This issue is also noted on MANY car repair forums, Chevy owner forums, YouTube repair videos etc. Please note that when I received the check engine light on 9/5 this is the first and only time I had any indication of a potential problem with my vehicle. In the year and a half that I have owned the car there has never been any issues, warnings or check engine lights. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Related Complaints for the 2020 CHEVROLET MALIBU
Other SERVICE BRAKES Complaints
#11716063
I was unaware that when I purchased this vehicle that when the oil is low, the breaks go out and the break power boos...
#11710815
December 12, 2025 I had to drive 20-30 miles an hour the car would not break I had to use parking break. When I would...
#11707950
Vehicle vacuum pump failed I have changed it 4 times now. Saw there have been more cases
#11693916
While driving the cars speedometer and all gages will stop working, or they will constantly move up and down on their...
#11692539
My car has been malfunctioning it keeps saying shift to park when itβs park and it show esc system issue and then the...
Recent Complaints for the 2020 CHEVROLET MALIBU
#11718928
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Several things have been going wrong with this car. I have only had it for about 7 months. Minimal driving. Got the c...
#11718928
ENGINE
Several things have been going wrong with this car. I have only had it for about 7 months. Minimal driving. Got the c...
#11718928
POWER TRAIN
Several things have been going wrong with this car. I have only had it for about 7 months. Minimal driving. Got the c...
#11717509
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
The contact owned a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the brake peda...
#11716956
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesita...