Hello all!

I have a 2006 Chevy Malibu. Just got it back from some body work to the back end (due to an accident) and as we were checking the brake lights to ensure that everything was repaired correctly we noticed something a bit odd.

The brake lights do not come on when the key is out of the ignition with the car off. The brake lights do work with the key in the ON position and when the car is running. This seems odd to me.

My 2001 Olds Alero does light up the brake lights with the key out and car off, and I've a few friends about their vehicles (none of them 2006 Malibus and theirs older than 2005) and they see lights with key out and car off.

Can anyone confirm that this is normal behavior for these cars?

(I'm posting this after hours at the local dealer's service shops and the few sales folks that I did get a hold of gave me varied responses.)

Yes, that's the way it works on my 05 maxx. No key, no brake lights.

My 04 same way, first car like that for me. I think it is because everything now goes through the BCM module.

Thanks to both of you for your replies!

I did follow up with the dealer that I bought the car from, and the salesman that we bought the car from actually went into the lot and tried four 2007's to be sure. (How is that for a salesman? Surprised the heck out me.)