Why Won’t My Brake Lights Turn Off? | McKinney, TX

A 2017 Chevrolet Cruze Premier Diesel | El Dorado Chevrolet in McKinney, Texas

To help protect yourself and others on the road, it’s essential for your vehicle to have properly functioning brake lights. These lights signal to drivers behind you that you’re slowing down or stopping, giving them time to react and prevent a rear-end collision. Sometimes, though, brake lights can get stuck, staying illuminated even when you’re not braking. This heightens risk while you’re driving and could also drain your battery.

Here are a few of the reasons why this problem might be occurring with your vehicle.

Malfunctioning Brake Light Switch

When you press down on your vehicle’s brake pedal, a switch with a plunger-like button sends a signal to activate the electrical circuitry that turns on the brake lights. If this switch isn’t working the way it should or has worn out, it could fail to turn off the brake lights when you let up on the pedal.

Brake Pedal Issue

Even if the brake light switch is working the way it should, bad pedal components could be causing your brake lights to stay on. For example, a worn-out brake pedal spring could keep the pedal from coming back up all the way after you lift your foot. A sticking brake pedal can also keep the lights illuminated. And, some vehicles have a small plastic or rubber bumper on the brake pedal lever. If this bumper breaks, the brake switch plunger might keep the brake lights activated.

Faulty Electrical System

Sometimes, brake light problems can be caused by issues with fuses, wiring, or computerized control components. If this is the case for your vehicle, repairs will likely require specialized diagnostic equipment.


Whether your brake light issues are being caused by a simple hardware failure or a complex electronic malfunction, the brake service experts at El Dorado Chevrolet are here to solve the problem. Give us a call to make an appointment at our service center in McKinney, Texas.
 

Contact Service

Please don't hesitate to direct your service questions to us! Fill out the simple form below and our technicians will get back to you.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.