This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
My headlight went out, I changed it, and it went out again immediately. I looked at the wiring, and it had melted the connectors. I replaced the pigtail wiring part, and it continues to go out as soon as I put a new headlight in.
Within a year I have had to have the headlight bulbs in my 2010 chevi Malibu replaced 7 times. That is insane! it is time consuming, expensive and unexceptional. The replacement is no easy fix as the bumper and wheel cover have to be removed to get access. This is extremely frustrating and needs a recall to fix this once for all.
I have had to replace my passenger and drivers side headlights for the 5th time in the last 3 years. Just replaced the passenger headlight last week and exactly a week later, it is back out on the same side, 6th time. In the past, I've had both replaced when one blows out because of how you have access the headlights, the car repair shops charges me $180 and up. Imagine me having to doing this that much because it is mandatory to get repaired. I can not drive with one headlight or none. One blows and a few months later the other blows or the same. It is hard to tell exactly at what point it happens because at times you just don't know it is out until someone calls you or a kind driver let's you know. I found out this last time by pulling into my garage and seeing the dim glare on the front wall as I was pulling in. There are lots of others with this problem in the google search for a resolution. People have tried several options for repairs and no luck. This must be recalled. The 2010 Chevy Malibu design to repair the headlight makes it highly inconvenient for my pockets due to the cost of labor. Many shops have refused servicing me because of the amount of time it takes to get to the headlight by taking off the bumper and the number of screws to be removed etc. I have had to miss work, go in late or leave early to get my headlight/S replaced. Totally unacceptable and unlucky being an owner of this vehicle.
Repeating headlamp failure. Bulbs have been replaced three times in past year. Both bulbs (driver and passenger sides) have been replaced during service though only one had failed, in hopes of extending time between the next required service. Headlamp bulb replacement on this vehicle is complex, requiring removal of the front-end/bumper assembly to access the lamp assembly, usually requiring body shop expertise and cost (>$200+) versus a quick diy job or local service mechanic. Internet searches indicate many customers with similar problems, pointing to a failed design by Chevrolet with the daylight running time circuitry causing high currents leading to high temperatures and overheating/melting/deformed connectors, pigtail and wiring components. A vehicle without two working headlamps is an operational, citational and safety hazard, thus disabling the vehicle. This design problem must be addressed by recall.
I have a 2010 Chevy Malibu and the passenger headlight keeps going out. Not burning out, but quits working! I changed the bulb about 5 times before I realized that it wasn't burning out. All the other lights on that side work fine. A few times I could tap on the headlight assembly and it would come back on. I took it apart and found that the plastic connector was broken and shorted out, so I ordered a new wiring harness that goes from the ground wire split to the headlight assembly, put it together and it worked fine for 2 days and went out again. I took the front end off agian and unplugged the bulb and plugged it back in and it works fine again. I have checked all the wires and the ground screw and can't find a problem. This continues to happen. I have also looked this up and a large number of people are having issues with this from 2009-2012 Chevy Malibu.
- Hot Springs, AR, USA
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Service eas warning light comes on. Then the rear brake lights stay on. The service power steering warning light comes on & the car is very hard to control & nearly impossible to steer. This is extremely dangerous & unsafe.
I have a 2010 Chevy Malibu and the passenger headlight keeps going out. Not burning out, but quits working! I have gone to change the bulb and we realized that it wasn't burnt out. All the other lights on that side work fine. We wiggles some wires and it would work again. A few times we could tap on the headlight assembly and it would come back on. So we put it together again and it worked fine for 2 weeks or so before it went out again.
Passenger low beam headlight was replaced 4 times. Upon removal of the 4th headlight I noticed the wiring harness was melted. I replaced the wiring harness with a new one and now the low beam does not work at all. I just received a ticket last night from the police. A fix it ticket...and now I don't know how I am going to fix this.
The passenger side low beam light stops working approximately every 6-8 weeks. I have owned the car for 6 months and have replaced the same bulb 4 times. I know I am not alone as the internet forums are filled with other Malibu owners reporting the same issue.
Low beam headlights comes on and off. While attempting to drive at night the driver side light would not come on. The next morning it came on. A few days later the passenger side light would not come on. Now both lights won't come on. I am only drive during daylight hours until they are replaced.
I dropped my 2010 Malibu ([xxx]) off at matick Chevy on 1/10/2020. I called 1/11/2020 and was told there was no charge and it was ready for pick up. That's all I was told. I didn't make it home before the same problem occurred: Service traction error light on the dash board and all 3 brake lights are on - when no one is pressing on the brake. The car is in the garage and all 3 brake lights are on - no one is in the vehicle...I'm driving down the highway and all 3 brake lights are on - I'm not braking. This is a serious safety concern. Today is 1/19/2020 and I still don't have my vehicle and have not received a call - despite leaving a message for the service [xxx], on 1/16/19. He advised that this vehicle is covered under a special warranty program or policy - 150,000 miles or the year 2025?. the vehicle is 10 years old - dealerships don't fix anything for free, so that "special program" is indicative of the company taking responsibility and knowing that you have a problem with this vehicle. I have owned GM products all my life and for the first time do not know if my loyalty to the manufacturer or brand will continue. I am very disappointed in the way this situation has been handled. The vehicle have been serviced for this same problem twice previously. The only saving grace is that I demanded a loaner. Please help. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
The low beam headlights keep going out. The bulbs are not burning out. It's something in the elecrical that's causing this. It's very dangerous to drive at night because both headlights have gone off all of a sudden while driving down the road. I believe this is a huge safety concern & Chevy needs to figure out what's going on & have a fix for it. After reading on a bunch of forums, this is a huge problem with these vehicles. After getting the bulbs to work, they only work for about 2 weeks then go out again. This questionnaire wants me to put in a date that this happened but it happens all the time for the last 4 years, so I'll just put in the most recent date.
Passenger side headlights have repeatedly gone out for the 7 yrs I have owned this car. I have changed the headlights at least once every 3-4 months. I have searched forums/messageboards related to car problems and this is a widely known problem with this model. To make matters worse, the bumper needs to be removed to replace the light which I can not do myself and I have to take it to a servicing shop which is very expensive. Here is a webpage dedicated to the issues. Https://www.cargurus.com/cars/discussion-T32066_ds667897?sntemlid=3535135585#msg1032451
The passenger side low beam keeps going out, even after repeatedly replacing headlight. Just yesterday, the driver side went out too so no low beams usable currently. My reading has brought me to the conclusion that in 2008-2012 Chevy Malibu, the daytime running lights are pulling voltage from the low beams which is increasing the amperage in the low beams which is causing overheating and therefore the bulbs and connectors to go out repeatedly.
My passenger side headlight wont stay on. When it died I went to replace it and it turned on so I went to put it back together and it turned off again, so I took it back a part. I went through that a few times before giving
The passenger side low beam light has been replaced 5 times in a matter of 2 years goes out comes back on then off for a long period of time hit a bump and it may come back on but not all the time
The high-mount brake light will light (and stay lit) without the brake being depressed. When the brake is depressed using normal force to slow the car, the light will go off. When the brake is depressed further as if to stop the vehicle, the light comes back on. This behavior is intermittent.
I had to replace the wiring harness for the headlight unit due to the low beam connector melting and now only 3 months later, both low beam connectors have melted leaving me with no headlights. This is a very common problem on these cars and a huge safety issue. Both times this has happened, I was driving. Once on city streets and twice on the interstate
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- Kansas City, MO, USA