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.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph, the turn signals overheated and burned, causing the plastic around the bulb to melt. The contact called the dealership but was informed that he would be charged to have the vehicle inspected. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000. The current mileage was approximately 65,000.
2005 Chevrolet Malibu headlights get too hot and have melted with a hole in the orange plastic. This causes the bulbs to burn out frequently. The problem didn't happen originally, but has started happening within the past 9-12 months. We have brought the car to the Chevrolet dealership today to see about replacing the headlights. I have read on the internet that others have had the same problem, but there is not yet a recall. The heat of the headlights burning out the plastic is a major concern to me.
I own a 2005 Chevy Malibu. At about 40,000 miles I began to notice a burning smell. It smelled like hot, burning plastic. While trying to find the source of the smell, I noticed my daytime running lights (drl) were melting and charred. The housing also appeared to have smoke damage and was very hazy. In the time since I noticed the problem, visibility has gone done significantly. The problem seems to be on-going rather than a one time occurrence. I went to a Chevrolet dealer and they no idea what would cause the problem. I have not had it repaired since, because after doing internet research, it seems to be a problem with many '05 Malibu. I then called the GM help line where they asked a bunch of questions about where I had it repaired. They then told they were not going to do anything about it. I decided after that ( at about 120,000) I would replace the whole headlight assembly, hoping this would solve the problem. One day after installing the new assembly, the same melting and charring began to occur. At this point, I am unsure as to what to do next. It is obviously more than just a problem with the headlight since it happened after replacing the whole assembly. It also seems to be more than just an isolated incident with my vehicle since it took no time to find many Malibu with the same problem. I believe this is an issue that GM needs to investigate greater and provide a desirable solution for all Malibu owners.
This is ridiculous. I have been reading about all these incidents where people's headlights are melting. I have replaced my driver's side headlight twice now! the turn signals are getting so hot they are melting the base, causing the bulbs to burn out and the casing around the bulbs to melt. I also have people flash their brights at me every night because my headlights burn so brightly. I'm afraid my headlight will eventually catch fire. The entire assembly is starting to fog and melt now...and I can't keep spending the money to buy a new headlight!
Left directional light bulb burns out, because the sockets that hold the bulb overheat and melt the bulbs. Occurs because the day time running lights overheat. Have burned out 4 bulbs in the last 12 months. Overheating is starting to affect the right directional as well. Will need to replace both sockets.
- Glendale, CA, USA
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The headlight covers are showing fogging and discoloration due to heat damage as a result of what appears to be the front turn signal covers melting inside the headlight covers.
About every two weeks I have to change the light bulbs in my headlights because it is becoming so warm that it is melting the plastic around the light bulb. It is becoming so warm that it is starting to melt to headlight cover!
My headlights, signal lights and parking lights work as they want. I have replaced the bulbs many times. The light covers get really hot and I am assuming that it is a defective part. There is no reason that my bulbs should have burned out 8 times in the last three months. I have seen four Malibu just like mine in the last two weeks with the same lighting problem as I have which leads me to believe that this is a problem with many of the Malibu. I am going to get a ticket soon if a recall is not placed on this problem. I do see it's an open investigation.
My 2005 Chevrolet Malibu ls turning signal light does not seem to work properly at times considering the fact that I actually change the bulb about 4 times in one year. To my knowledge I am not the only one going through this problem with this vehicle.
Bought the 2005 Malibu used in August 2007. I have replaced the both front directional bulbs at least 10 times since buying the car. The lights work intermittently or not at all. The right bulb was out for about 3 months then the left bulb went out. I went to replace the bulbs again yesterday. I jimmied the socket they go into and now they both appear to be working. However, I noticed the amber plastic covering on the left bulb was burned, there was a large burn hole in it, and the melted plastic was dripping into the bottom of the covering. I am also noticing, and have been noticing, a loud thumping sound when I hit the gas as if something has to roll into place. Lately it also seems as though the anti-lock brakes very, very slightly kick in when I am braking and go over a bump. After reading the other comments I am going to my mechanic to have him look at the issues as safety is a large concern.
2005 Malibu purchased new. Daytime running light/park/turn signal melting the amber bulb surround and discoloring and cracking the outer headlight lenses. This car has not been in any accident to date. I have replaced the left rear turn signal bulb twice over the life of the car. All front lights are original as purchased. I'm concerned that the lights will catch fire and so now I try to remember to disengage the drl feature while driving. I feel this is a manufacturing design problem and should be replaced with no cost to the consumer. I started to replace the lights on my own with "Eagle eyes" replacements units but I have found that these are subject to a NHTSA recall as well. I will hold out to SE if a recall is issued by NHTSA for this safety issue.
Front daytime running lights are getting hot melting them. This is causing turn signals to burn out and not work properly. Got pulled over by a state trooper today because of this.
I am writing to complain about the exterior headlights melting. It could cause a fire. It seems that the amber lights have melted the casing. This problem should be a recall and the dealers should replace the housing free of charge.
The bulb in the front left turn signal became too hot and burned out while melting the amber cover around it. After replacing the bulb, the turn signal and high level running light function would not work but the low level light still operates when the headlights are on. I replaced the bulb twice and cleaned the connector and get intermittent use of the turn signal, but I never know if it's going to work or not.
Loss of function of headlights, brake lights, turn signals and tail lights on 2005 Chevy Malibu ls model. The light bulbs in the signal are constantly blowing out. I have the change the bulbs at least every month. I have no use of my tail lights and turn signals as a result of this. Failure of the bulb has not resulted in heat damage to the bulb socket.
As of this date, Feb. 17, 2009, the part in question has not failed, causing any crashes or injuries. Shortly after I purchased the vehicle, I noticed a thumping whenever the steering wheel was turned sharply to the right or to the left. While under manufacturer's warranty, I had it checked out at least 3 times, and each time the dealership service department assured me there was no recall on the part, the boot of joint somehow connected to the steering. Since that time, I have had my personal mechanic check out the problem and he has diligently checked for a recall or a corrective measure from Chevrolet, but there has been none. The mechanic has greased this joint several times, and it helps the thumping, but eventually it returns over time. I have read where others have experienced their steering totally going out because of this issue. I am afraid for my family's safety due to this problem that Chevrolet has constantly refused to address. Component #2: I was constantly having to replace the front turn signals as the bulbs were constantly burning out. Component #3 the fan which controls the inside air flow has constantly rattled unless the fan is turned on the highest setting. The dealership even replaced that fan, telling me a broken part had fallen down into it. I returned the car to the dealership at least 3 times, but they finally said they could not find anything else. It still rattles horribly.
On our 2005 Chevy Malibu we have changed the front turn signal lamp numerous times since we purchased it new in 2005, the first time being only a month after we purchased the car. In Nov. 2006 at our expense we had to change the turn signal lamp sockets because the dealer said the reason for the lamps burning out was due to the sockets being corroded. After that we have still had to change the lamps as frequent. I would say in all we have replaced either the left or right lamp about 12 times since the purchase date of March 2005. Recently we have noticed that the lamp housing has actually melted above where the lamps are located. We currently have the local dealer looking into the problem again. Every time I see a Chevy Malibu from the year model of 2005 to 2007, most often one of the front park/signal lamps is burned out. I think this is a safety hazard due to not having a properly working turn signal could cause an accident. Also if the housing is melting, then it could result in the car catching on fire I believe.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact previously experienced failure with the driver's side headlight bulb constantly burning out. Six months later, the plastic headlight covers burned. The steering shaft has been replaced three times. The dealer stated that the plastic cover failure was a factory defect; therefore, they were unable to correct the failure. The failure mileage was 69,000 and current mileage was 78,400. Updated 02-23-09 updated 02/24/09.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Pravo, UT, USA