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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
63,835 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

2011 Chevrolet Malibu lights problems

lights problem

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2011 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 1 of 6)

problem #112

May 252018

Malibu

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Headlights fail. I have had to replace my headlights several times. I have also had to replace the entire headlight assembly.

- Appleton, WI, USA

problem #111

Apr 162018

Malibu

  • miles
4/16/2018) Codes pulled 16188 Brake Lamp Malfunction, 13036D, and 13036C. Code 16188 was repaired and replaced by the Chevrolet dealership. A warning code would show on the dashboard then brake lights would show that the brakes are being applied at all times while driving or not show when braking.

- Des Moines, IA, USA

problem #110

Feb 152022

Malibu

  • miles
The headlights have went out over 10 times. The wiring keeps burning. This is a known issues. Why is there not a recall? It-€™s extremely expensive and hard to get the front end of the car off to replace the bulb to find out it-€™s not the bulb. It goes out every few months. Even the dealership service department has told me it-€™s a known issue!

- Henrico, VA, USA

problem #109

Apr 072021

Malibu

  • 62,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My vehicle has about 62,000 miles and the center rear brakes light just inside the rear window is not working. It seems very dim. Failed state safety inspection. Not an accident.

- Fairfax Station, VA, USA

problem #108

Jun 012020

Malibu

  • 125,000 miles
The low beam portion of headlights started going out and back on periodically while driving I've replaced the bulbs twice within 6 months and it continues to repeat issue the bulbs are not blown. Multiple reports online of this issue but no recall. If headlights fail during dark driving conditions could cause serious or even fatal accidents.the information online suggests wiring harness issues

- Hamilton, OH, USA

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problem #107

Dec 112020

Malibu

  • 116,000 miles
Passenger side low beam headlight goes out randomly. Wiring and headlight have been replaced, and does not seem to solve this issue. This happens approx.every 6 months if not more. You have to remove the front bumper to get to the headlight which is a pain if done yourself. Very expensive if you pay a mechanic.

- Newmarket, NH, USA

problem #106

Jun 202020

Malibu

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My dim lights do not work, it is not the bulb or anything connected with the light, it has all been checked out! brights work, but it is too dangerous for me to have to drive with my brights on. I need to be able to drive at night!

- Pace, FL, USA

problem #105

Nov 282020

Malibu

  • 110,000 miles
Passenger side low-beam head light keeps going out, and have to replace every six months or less. Very costly due to design. Front bumper needs to be removed to get to headlight. Have had different mechanics change and issue continues to be the same.

- Lake Grove, NY, USA

problem #104

Oct 312020

Malibu

  • 10 miles
Since the first of January I've had to replace my headlights and brake light 3 times so far, I have also replaced the my bearings on both passenger and driver 2 times on my passenger. And the reason I am writing this now is because my driver side needs replaced again. The headlights didn't come on in the morning when I was leaving for work. And the bearing just started making a sound when driving and the steering wheel would shake bad.

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #103

Oct 122019

Malibu

  • miles
The head lights in my vehicle do not work at all. I have to use the brights to see anything at night. The heat works when it wants too and when I bump into a small lump on the street it turns off. The wheel barrier is bad on my right tire.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #102

Sep 232020

Malibu

  • 50,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Passenger side low beam head light keeps going out ever other month

- Hope Mills, NC, USA

problem #101

Sep 072020

Malibu

  • 151,000 miles
My vehicle is experiencing all symptoms related to NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000 and there is no active recall for my VIN. That problem his causing high voltage which keeps causing electrical issues like burning cables to the headlights and not getting power to multiple interior equipment such as the ipc which stops working while driving and I am no longer able to my speed and other information. I also get a engine power reduced error from a bad connected from the app to the BCM, code P1238.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #100

Jul 032020

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 50,000 miles
The low beam headlights on my vehicle burn out and need to be replaced every 3-4 months (3-4 times per year for the last 6 years I have owned the vehicle). This is not only an expensive repair (because my mechanic needs to remove the bumper in order to complete it), but extremely dangerous. Multiple times my headlights have suddenly stopped working at night without warning. Sometimes pulling over and hitting the headlight assembly will cause it to have a better connection again, causing the lights to work, but this fix is only temporary. The connectors keep melting, my mechanic and I now believe, due to the high amperage caused by the 70% reduction in power during the vehicle's daytime running light mode. My complaints to the manufacturer have gone unheard. It is clear that the manufacturer needs to provide for a heavier connector than the oem part, and perhaps different bulbs, to remedy this safety issue. In the year 2020 it should not be so difficult to keep both low beam headlights running! I can get around the issue by using my high beam lights, but this is hazardous to other motorists. It is a poor design, and I am convinced that there will not be a satisfactory fix for this safety issue until NHTSA compels GM to issue a recall.

- Detroit, MI, USA

problem #99

May 122020

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 137,584 miles
Ongoing problem with headlamps burning out. I have had the car for 2 years and have to have them replaced every 3 mo.or so the last burn out happened on 5/12/2020.

- Sparks, NV, USA

problem #98

Feb 102020

Malibu

  • miles
The ESC turns off pretty much every time I drive the car. Last Monday the check engine light came on when the transmission was slipping M. the the transmission would no longer shift and the solenoid is stuck open while driving home from work. Prompting the dealership to try and sell me a whole new $5,000 trans. When the car only has 130,000 miles on it. The transmission has been running slow on acceleration but has never been stuck in first gear leaving me left on the side of the road waiting for help to come get me. The headlight burn out like every 6 months resulting in taking off the bumper or paying $200 from the dealership for a $5 bulb. I have no pictures since my car is at the dealership waiting for me to either go get or pay for the transmission.

- Riverside, CA, USA

problem #97

Feb 022020

Malibu

  • 124,000 miles
My low beam lights keep going out repeatedly. It starts with the passenger light then both and after a few days I have no lights. They been going out every 2 months and this is the 4th time I replaced them. No specific time when they go out I just notice it when I turn the lights on. They have not lasted longer than two months.

- Irving, TX, USA

problem #96

Dec 162019

Malibu

  • 104,000 miles
I have gotten my low beam headlights changed on both sides twice, costing me $150 each time due to having to remove the bumper, and they keep going out!!! I work at night in an area heavily populated with deer, among other issues with just needing to have my headlights working regularly. I don't have money to keep replacing them! and I just got it in October.

- Buffalo, NY, USA

problem #95

Nov 292010

Malibu

  • miles
My mother"S 2011 Chevy Malibu ltz has had a recurring problem concerning dash lights. It is quite common for us to be driving down the road and all of a sudden, there are no lights within the gauge panel or stereo face panel. Sometimes the lights will only dim, others they go out completely. On other occasions the lights don't come on at start-up and may turn on at some point, 10-15 minutes down the road. We've called the dealer the car was purchased from, starling Chevrolet-Cadillac to report these issues, only be told to bring the vehicle in "when it was happening", by the time we would get half way there, the problem stopped and the service writer says come back when it's happening. We've wondered if this could be related to the electrical issues for which Chevrolet sent out the extension of the warranty to 15 years or 120,000 miles. Another issue we've had relates to the older power steering recall. We've had the car in to starling Chevrolet twice that they have replaced the power steering pump. The problem I have concerns the un professional work of the mechanic who performed the service. While having tires replaced a couple of months after the power steering replacement, we were shown the way the starling Chevrolet mechanic had beat the devil out of the cars' under carriage. It's absolutely unforgivable for a Chevy dealer to cause this kind of damage while performing a recall service!!! finally, is the first problem we incurred with starling. During the original test drive, the dealer's salesman proceeded to toss a drive-out tag in the rear of the car during which they damaged the paint. My brother tried to stop the salesman from using this tag hanger when he saw the unguarded magnet hanger, but the dealer rep wouldn't listen. It tooky a month to get the paint fixed and only then after Mr. Starling got involved. The dealer changed hangers as a result!

- Debary, FL, USA

problem #94

Jan 242020

Malibu

  • miles
With in the last 10 to 12 months I've had 5 headlights burn out. One the module had melted. The current light out is once again on the passenger side that burnt out January 24, 2020. So far to date it's been 2 on the driver side, 3 on the passenger side.

- Farmington, MO, USA

problem #93

Jul 122019

Malibu

  • miles
Drivers side low beam headlight keeps going out, replaced it several times only to realize it's not the bulb itself

- Detroit, MI, USA

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