FaultScore

Chevrolet Malibu Classic headlight problems

27 of the 406 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Malibu Classic are about the lighting — 7% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2004.

27

Complaints

7%

Share of all complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

Lights complaints by model year

Median failure at 68 miles

Median failure at 65,455 miles

Median failure at 101,000 miles

Median failure at 90,000 miles

Median failure at 101,396 miles

Median failure at 78,500 miles

What owners said

2004 Chevrolet Malibu Classic at 175,000 miles Corcoran, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

WELL MY IGNITION SWITCH WENT OUT I REPLACE THAT.NOW IT'S SHORTAGES IN WIRING AND LIGHTS HEAT ON AN OFF SOMETIMES SHOCKS

NHTSA complaint #11394823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Chevrolet Malibu Classic at 89,000 miles Corning, OH

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

MY 2002 CHEVROLET CLASSIC HAS A DANGEROUS CONDITION WHERE THE TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD WARNING FLASHERS BECOME INOPERATIVE. THE CONDITION IS COMPLETELY RANDOM AND OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. THIS HAS CREATED SURPRISE UNSAFE SITUATIONS WHEN MAKING LANE CHANGES AND LEFT AND RIGHT HAND TURNS. CHEVROLET KNOWS ABOUT THE FAULTY TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD WARNING FLASHERS HOWEVER NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN MADE. IN APRIL 2006 CHEVROLET SENT A SOMEWHAT DISMISSIVE LETTER ABOUT THE CONDITION. HOWEVER THE LETTER CLEARLY STATES THIS IS NOT A RECALL AND DO NOT TAKE YOUR VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE. AT THAT TIME MY 2002 CHEVROLET CLASSIC DID NOT HAVE THE CONDITION DESCRIBED IN THE LETTER. I FEEL THE LANGUAGE AND INTENT OF THE LETTER WAS CONFUSING AND CREATED OPPORTUNITY FOR CHEVROLET TO DISREGARD THE CUSTOMER.

NHTSA complaint #11109889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Chevrolet Malibu Classic at 113,000 miles Roxboro, NC

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE TURN SIGNAL AND EMERGENCY LIGHT INDICATORS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT AN UNKNOWN MODULE SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

NHTSA complaint #11104056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Chevrolet Malibu Classic at 113,000 miles Roxboro, NC

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE TURN SIGNAL AND EMERGENCY LIGHT INDICATORS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT AN UNKNOWN MODULE SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

NHTSA complaint #11104056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Chevrolet Malibu Classic at 62,000 miles Pompano Beach, FL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. AFTER INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. IN ADDITION, THE TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHTS WOULD RANDOMLY NOT OPERATE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

NHTSA complaint #11002103 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Chevrolet Malibu Classic at 65,455 miles Kimball, MI

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

ALL LIGHTING AND INSTRUMENTATION ON THE DASH WOULD GO OFF SUDDENLY FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, THEN THE GAUGES WOULD WORK AGAIN. THIS WOULD HAPPEN AT ANY SPEED OR CONDITION. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. HAVE NOT HAD THAT PROBLEM SINCE THEN . BUT I RECEIVED A KEY RECALL #14350. THE REKEYING HAS BEEN COMPLETED BUT NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO TELL ME IF THE RECALL WAS ON THE ORIGINAL SWITCH, OR REPLACEMENT SWITCH PUT IN 2011. IF THE REPLACEMENT SWITCH WAS A RECALL ALSO HOW DO I KNOW IF MY VEHICLE WAS CLASSIFIED UNDER THE CORRECT RECALL?

NHTSA complaint #10644505 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Chevrolet Malibu Classic at 68 miles Wilburton, PA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE I ATTEMPTED TO PUT MY TURN SIGNAL ON TO MAKE A TURN. THE TURN SIGNAL DIDN'T WORK.SINCE THEN IT WOULD RANDOMLY WORK AT TIMES AND SOMETIMES IT DIDNT. SOMETIMES I WOULD HAVE TO PUSH ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS TO TRY TO TRIGGER THE TURN SIGNALS TO WORK. THERE WAS TIMES WHERE I WAS AFRAID OF GETTING REAR ENDED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM.I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A CHEVY DEALER THIS YEAR (2014). IT WAS THE SAME PROBLEM RELATED TO THE RECALL BUT I WAS INFORMED MY VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THAT RECALL. I HAD TO PAY TO GET MY CAR FIXED.

NHTSA complaint #10633805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Chevrolet Malibu Classic at 96,000 miles Gary, IN

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TURN SIGNALS WORK ONLY SOMETIMES.

NHTSA complaint #10618522 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Chevrolet Malibu Classic at 69,300 miles Corning, OH

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU LS SEDAN PRESENTED HAS NOTICEABLY WEAK AND INEFFICIENT HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS POSING A SAFETY ISSUE. THE FOG LIGHTS ARE NOT EFFECTIVE IN MILDLY FOGGY DRIVING CONDITIONS AT ALL. IN FACT DUE TO SUCH POOR PERFORMANCE, IT IS QUITE DIFFICULT TO DISCERN WHETHER OR NOT THE FOG LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON. HEADLIGHT PERFORMANCE IS POOR WITH MARKEDLY DECREASED LIGHTING EFFICIENCY IN CITY DRIVING AND ON WET ROADS. THE VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS DIM AND OR FLICKER WHEN THE DRIVER DEPRESSES THE BRAKE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE OR COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. CONCERN THAT ON COMING TRAFFIC CAN'T DISCERN BETWEEN HIGH AND LOW BEAMS OR A CONFUSION FROM THE UNINTENDED DIMMING/FLICKERING. VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN CHECKED WITH NO PROBLEMS FOUND. ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR CHECK OK, NEW BATTERY CHECK OK, SERPENTINE BELT AND PULLEYS CHECK OK, ALL BULBS, FUSES, AND FUSIBLE LINKS CHECK OK. NEW BULBS TRIED, BUT NO INCREASE IN LIGHTING OUTPUT. VEHICLE TAKEN TO GM SERVICE CENTER IN ZANESVILLE, OHIO. SERVICE TECHNICIAN TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE WITH CUSTOMER PRESENT. SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE PERFORMANCE ISSUE WAS BASICALLY "NORMAL" AND A COMMON CONCERN AMONG MANY CUSTOMERS. SERVICE TECH. WENT ON TO SAY THAT BRAND NEW GM VEHICLES HAVE THE SAME ISSUE, IN FACT HE STATED THAT THEY ARE WORSE. 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU LS LIGHTING/ELECTRICAL PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. VEHICLE DOES NOT FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT DUE TO THE LIGHTING.

NHTSA complaint #10615974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Chevrolet Malibu Classic at 109,000 miles Warren, MI

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

MY VEHICLE DRIVERS SIDE LIGHT HAS GONE OUT VARIOUS TIMES. THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ON THAT SIDE HAVE STOPPED WORKING AS WELL. TURN SIGNALS WILL STOP WORKING WHILE MERGING IN TRAFFIC. THE POWER WINDOWS WILL STOP WORKING AS WELL.

NHTSA complaint #10607075 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Chevrolet Malibu Classic at 90,000 miles Commack, NY

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL FAILED TO OPERATE AT TIMES OR WOULD OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY DO TO A DEFECTIVE HAZARD SWITCH. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE HAZARD SWITCH AND THE DEFECT WAS REMEDIED. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT WHILE DRIVING EXHAUST FUMES WERE EMITTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE BLEND DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA complaint #10604528 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Chevrolet Malibu Classic at 90,000 miles Commack, NY

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL FAILED TO OPERATE AT TIMES OR WOULD OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY DO TO A DEFECTIVE HAZARD SWITCH. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE HAZARD SWITCH AND THE DEFECT WAS REMEDIED. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT WHILE DRIVING EXHAUST FUMES WERE EMITTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE BLEND DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA complaint #10604528 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Chevrolet Malibu Classic at 120,000 miles Henderson, NV

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS W/ SIGNAL LIGHT. NO SIGNAL (FROM STOPPED OR WAITING POSITION) SIGNAL, THEN NO SIGNAL (ANY SPEED). NO SIGNAL, THEN SUDDENLY SIGNAL (ANY SPEED OR DRIVING CONDITION) I'VE HAD IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES BUT THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO REPLICATE, SO THEY SAY THERE ISN'T A PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10593517 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Chevrolet Malibu Classic at 117,792 miles Spokane, WA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

WE BOUGHT A 2005 CHEVY MALIBU CLASSIC BASE MODEL FROM A REPUTABLE DEALER. EVERYTHING WAS WORKING FINE UNTIL MY SON FLIPPED THE SWITCH ON THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR FOR THE LIGHTS FROM "AUTO" TO FULL LIGHTS AT NIGHT. THE DASH CLUSTER ILLUMINATION WENT OUT ALONG WITH THE RADIO BACK LIGHTING, HVAC BACK LIGHTING, DOOR LOCK AND WINDOW SWITCH LIGHTING. THE DOME LIGHT STOPPED WORKING. THE DOME LIGHT HAD BURNED WIRES AND THE PLASTIC FIXTURE WAS BURNED. REPLACED IT BACK TO THE HARNESS. FUSES KEPT BLOWING. HAVE SINCE TRIED REPLACING THE TURN INDICATOR/LIGHTS/WIPER MODULE, THE DIMMER SWITCH, AND DASH CLUSTER, UPON INSPECTING THE BODY CONTROL MODULE I FOUND CORRODED MODULE CONNECTORS THAT WERE CORRODED AND BURNED. NOW THE CAR WON'T START AND THE SUSPECT IS THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. THIS IS CLEARLY AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION FROM THE ASSEMBLY LINE AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN WASTE BY MYSELF MY SON AND OTHERS REPORTING ACROSS THE INTERNET WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS AS OURSELVES.

NHTSA complaint #10584103 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Chevrolet Malibu Classic at 83,000 miles Stratton, OH

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TURN SIGNALS WORKING INTERMITTENT AND INOPERATIVE COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WHEN TURN SIGNALS NOT WORKING THIS IS A BIG SAFETY CONCERN GM KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS A RECALL NO. 03043 MY VEHICLE IS A 2004 AND GM SAID NO RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE THIS CAR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES TURN SIGNALS STOP WORKING COULD CAUSE A FATAL CRASH I WANT GM TO PAY FOR REPAIRS THEY KNOW OF THIS BIG PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10513513 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Chevrolet Malibu Classic at 78,500 miles Midlothian, TX

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THIS HAS OCCURED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE LAST YEAR. WHEN DRIVING, THE BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON BY THEMSELVES AND YOU HAVE TO TAP THE BRAKES TO GET THEM TO GO OUT. THEN THEY MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT GO OFF AND TOTALLY CANCELS ANY CRUISE CONTROL OPETATION. THERE IS NO ACTUAL BRAKING AND THIS EVEN HAPPENS WHEN ACCELERATING. THIS LAST TIME, THEY WOULD NOT GO OFF AT ALL AND IT EVEN TRIGGERED A 'SERVICE TRACTION' WARNING ON THE DASH. THE FIRST COUPLE OF TIMES I TOOK IT IN, THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY COULD NOT FIX/DIAGNOSE IT UNLESS IT WAS DOING THIS RIGHT THEN. WELL ANOTHER SHOP FOUND A SAFETY BULLETIN ON THIS ISSUE AND COMPLETED THE RECOMMENDED FIX. THIS WORKED FOR QUITE A WHILE UNTIL NOW AND HERE WE ARE AGAIN. I WORRY ABOUT ANOTHER DRIVER TAKING FAULTY ACTION THINKING I AM BRAKING, WHEN I AM NOT. ALSO IT HAS BECOME A RECURRING SAFETY ISSUE AND I SEE OTHER OWNERS ARE DEALING WITH THE SAME ISSUE. PLEASE HELP!

NHTSA complaint #10504785 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Chevrolet Malibu Classic at 146,000 miles Campbell, OH

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE VERY USED AT 143XXX MILES, FROM A "REPUTABLE" DEALER. I GOT A TUNE UP AS WELL AS AN OIL CHANGE, STANDARD USED CAR PURCHASE PROCEDURE. MY DAD INITIALLY BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT WHILE DRIVING MY FUEL GAUGE DROPPED DOWN TO E, THE LOW GAS LIGHT LIT UP AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. A LOCAL AUTO PARTS STORE SAID I SHOULD USE A FUEL INJECTION KIT FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. NOW I HAVE 146XXX MILES AND IT HAPPENS EVERY SINGLE TIME I GET GAS. IT'S NERVE RACKING BECAUSE I DO DRIVE FREQUENTLY AND MY MAIN CONCERN IS HOW MUCH GAS DO I HAVE? I CAME ACROSS A GUY THAT WORKS AT A DIFFERENT AUTO STORE AND HE SAID IT'S PROBABLY MY SENDER UNIT FOR MY GAS TANK, WHICH SHOULD COST ABOUT $300 TO FIX DEPENDING ON WHERE I TAKE IT. MY NEXT SET OF ISSUES IS MY HORN, I WAS UNAWARE THAT IT DIDN'T WORK UPON PURCHASING UNTIL I WENT TO HONK IT AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I TOOK IT TO MIDAS AND THEY REPLACED THE FUSE. AFTER DRIVING IT HOME THE HORN STOPPED WORKING AGAIN. I HEARD IT'S JUST SOME WIRES TOUCHING BUT NOBODY DOES ELECTRICAL WORK. TODAY, A FRIEND ASKED IF MY TURN SIGNALS WERE WORKING. I SAID THEY DID AND HE SAID THEY WERE BURNT UP, PLASTIC AND ALL. I LOOKED AND SURE ENOUGH THEY WERE MELTED AND THE LIGHT ITSELF WAS BLACK ON THE INSIDE AND IT LOOKED LIKE IT'S ON THE VERGE OF SHATTERING. HE ASKED IF THERE WERE RECALLS ON ANYTHING WITH THIS CAR, I TOLD HIM I CALLED A LOCAL CHEVY DEALER AND THE GUY INSISTED OTHERWISE. NOW, I CHECKED THIS WEBSITE AND BOTH THE GAS AND LIGHTS ARE ON A LIST OF RECALLS. APPARENTLY, NOT ALL DEALERS KNOW HALF THE INFORMATION THEY SHOULD FOR CONCERNED DRIVERS.

NHTSA complaint #10485089 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Chevrolet Malibu Classic Goshen, OH

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

ALL THE DOOR LOCKS UNLOCK AND LOCK WITH IN DRIVING POSITION FOLLOWED BY A BEEP IT DOES THIS CONSTANTLY. I BELIEVE IS VERY UNSAFE WITH CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT. ISSUE WITH THE GAS GAUGE GOING CRAZY, GOES FROM FULL TO EMPTY SO YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE GAS IS GOING TO RUN OUT. ALSO ISSUES WITH THE HEADLIGHTS AND OTHER BULBS BEING BLOWN. ALL SEEMS LIKE SOME ELECTRICAL ISSUES BUT NOT SURE.

NHTSA complaint #10437996 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Chevrolet Malibu Classic at 142,500 miles Depew, NY

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

HAZARD/TURN SIGNAL WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. DOES NOT APPEAR ON THE INDICATOR PANEL WHEN NOT WORKING. WILL WORK FOR PART OF A TRIP AND THEN STOP OR NOT WORK AT ALL WHEN THE VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED AND THEN WORK 20 MINS. LATER. THE SPEED/WEATHER CONDITIONS DO NOT SEEM TO HAVE AN EFFECT AS TO WHEN IT WORKS. CONSEQUENCE COULD BE A TICKET. THE TOWN OF AMHERST HAS MADE THE NEWS FOR HOW MUCH THEY TICKET AND A PLEA DOWN TO A PARKING TICKET WOULD COST A PERSON $200+. I HAVE HESITATED TO REPLACE IT AS I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM OF CHEVY MALIBU'S. THESE CARS NEED SO MANY REPAIRS THAT I HATE TO PUT MORE MONEY (YET AGAIN) INTO SOMETHING THAT WILL NOT WORK.

NHTSA complaint #10409028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Chevrolet Malibu Classic at 82,233 miles Bremerton, WA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY MALIBU CLASSIC AND THE SIGNAL KEEPS FAILING YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN YOU JUST SIGNAL AND NOTICE IT DOESN'T COME ON..VERY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING..IT STARTS BACK UP AGAIN WHEN IT FEEL LIKE IT..I FEEL LIKE THIS IS VERY UNSAFE AND SCARY..IT HAS HAPPEN TO ME ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND IN FED UP WITH THIS PROBLEM..ITS HAS HAPPEN 3 TIMES IN A 3 WEEK PERIOD AND THAT DOESN'T SEEM NORMAL. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM CANT BE CHECKED UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN BUT HOW AM I TO KNOW WHEN IT WILL OCCUR IT JUST HAPPENS WHEN IT WANTS TO.

NHTSA complaint #10397257 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Chevrolet Malibu Classic problems