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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
62,543 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 3 of 6)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #77

Oct 012018

Malibu

  • 55,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the driver's side headlamp became inoperable. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the headlamp needed to be replaced. The contact changed the bulb twice, but the failure continued. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and dealer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 55,000.

- Floral Park, NY, USA

problem #76

Oct 062019

Malibu

  • miles
The headlight keep burning out. I have replaced it three times in two months. Passenger side headlight

- Rosemount, MN, USA

problem #75

Sep 092019

Malibu

  • 128,000 miles
I have had to replace the low beam headlights numbers times in the last 3 years. The last time a couple weeks ago I found both electrical connectors were burned. I believe this is the cause of the problem and had to replace the connectors. I believe this should not be happening and that it can be a safety issue when driving at night. I did some research on the internet and found this seems to be a common problem. Chevrolet should issue a recall for these faulty connectors.

- Schaumburg, IL, USA

problem #74

Jan 022019

Malibu

  • 77,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the headlights had to be replaced every two to three months. While driving in the dark, the headlights turned off independently. The failure recurred numerous times. Each time, the vehicle was taken to the same independent mechanic where the headlight bolts were replaced. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 77,000.

- 1319 Hamilton St, PA, USA

problem #73

Sep 062019

Malibu

  • 90,000 miles
ESC light comes off and on headlights burnout after maybe a few months of being changed for the last couple years.

- Riverside, CA, USA

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problem #72

Sep 052019

Malibu

  • miles
I have changed my headlights light 5 times within the 2 years I have had the car. Both headlights was recently out got them replaced a week ago and sure enough they are out again. Something has to be done. This is too expensive and if this is an known issue I don't understand why there isn't a recall

- Davenport, IA, USA

problem #71

Sep 032019

Malibu

  • 160,000 miles

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

The passenger low beam headlight has had consistent issue going out. The light has appeared to 'burn out' three times in the last two years. Just repaired the headlight 5 months ago and noticed that the bulb actually was not burned out it appeared to not be fully connected in the base. The issue keeps happening and is dangerous because it could happen at any time while driving. Headlight repairs require completely removing front bumper. This is a major issue.

- Liberty, SC, USA

problem #70

Aug 012019

Malibu

  • 90,000 miles
This is now the tenth time one of the headlights have gone out. Tonight driving they both burned out. This is an on going issue and it cost close to $200 to fix each time. This is a known issue that should be recalled

- Macedonia, OH, USA

problem #69

Jul 202019

Malibu

  • miles
I have a 2011 Chevy Malibu and I have replaced my passenger low beam bulb twice within two weeks

- Oswego, IL, USA

problem #68

Jul 262019

Malibu

  • miles
Passenger side low beam headlight went out. It was replaced and within 2 weeks it went out again. Replaced it for the second time, but light would not come on at all. When installed the bulb was not touched and grease/lubricate was put inside the plug in.

- Richmond, KY, USA

problem #67

Jul 212019

Malibu

  • 80,000 miles

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

I had the car for about 6 months last November or so and decided to have my headlight bulbs, blinkers, etc all changed since the bumper has to come off. I already had the passenger bulb out. Two months after this repair was done the same headlight went out again. This was replaced and lasted for a few more months and just went out again 07-21-19 for the 3rd time in 8 months. I have looked online and this appears to be a recurring problem for many Malibu owners over many model years.

- Gillespie, IL, USA

problem #66

Jul 232019

Malibu

  • 119,172 miles
Every year had to get my connector replaced because my light bulb keeps going out. Happening for the past 3 years.

- Fort Hood, TX, USA

problem #65

Apr 102019

Malibu

  • 88,000 miles
Passenger side headlight keeps going out very often (three times in the last month) because the plastic connector melts.

- Batavia, IL, USA

problem #64

Apr 252019

Malibu

  • 100,000 miles
Nothing happened specifically. My low beams (mainly passenger side) keeps going out. It doesn't burn out, it just simply quits working. Every now and then I'll hit a bump and it will come back on, but that's rare. It can be sitting or in drive when this happens.

- Palestine, TX, USA

problem #63

Jul 092019

Malibu

  • 133,000 miles
The headlights on my 2011 Chevy Malibu have gone out about six times. I have replaced bulbs and wiring harnesses which involves the removal of the complete front fascia of the vehicle. My daughter drives this vehicle at college and has been pulled over numerous times. This is unacceptable and a safety hazard at night.

- White Lake Charter Township, MI, USA

problem #62

Aug 152018

Malibu

  • miles
The passenger low beam light keeps going out. I hit a bump and it comes back on sometimes. Replaced bulb and harness multiple times. This is very frustrating as you have to take apart almost the whole front end just to replace a bulb.

- Red Bud, IL, USA

problem #61

Jun 202019

Malibu

  • miles
My headlights go out every couple of months, I change them and before I know it they are out again, the passenger side is the worst, like it has a short or something not sure, but I have had the car for 5 yrs and can't count how many headlight bulbs I have put in the car. I have friends with the same car that have the same problem. It's not a easy job, the whole front end has to come off just to change the headlight bulb, ridiculous! also I cannot afford to take it into a shop every couple of months to get the headlight changed. This needs to be checked into!!

- Center Line, MI, USA

problem #60

Jun 192019

Malibu

  • 86,000 miles
Headlights keep going out. With it costing more than $250 to replace the lights because you have to remove the front bumper, this is annoying. I just paid $330 to have all of my front lights replaced. Six weeks later, the driver's side headlight is out.

- Schererville, IN, USA

problem #59

Jan 012014

Malibu

  • 75,000 miles
Headlights keep going out. Take bulbs out and reinstall and they work fine for awhile. Bulb holder also is melting. Have heard of many complaints from other owners of same problem.in motion

- Tacoma, WA, USA

problem #58

May 142019

Malibu

  • 139,700 miles
My 2011 Chevrolet Malibu has had 5 incidences over the last year of low beam headlights going out. Never both at the same time. This is not only annoying and expensive each time I bring it in for repairs. It is also dangerous. Particularly when one of the headlights goes out at night time driving on dark roads. Additionally a headlight out is sufficient reason for law enforcement to issue a summons. I contacted General Motors May 20th 2019 via phone regarding this safety issue. Received a case number. I received a call back 6 days later. Response was that the car is out of warranty. I did inform GM that there are literally over 300 listings on google for persons with the same problem. GM shows no interest in this expensive repair, in a repetitive problem, and an illegal situation that can result in law enforcement issuing a summons. Apparently there are issues with the connectors at the bulbs not making contact. The replaced connectors exhibit overheating which may indicate overload of power, or connectors not making contact. This problem took place with original GM connectors intermittently - never on both headlights at once. Here is a similar complaint to NHTSA id number 11204441 4/12/2017 complainant states 5 repairs and still a problem with headlight intermittently going out on driver side. Additionally there are several hundred similar complaints on the web regarding 2010 & 2011 Malibu's. because the fenders and under the hood plastic panels must be pulled to get at the headlights....this is quite an expensive repair and is repetitive and frequent as well.

- New Port Richey, FL, USA

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