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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 1 of 6)

problem #117

Jun 112024

Malibu

  • miles

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

Passenger headlight keeps going out. Have had to replace 4 times in 3 years. Difficult taking off entire bumper

- Covington, WA, USA

problem #116

Nov 232023

Malibu

  • miles
Passenger side low beam headlight bulb connector melted/burnt. Caused low beam to go out on occasion - hit a bump and it switches on/off

- Ravenna, OH, USA

problem #115

May 112023

Malibu

  • miles
I purchased this 2011 Cheverolet Malibu brand new. A few years prior to me giving it to my daughter, I had to get the headlights replaced several times, one would go out a month or so after I had the other one fixed. I gave it to her in 2019 and lately every other week one or even BOTH of the front headlights have gone out. Also, the third brake lamp randomly goes out and now one of the rear brake lamps has gone out. There-??s already over 100 complaints about these issues with this particular model but GM has yet to do a recall! WHY"? It-??s clearly an issue with the vehicle and the fact that the ENTIRE front bumper has to come off to get to it is the dumbest thing I-??ve ever seen!!! Headlights, of all things, randomly going out on a vehicle is not safe at all! There are people out here who have children in these faulty vehicles and clearly neither GM nor the NHTSA cares. What is it going to take for someone to do something about this, deaths??"

- Stonewall, LA, USA

problem #114

Apr 012023

Malibu

  • miles

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

Driverside Airbag light will come on with Service Airbag message. This does occasionally turn off but comes back for days or weeks at a time. Driver side seatbelt light will randomly come on and stay on or turn off. Both airbag and seatbelt light may be on at the same time. If they are all off or the airbag light turns off it's only for a day or two. Most of the time it will be the airbag light only that is on and tends to stay on longer than seatbelt light.

- Dixon , IL, USA

problem #113

Dec 012022

Malibu

  • 168,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. The vehicle was previously serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V252000 (Electrical System, Exterior Lighting, Vehicle Speed Control, Electronic Stability Control). The contact stated that on various occasions while driving at various speeds, the traction control and power steering disengaged independently as the "Reduced Engine Power" warning message was displayed and the vehicle decelerated to 10 MPH. The contact also stated that the brake lights flickered intermittently without depressing the brake pedal. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the intake camshaft actuator, mass air flow, and manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 168,000.

- Louisville, KY, USA

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problem #112

May 252018

Malibu

  • miles
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

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

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
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

problem #107

Dec 112020

Malibu

  • 116,000 miles

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

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
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
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

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