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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 5
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
58,485 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.

2012 Chevrolet Malibu lights problems

lights problem

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2012 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 4 of 10)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #132

Oct 032019

Malibu

  • miles

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

Recently purchased 2012 Chevy Malibu July 13, 2019. Two weeks after purchase the passenger headlight went out. Changed it, and now its out again 5 weeks later. This seems to be a common problem with these cars. I have found online many people complaining of the very same problem. (passenger headlight) some say to change the wiring harness as they seem to get overloaded and melt (but that fix doesn't last long either from what I read) others say the daytime running light relay causes an issue and should be taken out of the car. It says in the owner's manual that drl reduces the light output of the headlights for daytime running by 30%. this seems to be what is causing the amp draw for the low beams to skyrocket in drl relay. The massive amp draw is too much for the terminals in the plug, so they get super hot and melt the plastic plug. The metal terminals relax from the heat and stop making good contact, which worsens the amp draw problem causing the light to not work. ( but not necessarily due to the bulb burning out, as some have posted they put the passenger bulb in drivers side and the bulb still works) this issue could potentially be very dangerous especially at night if both headlights go out at the same time due to the amp surge. I believe this is a design flaw. I don't know how many complaints you have to receive for this to be considered a safety recall but please consider it! thanks

- Dayton, OH, USA

problem #131

Oct 012018

Malibu

  • miles
My passenger lowbeam light will not come on once the car is started. I have changed the bulb and wiring harness and the light will work for a few days and then will stop working. I have talked to other people who have the same issue with this car and Chevrolet wants 160 dollars to even look at it.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #130

Sep 252019

Malibu

  • 90,000 miles
Passenger side low beam keeps going out

- Madison, NC, USA

problem #129

Sep 212019

Malibu

  • 110,000 miles

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

Low beam lights continuously going out. Bulb is still good. Have replaced bulb. Took the vehicle to the Chevy dealership. They replaced some wiring or harness. Now passwnger side low beam is out again!

- Port Richey, FL, USA

problem #128

Aug 052019

Malibu

  • 80,000 miles
Passenger low beam light keeps going out have replaced 3 time works for a couple days then goes out again. Very costly when you have to take whole bumper off to replace. Have seen many other complaints on Malibu's with same issues.

- Muscatine, IA, USA

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problem #127

Sep 132019

Malibu

  • 80,000 miles
Passenger low beam headlight keeps failing every couple of months this is a big problem with all Chevy Malibu. Driver seat back breaks and causes the seat to be unsafe.

- Sandwich, IL, USA

problem #126

Aug 012019

Malibu

  • 89,000 miles

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

Headlights continue to burn out regularly (requiring replacement of bults multiple times per year) and the wiring harness continues to melt. Because of the design of the car, the whole front bumper has to be pulled off to get access to light to replace--often at a high cost at the repair shop. This is unsafe, as the frequency of the burnouts result in having to drive with brights on at night when both lights unexpectedly go out. Reading the manual, the drl reduces the voltage to the low beams, which drives up the amps causing the extra heat to melt the wiring harness. This is a design flaw that needs to be remediated by a recall.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #125

Oct 202018

Malibu

  • 92,000 miles
Passenger side headlight( low beam) continues to go out after being replaced several times in a short amount of time, 2-3 weeks.

- Huntersville, NC, USA

problem #124

Aug 142019

Malibu

  • 160,000 miles
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- Rock Hill, SC, USA

problem #123

Aug 062019

Malibu

  • 80,000 miles
My 2012 Chevy Malibu passenger headlight has gone out 4 times in a year and a half. It is rediculous that it costs a minimum of $80 to have this work done and it is a safety hazard because the owner cannot perform the bulb replacement without removing the entire front of the car.

- Brooklyn, OH, USA

problem #122

Feb 282019

Malibu

  • 94,000 miles

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

At 1st my car wouldn't crank every so often then started going drag while driving I googled it and had to beat on fusebox in trunk or wiggle wires so had to run wire straight to battery to fuel pump. My headlights on dim keep shooting and my speakers will go out sometimes

- Russelville, AL, USA

problem #121

Jul 152019

Malibu

  • miles
Takata recall when I'm driving my vehicle, the headlights flicker as if I'm the police. I took it to Firestone and they told me to take it to a dealer the car only has 160,000+ and it just started every time I accelerate or drive it does this and I'm afraid that I will either get pulled over by the police, hit someone or someone hits me or/and the lights go completely out while driving at night. Is this due because whenever you have to change the build, the whole bumper has to come off to replace it? I like my car but this is a serious issue that needs to be addressed. I see a lot of complaints regarding this

- Ypsilanti, MI, USA

problem #120

Jul 152019

Malibu

  • miles
I have a 2012 Chevy Malibu. Thus is my everyday vehicle and when I have headlight problems it is very frustrating. We have had the bumper off this car multiple times which is a real pain. We have changed headlights, wiring harness and even undoing the battery. The passenger light comes on for a bit them will go off and not come back on. I have a loan on this car and can't even get rid of it cause I can't keep the lights on. Worse Chevy car I have ever owned. I have been pulled over for it being out and how am I supposed to explain it. Reading the reviews of this car online I am not the only person that has headlight problems.

- Williamsport, IN, USA

problem #119

Apr 072019

Malibu

  • 100,000 miles
Passenger head light has been replaced several times it keeps turning off. Light bulb is not burned. When taping on or moving wires light goes on replaced wires and still having same issue. Vehicle can not be driven at night time. All this happens when vehicle is turned on.

- Sylmar, CA, USA

problem #118

Jul 042019

Malibu

  • 118,000 miles
Left low beam keeps going out and bulb not burnt out. Replaced 3X in the passed year

- Thornton, CO, USA

problem #117

Jul 032019

Malibu

  • miles
Right low beam keeps burning out twice driving on a city street and repaired by a chev dealer twice went out setting in garage and replaced by a certified auto shop

- Burtchville, MI, USA

problem #116

Jul 042019

Malibu

  • 130 miles
Ive had to drop the car of 8 times now to try and repair the right front headlight which keeps going out. Pigtails connectors and bulb all replaced multiple times now.

- Burlington, NJ, USA

problem #115

Jun 132019

Malibu

  • miles
Head lights keep going out

- Hephzibah, GA, USA

problem #114

Dec 132018

Malibu

  • 130,000 miles
I have replaced my low beams 3 times this year. The first time I reaplaced all the bulbs. The second time I reaplaced both wiring harness and bulbs. A month ago I replaced the passenger bulb and now the drivers side low beam is out again. It has cost me anywhere from $100-$200 each time to do this! I also have a problem with my dash telling me service ESC, ESC off, and service traction. A recall in 2014 addresses this issue and my VIN says the recall has been serviced but I am still having this issue. It happens with the car in park and while driving. Sometimes it stays on for hours sometimes minutes.

- Waynetown, IN, USA

problem #113

Jun 242019

Malibu

  • 140,000 miles
Headlamp harness keeps burning causing headlamp to fail to illuminate. Have replaced multiple bulbs as well as both harnesses within the last 6 months and again, harness has burnt and my low beam headlamps do not work. Reading similar complaints, I believe it has to do with the daytime running light feature. I've noticed the issue both when the vehicle is moving and when it's stationary. While there hasn't been a fire as a result of this issue yet, I'm sure it's just a matter of time.

- Auburndale, FL, USA

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