2004 Chevrolet Malibu Exterior Lighting Problems
- 57
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 57 stored complaint records:
- 1 indicate a crash
- 0 indicate injury
- 2 indicate fire
What owners report
- Turn Signal · 2 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 18 |
| 30–60k mi | 10 |
| 100–150k mi | 8 |
| 150–400k mi | 6 |
| 1–30k mi | 2 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Exterior Lighting · Interior Lighting
Hazard switch is defective and causing the directionals not to work. The external lights , front and back fail to work also, and its creating a hazard where the cars coming in front us or the cars in back of us don't see our blinker. We thought they where working and they are not. If we turn on the emergency flasher and then turn on the directional everything would work only to fail next time you make a turn. *tr
ODI 10361923
Exterior Lighting
The front passenger bulb stopped working. After attempting to replace the bulb, noticed that the lighting assembly was melted and inoperable. Was advised by a mechanic that the entire assembly needed to be replaced. *tr
Fire reported
ODI 10360409
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
2004 chevrolet malibu - both front headlights assemblies are melting from the heat coming off of the turn signal/marker light. The plastic bulb housing is actually melting enough to drip onto the bulb causing them to break and need replaced. This is definitely a fire hazard. *tr
ODI 10344328
Exterior Lighting
This has been an ongoing incident with one or both turn signals lamps for more than two years. The turn signal lamps themselves do not appear burned out but the lamp socket wire melts the plastic housing from excessive heat and causes a break in the electrical circuit. I have made multiple bulb replacements over the two plus years only to have the turn signal socket plastic housing fail repeatedly. This situation…
ODI 10463893
Exterior Lighting
Purchased a used 2004 chevrolet malibu in april 2009 at a saturn dealer. A month after the purchase the front left turn signal stopped working. I replaced the bulb with the part number identified in the owners manual. A few weeks later it stopped working. I continued to remove and/or replace the light bulb until it worked for a few days or weeks. After several times of replacing the bulb i took the car to the saturn…
ODI 10334500
Exterior Lighting
Problem with our 2004 chevrolet malibu: both parking lights have burned through/melted the headlight covers. We have been advised that it's not possible to just replace the headlight cover; the entire headlight assembly must be replaced. This is an expensive repair for an apparent engineering defect. *tr
ODI 10295740
Exterior Lighting
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the light bulbs of the headlight assembly were too high in voltage that they were leaving brown burn marks. The dealer was informed of the failure and they stated that they could not assist with the failure due to the mileage and age of the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 114,000 and the current mileage was 120,000.
Fire reported
ODI 10359033
Exterior Lighting
Intermittent turn signal problems. Front and rear bulbs stop working, the bulbs are frequently replaced but the flashers still stop working. When we take the old bulb out the element in the bulb is intact. *tr
ODI 10261789
Exterior Lighting
I have had to replace all of the rear and front light bulbs in my 2004 chevy malibu in the past nine months. I bought this car used from a chevy dealer in 2006. Two weeks after owning it the little malibu emblem on the dash board fell into the dash and shredded when we tried to get it out to replace it. Little things that happen ad up and are very frustrating to an owner who thought they were getting a good quality…
ODI 10258873
Exterior Lighting
I am simply adding to an existing complaint.#pe08062 i am reporting my concern in hopes a decision will be made to proceed with a recall. I am sadly disappointed that not only did this occur with my 1997 malibu, this is now continuing with my 2004. I love chevy and i have enjoyed both my malibus, however an issue of this magnitude should be researched. I will also make a complaint on close #ea04018 & #pe04031 as i…
ODI 10257727
Exterior Lighting
Right rear turn signal bulb went out and was replaced. Rear went out a second time and then the front went out as well. Then the back went out a third time, all happening within two months. Now about a month later the left rear bulb has done the same thing. Mechanic looked at it and said was not normal. No parts were retained after repair, however will keep next time replaced. *tr
ODI 10255480
Exterior Lighting · Turn Signal
I bought a 2004 chevrolet malibu in 2008, since that time i have had to replace the front turn signals approx. 6 times due to the plastic on the signal bulbs, melting and covering the wire s that go over the plastic that make contact with the plug the bulb goes into. *kb
ODI 10446239
Exterior Lighting
The turn signal on the front of the vehicle (driver's side) is not working properly. It was blinking faster than normal which usually means the bulb needs replaced. I replaced the bulb, but that did not resolve the issue. I took it to the dealer and they said the entire module needs to be replaced. The vehicle has 54000 miles and it is a chevrolet malibu ls v6 2004. *tr
ODI 10242196
Exterior Lighting
Left and right front turn signals/daytime running lights are overheating and causing the yellow plastic lens surrounding the bulb to overheat and melt. The melting plastic is dripping down onto the hot bulb were is it burning. Although i have not seen it smoke or flame the damage and cause is obvious. This is a major fire hazard yet when i contacted gm they refused to do anything about it. Citing the age and mileage…
ODI 10236535
Exterior Lighting
I have owned this car approx. 12 months...recently took a long trip-11 hours driving straight through-upon returning i noticed the left front turn signal not working, i immediately purchased replacement bulb and upon replacing i noticed the internal amber lens cup for the signal had a hole melted/burned through it. Noticing this i immediately checked the right side and it also has a hole starting to come through. I…
ODI 10233484
Exterior Lighting
I recently purchased a used 2004 chevrolet malibu with 47,000 miles. After 2 weeks of driving the vehicle, the left turn signal went out. After replacing the bulb, i noticed that a hole has burned through the yellow, plastic lens. *tr
ODI 10234066
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
We own a 2004 chevy malibu ls sedan with 66,000 miles on it. In march we had the front right turn signal light bulb replaced, and within a week we had to replace the rear left turn signal. Then on may 1st, we were on a trip when the rear right turn signal went out, so we replaced that. The next day the front left turn signal went out for four hours, started to work again for a while, and went on and off again for…
ODI 10227520
Exterior Lighting
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet malibu. Both of the front turn signal lenses have a one half inch hole burned into the top of the plastic. The plastic has completely melted and turned brown. The shiny material has turned a dull white. The dealer stated that nothing could be done because the vehicle was out of warranty. The current and failure mileages were 82,000. Updated 02-14-08. *kb
ODI 10213265
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
I have had several issues with my steering column that hopefully now have been repaired. My most recent problem is related to the headlights. The front marker lights have burned through the plastic casing. It has overheated my bulb resulting in turn signal going out. In the process of repairing. *tr
ODI 10206579
Exterior Lighting · Steering · Suspension
I purchased this vehicle used from crane chevrolet, clifton, new jersey, within six months after purchase i observed that the power steering would suddenly stop operating while the engine was running. I discovered that the only corrective was to shut the car off and restart the engine. The power steering would then reengage. This failure has persisted for nearly the entire time i've owned the vehicle. During that…
ODI 10604349
Exterior Lighting
The turn signal lens a part of the front headlamp assembly is apparently melting from heat caused by the turn signal light bulb. The lens is mounted inside of the clear headlamp lens and is made out of amber colored plastic. This melting is occurring on both sides of the vehicle and has caused several light bulb malfunctions to occur. This problem not only causes the failure of the turn signal bulb but also creates…
ODI 10237676
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Interior Lighting
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet malibu. Immediately after purchasing the vehicle in february of 2007, the exterior and interior lights would lose power intermittently. While driving approximately 50-60 mph, the exterior and interior lights lost power and caused the contact to pull over to the side of the road. She turned off and parked the vehicle for a while and eventually the lights illuminated again. The…
ODI 10254829
Exterior Lighting
Front turn signals have burned out numerous times. The plastic housing for the bulbs has melted through. This is a very common problem for the 2004 malibu. *tr
ODI 10246071
Exterior Lighting
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet malibu. While driving at any speed, the turn signals fail. The failure occurs intermittently. The vehicle has been diagnosed for the failure, but has not been serviced. The current mileage was 71,957 and failure mileage was 65,000.
ODI 10238780
Exterior Lighting
Rear light bulbs keep burning out on driver side have to replace bulbs everytime it rains or gets cold. *tr
ODI 10258003
Catalog parts for this system
Catalog year/make/model rows for 2004 Chevrolet Malibu.
Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.