2005 Chevrolet Malibu Exterior Lighting Problems
- 128
- 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 128 stored complaint records:
- 2 indicate a crash
- 2 indicate injury
- 17 indicate fire
What owners report
- Turn Signal · 3 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 32 |
| 30–60k mi | 22 |
| 100–150k mi | 19 |
| 1–30k mi | 10 |
| 150–400k mi | 10 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Exterior Lighting · Steering
Steering wheel started shaking slightly in august. Now it shakes and then power steering goes out. This happens on the highway, city streets anywhere going any speed. As soon as the car starts the steering wheel shakes, of you turn the wheel in either direction it will clam it a little. Break lights randomly stop working. Replaced break lights 6 times in the past 2 years. Headlights melt the plastic has been going…
ODI 11279361
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
My passenger side headlamp light (turn signal) assembly keeps burning out and melting the bulb housing and orange lens. It burned a hole in the orange turn signal lens. I replace bulb after bulb but it keeps failing. Please issue a recall because no car owner should have to keep replacing bulbs constantly only for them to fail over and over again! This happens when the car is stationary, moving, etc..
ODI 11254046
Exterior Lighting · Service Brakes · Unknown Or Other
The car is hard to shift out of park, the break lights stay on while driving and go off when pressed.
ODI 11184220
Electronic Stability Control · Exterior Lighting
Referred to you by gm after dealer refused to consider this a free repair, as my vehicle is not covered by recall #13036d. Vehicle is exhibiting same conditions as per your recall, brake light remains illuminated .panic-brake assist malfunctioned 2 weeks ago; almost resulting in a rear end collision. This occurred on a 4 lane highway, and vehicle began to skid. At that point i released the brake, and was forced to…
ODI 11124510
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Low beam headlight continues to short out even after replacement of the socket assembly.
ODI 11124073
Electrical System · Engine · Exterior Lighting · Latches/Locks/Linkages
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet malibu. While operating the vehicle, the brake lights intermittently failed to illuminate when depressing the brake pedal. Also, the front driver side window failed to operate and would not roll down and the rear passenger door could not be unlocked from inside the vehicle. Furthermore, the ignition key could be removed from the ignition switch while driving the vehicle and,…
ODI 11133439
Exterior Lighting · Vehicle Speed Control
Headlights and front blinkers quit working. When i went to change thenergy-saving lights the connectors were melted and wires were exposed. The orange lense on the drivers side has melted and is disconnected from the fixture and is lying inside the light inclosure. The lights and blinkers quit working as i was driving the vehicle. I cannot drive the vehicle at night because i am afraid to have the lights on for fear…
ODI 11011832
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Fuel/Propulsion System
Headlights and tail lights are not working they go out once a month and now they just out and this car is defiantly unsafe to drive. The locks go up and down while driving, and auto lock if left running. Gas fumes through out the car. These are very serious problems, also i have two toddlers that are forced to ride in this death trap!!
ODI 11083148
Exterior Lighting
The amber plastic housings enclosing the turn-signal/drl bulbs in the headlamp assemblies on both sides of the vehicle are melting, apparently due to the bulbs getting too hot. The melting plastic has dripped down onto the bulbs and the fumes from the melting plastic have fogged up part of the headlight lens. I am very concerned that this could cause a fire. I purchased this vehicle new. The headlamp assemblies and…
ODI 10981698
Exterior Lighting
The amber plastic housings enclosing the turn-signal/drl bulbs in the headlamp assemblies on both sides of the vehicle are melting, apparently due to the bulbs getting too hot. The melting plastic has dripped down onto the bulbs and the fumes from the melting plastic have fogged up part of the headlight lens. I am very concerned that this could cause a fire. I purchased this vehicle new. The headlamp assemblies and…
ODI 10947375
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Service Brakes
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that while driving and depressing the brake pedal, the brake lights failed to illuminate. The failure occurred on several occasions. The contact also stated that on a few occasions, the brake lights illuminated independently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was informed that the brake stop lamp, brake lamp harness and brake light position…
ODI 10970459
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet malibu. While driving approximately 35 mph, the brake lights started to flash. The vehicle was repaired by the dealer in august of 2014 for the same failure. The vehicle was driven home and was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000. Updated 02/03/17*lj the consumer stated the vehicle was repaired twice, for the same recall…
ODI 10924968
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Unknown Or Other
Bought car used at 136,000 miles. Car radio does not light up or work, and horn doesn't work. Drivers side back window won't go down. First day driving the car, turn signals stopped blinking and then started blinking again. Suspension in the back squeaks badly when driving at random and going over speed bumps. Did not drive the car for more than one day and now car won't start at all (no crank, no start). These are…
ODI 10837070
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Unknown Or Other
My key will not turn in the ignition and i checked for recalls. I called the dealer to fix the recall on the ignition, and was notified that they would only put a piece of plastic over key and would not fix the ignition to turn. I can hardly even start my car because the key won't turn. The key is going to break off in the ignition. The horn and radio do not work either. Not having a horn for incoming traffic…
ODI 10855136
Electrical System · Engine · Exterior Lighting
I'm having an issue where's i'm scared i will be in a car accident. My engine light comes on then my tc light then my car say engine power reduce in the car will just shut off.
Crash reported
ODI 10824697
Exterior Lighting
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet malibu. On several occasions, the driver and passenger side turn signal bulbs failed to operate as intended. Upon inspecting the bulb and wiring harness, the contact became aware that the turn lamp housing was melted, which caused the turn signal to become inoperable. The contact stated that the bulb and housing were replaced on three occasions; however, the failure recurred.…
Fire reported
ODI 11061369
Exterior Lighting
The turn signal lights are burning out the socket as well as the light covering. I have to replace the bulb it seems like every month.
ODI 10948818
Exterior Lighting · Unknown Or Other
I bought my car in 2013 and it's been a decent car. However it is the 2nd malibu that i've owned and it's got the same issues. The running lights have an electrical error where they short out and melt the actual lights. I'm constantly having to replace the bulbs. I've gotten to where i just turn them off. The 2nd thing happened today. My first malibu didn't have a sunroof but this one does. I was driving on the…
1 injury
ODI 10811799
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
The park light/daytime running lights are constantly melting the amber lens. The bulb socket melts causing the turn signal not to work. Every few months i have to remove headlight lamp and fix bulb so it will work. I have seen a number of people with the same problem with their malibus. Chevrolet needs to fix this problem. This should be a recall as many as are having this problem.
ODI 10777679
Exterior Lighting
Driver side front turn signal lamps are burning out in one to two weeks even when replaced with gm parts. Both rear turn signals lamps are also burning out quickly.
ODI 10734255
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Steering
Takata recall. Steering locked up while driving going around a corner and took a few minutes to get it to unlock. Happened to my wife with our son in the car. This happened before we got the recall. Got the recall fixed and now the power steering warning light is coming on. Headlight are constantly blowing bulbs. The headlight will go out so i will go to replace the build and then it comes back on. Front right turn…
ODI 10820716
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Unknown Or Other
The front turning signals have not worked for 2 years i have had the head lights completely replace twice. The second time i had them replaced when the light housing of the turn signals were opened the light bulb and hook ups were melted together.
ODI 11102393
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Vehicle Speed Control
After a few days of owning this car i noticed there was an issue with the brake lights turning on while driving. When this happens it also shuts off the cruse control too. When you first press the brakes the lights shut off. Press them again and they work for a few minutes. I searched the internet for help, and noticed gm posted a service bulletin on this issue. Gm advised to clean, and grease contacts for bcm. I…
ODI 10722467
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
The turn signal bulbs get too hot and melts into the socket which makes the connection go bad. Even if you change the bulb the connection is bad so the socket has to be changed. This has happened on both of the front bulbs
ODI 10726464
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
The front driver turn signal does not work, it has melted the plastic inside. I have changed the bulb several times and it continues to burn out. The passenger turn signal is now blinking very fast and then slow so i'm guessing it won't be long before that one doesn't work. Also the drivers side rear blinker and brake light do not work. All of this is a hazard when driving and could easily cause an accident. I have…
ODI 10763786
Catalog parts for this system
Catalog year/make/model rows for 2005 Chevrolet Malibu.
Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.