2012 Chevrolet Malibu Exterior Lighting Problems
- 142
- 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 142 stored complaint records:
- 3 indicate a crash
- 1 indicate injury
- 2 indicate fire
What owners report
- passenger side · 26 records
- side beam · 16 records
- beam headlights · 15 records
- keeps going · 15 records
- wiring harness · 13 records
- multiple times · 12 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 100–150k mi | 31 |
| 60–100k mi | 29 |
| 1–30k mi | 10 |
| 30–60k mi | 10 |
| 150–400k mi | 8 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Exterior Lighting
I have had the same problem for months now. My headlight (both sides at different times) keep going out. I've probably changed my headlights at least 6 times in the past 6 months. I've had the headlight harness changed as well because that burned out. 2 months later the new one burned out!!! I've read so many complaints about the same issue, chevy needs to do something about this. I'm so sick of buying headlights,…
ODI 11306413
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Vehicle would not start. Dealership changed fuse box and wiring in trunk due to melting. Now low beam headlights not working. Replaced one months ago, now both not working again. Noticed similar complaints on your website.
ODI 11301937
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Unknown Or Other
Driver side headlight kept going in and out until completely going out and not working. When getting a new bulb put it it did the same thing a week later. The wiring in the headlight is faulty. The same thing goes for the front speakers of the car. The front speakers will come on and off on their own as well.
ODI 11301034
Exterior Lighting
Front headlight will go out like it is burned out - but then randomly turn on later - change the bulb and it will work for a few days then shut off
ODI 11300151
Exterior Lighting
The low beam headlights will stop working, but the bulbs are still good. This has happened while i was driving. Both lights do not work and replacing the bulb does not fix the problem.
ODI 11287889
Exterior Lighting
The low beam light on the passenger side keeps going out i've changed it twice and its still going out as if there is a shortage
ODI 11282103
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Three times in two months the passenger low beam has gone out. I work nights and each time it has gone out it has been while i am driving to work in the dark. I have researched the issue and no clear answer has been given on how to fix the issue.
ODI 11280569
Exterior Lighting
For nearly 4 years after purchase, i am constantly changing my passenger and driver side headlight bulbs. I have changed my bulbs more times than i can count. It is becoming very expensive. While driving; my driver side highbeam and low beam went out while it was raining yesterday. I live in a very mountainous area and without my headlights that work properly it is very feasible that i could get in an accident even…
ODI 11269302
Exterior Lighting
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…
ODI 11266128
Exterior Lighting
PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM KEEPS GOING OUT
ODI 11257930
Exterior Lighting · Seats
Passenger low beam headlight keeps failing every couple of months this is a big problem with all chevy malibus. Driver seat back breaks and causes the seat to be unsafe.
ODI 11255238
Exterior Lighting
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 80.00 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.
ODI 11243048
Exterior Lighting
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.
ODI 11256059
Exterior Lighting
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…
ODI 11254363
Exterior Lighting · Visibility/Wiper
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…
ODI 11232135
Exterior Lighting
Left low beam keeps going out and bulb not burnt out. Replaced 3x in the passed year
ODI 11229782
Exterior Lighting
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.
ODI 11229538
Exterior Lighting
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
ODI 11229769
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
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…
ODI 11222130
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Exterior Lighting
HEAD LIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT
ODI 11222643
Exterior Lighting · Visibility/Wiper
Driver side low beam keeps shorting out even after replacing bulbs and harness. Windshield wipers bushing broke in middle of rainstorm on 6/7/19 in suffolk va on interstate 664 south bound
ODI 11218642
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Replaced low beam lights multiple times, had the wiring harness replaced due to a shortage that was supposedly leading to the low beams light blowing out constantly. Low beam lights still keep going out. Ongoing issue
ODI 11208156
Exterior Lighting
For months i been dealing with my low beams and high beams not working on my passenger side then one day the high beam work for a few minutes i have gotten pulled over by the police, i have changed the bulbs, i have took it to midas to get it checked out and they couldn't figure out the issue. I'm taking it to another mechanic tomorrow. I see i'm not the only one having this issue
ODI 11268789
Exterior Lighting
I have changed my passenger headlight bulb several times and it still does not work every time i have to fix it i am charged $100.00 or more. Also i have had to change the motor to my drivers side window twice. This also also happened to my 2000 chevy malibu. It seams like this model has many issues.
ODI 11220789
Exterior Lighting
Passenger low beam headlight continually burns out. Have changed bulb multiple times. The last time the bulb literally blew up. The new bulb would last an hour or a day or two.
ODI 11204224
Catalog parts for this system
Catalog year/make/model rows for 2012 Chevrolet Malibu.
Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.