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
We have had the drivers side wiring harness replaced three times. And the other one once. My son has the exact make and model and has same issues. Replaced twice. Local repair shop says this is a know. Issue
ODI 11196122
Exterior Lighting
High and low beam headlights. I have had to replace headlights on my car 3 times within 3 months. I searched for a problem with that car and any complaints. I found no recall but gm but 274 complaints about headlight problems. The headlights will just go off during driving. Very dangerous. What can be done. It very expensive to replace bulbs because you have to drop the bumper but the bulb is not the problem. How…
ODI 11195922
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
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.
ODI 11230140
Exterior Lighting
I own two 2012 chevy malibus--the headlights on each have went out no less than 4 times each. This has to be a design or manufacture issue. Even with the pigtals being replaced the headlights continue to go out.
ODI 11196557
Exterior Lighting
Is having to constantly replace low beam headlight. My headlights have both went out 3 times within 6 months. This is very costly repair because the front bumper has to be removed in order to get to the headlight.
ODI 11192343
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Driver side headlamps going out. I've had to replace my driver's side headlight 3 times over the last 2 months. No automobile should go through headlamps at that rate. To complicate this issue, the entire front bumper must be removed to change the headlights. I've read on the forums where many malibu owners are having the exact same issue(s) with the headlamps. This is an obvious design flaw and gm/chevrolet should…
ODI 11190209
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Low beam headlight going out. I purchased this vehicle in 2014 and my low beam headlights have gone out a total of 6 times. Changed the pigtails last time and iam now having to change the wiring harness completely and hopefully that will help. My cars lights are always on auto and always begins with my passanger low beam light going out first then the driver side a couple months after, has happened when turning on…
ODI 11184485
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Exterior Lighting
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
ODI 11242932
Exterior Lighting
Both headlight go out. Replaced the bulb 5 times last year and 1 time this year. If i am driving my car and hit a bump the light will turn off or if it is off it will turn on.
ODI 11182165
Exterior Lighting
On approximately wednesday 2/20/2019 and at 3 points in 2018 a headlight went out on my 2012 chevy malibu. On 2/24/18 i received a ticket for it. But the only reason i did and the 0nly reason a key safety feature was disabled for so long is due to a design flaw by chevy. You have to remove approx 30 bolts and the entire front clip of the vehicle to change a headlight. This design flaw not only disenfranchises people…
ODI 11182393
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
The low beam headlights on both sides of the car are constantly going out. I have to replace them 3-4 times a year. I spend hundreds of dollars on headlamps, even though i install them myself. Installing new headlamps requires you to remove the front bumper. There is an obvious design flaw with the hundreds of complaints i have seen with this same issue.
ODI 11181043
Exterior Lighting
Both low beam headlights go out too often. The lights are not burned out because they'll work for a few weeks and will not work for months at a time; individually or simultaneously. The passenger harness and bulb was replaced at winter chevy in pittsburg ca in 2018 and went out again a few months later. The low beam lights have been a consistent problem since i purchased the used car in 2015. Both low beam lights…
ODI 11271101
Electronic Stability Control · Exterior Lighting · Service Brakes
Warning on dashboard service traction control when applying the brakes. Brake lights does not come on when the service traction control come on. There has been a recall on this issue previously and issue still occurring.
ODI 11183608
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Takata recall unsafe electrical system with unpredictable headlight funtionality and unknown other results may lead to more extensive dafety issues, i.e fire concerns.
ODI 11172777
Exterior Lighting
Dim lights burning out every few months. Happens on start up leaving me no choice but to use my high beams to get vehicle home causing a safety hazard.
ODI 11166375
Exterior Lighting
This will be my 5th attempt with changing the passenger side low-bean. I recently took again to my mechanic on january 7, 2019 to replace the bulb and exactly january 24 it went back out again. This issue need to be reported and to be recall. This issue will keep happening over and over and its obviously not the bulb is the problem. I got pulled over and was issued a repair order by the police on another bulb issue…
ODI 11180335
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
My low beam headlights will not work. I have changed bulbs only to find out it wasnt the bulbs...they still work. I have changed one of the pigtails and it worked for a while and stopped within a month. It started with only the right headlight and now it is both.
ODI 11183556
Exterior Lighting
My passenger side lowbeam. Headlight keeps going out now i got pulled over and need to take my car into the mecanic shop. For what i was told is atleast 200 dollars. Right after the hoidays. My 1997 chevy silverado hasn't needed a headlight replacement in 6 years but this car i changed the bulb 4 times last year? Not to mention its so hard to even get to the bulb you have to take into the shop.
ODI 11165763
Exterior Lighting
The plug to the left headlight continues to melt and short the headlight out. It is not the bulb, but the plug in system for the headlights.
ODI 11217828
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Tamara recall my low beams lights keep going out and on, it does this when park, and driving they work sometimes one or the other sometimes they won’t come on at all.
ODI 11183282
Exterior Lighting
Passenger side low beam goes out every couple days to 2 weeks. Bulb and wire harness has been replaced and only corrected the issue for a short time.
ODI 11186224
Exterior Lighting
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the driver's side low beam headlights failed to illuminate intermittently. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.
ODI 11170762
Exterior Lighting
Driver side low beam headlight keeps going out. Replaced 2x in less than 90 days, still not working. Light works just before the new bulb clicks into place in the connector, but then as soon as the connector clicks in place, the bulb goes out. Has happened multiple times, same thing. No other issues with lights, turn signals, hazards, etc...only the driver side low beam headlight. Happens regardless of whether or…
ODI 11162175
Exterior Lighting
Passenger side low beam needs to be replaced every year. Sometimes sooner. The passenger side low beam connector melted.
ODI 11193557
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
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…
ODI 11222249
Catalog parts for this system
Catalog year/make/model rows for 2012 Chevrolet Malibu.
Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.