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
CHANGED MY HEADLIGHTS 4 TIMES WITHIN 2 YEARS
ODI 11140076
Exterior Lighting
I have had to change my headlight over 10 times this year. Every model of this car i see driving has the same issue.
ODI 11124482
Exterior Lighting
I keep having to change my headlights on both sides way too frequently and it's way too expensive to keep replacing them it has got to be something wrong here!!!!
ODI 11123909
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Visibility/Wiper
Driver side headlight malfunctioning multiple times in past year. Head light will go out, at first could tap on head light and it would come back on. Have changed pigtail and bulbs only to have it work for a short period of time.
ODI 11186955
Exterior Lighting
The front passenger side low beam light keeps going out. I changed the light about 3 months ago and it's out again. No bumps, accidents, nothing. Its just goes out.
ODI 11120005
Exterior Lighting
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 chevrolet malibu. While operating the vehicle, the low beam headlights would not illuminate. The contact stated that the headlights were replaced on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the headlight connectors were faulty and needed to be replaced. The connectors were replaced, but the failures continued. Bob bell chevrolet ([redacted],…
ODI 11210670
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Exterior Lighting
I have all the same issues as recall number 13036. Recall id 204828, 204826 and 2 more. Sometimes break light wont work when needed and comes on when not being pressed. Also a front blinker light stays illuminated unless i unhook the battery. Just undoing the light doesnt work. Also my roght blinker doesnt work. Some wires in my fuse box look melted. Ive report this before
ODI 11161734
Exterior Lighting
Both low beam headlights (front left and front right) stopped working at the same time. This occurred when i was driving with a passenger away from home at night in the dark.
ODI 11113186
Exterior Lighting
Passenger low beam constantly going out, for a while both low beams would go out then come back on.
ODI 11110382
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Unknown Or Other
Low beams both headlights repeatedly go out. Heater/air conditioner turns off and on by itself. Motor has been changed and tested. Is there a wiring problem with this vehicle across the board. I read a lot of people with this vehicle have the exact same issues. Heater/air turns off while in park or drive randomly.
ODI 11141205
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Low beam on passenger side goes out frequently and randomly. I thought it was just my luck. However according to https://www.cargurus.com/cars/discussion-t32066_ds667897 there are a lot of people with the same issue. Ive been lucky enough to keep getting stop by nice cops, but this is getting bad. I have a 1year old that i cant take out in the car because it isnt safe. For who knows what reason. Please help.
ODI 11105423
Exterior Lighting
Low beam lights stop working quite often. Passenger side, followed by driver's side. Replaced bulbs several times over this past year or so, only to find this last time that the bulbs weren't blown, just not working. Changed pigtail on passenger side, put same bulb back in, light worked for a few weeks, but then stopped working last week. Last night the driver's side stopped working again as well. That seems to be…
ODI 11101704
Exterior Lighting
The passenger side low-beam headlamp has failed 4 times in the last 18 months. This has not been a result of any improper use or overuse of the headlamp and proper replacement has been done.
ODI 11104713
Exterior Lighting
Driver's side headlight replaced multiple times due to lights burning out. (low/ regular lights & high beams) upon inspection, melted bulb sockets noted. When lights, bulb sockets replaced/ repaired, lights work only for a short time & the issue repeats itself. This is a huge annoyance as it requires immediate attention, financial burden, & most importantly, compromises driver & passenger safety. This has happened…
ODI 11098893
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
The passenger side low beam light bulb socket keeps burning out. Replaced the bulb 3 times in one year. The socket is the problem, keeps shorting out. When i replace the bulb the socket where the bulb plugs in to is burnt and melted.
ODI 11097728
Exterior Lighting
I have replaced my headlights multiple times this year already and noticed and few times a headlight would go out then come on occasionally then it just goes out permanently until a repair is made
ODI 11097324
Exterior Lighting
Headlights work intermittently, i've replaced both bulbs around 4 times in a year. The driver side goes out i change it then the passenger would go out then change it then boom there goes the driver side again after the last time changing it i noticed the bulbs aren't blowing out. Everyone that has this make and model car is having the same issue and i believe it is a factory defect with the wiring harnesses.…
ODI 11180583
Exterior Lighting
First my passenger side headlight went out so i replaced the bulb and the next day it wasn't working again. Now my driver side headlight is also going in and out without the bulbs burning out. The lights have gone out while riding and while stationary, sometime there on when i park the car and off when i crank it back up again.
ODI 11131599
Electronic Stability Control · Engine · Exterior Lighting
Misfire cyl #1 and eng lt. With misfire code, attempted chev dealer warranty repair with removal of cyl head and replacemnt valves [the cheap fix instead of replacing cyl head, in retrospect i believe chev should have replaced the cyl head for a permanent repair, now the car is out of 100k powertrain warranty] but recurrence 22k miles later. I suspect a design flaw. Iternet shows many owners with same complaint.…
ODI 11085058
Exterior Lighting
Passenger side low beam headlight connection between bulb and harness keeps melting causing headlight to not turn on. Have changed out wiring harness many, many times in a year.
ODI 11299471
Exterior Lighting
Takata recall. Passenger headlight has been change 6 times and continues to go out. I was told my wires were fine. I can't seem to find the problem.
ODI 11090196
Exterior Lighting
The passenger side low beam light burns out or stops working frequently. It has been changed more than three times. Recently, it was changed on february 17, 2018 and stopped working on february 25, 2018.
ODI 11076102
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Visibility/Wiper
Both headlamps have gone out within a nine month period. The driver side has been changed twice, the passenger side once. It seems every three months a headlight burns out on my car. As for the wipers, when they are turned on, they swipe halfway and stop until i turn them off and back on or to a higher swiping speed. This has happened as the vehicle was in park and drive. Also, the key fob battery has been replaced…
ODI 11073403
Exterior Lighting
Low beam headlights keep going out. This is sept 18 and i've replaced the right side 4 times this year and the left 2 times. At the moment the left is out. I've contacted the dealership and the diagnostic charge is $130. The only thing about it is paying $130 to tell me what's wrong and going in blind not knowing how much it will cost to repair. I've been watching to see if there will be a recall issued on this. I…
ODI 11132080
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Headlight lamp constantly goes out despite changing out the bulb and/or the fuse multiple times. It is becoming a hazard when driving on the roads.
ODI 11075539
Catalog parts for this system
Catalog year/make/model rows for 2012 Chevrolet Malibu.
Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.