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.
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
My car can run for a certain amount of time and the battery will die randomly. My headlight constantly cut off and interior my hot an cold level stay down on a reglar day. The ac blows out cold air when on heat or it will just blow air. My car will just stifen up and not drive after restarting the battery.
ODI 11142387
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Steering
My headlights keep going out, my car will not align and the electrical plug will not work
ODI 11045381
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
The low beam and running lights on driver's side keep going out the wiring harness and bulb has been changed 5 times now and still goes out ever other week . And to top it off this car has the most rediculous way to get at the headlights. So time consuming
ODI 11084714
Exterior Lighting
The low beam headlight on the passenger continuously goes out after repairing. I had the bulb replaced 3 times, within a months time. I ended up getting an expensive diagnostic test, replaced the socket, as suggested. Shortly thereafter, the bulb went out again. Replaced, then it went out again. I drove around with my high beam on (so i can see) until i burnt that out too. I just got it replaced and not even a week…
ODI 11132147
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Exterior Lighting
The headlights have continuously shorted out. I have changed the headlights 3 times in a 3 week span and they keep going out. I have replaced fuses as well. The traction on the car is constantly slowing down. The esc light comes on. The car slows down on all streets and it has done so on the highway.
ODI 11022627
Exterior Lighting
My low beams and now high beam headlights keep going out. Replaced three times and two on the other side. Costs over 150 each time. Driving or when i go to start car is when they go out and only once after hitting bump it came on. There are thousands of people reporting same problem on car guru. Type in your car make and model and year with headlight problems and you will see how many drivers are effected by this…
ODI 11190624
Exterior Lighting
The passenger low-beam light has an issue. I'm not alone, thousands of other chevy malibu drivers have all reported the exact same issue. The wiring harness that connects to the low-beam bulb keeps over-heating and melting, causing the bulb to go out. I have replaced the pigtail three times now, and it keeps going out. I have even pulled the drl fuse, which many believe could have been the problem, and it still…
ODI 11266855
Exterior Lighting · Service Brakes
I recieved a notice from gmconcerning the body control module (bcm) warning me that my brake lights could malfunction, but warning me not to take my car to the dealer because of this warning. Now i have talked to an insurance representative a member of my family who happens to be a lawyer also a member of the police dept and i have been told that since i got thois warning that makes me aware of a serious, dangerous…
ODI 10990694
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Driving and both low and high beams go out at night. Days later it came back on, then a day later went out again.replaced lights bulbs and a week later it goes out again! This is dangerous and clearly a safety issue! I almost crash the first time they went out on the freeway.
ODI 10985621
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Exterior Lighting
On two occassions the power steering suddenly went completely out while on the highway. Since i got the car 2 years ago i have had many issues with the lighting amd electrical. The brake light works when it chooses to even if k done push the brake and with new bulbs it may not work. The headlights do the same. They come on and go off when they choose to. I have replaced bulbs over 20 times in the past 2 years when i…
ODI 11190378
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Headlamps constantly burning out fuzes blown dangerous when lights go out at night. Safety hazard.
ODI 11056303
Exterior Lighting
My dim headlight keeps burning out and i kept having to change my bulbs. To come to find out it was my wiring harness and i've had to change it twice. My bright lights do good. It's just the dim lights. Please recall this. It's a headache trying to fix this problem once or twice a month. I've also read that several other people's chevy malibus headlights are messing up too. Everytime i pass a malibu one of the…
ODI 11190133
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Head lights been repaired 3 times costing 220 each time... Seems to be no known fix for this possible electrical error....
ODI 10957415
Exterior Lighting
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the passenger side headlamp failed without warning. The failure occurred six times. The contact stated that the wire harness and bulbs were replaced by independent mechanics approximatley six times. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 156,000.
ODI 10992136
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that there was an electrical short with the wiring associated with the headlights. The low beams, high beams, running lights, and turn signals failed to function. The vehicle was inspected, diagnosed, and repaired by a mechanic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000.
ODI 10959603
Exterior Lighting · Steering · Visibility/Wiper
Pulling out of a parking space, all of a sudden my steering wheel does a quick jerk, my traction light luminates and then service esc comes up on the display and then power steering shows on the display and at that point iost power steering assist and at this point i could not turn the wheel at all, i had no control over the car at this point. I put the car in park, turned it off for several minutes and then turned…
ODI 10920378
Exterior Lighting
Passenger side headlight (low beam) has had to be replaced 4 times in the last 2 years.
ODI 11151570
Exterior Lighting
This is the fourth time i am put in a new head light on this driver side . I have also change the wiring on both side . The wiring keep burning out . Have to change the wiring on the drivers side again burned out again. These bulb are $ 21.00 each title of $ 80.00 pluse wiring at $18.00 each =$ 36.00. All this in 3 months . This is crazy. I am on a fixed income . Please tell me this is on the recall list . I can not…
ODI 10909596
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
I am an auto mechanic and the owner of a 2012 chevrolet malibu. The problem with my vehicle, 4 of my customers malibus (2009 to 2012) and many many other malibu owners is that while driving one or both headlights will cut off leaving the operator with little or no visibility while still in motion, this is what happened to me one night on a rural highway with no street lights. After much troubleshooting i have…
ODI 10994302
Exterior Lighting
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 chevrolet malibu. While driving at any speed at night, the headlights failed to work without warning. The contact stated that the headlights were changed three times within a few weeks; however, the full beams worked. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the bulbs were replaced each time. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure recurred. The failure mileage was…
ODI 10984899
Exterior Lighting
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 chevrolet malibu. While driving at various speeds, the low beam headlights failed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the low beam headlights melted the halogen connectors. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 10,000.
Fire reported
ODI 10861777
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Low beams are to low for night time driving can they be adjusted? Can't see very far so have to use brights very dangerous for oncoming traffic also. Also the interior lights, instrument lights, get real dim either driving or stopped, so dim gauges are hard to read. After a while they come back on.
ODI 10854237
Exterior Lighting
Water inside headlights. Right headlight assembly replaced 6 months ago, now have water inside left headlight, dims the light, will have to replace, will be serviced 12-17-15. I have noticed quite a few of the same model with the same problem. I believe that this is a safety problem that should be addressed by gm.
ODI 10810635
Exterior Lighting
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the low beam headlights failed to operate every three months. The vehicle was taken to valenti auto sales (399 n colony st, wallingford, ct 06492, [redacted]) where it was diagnosed, but no failure could be found. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
ODI 11127896
Exterior Lighting · Wiring
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 chevrolet malibu. While operating the vehicle, the low beam headlights suddenly shut off. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the wiring harness melted. The failure occurred on both the driver and passenger sides. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 90,000.
ODI 10933960
Catalog parts for this system
Catalog year/make/model rows for 2012 Chevrolet Malibu.
Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.