2003 Chevrolet Malibu: headlights failing or too dim

Filed Dec 29, 2016 · Electrical, Lights · 70,000 miles · WA

Both headlights suddenly won't work, bulbs fine, checked relays too, fuses fine.

Filed Nov 10, 2015 · Lights · 80,000 miles · NJ · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet malibu. Approximately two years ago, the contact noticed that the headlight lenses were fogged. The fixtures were replaced and the contact noticed that the lenses and plugs were melted. The entire headlight assembly was replaced, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.

Filed Jun 12, 2012 · Electrical, Lights · 32,073 miles · NJ

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced several failures in which the electric windows would not function, the headlights stopped illuminating, and the air conditioning unit failed. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the ignition switch was replaced. The failure recurred approximately one year later. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and the ignition switch was replaced a second time but the failure again recurred a year later. The vehicle ignition switch was replaced for the third time. The contact also stated that the vehicle stalled while driving 25 MPH. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and the ignition switch was replaced for the fourth time. The manufacturer was notified of the recurring failure and offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 32,073. The ignition switch was replaced four times. Updated 07/19/12

Filed Jun 12, 2008 · Acceleration, Airbags · 24,000 miles · NY · crash

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet malibu. On may 25, 2008, while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle began accelerating faster than normal. The contact had to merge out of traffic. She could not feel the brakes working and sped through a stop sign. She drove into a parking lot to avoid crashing into other vehicles. The vehicle finally stopped when it crashed into an embankment. The front driver's side air bag failed to deploy. The vehicle was taken to the body shop to replace the driver's side door and headlamp. The manufacturer stated that an investigator would investigate the failure. They are currently stating that due to the body work that was performed on the vehicle, they will not investigate the acceleration failure, only the air bag failure. The contact has a back injury that was aggravated due to the crash. A police report was filed. The failure and current mileages were 24,000.

Filed Dec 25, 2003 · Electrical, Lights · 2,000 miles · CO

Headlights, dashlights, go dim, flicker when step on brakes. Also heater fan slows down when step on brakes.

Filed Sep 30, 2003 · Lights · NY

Headlights in my 2003 chev malibu continualy stay fogged up with water inside the lens and chevy is aware of the problem. I think it could cause potential problems with the lights working properly.

Filed Aug 11, 2003 · Lights · 3 miles · MD

The design of the automatic light control for the headlamps subjugates the responsibility state law places on the vehicle operator. The operator certantly can _choose_ to allow a automatic system to operate the lights if they want to, however should not be forced to use it if the operator is not comforable with the way the automatic system operates. Additionally, the automatic lighting systems can only determine when ambient lighting conditions _may_ require lighting but _cannot_ determine other specific weather-related conditions when the laws of my state also mandate vehicle lighting be used. Most notably, the auto system does not always "know" when it's foggy, raining or snowing during daylight hours, applying lighting sometimes in those cases, but now always. Or beginning with the lights on, then they go off, then on again, then off again during a trip when the lights should remain on continously. This often occurs without any indication to the operator that these changes in status of the lights are occuring. In fact, with drls lit in the front, the normal visual queue that the lights are out that one would expect is absent (the drls look like headlights) and it's too bright out to tell if the dash lights are on or not. In my opinion, this is a safety issue that needs to be addressed. Gm should retrofit the malibu's with total override of the auto system (complete disable of the auto lights and drls) for those owners that request it.