I have had to change my passenger low beam bulb 3 times in 2 years, drivers side twice and my drivers side just burnt out after two months. After researching numerous forms this seems to be a problem from 2008-2012 malibus
2011 Chevrolet Malibu electrical complaints
Page 5 of 9: complaints 101 to 130 of 235, newest first, as owners wrote them.
My headlights keep going out. I have changed bulbs on both passenger and driver side and then light went back out at different times on both sides. I then noticed that passenger headlight went out again, and this time when I went to change it, it came on when I touched the pigtail so I figured there was a short somewhere. When I took the lightbulb out, I noticed the pigtail was fried, so I changed the pigtail and bulb this time. A few weeks go by and the same exact thing happens to the other side. I changed the light bulb and pigtail on the drivers side. This continues to happen and I've not mentioned how difficult it is to change the bulb. The whole front bumper assembly pretty much has to come off. This is not easy to do and is a pretty bad design flaw. Since I've noticed that the light comes on when the pigtail is shaken, I have to disassemble the bumper just to get to the light. Someone really needs to look at this. Finally, I must also add, I have seen more than 10 chevy malibu's, not sure of the year, but is the same model as mine, with a headlight missing. It makes me wonder, are these people having the same issue? Do these people maybe just have a headlight blown but knows the headache it is to remove whole front bumper assembly just to change headlight? Have these people gotten tired of changing the headlight because it keeps blowing out? Please look into this.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the headlights turned off and on independently five times within the last two years. In addition, the power door locks would lock and unlock while the contact was driving. The contact planned on taking the vehicle to bayway chevrolet (5719 broadway st, pearland, tx 77581, (281) 606-0465) for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified and stated that there were no recalls for the failures. The failure mileage was 113,312.
My 2011 malibu has starting issues but if I mess with the rear fuse box and wiggle the wires connect to it, it start. It cuts off very often. When I took it to different shops no one can figure out the problem. There is one mechanic that says he has ran into this problem multiple time especially with this make and model. I feel there should be some type of recall or even a warranty for this problem.
My passenger side low beam light keeps going out and replaced it four times. I had sun chevy rt. 19 mcmurray pa replace it the first time, laurel auto service munhall, pa replace it 2nd time in 12/2017 and I have replaced it twice in 2018. I purchased bulbs at advanced auto, w. Homestead, pa. I have copies of invoices if needed for documentation. I noticed it when diving vehicle or at night.this just happened again today on 8-30-2018. This is a huge problem to fix as you have to take off front shroud of car each time to replace light bulb.
The power steering went completely out making it almost impossible to turn car was in motion when it went out. I was able to stressfully get it home off the main road. A few hours later the car was fine and the power steering was back on after some research I found I was not the only one with these issues. If I was traveling any faster this could have caused a accident
Good morning the complaints are going for over 3 years, and chevy is ignoring us all . I also complain direct to them and they play dumb ref chevy malibu 2011 why isnt chevy having a re call on the head lights issue of the malibu?? It is a safety hazard. Over 80% of malibu owners are complaining and registering complaints on the constant burning of the headlights and headlight socket of a malibu I replaced mine 4 times over 8 months, the cost is outrageous and the time out of our work and lives is even more aggravate. Chevy is aware of it and is choosing to do nothing and let us pick up the cost of a "defective" item in the car. I appreciate if chevy could refund it and fix it at no cost right now, as I already got pulled over by cops due to it stop working 1 month after I had replaced. Thank you people do not know the proper site of dot to complain so they do here in this sites.. Please consider their complaints and make chevy do a recall on the headlights as it is a safety issue https://www.carcomplaints.com/chevrolet/malibu/2009/lights/headlight_wiring_shorted_out.shtml https://www.chevymalibuforum.com/forums/6-problems-service-issues-troubleshooting-generation-7/25313-headlight-burns-out-continuously.html
Please consider the complaints of same issue on the link bellow. The malibu has an manufacture defect of head light, thy constant burn and go off, sometimes it burns the bulb and sometimes the socket. I replaced the bulbs and socket over 6 times in 8 months. There is over thousands complaints of exactly same issue online on car complaint sites as people are not aware where to report and chevy ignore us as they are aware of the thousands complains. The headlight going off is a hazards and I already got pulled over 4 months after replaced the head light when it went off without I realize it. It is an electrical issue with a bad defect . To replace it one needs to take the car apart and entire bumber off it is outrageous expense to replace a $8 dollar bulb, please consider the complaints on this 2 web sites as to make chevy recall it and fix on malibus of 2009 to 2013. Https://www.carcomplaints.com/chevrolet/malibu/2009/lights/headlight_wiring_shorted_out.shtml https://www.chevymalibuforum.com/forums/6-problems-service-issues-troubleshooting-generation-7/25313-headlight-burns-out-continuously.html
The car had a "short" in the blinker. When trying to locate the short, the car went completely off. It appears to ha e triggered an anti theft device. In this mode, you can do nothing. So, even in my driveway, I can't get the car in neutral to tow it. Everything is locked down due to a problem with the blinker.
My car will randomly show the oil 100 one day and next it's 50% and the tires sensers would show low when the tire would be full air bag would say to get checked then I'd take it in for a oil change and everything would be good . Nothing wrong it's very odd and off
The car wont start bring 3 times at dealer ship no funs any reazon a but the problem
About a year ago I was driving car going around 40 miles an hr and it would just die on me, no lights came up no warning. It happened at least 6 times and every time it happened it had it towed to dealership to get checked out. I've had fuel pump, fuel relay, cam shaft sensor 2 times and other things replaced. Still same thing would happen. Died again on me had it towed to a garage and my timing chain was broken, replaced that and cam shaft sensor again. Drove away and it died on me again. The only way my car stays running is when cam shaft sensor is unplugged but engine light stays on. When car dies I have no lights that come on to tell me I have a issue, it just shuts off. I've been dealing with the car just shutting down on me for a year. I'm afraid to have other people in my car cause I don't know if or when it would happen again. When this happened I had around 92000 mile on car.
While driving, a notice of reduced power, service traction and the check engine light came on. Pulled the car off the side of the road and shut it off, upon restart the whole car started shaking. I then shut it off for a few minutes, this time when I restarted only the check engine light was one. There are several reports of this issue and no fix from gm. This is a major risk when a car stalls out on the highway with a small child on board.
The passenger side low beam bulb keeps going out. I've had this bulb replaced multiple times and had the wiring harness replaced because the bulb kept going out. After having the wiring harness replaced the bulb went out again.
Randomly starting about 3 weeks ago my 2011 chevrolet malibu started going into reduced power mode and showing service traction, service ESC and eng pwr reduced. The vehicle would shake and suddenly slow down. It showed a p2135 code. The vehicle restarts after a period of time sitting, but the events happen again when it is driven again. It takes approx. 20 miles from when it was started. Researching this p2135 code I found many complaints and they all involved the throttle body or throttle position sensor. I contacted chevrolet and they told me it wasn't covered under a recall although they do have a special coverage 14582a which is currently open. But they said my VIN was not covered by that program. This is a very dangerous situation and I can't imagine that not all 2011 malibu vehicles wouldn't be covered.
In last 12 to 14 months to include today, the low beam headlight on passenger side has gone out. It has been repaired twice and now looking at a third time. I want to say this is an electrical issue as the last time it went out, sometimes it would come back on if I hit a bump. I will be getting it serviced again as not having a headlight working is a danger. The reason I am contacting the federal safety agency is I have talk to and read of multiple people having the same issue.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet malibu. While operating the vehicle and depressing the brake pedal, the rear brake light would not illuminate; however, the brake light would remain illuminated when the brake pedal was not being depressed. The vehicle was taken to apple chevrolet (1200 loucks rd, york, pa) where it was diagnosed that the electrical brake light wiring was faulty and corrosion was present. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact indicated that the vehicle was previously repaired in october 2014 per the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v252000 (electrical system, exterior lighting), but the failure recently recurred. The manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 72,000.
Takata recall dealers are to attach the wiring harness to the bcm with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the bcm and harness connector and on the bas and harness connector, and relearn the brake pedal home position free of charge. And also dealers will replace the outboard lap anchor mounting bracket to re-locate the tensioner 30mm rearward. Dealers will also inspect the cable, and if necessary, replace the lap pretensioner. These repairs will be completed free of charge.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet malibu. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the passenger side low beam head lamp failed. The contact drove the vehicle with the high beams activated. The following day, the contact noticed that the harness to the low beams was burned. The contact stated that this was the second time the harness burned, and the driver's side harness was replaced one time also. The vehicle was taken to the dealer (jim glover chevrolet in tulsa, oklahoma) the first time the failure occurred, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet malibu. While driving, the steering wheel wiggled and made a squeaky and grinding noise while making left and right turns. The contact stated that the seat belt indicator previously illuminated. The vehicle was taken to suburban buick gmc (21800 woodward ave, ferndale, mi 48220 (248) 547-6100) where it was diagnosed that the rack and pinion and the motor to the electrical steering needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 122,000.
Last 3 yrs my ESC and service traction light comes on. Last aug 2016 had the car if for this replaced a brake sensor problem came back 3 weeks later. Went for 2 more diagnostic test. Could not find issue. May 2017 problem started again. In addition, when this service ESC comes on my brake lights do not work. This is very dangerous. I am bring the car in again for another diagnostic. I am scared to drive. The light comes on during the warm months, either during the actual braking or when I am in a stop position holding down the brake. Gm customer care has be of no help thus far.
Engine power reduced and the vehicle sounds like it is going to explode. It reduces the speed to 5 MPH. You can turn the car off sit for a few minutes and turn the car back on and it runs fine. It does this daily. I have replaced several sensors and it has not fixed the problem. I have also replaced the throttle body twice and that did not fix it either.
Car seat (heat warmer) caught on fire
While traveling at a slow speed (betw 10-20 MPH) on 3/20/17, the car started to shake, the service ESC message light turns on, and service traction control light turns on (with message that car will power down). So, if I pull over to the side of the road and shut the car off (before it shuts down on it's own), wait 2 minutes for the computer to reset, then get RPM up quick (so the speed is quickly above the 20 MPH), then it is wouldn't do it and I could get it to the mechanic. When the mechanic went to check it, the battery was dead, so no luck with computer scan. He put in new battery. So I drove it and it did it again. I took it to the mechanic and he checked it and he replaced the gas pedal (computer code indicated a bad sensor). However, it did not take care of the issue. Brand new battery and still draining battery (overnight). Mechanic thinks a relay may be staying open somewhere however isn't sure. Currently not drivable due to the shaking and that service ESC and service traction control messages come on with statement that vehicle will power down (while driving). First occurred on 3/20/2017 and is still occurring 4/20/2017 (mechanic hasn't been able to fix)! Been dealing with a slow battery drain since purchased car in july 2016. If didn't drive car for 5 days, battery would be dead (4th day was still ok). Then in march 2017, other issue started and the battery drain became much worse. Now brand new battery and will drain completely dead overnight. Huge electrical issue. Car has 85,000 miles on it.
The dashboard seat belt light goes on and off. The radio at times goes silent. The headlights keep going off and having to replace. The ECM or ecu has went out. And the check engine light is one. On this while the car is on, driving and stationary.
Speed slow down on a 55 MPH highway to 10 MPH and wouldnt get no speed and it throttle and shake until I came to a stop the most scary thing to ever happen to me I went from a ford to chevy the most stupid idea I could've ever done and ever light on dash board is on and blinking to brake light,traction light,etc light, radio and clock lights the speed door and window lights its to much to deal with im afraid that this car is gonna take my life from me but noone can find no problem with this car I've got an oil change to spark plugs and so much more done on this car and nothing has changed this the fourth time this car has put me down in the six mths of me having this car somebody please help I love the car but its not a safe car to have and I can even exchange it out for another one at least thats what the people at the car lot says.
The engine starts to sputter , check engine light and other dash lights come on and vehicle quits running . Had it in chevrolet garage and no code showed up they replaced a sensor told me it was fixed . Problem returned , this has happened several times and still exists. Very dangerous. Never know when it is going to stall out.
Tail lights stopped working, but break lights work, radio will change on its own from tuner to aux, dash doesnt stay illuminated, power locks and windows dont always work. Doesnt matter if its being driven or sitting. Checked fuses they are all good.
The headlights keep going out on this vehicles , have replaced them several times and they just keep going out. My aunt has the same make , model car as I do and she has the same problems.
The driver's side body seam of my 2011 chevy malibu was not properly sealed. This allowed water to leak into my electrical panel cause corrosion to all of my wiring. I determined this after driving down a high way at 60 MPH and having my car drop down to 10 MPH with service engine lights, engine power reduced warnings all lighting up my panel. It had been raining that day. I am lucky that the car behind me was following an appropriate amount of distance behind me.
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