25 complaints reported

2005 Chevrolet Malibu ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
25
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Dec 2024

The brake light stays on the whole time.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2024
Sep 2019

MY PASSENGER SIDE HEADLAMP LIGHT (TURN SIGNAL) ASSEMBLY KEEPS BURNING OUT AND MELTING THE BULB HOUSING AND ORANGE LENS. IT BURNED A HOLE IN THE ORANGE TURN SIGNAL LENS. I REPLACE BULB AFTER BULB BUT IT KEEPS FAILING. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL BECAUSE NO CAR OWNER SHOULD HAVE TO KEEP REPLACING BULBS CONSTANTLY ONLY FOR THEM TO FAIL OVER AND OVER AGAIN! THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS STATIONARY, MOVING, ETC..

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jul 2019
Mar 2018

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT CONTINUES TO SHORT OUT EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THE SOCKET ASSEMBLY.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Aug 2018
Aug 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BRAKE LIGHTS STARTED TO FLASH. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER IN AUGUST OF 2014 FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 02/03/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TWICE, FOR THE SAME RECALL ISSUE. UPDATED 02/07/17.*JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Aug 2016
Sep 2015

THE PARK LIGHT/DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE CONSTANTLY MELTING THE AMBER LENS. THE BULB SOCKET MELTS CAUSING THE TURN SIGNAL NOT TO WORK. EVERY FEW MONTHS I HAVE TO REMOVE HEADLIGHT LAMP AND FIX BULB SO IT WILL WORK. I HAVE SEEN A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR MALIBUS. CHEVROLET NEEDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AS MANY AS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Sep 2015
Sep 2015

THE FRONT DRIVER TURN SIGNAL DOES NOT WORK, IT HAS MELTED THE PLASTIC INSIDE. I HAVE CHANGED THE BULB SEVERAL TIMES AND IT CONTINUES TO BURN OUT. THE PASSENGER TURN SIGNAL IS NOW BLINKING VERY FAST AND THEN SLOW SO I'M GUESSING IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE THAT ONE DOESN'T WORK. ALSO THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR BLINKER AND BRAKE LIGHT DO NOT WORK. ALL OF THIS IS A HAZARD WHEN DRIVING AND COULD EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE HEARD OF NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVING THESE SAME ISSUES AND THIS NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED. CLEARLY THIS IS A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE AND RESOLUTION. THANK YOU. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Feb 2015
Jun 2015

THE TURN SIGNAL BULBS GET TOO HOT AND MELTS INTO THE SOCKET WHICH MAKES THE CONNECTION GO BAD. EVEN IF YOU CHANGE THE BULB THE CONNECTION IS BAD SO THE SOCKET HAS TO BE CHANGED. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON BOTH OF THE FRONT BULBS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2015
Jan 2015

MY FRONT BLINKER LIGHTS HAVE MELTED THE BLINKER LIGHT HOUSING (THE INDIVIDUAL PLASTIC GLOBE THE BULB RESIDES IN). THEY HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A RATE OF APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS AND I BELIEVE IT IS THE CAR NOT THE LIGHTS AS I HAVE TRIED DIFFERENT BRANDS TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE BULBS. **NOTE: AS I HAVE NOT KEPT A RECORD OF THE INCIDENTS, I HAVE LISTED THE LAST TIME AS PRECISE DATE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2015
Oct 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2013
Oct 2014 Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, A BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. AFTER EXAMINING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE BURNING ODOR WAS COMING FROM THE HEAD LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD LIGHT WIRE HARNESS WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Apr 2006
Aug 2014

DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS IN HEADLIGHTS OVERHEAT MELTING BULB BASE AND SOCKET. HAVE BEEN REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES AND KEEPS HAPPENING. AFRAID OF POTENTIAL ELECTRICAL FIRE OR BULBS BURN OUT AND BLINKERS WILL NOT WORK WHICH COULD CAUSE A WRECK. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Apr 2013
Jul 2014

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED AND HAVE HAD AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHTS.GOING ON AND OFF.I HAVE REPLACED THE WIRE HARNESS 7 TIMES IN 2 YEARS.IS THEIR A RECALL ON THESE CARS FOR THE HEADLIGHT ISSUES.IF SO I NEED TO BE NOTIFIED ASAP BEFORE THEIR IS A FIRE IN MY CAR.I AM A HANDICAP MOTHER THAT NEEDS HER CAR. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Sep 2011
May 2014

THE DRIVERS SIDE TURN SIGNAL BULB KEEPS BURNING OUT. I HAVE REPLACED THE BULB TWICE BUT IT CONTINUES TO BURN OUT. THERE ARE MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. *JS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2014
May 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER DID NOT KNOW WHEN THE PART WOULD ARRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Nov 2014
Mar 2013

I PURCHASED MY CHEVY MALIBU MAXX JANUARY OF JUST LAST YEAR AND I HAD TO REPLACE MY FRONT LEFT HEAD LIGHT THINKING NOTHING OF JUST NORMAL MAINTENANCE AND THIS WAS RIGHT AROUND AUGUST OF LAST YEAR AND IT IS NOW MARCH OF 2013 AND I JUST HAD TO DO IT AGAIN BUT THIS GO ROUND IT SEEMED MORE LIKE A SHORT BECAUSE IT STOPPED WORKING ONE NIGHT DRIVING HOME FROM WORK WHICH I DRIVE A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY AT NIGHT AND THAT NEXT MORNING IT WAS WORKING JUST FINE SO ME BEING THE NORMAL AMERICAN PERSON I THINK NOTHING OF IT BUT THE FOLLOWING DAY IT GOES OUT FULLY AND WHEN I WENT TO GO CHANGE THE LIGHT THIS TIME I NOTICED IT HAD ACTUALLY BURNED THROUGH THE AMBER COLOR COVER OF THE BULB AND ALSO BURNED THE SOCKET UP IN THE VEHICLE. BUT NOW GET THIS ABOUT THE SAME TIME LAST YEAR MY AUX FUSE BEGAN TO BLOW OVER AND OVER NOT THINKING ANYTHING ABOUT IT BUT NOW AFTER READING ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT SITUATIONS I KINDA WONDER IF THE TWO SITUATIONS COULD HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH ONE ANOTHER. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2013
Jan 2013

TURN SIGNALS BURNING SO HOT THEY EXPLODE, AND MELT NOT ONLY HOUSING FOR BULB, BUT ALSO THE SOCKET IN ORDER TO REPLACE BULB IS MELTED TOO. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS AS I HAVE FOUND OVER 200 OTHER COMPLAINTS OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE! *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2013
Sep 2012

I HAVE OWNED MY 2005 MALIBU MAXX FOR JUST OVER A YEAR AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT TURN SIGNAL SOCKETS, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES, THREE TIMES NOW DUE TO MELTED SOCKETS AND AMBER COVERS MELTING DOWN TO THE BULBS. EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE VENTED THEY DO NOT STAY COOL ENOUGH TO PREVENT SEVERE ELECTRICAL DAMAGE TO THE COMPONENTS. IN REPLACING THESE COMPONENTS I HAVE TO WAIT A WEEK UNTIL THE PARTS ARE SHIPPED OUT AND AM FORCED TO DRIVE WITH FAULTY EQUIPMENT. I AM UNABLE TO JUST REPLACE THE BULBS AND HAVE TO CONSTANTLY CHANGE THE BULBS OUT BEFORE THEY MELT TO THE SOCKETS. THIS IS A HUGE HAZARD AS THEY CAN GO OUT ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC PUTTING ME AT A GREATER RISK OF INJURY. PLEASE FORCE GM TO ISSUE AN ACTUAL RECALL ON THIS ISSUE AND NOT JUST SKATE FREE ON THE SERVICE BULLETIN THAT HAS BEEN ISSUED. THANK YOU, *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Sep 2011
Nov 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHT WIRING HARNESS MELTED CAUSING THE LIGHT BULB PLASTIC COVERING TO MELT AND THE LIGHT BULB TO FAIL. A LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACED THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, BUT THE DRIVER HEADLIGHT ALSO FAILED. THE DRIVERS HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS NOT REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000. UPDATED 10/14/11 *BF UPDATED 10/28/11

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2010
Sep 2011 Fire

FRONT LEFT TURN SIGNAL REPEATEDLY BURNS OUT, AMBER CASING HAS MELTED HOLE, CHANGING BULBS DOES NOT FIX PROBLEM. *TT

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2008
Apr 2011

I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY MALIBU CLASSIC AND THE SIGNAL KEEPS FAILING YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN YOU JUST SIGNAL AND NOTICE IT DOESN'T COME ON..VERY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING..IT STARTS BACK UP AGAIN WHEN IT FEEL LIKE IT..I FEEL LIKE THIS IS VERY UNSAFE AND SCARY..IT HAS HAPPEN TO ME ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND IN FED UP WITH THIS PROBLEM..ITS HAS HAPPEN 3 TIMES IN A 3 WEEK PERIOD AND THAT DOESN'T SEEM NORMAL. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM CANT BE CHECKED UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN BUT HOW AM I TO KNOW WHEN IT WILL OCCUR IT JUST HAPPENS WHEN IT WANTS TO. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Apr 2011
Apr 2011

I PURCHASED THIS 2005 CHEVY MALIBU USED. SHORTLY AFTER HAD THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL BULB BLOW, THEN LEFT TURN AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS AT THE SAME TIME. WHILE REPLACING THE BULBS, I NOTICED THAT THE PLASTIC SURROUNDING THE TURN SIGNAL BULB HAD A LARGE HOLE IN IT FROM MELTING. THE OTHER ASSEMBLY HAD THE SAME HOLE BURNT IN THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHT BULB COVER. I HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS AT LEAST 2 MORE TIMES THIS YEAR. THE PROBLEMS WITH BULBS FAILING SEEMS TO HAPPEN IN WET WEATHER MORE FREQUENTLY THAN DRY WEATHER. SO I BELIEVE WATER IS GETTING INTO THE HEADLAMPS THROUGH THESE HOLES. THE EXTREME HEAT IS CAUSING THE HEADLIGHT TO BECOME EXTREMELY CLOUDY. REPLACING THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE OTHERS HAVE SAID IT SOON STARTS TO MELT AGAIN. PLEASE NHTSA THESE LIGHTING SYSTEMS THAT ARE FAILING ARE VITAL FOR NIGHTTIME DRIVING, PLEASE GET CHEVY TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND FIX THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2010
Jan 2011

2005 MAILBU MAXX. CONSUMER STATES INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE LIGHTS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE WASN'T APPLIED AND WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE LAMP, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2011
Jan 2010

THE DRIVERS SIDE TURN SIGNAL (INSIDE THE HARNESS IN THE HEADLIGHT) KEEPS MELTING THE PLASTIC SNAP IN BASE OF THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHT BULB AND CAUSES IT TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. ALMOST CAUSING OTHER VEHICLES TO CRASH IN TO ME AT 4 WAY STOP SIGNS. THE HARNESS ASSEMBLY GETS VERY HOT. MAY ONE DAY CAUSE A FIRE. I HAVE REPLACED LIGHT BULBS 4 TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH. WILL HAVE TO GET SERVICED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Feb 2010
Jan 2009

2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX (1) FRONT PARK/TURN/DRL LAMP INOPERATIVE AND OVERHEATING PROBLEMS. (2) REAR STOP/TURN/TAIL LAMP INOPERATIVE PROBLEMS. THIS CAR CURRENTLY HAS 41,000 MILES. THE LAMPS FOR THE LEFT FRONT (DRIVER SIDE)HAS BEEN REPLACED 5 TIMES AND RIGHT FRONT 3 TIMES. THE REAR LAMPS HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES EACH SIDE. MY MAJOR CONCERN AND CAUSE FOR THIS COMPLAINT IS THE OVERHEATING OF THE FRONT LAMPS (ITEM #1 ABOVE). THE UPPER SIDE AMBER PLASTIC HOUSING FOR THE LAMPS ON BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT HAS MELTED THROUGH AT THIS TIME. WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS FIRST DETECTED, THE AMBER HOUSING SHOWED SOME DISCOLORATION, BUBBLED PLASTIC. THIS SUGGESTED THE OVERHEATING PROBLEM EITHER HAS INTENSIFIED AND/OR THE PLASTIC HAS DEGRADATED OVER TIME. VISUAL INSPECTION SHOWED THE CHARRED/BURNT THROUGH AREAS ARE ADJACENT TO THE LAMP SOCKET. THIS INDICATES EXTREME SOCKET TEMPERATURE AND ALSO THE RISING HOT AIR AFFECT THE CEILING OF THE AMBER HOUSING. ALL THE BURNT OUT LIGHT BULBS SHOWED VARIOUS DEGREES OF CHARRING/MELTING/DEFORMATION ON THE PLASTIC BASE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE EXTREME HIGH TEMPERATURE AND ELECTRICAL ARCING. THE REAR IS NOT AS SEVERE AS THE FRONT BUT NEVERTHELESS, SLIGHT ARCING CAN STILL BE OBSERVED ON THE BASE OF THE BURNT OUT BULBS. THE LEFT FRONT LAMP WAS SERVICED BY A LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER ONCE ON DEC. 16 2009 UNDER TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 06-08-42-004. DEALER DEEMED ONLY THE BULB NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BUT NOT THE SOCKET. PRIOR TO THIS, THE PROBLEM ALREADY EXISTED AND BOTH FRONT AND BACK BULBS REPLACED. THE FREQUENCY OF THE BULB REPLACEMENT AND SIGNS OF ARCING TRIGGERED THIS VISIT TO THE DEALER. THIS REPAIR BY THE DEALER HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. SIGNS OF OVERHEATING AS EVIDENCED BY THE MELTING PLASTIC SHOWED THE PROBLEM HAS WORSENED. FEARING THE EXTREME HIGH TEMP CAN CAUSE FIRE, I VISITED THE DEALER YESTERDAY FOR REPAIR UNDER GOOD WILL REPAIR WAS DENIED. THEY SIMPLY SAID THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THIS IS NOT A FIRE HAZARD. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Sep 2005
Jun 2007

I OWNED THE 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS. DURING THAT TIME I HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR TURN SIGNAL ONCE, AND THE FRONT TURN SIGNALS ABOUT 3 TIMES EACH. SOMETHINGWAS DEFINITELY WRONG WITH THE ELECTRICAL PART OF THIS VEHICLE. THE WARRANTY HAS NOW EXPIRED, SO I CAN GET NOTHING DONE ABOUT IT FROM GM OR CHEVROLET. *AK A SECOND COMPLAINT CONCERNS THE FAN FOR THE AIRCONDITIONER/HEATER. IT RATTLES CONSTANTLY. BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED I TOOK IT IN TWICE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD REPAIRS DONE ON THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE MOTOR WAS REPLACED . . . WAS TOLD THEIR WAS SOMETHING LODGED IN THE FAN. A WEEK LATER THE SAME NOISE. NOTHING HAS BEEN RESOLVED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jun 2007

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2005 Chevrolet Malibu has 25 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.