RoadVitals

2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
37
Latest Apr 2, 2019
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
9%
of 434 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
5
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 37 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

The 25 most recent of 37, in the owner's own words

EngineExterior lightingSteering
Filed Apr 2, 2019

STEERING OUT OF WHACK. I HAVE HAD MY CONTROL ARM ON BOTH SIDES CHANGED ALONG WITH AXLES AND A ALIGNMENT. NO LUCK ITS STILL ALL OVER ROAD. I DRIVE FROM SYLVESTER GA TO TIFTON GA EVERYDAY. IT DOES THE SAME THING EVERYTIME. ALSO I HAVE HAD MY LIGHTS REPLACED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR. WHY ARENT THE LASTING. GAS CAP KEEPS READING ERROR. WHOLE CAR. I CAN LET SOMEONE DRIVE IT TO SEE WHAT I AM SAYING.

NHTSA ID
11193420
Incident
Jan 1, 2019
Mileage
140,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 22, 2015

MY DRIVERS SIDE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY THE LIGHTBULB KEPT ON BURNING OUT AND FINALLY DEALERSHIP GOT ME A REPLACEMENT BULB BUT THAN THE BULB GOT REALLY HOT AND BURNED THE ORANGE COVER AND IT MELTED ON THE BULB AND EVEN GOT INTO WHERE THE LIGHTBULB GOES IN. SO I ENDED UP BUYING A WHOLE NEW HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY FROM DEALERSHIP AND REPLACED IT. SO I THOUGHT IT FIXED THE PROBLEM NOPE HERE WE ARE IN APRIL 2015 AND SURE ENOUGH THE BULB IS GETTING TO HOT AND IS CAUSING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I'VE SEEN SEVERAL OTHER MALIBU MAX AND THEY ALSO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE SO WHEN IS CHEVROLET GOING TO RECALL THE MALIBU MAX FOR THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE? *TR

NHTSA ID
10712296
Incident
Nov 1, 2013
Exterior lightingPowertrain (other)Steering+1 more
Filed Feb 9, 2015

2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. CONSUMER SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR PREVIOUS REPAIRS, PRIOR TO RECALL. *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOISY, THE WHEEL WAS LOOSE, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. AN ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED TWICE, SHE EXPERIENCED STEERING PROBLEMS DURING THE ENTIRE YEAR OF 2013. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE STEERING ISSUE, BUT SHE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS. THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND RACK AND PINION WERE REPLACED. ALSO, THE TURN SIGNALS AND SHIFTER CABLE WERE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10662790
Incident
Dec 20, 2010
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 13, 2014
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, BOTH TURNING SIGNAL LIGHTS OVERHEATED. AS A RESULT, THE TURN SIGNAL HOUSING AND SOCKET MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE LIGHT BULB SOCKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 280,000.

NHTSA ID
10654732
Incident
Nov 11, 2014
Mileage
280,000 mi
AirbagsHeating & air conditioningEngine+2 more
Filed Sep 10, 2014
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TWICE WITH EXCESSIVE FORCE TO PREVENT A CRASH. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED THE SECOND TIME, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND EMITTED WHITE POWDER, WHICH IMPAIRED THE CONTACT'S VISION. THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK AND SHOULDER INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 10/08/14*LJ UPDATED 05/18/2015 *JS

NHTSA ID
10632140
Incident
Jul 21, 2014
Mileage
130,000 mi
Interior & seatsExterior lightingSeat belts
Filed Jul 22, 2014

WHAT CAN I SAY I HAVE BEEN WRITING ABOUT THIS CAR FOR THE LONGEST. I JUST WANT TO SAY THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE BULBS BURNING OUT, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BREAKING AT THE WELD AND THE SEAT BELT LIGHT CONSTANTLY COMING ON IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM I'M SURE GM KNEW ABOUT THIS. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO DEAF EARS BOTH TO NHTSA AND GM. THE LAST TIME I MADE A COMPLAINT WAS IN MAY 2014 TO BOTH OF THEM ABOUT THE STEERING. GM AND NHTSA SAYS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL. EXACTLY 2 WEEKS LATER THE CEO OF GM COMES OUT TO SAY THE MALIBU MAXX IS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL! I PAID TO HAVE MY STEERING WHEEL REPLACED IN 2007 BECAUSE OF POWER STEERING FAILURE, THE DEALER SAID I NEEDED THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACE AND I DID TO THE TUNE OF ALMOST $800. NOW A BULLETIN WAS SENT OUT TO DEALERS IN 2005 ABOUT A KEY INSERT FOR ANY CUSTOMER WHO CAME IN TO COMPLAIN ABOUT POWER STEERING FAILURE, BUT THIS WAS NOT GIVEN TO ME AS A CHOICE. THEY WERE SURE I NEEDED THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED, SO I DID. NOW THAT MY CAR IS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND I PAID, PERHAPS, UNNECESSARILY TO HAVE MY STEERING COLUMN REPLACED AS ANYONE KNOW THIS DEFECTIVE PART IS PART OF THE STEERING GM STILL DOES NOT WANT TO REIMBURSE ME MY MONEY BACK. I BOUGHT THE CADILLAC CATERA WHICH WAS DISCONTINUED DUE TO MANY RECALLS AND BECAUSE OF ALL MY COMPLAINTS GM GAVE ME $3000 TOWARD A NEW GM CAR, WHICH I APPLIED TO THE MALIBU MAXX. I WON'T PUT MY MONEY OR GIVEN CREDIT TOWARD A GM AGAIN, I'M THROUGH AND SINCE NEARLY HALF OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS ARE GM OWNERS I AM GETTING THEM TO MAKE THEIR NEXT PURCHASE SOMETHING OTHER THAN AMERICAN MADE CARS. I MAKE SURE I TELL EVERYONE ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE SO THEY WILL THINK TWICE ABOUT A COMPANY WHO DIDN'T WANT TO INVEST 90 CENTS TOPOSSIBLY FIX A PROBLEM PER CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10615336
Incident
Jul 1, 2005
Mileage
4,000 mi
BrakesInterior & seatsExterior lighting+1 more
Filed Jul 10, 2014

THE SEAT BELT DO NOT LOCK IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. THE DRIVERS SEAT ROCKS WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING AN ADJUSTS BY ITSELF YOU CAN NOT KEEP THE SEAT STILL. THE WELDING HAS COME APART FROM THE BASE. THE HEAD LIGHTS ARE MELTING THE BULBS FOR THE SIGNAL AND RUNNING LIGHT. I JUST CAUGHT THAT LAST WEEKEND THE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING WHEN I LOOK AT THE BULB IT WAS MELTED WHICH COULD HAVE STARTED AN FIRE. I AM WAITING FOR THE LETTER FOR THE RECALL ON THE STERN NOW. THIS WOULD BE THE SECOND TIME FOR IT. I KEEP MY CAR UP TO DATE WITH EVERYTHING OIL AND WHATEVER NEED TO BE DONE I AM ON TOP OF IT. BUT I HAVE TO MANY SAFETY ISSUE WITH IT RIGHT. SEAT BELT, STERN,DRIVERS SEAT, HEADLIGHTS. NOT ONLY THAT THE ROTOR WARPS EVERY SIX MONTHS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10609737
Incident
Jul 20, 2011
Mileage
70,000 mi
BrakesInterior & seatsExterior lighting+1 more
Filed Jul 10, 2014

THE SEAT BELT DO NOT LOCK IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. THE DRIVERS SEAT ROCKS WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING AN ADJUSTS BY ITSELF YOU CAN NOT KEEP THE SEAT STILL. THE WELDING HAS COME APART FROM THE BASE. THE HEAD LIGHTS ARE MELTING THE BULBS FOR THE SIGNAL AND RUNNING LIGHT. I JUST CAUGHT THAT LAST WEEKEND THE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING WHEN I LOOK AT THE BULB IT WAS MELTED WHICH COULD HAVE STARTED AN FIRE. I AM WAITING FOR THE LETTER FOR THE RECALL ON THE STERN NOW. THIS WOULD BE THE SECOND TIME FOR IT. I KEEP MY CAR UP TO DATE WITH EVERYTHING OIL AND WHATEVER NEED TO BE DONE I AM ON TOP OF IT. BUT I HAVE TO MANY SAFETY ISSUE WITH IT RIGHT. SEAT BELT, STERN,DRIVERS SEAT, HEADLIGHTS. NOT ONLY THAT THE ROTOR WARPS EVERY SIX MONTHS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10609736
Incident
Jul 20, 2011
Mileage
70,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lightingSteering
Filed Jun 20, 2014

DRLS BULBS ON HEADLIGHTS RUN TOO HOT CAUSING THE BULB TO BURN OUT CONSTANTLY AND CAUSING ASSEMBLY TO AND MELT. I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH MY HEADLIGHTS ON AT ALL TIMES, OR MY TURNING SIGNALS WILL NOT WORK. I'VE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY TWICE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10604826
Incident
May 16, 2008
Exterior lightingSteering
Filed Jun 6, 2014

ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS OVER THE PAST YEAR I WOULD HEAR A LOUD CHIME AND MY POWER STEERING WOULD GO OUT IN MY 2004 MALIBU MAXX, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. EACH TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED, I WOULD TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT WHICH WOULD RESOLVE THE POWER STEERING PROBLEM. INITIALLY, I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID THERE WERE NO LEAKS IN THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM AND IT MUST HAVE BEEN AN ELECTRONIC PROBLEM. I CHALKED IT UP TO OLD AGE (FOR THE CAR) AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH CARE. MY WIFE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR SINCE THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE SHE COULD NOT CONTROL THE CAR IF THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT. RECENTLY I HEARD OF A RECALL ON T.V. REGARDING MY YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL. THE RECALL DESCRIPTION FIT MY EXPERIENCE WITH THIS CAR. I CONTACTED THE GM DEALER (SWEENEY CHEVROLET IN BOARDMAN OHIO) AND WAS TOLD 'THERE HAD NOT BEEN A RECALL ON MY CAR AS OF YET'. THEY WENT ON TO SAY THAT IF I WANTED IT FIXED, TO BRING IT IN AND PAY OUT OF POCKET. I WOULD LATER BE REIMBURSED BY GM IF, IN FACT, THERE WAS AN EVENTUAL RECAL. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT I DON'T HAVE $500-$1000 FOR A REPAIR THAT I MAY NOT GET REIMBURSED FOR. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT MY CAR SHOULD BE COVERED BY THIS RECALL THAT WAS ANNOUNCED NATIONALLY ON T.V. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE SO THAT GM CAN BE MADE TO FIX THIS CAR BEFORE IT CAUSES AN ACCIDENT? ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE BEEN BRUSHED OFF BY THEM REGARDING THE TURN SIGNALS SINCE THIS CAR HAS BEEN UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE REPLACED OVER 100 BULBS SINCE THIS CAR WAS NEW. THEY OVERHEAT AND MELT THE SURROUNDING MATERIALS. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE ENTIRE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY, TO NO AVAIL. I NOW DRIVE THIS CAR WITHOUT A LEFT FRONT TURN SIGNAL BECAUSE IT WILL BURN OUT THE BULB WITHIN A DAY OR TWO OF REPLACING IT. I'M NOT SURE IF THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF GM IN THE PAST, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE A FIRE HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10596566
Incident
Jun 4, 2013
Mileage
175,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed May 28, 2014

FRONT HEADLAMPS AND TURN SIGNAL BULBS ARE HAVING TO BE REPLACED AROUND EVERY 6 MONTHS. USING BULBS SPECIFIED BY THE OWNER'S MANUAL. PLASTIC ORANGE BULB CASING HAS HOLES MELTED ON THE TOP AND WARPED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10594556
Incident
Sep 18, 2013
Mileage
125,000 mi
Interior & seatsExterior lightingSteering
Filed May 19, 2014

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET APPROACHING THE CORNER PREPARING TO STOP LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER THE WHEEL, COULD NOT CONTINUE TO DRIVE HAD TO STOP THE CAR. ON SATURDAY MAY 17,2014 WHILE DOING 65 MILES ON THE HIGHWAY A CAR LIT UP ON THE LEFT CORNER OF THE DASH AND THE POWER STEERING WORDS APPEAR. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY IN FEAR. SEVERAL TIMES WHILE BACKING OUT OR PULLING OUT OF A SPACE THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTENS. EVERY MONTH I'M CONSTANTLY CHANGING LIGHT BULBS AND THE FUSES FOR THE INTERIOR AND THE EXTERIOR OF THE CAR. *TR UPDATED 12/9/2014 *JS

NHTSA ID
10592521
Incident
Aug 2, 2012
Mileage
69,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed May 10, 2014

I HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT TURN SIGNAL BULBS MANY TIME WITH ORIGINAL PART NUMBERS USING STANDARD BULBS, THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH OVER HEATING AND MELTED THE ORANGE TURN SIGNAL GLOBES INSIDE THE HEAD LIGHTS TO THE POINT THAT IT MADE HOLES IN THE TOP OF THE INNER GLOBES AND ITS YELLOWING THE INSIDE OF MY HEADLIGHT. I HAVE HEARD MANY OTHERS HAVING PROBLEMS AS WELL, I ALSO WORK FOR A COMPANY WHERE WE SERVICE CAR, IT IS VERY NOTICEABLE ON THE 2004 - 2006 CHEVY MALIBU'S THAT COME INTO MY SHOP AS WELL. WHEN THE PLASTIC MELTS IT TOUCHES THE BULB AND POPS IT, NOW I DON'T HAVE ANY WAY TO WARN THE OTHER DRIVES THAT I NEED TO MAKE A TURN FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10587609
Incident
Apr 14, 2011
Mileage
76,241 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Mar 26, 2013

TURN SIGNAL BULBS ARE BEING MELTED BY DEFECTIVE SOCKETS!!! NEED REPLACEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10504580
Incident
Feb 6, 2012
Mileage
80,000 mi
BrakesInterior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Jul 12, 2012

THE DRIVER SEAT ON THIS CAR HAS COME OFF THE RAILS ON RIGHT SIDE CAUSING IT TO TILT. IF THE SEAT IS NOT MOVED TO THE LOWEST SETTING THE TILTS WITH THE MOVEMENT OF THE CAR. I HAD THE SEAT REPAIRED ONCE; IT FAILED AGAIN AFTER ABOUT 6 MONTHS. AT THE SAME TIME I HAD THE EMERGENCY BRAKE REPAIRED. WHEN SETTING THE BRAKE, I HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE REPAIR FAILED ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO FOR THE SECOND TIME. I AM ALSO GOING THROUGH NEW BRAKES ON THIS CAR AT AN ALARMING RATE - THREE BRAKE REPLACEMENTS ALREADY AND THE CAR HAS 90,000 MILES. THE CAR IS AGAIN BEGINNING TO SHIMMY/SHUDDER WHEN GOING DOWN STEEP HILLS AND THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THE CAR SEEMS NOT TO SLOW DOWN AT ALL (I.E. SHIFTING GEARS) WHEN GOING DOWN HILL OTHER THAN BY THE BRAKES - IT FEELS LIKE A FREE FALL. THE SIGNALS, HEADLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ALSO NEED FREQUENT REPLACEMENT. I TYPICALLY HAVE TO REPLACE AT LEAST ONE OF THESE AT EACH OIL CHANGE AND HAVE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS NEEDED TO MAKE REPLACEMENTS BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. I WOULD ESTIMATE THE HEADLIGHTS/BLINKERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES. THE REAR LIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED PERHAPS TEN TIMES. CURRENTLY THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT IS OUT AND CANNOT BE REPAIRED WITHOUT TAKING OFF THE INTERIOR COVER OF THE CAR TO ACCESS THE WIRING - THE BULB IS NOT THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10465405
Incident
Apr 1, 2011
Mileage
80,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 19, 2011

RIGHT FRONT SIGNAL BULB SOCKET AND BULB OVER HEATING (MELTING) AND RESULTING IN INOPERATIVE FRONT TURN SIGNAL. REPEATEDLY OCCURRING - HAVING TO REMOVE MELTED PLASTIC AND REPLACE BULB. 4 TIMES SINCE FIRST OCCURRENCE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10440488
Incident
Oct 8, 2011
Mileage
95,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Mar 16, 2011

BOUGHT 2004 MALIBU MAXX BRAND NEW. SWITCH IN AC FIRST TO GO AT JUST UNDER 10000 MILES. 18000 MILES BRAKES AND ROTORS HAD TO REPLACE COST ALMOST $800.00. HEADLIGHTS BURNED UP REPLACE WIRING HARNESS ON BOTH ANOTHER $1000.00. REPLACED BOTH HEAD LIGHTS COULD NOT SEE THROUGH EITHER OF THEM ANOTHER $385.00 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON AND COME TO FIND OUT THERE WAS NOT A FUSE IN THE EMISSION SPOT. REPLACED THAT ANOTHER $400.00 WHEN THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM. LEAKS IN THE HATCH WHEN IT RAINS OR CAR IS BEING WASHED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON WILL NOT RESET. DRIVER SEAT SUPPORTS ARE BROKEN AND EVERYONE THAT I KNOW THAT HAS THIS CAR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THIS, GUESS WHEN THERE IS AN ACCIDENT AND SOMEONE REALLY GETS HURT THEN SOMETHING WILL BE DON. IT IS ASHAMED THAT YOU PAY SO MUCH FOR A VEHICLE AND THIS IS WHAT YOU GO THROUGH. I AM A FIRM BELIEVER IN OIL CHANGES AND GENERAL MAINTENANCE AND NO ONE FROM THE COMPANY SEEMS TO CARE ABOUT PROBLEMS THAT IS FAULT OF THE MANUFACTURING OF THIS CAR AND IT SEEMS THAT NO ONE WANTS TO REPLACE WHAT IS WRONG. *TR

NHTSA ID
10390421
Incident
Apr 1, 2004
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Mar 10, 2011

THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS DIDN'T WORK AFTER ONLY 8,00 MILES AND THEN THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL DIDN'T WORK AFTER ONLY 15,000 MILES. THERE WAS A RELAY SWITCH THAT WAS REPLACED AT 8,000 MILES THAT COST $125.00 INCLUDING PARTS AND LABOR AND THEN AT 15,000 MILES THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL DIDN'T WORK AND AFTER TWO DAYS IN THE SHOP THEY "REPAIRED AND RECRIMPED TERMINAL AT BCM". NO PARTS, JUST LABOR $459.80. BOTH OF THESE JOBS WERE DONE AT CHEVY DEALERSHIPS. IT TURNS OUT THAT THESE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ESPECIALLY THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON BUT IT TOOK THE DEALERSHIP TWO DAYS TO FIX IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10389749
Incident
Jan 11, 2010
Mileage
8,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Sep 2, 2010

MY FRIEND HAS A 2004 CHEVY MALIBU, SHE ASKED ME TO CHECK HER FRONT TURN SIGNALS AS THEY WERE NOT WORKING. I NOTICED THE LIGHT BULBS WERE COVERED BY A ORANGE PLASTIC GLOBE. I WAS AMAZED TO SEE THE PLASTIC GLOBES HAD BURN HOLES IN THEM AND THE MELTING PLASTIC WAS DRIPPING ON THE LIGHT BULBS AND DESTROYING THEM. I ALSO NOTICED BURN MARKS ON THE HEADLAMP LENSES ON BOTH SIDES. I REMOVED THE PLASTIC GLOBES AND PUT NEW BULBS IN. THE GLOBES ARE WAY TOO CLOSE TO THE HOT BULBS WHICH ARE BURNING THE PLASTIC. IT IS HAPPENING ON HIGHER MILEAGE MALIBUS THAT HAVE HAD TIME TO MELT THE PLASTIC. I FEEL THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. I CHECKED ON THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM. GM HAS NO BULLETINS ON THIS MATTER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10353490
Incident
Aug 30, 2010
Mileage
91,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed May 4, 2010

EXPERIENCING LOSS OF FUNCTION OF FRONT AND REAR, TURN, STOP OR DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS (DRL). HAVE REPLACED OR REPOSITIONED BULBS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS OVER THE YEARS. RECENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT FRONT TURN SIGNAL LENS IS MELTING ON BOTH SIDES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10328815
Incident
Feb 20, 2010
Mileage
63,000 mi
Exterior lightingSteering
Filed Jan 30, 2010

POWER STEERING FAILURE. WHEN I START CAR AND MAKING SHARP TURNS, IN ADDITION TO JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. HERE CLICKING IN THE FRONT RIGHT END WHEN GOING UP HILL. TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT IT IS A PROB WITH THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM AND RACK AND PINION. ODDLY ENOUGH THERE WAS AND 2006 MAILBU IN AT THE SAME TIME WITH THE SAME PROBLEM MECHANIC FELT IT SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE. ALSO HAVE ISSUE WITH THE TURN SIGNALS FAILING I HAVE REPLACED MANY TIMES. I ALSO HAVE A HOLE THAT MELTED ON THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE IN THE PLASTIC HOUSING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10303389
Incident
Oct 17, 2009
Mileage
85,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 1, 2009
Fire reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WAS INOPERATIVE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, HE NOTICED THAT THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL AMBER COVER WAS BURNED WITH A HOLE IN IT. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED; HOWEVER, HE HAS NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41, 140 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,167.

NHTSA ID
10285931
Incident
Sep 27, 2009
Mileage
41,140 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 14, 2009

EXTERIOR LAMP SOCKET OVERHEATED, MELTED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF TURN SIGNAL INDICATORS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10283845
Incident
Sep 4, 2009
Mileage
93,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 31, 2009

THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS/TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS ON MY 2004 MALIBU MAXX ARE MELTING THROUGH THE AMBER COLORED HOUSING AND STARTING TO MELT THE CLEAR HOUSING THAT COVERS THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT. I THINK AT SOME TIME THIS MIGHT LEAD TO A FIRE. THE PROBLEM WAS JUST NOTICED AT A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND MAY HAVE BEEN MELTING FOR A LONG TIME BEFORE IT WAS REALIZED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10282375
Incident
Aug 1, 2009
Mileage
100,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 6, 2009

THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TURN SIGNAL / PARK LAMP WAS NOT WORKING. I REMOVED THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY TO ACCESS THE TURN SIGNAL BULB. BEFORE REMOVING THE BULB I NOTICED; A) THE OLD BULB GLASS WAS WHITE. B) THEOUTER CLEAR PLASTIC AND CHROME REFLECTIVE SURFACE OF THE HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY ARE DISCOLORED, DIRECTLY ABOVE THE TURN SIGNAL BULB, FROM HEAT. C) THE ROUND AMBER LENS DIRECTLY AROUND THE TURN SIGNAL BULB WAS MELTED AT THE TOP AND A MELTED PIECE OF THIS PLASTIC EXTENDED DOWN AND WAS MELTED TO THE TOP OF THE TURN SIGNAL BULB. CURRENTLY ALL I HAVE DONE WAS TO REPLACE THE BULB. NOTE: BOTH FRONT HEAD LAMP HOUSINGS HAVE THE SAME HEAT DISCOLORATION AND MELTING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10279550
Incident
Aug 2, 2009

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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