Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Water leaking and running into spare tire compartment in truck. Due to no recall alert and dealership won't do anything, now my dome light shorts out and water stain on ceiling liner by rear window.
I gotten the head light changed several times even diagnostic tests and they cant tell me why my low beam and high beam light keeps going out
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the shift to park warning message would illuminate on the instrument panel while attempting to park and shut off her vehicle. The contact would be forced to repeatedly move the gear shifter back and forth from the park (P) position until the system recognized the gear shifter in the park (P) position. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed her that her vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V502000 (Electrical System, Power Train). In addition, the contact mentioned that water had been entering the vehicle and leaking out of the middle taillight. Due to the failure, the middle taillight had become fogged and mildew had accumulated inside the trunk. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.
The 3rd brake light broke(high mount stop lamp) which caused water leakage into the trunk and filled the compartment where the spare tire goes.
ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. INVOLVED IN A COLLISION
THE HEADLIGHTS CONSTANT COMES ON AND BLINKS ON AND OFF AND WHEN THIS HAPPENS IT UNLOCKS THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR I HAVE BEEN SITTING IN THE CAR WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND CAN HEAR THE FLICKERING OF THE LOCK JUST THE OTHER DAY I LOCKED THE DOOR MANUALLY IT UNLOCKED BY ITSELF THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT ACTUALLY LOCK.I HAVE HAD TO LOCK THE DOORS MANUALLY FOR SOME TIME NOW. BACK IN OCTOBER 2020 IT WAS KILLING MY BATTERY CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO GET A BOOST CONSTANTLY TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID IT WAS THE ONSTAR SYSTEM AND I PAYED TO HAVE IT REMOVED AND STILL THE PROBLEM STILL IS THERE. BATTERY WAS STILL DYING DUE TO THE LIGHTS COMING ON AT ANY GIVEN TIME AND DRAINING THE BATTERY. I DECIDED TO BUY ANOTHER BATTERY NO LONGER NEED A BOOST BUT THE LIGHT PROBLEM STILL REMAINS AN ISSUE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS PARKING THE VEHICLE AND THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH A MESSAGE TO SHIFT TO PARK. THE CONTACT THEN SHIFTED THE VEHICLE BACK INTO DRIVE AND BACK INTO PARK YET THE ERROR MESSAGE STATED SHIFT TO PARK. THE CONTACT STATED HE TRIED TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND THE ENGINE SHUT-OFF HOWEVER, THE HEADLIGHTS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, AND THE RADIO REMAINED ON. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MIDWAY CHEVROLET (2323 W BELL RD, PHOENIX, AZ 85023) WHERE THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THE PARK FAILURE MECHANISM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,863.
I GET ROUTINE SERVICE TO MY CAR & MY ENGINE IS CLICKING, LOUDLY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY GOES ON & OFF & I WAS TOLD BY CHEVROLET SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THEY COULD NOT EVEN RUN A DIAGNOSTICS TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS OFF WHEN I GOT TO THE DEALERSHIP. SOMETIMES 'SERVICE BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM' WILL ILLUMINATE BUT IT TOO PICKS AND CHOOSES WHEN TO ILLUMINATE. SOMETIMES IT SHOWS 'BATTERY SAVER ACTIVATED' AND THIS IS THE THIRD BATTERY I'VE PURCHASED! THE ENTIRE CAR WILL STALL/SHUT OFF BUT THE GREEN LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED TO SHOW THE CAR IS ON BUT WHEN I ACCELERATE IT WON'T BUDGE! DANGEROUS CONSIDERING MY CAR COULD STALL AT ANYTIME AND CAUSE A COLLISION. I'VE NEARLY GOTTEN T-BONED TWICE COMING OUT A GAS STATION ENTERING A ROAD BECAUSE MY CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET WHILE TRAFFIC WAS COMING FROM BOTH DIRECTIONS! A SERVICE MAN AT THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP ASKED ME WAS I EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH MY AUTO START/STOP WHEN I TOLD HIM WHAT WAS HAPPENING. YES! MY CAR PICKS AND CHOOSES WHEN IT WANTS TO DO IT. AND WHEN IT DOES 'RESTART' THE ENTIRE CAR REBOOTS, THE LOCKS RE-CLICK, LIGHTS FLICKER, IT'LL BE IN DRIVE AND ROLL BACKWARDS UNTIL THE IGNITION TURNS OVER! CHEVY OR AT LEAST THE SERVICE TECHS ARE FULLY AWARE OF AN ISSUE AND WON'T FIX IT. SOMETIMES THE CAR JUST WON'T START, ALL THE POWER WILL GO OUT. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I'M OUT & THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND ENGINE WON'T START AFTER AT LEAST STARTING 20 MINUTES PRIOR! I'VE ALREADY GOT NEW PISTONS, A NEW ALTERNATOR, 3 NEW BATTERIES & GET THE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. I HAVE A MYCHEVY ACCOUNT & EVERY MONTH MY DIAGNOSTICS REPORT, SHOWS AN ISSUE! IF I'M IN AN ACCIDENT & MY CHILD OR I ARE INJURED, WHO IS LIABLE BECAUSE MY CAR DECIDES TO MALFUNCTION IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY? CHEVROLET FOR NEGLECTING TO SERVICE MY CAR BECAUSE THE FREAKING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ISN'T ON!
THIRD REAR BRAKE LIGHT LEAKS/ALLOWS WATER INTO INSIDE OF CAR AND FRAME CRACKS ON BOTH SIDES. WATER LEAKS INTO HEADLINER AND TRUNK AND STAINS INTERIOR. CAR SMILES HUMID. HAPPENS VERY TIME IT RAINS AND WASH CAR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. FIRST TIME PARTS WERE REPLACED, SECOND PARTS STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND ISSUE STILL OCCURS. POOR QUALITY PARTS.
PASSENGER SIDE HEAD LIGHT WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING THEN CAME BACK ON A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER. TWO WEEKS LATER DRIVER SIDE LIGHT WENT OUT. TWO WEEKS AFTER THAT BOTH LIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING EVEN HIGHBEAMS NOT FUNCTIONAL WHILE DRIVING. ALL LIGHTS NOT FUNCTIONAL AT THE MOMENT.
THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DIMS AT VARIOUS TIMES MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE WHEN DRIVING OR PARKED.
WATER POURED INTO THE BACK SEAT AND ONTO MY SON. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP WHERE DIAGNOSED THAT THIRD CENTER BRAKE LIGHT IS NOT SEALED AND LEAKING WATER. SAME ISSUE AS ALL OTHER 9TH GEN MALIBUS (2016+ MODEL YEARS). DID NOT NOTICE LEAK UNTIL 43,000 MILES, OUT OF WARRANTY. WHO KNOWS HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN THERE! MANY PARTS RUINED AND POTENTIALLY MOLDY FROM WATER DAMAGE. GM CUSTOMER CARE SAID THE REPAIR IS $4300 OF WHICH THEY WANT ME TO PAY $1900 DESPITE THIS BEING A DESIGN OR PRODUCTION FLAW.
WATER IS GETTING IN THREW THE 3RD BRAKE MOUNTED ON THE REAR WINDSHIELD. THE LIGHT IS FOGGED AND WATER IS LEAKING INTO THE MAIN CABIN. THE VEHICLE CAN BE IN MOTION OR STATIONARY. I FEEL IT IS UNSAFE BECAUSE WATER COULD BE SITTING SOMEWHERE IN THE MAIN CABIN, AND COULD EVENTUALLY PRODUCE MOLD. ALSO, THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE DO TO WATER SHORTING IT OUT.
THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY IS LEAKING WATER ON THE REAR SEATS AND TRUNK. LOOKING ONLINE, THERE ARE OTHERS AFFECTED BY THE SAME ISSUE. THE OFFICIAL ANSWER FROM CHEVY IS THAT THE BOLTS BECOME LOSE OVERTIME. MY CAR HAS 40,000 MILES AND IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY, SO GM WON'T FIX IT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DETECTED MOLD ON THE REAR SEATS, IN THE TRUNK, ON THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SEATS, AND THE VEHICLE FLOOR. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATION REGARDING THE CENTER HIGH MOUNT THIRD BRAKE LIGHT, WHICH CAUSED WATER TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HESSERT CHEVROLET (6301 E ROOSEVELT BLVD, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19149, 877-338-7630) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT WAS REPLACED, BUT THE MOLD WAS STILL PRESENT IN THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,400. *DT *TR
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2016 MALIBU LS (JULY 29, 2017). AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE IT HAS 2,100 MILES. IT CURRENTLY HAS APRROXIMATELY 4,600 MILES. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY IT'S ORGINAL FACTORY EQUIPMENT AND HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY CRASH, COLLISION OR HAS HAD ANY BODY WORK DONE. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ALLIGNED. I BELIEVE THE VEHICLE HAS INADEQATE ILLUMINATION, ESPECIALLY FOR SUCH A RECENT MODEL YEAR. THE LOW BEAMS AND THE HIGH BEAMS ARE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH AND DO NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROADWAY FAR ENOUGH. IT IS ESPECIALLY NOTICABLE ON TURNS. I DO MOST OF MY DRIVING ON RURAL ROADS IN UPSTATE NEW YORK, WHERE I HAVE A HOME. THERE IS NO SECONDARY LIGHTING (STREET LAMPS/ ROADWAY LIGHTING), JUST YOUR VEHICLES HEADLAMPS. THESE ROADS ARE ONE LANE EACH DIRECTION RURAL ROADS. I BELEIVE THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE YOU CAN NOT SEE WILD LIFE, LIKE DEER AND BEAR ON THE SHOULDER OR THE ROADWAY EASILY IN THIS VEHICLE. THEY DO NOT LIGHT THE ROADWAY'S SHOULDER FAR ENOUGH TO SEE DEER ON THE SHOULDER OR CROSSIING THE ROADS UNTIL YOU ARE CLOSER TO THEM, THEN IN OTHER GM CARS I HAVE HAD AND THEN YOU HAVE TO STOP SHORT. MY PRIOR GM'S CARS, THE HIGH BEAMS AND LOW WERE BRIGHT ENOUGH TO REFLECT OFF THE ANIMALS EYES OR THEIR BODIES. IMPROVED ILLUMINATION WOULD MAKE A SUBSTANCIAL DIFFERENCE AND HELP TO ELIMINATE A SAFETY ISSUE AND OR A POSSIBLE CRASH OR COLLISION. CAN THESE BULBS BE CHANGED OR UPGRADED? I AM A LOYAL GM CUSTOMER AND HAVE HAD SEVERAL GM CARS, AN 1987 CENTURY, 1989 OLDS CIERA. BOTH OF WHICH SEEMED TO HAVE BETTER ILLUMINATION, EVEN BEING MORE THAN 25 YRS OLD. I ACTUALLY JUST REPLACED THE OLDSMOBILE WITH THE MALIBU. I ALSO DRIVE A 2003 SATURN ION WHICH HAS BETTER ILLUMINTION. AS WELL AS A 2016 BUICK VERANO. CAN THIS MATTER BE INVESTIGATED TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE TO REMEDY THIS THIS, THANK YOU.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING OVER 25 MPH, THE INTELLIBEAM HEADLIGHT SYSTEM DISABLED ITSELF INADVERTENTLY AND TOOK A MILE OR MORE TO RESET. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT NO FAILURES WERE FOUND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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