general problems of the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu - part 1

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked under a carport in her driveway, she had been warned by neighbors that the rear end of the vehicle was on fire. The contact stated that she saw that flames were issuing from both rear light housings. The contact stated that by the time her husband and a neighbor attempted to extinguish the flames with garden hoses, the light housings and the rear bumper were on fire and melting. The fire department and the police were called. The contact stated that by the time emergency services arrived, the flames had been extinguished. The contact stated that the fire department opened the trunk, and the interior of the trunk and the matting were not damaged. The only damage was to the rear light housings and the rear bumper. The fire department had not issued a report, however the police had. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.

I'm having to replace the low beam headlight in my car more times than a lil bit! I hate that I'm constantly spending $60+ everytime on headlights cause of I replace one side imma replace the other! I have brought the replacement harness for the lights and the low beam still blows!.

Two months ago while driving on the highway at 60 mph at night my headlights shut off with no warning leaving only my running lights, turn signals, brake lights and hazards lights functioning. Neither hi or low beams would function. Yet no warning or service lights appeared on the dash. Local mechanic replaced both the headlights bulbs and connectors on both sides. 3 weeks later it happened again, this time when I started my car the headlights failed to turn on. So I contacted a local chevy dealer (rob eck chevy) who said there was no recall or investigation. . . So I took it back the mechanic and had him fix it again. Just a few minutes ago today when I went to go to work yet again the headlights won't turn on. Checked through a plethora of forums about the Malibu both fan sites and manufacturers sites and have found that this is an extremely common issue for 2008-2014 Malibus, as this is an extremely dangerous failure/malfunction for both the driver and everyone else on the road I am stunned that there's no recall or at least an investigation into this as with this many occurrences with so many owners it's virtually impossible to be owner fault ergo it must be a product defect or a manufacturer defect. . . . Please do what's right for the safety and well being of others not what's right to protect the rich lining their pockets.

Passenger headlight keeps going out. Have had to replace 4 times in 3 years. Difficult taking off entire bumper.

Passenger side low beam headlight bulb connector melted/burnt. Caused low beam to go out on occasion - hit a bump and it switches on/off.

Headlight wiring harness connector has melted multiple times leaving me without low beam headlights while driving at night with my children in the car. This has left me having to use my high beams to drive and this poses as a safety hazard for not only me and my family but other people on the road. This also poses a fire hazard if the plastic connector is getting hot enoughto melt. I have requested warranty replacements for this part through ac delco and made them aware of the on going problem and informed them that this is a well known issue with this car and that it is extremely dangerous. I have not had the part inspected by a mechanic, insurance company or law enforcement but have the failed part and would be willing to have it inspected by law enforcement or anyone else but can not afford out of pocket expenses to do so. There was no prior warning to this happening any of the times it happened it would be working when I left my house I would stop somewhere turn the car off and when I got back in and started the car they wouldn't turn on. Another time they quit working while driving down the road. The date below is the date that I ordered the first replacement wiring harness it lasted less than 3 months and I had to have it replaced and currently I am dealing with not having low beams again this is the 3rd time I have dealt with this issue and it has been on going since January 2025.

I purchased this 2011 cheverolet Malibu brand new. A few years prior to me giving it to my daughter, I had to get the headlights replaced several times, one would go out a month or so after I had the other one fixed. I gave it to her in 2019 and lately every other week one or even both of the front headlights have gone out. Also, the third brake lamp randomly goes out and now one of the rear brake lamps has gone out. There’s already over 100 complaints about these issues with this particular model but gm has yet to do a recall! why?? it’s clearly an issue with the vehicle and the fact that the entire front bumper has to come off to get to it is the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen!!! headlights, of all things, randomly going out on a vehicle is not safe at all! there are people out here who have children in these faulty vehicles and clearly neither gm nor the NHTSA cares. What is it going to take for someone to do something about this, deaths???.

Driverside airbag light will come on with service airbag message. This does occasionally turn off but comes back for days or weeks at a time. Driver side seatbelt light will randomly come on and stay on or turn off. Both airbag and seatbelt light may be on at the same time. If they are all off or the airbag light turns off it's only for a day or two. Most of the time it will be the airbag light only that is on and tends to stay on longer than seatbelt light.

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. The vehicle was previously serviced under NHTSA campaign number: 14v252000 (electrical system, exterior lighting, vehicle speed control, electronic stability control). The contact stated that on various occasions and while driving at various speeds, the traction control and power steering disengaged independently as the "reduced engine power" warning message was illuminated and the vehicle velocity dropped down to 10 mph. The contact also stated that the brake lights flickered intermittently without applying the brake pedal. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the intake camshaft actuator, mass air flow and manifold absolute pressure (map) sensors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failures recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 168,000.

The headlights have went out over 10 times. The wiring keeps burning. This is a known issues. Why is there not a recall? it’s extremely expensive and hard to get the front end of the car off to replace the bulb to find out it’s not the bulb. It goes out every few months. Even the dealership service department has told me it’s a known issue!.

My vehicle has about 62,000 miles and the center rear brakes light just inside the rear window is not working. It seems very dim. Failed state safety inspection. Not an accident.

Passenger side low beam head light keeps going out ever other month.

My dim lights do not work, it is not the bulb or anything connected with the light, it has all been checked out! brights work, but it is too dangerous for me to have to drive with my brights on. I need to be able to drive at night!.

Ongoing problem with headlamps burning out. I have had the car for 2 years and have to have them replaced every 3 mo. Or so the last burn out happened on 5/12/2020.

My low beam lights keep going out repeatedly. It starts with the passenger light then both and after a few days I have no lights. They been going out every 2 months and this is the 4th time I replaced them. No specific time when they go out I just notice it when I turn the lights on. They have not lasted longer than two months.

For over a year I have had issues with my passengers side low beam light going out. The issue is not with the lightbulb but the actual harness and pig tail. After three mechanics and hundreds of dollars (this is not any easy fix due to the bumper having to be removed every time this happens) not to mention the cost of parts and labor, I decided to do some research. It appears there are thousands of consumers having this same issue. It has been less than 2 months since I have had it replaced and it has burnt up again. I feel Chevrolet should be addressing this issue and doing something about it.

Low-beam headlamps continually burn out or quit working, requiring frequent replacement of headlamp bulbs and headlamp assembly pieces. Repairs are expensive because the vehicle's entire front end must be removed each time to access headlamps and related wiring. One or both headlamps have gone out at least four times in the past 18 months.

The head lights in my vehicle do not work at all. I have to use the brights to see anything at night. The heat works when it wants too and when I bump into a small lump on the street it turns off. The wheel barrier is bad on my right tire.

Every year had to get my connector replaced because my light bulb keeps going out. Happening for the past 3 years.

I have a 2011 chevy Malibu and I have replaced my passenger low beam bulb twice within two weeks.

My low-beams keep shorting out. Sometimes 1 is out. Sometimes both are out. Sometimes both are on. There is nothing common as to when which will be the case. A week ago, both lights were out when I went to drive at night! days later, 1 was working. This morning, both worked. I shut my car off and when I came back out to leave a location, only 1 came on again. My other lights are unaffected.

Nothing happened specifically. My low beams (mainly passenger side) keeps going out. It doesn't burn out, it just simply quits working. Every now and then I'll hit a bump and it will come back on, but that's rare. It can be sitting or in drive when this happens.

Takata recall. I have recalls that Chevrolet not picking up. All the recalls are happening to my car. When it rain the traction system light comes on, my lights bulbs constantly go out, my cigarette light starked fire. When turning a curve my car halts or stall and jerk. There are so many things going on with the car that I can explain. When it rain my car pulls or goes off road I have to drive really slow because I am afraid that I will loose control of the vehicle do the braking system etc.

The passenger side low beam has been replaced 4 times and the connector once. The drivers side low beam has been replaced once. All this within about 9 months. Now, the passenger side goes on and off and the drivers side is off. This has become a nuisance. The front of the car has to be removed or pulled out to get to the lights. It's time consuming and costly. Now I have to spend more money to fix these issues again. It's a terrible safety issue. What if I am driving at night or in inclinate weather and the lights go out? please advise that chevy announce a recall. This is a widespread issue.

2011 Chevrolet Malibu , a continuing problem with the low beam head lights going out after replacing them several times. Just replaced them again about two weeks ago ( both head lights ) and they are out again. This is a problem because of the design. You have to take the bumper and both fenders off just to get to the head lights. Checked on-line and it appears that numerous of people are having the same issues. This obviously is a problem, especially if you are driving at night long distance and you have another issue after replacing them already.

My break lights light up when I am not pushing on the break pedal and traction control turns off when I am in motion. Only happens sometimes.

The passenger side low beam is malfunctioning. The bulb has been replaced several times and keeps going out. Upon researching this problem it appears to be a widespread problem with this vehicle. This is an extremely dangerous situation for the countless owner/operators and passengers involved.

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.

Passenger side low beam light has burnt out 4 times in 2 years. I replaced it with regular lights the first 3 times and the last time used led lights and still burnt out in 8 months.

Tl-the contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu the contact stated that the driver's side headlamp became inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated the lamp needed to be replaced. And the contact changed the bulb twice. The local dealer was not contacted and the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 55,000. Ap.

The passenger low beam light keeps going out. I hit a bump and it comes back on sometimes. Replaced bulb and harness multiple times. This is very frustrating as you have to take apart almost the whole front end just to replace a bulb.

Lowbeam constantly goes out. After restarting the computer the fuse has fire for about 30 seconds and then goes out again.

My passenger low beam keeps going out. I have gotten it changed 4 times and the last 2 months. No one knows the problem and the bulbs are no t burning out it just stops working. I have spoken to a number of people that have the same year body and make that has been dealing with the same exact issue as me.

Headlights fail. I have had to replace my headlights several times. I have also had to replace the entire headlight assembly.

4/16/2018) codes pulled 16188 brake lamp malfunction, 13036d, and 13036c. Code 16188 was repaired and replaced by the Chevrolet dealership. A warning code would show on the dashboard then brake lights would show that the brakes are being applied at all times while driving or not show when braking.