7.0
pretty bad- Typical Repair Cost:
- $110
- Average Mileage:
- 108,100 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 8 complaints
Most common solutions:
- replace light (6 reports)
- not sure (2 reports)
Why and hell would GM make a car that you have to take the front bumper off just to change a bulb? That is BS! They make these cars so you have to take it into the dealer to fix and pay those high prices, just to replace a dam headlight bulb.
- Frank C., Ceres, CA, US
The wiring in my trunk connected to my fuse box has melted together. I've had many issues with my lighting, radio, bcm, and other things that I believe stem from this but lucky me I can't afford to have it fixed. Because my right blinker won't go off (even though it doesn't actually blink when needed) I have to unhook my battery when I shut off the car. Not only a pain in the ass but also I have to replace the battery cables quite often. Please make this issue a recall as I'm not the only one complaining.
- Christy G., Fort Mill, SC, US
Right passenger low beam headlight worked intermittently one summer, very mysterious. Sometimes I could get it to come back on while driving by flicking my high beams on and off (only sometimes). A couple times I popped the hood with the car running and when I closed the hood, that light would come back on. I was going to change the bulb but saw that the bumper had to be removed to do it. THEN it worked fine all winter! Come spring it went out again. So before I sold it I paid my mechanic to replace it and had him do both sides while the bumper was off anyways. I really liked this car for a whole bunch of reasons but hated driving suddenly with just one headlight and 4 kids with me on the highway. Reading other electrical issues on this sight concerned me as to what else could happen down the road. I sold the car (not because of this issue) so I don't know if the problem returned again with the new bulbs.
- Derek Z., Niverville, MB, Canada
I have a 2012 Chevy Malibu. Since purchasing the car I have had 5 "low beam" headlights burn out with no resolution. This is a HUGE safety issue and the dealership that I use seems more interested in replacing and wanting to charge me for the service (approx $160-180) because the whole front end of the car needs to be removed to change a headlamp (how ridiculous!). This is a HUGE safety issue and a real pain in the ass due to this being a labor intensive issue. I'm hoping GM can step in and find the resolution. I drive this car approx 70 miles per day a lot of travel is very early in the morning (dark!!). I have read multiple complaints on other websites but there seems to be no recall and resolution. HELP!
- dmiller06472, Northford, US
I have owned this 2012 Chevy Malibu since March 2016 (bought used at 60,000 miles). I have had to change one or both headlights about every other oil change (every 3000 miles or 3 months, whichever comes first) since I got the car. This is ESPECIALLY A PAIN IN THE A** because you have to take the whole front bumper off to replace it (at least for one of them), so it's built into the cost of an oil change ($140 vs $30). After looking at various blogs, I see this is a rampant problem with 2012 Malibus. Chevrolet needs to issue recall ASAP and get this done!
It is the low beam headlight(s) being the issue; switching to brights works but is annoying/dangerous to oncoming traffic! This needs to be addressed by Chevrolet!!
--Debbie A.
- Debbie A., Phoenix, AZ, US
Had to replace the headlights 3 times in 1 years time. It's a pain in the ass since you have to almost completely take off the entire front end (bumper) of the car. I'm tired of having the low-beams go out after 3 months - This is costly and dangerous. Just replacing the headlights doesn't seem to fix this terrible issue. The engineer that designed this was hopefully fired. I mean, why should it take 45 minutes to just get to the headlight assembly??
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
- stockie311, Cleveland, OH, US
Changing a burnt out headlight should be a owner DYI. Not with this car! The fender has to be removed to access the insertion point. I have NEVER owned a care where I had to go to a mechanic to change a friggin' headlight. Imagine having to go to a dealer to change your tire! Basic care maintenance and repair should be able to be handled by the owner. I shouldn't have to PAY someone to change a damn headlight! What type of crap engineering is this?
- Kaye P., Weidman, MI, US
I have a 2012 Chevy Malibu and the head lights are continuously having to be replaced. I have gotten 2 tickets so far because of this. Its very annoying because i dont know why they are having to be replaced so often. Literally they dont last two weeks.
- Letasca O., Taylorsvillie, US