Problems · by component

2005 Chevrolet Malibu exterior lighting problems

210 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu cite exterior lighting, 15% of all 1,393 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
210
15% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
30
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the exterior lighting

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“1st when got car from local dealer cruise control worked next day still hasn't, interior lights not working with new bulb, brake light on, leaking oil from pan, front end drifting, than at station no power steering, didn't know wtf, wheels didn't turn, shut off he later was there ignition switch will keep turning. Rins battery dead. I'm scared power steering will go out while driving. It's a scary thought, think I will sell .It's the worse recall I've heard of can they be fixed. Consumer has all 7 recalls.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 6, 2021Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Vehicle speed controlODI 11442888
“STEERING WHEEL STARTED SHAKING SLIGHTLY IN AUGUST. NOW IT SHAKES AND THEN POWER STEERING GOES OUT. THIS HAPPENS ON THE HIGHWAY, CITY STREETS ANYWHERE GOING ANY SPEED. AS SOON AS THE CAR STARTS THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES, OF YOU TURN THE WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION IT WILL CLAM IT A LITTLE. BREAK LIGHTS RANDOMLY STOP WORKING. REPLACED BREAK LIGHTS 6 TIMES IN THE PAST 2 YEARS. HEADLIGHTS MELT THE PLASTIC HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2017. ALL OF THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN RECALLED BUT NOT ON MY VIN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 11, 2019Steering, Exterior lightingODI 11279361
“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..”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 9, 2019Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11254046
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MALIBU MAXX. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE TURN SIGNALS MALFUNCTIONED AND WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEWIS CHEVROLET OF GARDEN CITY (1903 US 50 BUS E., GARDEN CITY , KS) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHT BULB SOCKETS HAD MELTED AND DAMAGED THE BULBS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BULBS COULD NOT BE SCREWED OUT OF THE LIGHT BULB SOCKETS AND THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT BULB ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED TO BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE ASSEMBLIES ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 16, 2019Exterior lightingFire reportedODI 11208047
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. ALSO, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW FAILED TO OPERATE AND WOULD NOT ROLL DOWN AND THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR COULD NOT BE UNLOCKED FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. FURTHERMORE, THE IGNITION KEY COULD BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND, AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND SHUT OFF. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 5, 2018Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Latches/locks/linkages, EngineODI 11133439
“REFERRED TO YOU BY GM AFTER DEALER REFUSED TO CONSIDER THIS A FREE REPAIR, AS MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED BY RECALL #13036D. VEHICLE IS EXHIBITING SAME CONDITIONS AS PER YOUR RECALL, BRAKE LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED .PANIC-BRAKE ASSIST MALFUNCTIONED 2 WEEKS AGO; ALMOST RESULTING IN A REAR END COLLISION. THIS OCCURRED ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY, AND VEHICLE BEGAN TO SKID. AT THAT POINT I RELEASED THE BRAKE, AND WAS FORCED TO PUMP THEM IN ORDER TO SLOW VEHICLE. PARK-BRAKE FEATURE ALSO MALFUNCTIONS RANDOMLY. THESE ARE ALL DUE TO VOLTAGE FLUCTUATIONS IN BODY CONTROL MODULE CONNECTION, REQUIRING A SPACER TO BE INSTALLED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 5, 2018Exterior lighting, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11124510

Showing 6 of 210 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Exterior lighting

Free remedy

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Exterior lightingReported Apr 7, 2009NHTSA 09E012000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.