2004 Chevrolet Malibu Exterior Lighting

FRONT LEFT TURNING SIGNAL IS NOT WORKING. I HAVE BOUGHT MANY LIGHT BULBS REPLACING LIGHT BULB AFTER BULB. EVERYTIME I CHANGE THE BULB IT WOULD WORK BUT AS SOON AS I DRIVE FOR LITTLE AND TURN THE SIGNAL IT GOES OUT AGAIN. SEEM AS THOUGH IT MAY HAVE A SHORTAGE. *TR

TURN SIGNAL BULB DOES NOT WORK OR WORKS PERIODICALLY IN THE FRONT. BOTH SIDES HAVE STOPPED WORKING AT TIMES CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BE UNABLE TO SIGNAL ONGOING TRAFFIC OF TURN. CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO DEALER WHO AT FIRST REPLACE BULB THAN WHEN IT FAILED AGAIN SAID IT WAS A "SHORT". SAME THING OF RIGHT AND LEFT SIDES. *CN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. BOTH OF THE FRONT TURN SIGNAL LENSES HAVE A ONE HALF INCH HOLE BURNED INTO THE TOP OF THE PLASTIC. THE PLASTIC HAS COMPLETELY MELTED AND TURNED BROWN. THE SHINY MATERIAL HAS TURNED A DULL WHITE. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 82,000. UPDATED 02-14-08. *KB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHTS WORK RANDOMLY, ESPECIALLY IN CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD LIGHTS, HE WOULD HEAR THE LIGHTS FLICKER, BUT THEY WOULD NOT OPERATE. THE CONTACT FOUND A RECALL ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. HE WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURES. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 122,000.

BOTH YELLOW DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT COVERS ARE MELTED. THERE IS A BURN MARK SURROUNDING THE HOLES OVER EACH LIGHT BULB -- ON BOTH THE RIGHT AND THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CLEAR PLASTIC SHELL AROUND THE HEADLIGHT IS DISCOLORED AS A RESULT OF THE EXCESS HEAT. *JB

MY WIFE AND BOUGHT A 2004 CHEVY MALIBU IN JULY 2004. IN MARCH 2007 MY TURN SIGNALS BEGAN TO FAIL, BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES. ALSO, THE RIGHT SIDE AMBER COVER ON THE RUNNING LIGHTS HAS A HOLE BURNT IN THE TOP OF IT AND THE LEFT SIDE IS BEGINNING TO BURN THRU NOW. I REPLACED SEVERAL BULBS AND ALSO TOOK IT THE DEALERSHIP THAT WE PURCHASED IT FROM; THE FIRST TIME THEY REPLACED THE BULBS AND THE TURN SIGNALS WORKED FOR ABOUT 1 HOUR AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE THE SOCKETS REPLACED, THE SOCKETS WERE REPLACED AND EVERYTHING WORKED FINE FOR 2 MONTHS AND THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN, SO BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP I WENT AND THIS TIME I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE BOTH COMPLETE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES REPLACED. THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. SOONER OR LATER THIS SITUATION WILL RESULT IN A FIRE AND POSSIBLY BODILY INJURIES AND PROPERTY DAMAGE. WHAT IS GOING TO TAKE BEFORE GM WAKE UP? THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE.... *TR

THE LEFT FRONT TURN SIGNAL HAD TO BE REPLACED AROUND 9 TIMES IN THE THREE YEARS I HAVE OWNED THE CAR. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S EXTERIOR FRONT TURN SIGNAL CONSISTENTLY FAILS. THE VEHICLE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 46,793 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,532.

AUTO: 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU LS - FRONT TURN SIGNAL-DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT MELTED A HOLE IN THE AMBER LENS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR. GRAND PRIZE CHEVROLET OF MIAMI REPLACED BOTH HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY'S . HAVE SEEN OTHER MALIBUS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT IF THIS IS GOING TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM. I HAVE NOTICED THAT ON NEWER MODELS THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE NOW THE HEADLIGHTS INSTEAD OF THE TURN SIGNAL LAMPS. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY MELTED FROM THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT BULBS. THE LAMP FOGGED UP AND CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED. UPDATED 10/18/2006 - *NM

DRIVING TO WORK NORMALLY, TURN SIGNALS WORKED NORMALLY, THEN TRIED TO SIGNAL A TURNING AFTER 5 MORE MINUTES OF DRIVING, TURN SIGNAL SYSTEM WAS COMPLETELY DEAD (COULD NOT SIGNAL TURN). SYSTEM STAYED DEAD FOR 5 MINUTES. APPLIED BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES TO PARK. WHEN PARKED, TURN SIGNAL SYSTEMS WORKED OK. OTHER POSTERS ON THE WWW.EDMUNDS.COM CHEVROLET MALIBU FORUM HAVE REPORTED SAME PROBLEM. *NM

I BOUGHT A 2004 CHEVY MALIBU IN AUGUST OF 2004. SINCE THAT TIME ALL 4 SIGNAL LIGHTS AND ONE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAVE BURNT OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE LEFT REAR SIGNAL LIGHT IS NOW INOPERABLE. MAKING THIS THE 5 TIME I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE SIGNAL LIGHTS. I HAVE ASKED THEM (CHEVROLET SERVICE DEPARTMENT) TO CHECK THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM EVERY TIME AND EVERY TIME THEY TELL ME THAT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN RESOLVED. SEVERAL TIMES THE WORK INVOICE COPY SAID, "REPLACED SIGNAL LIGHT BULB" THERE APPEARS TO BE A MORE SERIOUS ISSUE TO THIS PROBLEM AND I SEE THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT IT HAS HAPPENED TO. ALTHOUGH NO FIRE HAS OCCURRED, I FEEL THAT THERE IS DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD WHEN IT UNEXPECTEDLY STOPS OPERATING BECAUSE YOU ARE UNABLE TO SIGNAL OTHER DRIVERS THAT YOU ARE TURNING. *JB

LEFT FRONT TURN SIGNAL/LIGHT ASSEMBLY. I REPLACED THE AMBER BULB THREE TIMES IN THE SPACE OF 3 MONTHS. THE FILAMENTS WERE FINE, BUT THE PART WHERE THE BULB MEETS THE ASSEMBLY WAS BURNED. ON MAY 20TH, THE ENTIRE LIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. *NM

I HAVE REPLACED THE LEFT FRONT TURN SIGNAL BULB THREE TIMES IN THREE MONTHS. THE FILAMENTS ARE OK BUT THE CONNECTING WIRE ON THE BULB IS BURNT THROUGH. IT APPEARS THAT THE BULB DO NOT SEAT PROPERLY INTO THE SOCKET AND VIBRATION CAUSES THE CONNECTION TO ARC. I EXPECT THIS PROBLEM TO CONTINUE UNTIL THE SOCKET IS REPLACED BY THE DEALER (ASSUMING I CAN CONVINCE THE DEALER TO DO SO UNDER WARRANTY). *JB

AFTER ONE YEAR OF DRIVING OUR 2004 MALIBU (ABOUT 20, 000 MILES), THE SIGNAL LIGHTS BEGAN FAILING. REPLACEMENT OF THE BULBS BY A GM DEALER SOLVED EACH PROBLEM (4 INCIDENTS). THEN ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO THE RIGHT FRONT SIGNAL REVEALED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE WIRING HARNESS, WHICH WAS REPLACED AT OUR EXPENSE. TODAY THE LEFT REAR SIGNAL SOCKET AND HARNESS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN DEFECT IN THE SIGNAL LIGHT SYSTEM. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE RIGHT FRONT TURN SIGNAL STOPPED WORKING WITHOUT WARNING. UPON INITIAL INSPECTION, THE AMBER LENS INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING HAD VISIBLE DAMAGE ON THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AS THOUGH IT HAD BURNED. THERE WERE NO VISIBLE FLAMES OR SMOKE TO INDICATE A FIRE. THE DEALER WAS ALERTED, BUT NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.

LEFT TURN SIGNAL INOP. REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. FAILURE AGAIN WITHIN AN HOUR OF LEAVING DEALERSHIP. *NM

I OWN A 2004 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX, WHICH HAS AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS. WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WORK IN AUTOMATIC MODE, EVERYTHING WORKS FINE. UNFORTUNATELY THE SOLAR SENSOR THAT ACTIVATES THEM "THINKS" THE SKY IS BRIGHT WHEN IT IS VERY OVERCAST. FOR THE MOST PART NOT A PROBLEM, AS YOU CAN TURN THE LIGHTS ON MANUALLY. UN-FORTUNATELY, THE DASH-BOARD LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON WHEN YOU DO THIS, UNLESS THE SENSOR "THINKS" IT'S DARK. TO REMEMDY THIS, I PUT SOMETHING OVER THE SENSOR, BUT SHOULD NOT HAVE TO, AND IF I DON'T, EVEN THOUGH I CAN SEE IN FRONT OF MY CAR, I CAN'T SEE HOW FAST I'M GOING, TACHOMETER, BATTERY METER READINGS, ETC. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR SERVICE, THEY REPLACED THE BODY CONTROL MODULE 3 TIMES, TOLD ME IT WAS FIXED, I WENT TO PICK IT UP, SAME THING HAPPENED. WE GOT INTO ANOTHER MALIBU, AND IT HAPPENED WITH THAT CAR AS WELL. IN OTHER WORDS THE SYSTEM IS WORKING THE WAY IT WAS DESIGNED. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT DOES NOT MEAN IT IS WORKING CORRECTLY. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE AS I CAN NOT SEE DASH INDICATORS WHEN I NEED TO TURN THE LIGHTS ON MANUALLY. I ALSO OWN A 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE WITH AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS, AND THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT EXIST. I'VE ALSO OWNED A 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU WITH AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS, AND THIS PROBLEM DID NOT EXIST. MY FRIEND OWNS A 2004 GMC YUKON WITH AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS, AND IT DOES NOT EXIST ON THAT EITHER. IT APPERS TO BE ONLY WITH THE THE 2004 (AND POSSIBLY ABOVE) MALIBU, AND POSSIBLY ONLY THE MALIBU MAXX. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.

I BOUGHT THE 2004 MALIBU IN JUNE 2004. IN JANUARY 2005, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TURN SIGNAL AND HEADLIGHT STOPPED WORKING. I TOOK IT TO THE NEAREST SHOP, AND THEY REPLACED THE BULBS. A FEW WEEKS LATER, IT HAPPENED A SECOND TIME. THEY REPLACED THE BULBS AGAIN. WHEN IT HAPPENED THE THIRD TIME I ASKED FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION INTO THE PROBLEM, INCLUDING WIRING. THEY DISCOVERED THE WHOLE LIGHT CARRIAGE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PROBLEM FIXED. IN MARCH 2005, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE LIGHT DID THE SAME THING. THE ENTIRE CARRIAGE WAS REPLACED. IT JUST SEEMED A BIT EXCESSIVE FOR A CAR LESS THAN A YEAR OLD.*AK