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Exterior lightingPart report

2005 Chevrolet Malibu Exterior lighting Problems

Complaints
153about this part
Share
16%of 975 total for the year
Median mileage
76,500miles
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 153 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu, 16% of the 975 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 76,500 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 22 a fire, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“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..”

NHTSA complaint #11254046, filed 2019-09, 104,000 miles

“Passenger side front turn signal bulb burns out frequently. It also will work one day and suddenly stop working the next day, then work again later without having done any intervention at all. If I wiggle the bulb just right within the socket, I can get it to work. Something as simple as running into a pothole can make the bulb unit work or cease working.”

NHTSA complaint #10703015, filed 2015-03, 200,000 miles

“The park light/daytime running lights are constantly melting the amber lens. The bulb socket melts causing the turn signal not to work. Every few months I have to remove headlight lamp and fix bulb so it will work. I have seen a number of people with the same problem with their malibus. Chevrolet needs to fix this problem. This should be a recall as many as are having this problem.”

NHTSA complaint #10777679, filed 2015-09, 194,000 miles

“My front blinker lights have melted the blinker light housing (the individual plastic globe the bulb resides in). They have to be replaced at a rate of approximately 6 months and I believe it is the car not the lights as I have tried different brands to see if the problem is with the bulbs. **note: as I have not kept a record of the incidents, I have listed the last time as precise date.”

NHTSA complaint #10672781, filed 2015-01, 116,603 miles

“The front turning signals have not worked for 2 years I have had the head lights completely replace twice. The second time I had them replaced when the light housing of the turn signals were opened the light bulb and hook ups were melted together.”

NHTSA complaint #11102393, filed 2018-06, 106,038 miles

Related service bulletins

Exterior lighting: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202311%
202222%
202011%
201942%
201891%
2017213%
2016192%
201541%
201451%
2013283%
201220222%
201113013%
201019414%
200917211%
200810611%
2007293%
2006636%
200515316%
2004847%
2003285%
200214325%
200110815%
200024126%
1999587%
1998798%
1997409%

Other parts of the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu

Steering
506 complaints
Electrical system
180 complaints
Brakes
70 complaints
Fuel system
70 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
65 complaints
Seats
62 complaints
Engine
49 complaints
Other or unknown
35 complaints
Electronic stability control
30 complaints
Vehicle speed control
27 complaints
Air bags
25 complaints
Suspension
21 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology