1997 Chevrolet Malibu Lights Problems

THIS IS A FOLLOW-UP TO MY REPORT OF THE FAILURE OF THE FLASHING OF THE TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS (OID#10121781). I REPLACED THE HAZARD WARNING SWITCH IN THE DASH ON JUNE 4, 2005, AND THIS FIXED THE PROBLEM. THIS IS THE SAME PART THAT IS UNDER A RECALL FOR THE 2000 AND 2001 MODELS OF THIS SAME CAR (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V327000). AS SUGGESTED PREVIOUSLY, I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO EXTEND THE RECALL TO THE 1997 MODELS, SINCE IT IS THE SAME DEFECTIVE PART.

THE TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD SIGNALS SUDDENLY STOPPED FLASHING. INTERMITTENTLY, THEY FLASH RAPIDLY WHEN ACTIVATED, BUT THEY TYPICALLY JUST STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY. THIS APPEARS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH LED TO A RECALL ON THE 2000 AND 2001 MODELS OF THIS SAME CAR (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V327000): "EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH". I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO EXTEND THE RECALL TO THE 1997 MALIBU MODELS.

EXTERIOR BRAKE TAIL LIGHTS ARE CONSTANTLY BLOWING OUT. HAVE REPLACED BULBS AT MY OWN EXPENSE FOUR TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR. TODAY I WAS PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE AND ISSUES A WARNING BECAUSE IT HAS BLOWN OUT YET AGAIN. LOST OF CONDENSATION IS GETTIN INSIDE THE LAMP ITSELF.*AK

THE DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE LIGHT BLOWS EVERY TIME IT RAINS OR THERE IS WATER IN THE LIGHT - I HAVE CHECKED THE LENS FOR CRACKS AND/OR DAMAGES THERE ARE NONE - I HAVE REPLACED THE LIGHT 12 TIMES IN 4 MONTHS.*AK

THE VEHICLES HEADLIGHTS KEEP BLOWING OUT, CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE RIGHT BRAKE LIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT. THE DEALER HAS RULED OUT THE FUSE OR BULB. WHEN BULB IS WIGGLED LIGHT COMES BACK ON. THE DEALER HAS NO REMEDY. NLM

REAR BRAKE LIGHT HOUSING ASSEMBLY IS MELTED ON BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

BROKEN BRAKE LIGHT - CHEVROLET IS AWARE OF BAD CIRCUIT BEHIND THE LIGHT PANEL. *AK

MOISTURE BUILDUP IN HEADLIGHT ASSEMBY OF BOTH SIDES. ALSO, DURING RAIN OR CAR WASH, WATER POURS INTO PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR. UNKNOWN ORIGIN POINT OF THE WATER.

LEFT BRAKE LIGHTS SHORTED OUT DUE TO WATER IN TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY

HEADLIGHTS GET WATER CAUGHT IN THEM AND FOG UP, MAKING VISIBILITY POOR FOR THE DRIVER AT NIGHT. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE LENSES, AND PROBLEM IS OCCURRING AGAIN.*AK

HEADLIGHTS ARE STEAMING UP DUE TO WATER ENTERING INSIDE OF HEADLIGHT, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY.DEALER TOLD CONSUMER TO LEAVE HIGHBEAMS ON FOR 1 HOUR TO DRY OUT THE WATER. *AK

HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY LEAKING. MJS

BRAKE LIGHT BULBS FAILED. MJS

TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR DOES NOT TURN OFF ONCE A TURN IS COMPLETED. NLM

HEADLIGHT LENS' HAVE CONSTANT MOISTURE IN BOTH LENS, THEY FREEZE AT NIGHT AND EVENTUALLY THE BULBS WILL MELT THE ICE, BUT LIGHTING IS DISTORTED. I'VE REPORTED THIS 4 TIMES TO DEALER. THE 1ST TIME, THEY REPLACED ONE LENS AND AFTER FURTHER COMPLAINTS, THEIR COMMENTS WERE "CHEVROLET WON'T AUTHORIZE REPLACEMENT ANY MORE REPLACEMENTS" SO THEY TAKE OFF THE LENS AND WIPING THEM DRY. THAT LASTS UNTIL THE NEXT RAIN. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING IN FREEZING RAIN AND FOG. THEY NEVER SEEM TO DRY OUT.

AFTER WASHING MY 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU I NOTICED THAT BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHTS WERE CONDENSATED COVERING 75% OF BOTH LENSES. VECHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHEN I PICKED UP THE VECHILE I WAS TOLD THAT WAS A NORMAL CONDITION AND I WAS TO DRIVE THE VECHILE FOR 2 TO 6 HRS WITH THE LIGHTS ON TO CORRECT IT. I PRIMARILY DRIVE THIS CAR FOR VACATIONS AND I ALWAYS HAVE THE CAR WASHED WHEN I REACH MY DESTINATION. AFTER DRIVING MANY HOURS, IT IS LUDICROUS TO THINK THAT I WOULD WANT TO DRIVE FOR EVEN ONE MORE HOUR. I FEEL THAT IT IS A DEFECT, CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS NOT TO OPERATE AT 100% CAUSING AN UNSAFE CONDITION, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. I CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS 1-800 NUMBER AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING THAT THE DEALER TOLD ME. I FEEL THAT THE EXPLANATION IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE AND CAUSES AN UNSAFE CONDITION. BOTH G M AND THE DEALER REFERED TO THEIR BULLETIN NUMBER 638206A. II WAS ALSO GIVEN A NUMBER FROM G M (990079295).

WATER GOES INTO THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *AK

MOISTURE OR WATER FORMS IN THE HEADLIGHT CASING AND IN THE BULB AREA, CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS TO BECOME DIM OR FOGGY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER SEALED THE CASING WHICH DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER WILL BE NOTIFIED WHEN IT IS TO MAKE REPLACEMENT.*AK.ET.

TAIL LIGHT FAILED. *YC

TURN SIGNAL CONTROL FAILED.

HEAD LIGHT FOGGING REPLACED TWO TIMES.

WHILE DRIVING, SIGNAL LIGHTS DO NOT WORK (NOT ALWAYS, NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU WILL HAVE THEM. SERVICE DEPT. REPLACED SWITCH, NOW IT IS WORSE. NEVER HAPPENS TO SERVICE WHEN THEY HAVE THE CAR.

RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT SOCKET AND BULB MELTED DUE TO THE HEAT GENERATED INSIDE THE UNIT.

WHILE DRIVING THE HEADLIGHT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WENT OUT DUE MOISTURE IN THE SEAL CASING. THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. *AK

HEADLIGHTS FOG UP ON INSIDE AFTER EVERY CAR WASH. DEALER SAYS UNITS ARE DESIGNED WITH VENTS, AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE TO CORRECT PROBLEM.

HEADLAMPS WILL NOT OPERATE WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD. IF VEHICLE IS WARM, HEADLAMPS COME ON AUTOMATICALLY. *AK

SWITCH THAT ACTIVATES HIGH BEAM LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO COMPLAINT # 7 OF THE NHTSA COMPLAINT REPORTS FOR THE 1997 MALIBUS. *AK

SIGNAL LIGHT SWITCH FAILED.

SWITCH WHICH ACTIVATES HIGH BEAM LIGHTS DOES NOT WORK EFFECTIVELY. HAS TO HOLD IN POSITION TO HAVE HIGH BEAM LIGHTING. *AK