This service bulletin provides information on Exterior Lamp Condensation and Water Leak Information and Replacement Guidelines.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 Chevrolet Malibu lighting problems
moderate Owners of the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu have filed 11 NHTSA complaints about the lighting at roughly $250 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See lighting across all vehicles →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
| Model year | lighting complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 Malibu | 3 |
| 2015 Malibu | 3 |
| 2016 Malibu | 12 |
| 2017 Malibu (this page) | 11 |
| 2018 Malibu | 7 |
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering lighting on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This service bulletin provides information about GM Accessories - Dealer-Installed, Repaired or Replaced During Warranty Coverage Period.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Headlamp, Tail Lamp, License Lamp or Fog/Driving Lamp Damage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information on Exterior Lamp Condensation and Water Leak Information and Replacement Guidelines.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Exterior Lamp Condensation and Water Leaks and Replacement Guidelines.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The center high-mounted stop lamp (third brake light) above the rear windshield is the dominant issue. Owners consistently describe water intrusion into the trunk, spare-tire well, and rear interior following rain or car washes. The water entry correlates with loose fastener nuts, cracked plastic housing, and missing or inadequate rubber seals around the lamp assembly. Fasteners are described as non-locking nuts that gradually loosen, allowing the housing to separate and admit water. Water damage includes wet headliners, interior staining, musty odors, and mold or rust formation. One owner reported 2 inches of water in the spare-tire compartment. GM issued Special Coverage N192210570 in August 2019 for 2016–2017 models, covering approximately 252,825 vehicles, though some owners were unaware the repair existed and bore costs themselves.
A secondary issue involves low-beam headlight output. One owner reports the lights are aimed too high at the factory and deliver insufficient illumination on dark, wet roads even after manual adjustment and aftermarket bulbs.
One owner describes condensation inside a driver-side fog light or daytime running light that operates intermittently.
Same Chevrolet Malibu lighting reports on nearby years: 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Third brake light water intrusion
Center high-mounted stop lamp (CHMSL) allows water to enter the vehicle interior due to loose fasteners, cracked plastic housing, or missing/inadequate rubber seals. Water enters the trunk, rear interior, and headliner area.
When: Varies; reported from 78,000 miles onward; triggered by rain, car washes, or high humidity
Symptoms owners cite: Water pooling in spare tire well and trunk; Wet headliner and interior staining; Musty or funky odor inside vehicle; Third brake light cracked or loose; Fastener nuts visibly loosened; Mold and rust formation in trunk area
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report fastener replacement, rubber seal inspection, or full third brake light assembly replacement. One owner attempted epoxy repair as temporary fix. Dealers have quoted replacement of the assembly.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM issued Special Coverage N192210570 (August 7, 2019) for 2016–2017 Malibu CHMSL water leak, covering approximately 252,825 vehicles. Recall status unclear to some owners; GM advised one owner to contact NHTSA.
Low-beam headlight output and beam pattern
Headlights provide insufficient illumination for safe night driving, particularly in dark and wet conditions. Beam aim too high from factory; lowering improves performance marginally but remains unsafe in adverse conditions.
When: Present as-purchased; mileage not stated
Symptoms owners cite: Lights aimed too high at factory; Poor visibility on dark, wet nights; High beams illuminate trees instead of road; Inadequate low-beam distance
Repairs/costs cited: Owner purchased aftermarket bulbs with only slight improvement. Manual beam aiming adjustment provided marginal safety gain; European cutoff pattern suggested but not available.
Fog light / daytime running light condensation and intermittent failure
Driver-side lower fog light or daytime running light experiences internal lens condensation and fails to operate intermittently.
When: Intermittent operation; timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Condensation visible inside lens; Intermittent on/off operation
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had lighting trouble with your 2017 Chevrolet Malibu?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the lighting problem on the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 11 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $250 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?
Based on the 11 complaints filed, lighting issues most often appear around 47,730 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $250 for lighting repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to lighting?
No active recalls currently cover lighting issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2017/Chevrolet/Malibu.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.