Chevrolet
Malibu Trunk Light Bulb Replacement Guide
How to change a burnt out cargo area
light bulb in the trunk of a 9th generation 2016 to 2023 GM Chevy Malibu.
2020 Malibu Trunk Light |
Notch Left (Driver) Side |
This automotive
maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist owners of the ninth
generation 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 GM Chevrolet
Malibu in changing a burnt out cargo area light bulb located in the housing
attached to the ceiling of the trunk. The 9th generation Malibu was supposed to undergo a "facelift" in 2022 or 2023 and the refreshed vehicle may have continued being produced into the 2024 and 2025 model years but it will now apparently be discontinued after the 2023 model year. Owners of other General Motors vehicles from Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, GMC and Holden such as the Impala, Corvette, Bolt, Sonic, Spark, Express, Trax, TrailBlazer, Equinox, Traverse, Blazer, Tahoe, Suburban, Colorado, Silverado, Cruze, Volt, Camaro, Encore, Envision, Enclave, Regal, LaCrosse, Canyon, Sierra, Terrain, Acadia, Yukon, Savana, XT4, XT5, XT6, Escalade, CT4, CT5, CT6 and Commodore may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful. The compatible replacement light bulb type is any miniature wedge base including the 2825, 194, 168 and W5W. If you would like to have a brighter cargo area light, install a 2825 LED bulb. The OEM (original equipment manufacturer) light bulb is marked as part number Osram 12V8W (12 volts 8 watts). The only tool needed to access and replace the bulb is a small flat head screwdriver or a plastic pry bar tool. The first two steps are to open the trunk lid and then locate the light housing attached to the "ceiling" of the cargo area. |
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Insert Screwdriver |
Pry Out Light Housing |
Insert the blade of
the small flat head screwdriver or a plastic pry bar tool into the small
notch on the left (driver) side of the light housing. Gently pry the light housing out of the metal panel. |
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Push In Release Tab |
Slide Out Power Plug |
Push in the release tab on the black plastic electrical connector before sliding it straight out of its socket. | |
Push Out Old Light Bulb |
Old Light Bulb Removed |
If the old light
bulb was recently turned on, it might still be hot enough to burn your
fingers. Be careful when you remove the light bulb. Use the blade of the small flat head screwdriver to gently push the wedge shaped base of the old light bulb out of the socket. |
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OEM Osram 12V8W |
Push In New Light Bulb |
The OEM (original
equipment manufacturer) light bulb was marked as pat number Osram 12V8W. Push in a new number 2825, 194, 168 or W5W light bulb straight into the socket. If you would like to have a brighter cargo area light that will also last much longer than the traditional incandescent bulb, install a compatible replacement 2825 LED bulb. |
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Push In Power Plug |
Re-Insert Wires First |
Slide the
electrical connector straight into the socket on the light housing. You should feel or hear the power plug "click" securely into place. If the new light bulb didn't turn on as soon as you plugged in the connector, press the "Unlock" button on the key fob to re-activate the interior lights. Tip - If your new LED bulb doesn't work, try pulling it out of the socket, rotating it 180 degrees and pushing it back into the socket. Some LED bulbs are polarized and will only work when the "+" positive and "-" negative electrical contacts are in the correct orientation. Re-insert the wires and the right (passenger) side of the light housing back into the opening. |
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Pop In Retaining Clip |
Light Housing Secured |
Then gently snap in
the retaining clip on the left (driver) side of the housing. Double check that the light housing is securely in place. Be sure to write down the bulb change in your car's service records. Please check out all of the
2016-2023 GM Chevrolet Malibu DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides. |
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