2012 Chevrolet Malibu
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 906 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 11th highest complaint count among 26 Malibu model years with reports.
Of the 2012 reports, 50 involved a crash and 13 involved a fire. 35 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Seat beltsMay 8, 2015
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured April 8, 2010, to October 11, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cables that connect the seat belts to the vehicle at the outside of the driver seat and the front passenger seat may be bent from being sat on while entering the vehicle. This repeated bending may result in the cable breaking.
If the cable breaks, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the outboard lap anchor mounting bracket and inspect the flexible steel cable, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on November 16, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15031.
Campaign 15V269000 on NHTSA.gov
SteeringJul 21, 2014
Dorman Products, Inc. (Dorman) is recalling certain replacement intermediate steering shafts sold under the Dorman, OE Solutions, and Solutions brand names, part numbers 425-167, 2425167, and 7-3074, for installation on 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6, and 2007-2009 Saturn Aura vehicles. The affected steering shafts may have a yoke that inadequately supports the u-joint bearing resulting in a premature failure.
A joint bearing that fails prematurely may cause separation of the u-joint resulting in a complete loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dorman will notify owners, and dealers will refund the purchase price or replace the steering shafts, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact Dorman customer service at 1-800-523-2492.
Campaign 14E044000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, wiringMay 14, 2014
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.
Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and harness connector, and will relearn the brake pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). GM's number for this recall is 13036.
Campaign 14V252000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electronic stability control (esc)
129 reports, newest first. Show all
Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Jan 26, 2019
ESC & TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THE VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP,BUT GOES AWAY AFTER 15 MPH ALSO ROUGH IDLING .ANTI LOCK BRAKES DISENGAGE NOT WORKING AT ALL.ENGINE DISABLED WARNING LIGHT CAR WON'T START.AFTER A SHORT WHILE IT WILL START
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jan 24, 2019
LOSS OF STEERING.TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jan 13, 2019
WHILE DRIVING POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING AND ESC LIGHT CAME ON. TURNED CAR OFF AND IS WORKING AGAIN. STEERING PULLS AND I'M UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING. RECALLS WERE MADE TO YEAR AND MODEL OF MY CAR BUT MY VIN DOESN'T MATCH UP TO RECALL.
Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Dec 30, 2018
MY POWER STEERING JUST WENT OUT ON ME IN THE MIDDLE.OF DRIVING GOT REAL STIFF ON THE 10 FREEWAY GOING HOME FROM.REDLANDS TO HEMET AND MY POWER STEERING EIS ELECTRICAL AND ITS HARD MY MECHANIC SAID ITS TOO MUCH TO FIX AND TOLD ME THAT ITS A HIGH DEMAND IN RECALL FOR THIS AND THAT I NEED IT FIX I TURNED IT ON AND TI WORKS FOR 5 MINUTES A DRIVE OR TWO AND OUT OF NO WHERE EVEN WHILE DRIVING WILL STIFFEN UP AGAIN ON ME
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Dec 25, 2018
'TAKATA RECALL ' I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 35MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY SERVICE ESC LIGHT CAME ON , MY TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST STEERING CAPABILITY OF THE VEHICLE AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO WRECK . IT MADE IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO TRY TO TURN TO EVEN GET MY CAR OFF THE ROAD .
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Electronic stability control (ESC), Dec 15, 2018
I HAVE ALL THE SAME ISSUES AS RECALL NUMBER 13036. RECALL ID 204828, 204826 AND 2 MORE. SOMETIMES BREAK LIGHT WONT WORK WHEN NEEDED AND COMES ON WHEN NOT BEING PRESSED. ALSO A FRONT BLINKER LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED UNLESS I UNHOOK THE BATTERY. JUST UNDOING THE LIGHT DOESNT WORK. ALSO MY ROGHT BLINKER DOESNT WORK. SOME WIRES IN MY FUSE BOX LOOK MELTED. IVE REPORT THIS BEFORE
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Electronic stability control (ESC), Dec 10, 2018
HEAD LIGHT KEEPS POPPING OFF AND ON AND WHEN RUNNING AN OBD TEST AFTER CLEARING CODES SEVERAL TIMES IT 1ST PROVIDED ME WITH 2 CODES THEN 9. TWO HOURS LATER 32 CODES POPPED UP. THE BUTTONS ON THE STREINNG WHEEL CUT IN AND OUT AT RANDOM. ## VIN PASSED ## CHEVROLET MALIBU 2012 ##
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Dec 9, 2018
SERVICE ESC, TRACTION CONTROL INACTIVE, LOSS OF POWER/SLUGGISH WHEN DRIVING OR STOPPED AT A LIGHT. CODE 13036
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Dec 5, 2018, crash
CAR UPON STARTING WOULD NOT HAVE POWER STEERING .THE OWNERS MANUEL SAID TO TURN KEY OFF THEN ON ..THE POWER STEERING WOULD COME BACK ON AND CAR WOULD DRIVE FINE FOR A FEW DAYS THEN WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN UPON STARTING WITH ERROR MESSAGE ESC SERVICE ,WITH A WARNING BELL.. THEN WHILE DRIVING ONE DAY LOST ALL POWER STEERING .AND WRECKED INTO SOMETHING WHILE TURNING TO THE RIGHT ..DAMAGE TO FRONT END AND GRILL.NO WARNING AND GM DOESNT WANT TO HELP ME GET RENTAL AND TRANSFERRED MY CASE TO HIGHER DEPARTMENT WHO ISN'T WILLING TO HELP ME .. WAS TOLD THE REP WAS TO BUSY TO TAKE MY CALL ..LOST TIME AT WORK AND IN DARK OF WHO'S TO COVER THE DAMAGES FROM FAULTY PART .. VERY DANGEROUS AND THE PEOPLE AT GM SAID THAT IF I GOT THE REPAIRS DONE THAT IT WOULD END MY CLAIM AND CAR WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Nov 16, 2018
STEERING MALFUNCTION. STEERING CLICKS AND JERKS WHILE DRIVING, STOPPED, AND IN PARK. STEERING FAILS WHILE DRIVING. TURNING CAR OFF AND BACK ON SOMETIMES RELEASES STEERING HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DOES IT TAKE? THERE ARE PAST RECALLS FOR THE SAME EXACT ISSUE!! NOT SAFE!
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Oct 30, 2018
MY CAR HAD HAD THE HEADS REPLACED IN THE FIRST MOTOR IT CAME WITH THEN THE WHOLE MOTOR REPLACED BEFORE 100K MILES NOW THE NEW MOTOR DOESNT BARELY HAVE 100K MILES ON IT AND THEY ARE TELLING ME MY CYLINDER 6 ISNT HOLDING COMPRESSION SO I'LL NEED ANOTHER MOTOR EVENTUALLY! MY TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING , ITS HAD A WHOLE NEW AIR CONDITIONING UNIT INSTALLED WHEN MY MOTOR WAS REPLACED BECAUSE IT WENT OUT. THE SPEAKERS ON MY PASSENGER SIDE DONT WORK AND MY HEATING SYSTEM ON MY SEAT ON THE DRIVER SIDE HAS WENT OUT!
Steering, Air bags, Electronic stability control (ESC), Oct 15, 2018
MY POWER STEERING GOES OUT RANDOMLY. I CAN BE PARKED IT GOES OUT, I CAN HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKIBG WHILE IN DRIVE , IT GOES OUT. I CAN BE DRIVING ANYWHERE AND IT GOES OUT. THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON RANDOMLY. AND THEN MY ESC WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AS WELL. IN ALL OF THESE INSTANCES IT'S ALL RANDOM WHEN IT HAPPENS.ON 10/13/2018 M Y POWER STEERING WENT OUT THAT IS THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Sep 21, 2018
INTERMITTENT STARTING ISSUES ON THIS VEHICLE. WILL RANDOMLY TURN OVER BUT NOT START. IF WE LET IT SIT FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS IT WILL THEN START, BUT LEAVES US STRANDED. THIS HAPPENS EVERY 2-3 MONTHS. LIGHTS START BLINKING RANDOMLY AS DRIVING, TRACTION CONTROL WILL TURN ON AS WE ARE DRIVING CAUSING REDUCTION IN POWER. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Sep 5, 2018
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WARMING MESSAGE READ ENGINE POWER REDUCE ESC AND SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL.. THE CAR SHOOK AND DROPPED DOWN TO 30 MPH WHILE I WAS ON HIGHWAY ..I WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET TO SIDE OF HIGHWAY .. I WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND STARTED CAR BACK UP AGAIN MESSAGE CLEARED BUT RIGHT BEFORE I GOT HOME CAR DID THE SAME THING .. I CALLED TRIPLE A AND HAS IT TOWED HOME
Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 11, 2018
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH, SERVICE ECS LIGHT CAME ON, REDUCED POWER WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR CAME TO A FULL STALL.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Aug 2, 2018
THE CAR TELLS ME TO SERVICE ESC AND TO SERVICE TRACTION. WHEN THE CAR IS IN CRUISE CONTROL THE BRAKE DOES NOT DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Jul 23, 2018
ANTI THEFT SYSTEM, WENT TO GET IN MY CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY TO GO TO WORK AND IT WON'T TURN ON HAS LIGHTS AND POWER BUT JUST HEAR A CLICK IN MOTOR, NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS BEFORE NO OTHER LIGHTS ON AND NOW IT WON'T START SHOWS THE ANTI THEFT LOCK LIGHT
Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Jun 27, 2018
I'M HAVING PROBLEM WITH BRAKE PEDAL SENSOR - REPLACED TWICE ALREADY - WHILE DRIVING HIT BRAKES ERROR MESSAGE SERVICE ABS SERVICE TRACTION CRUISE CONTROL WANT DISENGAGE ALSO NOTICED THAT I COULD MOVE THE GEAR OUT OF PARK WITH OUT PUSHING THE BRAKE PEDAL ARE THERE ANY RECALLS FOR THESE ISSUES?
Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Jun 7, 2018
TRACKING CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AND SLOWS THE CAR, THE THE ENGINE WILL DISABLE . THE CAR WILL DO THIS WHILE IN MOTION. TODAY ON THE FREEWAY ENGINES DISABLED AND ALMOST REAR ENDED. NO MACHANIC KNOW HOW TO FIX IT WITHOUT CHANGING AND REPLACING MULTIPLE PARTS AND STILL HAPPENS. WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN MARCH 2018
Exterior lighting, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Apr 14, 2018
MISFIRE CYL #1 AND ENG LT. WITH MISFIRE CODE, ATTEMPTED CHEV DEALER WARRANTY REPAIR WITH REMOVAL OF CYL HEAD AND REPLACEMNT VALVES [THE CHEAP FIX INSTEAD OF REPLACING CYL HEAD, IN RETROSPECT I BELIEVE CHEV SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THE CYL HEAD FOR A PERMANENT REPAIR, NOW THE CAR IS OUT OF 100K POWERTRAIN WARRANTY] BUT RECURRENCE 22K MILES LATER. I SUSPECT A DESIGN FLAW. ITERNET SHOWS MANY OWNERS WITH SAME COMPLAINT. TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME OFF AND ON.
Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Apr 2, 2018
ON APRIL 1,2018 I WAS DRIVING ON A BUSY ROAD GOING 45MPH WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. A COUPLE OF WARNING LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD ESC AS WELL AS THE ENGINE LIGHT. THE CAR BEGAN TO JERK AND DRIVE REALLY ROUGH, BEFORE THE ENGINE POWER LOST FLASHED ON THE DASH. I TURNED ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND TRIED TO GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD TO A SAFE AREA. THE CAR COULD ONLY CRUISE BECAUSE I COULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE. THIS CAR JUST MADE IT TO 82000 MILES ON THE DASH, I SHOULD NOT BE HAVING AN ISSUE LIKE THIS WITH THIS CAR. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS SOMEONE COULD BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR EVEN WORST DEATH. PLEASE PLEASE BRING AWARENESS TO THIS ISSUE, WHICH A LOT OF OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE IS HAVING.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Apr 1, 2018
AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON THE INTERSTATE 95 I NOTICED THE CAR VIOLENTLY SHAKING AND THROTTLING UNCONTROLLABLY, THE DASHBOARD READ SERVICE ESC AND THE TRACTION CONTROL SENSOR CAME ON. I LET OFF OF THE GAS AND THE CAR WAS STILL ACCELERATING, I PRESSED THE BAKES AND IT WOULDN'T STOP THE CAR FROM LUNGING FORWARD. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF HIGHWAY AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. I WAITED A COUPLE MINUTES AND THE PROBLEM WAS STILL THERE BUT NOT LUNGING FORWARD ANYMORE BUT THE SPEED WAS LIMITED TO 20 MPH I MADE IT TO WORK. AFTER A 9 HOUR SHIFT THE SHAKING STOPPED BUT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 26, 2018
THE CHECK ENGINE LINE AND SERVICE TRACTION LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON. MY CAR WAS SERVICED BY 2 CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND THEY PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE COILS BY MANASSAS CHEVROLET AND LINDSEY CHEVROLET . THE COILS, SPARK PLUGS AND CARBON BLOW OUT WAS COMPLETED. THE LIGHTS CONTINUE TO COME ON. IT APPEARS TO BE THE SAME ISSUE THAT THE 2009 MALIBU WAS RECALLED FOR. PLEASE MAKE CHEVROLET COMPLETE A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY ENGINEERED. ONE DEALERSHIP SAID THE ENGINES MAY BE BAD IN THESE CARS. THE CAR DRIVES ROUGH AND THE SERVICE TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON WHEN YOU BRAKE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON AT ALL TIMES.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Mar 8, 2018
OFF AND ON MY POWER STEERING GOES OUT, I CAN BE AT A REDLIGHT, PARKED OR EVEN DRIVING AND IT GOES OUT, I END UP HAVING TO TURN OFF CAR IF IM PARKED OR AT REDLIGHT, AND IF IM DRIVING I GO INTO NEUTRAL TO TURN CAR OFF AND THEN OFF... MY ESC GOES OFF ALS, THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE I FIRST PURCHASED THE CAR, SO SINCE 2012 IT MOST RECENTLY HAPPENED LAST NIGHT ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK WHILE AT A LIGHT
Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 23, 2018
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND SERVICE TRACTION LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON WHILE I AM DRIVING AND COME TO A COMPLETED STOP. THE DEALERSHIP TECHS STATED BOTH LIGHTS ALWAYS COME ON TOGETHER WHEN IT IS SOMETHING WITH THE EMISSION CONTROLS. ON STAR DIAGNOSTIC RESULTS WERE: THROUGH YOUR RECENT ON-DEMAND DIAGNOSTIC, ONSTAR DETECTED AN ISSUE WITH YOUR 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU.THE CODE(S) AND EXPLANATION(S) ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ISSUE IS/ARE: P0300 THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM IS NOT PERFORMING AS EXPECTED. AN ISSUE HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE EXHAUST EMISSIONS SYSTEM WHICH MONITORS AND CONTROLS EXHAUST GASES RELEASED INTO THE AIR FROM THE ENGINE. IF THE VEHICLE IS CONTINUALLY DRIVEN WITH THIS LIGHT ON, THE EMISSION CONTROLS MIGHT NOT WORK AS WELL, THE VEHICLE FUEL ECONOMY MIGHT NOT BE AS GOOD, THE ENGINE MIGHT NOT RUN AS SMOOTHLY AND COULD LEAD TO FUTURE REPAIRS. BASED ON THE RESULTS, YOU SHOULD SERVICE YOUR CHEVROLET WITHIN 7 DAYS.IF YOU REQUIRE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE PLEASE CONTACT (866) 415-5838. PLEASE BRING THIS EMAIL WITH YOU WHEN YOU GO FOR SERVICE.LAST 8 CHARACTERS OF VIN: [XXX] I TOOK THE CAR TO MANASSAS CHEVROLET 1ST AND WAS TOLD THAT THE THEY NEEDED TO CONDUCT A CARBON FLUSH AND THAT COIL 1 WAS BAD WHICH CAUSE THE LIGHTS TO COME. PAID A TUNE UP. AFTER PAYING OVER $600 THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. I TOOK IT BACK 3 TIMES AND WAS TOLD IT NEEDED TO BURN THE CARBON OFF AND COIL 2 NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I TOOK THE CAR TO LINDSAY CHEVROLET FOR A 2ND OPINION BECAUSE BOTH LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN. I WAS TOLD THAT COIL 2 WAS REPLACED BY THE MANASSAS CHEVY AND WAS BAD. I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. I THEN TOOK IT TO REPAIR SHOP IN GAITHERSBURG AND WAS TOLD COIL 2 WAS BAD, BAD A SPARK PLUG AND CYCLINDER GASKETS WERE BAD. I DID NOT NEED A NEW ENGINE. THE COMPUTER IS GOING BAD AND THUS THE REASON THE CHECK ENGINE AND SERVICE TRACTION LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AFTER ALL OF THE ABOVE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*CC