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: exterior lighting
202 reports, newest first. Show all
Exterior lighting, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jan 30, 2020
HEADLAMPS KEEP GOING OUT WITHIN MONTHS AFTER SERVICE, LIGHTBULB SEEMS TO HAVE BLOWN BUT THEN COMES BACK ON LATER. HARNESS REPLACEMENT 2 TIMES IN 2 YEARS, PLASTIC CONNECTORS KEEP MELTING OR HEATING. BULB BLOWN ALSO ONE HOUR AFTER LEAVING DEALERSHIP SERVICING. MULTIPLE DATES OF INCIDENT WITH MOST RECENT 1/29/2020
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jan 26, 2020
VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. DEALERSHIP CHANGED FUSE BOX AND WIRING IN TRUNK DUE TO MELTING. NOW LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS NOT WORKING. REPLACED ONE MONTHS AGO, NOW BOTH NOT WORKING AGAIN. NOTICED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON YOUR WEBSITE.
Exterior lighting, Jan 23, 2020
THE HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT I HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS AND CONNECTORS SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY ARE CURRENTLY OUT AGAIN FOR THE 8TH TIME
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Other or unspecified, Jan 22, 2020
DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT KEPT GOING IN AND OUT UNTIL COMPLETELY GOING OUT AND NOT WORKING. WHEN GETTING A NEW BULB PUT IT IT DID THE SAME THING A WEEK LATER. THE WIRING IN THE HEADLIGHT IS FAULTY. THE SAME THING GOES FOR THE FRONT SPEAKERS OF THE CAR. THE FRONT SPEAKERS WILL COME ON AND OFF ON THEIR OWN AS WELL.
Exterior lighting, Jan 17, 2020
FRONT HEADLIGHT WILL GO OUT LIKE IT IS BURNED OUT - BUT THEN RANDOMLY TURN ON LATER - CHANGE THE BULB AND IT WILL WORK FOR A FEW DAYS THEN SHUT OFF
Exterior lighting, Jan 15, 2020
PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT CONNECTION BETWEEN BULB AND HARNESS KEEPS MELTING CAUSING HEADLIGHT TO NOT TURN ON. HAVE CHANGED OUT WIRING HARNESS MANY, MANY TIMES IN A YEAR.
Exterior lighting, Dec 9, 2019
THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WILL STOP WORKING, BUT THE BULBS ARE STILL GOOD. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. BOTH LIGHTS DO NOT WORK AND REPLACING THE BULB DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM.
Exterior lighting, Nov 24, 2019
THE LOW BEAM LIGHT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE KEEPS GOING OUT I'VE CHANGED IT TWICE AND ITS STILL GOING OUT AS IF THERE IS A SHORTAGE
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Nov 17, 2019
THREE TIMES IN TWO MONTHS THE PASSENGER LOW BEAM HAS GONE OUT. I WORK NIGHTS AND EACH TIME IT HAS GONE OUT IT HAS BEEN WHILE I AM DRIVING TO WORK IN THE DARK. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE ISSUE AND NO CLEAR ANSWER HAS BEEN GIVEN ON HOW TO FIX THE ISSUE.
Exterior lighting, Nov 4, 2019
THE HEADLIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE GO OUT BUT THE BULBS ARE NOT BLOWN. THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE CONNECTORS THAT CAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS TO GO OUT AND COME ON SPORADICALLY. SOMETIMES THE LIGHT WILL COME OFF OR ON IF IT IS HIT OR KICKED, OR IF A BUMP IN THE ROAD IS HIT. THIS CAUSES THE PREMATURE TRASHING OF BULBS THAT SEEM TO HAVE BLOWN. THIS IS A PROBLEM UNTO ITSELF BUT EVEN MORE PROBLEMATIC SINCE THE ENTIRE BUMPER MUST BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO REPLACE (ANY COMPONENT OF) A HEADLIGHT. MECHANICS ARE FAMILIAR WITH THIS ISSUE FOR SEVERAL GM VEHICLES WITHIN A CERTAIN TIME FRAME. I HAVE CHATTED WITH SEVERAL OWNERS OF CADILLACS, IMPALAS, AND MALIBUS THAT EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Air bags, Oct 29, 2019
I BOUGHT MY 2012 MALIBU ABOUT 2YEARS AGO AND AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRATION I STARTED HAVING CODES SAYING TO SERVICE AIR BAGS BUT THE CODES WON'T STAY CONSTANT AND NO ONE KNOWS WHY FOR SOME ODD REASON. ON TOP OF THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEAD LIGHT HAS BEEN CHANGED 5 TIME IN LESS THEN A YEAR AND A HALF AND ONCE AGAIN NO ONE KNOWS WHY. I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH CONSTANT ISSUES THE MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR FAULTY EQUIPMENT
Exterior lighting, Oct 25, 2019
BOTH LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS GO OUT TOO OFTEN. THE LIGHTS ARE NOT BURNED OUT BECAUSE THEY'LL WORK FOR A FEW WEEKS AND WILL NOT WORK FOR MONTHS AT A TIME; INDIVIDUALLY OR SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE PASSENGER HARNESS AND BULB WAS REPLACED AT WINTER CHEVY IN PITTSBURG CA IN 2018 AND WENT OUT AGAIN A FEW MONTHS LATER. THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS HAVE BEEN A CONSISTENT PROBLEM SINCE I PURCHASED THE USED CAR IN 2015. BOTH LOW BEAM LIGHTS HAD BULB REPLACEMENTS 3 TIMES EACH. BOTH LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN OUT FOR MONTHS.
Exterior lighting, Oct 18, 2019
FOR NEARLY 4 YEARS AFTER PURCHASE, I AM CONSTANTLY CHANGING MY PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT BULBS. I HAVE CHANGED MY BULBS MORE TIMES THAN I CAN COUNT. IT IS BECOMING VERY EXPENSIVE. WHILE DRIVING; MY DRIVER SIDE HIGHBEAM AND LOW BEAM WENT OUT WHILE IT WAS RAINING YESTERDAY. I LIVE IN A VERY MOUNTAINOUS AREA AND WITHOUT MY HEADLIGHTS THAT WORK PROPERLY IT IS VERY FEASIBLE THAT I COULD GET IN AN ACCIDENT EVEN DRIVING UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT WITHOUT PROPER HEADLIGHTS. MANY ONLINE CAR FORUMS MENTION A DAYTIME RUNNING LAMP RELAY CAUSES THESE ISSUES. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED FOR I WOULD LOVE TO LET MY NEWLY LICENSED SON DRIVE IT.
Exterior lighting, Oct 15, 2019
FOR MONTHS I BEEN DEALING WITH MY LOW BEAMS AND HIGH BEAMS NOT WORKING ON MY PASSENGER SIDE THEN ONE DAY THE HIGH BEAM WORK FOR A FEW MINUTES I HAVE GOTTEN PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE, I HAVE CHANGED THE BULBS, I HAVE TOOK IT TO MIDAS TO GET IT CHECKED OUT AND THEY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT THE ISSUE. I'M TAKING IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC TOMORROW. I SEE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS ISSUE
Exterior lighting, Oct 10, 2019
HEADLIGHTS BURN OUT REPEATEDLY! HAPPENS RANDOMLY, ON EITHER SIDE AFTER CAR HAS BEEN OFF. I AM AVERAGING 1 TO 6 MONTHS AFTER A HEADLIGHT CHANGE, IT IS VERY COSTLY ON THIS MODEL SINCE THE WHOLE FRONT BUMPER COVER MUST BE REMOVED TO CHANGE A BULB.
Exterior lighting, Oct 7, 2019
THE PASSENGER LOW-BEAM LIGHT HAS AN ISSUE. I'M NOT ALONE, THOUSANDS OF OTHER CHEVY MALIBU DRIVERS HAVE ALL REPORTED THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. THE WIRING HARNESS THAT CONNECTS TO THE LOW-BEAM BULB KEEPS OVER-HEATING AND MELTING, CAUSING THE BULB TO GO OUT. I HAVE REPLACED THE PIGTAIL THREE TIMES NOW, AND IT KEEPS GOING OUT. I HAVE EVEN PULLED THE DRL FUSE, WHICH MANY BELIEVE COULD HAVE BEEN THE PROBLEM, AND IT STILL KEEPS HAPPENING. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE AS I AM NOT ALONE.
Exterior lighting, Oct 4, 2019
RECENTLY PURCHASED 2012 CHEVY MALIBU JULY 13, 2019. TWO WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. CHANGED IT, AND NOW ITS OUT AGAIN 5 WEEKS LATER. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. I HAVE FOUND ONLINE MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF THE VERY SAME PROBLEM. (PASSENGER HEADLIGHT) SOME SAY TO CHANGE THE WIRING HARNESS AS THEY SEEM TO GET OVERLOADED AND MELT (BUT THAT FIX DOESN'T LAST LONG EITHER FROM WHAT I READ) OTHERS SAY THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT RELAY CAUSES AN ISSUE AND SHOULD BE TAKEN OUT OF THE CAR. IT SAYS IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL THAT DRL REDUCES THE LIGHT OUTPUT OF THE HEADLIGHTS FOR DAYTIME RUNNING BY 30%. THIS SEEMS TO BE WHAT IS CAUSING THE AMP DRAW FOR THE LOW BEAMS TO SKYROCKET IN DRL RELAY. THE MASSIVE AMP DRAW IS TOO MUCH FOR THE TERMINALS IN THE PLUG, SO THEY GET SUPER HOT AND MELT THE PLASTIC PLUG. THE METAL TERMINALS RELAX FROM THE HEAT AND STOP MAKING GOOD CONTACT,WHICH WORSENS THE AMP DRAW PROBLEM CAUSING THE LIGHT TO NOT WORK. ( BUT NOT NECESSARILY DUE TO THE BULB BURNING OUT, AS SOME HAVE POSTED THEY PUT THE PASSENGER BULB IN DRIVERS SIDE AND THE BULB STILL WORKS) THIS ISSUE COULD POTENTIALLY BE VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT IF BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME DUE TO THE AMP SURGE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY COMPLAINTS YOU HAVE TO RECEIVE FOR THIS TO BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY RECALL BUT PLEASE CONSIDER IT! THANKS
Exterior lighting, Oct 3, 2019
MY PASSENGER LOWBEAM LIGHT WILL NOT COME ON ONCE THE CAR IS STARTED. I HAVE CHANGED THE BULB AND WIRING HARNESS AND THE LIGHT WILL WORK FOR A FEW DAYS AND THEN WILL STOP WORKING. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS CAR AND CHEVROLET WANTS 160 DOLLARS TO EVEN LOOK AT IT.
Exterior lighting, Sep 25, 2019
PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM KEEPS GOING OUT
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Sep 21, 2019
LOW BEAM LIGHTS CONTINUOUSLY GOING OUT. BULB IS STILL GOOD. HAVE REPLACED BULB. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED SOME WIRING OR HARNESS. NOW PASSWNGER SIDE LOW BEAM IS OUT AGAIN!
Exterior lighting, Sep 17, 2019
PASSENGER LOW BEAM LIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT HAVE REPLACED 3 TIME WORKS FOR A COUPLE DAYS THEN GOES OUT AGAIN. VERY COSTLY WHEN YOU HAVE TO TAKE WHOLE BUMPER OFF TO REPLACE. HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON MALIBU'S WITH SAME ISSUES.
Exterior lighting, Seats, Sep 13, 2019
PASSENGER LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT KEEPS FAILING EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM WITH ALL CHEVY MALIBUS. DRIVER SEAT BACK BREAKS AND CAUSES THE SEAT TO BE UNSAFE.
Exterior lighting, Sep 10, 2019
HEADLIGHTS CONTINUE TO BURN OUT REGULARLY (REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF BULTS MULTIPLE TIMES PER YEAR) AND THE WIRING HARNESS CONTINUES TO MELT. BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN OF THE CAR, THE WHOLE FRONT BUMPER HAS TO BE PULLED OFF TO GET ACCESS TO LIGHT TO REPLACE--OFTEN AT A HIGH COST AT THE REPAIR SHOP. THIS IS UNSAFE,AS THE FREQUENCY OF THE BURNOUTS RESULT IN HAVING TO DRIVE WITH BRIGHTS ON AT NIGHT WHEN BOTH LIGHTS UNEXPECTEDLY GO OUT. READING THE MANUAL, THE DRL REDUCES THE VOLTAGE TO THE LOW BEAMS, WHICH DRIVES UP THE AMPS CAUSING THE EXTRA HEAT TO MELT THE WIRING HARNESS. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT NEEDS TO BE REMEDIATED BY A RECALL.
Exterior lighting, Aug 26, 2019
PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT( LOW BEAM) CONTINUES TO GO OUT AFTER BEING REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME, 2-3 WEEKS.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Electronic stability control (ESC), Aug 22, 2019, crash
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