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, Aug 11, 2019
MY 2012 CHEVY MALIBU PASSENGER HEADLIGHT HAS GONE OUT 4 TIMES IN A YEAR AND A HALF. IT IS REDICULOUS THAT IT COSTS A MINIMUM OF 80.00 TO HAVE THIS WORK DONE AND IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE OWNER CANNOT PERFORM THE BULB REPLACEMENT WITHOUT REMOVING THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE CAR.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Electronic stability control (ESC), Aug 10, 2019
AT 1ST MY CAR WOULDN'T CRANK EVERY SO OFTEN THEN STARTED GOING DRAG WHILE DRIVING I GOOGLED IT AND HAD TO BEAT ON FUSEBOX IN TRUNK OR WIGGLE WIRES SO HAD TO RUN WIRE STRAIGHT TO BATTERY TO FUEL PUMP. MY HEADLIGHTS ON DIM KEEP SHOOTING AND MY SPEAKERS WILL GO OUT SOMETIMES
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Jul 29, 2019
TAKATA RECALL WHEN I'M DRIVING MY VEHICLE, THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKER AS IF I'M THE POLICE. I TOOK IT TO FIRESTONE AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER THE CAR ONLY HAS 160,000+ AND IT JUST STARTED EVERY TIME I ACCELERATE OR DRIVE IT DOES THIS AND I'M AFRAID THAT I WILL EITHER GET PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE, HIT SOMEONE OR SOMEONE HITS ME OR/AND THE LIGHTS GO COMPLETELY OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. IS THIS DUE BECAUSE WHENEVER YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THE BUILD, THE WHOLE BUMPER HAS TO COME OFF TO REPLACE IT? I LIKE MY CAR BUT THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I SEE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS
Exterior lighting, Visibility/wiper, Jul 15, 2019
I HAVE A 2012 CHEVY MALIBU. THUS IS MY EVERYDAY VEHICLE AND WHEN I HAVE HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING. WE HAVE HAD THE BUMPER OFF THIS CAR MULTIPLE TIMES WHICH IS A REAL PAIN. WE HAVE CHANGED HEADLIGHTS, WIRING HARNESS AND EVEN UNDOING THE BATTERY. THE PASSENGER LIGHT COMES ON FOR A BIT THEM WILL GO OFF AND NOT COME BACK ON. I HAVE A LOAN ON THIS CAR AND CAN'T EVEN GET RID OF IT CAUSE I CAN'T KEEP THE LIGHTS ON. WORSE CHEVY CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED. I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER FOR IT BEING OUT AND HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO EXPLAIN IT. READING THE REVIEWS OF THIS CAR ONLINE I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON THAT HAS HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jul 8, 2019
PASSENGER HEAD LIGHT HAS BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES IT KEEPS TURNING OFF. LIGHT BULB IS NOT BURNED. WHEN TAPING ON OR MOVING WIRES LIGHT GOES ON REPLACED WIRES AND STILL HAVING SAME ISSUE. VEHICLE CAN NOT BE DRIVEN AT NIGHT TIME. ALL THIS HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED ON.
Exterior lighting, Jul 6, 2019
LEFT LOW BEAM KEEPS GOING OUT AND BULB NOT BURNT OUT. REPLACED 3X IN THE PASSED YEAR
Exterior lighting, Jul 6, 2019
RIGHT LOW BEAM KEEPS BURNING OUT TWICE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AND REPAIRED BY A CHEV DEALER TWICE WENT OUT SETTING IN GARAGE AND REPLACED BY A CERTIFIED AUTO SHOP
Exterior lighting, Jul 5, 2019
IVE HAD TO DROP THE CAR OF 8 TIMES NOW TO TRY AND REPAIR THE RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT WHICH KEEPS GOING OUT. PIGTAILS CONNECTORS AND BULB ALL REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES NOW.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jun 26, 2019
HEAD LIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jun 24, 2019
I HAVE REPLACED MY LOW BEAMS 3 TIMES THIS YEAR. THE FIRST TIME I REAPLACED ALL THE BULBS. THE SECOND TIME I REAPLACED BOTH WIRING HARNESS AND BULBS. A MONTH AGO I REPLACED THE PASSENGER BULB AND NOW THE DRIVERS SIDE LOW BEAM IS OUT AGAIN. IT HAS COST ME ANYWHERE FROM $100-$200 EACH TIME TO DO THIS! I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY DASH TELLING ME SERVICE ESC, ESC OFF, AND SERVICE TRACTION. A RECALL IN 2014 ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE AND MY VIN SAYS THE RECALL HAS BEEN SERVICED BUT I AM STILL HAVING THIS ISSUE. IT HAPPENS WITH THE CAR IN PARK AND WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES IT STAYS ON FOR HOURS SOMETIMES MINUTES.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jun 24, 2019
HEADLAMP HARNESS KEEPS BURNING CAUSING HEADLAMP TO FAIL TO ILLUMINATE. HAVE REPLACED MULTIPLE BULBS AS WELL AS BOTH HARNESSES WITHIN THE LAST 6 MONTHS AND AGAIN, HARNESS HAS BURNT AND MY LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS DO NOT WORK. READING SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, I BELIEVE IT HAS TO DO WITH THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT FEATURE. I'VE NOTICED THE ISSUE BOTH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING AND WHEN IT'S STATIONARY. WHILE THERE HASN'T BEEN A FIRE AS A RESULT OF THIS ISSUE YET, I'M SURE IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME.
Exterior lighting, Jun 17, 2019
I HAVE CHANGED MY PASSENGER HEADLIGHT BULB SEVERAL TIMES AND IT STILL DOES NOT WORK EVERY TIME I HAVE TO FIX IT I AM CHARGED $100.00 OR MORE. ALSO I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THE MOTOR TO MY DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW TWICE. THIS ALSO ALSO HAPPENED TO MY 2000 CHEVY MALIBU. IT SEAMS LIKE THIS MODEL HAS MANY ISSUES.
Exterior lighting, Visibility/wiper, Jun 8, 2019
DRIVER SIDE LOW BEAM KEEPS SHORTING OUT EVEN AFTER REPLACING BULBS AND HARNESS. WINDSHIELD WIPERS BUSHING BROKE IN MIDDLE OF RAINSTORM ON 6/7/19 IN SUFFOLK VA ON INTERSTATE 664 SOUTH BOUND
Exterior lighting, Jun 4, 2019
THE PLUG TO THE LEFT HEADLIGHT CONTINUES TO MELT AND SHORT THE HEADLIGHT OUT. IT IS NOT THE BULB, BUT THE PLUG IN SYSTEM FOR THE HEADLIGHTS.
Exterior lighting, May 29, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE REPLACED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHT CONNECTORS WERE FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONNECTORS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURES CONTINUED. BOB BELL CHEVROLET (1230 BEL AIR RD, BEL AIR, MD) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, May 16, 2019
REPLACED LOW BEAM LIGHTS MULTIPLE TIMES, HAD THE WIRING HARNESS REPLACED DUE TO A SHORTAGE THAT WAS SUPPOSEDLY LEADING TO THE LOW BEAMS LIGHT BLOWING OUT CONSTANTLY. LOW BEAM LIGHTS STILL KEEP GOING OUT. ONGOING ISSUE
Exterior lighting, Apr 28, 2019
PASSENGER LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT CONTINUALLY BURNS OUT. HAVE CHANGED BULB MULTIPLE TIMES. THE LAST TIME THE BULB LITERALLY BLEW UP. THE NEW BULB WOULD LAST AN HOUR OR A DAY OR TWO.
Exterior lighting, Apr 15, 2019
I OWN TWO 2012 CHEVY MALIBUS--THE HEADLIGHTS ON EACH HAVE WENT OUT NO LESS THAN 4 TIMES EACH. THIS HAS TO BE A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURE ISSUE. EVEN WITH THE PIGTALS BEING REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS CONTINUE TO GO OUT.
Exterior lighting, Apr 14, 2019
WE HAVE HAD THE DRIVERS SIDE WIRING HARNESS REPLACED THREE TIMES. AND THE OTHER ONE ONCE. MY SON HAS THE EXACT MAKE AND MODEL AND HAS SAME ISSUES. REPLACED TWICE. LOCAL REPAIR SHOP SAYS THIS IS A KNOW. ISSUE
Exterior lighting, Apr 12, 2019
HIGH AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE HEADLIGHTS ON MY CAR 3 TIMES WITHIN 3 MONTHS. I SEARCHED FOR A PROBLEM WITH THAT CAR AND ANY COMPLAINTS. I FOUND NO RECALL BUT GM BUT 274 COMPLAINTS ABOUT HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS. THE HEADLIGHTS WILL JUST GO OFF DURING DRIVING. VERY DANGEROUS. WHAT CAN BE DONE. IT VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE BULBS BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO DROP THE BUMPER BUT THE BULB IS NOT THE PROBLEM. HOW CAN WE GET GENERAL MOTORS TO RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM FOR 274 PEOPLE? I CAN TELL YOU THE VERY LAST TIME THIS HAPPEN.
Exterior lighting, Apr 3, 2019
PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED EVERY YEAR. SOMETIMES SOONER. THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM CONNECTOR MELTED.
Exterior lighting, Mar 29, 2019
IS HAVING TO CONSTANTLY REPLACE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT. MY HEADLIGHTS HAVE BOTH WENT OUT 3 TIMES WITHIN 6 MONTHS. THIS IS VERY COSTLY REPAIR BECAUSE THE FRONT BUMPER HAS TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO GET TO THE HEADLIGHT.
Exterior lighting, Mar 21, 2019
MY LOW BEAMS AND NOW HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT. REPLACED THREE TIMES AND TWO ON THE OTHER SIDE. COSTS OVER 150 EACH TIME. DRIVING OR WHEN I GO TO START CAR IS WHEN THEY GO OUT AND ONLY ONCE AFTER HITTING BUMP IT CAME ON. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE REPORTING SAME PROBLEM ON CAR GURU. TYPE IN YOUR CAR MAKE AND MODEL AND YEAR WITH HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS AND YOU WILL SEE HOW MANY DRIVERS ARE EFFECTED BY THIS AND HAVE TO KEEP PAYING. I ALSO GOT PULLED OVER 5 TIMES IN 2 MONTHS FOR HEADLIGHTS. THIS IS A PROBLEM AND NEEDS THE MAKER TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. I ALSO CAN GET RECORDS FROM DEALERSHIP OF ALL WORK PAID FOR.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Electronic stability control (ESC), Mar 20, 2019
ON TWO OCCASSIONS THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY WENT COMPLETELY OUT WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. SINCE I GOT THE CAR 2 YEARS AGO I HAVE HAD MANY ISSUES WITH THE LIGHTING AMD ELECTRICAL. THE BRAKE LIGHT WORKS WHEN IT CHOOSES TO EVEN IF K DONE PUSH THE BRAKE AND WITH NEW BULBS IT MAY NOT WORK. THE HEADLIGHTS DO THE SAME. THEY COME ON AND GO OFF WHEN THEY CHOOSE TO. I HAVE REPLACED BULBS OVER 20 TIMES IN THE PAST 2 YEARS WHEN I DIDN'T ACTUALLY HAVE TO. MY SENSORS ALSO DON'T WORK WHICH I WAS TOLD WAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. I HAVE A FRONT LIGHT THAT WON'T GO OFF SO EACH TIME I CUT THE CAR OFF I HAVE TO UNPLUG MY BATTERY SO IT DOESN'T DIE. THE DATE POSTED ISNT THE ONLY DATE ITS HAPPENED IT WAS THE DAY IT ALL STARTED.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Mar 20, 2019
DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMPS GOING OUT. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE MY DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT 3 TIMES OVER THE LAST 2 MONTHS. NO AUTOMOBILE SHOULD GO THROUGH HEADLAMPS AT THAT RATE. TO COMPLICATE THIS ISSUE, THE ENTIRE FRONT BUMPER MUST BE REMOVED TO CHANGE THE HEADLIGHTS. I'VE READ ON THE FORUMS WHERE MANY MALIBU OWNERS ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE(S) WITH THE HEADLAMPS. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW AND GM/CHEVROLET SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL WITH CORRECTIVE ACTION.