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, Mar 19, 2019
MY DIM HEADLIGHT KEEPS BURNING OUT AND I KEPT HAVING TO CHANGE MY BULBS. TO COME TO FIND OUT IT WAS MY WIRING HARNESS AND I'VE HAD TO CHANGE IT TWICE. MY BRIGHT LIGHTS DO GOOD. IT'S JUST THE DIM LIGHTS. PLEASE RECALL THIS. IT'S A HEADACHE TRYING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH. I'VE ALSO READ THAT SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE'S CHEVY MALIBUS HEADLIGHTS ARE MESSING UP TOO. EVERYTIME I PASS A MALIBU ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS ARE BURNED OUT. PLEASE FIX THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Visibility/wiper, Mar 14, 2019
DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTIONING MULTIPLE TIMES IN PAST YEAR. HEAD LIGHT WILL GO OUT, AT FIRST COULD TAP ON HEAD LIGHT AND IT WOULD COME BACK ON. HAVE CHANGED PIGTAIL AND BULBS ONLY TO HAVE IT WORK FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
Exterior lighting, Mar 12, 2019
PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM GOES OUT EVERY COUPLE DAYS TO 2 WEEKS. BULB AND WIRE HARNESS HAS BEEN REPLACED AND ONLY CORRECTED THE ISSUE FOR A SHORT TIME.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Mar 6, 2019
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT GOING OUT. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 2014 AND MY LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT A TOTAL OF 6 TIMES. CHANGED THE PIGTAILS LAST TIME AND IAM NOW HAVING TO CHANGE THE WIRING HARNESS COMPLETELY AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL HELP. MY CARS LIGHTS ARE ALWAYS ON AUTO AND ALWAYS BEGINS WITH MY PASSANGER LOW BEAM LIGHT GOING OUT FIRST THEN THE DRIVER SIDE A COUPLE MONTHS AFTER, HAS HAPPENED WHEN TURNING ON THE VEHICLE AND DURING DRIVING. MY HIGH BEAMS WORK FINE WITH NO PROBLEMS AT ALL. THE FIRST TWO TIMES I HAVE HAD A PROFFESIONAL MECHANIC CHANGE THEM AND THE LAST COUPLE TIMES I'VE CHANGED THEM MYSELF NOW DUE TO COST. REMOVING THE WHOLE BUMPER REALLY MAKES THIS EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO CHANGE. I HAVE READ MANY FORUMS AND THEY HAVE ALSO THE SAME PROBLEM, ITS ACTUALLY BECOME VERY COMMON TO SEE MANY CHEVY'S WITH A HEAD LIGHT OUT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS IS NOTED CAUSE IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE COMPANY. PLEASE HELP!
Exterior lighting, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Mar 2, 2019
WARNING ON DASHBOARD SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. BRAKE LIGHTS DOES NOT COME ON WHEN THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL COME ON. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE PREVIOUSLY AND ISSUE STILL OCCURRING.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Mar 1, 2019
MY LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT WORK. I HAVE CHANGED BULBS ONLY TO FIND OUT IT WASNT THE BULBS...THEY STILL WORK. I HAVE CHANGED ONE OF THE PIGTAILS AND IT WORKED FOR A WHILE AND STOPPED WITHIN A MONTH. IT STARTED WITH ONLY THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT AND NOW IT IS BOTH.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Feb 28, 2019
TAMARA RECALL MY LOW BEAMS LIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT AND ON, IT DOES THIS WHEN PARK, AND DRIVING THEY WORK SOMETIMES ONE OR THE OTHER SOMETIMES THEY WON’T COME ON AT ALL.
Exterior lighting, Feb 25, 2019
ON APPROXIMATELY WEDNESDAY 2/20/2019 AND AT 3 POINTS IN 2018 A HEADLIGHT WENT OUT ON MY 2012 CHEVY MALIBU. ON 2/24/18 I RECEIVED A TICKET FOR IT. BUT THE ONLY REASON I DID AND THE 0NLY REASON A KEY SAFETY FEATURE WAS DISABLED FOR SO LONG IS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW BY CHEVY. YOU HAVE TO REMOVE APPROX 30 BOLTS AND THE ENTIRE FRONT CLIP OF THE VEHICLE TO CHANGE A HEADLIGHT. THIS DESIGN FLAW NOT ONLY DISENFRANCHISES PEOPLE BUT ALSO MAKES THE ROAD LESS SAFE DUE TO THE FACT THE AVERAGE NON MECHANICALLY INCLINED PERSON WOULD LIKELY GO TO A MECHANIC AND USUALLY WAIT TO DO THAT BECAUSE OF THE COSTS. I THINK RATHER THAN FINE THEM. ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE TICKETS PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN BECAUSE OF THEM IN ADDITION TO MAKING THEM OFFER FREE SERVICE ON HEADLIGHT CHANGES. MAYBE THEY WON'T DO STUPID STUFF THAT ENDANGERS THE ROAD AGAIN IF THEY HAVE TO PAY EVERY SINGLE PETTY LITTLE TICKET.
Exterior lighting, Feb 23, 2019
BOTH HEADLIGHT GO OUT. REPLACED THE BULB 5 TIMES LAST YEAR AND 1 TIME THIS YEAR. IF I AM DRIVING MY CAR AND HIT A BUMP THE LIGHT WILL TURN OFF OR IF IT IS OFF IT WILL TURN ON.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Feb 19, 2019
THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR ARE CONSTANTLY GOING OUT. I HAVE TO REPLACE THEM 3-4 TIMES A YEAR. I SPEND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS ON HEADLAMPS, EVEN THOUGH I INSTALL THEM MYSELF. INSTALLING NEW HEADLAMPS REQUIRES YOU TO REMOVE THE FRONT BUMPER. THERE IS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW WITH THE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS I HAVE SEEN WITH THIS SAME ISSUE.
Exterior lighting, Feb 17, 2019
HEADLIGHTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, I'VE REPLACED BOTH BULBS AROUND 4 TIMES IN A YEAR. THE DRIVER SIDE GOES OUT I CHANGE IT THEN THE PASSENGER WOULD GO OUT THEN CHANGE IT THEN BOOM THERE GOES THE DRIVER SIDE AGAIN AFTER THE LAST TIME CHANGING IT I NOTICED THE BULBS AREN'T BLOWING OUT. EVERYONE THAT HAS THIS MAKE AND MODEL CAR IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AND I BELIEVE IT IS A FACTORY DEFECT WITH THE WIRING HARNESSES. RUNNING TO THE CHEVY DEALER TO HAVE THIS ISSUE DIAGNOSED AND THEN THE INSANE BILL AFTERWARDS TO FIX SOMETHING THAT I'M PRETTY SURE GM WAS AND IS ALREADY AWARE IS NOT ONLY RIDICULOUS BUT A DISRESPECTFUL SLAP IN THE FACE TO THEIR FAITHFUL CONSUMERS.
Exterior lighting, Feb 15, 2019
THIS WILL BE MY 5TH ATTEMPT WITH CHANGING THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW-BEAN. I RECENTLY TOOK AGAIN TO MY MECHANIC ON JANUARY 7, 2019 TO REPLACE THE BULB AND EXACTLY JANUARY 24 IT WENT BACK OUT AGAIN. THIS ISSUE NEED TO BE REPORTED AND TO BE RECALL. THIS ISSUE WILL KEEP HAPPENING OVER AND OVER AND ITS OBVIOUSLY NOT THE BULB IS THE PROBLEM. I GOT PULLED OVER AND WAS ISSUED A REPAIR ORDER BY THE POLICE ON ANOTHER BULB ISSUE AND THEN ANOTHER A TICKET EVEN WHEN I HAD SHOWED POLICE I HAD BROUGHT A BLUB TO REPLACED IT. THIS IS BEYOND FRUSTRATING PLUS TO REMOVED THE FRONT BUMPER TO REPLACE THE BULB CREATES AN EXTRA CHARGES.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jan 29, 2019
TAKATA RECALL UNSAFE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WITH UNPREDICTABLE HEADLIGHT FUNTIONALITY AND UNKNOWN OTHER RESULTS MAY LEAD TO MORE EXTENSIVE DAFETY ISSUES, I.E FIRE CONCERNS.
Steering, Exterior lighting, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jan 28, 2019
POWER STEERING, LIGHTS, ELECTRICAL STABILITY, ENGINE, TRANSMISSION
Exterior lighting, Jan 18, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000.
Exterior lighting, Jan 10, 2019
DIM LIGHTS BURNING OUT EVERY FEW MONTHS. HAPPENS ON START UP LEAVING ME NO CHOICE BUT TO USE MY HIGH BEAMS TO GET VEHICLE HOME CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jan 7, 2019
FUSE 6 BLOWS WHEN LEFT TURN SIGNAL IS ACTIVATED. IT FIRST BLEW IN OCT 2018, THEN NOT AGAIN UNTIL DECEMBER (SEVERAL TIMES) AND STILL HAPPENING AGAIN IN JAN 2019. SIGNALS WILL WORK FINE FOR A DAY OR TWO AFTER REPLACING FUSE, BUT THEN FUSE BLOWS AGAIN.
Exterior lighting, Jan 4, 2019
MY PASSENGER SIDE LOWBEAM. HEADLIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT NOW I GOT PULLED OVER AND NEED TO TAKE MY CAR INTO THE MECANIC SHOP. FOR WHAT I WAS TOLD IS ATLEAST 200 DOLLARS. RIGHT AFTER THE HOIDAYS. MY 1997 CHEVY SILVERADO HASN'T NEEDED A HEADLIGHT REPLACEMENT IN 6 YEARS BUT THIS CAR I CHANGED THE BULB 4 TIMES LAST YEAR? NOT TO MENTION ITS SO HARD TO EVEN GET TO THE BULB YOU HAVE TO TAKE INTO THE SHOP.
Exterior lighting, Dec 18, 2018
DRIVER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT. REPLACED 2X IN LESS THAN 90 DAYS, STILL NOT WORKING. LIGHT WORKS JUST BEFORE THE NEW BULB CLICKS INTO PLACE IN THE CONNECTOR, BUT THEN AS SOON AS THE CONNECTOR CLICKS IN PLACE, THE BULB GOES OUT. HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES, SAME THING. NO OTHER ISSUES WITH LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, HAZARDS, ETC...ONLY THE DRIVER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT. HAPPENS REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Dec 16, 2018
LOW BEAMS REPEATEDLY GOING OUT, BOTH SOCKETS REPLACED AND BULBS, NUMEROUS TIMES. FRONT BUMPER FACIA HAS TO COME OFF FOR REPLACEMENT
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
Exterior lighting, Dec 15, 2018
LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHTS GO OUT EVERY MONTH. BULBS AND PIGTAILS HAVE BEEN REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES BUT THEY KEEP GOING OUT. I'M AM UNAWARE THAT THEY ARE OUT UNTIL I'M DRIVING AT NIGHT OR PULLED OVER BY POLICE AND TOLD THAT IT'S OUT. THEY SEEM TO ALTERNATE, ONE GOES OUT, I GET IT REPAIRED AND THEN THE OTHER GOES OUT.
Exterior lighting, Dec 11, 2018
MY LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT GOES OUT UNEXPECTEDLY I HAVE CHANGED IT ALREADY AND NOW ITS OUT AGAIN..IM NOT THE ONLY MALIBU OWNER WITH THIS PROBLEM. SO I THINK SOMEONE WITH CHEVROLET NEEDS TO FIND AN ANSWER FOR THEIR CAR OWNERS FOR A RECALL SOLUTION..PLEASE DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO TRADE MY MALIBU IN BECAUSE OF A HEADLIGHT ISSUE BUT EVERYTIME A NEW BULB GETS PUT IN IT WORKS FOR A LIMITED TIME AND THEN I AM DRIVING AROUND WITH ONE HEADLIGHT!
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 ##
Exterior lighting, Dec 5, 2018
MY LOW BEAM PASSENGER AND DRIVER HEADLIGHT GOES OUT EVERY 2 TO THREE MONTHS. I HAVE CHANGED MORE HEADLIGHT BULBS AS MUCH AS OIL CHANGES. BELOW IS A LINK LISTING MANY OTHER CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE REPAIR CAN COST UP TO $200 AT THE SHOP. I'VE ALMOST BEEN GIVEN A TICKET, BUT LUCKILY I WAS LEAVING AUTOZONE WITH MY LIGHT AND RECIEPT WHEN I GOT STOPPED. THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING. MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME CAR HAS FIXED THE HARNESS AND STILL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. PLEASE HELP US GET THIS RESOLVED TO KEEP SAFETY AND VISIBILITY ON THE STREETS AND TO PREVENT UNNECCESSARY TICKETS FOR HARD WORKING PEOPLE. HERE IS THE FORUM LINK. THANKS. HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T32066_DS667897 THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO HAPPEN RANDOMLY. ONE DAY I TURN THE CAR ON AND IT'S JUST OFF. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN POLICE CHEVY'S DRIVING AROUND WITH ONE HEADLIGHT LIGHT ON.