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: steering
191 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Jan 12, 2023
Service esc service traction esc off Light comes on and off randomly
Steering, Jul 28, 2022
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The vehicle was restarted and worked as designed. The service ESC power steering message was displayed. The traction control warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering column and steering control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified via email but there was no response. The contact stated that the failure was similar to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14E044000 (Steering). The approximate failure mileage was 71,000.
Steering, Jul 11, 2022
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 118,472.
Steering, May 12, 2022
I contacted this agency back in March 2022 about my power steering going out while driving after I was told there was a recall on this issue already. This agency told me my vin number was NOT included in this recall but will start an investigation to see if it can be included. Considering this is an safety issue and a recall on this same issue has been established. I have yet to hear anything back from anyone about this matter. Not a letter, phone call nor an email. This is a safety issue! There is a recall on this already! I thought this agency was created for consumers to protect them from issues with transportation that involved their safety? I called and spoke with a rep name [XXX] who was extremely rude and obnoxious so I'm making this report again. Can I get any assistance from this agency? It is getting pretty scary to drive this vehicle with my wheel locking up and the repair is extremely high. I'm not sure why my vin was not included, but after doing some research, I'm having the exact same problems the other cars under this recall are having. My number has changed since my initial report. The new number is listed below. My old number is [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Steering, Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Mar 30, 2022
The electric power steering and ESC systems. It is or was under recall for this type of vehicle. The steering becomes hard and vehicle shakes the tire rotation is being read wrong by computer. It doesn't want to stay 9n the road...the stability of vehicle is compromised.
Steering, Mar 29, 2022
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the steering wheel locked without warning. The contact stated that after multiple restarts, the power steering functionality returned. Over time, the contact stated that the failure would occur while driving at various speeds without warning. The contact had spoken with the dealer and was informed that her vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14E044000 (Steering). The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and she was referred to the NHTSA for assistance. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 179,000
Steering, Electrical system, Wheels, Mar 4, 2022
I'm a single parent and I can't afford to take my car to the dealership I love my car I have had my 2012 chevy malibu for over 6 years n I hate to just have it park at home knowing that, that's car was my everything. It started having problem with esc . When I would come to a stop then taking off it would break on its one I was told it could be my throttle body so I went n buy one n now the idle is too high now I can't get it to fix. Pls help me out I'm my car that I love so much.
Steering, Feb 28, 2022
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the power steering warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the power steering would suddenly fail to operate as needed. The contact would pull over and restart the vehicle after waiting for a while. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic, who stated that the power steering failed and the power steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 59,000.
Steering, Power train, Electrical system, Feb 10, 2022
My electric steering motor and torque sensor is going out. I first noticed it starting to go out about 2 months ago in November. I was turning to pull into a parking spot at the grocery store and all of a sudden my wheel locked up and check ESC flashed across my dashboard. I almost side grazed the car on side of me on my way turning in. I had to turn the wheel really hard to straighten it up..so when I got into the parking spot and turned the car off and turned it back on it was working again and didn’t do it for a while. So fast forward 2 months later in January it started back doing it again. I was backing out of my driveway and all of a sudden the steering got really hard and again service ESC flashed on the dashboard and I almost backed up into a car that’s parked on the street behind my driveway. I had to turn really had and in the middle of the street I had to turn the car off and back on to reset itself . The next day was driving and and when I stopped at a stop sign my steering wheel started shaking left to right uncontrollably and ever since the the steering wheel just shakes even while sitting still so I made an appointment with the dealership that I got the car for checked it out and did a diagnostic test and the mechanic told me I needed a torque sensor and steering motor. I have the papers saying that’s what’s wrong with it and after doing research I found that that car model had a recall with the exact same thing my car is doing but when I put in my vin number it’s not listed as a recall and my car isn’t drivable and I think it should be recalled .As of now it has only been looked at by the dealership. And it’s available for inspection upon request.
Steering, Electrical system, Feb 9, 2022, crash
ESC traction control /Power Sterering light turned on my wheel was hard to steer. Lost control . If I turn off it works for a few minutes but then goes back to hard.. unable to steer
Steering, Jan 11, 2022
The electric power steering locks up due to a faulty steering angle sensor. When it locks up you can not steer the vehicle at all. This has happened several times. Which has nearly caused an accident everytime.
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Nov 3, 2021
I been having the same problem for a year now.. constantly putting it in and out the shop and no one can find out what’s wrong with it.. the engine will loss it control and stop working in the middle of traffic which almost caused me a wreck several times. The Chevrolet dealership hasn’t done anything to help but charge me to look at it and they didn’t fix the problem. I have three kids and it has been a safety issue which is our only way to work and school. The car will skip constantly in the middle of traffic and several times someone almost ran into the back of my car. It will say engine power reduced, service traction and service sec I have spent ton of money trying to fix the issue and I have read several people have had the same problem.
Steering, Suspension, Jul 20, 2021
Rack and pinion failure causing play in the steering, pull to one side, clunking and rapid shaking of the steering wheel when braking.
Steering, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, May 9, 2021
I HAVE AN ONGOING ISSUE IN WHICH THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2012 MALIBU LOCKS UP AND IT'S EXTREMELY HARD TO ROTATE THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAKE TURNS....IT HAS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS FROM BEING PARKED FROM A COLD START TO RECENTLY ACTIVELY HAPPENING WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD/HIGHWAY. THE COMPUTER DASH DISPLAY POPS UP SAYING POWER STEERING THEN SAYS SERVICE ESC
Steering, Mar 22, 2021
BAD STEERING COLUMN PARTS. STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN STATIONARY. SOMETIMES POWERSTEERING DOES NOT WORK.
Steering, Feb 12, 2021
LOSS OF STEERING WHEN TURNING. DRIVER INFO PANEL SAYING ESC AND SERVICE POWER STEERING . !
Steering, Feb 5, 2021
THE STEERING WHEEL IS HARD TO TURN AND IT'S GETTING WORSE AND WORSE WHEN IT IS UNLOCKED THE WHEEL SHAKES LIKE CRAZY AND IT HAS NO GRIP WHEN U TURN IN THE CAR IT IS UNLOCKED BUT AS U DRIVING IT IT LOCKS IT'S SELFNL. AT A INTERSECTION AS I WAS AT A A COMPLETE STOP ONCE I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BREAKER THE STEERING WHEEL ALMOST HIT THE THE CAR IN THE NEXT LANE
Steering, Electrical system, Feb 1, 2021
WHILE DRIVING TO SCHOOL GOING ROUGHLY FROM IDLE TO 10MPH AS STARTED TO GET ON THE HIGHWAY THE ESC SERVICES POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST ALL POWER STEERING. NEEDLESS TO SAY ME BEING 5'3" AND 98 POUNDS DIDN'T HELP ME MUCH TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. I SLOWLY PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND GATHERED MYSELF NOT KNOWING WHAT JUST HAPPENED. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND GATHERED MY THOUGHTS. LUCKILY I WAS ON STRAIGHT AWAY WITH NO TURNS WHEN THIS HAPPENED. SO I PRECEEDED TO TURN THE CAR ON AND NOTICED THE MESSAGE WAS GONE SO I CHECKED THE STEERING AND THE PROBLEM LIGHT WAS GONE. WELL WITH THAT SAID, THAT WAS THE FIRST THIS HAD HAPPENED. AND NOW IT HAS PROGRESSED DURING THE WINTER. I DON'T KNOW IF THE COLD HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT. BUT THIS IS SCARY AND GM SHOULD TRY TO ADDRESS IT. I BELIEVE THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE BUT MY VIN DOESN'T SHOW THAT RECALL. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP. THE PROBLEM IS STARTING TO HAPPEN WHEN I START MY CAR NOW.
Steering, Electrical system, Air bags, Jan 16, 2021
POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON AND MY STEERING WHEEL IS TWITCHING AND JERKING.
Steering, Jan 14, 2021
ESC LIGHT CAME ON, LOST POWER STEERING WHILE MANEUVERING ON EXTREMELY ICY CURVE ON FREEWAY. FORTUNATELY WAS ABLE MUSCLE THE CAR TO SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT ACCIDENT. FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINANTS ON NHTSA WEB SITE FOR THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE, BUT COULDN'T FIND WHERE THERE WAS ANY RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE PER MY CARS VIN NUMBER. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO ADDRESS.
Steering, Jan 10, 2021
ON WEDNESDAY JANUARY 6, 2021, I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM PICKING MY SON UP FROM SCHOOL WHEN I WENT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN FROM THE CENTER DIVIDER AND MY STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN! THIS CAUSED ME TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BUSY CITY STREET AND TO PARK UP ON THE CURB TO AVOID ONGOING TRAFFIC. I TRIED TO TURN THE WHEEL MANUALLY WITH A LOT OF STRENGTH BUT IT DID NOT MOVE. THEN A WARNING SIGNAL APPEARED SAYING (POWER STEERING). I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON TO SEE IF THIS HELPED, IT DID. AFTER I GOT HOME I DID NOT DRIVE THE CAR ANYMORE. I AM WAITING TO SEE IF THIS REPAIR IS COVERED UNDER CHEVROLET'S WARRANTY REGARDING EPS (ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING) VEHICLES.
Steering, Seat belts, Jan 9, 2021
AS TIME IS GOING ON THE STEERING IS GETTING LESS CONTROLLABLE. I HAVE YET TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT BUT I CAN FEEL THE CAR SWERVING A BIT WHEN I'M STEERING (SWERVING I DIDN'T DO). I LOOKED UP MY VIN ON ISEECARS.COM TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL AT ALL WITH THE STEERING AND THERE WAS IN 2014 . I BOUGHT THIS CAR LAST YEAR SO I AM THE OWNER AND AM NOT SURE HOW TO GO ABOUT THIS. I GOT IT CHECKED OUT AND THE MECHANIC SAID THERE IS DEFINITELY AN ISSUE WITH THE RACK AND PINION AND SHAFT . ALSO MY PASSENGER SEATBELT LIGHT REMAINS ON AT ALL TIMES AND THERE HAVE BEEN MINOR ISSUES WITH THEM.
Steering, Sep 21, 2020
POWER STEERING GOES OUT LOW TRAC LIGHT COMES ON SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION
Steering, Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Sep 18, 2020
I WAS DRIVING TO TOWN AND EVERYTHING STOP WORKING. IT SCARD THE CRAP OUT OF ME. I TOOK IT TO SMITH CHEVY IN TURLOCK CA THEY SAID THEY DIDNT KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT AND CHARAGED ME 489.00. LUCKY IT DIDNT KILL ME. GM MOTORS NEED TO DO A RECALL ON IT BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR LOSE THERE LIFE.
Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jul 18, 2020
ESC WARNING ON DASH COMING ON WILL DRIVING AND TURNING FORWARD OR BACKWARD. HVAC CONTROLLER NOT RESPONDING TO COMMANDS, HVAC RESISTOR AND BLOWER MOTOR WIRES GETTING VERY HOT AND NOT BLOWING FUSES WHEN DRIVING WITH AC OR HEATER RUNNING. HVAC RESISTOR BLOWING OUT. HIGH MOTOR OIL CONSUMPTION , EVERY 1000 MILES ITS LOW A QUART.