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
906 reports, newest first.
Seats, Mar 18, 2019
DRIVER'S SEAT SUDDENLY BECAME WOBBLY AND LEANS TO RIGHT SIDE. NOTICED BAR IN UNDERNEATH FRAME OF SEAT HAS BROKEN AT A WELD, MAKING THE DRIVER'S SEAT VERY SHAKY AND UNSTABLE WHEN DRIVING. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS STYLE OF MALIBU SEATS AND A VERY COSTLY REPAIR. THIS ISSUE SHOULD PROVOKE A RECALL AND REPLACEMENT BY GM.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Mar 18, 2019
TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE HAS 102,000 MILES ON IT
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 17, 2019
I'VE HAD READ SO MANY VEHICLES WITH SAME ISSUES ON ALL THESE MODELS I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR PUT A HIGH DOWN PAYMENT TO BE GETTING LEFT EVERYWHERE ALL CHEVY DEALERS DONT KNOW WHERE TO START AND OVER PRICE IT ALL YOU ALL SHOULD LOOK INTO IT BECAUSE ITS SOMETHING SERIOUS . CAR WONT START AFTER BEING USED A WHILE, YOU HAVE TO MESS WITH CABLES AND WIRES FOR IT TO START MESS WITH FUSE BOXES AND ALSO SOMETIMES IT DOESNT WORK.. DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT I'M ANNOYED OF THIS CRAP
Steering, Mar 17, 2019
POWER STEERING WENT OUT DRIVER THE 2012 MALIBU ON THE STREET. LOCKED UP AND ALMOST WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO FAULTY POWER STEERING.
Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 17, 2019
MY CAR WOULD TURN BUT NOT START SO I CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP. IT WAS STARTED FOR LIKE 5 DAYS THEN IT STARTED AGAIN WOULD TURN OVER BUT NOT START SO WE CHANGE THE FUEL BOX IN THE TRUNK. WORKED FOR LIKE A WEEK AND IT STARTED ACTING AGAIN. TOOK IT TO THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND THE DIDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. SO WE TOOK IT TO A TECHNICIAN AND THEY TOLD US IT WAS A WIRING PROBLEM. PAID TO GET IT FIX BUT IT STILL WASN'T IT. STILL HAVING THE PROBLEM
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.
Steering, Mar 14, 2019
MY POWER STEERING IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR ON AND OFF FOR THE POWER STEERING TO WORK. THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND THE ESC IS ON.
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.
Steering, Mar 9, 2019
THE STEERING WHEEL IS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN REQUIRING VEHICLE TO BE RESTARTED FREQUENTLY.
Steering, Suspension, Electronic stability control (ESC), Mar 9, 2019, crash
WAS ACTUALLY DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AROUND THE CORNER FROM THE PLACE I RESIDE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE WHEEL STARTED TO JERK VIOLENTLY WHICH CAUSED US TO DRIVE INTO A CURB , CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE UP ONTO A CURB FLATTENING BOTH SIDES OF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR AS WELL ALMOST CLIPPING A CAR AT THE LIGHT TO OUR LEFT...THE KIDS ON BACK SEAT WERE COMPLETELY TERRIFIED BECAUSE THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING ON AND ARE STILL SCARED TO GET INTO A VEHICLE...AS WELL HAVE A PPLICE REPORT COULD PROBABLY OBTAIN IF NEED BE.. WE JUST WANT CAR FOXED RIGHT WAY NOT TRYING TO SUE ANYBODY OR GET AOME OUTRAGEOUS SETTLEMENT ....
Steering, Mar 9, 2019
POWER STEERING FAILURE. POWER STEERING MOTOR/MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACE.
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!
Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Engine, Mar 4, 2019
"TAKATA RECALL" IF I HIT A BUMP SMALL OR ANY SIZE ACTUALLY MY ENGINE REDUCES AND I HAVE TO PULL OVER...AND TURN THE CAR OFF FOR UP TO 10 MINS SOMETIMES... I CANT DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY AT ALL BECAUSE I DONT WANT THE ENGINE TO REDUCE WHILE DOING 60 MPH LATELY IT WILL GO INTO ENGINE POWER REDUCE WHILE IM PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY SO I DONT GET IT
Steering, Mar 3, 2019
TAKATA RECALL, MY CARS POWER STEERING KEEPS GOING OUT WHILE DRIVING, I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND TURN MY CAR OFF THEN ON AND IT WILL WORK AGAIN. IT USUALLY HAPPENS AT LEAST ONCE OR TWICE A DAY. THE STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT MOVE UNLESS I USE ALL MY STRENGTH WHICH IS VERY DIFFICULT AND SCARY. IT HAS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY AND ON A CITY STREET WHILE DRIVING CAUSING ME TO PULL OVER.
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.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 28, 2019
TAKATA RECALL: I'M HAVING THE SAME ISSUE THAT'S ATTACHED TO GM RECALL 13036. I JUST TOOK IT TO THE CHEVY DEALER AND THIS RECALL WASN'T ATTACHED TO MY VIN, EVEN THOUGH MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED IN THE SAME YEAR LISTED IN THE 13036 RECALL. MY VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ! THE ESC LIGHT FLASHED 'OFF' THEN IT SAYS SERVICE ESC . THE CHECK ENGINES ILLUMINATES AND FLASHES AS WELL AS THE SERVICE TRACTION . I'VE REPLACED SPARK PLUGS , INJECTORS AND WIRING ATTACHED TO THE CYLINDERS, TO FIX THE CODES BEING SHOT OUT (P0302 / P0352) AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUES . THE STEERING IS ROUGH AND MAKES NOISE WHILE TURNING , ESPECIALLY WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD . THE SOUND IS REALLY LOUD . MY VEHICLE HAS STALLED A FEW TIMES HAS I CAME TO A STOP AT STOP SIGNS AND INTERSECTIONS . THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED ASAP !!
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 27, 2019
'TAKATA RECALL' AT START UP , A LOUD NOISE COMES FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT . AS YOU DRIVE IT , THERE'S A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT AS YOU TURN. DEFINITELY A STEERING ISSUE. MEANWHILE, THE ESC OFF, SERVICE TRACTION AND THE SERVICE ESC WARNING SIGN ILLUMINATES . THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES AS THE CAR MISFIRES FROM CYLINDER 2. I HAVE CHANGED ALL SPARK PLUGS AND THE INJECTOR TO CYLINDER 2 AND THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENS. THE VEHICLES HAS SHUT OFF ON ME AS I CAME TO A STOP AT A RED LIGHT AT AN INTERSECTION. ALL THESE ISSUES OCCUR AS YOUR DRIVE THE CAR AND GO AWAY SOMETIMES, BUT NEVER FOR GOOD. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR OVER A YEAR NOW
Steering, Feb 27, 2019
I WAS DRIVING TO PULL OUT OF GROCERY STORE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN LOST MY POWER STEERING. IT GOES IN AND OUT OF WORKING AND STEERING IS VERY DIFFICULT.
Steering, Feb 26, 2019
I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY STEERING NEARLY EVERYTIME I WOULD START MY CAR. AFTER STARTING IT REPEATEDLY IT USUAL WOULD STEER BUT TODAY AS I WAS DRIVING THE STEERING FROZE! IT WAS VERY SCARY AND COULD HAVE TURNED OUT DANGEROUSLY. I AM NOT SURE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS BUT I SEE THAT MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING OF THIS YEAR AND MODEL/.
Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 26, 2019
I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH MY CAR CUTTING ON AND OFF... I CHANGE MY FUEL PUMP I CHANGE THE SENSORS AND I'M STILLL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR CUTTING OFF WHEN IT WANTS OR STARTING WHEN IT WANTS. I'M NOW ABOUT TO CHANGE MY FUSE BOX IN MY TRUNK TO SEE IF THAT WORKS. THE ONLY WAY THE CAR WILL START IS IF I MESS WITH THE FUSE BOX IN THE TRUNK. ALSO I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY HEADLIGHTS. I CHANGED THEM ABOUT 3 TIMES ALREADY BUT THEY KEEP GOING OUT.
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.
Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Feb 23, 2019
THE LIGHTS RANDOMLY COME ON THEN THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WILL START TO ACT UP WHEN I GO TO STOP AS IF I WAS TO SLIDE ON ICE BUT I'M NOT I'M ON DRY PAVEMENT. ON CITY STREET.