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.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Dec 25, 2018
'TAKATA RECALL ' I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 35MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY SERVICE ESC LIGHT CAME ON , MY TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST STEERING CAPABILITY OF THE VEHICLE AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO WRECK . IT MADE IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO TRY TO TURN TO EVEN GET MY CAR OFF THE ROAD .
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.
Steering, Dec 13, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. ALSO, THE MESSAGE "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE" WAS DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Other or unspecified, Dec 13, 2018
I HAVE A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. MY LAST NOTE WAS DO ON 11-03 MY CAR HAS NOT BE RUNNING SENT OCTOBER IT BENIGN CUT OFF ON ME WHILE I'M DRIVING WHEN IT CUT OOF I TRY TO START IT BACK UP IN IT WANT STAY CRANK I HAVE TO WAIT FOR DAYS BE FOR IT START BACK UP I HAVE SPENT $500 DOLLARS TRYING TO GET IT BACK RUNNING BUT IT STILL NOT RUNNING IT'S BE TO THE CHEVY DEALERS SHIP IT STILL NOT RUNNING NELSON HALL CHEVROLET TELL ME THEY CAN NOT CATCH A CODE THEY PUT A USED PART ON MY CAR IN CHARGE ME FOR IT I'M TOLD ME THEY DO NOT SEE A PROBLEM WITH IT I PICK IT UP IT CUT OFF ON ME TRYING TO MAKE IT HOME SO I GOT ANOTHER SHOP TO LOOK AT IT THEY TOLD ME THAT MY FUEL PUMP WILL NEED TO BE CHANGE L PAID THEM $175 PICK IT UP CAME HOME GOT READY TO GO TO THE STORE IT STARTED UP I BAGGED OUT THE YARD IT CUT OFF IN FRONT OF A LINE OF CARS I HAD TO GET HELP TO PUSH IT BACK IN THE YARD EVERY WHERE I GO I CAN NOT CUT IT OFF BECAUSE IT WANT START BACK UP FOR DAYS NOW IT'S JUST SITTING IN MY YARD WHILE I BOMBING A RIDE TO WORK IN EVERY WHERE ELSE I WANT TO GO DON'T KNOW ONE KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS IN WHY IT WANT STAY CRANK
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 ##
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 10, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED IN HALF AND CAUSED EXHAUST FUMES TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD HIMSELF. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Dec 9, 2018
SERVICE ESC, TRACTION CONTROL INACTIVE, LOSS OF POWER/SLUGGISH WHEN DRIVING OR STOPPED AT A LIGHT. CODE 13036
Electrical system, Air bags, Dec 7, 2018
1)AIR BAG SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON.12062018 (2) WINDOWS/ELECTRIC CONSTANT PROBLEMS. SEVERAL REPAIR AND CORRECTION SAME PROBLEM. )1ST TEAM MAZDA HPT VA) WINDOW STICKS, FREEZES, DOESN'T WORK. (3) DRIVES BUMPY. SOUNDS ROUGH. RAN SMOOTH BEFORE THEN SEVERAL REPEATED SAME PROBLEMS WITH CAR. (SEE MAINTAINABILITY. LOG)(3) DRIVE FELT AWKWARD. HAD NEW TIRES, ROTATION ETC. DRIVE IS OFF. (4) CAN FEEL ROUGH RUN WHILE STATIONARY, DRIVE IS NOT AS SMOOTH. (5) 1 RECENT INCIDENT. PARKING LOT FEMALE DRIVE ALONG DRIVERS SIDE FRONT BUMPER. REPAIR 1ST TEAM MAZDA HPT VA. 23666
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.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Dec 5, 2018, crash
CAR UPON STARTING WOULD NOT HAVE POWER STEERING .THE OWNERS MANUEL SAID TO TURN KEY OFF THEN ON ..THE POWER STEERING WOULD COME BACK ON AND CAR WOULD DRIVE FINE FOR A FEW DAYS THEN WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN UPON STARTING WITH ERROR MESSAGE ESC SERVICE ,WITH A WARNING BELL.. THEN WHILE DRIVING ONE DAY LOST ALL POWER STEERING .AND WRECKED INTO SOMETHING WHILE TURNING TO THE RIGHT ..DAMAGE TO FRONT END AND GRILL.NO WARNING AND GM DOESNT WANT TO HELP ME GET RENTAL AND TRANSFERRED MY CASE TO HIGHER DEPARTMENT WHO ISN'T WILLING TO HELP ME .. WAS TOLD THE REP WAS TO BUSY TO TAKE MY CALL ..LOST TIME AT WORK AND IN DARK OF WHO'S TO COVER THE DAMAGES FROM FAULTY PART .. VERY DANGEROUS AND THE PEOPLE AT GM SAID THAT IF I GOT THE REPAIRS DONE THAT IT WOULD END MY CLAIM AND CAR WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Dec 4, 2018
THE PASSENGER LOW BEAM KEEPS GOING OUT ITS NOT THE BULB I'VE CHANGED IT ATLEAST 4 UNLESS THIS YEAR YET IT STILLS GOES OUT AND EVERYBODY ELSE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM ON SAME SIDE OF THE SAME CAR. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL FOR THIS.
Exterior lighting, Dec 3, 2018
MAIN HEADLIGHTS CONTINUALLY STOP WORKING. WIRING ISSUE AS HEADLIGHT HARNESS BURNS OUT. HEADLIGHTS NOT BURNING OUT. HAVE REPLACED HARNESSES TWICE IN A YEAR WITH FACTORY HARNESS FROM CHEVY DEALERSHIP, AND SAME PROBLEM BOTH TIMES. OUT AGAIN. HAVE TO DRIVE WITH HIGH BEAMS ONLY. SEE THIS LINK FOR OTHERS WITH SAME PROBLEM! SO FRUSTRATING AND DANGEROUS. WE NEED A RECALL!! HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T32066_DS667897 THIS VEHICLE IS NOT EASY TO REPLACE HEADLIGHTS OR HARNESS AS ENTIRE FRONT BUMPER MUST BE REMOVED, AND I HAVE HAD TO DO IT 3 TIMES IN A YEAR SINCE I BOUGHT, AND HAVE TO DO AGAIN. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DO SOMETHING. THANK YOU. GLEN
Exterior lighting, Nov 29, 2018
LOW BEAM ON PASSENGER SIDE KEEPS TURNING OFF. LIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES BUT THE ISSUE RETURNS. THE WIRING AND EVERYTHING LOOKS IN GOOD CONDITION. MULTIPLE VEHICLE OWNERS COMPLAING OF THE SAME SITUATION.
Steering, Nov 28, 2018
STEERING MALFUNCTION WHILE DRIVING. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED MAKING IT HARD TO STEER THE VEHICLE. MESSAGE FOR ESC AND POWER STEERING CAME ON. THE STEERING WHEEL CONTINUES TO JERK AND TWITCH WHEN DRIVING.
Electrical system, Nov 26, 2018
REAR FUSE BLOCK MELTED AT FUSE LOCATION 23 FOR REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER 2ND OCCURRENCE ON VEHICLE. REAR DEFOGGER ILLUMINATED ON DASH INDICATING THAT DEFOGGER WAS ON. WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. OPENED REAR FUSE BLOCK IN TRUCK TO EXAMINE FUSE AND FOUND FUSE HAD MELTED AND FUSE BLOCK IS ALSO MELTED SHOWING POTENTIAL FOR FIRE HAZARD. FUSE WAS CHARRED AND BLACKED AND HARD TO DISTINGUISH 30 AMP RATING ON FUSE. FUSE BLOCK PLASTIC AT WIRES IS ALSO MELTED. PULLED FUSE AND DEFOGGER RELAY TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE TO FUSE BLOCK. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE AS FIRST WAS STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY (2015). KNOWN TIMELINE FOR FUSE FINALLY BLOWING AND PREVENTING SYSTEM TO WORK IS 11/24/18. SYSTEM WORKED PRIOR TO THAT. SEARCH OF INTERNET HAS REVILED MORE VEHICLES HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEM. POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE. CAN PROVIDE PICTURES OF FUSE AND BLOCK UPON REQUEST.
Steering, Nov 23, 2018
POWER STEERING CUT OUT WHILE DRIVING ON A RURAL ROAD. WAS GOING AROUND 30MPH.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 21, 2018
BACK WINDSHIELD SHATTERED WHILE SITTING STILL.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Nov 20, 2018
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES BUT NOW FAIL TO OPERATE.
Air bags, Seat belts, Nov 19, 2018, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH AND A TRUCK. THE FRONT END OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DURING THE CRASH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT MALFUNCTIONED AND UNLOCKED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK, NECK, AND STERNUM INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED AWAY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND AN UNKNOWN DEALER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
Engine, Visibility/wiper, Nov 17, 2018
I HAVE TO REPLACE MY HEADLIGHTS EVERY TWO WEEKS AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE PLUG OUTLET. NOTICED THAT IT IS MELTING THE PLASTIC. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A YEAR NOW. NOW IT WILL NOT WORK IT HAS HAPPENED ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. ALSO HAVE HAD MY CAMSHAFT SENSOR REPLACED AND KEEPS BRINGING UP THE CHECK ENGINE WHEN I GO GET IT READ SAME CODE KEEPS GOING ON. THE CAMSHAFT ISSUE IS CAUSING MY CAR TO STALL IN ROADWAYS MAKING IT DANGEROUS FOR ME AND MY DAUGHTER WHEN IN THE CAR.
Exterior lighting, Nov 16, 2018
THE PASSENGER LOW-BEAM HEAD LIGHT GOES OUT. IF I GO OVER A BUMP IT SOMETIMES COMES BACK ON. WENT TO GET LIGHT CHANGED AND SAME PROBLEM STARTED A WEEK OR 2 LATER. NOW BOTH LOW BEAM LIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT. ALL OTHER LIGHTS WORK FINE. THIS HAPPENS AT ANY TIME, STATIONARY OR IN MOTION.