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), Nov 16, 2018
STEERING MALFUNCTION. STEERING CLICKS AND JERKS WHILE DRIVING, STOPPED, AND IN PARK. STEERING FAILS WHILE DRIVING. TURNING CAR OFF AND BACK ON SOMETIMES RELEASES STEERING HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DOES IT TAKE? THERE ARE PAST RECALLS FOR THE SAME EXACT ISSUE!! NOT SAFE!
Exterior lighting, Nov 14, 2018
PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT (LOW BEAM) HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED 4 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 YEARS.
Engine, Nov 12, 2018
HEATER CORE WAS REPLACED IN OCTOBER 2017 DUE TO ANTI-FREEZE LEAKING INSIDE OF CAR. THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD WAS REMOVED ($1050). IN OCTOBER 2018, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT BEGAN TO APPEAR SO I HAD MY MECHANIC USE THE GM TESTING EQUIPMENT. TWO VALVE TIMING SOLENOIDS WERE REPLACED. THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ISSUE CONTINUES AND WHEN IT DOES, THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAIN ON. THE LIGHTS ONLY APPEAR WHEN DRIVING OR IF THE RADIO IS ON.
Structure, Nov 7, 2018
DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM EITHER INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Air bags, Engine, Nov 2, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE AIR BAG AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURES OCCURRED ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COX CHEVROLET (2900 CORTEZ RD W, BRADENTON, FL 34207, (941) 348-6417), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER MADE UNKNOWN REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE, BUT THE WARNING INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL TIRE SHOP FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EVERY THREE MONTHS A DIFFERENT EXTERIOR LIGHT WOULD GO OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Air bags, Nov 1, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON, THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STAYED ON. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 145,000.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Oct 30, 2018
MY CAR HAD HAD THE HEADS REPLACED IN THE FIRST MOTOR IT CAME WITH THEN THE WHOLE MOTOR REPLACED BEFORE 100K MILES NOW THE NEW MOTOR DOESNT BARELY HAVE 100K MILES ON IT AND THEY ARE TELLING ME MY CYLINDER 6 ISNT HOLDING COMPRESSION SO I'LL NEED ANOTHER MOTOR EVENTUALLY! MY TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING , ITS HAD A WHOLE NEW AIR CONDITIONING UNIT INSTALLED WHEN MY MOTOR WAS REPLACED BECAUSE IT WENT OUT. THE SPEAKERS ON MY PASSENGER SIDE DONT WORK AND MY HEATING SYSTEM ON MY SEAT ON THE DRIVER SIDE HAS WENT OUT!
Exterior lighting, Oct 26, 2018
THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME MY PASSENGER LOW BEAM HAS WENT OUT THE THIRD TIME I CHANGED THE LOW BEAM WIRING AND IN LESS THAN A MONTH IT HAS GONE OUT AGAIN SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT I HAVE HEARD MANY PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PASSENGER LOW BEAM KEEPS GOING OUT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ASAP
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Oct 24, 2018
CAR WILL SHUT DOWN. HEAD LIGHTS STOP WORKING LESS THEN EVERY TWO MONTHS. FUSE INSIDE THE CAR WHERE TO CHARGE THE PHONE ISN'T WORKING BOTH FRONT AND MIDDLE. CAR DIES RANDOMLY AFTER BEING LEFT ON FOR A LITTLE WHILE. HOT AND COLD RATE STAYS ON COLD ALL DAY AND HAS THE AC UNIT BLOW OUT COLD AIR WHEN ON HEAT AND IF ON COLD IT JUST BLOWS AIR. CAR WONT DRIVE FASTER THEN 5 MPH AFTER HAVING THE BATERY REBOOTED DEPENDING ON IF TE CAR WAS ALLOWED TO SIT IDOL OR A WHILE. CAR WILL PLACE IT'S SELF IN SHUT DOWN DE TO ELECRICAL PROBLEMS. ONCE ONE STARTS ACTING UP THEY ALL START ACTING UP.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Oct 24, 2018
MY CAR CAN RUN FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME AND THE BATTERY WILL DIE RANDOMLY. MY HEADLIGHT CONSTANTLY CUT OFF AND INTERIOR MY HOT AN COLD LEVEL STAY DOWN ON A REGLAR DAY. THE AC BLOWS OUT COLD AIR WHEN ON HEAT OR IT WILL JUST BLOW AIR. MY CAR WILL JUST STIFEN UP AND NOT DRIVE AFTER RESTARTING THE BATTERY.
Exterior lighting, Oct 24, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT BULBS FAILED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE BULBS WERE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT A FAILURE CODE FOR THE HEADLIGHT WIRING SYSTEM COULD NOT BE LOCATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Oct 24, 2018
IN LESS THEN ONE YEAR THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM LIGHT IS OUT. I LOOK ON LINE AND A LOT OF 2012 MALIBU ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. IT COST OVER $100 TO CHANGE IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO REMOVE THE BUMPER TO DO IT.
Exterior lighting, Oct 21, 2018
MY HEADLIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT I HAD THE BULB REPLACED AND ELECTRICAL SOCKETS AND IT KEEPS GOING OUT THIS IS THE 4TH TIME I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE SAME WORK COMPLETED.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Other or unspecified, Oct 18, 2018
LOW BEAMS BOTH HEADLIGHTS REPEATEDLY GO OUT. HEATER/AIR CONDITIONER TURNS OFF AND ON BY ITSELF. MOTOR HAS BEEN CHANGED AND TESTED. IS THERE A WIRING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE ACROSS THE BOARD. I READ A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THIS VEHICLE HAVE THE EXACT SAME ISSUES. HEATER/AIR TURNS OFF WHILE IN PARK OR DRIVE RANDOMLY.
Engine, Oct 16, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE "ENGINE HOT" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND IT WAS TOWED TO HER HOME. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
Exterior lighting, Oct 15, 2018
I'VE CHANGED MY DRIVER'S SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT 3 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR.
Steering, Air bags, Electronic stability control (ESC), Oct 15, 2018
MY POWER STEERING GOES OUT RANDOMLY. I CAN BE PARKED IT GOES OUT, I CAN HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKIBG WHILE IN DRIVE , IT GOES OUT. I CAN BE DRIVING ANYWHERE AND IT GOES OUT. THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON RANDOMLY. AND THEN MY ESC WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AS WELL. IN ALL OF THESE INSTANCES IT'S ALL RANDOM WHEN IT HAPPENS.ON 10/13/2018 M Y POWER STEERING WENT OUT THAT IS THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT.
Exterior lighting, Oct 12, 2018
CHANGED MY HEADLIGHTS 4 TIMES WITHIN 2 YEARS
Electrical system, Oct 12, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE BATTERY WAS JUMPSTARTED BY THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JAMES CORLEW CHEVROLET (722 COLLEGE ST, CLARKSVILLE, TN 37040, (931) 552-2020) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE RESET. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
Steering, Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Oct 8, 2018
TAKATA RECALL. MY VEHICLE HAVE HAD THIS SYSTEM POP ON A FEW TIMES. AS OF SEPTEMBER THE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON ABD AND HAS NOT GONE OFF. IT ALSO AFFECT THE ESC SYSTEM.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Oct 4, 2018
THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT I'M CHANGING THESE OUT EVERY COUPLE MONTHS I'VE RESEARCHED AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHER DRIVERS ARE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE
Seats, Oct 3, 2018
I BOUGHT THIS MALIBU NEW AND HAVE MAINTAINED IT WELL. OUT OF NO WHERE, THE DRIVERS SEAT BECAME LOOSE AND WOBBLY. I SIMPLY SAT IN THE DRIVERS SEAT WHILE IN MY DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED IT. UPON INSPECTION, THE SEAT FRAME HAS BROKEN WELDS. METAL THAT HOLDS THE DRIVERS SEAT IN PLACE ON A 6 YEAR OLD CAR IS BROKEN! IT TURNS AND MOVES AS THE DRIVER DOES. I BELIEVE THAT IN AN INCIDENT, THE SEAT WOULD COME OUT. THIS SEEMS LIKE A DESIGN OR WELD QUALITY PROBLEM. I AM TOLD THE ENTIRE SEAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THIS IS A BIG AND EXPENSIVE JOB. I WAS PREPARING TO LET MY COLLEGE AGE DAUGHTER DRIVE THIS CAR BUT NOW I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
Exterior lighting, Sep 28, 2018
MY PASSENGER LOW BEAM KEEPS GOING OUT THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IN A YEAR AND A HALF
Exterior lighting, Sep 28, 2018
THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT ON THE PASSENGER CONTINUOUSLY GOES OUT AFTER REPAIRING. I HAD THE BULB REPLACED 3 TIMES, WITHIN A MONTHS TIME. I ENDED UP GETTING AN EXPENSIVE DIAGNOSTIC TEST, REPLACED THE SOCKET, AS SUGGESTED. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE BULB WENT OUT AGAIN. REPLACED, THEN IT WENT OUT AGAIN. I DROVE AROUND WITH MY HIGH BEAM ON (SO I CAN SEE) UNTIL I BURNT THAT OUT TOO. I JUST GOT IT REPLACED AND NOT EVEN A WEEK LATER IT'S OUT AGAIN. I CAN'T CONTINUE PAYING FOR THIS DEFECT. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE ADVISE OF RESOLUTION? I SEE THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF THE OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE HELP.
Exterior lighting, Sep 28, 2018
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT. THIS IS SEPT 18 AND I'VE REPLACED THE RIGHT SIDE 4 TIMES THIS YEAR AND THE LEFT 2 TIMES. AT THE MOMENT THE LEFT IS OUT. I'VE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE DIAGNOSTIC CHARGE IS $130. THE ONLY THING ABOUT IT IS PAYING $130 TO TELL ME WHAT'S WRONG AND GOING IN BLIND NOT KNOWING HOW MUCH IT WILL COST TO REPAIR. I'VE BEEN WATCHING TO SEE IF THERE WILL BE A RECALL ISSUED ON THIS. I LOVE MY CAR AND DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO GET RID OF IT. IT'S PAID FOR AND I ONLY HAVE $118K MILES. THANK YOU