2012 Chevrolet Malibu Problems

Above Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu.

20112013
Complaints
1,471
per 10K Sold
63.7
US Sales
230,938
Crashes
93
Fires
24
Injuries
66
Fatalities
Recalls
2

Worst 2012 Chevrolet Malibu Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1281 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:84,797 mi
Crash-related:5
Fires:9
#2195 complaints

Headlight/Taillight Failures

Avg mileage:96,803 mi
Crash-related:4
Fires:6
#3188 complaints

Steering Defects

Avg mileage:101,373 mi
Crash-related:9
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu.

Electrical Faults
281
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
9
Avg Miles
84,797
Headlight/Taillight Failures
195
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
6
Avg Miles
96,803
Steering Defects
188
complaints
Crashes
9
Fires
Avg Miles
101,373
Electronic Stability Control
129
complaints
Crashes
6
Fires
Avg Miles
90,455
Airbags
99
complaints
Crashes
28
Fires
Avg Miles
63,718
Engine Problems
99
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Avg Miles
83,869
Brakes
65
complaints
Crashes
11
Fires
Avg Miles
51,413
Unintended Acceleration
52
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
66,222
Fuel System
51
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
89,127
Transmission / Drivetrain
49
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
71,823
Seat Belt Issues
47
complaints
Crashes
7
Fires
1
Avg Miles
66,224
Seat-Related Issues
34
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
81,169
Wipers & Visibility
27
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
120,789
Wheel Issues
17
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
82,283
Body Structure
14
complaints
Crashes
7
Fires
Avg Miles
77,809
Suspension Failures
10
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
74,176
Traction Control System
10
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
69,396
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
98,110
Hydraulic Brakes
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
22,000
Gasoline Fuel System
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Wiring
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
2
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Srs Malfunction Warning Lamp/Light
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine & Cooling
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tire Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Visibility
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Child Seat:Latch Adjuster
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Instrument Cluster
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Ignition
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2012 Chevrolet Malibu

2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~2,877,569 vehicles.

15V269000Seat Belts
~437,045 affected

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.

14V252000Electronic Stability Control · Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights · Electrical System:wiring
~2,440,524 affected

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.

Other Chevrolet Malibu Years

2012 Chevrolet Malibu — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 2012 Chevrolet Malibu has 1,471 NHTSA complaints, 93 crash-related, and 2 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Electrical Faults with 281 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu?
Top reported problems: Electrical Faults (281 complaints, avg 84,797 mi); Headlight/Taillight Failures (195 complaints, avg 96,803 mi); Steering Defects (188 complaints, avg 101,373 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 84,615 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu?
NHTSA complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu include 93 crash-related reports, 24 fire reports, 66 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu have any recalls?
Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 2,877,569 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Chevrolet Malibu reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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