Worst 2012 Chevrolet Malibu Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Electrical Faults
Headlight/Taillight Failures
Steering Defects
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Faults | 281 | 5 | 9 | 84,797 mi | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 195 | 4 | 6 | 96,803 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 188 | 9 | — | 101,373 mi | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 129 | 6 | — | 90,455 mi | |
| Airbags | 99 | 28 | — | 63,718 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 99 | 2 | 2 | 83,869 mi | |
| Brakes | 65 | 11 | — | 51,413 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 52 | 4 | — | 66,222 mi | |
| Fuel System | 51 | — | 1 | 89,127 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 49 | — | — | 71,823 mi | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 47 | 7 | 1 | 66,224 mi | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 34 | 2 | — | 81,169 mi | |
| Wipers & Visibility | 27 | 2 | 1 | 120,789 mi | |
| Wheel Issues | 17 | 2 | — | 82,283 mi | |
| Body Structure | 14 | 7 | — | 77,809 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 10 | 1 | — | 74,176 mi | |
| Traction Control System | 10 | — | — | 69,396 mi | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 7 | — | — | 98,110 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 6 | 1 | — | 22,000 mi | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 4 | — | 1 | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 3 | — | 2 | — | |
| Air Bags:Srs Malfunction Warning Lamp/Light | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Visibility | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Child Seat:Latch Adjuster | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Instrument Cluster | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 | — | — | — |
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.
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.
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?
What are common problems with the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu?
How safe is the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu?
Does the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu?
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.
Check Your Specific 2012 Chevrolet Malibu
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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