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2012 Chevrolet Malibu problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu has been recalled for and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 3safety recalls
- 907owner complaints
- 50crash reports
- 13fire reports
- 35injuries reported
907 complaints, against an average of 351 for the other 13 Chevrolet Malibu model years.
Every Chevrolet Malibu model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu?
The components named most often in the 907 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2012 Chevrolet Malibu owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 907 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
- Why do the headlights or taillights fail on my 2012 Chevrolet Malibu?119 owners · 13.1% · Recall 14V252000
- Why are the ABS and stability control lights on in my 2012 Chevrolet Malibu?113 owners · 12.5%
- Why does my 2012 Chevrolet Malibu stall, lose power or shut off while driving?99 owners · 10.9%
- Why won't my 2012 Chevrolet Malibu start?56 owners · 6.2%
- Why does the power steering fail or feel heavy on my 2012 Chevrolet Malibu?50 owners · 5.5% · Recall 14E044000
- Why is the airbag light on in my 2012 Chevrolet Malibu?47 owners · 5.2%
- Why is the check engine light on in my 2012 Chevrolet Malibu?33 owners · 3.6%
Has the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu been recalled?
3 U.S. safety recalls. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
Seat Belts 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.
Risk: If the cable breaks, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Steering 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Electrical System: Wiring 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.
Risk: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
What do 2012 Chevrolet Malibu owners report?
12 of the 907 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
Electrical system problems that create unsafe driving conditions!! Vehicle has electrical glitches. Internal warning lights flicker on and off. Battery drains. Car randomly will not start. Multiple incidents. Car stalled on roadway without warning and would not crank. Luckily I was in a residential neighborhood with little to no traffic when this happened. I have had crank sensors replaced, fuel pump module replaced, fuses replaced and still problems occur. If this is a common issue with the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu, could you please issue a safety recall? Thank you
Rear defrost stopped working. Hasn't worked in years. I took it to GM, they had a print out of a kit that I had to purchase to repair. This stopped working back around 2016.
My airbag warning light and notification have came on and sometimes seat belt lights come on unexpectedly and will not go off I feel like this is a safety issue
On March 4, 2026, my wife was driving the vehicle when she suddenly lost power steering. The steering wheel became extremely difficult to turn, creating a dangerous situation that could have resulted in serious injury. She was able to safely pull over and contact me. I carefully drove the vehicle home. The vehicle was taken to Jeff Wyler Chevrolet of Columbus for diagnosis and repair. The dealership confirmed that the problem involved the power steering system. The repair cost was 1,513.03. After researching the issue, I discovered that this 2012 Malibu is subject to a special coverage related…
i was driving and the steering wheel locked, the whole steering column has to be replaced it brought up a code saying torque input sensor i've only put 10,000 miles on this car and have only had it for 11 months
Was driving home on the parkway and the headlights shut off on their own had to call for roadside assistance to get my vehicle home they will work on dim but brights will not work and if I drive for more than an hour and a half they will not work at all the speed sensor keeps going bad after having it replaced multiple times
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the power steering warning light was illuminated, and the message "ESC OFF" was displayed. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced an intermittent loss of power steering while driving. The contact stated that upon restarting the vehicle, the vehicle operated as intended; however, the failure initially became a persistent failure upon restarting the vehicle and then became a permanent failure. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle to an independent mechanic for a tire replacement, the contact was also informed…
The brake caplier screw came out why driving the vehicle and broke the brake line and the vehicle lost control try to use the emergency brake and it didn't work vehicle crash
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle briefly lost motive power and came to a complete stop. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The contact stated that the ESC warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the steering wheel angle sensor. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH and following a slight right turn on the highway, the ESC warning illuminated, and the vehicle slowed down without the brake pedal being depressed. The failure was intermittent but became a recurring failure. The contact stated that the vehicle also slowed down unintentionally while making a left or right turn at slow speeds. The contact stated that in the middle of the turn, the vehicle slowed to a stop without the brake pedal being depressed. The ESC warning light illuminated while the…
Passenger side headlamp burned out took off bumper to inspect and the wiring pigtail to the headlight has melted causing it to malfunction so now in order to make it work you have to disconnect the daytime running lights so that the melting stops this is supposedly happened to a lot of Malibu's why there isn't a recall on this fire hazard is beyond me and it is a safety issue cuz you can't use your daytime running lights any longer. This issue has not been reported because upon investigation it's been reported many times and nothing gets done about it you have to pay for it yourself. This will…
The catalytic converter and exhaust manifold are suspected to be malfunctioning. These components are part of the vehicle’s exhaust system, and their failure is believed to be contributing to hesitation and skipping during operation. Both components are available for inspection upon request. The hesitation and skipping reduce the vehicle’s responsiveness, creating a safety risk in traffic. This issue could hinder safe merging, overtaking, or maintaining consistent speeds. Additionally, malfunctioning exhaust components may lead to increased emissions and pose a risk of toxic gases entering the…
2012 Chevrolet Malibu: questions owners ask
Is the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 907 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu; the most common categories were electrical system (291, 32.1%), exterior lighting (202, 22.3%), steering (191, 21.1%). There are 3 safety recalls. 50 complaints mention a crash, 13 mention a fire, 35 injuries were reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu?
Across 907 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are electrical system (32.1% of complaints), exterior lighting (22.3% of complaints), steering (21.1% of complaints), electronic stability control (esc) (14.2% of complaints), air bags (11.1% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu; the most recent (campaign 15V269000, 2015-05-08) concerns Seat Belts. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why do the headlights or taillights fail on my 2012 Chevrolet Malibu?
119 of the 907 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu (13.1%) describe headlights, taillights or brake lights failing or condensation in the lamps. A related recall exists: campaign 14V252000 (electrical system: wiring). The fix: 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… One owner wrote: "Passenger side headlamp burned out took off bumper to inspect and the wiring pigtail to the headlight has melted causing it to malfunction so now in order to make it work you have to disconnect the daytime running lights so that the melting stops this is…" (NHTSA complaint 11664223, June 2025). Recall repairs are free at a dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why are the ABS and stability control lights on in my 2012 Chevrolet Malibu?
113 of the 907 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu (12.5%) describe ABS, traction or stability control warnings or faults. One owner wrote: "The “service ESC” light came on while I was driving on the freeway causing the steering wheel to lock up and I couldn’t turn the wheel. It was really stiff after it said “Service ESC” and “ESC Off”" (NHTSA complaint 11711045, January 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2012 Chevrolet Malibu stall, lose power or shut off while driving?
99 of the 907 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu (10.9%) describe the engine stalling, losing power or shutting off while driving. One owner wrote: "Electrical system problems that create unsafe driving conditions!! Vehicle has electrical glitches. Internal warning lights flicker on and off. Battery drains. Car randomly will not start. Multiple incidents." (NHTSA complaint 11752135, July 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why won't my 2012 Chevrolet Malibu start?
56 of the 907 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu (6.2%) describe the car failing to start. One owner wrote: "Electrical system problems that create unsafe driving conditions!! Vehicle has electrical glitches. Internal warning lights flicker on and off. Battery drains. Car randomly will not start. Multiple incidents." (NHTSA complaint 11752135, July 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does the power steering fail or feel heavy on my 2012 Chevrolet Malibu?
50 of the 907 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu (5.5%) describe power steering failing, locking up or turning heavy. A related recall exists: campaign 14E044000 (steering). The fix: Dorman will notify owners, and dealers will refund the purchase price or replace the steering shafts, free of charge. One owner wrote: "The problem started with the steering wheel jerking by itself then the power steering went out. The only way to get power steering back is to turn the car off then turn it back on while turning the steering wheel manually then it’s hard to say how long you…" (NHTSA complaint 11656559, April 2025). Recall repairs are free at a dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why is the airbag light on in my 2012 Chevrolet Malibu?
47 of the 907 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu (5.2%) describe airbag warning lights or airbag faults. One owner wrote: "My airbag warning light and notification have came on and sometimes seat belt lights come on unexpectedly and will not go off I feel like this is a safety issue" (NHTSA complaint 11725989, March 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why is the check engine light on in my 2012 Chevrolet Malibu?
33 of the 907 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu (3.6%) describe the check engine light coming on. One owner wrote: "I bought the car a year ago from a used car lot. Replaced the cam shaft positioning sensor as per diagnostic reading for check engine light. Since then, svc air bag light has stayed on. Traction control light stays on and is disengaged." (NHTSA complaint 11442865, December 2021). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Check your own Malibu
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2012 only.