2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. This model year has 904 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Electrical Faults.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
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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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Faults | 289 | 5 | 11 | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 202 | 4 | 6 | — | |
| Steering Defects | 191 | 9 | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 129 | 6 | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 102 | 2 | 2 | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 101 | 28 | — | — | |
| Brake System | 73 | 12 | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 52 | 4 | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 51 | 1 | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 51 | — | 1 | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 49 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 47 | 7 | 1 | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 35 | 2 | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 27 | 2 | 1 | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 19 | 2 | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 16 | 7 | — | — | |
| Traction Control System | 10 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 10 | 1 | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 8 | 1 | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 5 | — | 1 | — | |
| Gasoline | 5 | — | 1 | — | |
| Visibility | 4 | — | 1 | — | |
| Equipment | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Lane Departure | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Child Seat | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
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.
Showing 400 most recent complaints of 904 total. View all on NHTSA ↗
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 …
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
I have tried since July of 2025 to have a recall fixed I have been in contact with multiple dealerships for Chevy and none have contacted me to fix my recall I've left messages and still no response
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 goi…
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”
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 th…
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 state…
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 bu…
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 …
Rear windowed defroster suddenly start working upon inspection the rear electrical block that's inside the trunk had melted in the fuse to the defroster had gotten stuck and went on pulling it out it broke and after looking up complaints it seems to be an issue with Malibu and it…
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 have power steering for…
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) and 15V269000 ( SEAT BELTS); however, the parts to do the recall repa…
The power steering assist has cause the steering wheel to move to its let by its self when not holding the steering wheel. I must hold the steering wheel firmly to keep it strait when driving. If i would let go the car will abruptly turn left and possibly drive off the road or hi…
Passenger and or driver side low beam headlight continues to go out. Mechanic has found connector keeps burning out the socket. Light is burnt out on bott sides. but connector is shorting out. Fire and safety issue. This issue is on a lot of chevrolet malibus and needs a recall i…
Loss of power steering assist while driving. Safety issue puts driver and others at risk. Problem confirmed to be known by dealer service bulletin 15356. Special coverage has expired however many vehicles with issue still on the road. ESC light accompanies failure, restarting the…
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while his son was driving at an undisclosed speed, he became aware that the electronic power steering assist was not functioning properly, requiring an increased effort to maneuver the vehicle. The service power st…
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving at 40 MPH the traction warning illuminated. The contact stated that the ABS and the traction control were disabled. The contact stated that the failure was occurring at any speed. Additionally, the contact…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu.
Recalls for 2012 Chevrolet Malibu
3 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2012 Chevrolet Malibu — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2012 Chevrolet Malibu has 904 NHTSA owner complaints, 50 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Electrical Faults (289 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu?▾
#1: Electrical Faults (289 complaints). #2: Headlight/Taillight Failures (202 complaints). #3: Steering Defects (191 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu?▾
The 2012 Chevrolet Malibu has 50 crash-related complaints and 13 fire reports out of 904 total NHTSA complaints. 35 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu have any recalls?▾
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The largest issue: SEAT BELTS. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu?▾
The 2012 Chevrolet Malibu has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Electrical Faults issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Chevrolet Malibu reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
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. Full report just $4.99.