See attached document for complaint.
The worst 2012 Chevrolet Malibu problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Electrical291
- Lights202
- Steering191
- Driver assistance136
- Engine103
- Airbags101
- Brakes74
- Fuel system56
- Acceleration52
- Transmission49
- Seat belts47
- Seats36
- Visibility31
- Wheels19
- Body16
- Suspension10
- Tires2
- Locks1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu
Headlights 194Stalling 64Power steering loss 62Check engine light 56Won't start 56Loss of power 53Fuel pump 46Airbag light 38Jerking 21No deployment 20Wipers 19Steering lock-up 15Adaptive cruise 14Engine failure 9Misfire 9Warning lights 8Door locks 7Overheating 7Grinding brakes 5Fire or smoke 5Hesitation 5Steering noise 5
Recalls 2
Seat belts
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 15V269000 · Recall details
Electronic stability control (ESC)
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 14V252000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu 1,339
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Unknown or other
- This document provides the technician with a diagnostic tip if the vehicle stalls and set diagnostic...
- Unknown or other
- Unknown or other
- Unknown or other
- New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
- Unknown or other
- This service bulletin provides information on Tire Sidewall Irregularities.
- This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced...
- Unknown or other
2012 Chevrolet Malibu fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4‑cyl | FWD | 22 | 32-33 | 26 |
| 3.6L 6‑cyl | FWD | 17 | 25 | 20 |
What 2012 Chevrolet Malibu owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Car has 161,848 miles and the seat frame broke on the drivers side of my 2012 Chevy Malibu. It had a slight tilt to the right. It was taken to the Chevrolet Dealership and they inspected and verified that the frame welding was broken. I have a video from the service tech showing the broken frame. I took a screen shot of the video and attached it to this incident repot. I would be happy to share the video but it won't allow me to share on this page. I asked the dealership if there was any recall because I find it hard to believe that a seat frame would just break. I have gone online and read that multiple people have had this issue however, Chevrolet has done nothing about it. A few people have at least gotten somewhat of a compensation for having to replace something that should last the life of the vehicle. I was not one of them. I had to pay over a thousand dollars for a USED frame and labor. What is to keep this frame from cracking too? I think Chevrolet should do better.
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 to the steering torque sensor. General Motors had reportedly sent notification letters to owners, but we never received one. Had we been aware, we would have addressed the issue immediately. This defect represents a significant safety risk, as sudden loss of power steering could cause an accident or serious injury.
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
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
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”
Compare the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu
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Other model years
19971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Questions about the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu
Is the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
Owners have filed 907 complaints about the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu, 1.3 times a typical Malibu model year.
What is the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu year score?
The 2012 Chevrolet Malibu scores 65 out of 100 (average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Chevrolet Malibu: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu?
Electrical system, with 291 complaints, typically around 87,830 miles. Next is lights (202).
How many recalls does the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu have?
2 recalls, covering seat belts and electronic stability control (esc).
What year does the Chevrolet Malibu have the most electrical problems?
The Chevrolet Malibu model years with the most electrical complaints are 2013 (376 complaints), 2009 (368 complaints) and 2010 (295 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu get?
Official estimates for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu range from 20 to 26 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.4L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 22 city and 32-33 highway.
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