2012 Chevrolet Malibu: won't start

Filed Jul 22, 2026 · Electrical · SC

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

Filed Jan 29, 2024 · Electrical · WI

The wiring to the fuel pump overheated and burned at the rear fuse box located in the trunk, melting the harness connector and charring the fuse box circuit board. This caused the vehicle to stop running. Luckily, it happened while idling and did not start a fire. This wire goes to the fuel tank and the fuse did not blow. The 30A fuse for the RR DEFOG was also burnt and not blown.There were no warnings or engine codes. After researching this online, it appears it is a common problem. This is the second time this happened. It also happened in 2017 with approximately 89,200 miles.

Filed Nov 22, 2022 · Electrical, Lights · OH

I bought my chevy Malibu in 2018 from a used car dealership. A couple months after I bought it the radio blew. I tried replacing fuses it would not work. The lights keep blowing. I keep replacing them and have had a new pigtail that's been grounded. That replacement happened last Thursday. Right light has blown again. Short in electrical system. Cause battery to go down. Windows will only work sometimes and the same goes for the door locks. I currently waiting for a tow truck. The new battery will not start.

Filed Aug 1, 2021 · Electrical, Engine · VA

This car will not start!!!! It starts when it feels like it. I’ve been stranded after work so many times for unknown reasons. Multiple mechanics have inspected car and cannot find the issue. Go on YouTube and search for this year car and you’ll find so many people in the same situation as me. The car has battery but the engine will not start. GM cars have this issue in common and it’s ridiculous GM cannot stand behind their brand. Please HELP US!!!

Filed Feb 4, 2021 · Electrical, Engine · 80,050 miles · OH · fire

Vehicle is stalling out while driving, then when shuts off it will not start back up. Fuel pump was replaced, worked great for 1 whole day then did the same thing, left me stranded. Fuse box was then replaced. Ran great again until recently it stalled out in the middle of a very busy street causing me to almost be hit. Pins in the fuse box were replaced, but I'm still having issues, it seems to be related to the fusebox wiring itself, because I'm also having problems with things ran off of that fuse box! This getting ridiculous I've only had this car 4 months and it's been the worst car yet I've never had a vehicle leave me stranded. It needs to be recalled

Filed Dec 21, 2020 · Electrical · 108,000 miles · MI

2012 malibu ESC warning light, traction control goes on. Brake light stays on while driving. When I stop at light or stop sign no brake light. Have almost been hit from behind at stoplight. If I stop and shut car off for a few minutes it will start without warning light. Sometimes car does not start car has stopped while moving in traffic and was barely able to coast off the road.I have replaced fuel pump twice, fuel pump relays numerous times. Fuel pump relay is hot (overheats and stop fuel pressure. I have taken it to be serviced many times and thousands of dollars later and still not running consistently. I never know when it will start, stop while driving, or not start at all. Please recall this car. There are numerous complaints involving the same problems. I believe there is a problem with the control module as well as wiring issues related to the fuel pump. Please help me.

Filed Sep 5, 2020 · Electrical · 112,470 miles · NC

This vehicle and many other year models have been having same issues and costing lots of money trying to pin point real issue. The car will turn off at stop lights, melt wires and is related to fuel pump wiring. The wire gage is to small to pull proper amps that lead to blown fuses, melted wires, car stalling and won't crank, and according to other complaints-done to gm personally by a lot of people, has quit while going down hwy. These are serious safety issues! I just bought this car from private party 3 months ago. Been having issues with motor cranking multiple times. Took it to dealership previous owner bought it from to fix jssues-seatbelt recall, new fob due to original 'dead'-it's battery still good. Check out cranking issues and doors not locking. They did not find crank issue and supposedly 4 door locking modulators were messed up. If car cranks they can't diagnose s problem. They got new fob to work. My personal mechanic had replace fuel relay, still stops cranking, just replaced the trunks fuse box. It cranks now, but for how long? Gm needs to do a recall on fuel pump wiring from box to pump! Put correct wire gage so this won't happen again! The last time car didn't crank was on 7/28/20. My mechanic replaced fuse box and I have not driven it since! I have cranked it several times though. Pease help us little people get justice before it causes a wreck or takes a life! Thank you.

Filed Aug 30, 2020 · Electrical, Fuel system · 81,000 miles · OH

The vehicle have no check engine codes but won't start and cuts off I traffic and in highway. The fuse box in trunk gets got and the fuel pump relay gets hot. After the car stalls the only way to start is shake wiretap fuse box in trunk and tap on rear fuse box

Filed Apr 28, 2020 · Electrical · 130,000 miles · OH

This is my third complaint because my car has electrical issues that need repaired. The vehicle would not start, would have to tap on fuel box located in trunk to get it to start. In the middle of driving the car, the car would lose power and ESC, traction control, check engine light would come on and power steering would lock up. Took it to nearest chevy dealer and they said 'the wiring is burnt up from the fuel pump/fuse box located in trunk' this is because gm used cheap wiring. My passenger headlight keeps going out, rear defrost doesn't work, and my door speakers doesn't not work. This is all because of the wiring located in the trunk. I refuse to pay over $2,000 to fix myself when this is clearly a gm issue. Everybody on here has the same problem with their malibu's. And it really sucks because I'm making payments on a car I cannot drive. This is really dangerous especially when I have my kids in the car and it just loses power and cut off in the middle of traffic.

Filed Feb 29, 2020 · Electrical, Fuel system · 111,000 miles · OH

I purchased this car used and 2 weeks after I had to have it towed to a mechanic from work because it wouldn't start. Mechanic said it was fuel pump so he replaced it $685 and the tow was $125. Drove it home and the next day went out to start it before work and wouldn't start but had crank. Called mechanic he had it towed back to his shop, cleaned the fuse box in the trunk and said the brown wire was loose. Started up the next day but the following day it stalled on me while me and my son was on our way to get something to eat and I hit the box in the trunk and it started. I cannot believe this is not a recall yet from how many people have went through this electrical wiring issue. This was all on city streets. How many times am I going to have to beat on this box to get it started and how long will that last? This is ridiculous!

Filed Feb 20, 2020 · Acceleration, Transmission · 231,518 miles · CA

Car was running on freeway and lights started flashing and then car so stalled and car doesnt start anymore

Filed Feb 4, 2020 · Electrical, Engine · 122,000 miles · TX

The car seems to run fine once it starts. The problem is getting it to start. Sometimes the car starts without any problems and then sometimes it won't. It has left me stranded multiple times. We replaced the fuel pump, which seemed to fix the problem for a few days and then the same thing started to happen. We replaced a couple of fuses. Again this seemed to fix the problem for a few days and then the same thing started to happen. My husband and I noticed that there is some wiring that is always hot leading from the fuse box to the fuel pump. Basically we believe that chevrolet used cheap crappy thin wiring. Because of this, the car won't start. We did some research online and it seems that everyone who owns a 2012 chevy malibu has had a similar problem that has cost consumers hundreds of dollars. We have always owned a chevy and this is the first vehicle that we have ever had a problem with. We are seriously considering switching to toyota or nissan since chevrolet has been receiving complaints and thus far has chosen not to do anything. Chevrolet manufactured the 2012 chevy malibu and was aware of the issues surrounding the fuse box, fuel pump, and the wiring. One of these days, the car is going to catch fire because of the faulty system. It is extremely frustrating to see all of these chevy malibu owners experiencing the same issue and chevrolet does nothing. We never know if the car is going to start; it's literally a guessing game. Sometimes we tap the fuse box, sometimes we kick the side of the rear passenger door, and sometimes we have to sit and wait 15 minutes and then the car will start. Chevrolet needs to have a recall and fix the issues surrounding the 2012 chevy malibu. Eventually the wiring is going to catch fire.