2012 Chevrolet MALIBU

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2012 Chevrolet MALIBU has 1471 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 18.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (20% of all complaints), specifically: a brand new vehicle with 64 miles. while driving on a rural road, the electronic stability control failure light came on and then the accelerator stopped working. after i turned the engine off, it would not come back on. this certainly could have been a safety issue had i lost control on a more tra. ⚠️ 20 fire reports filed.

20 fire reports 75 crash reports 55 injuries

1471

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

18.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

289 complaints

20%

• A BRAND NEW VEHICLE WITH 64 MILES. WHILE DRIVING ON A RURAL ROAD, THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN THE ACCELERATOR STOPPED WORKING. AFTER I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, IT WOULD NOT COME BACK ON. THIS CERTAINLY COULD HAVE BEEN A SAFETY ISSUE HAD I LOST CONTROL ON A MORE TRA
• WHILE DRIVING ON A STATE HIGHWAY, I HAD A NUMBER OF FUNCTIONS STOP WORKING. THE PROBLEM COULD COME AND GO FOR A WEEK BEFORE IT HAPPENED ON ALL IGNITION CYCLES. NOTE, THE PROBLEM COULD EVEN COME AND GO ON 1 IGNITION CYCLE. THE FOLLOWING STOPPED WORKING: WINDSHIELD WIPERS, HEATED SEATS, POWER WINDOW
• VEHICLE (2012 MALIBU) WAS PURCHASED APRIL 2012 - STARTING JULY 2012 VEHICLE WOULD STALL GOING DOWN THE ROAD, WITH LOSS OF ENGINE, POWER ASSIST STEERING AND POWER ASSIST BRAKES. DEALER REPLACED NUMEROUS MODULES, BUT IT OCCURRED AGAIN IN SEPT 2012 (3 TIMES) THEN AGAIN IN JANUARY 2013. TWO BODY CONTROL

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 11 fire reports💥 5 crashes

“A BRAND NEW VEHICLE WITH 64 MILES. WHILE DRIVING ON A RURAL ROAD, THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN THE ACCELERATOR STOPPED WORKING. AFTER I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, IT WOULD NOT COME BACK ON. THIS CERTAINLY COULD HAVE BEEN A SAFETY ISSUE HAD I LOST CONTROL ON A MORE TRA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

LIGHTING

202 complaints

14%

• WHILE DRIVING ON A STATE HIGHWAY, I HAD A NUMBER OF FUNCTIONS STOP WORKING. THE PROBLEM COULD COME AND GO FOR A WEEK BEFORE IT HAPPENED ON ALL IGNITION CYCLES. NOTE, THE PROBLEM COULD EVEN COME AND GO ON 1 IGNITION CYCLE. THE FOLLOWING STOPPED WORKING: WINDSHIELD WIPERS, HEATED SEATS, POWER WINDOW
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ENGINE POWERING DOWN AND THE LOW TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD STOP WORKING
• VEHICLE HIGH MOUNT THIRD BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE AFTER 60,000 MILES. MAY AFFECT VISIBILITY WHEN STOPPING. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 6 fire reports💥 4 crashes

“WHILE DRIVING ON A STATE HIGHWAY, I HAD A NUMBER OF FUNCTIONS STOP WORKING. THE PROBLEM COULD COME AND GO FOR A WEEK BEFORE IT HAPPENED ON ALL IGNITION CYCLES. NOTE, THE PROBLEM COULD EVEN COME AND GO ON 1 IGNITION CYCLE. THE FOLLOWING STOPPED WORKING: WINDSHIELD WIPERS, HEATED SEATS, POWER WINDOW”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

191 complaints

13%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING 10 MPH WHEN A CLICKING SOUND EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNK
• VEHICLE (2012 MALIBU) WAS PURCHASED APRIL 2012 - STARTING JULY 2012 VEHICLE WOULD STALL GOING DOWN THE ROAD, WITH LOSS OF ENGINE, POWER ASSIST STEERING AND POWER ASSIST BRAKES. DEALER REPLACED NUMEROUS MODULES, BUT IT OCCURRED AGAIN IN SEPT 2012 (3 TIMES) THEN AGAIN IN JANUARY 2013. TWO BODY CONTROL
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE STARTED TO WOBBLE AT 55 MPH AND ABOVE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DEALER DID AN ALIGNMENT FOUR TIMES AND REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN ONCE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL HAD BEEN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 9 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING 10 MPH WHEN A CLICKING SOUND EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNK”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS

129 complaints

• 07/2013 SERVICE ESC MSG AND SYMBOL CAME ON , DEALER UNABLE TO FIND 01/07/2014 SAME 01/15/2014 AGAIN, GM PAID HALF OF THE REPAIR, BECAUSE THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPEN AND WAS NOTICE BY DEALER, I BELIEVE GM SHOULD PAID THE WHOLE COST, AS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE , EFFECTS STEERING AND STABILIZATION OF
• STARTED MY 2012 CHEVY MALIBU UP AND POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND ALSO SERVICE ESC. CAR HAD NO POWER STEERING. THIS WAS AFTER THE FIRST NIGHT OF EVENTS I WAS AT. SO I DROVE IT TO THE HOTEL I WAS AT. FOUND OUT WHEN TRYING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM THAT IT HAS A ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING. DROVE IT TO
• SINCE I PURCHASED MY CAR IN THE LATER PART OF 2012 (USED WITH 40000MI) I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS STARTING WITH THE RADIO, WHEN I TURNED ON THE REAR DEFROST THE RADIO WOULD GO TO COMPLETE STATIC ON ALL STATIONS. WHILE TRAVELING APPROX. 30MPH THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON THEN AFTER STOPP

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 6 crashes

“07/2013 SERVICE ESC MSG AND SYMBOL CAME ON , DEALER UNABLE TO FIND 01/07/2014 SAME 01/15/2014 AGAIN, GM PAID HALF OF THE REPAIR, BECAUSE THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPEN AND WAS NOTICE BY DEALER, I BELIEVE GM SHOULD PAID THE WHOLE COST, AS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE , EFFECTS STEERING AND STABILIZATION OF”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

102 complaints

• VEHICLE HAS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON AND REDUCED POWER KICKS IN WITH NO WARNING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN AT SPEED ON HIGHWAYS WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND AUTOMATICALLY SLOWS TO 40 MPH. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND REPAIRS MADE THE FIRST 2 TIMES, VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN BACK 3 MORE T
• WHILE DRIVING CAR HAVE NOTICED THAT IT SHIFTS HARD EITHER UP OR DOWN. THIS HAS HAPPENED TOO MANY TIMES TO COUNT. ALSO CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS TRYING TO STALL AND I CAN NOT ACCELERATE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES ONCE ON A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION IN MY CITY. HAVE TAKEN CAR TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD COUL
• 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU WITH HORRIBLE SHIFTING - 1ST TO 2ND IS A HARD SHIFT AND 2ND - 3RD ISN'T A WHOLE LOT BETTER. WHEN IT DOWN SHIFTS WHILE COMING TO A STOP IT AGAIN SHIFTS HARD AND SOMETIMES ABRUPTLY. THE RPM GAUGE ALSO FLARES WHEN SHIFTING DOWN. I HAVE BEEN JUTTED OUT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHEN IT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“VEHICLE HAS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON AND REDUCED POWER KICKS IN WITH NO WARNING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN AT SPEED ON HIGHWAYS WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND AUTOMATICALLY SLOWS TO 40 MPH. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND REPAIRS MADE THE FIRST 2 TIMES, VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN BACK 3 MORE T”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

LIGHTING(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 1471 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: A BRAND NEW VEHICLE WITH 64 MILES. WHILE DRIVING ON A RURAL ROAD, THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN THE ACCELERATOR STOPPED WORKING. AFTER I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, IT WOULD NOT COME BACK ON. THIS CERTAINLY COULD HAVE BEEN A SAFETY ISSUE HAD I LOST CONTROL ON A MORE TRA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
LIGHTING: WHILE DRIVING ON A STATE HIGHWAY, I HAD A NUMBER OF FUNCTIONS STOP WORKING. THE PROBLEM COULD COME AND GO FOR A WEEK BEFORE IT HAPPENED ON ALL IGNITION CYCLES. NOTE, THE PROBLEM COULD EVEN COME AND GO ON 1 IGNITION CYCLE. THE FOLLOWING STOPPED WORKING: WINDSHIELD WIPERS, HEATED SEATS, POWER WINDOW
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING 10 MPH WHEN A CLICKING SOUND EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNK
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS: 07/2013 SERVICE ESC MSG AND SYMBOL CAME ON , DEALER UNABLE TO FIND 01/07/2014 SAME 01/15/2014 AGAIN, GM PAID HALF OF THE REPAIR, BECAUSE THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPEN AND WAS NOTICE BY DEALER, I BELIEVE GM SHOULD PAID THE WHOLE COST, AS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE , EFFECTS STEERING AND STABILIZATION OF
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)