← New search

2012 Chevrolet Malibu

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Malibu years

Owner complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu are substantially higher than the model-year median of 310.5.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

646 reports with mileage · 260 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 290 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 202 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 191 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

50 crash reports13 fire reports27 injury reports

Fuel/propulsion System complaints

51 reports
Clear category filter
78,000 miles · Aug 19, 2019
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion System

MY CAR WILL RANDOMLY NOT START. I HAVE BOUGHT A BRAND NEW BATTERY. THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM. A WEEK LATER, MY GEAR SHIFT WOULDN'T MOVE. I HAD TO STAY IN MY VEHICLE AND MISS AN APPOINTMENT BECAUSE OF THIS. I COULDN'T GET IT TO MOVE FROM DRIVE TO PARK. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES AND 30 MINUTES, IT FINALLY MOVED. IT'S GOTTEN STUCK A FEW TI…

Read full complaint

MY CAR WILL RANDOMLY NOT START. I HAVE BOUGHT A BRAND NEW BATTERY. THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM. A WEEK LATER, MY GEAR SHIFT WOULDN'T MOVE. I HAD TO STAY IN MY VEHICLE AND MISS AN APPOINTMENT BECAUSE OF THIS. I COULDN'T GET IT TO MOVE FROM DRIVE TO PARK. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES AND 30 MINUTES, IT FINALLY MOVED. IT'S GOTTEN STUCK A FEW TIMES TRYING TO MOVE IT FROM PARK TO DRIVE AS WELL. AND WHEN I'M DRIVING, THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS WILL RANDOMLY ILLUMINATE AND WIPERS WON'T WORK. I WAS DRIVING WHEN IT WAS POURING RAIN AND THE WIPERS WOULDN'T TURN ON WITH ALL EMERGENCY LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AS WELL. THIS CAN HAPPEN ANYTIME I'M ON A CITY STREET GOING FROM 25 TO 45 MPH. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED SEVERAL TIMES TO DIFFERENT SHOPS AND THEY CAN'T TELL ME WHAT'S WRONG.

NHTSA ODI #11245015

100,000 miles · Aug 13, 2019
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

MY CAR WON'T TURN OVER AFTER I TURN IT OFF SOMETIMES. SOMETIMES IT WILL BE MOST OTHER TIMES IT DOESN'T. THE BATTERY IS NEW, SPARK PLUGS ARE NEW, SENSORS ARE NEW. STARTER ISN'T THE PROBLEM. DON'T KNOW WHAT IT COULD BE? IT WAS STATIONARY WHEN THIS HAPPENS, WHEN I TRY TO TURN THE CAR BACK ON.

NHTSA ODI #11243691

125,000 miles · Jul 29, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

WAS DRIVING AND MY CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING. I PUSHED ON THE GAS AND IT WOULD NOT GO. I WAS ON THE FREE WAY AND ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. ALSO CAR WOULD NO LONGER START AFTER STOPPED. WOULD ACT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO START AND DOES NOT. I'VE HAD SEVERAL TOES WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE. A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN.

NHTSA ODI #11240468

98,000 miles · May 1, 2019
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System

CAR WOULD TURN OVER BUT NOT CRANK. GO BACK A LITTLE LATER AND IT CRANK FINE. AFTER THIS HAPPENING SEVERAL TIMES HAD SOMEONE TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND THERE WAS NO CODES AND THE CAR WOULD CRANK FINE SO COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. THEN WHEN I WAS OUT SOMEWHERE IT WOULD CRANK AND RUN SLUGGISH AND GO DEAD AND AFTER A WHILE IT WOULD CRANK…

Read full complaint

CAR WOULD TURN OVER BUT NOT CRANK. GO BACK A LITTLE LATER AND IT CRANK FINE. AFTER THIS HAPPENING SEVERAL TIMES HAD SOMEONE TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND THERE WAS NO CODES AND THE CAR WOULD CRANK FINE SO COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. THEN WHEN I WAS OUT SOMEWHERE IT WOULD CRANK AND RUN SLUGGISH AND GO DEAD AND AFTER A WHILE IT WOULD CRANK AND RUN. GOT TO RESEARCHING IT AND PEOPLE HAVING SAME PROBLEM. SAID THAT YOU COULD WIGGLE FUEL PUMP RELAY AND IT WOULD CRANK. SURE ENOUGH TRIED THIS AND IT WORKED. I'M PRETTY SURE THIS IS SAME PROBLEM. AND ALSO IF YOU HAD BEEN RUNNING THE CAR AND IT WOULDNT CRANK THE FUEL PUMP RELAY WILL BE HOT WHICH SUGGEST THE WIRING AND OR FUSE BOX IS PROBLEM. PEOPLE TALK ABOUT REPLACING FUEL PUMP , FUSE BOX , AND CHEAP LOW GAUGE WIRING FROM FUEL PUMP TO FUSE BOX. NOW I'M TAKING TO MECHANIC TO TRY TO GET THIS FIXED BEFORE IT CATCHES FIRE AND SOMEONE GETS HURT . TRY TO GET FIXED AND BUY A HONDA OR ANYTHING EXCEPT GM.

NHTSA ODI #11205096

93,000 miles · Apr 5, 2019
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion System

THE ECS LIGHT CAME ON AND SHUT MY CAR OFF. THE CHROME DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WE COULD DO ABOUT IT BUT PURCHASE ANOUTHER CAR

NHTSA ODI #11193974

80,600 miles · Apr 4, 2019
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System

MY CHEVY MALIBU WOULD TURN OVER SLIGHTLY, BUT THEN WOULD DIE. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 3-4 TIMES AND THEN I HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED; THINKING IT WAS THAT. THE CAR CONTINUED TO FAIL, SO I HAD THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED AFTER CHECKING WITH A FUEL GAUGE AND THERE BEING NO FUEL PRESSURE. THE CAR RAN ABOUT 3 TIMES DRIVING IT FOR SHORTER A…

Read full complaint

MY CHEVY MALIBU WOULD TURN OVER SLIGHTLY, BUT THEN WOULD DIE. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 3-4 TIMES AND THEN I HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED; THINKING IT WAS THAT. THE CAR CONTINUED TO FAIL, SO I HAD THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED AFTER CHECKING WITH A FUEL GAUGE AND THERE BEING NO FUEL PRESSURE. THE CAR RAN ABOUT 3 TIMES DRIVING IT FOR SHORTER AND A BIT LONGER DISTANCES, BUT THEN THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER AT ALL. THE STARTER WOULD TRY, BUT THERE WAS NO IGNITION OF THE CAR. AT MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALER, DON MCCUE, THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR FUSE BOX AND A FEW TERMINALS WERE BURNT OUT. THEY REPLACED THE REAR FUSE BOX AND A FEW TERMINALS, AND THE CAR NOW RUNS SUCCESSFULLY.

NHTSA ODI #11193799

120,000 miles · Mar 20, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

SERVICE ESC TRACTION ALERTS AND ENGINE SOUNDS AS THOUGHT IT WILL STALL - HAD MAP SENSOR REPLACED, A FEW MONTHS LATER ISSUE HAS RETURNED. OCCURS WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN PARKED.

NHTSA ODI #11190363

Mileage unknown · Mar 17, 2019
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

I'VE HAD READ SO MANY VEHICLES WITH SAME ISSUES ON ALL THESE MODELS I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR PUT A HIGH DOWN PAYMENT TO BE GETTING LEFT EVERYWHERE ALL CHEVY DEALERS DONT KNOW WHERE TO START AND OVER PRICE IT ALL YOU ALL SHOULD LOOK INTO IT BECAUSE ITS SOMETHING SERIOUS . CAR WONT START AFTER BEING USED A WHILE, YOU HAVE TO MESS…

Read full complaint

I'VE HAD READ SO MANY VEHICLES WITH SAME ISSUES ON ALL THESE MODELS I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR PUT A HIGH DOWN PAYMENT TO BE GETTING LEFT EVERYWHERE ALL CHEVY DEALERS DONT KNOW WHERE TO START AND OVER PRICE IT ALL YOU ALL SHOULD LOOK INTO IT BECAUSE ITS SOMETHING SERIOUS . CAR WONT START AFTER BEING USED A WHILE, YOU HAVE TO MESS WITH CABLES AND WIRES FOR IT TO START MESS WITH FUSE BOXES AND ALSO SOMETIMES IT DOESNT WORK.. DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT I'M ANNOYED OF THIS CRAP

NHTSA ODI #11187408

112,000 miles · Mar 17, 2019
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System

MY CAR WOULD TURN BUT NOT START SO I CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP. IT WAS STARTED FOR LIKE 5 DAYS THEN IT STARTED AGAIN WOULD TURN OVER BUT NOT START SO WE CHANGE THE FUEL BOX IN THE TRUNK. WORKED FOR LIKE A WEEK AND IT STARTED ACTING AGAIN. TOOK IT TO THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND THE DIDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. SO WE TOOK IT TO A TECHNIC…

Read full complaint

MY CAR WOULD TURN BUT NOT START SO I CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP. IT WAS STARTED FOR LIKE 5 DAYS THEN IT STARTED AGAIN WOULD TURN OVER BUT NOT START SO WE CHANGE THE FUEL BOX IN THE TRUNK. WORKED FOR LIKE A WEEK AND IT STARTED ACTING AGAIN. TOOK IT TO THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND THE DIDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. SO WE TOOK IT TO A TECHNICIAN AND THEY TOLD US IT WAS A WIRING PROBLEM. PAID TO GET IT FIX BUT IT STILL WASN'T IT. STILL HAVING THE PROBLEM

NHTSA ODI #11187331

20,000 miles · Feb 26, 2019
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System

I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH MY CAR CUTTING ON AND OFF... I CHANGE MY FUEL PUMP I CHANGE THE SENSORS AND I'M STILLL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR CUTTING OFF WHEN IT WANTS OR STARTING WHEN IT WANTS. I'M NOW ABOUT TO CHANGE MY FUSE BOX IN MY TRUNK TO SEE IF THAT WORKS. THE ONLY WAY THE CAR WILL START IS IF I MESS WITH THE FUSE BOX IN THE…

Read full complaint

I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH MY CAR CUTTING ON AND OFF... I CHANGE MY FUEL PUMP I CHANGE THE SENSORS AND I'M STILLL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR CUTTING OFF WHEN IT WANTS OR STARTING WHEN IT WANTS. I'M NOW ABOUT TO CHANGE MY FUSE BOX IN MY TRUNK TO SEE IF THAT WORKS. THE ONLY WAY THE CAR WILL START IS IF I MESS WITH THE FUSE BOX IN THE TRUNK. ALSO I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY HEADLIGHTS. I CHANGED THEM ABOUT 3 TIMES ALREADY BUT THEY KEEP GOING OUT.

NHTSA ODI #11182476

Official recalls

2

15V269000 · Seat Belts

May 8, 2015

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

14V252000 · Electrical System:wiring; Electronic Stability Control (esc); Exterior Lighting:brake Lights; Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch; Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control

May 14, 2014

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Additional source detail variants (5)

Electronic Stability Control (esc)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control

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.

Consequence: 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.

Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

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.

Consequence: 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.

Exterior Lighting:brake Lights

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.

Consequence: 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.

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.

Consequence: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.