10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
61,492 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #13

Jun 012017

Malibu

  • 52,000 miles
Driver's seat bracket on right side has broken and seat is wobbly and leaning on the center console. This appears to be a common problem with the 2012 Malibu (and other years) and isn't being covered by warranty. Many people are saying this is a $1000 repair at the dealer. This is an unsafe condition and needs to be recalled-- consumers shouldn't have to pay for this defect.

- Dolton, IL, USA

problem #12

Aug 012017

Malibu

  • 103,000 miles
The track on the driver's side seat is broken. The seat moves all over and hits the center console. This is very unsafe and is a huge concern. Was told that this is not covered under warranty.

- Cedar Rapids, IA, USA

problem #11

Jan 182017

Malibu

  • miles
Tamara recall my driver seat has broken welds on the frame where it bolt to the floor and pulls forward and backwards. And there no recall on it the car only has 130K miles and it seems like im not the only on with the issue and it all seems to be happening right around the same mileage

- Fenton, MO, USA

problem #10

Nov 152016

Malibu

  • 50,000 miles
Drivers seat has collapsed in the right rear. Seat can not be adjusted with weight on it as it binds with center console. Blind spot over left shoulder can not be properly checked due to the body being twisted to the right while seated. Seat integrity is severely compromised as the rear right is 'floating' and not attached to the seat frame in a collision the seat is likely to rip free of the frame sending the driver into the windshield. Very unsafe situation. Driving fatigue is an issue due to the unnatural position of the driver in relation to the steering and foot controls.

- Burnside, KY, USA

problem #9

Mar 182016

Malibu

  • 69,500 miles
Was getting into my parked vehicle, and the seat broke. Took it to the dealership, and they said the weld that held the seat to the railing broke.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #8

Feb 262016

Malibu

  • 63,921 miles
Drivers seat became disengaged at the weld point underneath the seat while I was driving. Took the vehicle in and the dealer rewelded the seat. Picked the car up had it for less than a week seat pretty much disengaged from the bottom and the back while I was driving on a highway. While GM offered some assistance I am still out $500. For both repairs. After researching on line it appears other people have had similar complaints with this model year. Serious safety issue! my vehicle was never been in any accident that should have caused this problem. I've owned numerous cars and have never had a seat disengage. I truly believe this is a defenct in the vehicles seat frame.

- Stoneham, MA, USA

problem #7

Oct 202015

Malibu

  • 24,800 miles
The weld on a bar under the driver's seat broke while I was driving causing the driver's seat to move forward and to the right. This is a 3 yr old vehicle with low mileage it should never happen and can cause serious injury in an accident. I had a previous Malibu and this never happened. Please recall this part. I checked your other complaints and it is common!

- Babylon, NY, USA

problem #6

Oct 132015

Malibu

  • 66,052 miles
Seat support welds broken prematurely causing seat to move unsafely when vehicle is in motion. If seat welds break while driving, it could cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle and cause a collision. In the event of a collison, drivers seat may come free and be unable to restrain the driver properly.

- Kirkland, AZ, USA

problem #5

Sep 042015

Malibu

  • 54,963 miles
Welds have broken on the underside of the drivers side causing it to lean and tilt to the side. It is unsafe to support a person and could cause additional back injury while driving.

- Viroqua, WI, USA

problem #4

Jul 062015

Malibu

  • 87,000 miles
Driver seat mount has broken at weld causing the seat to slant toward the center console. Very uncomfortable ride and feels very dangerous considering the seat now bounces up and down on that side of the seat when driving. Adjusting the seat with the power controls only makes it worse as it pushes harder against the center console. I have spoke to several dealerships and none are willing to do warranty work. I am not a big person and the only driver of the car. I have heard this is a common problem in this vehicle.

- Flint, MI, USA

problem #3

Aug 182015

Malibu

  • 52,994 miles
My husband noticed this problem a few days ago. We drive the car everyday to and from work. On this particular day my husband asked if the seat usually lifts a certain way like the right side of the driver seat lifts last, and it kind of tilts to the right. So I was driving to work and I work about twenty minutes from home and the seat started to shift frontward and backward on the right side this is very uncomfortable and it feels a bit dangerous to drive with the seat like this. I would like to know how and why this happened. And I have only had the car since December of last year.

- Buffalo, MN, USA

problem #2

Jun 072014

Malibu

  • 48,550 miles
My vehicle was stopped at a traffic light. I was struck in the rear end by a minivan traveling about 50 mph. The drivers seat back broke at the bottom hinged area and left me lying flat on my back, still in the seat. This sent my feet flying straight up causing them to strike under the dash and breaking my toes.

- Wichita, KS, USA

problem #1

May 282014

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 47,000 miles
I sat in the driver side seat and the seat completely broke on the right side. I'm now sitting slanted and being squashed against the middle console/arm rest. Whenever I get out of the car, which is very hard to do and drives me bat crap crazy, I feel I need a crane. Sitting slanted is very uncomfortable and is very hard when judging making turns/parking.

- Benton, AR, USA