10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
61,699 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.

problem #182

Feb 052019

Malibu

  • miles
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.

- Portsmouth, OH, USA

problem #181

Mar 132022

Malibu

  • miles
Passenger as well as driver side headlight continuously pop on and off, not blowing the bulbs but assuming there is a wiring issue

- Florence , SC, USA

problem #180

Mar 122022

Malibu

  • miles
Right (passenger side) lo beam headlight continues to go out. You must remove the bumper to change headlamps, so, time consuming and expensive labor. I have changed this bulb 4 times just for it to go out within a couple hours. There is an entire forum of this same complaint. When you make a large purchase such as a vehicle, you should be assured that you can use your vehicle as intended without the stress and worry of malfunctions that can lead to costly tickets.

- Riverside, CA, USA

problem #179

Jan 132022

Malibu

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving, the brake light was illuminated. The contact stated that at the time she was not depressing the brake pedal. The contact stated that when she was switching gears from either drive or reverse the brake light only illuminates once in gear and does not turn off. The contact also stated that the traction control warning light also illuminates while driving, however the vehicle does not drive any differently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who advised her that there was a recall on the same year, make and model vehicle as her vehicle NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL). The contact said she was advised that her vehicle had to be taken to the dealer to have her vehicle reprogrammed. The contact stated that she has not yet contacted the dealer or the manufacturer at this time. The failure milage was 60,000.

- Kent, NY, USA

problem #178

Oct 202020

Malibu

  • miles
I bought the car a year ago from a used car lot. Replaced the cam shaft positioning sensor as per diagnostic reading for check engine light. Since then, svc air bag light has stayed on. Traction control light stays on and is disengaged. When braking ESC warning goes on and off and sliding occurs. The low beam headlights go on and off intermittently and no way of knowing when it will happen. When turning cruise control on or off, the car will accelerate on its own and will increase speed until brake is applied. Regardless of whether cruise control was turned on or off. I have had it looked at at my local Mr.Tire and they cannot figure out what is happening.

- Blue River, KY, USA

problem #177

Sep 012017

Malibu

  • miles
Headlights (low beam)keep going out. Bulbs have been changed repeatedly but immediately go out. Sometimes it will go on when I drive over a bump but will be out next time I start my car. Researching message boards this is a known issue with this model.

- Kennesaw , GA, USA

problem #176

Aug 142021

Malibu

  • miles
I have a 2012 Chevy Malibu i bought it in 2014. I have had the Esc light come on in 2016 but no problem with it untill now of this year in 2022. Not knowing the problem i have already put ALOT into it. I took it to a machanic they told me it was the rack and pinion. So got that done. Apparently it wasn't it took it to another machanic they told me it was struts got that done too n still nothing so i looked it up online got CV joint, inner, tie rod, wheel alignment. All those done n still nothing fix it. I didn't know what else to do until i made more scratch on my vehicle and i found that it could be a recall.

- Hondo, TX, USA

problem #175

Dec 212020

Malibu

  • 150,000 miles
The center brake light doesn't work. I put in a new led light assembly in and it still doesn't work.

- Roxboro, NC, USA

problem #174

Apr 242021

Malibu

  • 144,000 miles
I brought my vehicle into a Chevrolet center near me to have a 'manufacturers warranty fix' done to my vehicle on 04/17/2021, as the power steering had failed and I was able to get this fixed for free. When I turned my vehicle on and noticed the power steering notification on my dash, I tried to back my car out of where I was parked and move my wheel, but could not move the wheel. When the part was replaced, I was told that there were still sensors on my dash indicating that I needed the ESC and stability traction control serviced for my car. According to the Chevrolet dealership, this had 'nothing to do with the special policy fix' and not something they would be fixing for me. After checking the NHTSA.gov for any recalls on my 2012 Chevy Malibu, I found one from May 2014 that described exactly the problem I was having with my vehicle: Loss of vehicle stability traction control, cruise control and random illumination of brake lights. I contacted Chevy once again about this recall, to which they said there 'was no recall for the vehicle, and if there was it was already fixed'. not only was this completely unprofessional and lacking concern of safety for my child and I, I do not know where to turn to for this to be remedied. Attached is the ticket for the initial fix I had done.

- Richmond, VA, USA

problem #173

Nov 102020

Malibu

  • 140,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the headlight connectors were melted and had to be replaced 7 times within the past three months. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that there was too much volts going to the headlight wiring connectors causing the connectors to melt. The vehicle was taken to van Chevrolet (100 nw vivion rd, Kansas City, mo 64118, 816-527-8564) to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired however, a week later the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact emailed the manufacturer and received a response which stated that they were aware of the failure however, no additional assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.

- Odessa, MO, USA

problem #172

Mar 042021

Malibu

  • 143,575 miles
I have changed my passenger headlight 3 times and pigtail once and it still keeps going out called Chevy they know its a common problem but can't do anything about it unless I pay not fair to the consumer

- Nashua, NH, USA

problem #171

Dec 202020

Malibu

  • miles
My low beam headlights keep going out even after I change them. The driver side has been changed 3 times, everytime it went out immediately afterwards. This last time it went out within two hours after changing it. It doesn't help that I have to do take the entire bumper off to change the headlight; not making it the easiest task.

- Hazel Green, WI, USA

problem #170

Jan 162021

Malibu

  • 154,000 miles
Having issue with passenger side low beam light after replacing it still see the light goes in and out I looked up the issue online and see many people are having the same issue on the same side of the vehicle with the passenger side light and everybody experiencing the same problem the light will go in and out even after you replace the bulb.

- Yorktown, VA, USA

problem #169

Dec 102020

Malibu

  • 64,850 miles
I've been seeing many complaints about headlight failure.low beam headlight on the right side...plus you have to take off the front trim panel to access the bulb. Very bad design.

- Woonsocket, RI, USA

problem #168

Jul 152018

Malibu

  • miles
My passenger headlight wiring harness has a short in the wiring or from the headlight bulb to the short wiring harness to the main wiring harness. I sent General Motors a message. They want me to pay for it. It is a factory fault. I only get social security for my funds.

- Puryear, TN, USA

problem #167

Dec 012020

Malibu

  • 79,000 miles
The brake lights stay on while driving or they will not come on while stopping then the service ESC comes on along with service traction light it happens while driving at random times not always an issue there was a recall performed on vehicle in the past for same issue but now can't get service ţO relook at that problem because it doesn't come back brake lamp malfunction comes back brake apply sensor had replaced same issue 2 hours later

- Fairborn, OH, USA

problem #166

Nov 022020

Malibu

  • 147,900 miles
I've changed my passenger side low beam headlight 3 times and it keeps going out. I've had this done 3 times since September 2020. Also, my lock and unlock buttons do not work, except for on the passenger side, only the unlock side of the button works. I've had this car since September or October I believe of 2018. It's very frustrating and I've waisted over $500 getting it replaced.

- Sidney, OH, USA

problem #165

Oct 192020

Malibu

  • 98,000 miles
While driving passenger side low beam stopped working, then came back on after a few days. Now both passenger and driver low beams are not working. High beams are fine. I always used the automatic lighting to have them turn on/off for anytime I drive. Low beams required new headlamps and melted relay, replaced that as well. Service ESC and traction control lights come on dash, then turn off, then come back on. It is intermittent and won't ever stay on long enough to have checked. Usually it happens when stopped at a stoplight and then when you start to accelerate again it goes off.

- Ogden, UT, USA

problem #164

Nov 062020

Malibu

  • 222,222 miles
I've replaced low beam headlight bulbs 4 times (3 on passenger side) the past 13 months; the high beams 3 times (2 on passenger side). Had to run on high beams only for approx 2 months cause both low beams went out a couple of months after replacing them. Been buying the higher end bulbs and been careful to not touch them. Had to replace yet other bulb tonight cause high beam went out. Replaced 1 high beam and 2 low beams and the passenger side low beam went out on the way home about 15 miles.

- Redding, CA, USA

problem #163

Oct 152020

Malibu

  • 0 miles
The passenger side low beam light keeps going out. I've changed it 4 times in less than 2 years.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »