2012 Chevrolet Malibu problems and recalls

Owners have filed 906 complaints on the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu, and NHTSA has issued 3 recalls. The most cited component is the Electrical System (290 complaints).

906
Complaints
3
Recalls
50
Crash reports
13
Fire reports
35
Injuries
61.5
Severity index

Severity index 61.5 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 61.5p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 70 of 130 by severity index among 2012 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 46% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2012 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Electrical SystemElectrical System: 290 complaints (32.0%)290 32%Exterior LightingExterior Lighting: 202 complaints (22.3%)202 22%SteeringSteering: 191 complaints (21.1%)191 21%Electronic Stability Co…Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 129 complaints (14.2%)129 14%Air BagsAir Bags: 101 complaints (11.1%)101 11%EngineEngine: 99 complaints (10.9%)99 11%Service BrakesService Brakes: 73 complaints (8.1%)73 8%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 52 complaints (5.7%)52 6%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM29032.0%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING20222.3%
STEERING19121.1%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)12914.2%
AIR BAGS10111.1%
ENGINE9910.9%
SERVICE BRAKES738.1%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL525.7%

Complaints filed per year

0851702011: 12012: 102013: 242014: 742015: 942016: 792017: 792018: 1462019: 1672020: 872021: 412022: 322023: 232024: 252025: 142026: 10 (partial year)11121314151617181916720212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20111
201210
201324
201474
201594
201679
201779
2018146
2019167
202087
202141
202232
202323
202425
202514
2026 (year to date)10
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.4x those in 2020 to 2022 (62 against 160).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
15V26900008/05/2015SEAT BELTSGeneral 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 f
14V25200014/05/2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRINGGeneral 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, 20
14E04400021/07/2014STEERINGDorman Products, Inc. (Dorman) is recalling certain replacement intermediate steering shafts sold under the Dorman, OE Solutions, and Solutions brand names, part numbers 425-167, 2425167, and 7-3074, for installation on 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6, and 2007-2

Other Chevrolet Malibu model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 13 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-09-02. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.