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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
71,066 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Chevrolet Malibu brakes problems

brakes problem

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2012 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 5 of 7)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #45

Aug 012017

Malibu

  • 135,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

After owning the car only 3 weeks, the circuit board blew a wire connector causing my fuel pump to go out after the dealership just had these exact parts replaced himself at time of purchase. The car has lost power, has issues with blinker sticking or relay. The car drains rapidly when a.C. is turned on. Radio sometimes shuts off sound. The vehicle has cost me over 3000 within my 3 months of ownership has only 140000 miles on engine. Electrical issues everywhere am fearful it may catch fire while driving down the road with my 3 children! youtube has many complaints on same make model vehicle with same occurring issue's! luckily when circuit board blew a compactor the vehicle was stationary in the parking lot at dollar general. We were forced to have it towed to destination.

- Summerville, GA, USA

problem #44

Feb 082017

Malibu

  • 120,000 miles
When car is at idle the traction control and ESC light comes on and causes car to misfire and shake

- Burnet, TX, USA

problem #43

Mar 142014

Malibu

  • 94,000 miles
"service ESC" light illuminates when making sharp turns, slowing down on the interstate, as well as breaking in bad weather. After replacing brakes twice and rotors once I scontinue to experience this problem. After a recent inquiry I learned of a recall on "service ESC" as well as "traction control".

- Roanoke, VA, USA

problem #42

Apr 062017

Malibu

  • 95,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Driving on the freeway @ 70 mph dry roads service ESC, service traction control messages flashing alternately. Parked the vehicle next morning 20 minutes of driving again on the freeway @ 70 mph dry roads same 2 flashing messages. Park the vehicle. Started vehicle unable to move shifter from park while depressing brake pedal. Flashing message lights appear randomly as well as unable to move shifter out of park. Very frightening after parking vehicle.

- Detroit, MI, USA

problem #41

Jun 012013

Malibu

  • miles
I have had issues with the ESC light coming on since buying the car brand new and was told by the dealership nothing was wrong. Now the ESC light comes on and the engine light and the traction light. I was told I need a throttle body this car is only 5 years old and is not paid off to have this problem. There has been multiple complaints regarding this issue with Malibu in the 2000's this is dangerous because the car stalls and will shut off while driving there should be a recall with as many complaints that has been brought forward regarding this issue. The traction light come on as well at the same time these lights come on. This is during braking, or sitting at a stop sign or light, or as I am applying the brake to stop behind other drivers it will continuously jerk and almost take off on its own.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #40

Mar 172017

Malibu

  • 80,000 miles
I was driving(in motion) on the freeway and the ESC service/traction control sensor or light pops on pushes my car into engine reduced power mode that could have caused on coming traffic to rear end me or injure me real bad this must be recalled to be fixed bad I mean asap this needs to bed revised and fixed before someone dies. Also when at stop light this happens to. Omg please im begging you all to get to the bottom of this I have small children who ride with me.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #39

Jan 102017

Malibu

  • 73,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Car randomly not starting had solenoids replaced and fuel pump. It started a few times then wouldn't start acts like it's going to but not getting enough fuel. Had diagnostic reading done when it was doing this the code reading was vehicle submersion. The mechanic asked if it had ever been flooded like in deep water. Never had been but that was the code reading. He redid diagnostics different codes then came up showing other crazy things. None of these were correct. Anyway long story short 3 different garages had no idea what to do. I traded the car for a new one but I believe this should be looked into because alot of people I've talked to with this year make and model car around the same mileage are having this problem my car had 73000 miles. Sometimes it's shutting down while driving. There is something faulty in the computer system that's not showing up until a few years after purchase. I have receipts of repairs and phone numbers to garages.

- Hinton, VA, USA

problem #38

Jan 072017

Malibu

  • 135,000 miles
Loss of power steering while driving on city streets. Power steering works for about 5 minutes then it goes out and I get 3 messages on dash back to back powering steering / service ESC/ no ESC. Power steering does not work at any time during the trip. When car is turned off cycle repeats.

- Lanesville, IN, USA

problem #37

Nov 122016

Malibu

  • 130,000 miles
This is the second time this happened. I was driving on I-75 in Michigan doing 75 miles an hour. Suddenly that ESC service, traction control and reduced engine power display showing on the dash. The car started to shake violently. It immediately slowed itself down in heavy traffic. Barely making it off the side of the road without causing an accident. Dealership tells me there's nothing they can do about it.

- Flint, MI, USA

problem #36

Sep 012016

Malibu

  • 52,000 miles
Several systems have been affected. The systems affected are the radio controls on the steering wheel, the power steering, the traction control and the rear defrost. There seems to be a short that goes from system to system. Modern Chevrolet in winston salem, nc said it was a short in wires on the steering column that was causing this. There are three recalls that would deal with this. The recalls are for steering, traction control and finally wiring. Both modern Chevrolet and Chevrolet corporate have said my vehicle is not covered due to the VIN #. I do not see where that matters. If a part is bad then all vehicles that part is used on should be covered no matter what. The steering was the most affected. The power steering would go out and it was very difficult to steer the car. This happened on several different occasions.

- Welcome, NC, USA

problem #35

Sep 122016

Malibu

  • 75,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While in motion more than two dozen times on city streets, on busy highways and while turning in a busy intersection with children in the car. 2012 Chevy Malibu stops while in motion on the above stated streets, highways and intersections. Read where someone beat on the rear fuse box then car starts so I tried it and it works for a little while but doesnt solve said problem. Checked battery. Battery is good. Check engine light and ESC light stays on. ESC light only goes off at high mph. Have to let car sit for awhile to start before knew about fuse box trick. Someone that tried to help me get off middle of busy street said it sounds like a fuel delivery problem.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #34

Aug 012016

Malibu

  • 101 miles
My Chevy Malibu 2012 started giving me safety issues, I have had the car for 4 months, I am currently financing the car thru bridgecrest (drive time). I will be in motin going the speed limit on a highway, in the city, on country roads bacially anywhere and the car will shut off and lock down, the key will still be in the "on" position but everything else cuts off as in all lights, the engine, the doors will lock and I will put it in park, put the switch in the "off" position and sometimes it will crank right back up and other times it wont. Sometimes when it cranks back up it will drive for a few seconds and then shut off again. Does this 5X in a row sometimes. When the car is cranked and back in motion a warning sign of a pad lock and a car pops up and will eventually go away. Unknown

- Liberty, NC, USA

problem #33

Jul 232016

Malibu

  • miles
In Sept 2014 they had to replace the whole steering column and sensors because service ESC and traction light was on after twice I took it to the dealership it got fixed and know guess what it's on again.but not all the time is becoming more frequent. I have the powertrain warranty left but they say it is almost always never covered on that and the parts they put on in 2014 the warranty is expired on those. I have not had it tested yet but this is uncalled for. I have had recall after recall on various things. From what I have seen online there should be one on this also. I think next car will be older car and I will just work on it myself.this has been going on for about a month now.

- Big Stone Gap, VA, USA

problem #32

Jun 092016

Malibu

  • 51,048 miles
Recall 13036. Had recall work done 11-04-14. On 6-17-16 had exact symptoms described in the original recall notice. Dealer (kerbeck Chevrolet of atlantic city, NJ) checked and said only needed to reprogram ecbm and recalibrate brake pedal position, paid $143.59. Car made it 1 mile then same problem. After trying several parts which had to be ordered final bill was additional $455.71 I feel the repair should have been covered under recall but GM said it was up to the servicing dealer whether repair qualified for coverage! I feel this is a conflict of interest to have the dealers service department make the call. I'm hoping to be reimbursed for all repairs due to this same problem. Also dubious as to whether all the parts were need! I also wanted to go on record about this in case other people run into this problem. Please let me know if I need to address this problem to any other Agency as well. Error codes showed up while operating vehicle.

- Galloway, NJ, USA

problem #31

Jun 252016

Malibu

  • 53,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving various speeds, the electronic stability control and traction control system warning lights illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 53,000. The VIN was not provided.

- Lenexa, KS, USA

problem #30

Jun 252016

Malibu

  • 98,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while making a right turn at approximately 5 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver as the ESC warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 98,000.

- Great Falls, MT, USA

problem #29

Jun 092016

Malibu

  • 136,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 20-25 mph, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering and the ESC and power steering warning indicators illuminated. The power steering functioned normally after a brief period of time. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 136,000. The VIN was not provided.

- Plumas Lake, CA, USA

problem #28

May 212016

Malibu

  • 120,000 miles
I had a problem with my 2012 Chevrolet Malibu 2 times now in the past 2 weeks. The car begins to idle extremely rough and looses nearly all of the engine power as if it is running on 1 or 2 cylinders. The service ESC, service traction and engine pwr reduced notifications display on my dash as pictured. I turned the car off and let it sit and then restarted the car to find it runs perfect and has no warning messages or symbols on. This is a very serious safety problem that GM needs to address. I searched this issue online just to find it is very common and nobody provides a fix.. I really wish that I had never purchased a GM vehicle.

- Glendale, AZ, USA

problem #27

May 162016

Malibu

  • 111,100 miles
I was driving at 60 mph in cruise control on a straight road. An ambulance was heading towards me so I stepped on the brakes to slow down and pull over and the car accelerated very quickly. This was a very dangerous situation because I was moving towards the shoulder of the road because of the oncoming ambulance. I had to turn off cruise control to be able to apply the brakes. The brake lights are also not coming on when I apply the brakes. The problem with the lighting happened previously and was repaired on 04/28/2015. I thought the problem was included in recall #13036 but I was told that it was a problem with the brake switch and was not part of the recall however when I look up the recall numbers on my vehicle this recall number does not show up as still needing to be done. I paid for the repair and I am now having the serious problem of the brake lights not working again plus the even more serious problem of the brakes not working when I am in cruise control. I do not know how to proceed with having this problem corrected. The recall problem has not been repaired correctly or there is another problem that is occurring. I have attached a copy of my receipt of the repair that was done on 04/28/15.

- Ellenburg Depot, NY, USA

problem #26

May 022016

Malibu

  • 45,000 miles
When slowing down, or parked with car running, the RPM bounces from 1-2 rpms. Light on dashboard says "service ESC". and the traction control lights come on briefly. Problem is, this was a recall in 2014, I took it to the dealership where I bought it, had it repaired. Now, almost a year later its acting up again! I called the dealership, they said now I'm responsible to fix it. I feel if they didnt fix it the first time, they should fix it again. It may have been a faulty replacement part for all I know. I still have 2 years left on the payments, now looking at electrical repair"?" its a safety hazard, and should be covered if there was a recall on it, and should remain open.

- Angola, NY, USA

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