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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
59,601 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 miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2012 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 2 of 3)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #29

Sep 142018

Malibu

  • 120,000 miles

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

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.

- Hebron, OH, USA

problem #28

Mar 182019

Malibu

  • 102,000 miles
Timing chain needed to be replaced. Vehicle has 102,000 miles on

- Hummelstown, PA, USA

problem #27

Jan 182019

Malibu

  • miles
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

- Odessa, TX, USA

problem #26

Feb 132019

Malibu

  • 83,997 miles

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

The lights randomly come on then the antilock brake system will start to act up when I go to stop as if I was to slide on ice but I'm not I'm on dry pavement. On city street.

- Northville, MI, USA

problem #25

Jan 202019

Malibu

  • 90,000 miles
Not a safety issue. I'm trying to find out where to file complaints about manufacturing issues to start a recall. My Malibu didn't start one after work towed it to mechanic. He said it didn't have oil pressure. He opened up the engine and found pieces of O rings/rtv sealant blocking flow and busted rods, lifters, and loose bearings obviously. I have never had any one open that engine. I feel this is a manufacturing defect. Car only has 90,000 miles. A/C compressor went out at 40,000 miles, rear defrost out rear fuse box corroded and burned wires had to be replaced, wheel bearings out in the front at 50,000 miles. This shouldn't happen with a newer car. Dealer no help out of warranty.

- Frisco, TX, USA

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problem #24

Jan 182019

Malibu

  • 79,000 miles
Cracked exhaust manifold causes carbon monoxide fumes to enter the passenger compartment causing illness. Symtoms include, dizziness, nausea, headache, watering eyes, runny nose. A definite health risk.

- Farmington Hills, MI, USA

problem #23

Oct 102018

Malibu

  • 1,066 miles

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

I have a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. My last note was do on 11-03 my car has not be running sent October it benign cut off on me while I'm driving when it cut oof I try to start it back up in it want stay crank I have to wait for days be for it start back up I have spent $500 dollars trying to get it back running but it still not running it's be to the Chevy dealers ship it still not running nelson hall Chevrolet tell me they can not catch a code they put a used part on my car in charge me for it I'm told me they do not see a problem with it I pick it up it cut off on me trying to make it home so I got another shop to look at it they told me that my fuel pump will need to be change L paid them $175 pick it up came home got ready to go to the store it started up I bagged out the yard it cut off in front of a line of cars I had to get help to push it back in the yard every where I go I can not cut it off because it want start back up for days now it's just sitting in my yard while I bombing a ride to work in every where else I want to go don't know one know what the problem is in why it want stay crank

- Meridian, MS, USA

problem #22

Jul 012018

Malibu

  • 130,000 miles
Low beams both headlights repeatedly go out. Heater/air conditioner turns off and on by itself. Motor has been changed and tested. Is there a wiring problem with this vehicle across the board. I read a lot of people with this vehicle have the exact same issues. Heater/air turns off while in park or drive randomly.

- Topeka, KS, USA

problem #21

Jul 252018

Malibu

  • miles
P2138 throttle/ pedal position sensor second time same problem the power was reduce when I was driving in the highway.

- Golden Valley, MN, USA

problem #20

Mar 282018

Malibu

  • 109,655 miles
Vehicle started idling rough but ran good on the interstate or speeds above 40 mph. Checked timing chains. Chains were loose and jumped time.

- Cedar Rapids, IA, USA

problem #19

Apr 012018

Malibu

  • miles

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

On April 1,2018 I was driving on a busy road going 45mph when my car suddenly lost the ability to accelerate. A couple of warning light flashed on the dashboard ESC as well as the engine light. The car began to jerk and drive really rough, before the engine power lost flashed on the dash. I turned on my hazard lights and tried to get the car off the road to a safe area. The car could only cruise because I could no longer accelerate. This car just made it to 82000 miles on the dash, I should not be having an issue like this with this car. This is a very dangerous situation as someone could be seriously injured or even worst death. Please please bring awareness to this issue, which a lot of owners of this vehicle is having.

- Randallstown, MD, USA

problem #18

Feb 232018

Malibu

  • 39,987 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that all four tires on the vehicle were faulty while still under warranty. The dealer was not notified. The manufacturer was notified. The tires were replaced. The VIN was unknown. The tire information was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 39,987. No further information was available.

- Gladstone, MO, USA

problem #17

Feb 252018

Malibu

  • miles
Takata recall my vehicle check engine light came on because of a accelerator pedal sensor going out..I was on the street and my car got to jerking and then it says reduce speed every time I accelerate it barley want to drive..

- Davenport, IA, USA

problem #16

Jan 182018

Malibu

  • 147,000 miles
The check engine light and service traction lights keep coming on while I am driving and come to a completed stop. The dealership techs stated both lights always come on together when it is something with the emission controls. On star diagnostic results were: Through your recent on-demand diagnostic, onstar detected an issue with your 2012 Chevrolet Malibu.the code(s) and explanation(s) associated with this issue is/are: P0300 the emissions system is not performing as expected. An issue has been detected in the exhaust emissions system which monitors and controls exhaust gases released into the air from the engine. If the vehicle is continually driven with this light on, the emission controls might not work as well, the vehicle fuel economy might not be as good, the engine might not run as smoothly and could lead to future repairs. Based on the results, you should service your Chevrolet within 7 days.if you require roadside assistance please contact (866) 415-5838. Please bring this email with you when you go for service.last 8 characters of VIN: [xxx] I took the car to manassas Chevrolet 1st and was told that the they needed to conduct a carbon flush and that coil 1 was bad which cause the lights to come. Paid a tune up. After paying over $600 the lights came back on. I took it back 3 times and was told it needed to burn the carbon off and coil 2 needed to be replaced. I took the car to lindsay Chevrolet for a 2nd opinion because both lights came on again. I was told that coil 2 was replaced by the manassas Chevy and was bad. I needed a new engine. I then took it to repair shop in gaithersburg and was told coil 2 was bad, bad a spark plug and cyclinder gaskets were bad. I did not need a new engine. The computer is going bad and thus the reason the check engine and service traction light keeps coming on after all of the above repairs were completed. Parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C.

- Woodbridge, VA, USA

problem #15

May 292017

Malibu

  • 99,800 miles
Car will start and then start shaking and making noises then dies off. Break and accelaretor locks after that

- Marion, OH, USA

problem #14

Sep 242017

Malibu

  • 175,000 miles
Parked in an intersection old hwy us 301 ocala Florida wheels turned left which was dark and poorly lit by the city. No orange lights onto a major thin 2 lane intersection. The vehicle was braked during the left turn South position. The front hood in the middle of North bound lane front bumper and plate were in the highway dividing line. Up to the rear driverside passenger door at the joint of the side street and highway outside line. A bicyclist struck the vehicle his light was thrown into the intersection. He is bleeding hes on the ground. Another female is helping him. The mirror of the vehicle driverside torn off and the front winshield shattered above driverside top. Thrown by impact from his bicycle to the Malibu his backpack on the ground. Hes ambulatory transported sheriffs responded fhp came out

- Anthony, FL, USA

problem #13

Aug 022017

Malibu

  • 62,210 miles
My car will randomly not start with no engine codes. It appears to have problems with the key insert also says anti-theft. Mostly when I am parked

- Glendale, AZ, USA

problem #12

Jul 042017

Malibu

  • 104,000 miles
Car starts and after 2 seconds turns back off. Car will start again and drive fine for hours and then it will happen again. Problem is intermittent but no one can figure out the problem and diagnostic won't read the problem. No check engine light.

- Blacklick, OH, USA

problem #11

Jan 102017

Malibu

  • 73,000 miles
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 #10

Feb 072017

Malibu

  • miles
My car has randomly not been starting. One time I go out and it starts and another time I go out and it just cranks but doesn't start. Have tested the obd but no codes come up.

- Floresville, TX, USA

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