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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
57,264 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 1 of 3)

problem #51

Nov 022024

Malibu

  • miles

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

On [XXX], as I was leaving softball tournament in Poway Ca with my kiddos about 6 minutes into driving a message popped up on my dash "ENG PWR REDUCED & SERVICE TRACTION", I lost power to accelerate, I pulled over just before getting on the [XXX] freeway, turned car off and thought car would reset which it didn't. I was stranded with my kiddos. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Hemet, CA, USA

problem #50

Jul 182024

Malibu

  • miles
First, there is a problem with the transmission. The car will stall or stop abruptly while driving. Second, the automatic turn signals do not work. Third, the driver safety belt does tightly secure the driver.

- Birmingham , AL, USA

problem #49

Jul 202022

Malibu

  • miles
The electronic stability control activates under normal driving conditions. Power to engine is reduced, car does not brake or accelerate appropriately with this happens. It appears to be a problem that is reported frequently and one that has been a recall on some vehicles but this VIN does not show that recall. It puts me and others at risk because the car suddenly stops going at speed and lurches when trying to stop. Scans were done at a local auto shop which indicate issues with ESC. Warning lights include ESC activated, Engine power reduced

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #48

May 012023

Malibu

  • miles

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

The Instrument Cluster failed while driving. No gauges on dash work and the gear shift indicator light does not work. I have read online other owners with the same complaint. This should be on recall.

- Thomasville , NC, USA

problem #47

Feb 102023

Malibu

  • miles
As your driving along vehicle will shut off abruptly and have to remove and replace fuel pump relay until it shuts down again.

- King City, CA, USA

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problem #46

Jan 282023

Malibu

  • miles
The Audible Chimes on the car a very faint, if the seat belt is not fastened the car notifies you with a Visual Alarm and Audible alarm the chimes - the chimes stopped working on this car. This car does not have auto seatbelts, if you forget to fasten the seat belt you are not aware of this fact as the visual display is in the dash, the audible alarm chimes warning you that there is no seatbelt. No mechanic needed to tell me that this is broken, the chimes don't work, pretty easy to diagnose. No inpection to date, really do not want to pay for this to occur. no.

- St. Charles , MO, USA

problem #45

Mar 132022

Malibu

  • miles

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

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 #44

Jul 102021

Malibu 4-cyl

  • miles
GM Tech Bulletins say there is a Ghost Problem with Elect. Stability Controller. GM mentions there is no recall or known cure for this..Components/contacts were cleaned at service shop but " Serv. ESC-ESC OFF" keeps appearing in "driver display" when hitting bumps -turning car.. i will mail service sheets. This option was available on 08-09-10 models of Malibu but Std. on my 2012 car. It is worthless when there is thick snow.. I will send, by mail, serv. records on this unsolvable problem... It continues to happen, at slow speed - not just one time...I believe YOU can read the G.M.-TSBs, as it was shown to me.... Consumer stated it showed a bad steering column multi switch & Yaw sensor unit, part still available.. Unit fires off bad code when barely moving and turning to right... Unit gets damp and works for a while. Turns out: Plastic Yaw coil in steering column broke up against the shaft, and the multi reed switch is probably bad, in there. The consumer stated after a new multi switch was installed, the bracket of the plastic broke again.

- Payson, AZ, USA

problem #43

May 092021

Malibu

  • 183,000 miles
I have an ongoing issue in which the power steering on my 2012 Malibu locks up and it's extremely hard to rotate the steering wheel to make turns....it has happened on numerous occasions from being parked from a cold start to recently actively happening while driving on the road/highway. The computer dash display pops up saying power steering then says service ESC

- Kansas City, MO, USA

problem #42

May 012021

Malibu

  • 98,000 miles
Ecs light flashed before the car lost power and steering

- Linden, NJ, USA

problem #41

Oct 012019

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 85,000 miles

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

My vehicle has 86,200 miles on it and I have to have both heads rebuilt because of a burnt exhaust valve. I have been told multiple times that this should not be happening at this low mileage on the vehicle. The engine idles really rough when in park or not in drive or motion. When stopped at a stop light, the "service traction, service ESC, ESC off" comes on. This goes away once you start driving again.

- Grand Junction, CO, USA

problem #40

Apr 192020

Malibu

  • miles
Doors keep unlocking and locking on their own. Does it constantly no matter what I do.. the alarm doesnt do anything and the doors just keep unlocking and locking back and forth all day and night even without the keys inside while parked

- Nuevo, CA, USA

problem #39

Apr 062020

Malibu

  • 150,000 miles
I was driving my car and when I hit a stopped light it suddenly my car turned off and the traction control light, engine light come on. Also service traction, service ESC, ESC off on the headboard. I already fixed the throttle body, map sensor, camshaft position sensor, gas pedal, altenator, and its still doing the same problem. I need help on finding out what the real problem is. I've been having problems with this car for almost a year now.

- Brownsville, TX, USA

problem #38

Mar 262020

Malibu

  • 110,000 miles
I was driving down a highway with no traffic around and my sunroof shattered

- Chisholm, MN, USA

problem #37

Mar 012020

Malibu

  • miles
I am continually having problems with the front love beam lights on my car. In particular the driver side headlight low beam. I have changed the light at lease every 3 mos for the past 2 years. I just recently changed the ds headlight and the harness and it work initially but 24 hours later it was not working again.

- Riverdale, GA, USA

problem #36

Feb 042020

Malibu

  • 83,000 miles
I was driving my car and car just shut off, no lights were on in vehicle no signs of any issues at all. Vehicle shut off in the middle of the road.

- Buffalo, NY, USA

problem #35

Jan 232020

Malibu

  • 135,574 miles
The driver's side door will lock and unlock but not open

- Portage, MI, USA

problem #34

Jan 062020

Malibu

  • 130,000 miles
Driver side headlight kept going in and out until completely going out and not working. When getting a new bulb put it it did the same thing a week later. The wiring in the headlight is faulty. The same thing goes for the front speakers of the car. The front speakers will come on and off on their own as well.

- Evansville, IN, USA

problem #33

Dec 102019

Malibu

  • miles
Passenger side low beam headlight keep going out I have replaced bulb and socket several times..it work only for 2 weeks and problem keep coming..this is fifth time I'm having to fix the issues

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #32

Sep 192017

Malibu

  • 10,000 miles
Headlights keep going out after being changed multiple times

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

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