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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
27 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
23 / 0
Average Mileage:
48,895 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 seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2012 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 1 of 5)

problem #93

Jan 242024

Malibu

  • miles

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

Air bag disabled light came on got the code checked the connector for the air bag on the drivers side either came disconnected or is defective and it disabled all my air bags.

- Lake Geneva, WI, USA

problem #92

Jan 212019

Malibu

  • miles
POWER STEERING light shows on indicator panel sometimes without any problems steering. Sometimes it appears along with SERVICE ESC and some times power steering is lost. Turning the car off and back on usually resets the problem. It is extremley difficult to steer the car when this happens. It began intermittently about 3 years ago when a local mechanic looked at it but he couldn't find anything wrong. It's failing much more frequently (every other trip) now. It has about 62000 miles on it. So far, no accidents but a few close calls. Another problem is that the SERVICE AIR BAG indicator comes on when someone sits in the passenger seat and the car is started. It can be reset but it's an scary situation. I don't think this is related to the steering problem but not sure.

- Medford, NJ, USA

problem #91

May 242021

Malibu 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 115,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while a passenger was seated in the front passenger-??s seat, the passenger-??s side air bag warning light would not illuminate. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with the seat cushion pad needing to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.

- Hugo, MN, USA

problem #90

May 242021

Malibu

  • miles

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

Vehicle air bag service light activated. Vehicle checked by licensed mechanic and showed a code indicating a shortage in left airbag side. Exact location of short not yet identified.

- Sunset , LA, USA

problem #89

Jan 012021

Malibu

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the passenger's air bag occupant sensor had become defective and would not recognize any occupant under 130 pounds seated in the passenger's seat. The contact took the vehicle to wally edgar Chevrolet service (3805 S lapeer rd, lake orion, mi 48360) where a diagnostic test was performed and the contact was provided an estimate to replace the occupant sensor. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

- Lake Orion, MI, USA

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problem #88

Jan 112021

Malibu

  • 180,000 miles
Power steering light comes on and my steering wheel is twitching and jerking.

- Bonham, TX, USA

problem #87

Apr 202020

Malibu

  • miles

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

In 2019, my vehicle's tail lights, blinkers, headlights, & interior lights went out. I began to receive dashboard notifications from my car about traction control in early 2018 and earlier this year I started receiving notifications of problems with my airbags. I bought new bulbs, but that didn't solve my lighting problems. I took my car to a Chevy dealership and was charged/paid a large sum of money to be told I needed a new fuse panel and headlight bulbs. I was told the panel wasn't available due to a strike at the plant & to come back later to have the panel installed. I returned later to be told that the tech didn't record his findings on my profile so no one knew what was wrong with my vehicle and was asked to pay out more money. Therefore, I took my vehicle to a different dealership and it was documented that my vehicle required a substantial amount of wiring which includes, but not limited to, body control module (BCM), body harness, a new fuse block, labor, etc., the price tag is in the thousands. I conducted online research and learned of recalls on my vehicle. I contacted Chevrolet and was told there was no recall on my particular VIN although there is a recall on the year, make and model of my car and there was nothing Chevrolet could do to assist me. However, for every single issue I am experiencing with my car there is a recall for it. I am unable to drive my financed vehicle due to safety hazards and the possibility of being ticketed by the police or worse. I received notice for one recall after purchasing my car and that was for a seat belt. From my understanding 13036 is the BCM Chevy recall number. Please let me know if more information is needed.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #86

Aug 242020

Malibu

  • 122,500 miles
I turned my car on this morning after sitting all night and the dashboard said service air bag. It was humid and hot the past few days. I looked up issues with 2012 Chevy Malibu's air bags, there are recalls for them but not for my VIN. My car has not been in any accidents.

- Pickerington, OH, USA

problem #85

Apr 062018

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 120,000 miles
Since buying this vehicle, I've had trouble with the brakes, airbag sensors, electrical problems, seatbelt issues and also the airbag light, had a mechanic replace the airbag sensors in the rear, but the light still comes on. The brakes are now shuttering worse when I apply the brakes and it feels like the wheels are going to fall apart.

- Modesto, CA, USA

problem #84

Dec 192019

Malibu

  • 49,000 miles
Service air bag light on all the time car was in park when it first appear

- Bellflower, CA, USA

problem #83

Oct 292019

Malibu

  • 0 miles

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

I bought my 2012 Malibu about 2years ago and after warranty expiration I started having codes saying to service air bags but the codes won't stay constant and no one knows why for some odd reason. On top of that the passenger side head light has been changed 5 time in less then a year and a half and once again no one knows why. I'm not the only person with constant issues the manufacturer needs to be held responsible for faulty equipment

- Circle Pines, MN, USA

problem #82

Jun 152019

Malibu

  • 130,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated upon starting the vehicle. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 12V224000 (electrical system). The contact called apple Chevrolet (8585 w 159th St, tinley park, il 60487, 708-429-3000) and was informed that the vehicle was not included in any recalls. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

- Tinley Park, IL, USA

problem #81

Jun 012019

Malibu

  • 50,000 miles
When turning on the car and when driving a message comes up saying "service air bag". the clock turns to military time without us changing it. Seat belts sign comes when seat belts are being used. Poor performance.

- Craig, CO, USA

problem #80

Jul 232019

Malibu

  • miles
Antitheft system is causing my car not to start. I have contact GM they are not willing to help. I research online line where Chevrolet knows about the issue but want customer to fix the problem themselves. I was stranded for 4 hours in the houston heat with my kids. The car will stop in traffic as well

- Katy, TX, USA

problem #79

Jul 162019

Malibu

  • 0 miles
My car wouldn't crank then it would crank. Till I was driving down the road and it just died on me going around a curve lost control of steering and brakes thank god I didn't wreck so I got in line and researched and come to find out that it was something to do with fuel pump relay connection to fuel pump relay box. The wires aware too little voltage for the fuel pump and burnt wires to fuel pump relay box. I see that there are a lot of complaints on same car as line. So I'm filing a complaint cuase this is very dangerous.

- Aberdeen, KY, USA

problem #78

Jul 112019

Malibu

  • miles
Air bags light keep coming on had a recall to have it replace before but light came back

- Hinesville, GA, USA

problem #77

May 202019

Malibu

  • 165,000 miles
I was in a traffic accident and was bit on the driver side. The impact pushed in the doors and the side curtain airbags did not deploy. I was traveling approx 30 mph and the car ran a stop sign on a city street.

- Ponca, NE, USA

problem #76

Feb 012015

Malibu

  • miles
Passenger side airbag light for the front seat passenger always indicates that the airbag is off when a passenger is in the front seat. The message does not go away and has been happening for a very long time

- Waterloo, WI, USA

problem #75

Feb 012019

Malibu

  • miles
The front passenger airbag light always say it is off when a passenger is riding in the front

- Waterloo, WI, USA

problem #74

Mar 162019

Malibu

  • 61,000 miles
Right front seat indicator light turns off and on while sat

- Vancouver, WA, USA

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