Home · 2012 Chevrolet Malibu Eco · Complaints

What 905 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu Eco

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (905)Crash / fire / injury (65)Electrical system (290)Lights (202)Steering (191)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (129)Airbags (101)Engine (99)Brakes (73)Fuel system (56)Speed control (52)Transmission & drivetrain (49)

Newest first · 905 complaints · page 18 of 37

Nov 14, 2018Lights

PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT (LOW BEAM) HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED 4 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 YEARS.

NHTSA ODI 11151570

Nov 12, 2018Engine

HEATER CORE WAS REPLACED IN OCTOBER 2017 DUE TO ANTI-FREEZE LEAKING INSIDE OF CAR. THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD WAS REMOVED ($1050). IN OCTOBER 2018, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT BEGAN TO APPEAR SO I HAD MY MECHANIC USE THE GM TESTING EQUIPMENT. TWO VALVE TIMING SOLENOIDS WERE REPLACED. THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ISSUE CONTINUES AND WHEN IT DOES, THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAIN ON. THE LIGHTS ONLY APPEAR WHEN DRIVING OR IF THE RADIO IS ON.

NHTSA ODI 11150949

Nov 7, 2018Body & structure

DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM EITHER INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE

NHTSA ODI 11149970

Nov 2, 2018Electrical systemLightsAirbagsEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE AIR BAG AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURES OCCURRED ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COX CHEVROLET (2900 CORTEZ RD W, BRADENTON, FL 34207, (941) 348-6417), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER MADE UNKNOWN REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE, BUT THE WARNING INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL TIRE SHOP FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EVERY THREE MONTHS A DIFFERENT EXTERIOR LIGHT WOULD GO OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11144976

Nov 1, 2018Airbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON, THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STAYED ON. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 145,000.

NHTSA ODI 11144737

Oct 30, 2018Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

MY CAR HAD HAD THE HEADS REPLACED IN THE FIRST MOTOR IT CAME WITH THEN THE WHOLE MOTOR REPLACED BEFORE 100K MILES NOW THE NEW MOTOR DOESNT BARELY HAVE 100K MILES ON IT AND THEY ARE TELLING ME MY CYLINDER 6 ISNT HOLDING COMPRESSION SO I'LL NEED ANOTHER MOTOR EVENTUALLY! MY TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING , ITS HAD A WHOLE NEW AIR CONDITIONING UNIT INSTALLED WHEN MY MOTOR WAS REPLACED BECAUSE IT WENT OUT. THE SPEAKERS ON MY PASSENGER SIDE DONT WORK AND MY HEATING SYSTEM ON MY SEAT ON THE DRIVER SIDE HAS WENT OUT!

NHTSA ODI 11144108

Oct 26, 2018Lights

THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME MY PASSENGER LOW BEAM HAS WENT OUT THE THIRD TIME I CHANGED THE LOW BEAM WIRING AND IN LESS THAN A MONTH IT HAS GONE OUT AGAIN SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT I HAVE HEARD MANY PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PASSENGER LOW BEAM KEEPS GOING OUT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ASAP

NHTSA ODI 11143065

Oct 24, 2018Electrical systemLights

IN LESS THEN ONE YEAR THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM LIGHT IS OUT. I LOOK ON LINE AND A LOT OF 2012 MALIBU ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. IT COST OVER $100 TO CHANGE IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO REMOVE THE BUMPER TO DO IT.

NHTSA ODI 11142312

Oct 24, 2018Lights

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT BULBS FAILED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE BULBS WERE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT A FAILURE CODE FOR THE HEADLIGHT WIRING SYSTEM COULD NOT BE LOCATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI 11142325

Oct 24, 2018Electrical systemLights

MY CAR CAN RUN FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME AND THE BATTERY WILL DIE RANDOMLY. MY HEADLIGHT CONSTANTLY CUT OFF AND INTERIOR MY HOT AN COLD LEVEL STAY DOWN ON A REGLAR DAY. THE AC BLOWS OUT COLD AIR WHEN ON HEAT OR IT WILL JUST BLOW AIR. MY CAR WILL JUST STIFEN UP AND NOT DRIVE AFTER RESTARTING THE BATTERY.

NHTSA ODI 11142387

Oct 24, 2018Electrical systemLights

CAR WILL SHUT DOWN. HEAD LIGHTS STOP WORKING LESS THEN EVERY TWO MONTHS. FUSE INSIDE THE CAR WHERE TO CHARGE THE PHONE ISN'T WORKING BOTH FRONT AND MIDDLE. CAR DIES RANDOMLY AFTER BEING LEFT ON FOR A LITTLE WHILE. HOT AND COLD RATE STAYS ON COLD ALL DAY AND HAS THE AC UNIT BLOW OUT COLD AIR WHEN ON HEAT AND IF ON COLD IT JUST BLOWS AIR. CAR WONT DRIVE FASTER THEN 5 MPH AFTER HAVING THE BATERY REBOOTED DEPENDING ON IF TE CAR WAS ALLOWED TO SIT IDOL OR A WHILE. CAR WILL PLACE IT'S SELF IN SHUT DOWN DE TO ELECRICAL PROBLEMS. ONCE ONE STARTS ACTING UP THEY ALL START ACTING UP.

NHTSA ODI 11142398

Oct 21, 2018Lights

MY HEADLIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT I HAD THE BULB REPLACED AND ELECTRICAL SOCKETS AND IT KEEPS GOING OUT THIS IS THE 4TH TIME I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE SAME WORK COMPLETED.

NHTSA ODI 11141716

Oct 18, 2018Electrical systemLights

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.

NHTSA ODI 11141205

Oct 16, 2018Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE "ENGINE HOT" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND IT WAS TOWED TO HER HOME. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11140664

Oct 15, 2018SteeringAirbagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)

MY POWER STEERING GOES OUT RANDOMLY. I CAN BE PARKED IT GOES OUT, I CAN HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKIBG WHILE IN DRIVE , IT GOES OUT. I CAN BE DRIVING ANYWHERE AND IT GOES OUT. THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON RANDOMLY. AND THEN MY ESC WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AS WELL. IN ALL OF THESE INSTANCES IT'S ALL RANDOM WHEN IT HAPPENS.ON 10/13/2018 M Y POWER STEERING WENT OUT THAT IS THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11140281

Oct 15, 2018Lights

I'VE CHANGED MY DRIVER'S SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT 3 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR.

NHTSA ODI 11140518

Oct 12, 2018Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE BATTERY WAS JUMPSTARTED BY THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JAMES CORLEW CHEVROLET (722 COLLEGE ST, CLARKSVILLE, TN 37040, (931) 552-2020) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE RESET. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

NHTSA ODI 11140051

Oct 12, 2018Lights

CHANGED MY HEADLIGHTS 4 TIMES WITHIN 2 YEARS

NHTSA ODI 11140076

Oct 8, 2018SteeringAirbagsSpeed control

TAKATA RECALL. MY VEHICLE HAVE HAD THIS SYSTEM POP ON A FEW TIMES. AS OF SEPTEMBER THE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON ABD AND HAS NOT GONE OFF. IT ALSO AFFECT THE ESC SYSTEM.

NHTSA ODI 11138981

Oct 4, 2018Electrical systemLights

THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT I'M CHANGING THESE OUT EVERY COUPLE MONTHS I'VE RESEARCHED AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHER DRIVERS ARE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE

NHTSA ODI 11133423

Oct 3, 2018Seats

I BOUGHT THIS MALIBU NEW AND HAVE MAINTAINED IT WELL. OUT OF NO WHERE, THE DRIVERS SEAT BECAME LOOSE AND WOBBLY. I SIMPLY SAT IN THE DRIVERS SEAT WHILE IN MY DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED IT. UPON INSPECTION, THE SEAT FRAME HAS BROKEN WELDS. METAL THAT HOLDS THE DRIVERS SEAT IN PLACE ON A 6 YEAR OLD CAR IS BROKEN! IT TURNS AND MOVES AS THE DRIVER DOES. I BELIEVE THAT IN AN INCIDENT, THE SEAT WOULD COME OUT. THIS SEEMS LIKE A DESIGN OR WELD QUALITY PROBLEM. I AM TOLD THE ENTIRE SEAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THIS IS A BIG AND EXPENSIVE JOB. I WAS PREPARING TO LET MY COLLEGE AGE DAUGHTER DRIVE THIS CAR BUT NOW I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

NHTSA ODI 11133164

Sep 28, 2018Lights

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT. THIS IS SEPT 18 AND I'VE REPLACED THE RIGHT SIDE 4 TIMES THIS YEAR AND THE LEFT 2 TIMES. AT THE MOMENT THE LEFT IS OUT. I'VE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE DIAGNOSTIC CHARGE IS $130. THE ONLY THING ABOUT IT IS PAYING $130 TO TELL ME WHAT'S WRONG AND GOING IN BLIND NOT KNOWING HOW MUCH IT WILL COST TO REPAIR. I'VE BEEN WATCHING TO SEE IF THERE WILL BE A RECALL ISSUED ON THIS. I LOVE MY CAR AND DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO GET RID OF IT. IT'S PAID FOR AND I ONLY HAVE $118K MILES. THANK YOU

NHTSA ODI 11132080

Sep 28, 2018Lights

THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT ON THE PASSENGER CONTINUOUSLY GOES OUT AFTER REPAIRING. I HAD THE BULB REPLACED 3 TIMES, WITHIN A MONTHS TIME. I ENDED UP GETTING AN EXPENSIVE DIAGNOSTIC TEST, REPLACED THE SOCKET, AS SUGGESTED. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE BULB WENT OUT AGAIN. REPLACED, THEN IT WENT OUT AGAIN. I DROVE AROUND WITH MY HIGH BEAM ON (SO I CAN SEE) UNTIL I BURNT THAT OUT TOO. I JUST GOT IT REPLACED AND NOT EVEN A WEEK LATER IT'S OUT AGAIN. I CAN'T CONTINUE PAYING FOR THIS DEFECT. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE ADVISE OF RESOLUTION? I SEE THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF THE OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA ODI 11132147

Sep 28, 2018Lights

MY PASSENGER LOW BEAM KEEPS GOING OUT THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IN A YEAR AND A HALF

NHTSA ODI 11132187

Sep 26, 2018Lights

FREQUENTLY, MORE THAN 6 TIMES IN A YEAR HEADLIGHTS BURNOUT PT QUIT WORKING. SEE THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHERS WITH SAME PROBLEM

NHTSA ODI 11131755

← NewerOlder →

Working with the data? Download all 905 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 24, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2012 Chevrolet Malibu Eco verdict →