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)

101 of 905 complaints match · Airbags · clear filters · page 2 of 5

May 9, 2019Airbags

THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT ALWAYS SAY IT IS OFF WHEN A PASSENGER IS RIDING IN THE FRONT

NHTSA ODI 11206456

May 9, 2019Airbags

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

NHTSA ODI 11206457

Apr 1, 2019Airbags

RIGHT FRONT SEAT INDICATOR LIGHT TURNS OFF AND ON WHILE SAT ON

NHTSA ODI 11193149

Mar 29, 2019Airbags

WHEN CAR IS RUNNING, THE SERVICE AIR BAG SOON LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING.

NHTSA ODI 11192379

Mar 27, 2019Airbags

I NOTICED AN AIR BAG LIGHT THAT APPEARS ON THE CLUSTER OF MY 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU UPON STARTING THE CAR. IT'S NOT CLEAR WHY THIS AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON, SO I CONTACTED GM AND THEY CLAIM THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON IT. ALTHOUGH MY VEHICLE'S WARRANTY IS NO LONGER VALID SINCE IT IS MORE THAN 5 YEARS, BUT THE VEHICLE HAS VERY LOW MILES (ABOUT 22K) AND I BELIEVE GM SHOULD PAY FOR THE SERVICES FOR THIS ISSUE TO BE DIAGNOSED SINCE IT IS SAFETY RELATED BUT THEY REFUSED TO PAY FOR ANY SERVICES. I PLAN TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BUT I HAVE NO IDEA THE EXTENT OF HOW SERIOUS THE ISSUE IS, OR HOW MUCH IT WILL COST FOR THE REPAIRS

NHTSA ODI 11191827

Feb 18, 2019Airbags

MY SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AT LIKE EVERY 3-4 STARTS IT WILL TURN OFF AFTER I TURN THE CAR OFF I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS IS A RECALL THAT IS COVERED I JUST TOOK MY CAR IN BECAUSE THE ESC LIGHT WAS COMING ON AND OFF AND WHEN IT WOULD COME ON I WOULD LOSE STEERING I WAS ONCE HAPPY WITH MY CAR BUT NOW I KEEP HAVING ALL THESE LIGHT PIPING ON AND OFF

NHTSA ODI 11180878

Jan 27, 2019SteeringAirbagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)

THE STEERING WHEEL TENDS TO SHAKE AND TURN LEFT OR RIGHT WHILE YOU'RE DRIVING ALMOST CAUSED A WRECK IDLING IT SHAKES REALLY BAD

NHTSA ODI 11172399

Dec 7, 2018Electrical systemAirbags

1)AIR BAG SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON.12062018 (2) WINDOWS/ELECTRIC CONSTANT PROBLEMS. SEVERAL REPAIR AND CORRECTION SAME PROBLEM. )1ST TEAM MAZDA HPT VA) WINDOW STICKS, FREEZES, DOESN'T WORK. (3) DRIVES BUMPY. SOUNDS ROUGH. RAN SMOOTH BEFORE THEN SEVERAL REPEATED SAME PROBLEMS WITH CAR. (SEE MAINTAINABILITY. LOG)(3) DRIVE FELT AWKWARD. HAD NEW TIRES, ROTATION ETC. DRIVE IS OFF. (4) CAN FEEL ROUGH RUN WHILE STATIONARY, DRIVE IS NOT AS SMOOTH. (5) 1 RECENT INCIDENT. PARKING LOT FEMALE DRIVE ALONG DRIVERS SIDE FRONT BUMPER. REPAIR 1ST TEAM MAZDA HPT VA. 23666

NHTSA ODI 11156775

Nov 19, 2018AirbagsSeat beltsCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH AND A TRUCK. THE FRONT END OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DURING THE CRASH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT MALFUNCTIONED AND UNLOCKED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK, NECK, AND STERNUM INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED AWAY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND AN UNKNOWN DEALER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

NHTSA ODI 11152401

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 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 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

Sep 17, 2018AirbagsLatches & locks

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG SENSOR INDICATOR FLASHED OFF AND ON, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING, THE REAR TRUNK LID WOULD ERRONEOUSLY UNLOCK AND OPEN. THE FAILURES WERE NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.

NHTSA ODI 11129903

Jul 31, 2018Electrical systemAirbagsSeat belts

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE CHIMES STARTED DINGING AND THE CABIN FILLED UP WITH SMOKE THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AFTER PULLING OVER IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT SEAT BELTS WERE LOCKED IN THE WEARING POSITION

NHTSA ODI 11114996

Jul 11, 2018Airbags

TAKATA RECALL MY AIRBAG SYSTEM WARNING COMES ON AND GOES OFF INTERMITTENTLY. MY LOCAL SHOP SAID THAT THEY HAVE RUN INTO MANY PROBLEMS SUCH AS THIS AND I WAS HOPING THAT IT WAS INCLUDED IN THE TAKATA RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11110776

May 10, 2018Airbags

PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON WHEN CAR IS IN MOTION.

NHTSA ODI 11092843

May 3, 2018Airbags

MY SERVICE AIR BAG INDICATOR KEEPS COME GN ON AND GOING OFF

NHTSA ODI 11091511

May 2, 2018Airbags

I HAVE THE AIRBAG LIGHT GOING OFF AND STATES TO SERVICE THE AIRBAG. I HAVE 80,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL NOT GO AWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11091316

Feb 26, 2018AirbagsCrash1 injury

TAKATA AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHILE IN FRONT END COLLISION. I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A MAIN STREET WHEN I WAS HIT IN THE FRONT BY 2 CARS. THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA ODI 11075124

Jan 4, 2018Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemAirbags

TAKATA RECALL I PURCHASED A 2012 CHEVY MALIBU 2 YEARS AGO FOR MY GRADUATING SENIOR AND THIS CAR HAS PRACTICALLY BEEN A NIGHTMARE SINCE THE DAY WE PURCHASED IT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 43,000 AND THERE HAS BEEN SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. THE CAR PREVIOUSLY SHUT DOWN WHILE RIDING ON THE HIGHWAY, OUR MECHANIC STATED THE CAR HAS ELECTRICAL ISSUES. OKAY, SO HE TAMPERED WITH A FEW WIRES, AND THE CAR STARTED RIGHT UP. TWO DAYS AGO, THE CAR WOULDN'T START, IT'S CURRENTLY DISPLAYING "CHECK AIRBAG" EMERGENCY LIGHTS ARE FLASHING, WIPERS BEGAN GOING BACK AND FORWARD. MY HUSBAND BEGAN TO SHAKE A FEW WIRES (PER OUR MECHANIC) , AND LONG BEHOLD THE CAR HAS STARTED!!! TALK ABOUT BUYER'S REMORSE!!!! THIS CAR IS NOW PARKED IN OUR GARAGE UNTIL WE FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH IT!!! I'M NOW CONCERNED FOR MY SON'S SAFETY AND WILL NOT ALLOW HIM TOO DRIVE THE 2012 CHEVY MALIBU.

NHTSA ODI 11058616

Sep 19, 2017Electrical systemAirbags

ONE DAY I TURNED ON MY CAR AND MY TIRE SENSOR WAS MALFUNCTIONING, MY AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON AND "AIRBAG SERVICE NEEDED" NOTIFICATION WAS SHOWING, AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT HAPPENED OTHER THAN ME DRIVING TO WORK 3 MILES AWAY THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE SMELL FUNCTIONS. IN ADDITION THESE, EARLIER IN THE YEAR THE WERE A FEW MONTHS WHERE I WAS BRINGING MY CAR IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY IT WAS NOT STARTING AT TIMES. I'VE GOT THE FUSE BOX FIXED AND IT SEEMS TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM BUT I BELIEVE IT HAS SOMETHING MORE TO DO WITH THE COMPUTER PROCESSING UNIT

NHTSA ODI 11024135

May 10, 2017AirbagsBrakesCrash2 injuries

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT I PRESSED THE BRAKES AND THE CAR FAILED TO STOP. BOTH TIMES RESULTED IN COLLISIONS. THE FIRST TIME THE CAR WSS REPAIRED AND THEN GIVEN BACK TO ME. THIS TIME I WAS TRAVELING APPROX 45 MPH AND THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES. I WENT TO DO THE SAME AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT STOPPING THE CAR AT ALL. I COLLIDED WITH THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO MY CAR AND INJURIES TO MY SHOULDER, NECK AND BACK.

NHTSA ODI 10984656

Apr 26, 2017AirbagsBrakesCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP FOR TRAFFIC, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO RESPOND IN TIME. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

NHTSA ODI 10980811

Feb 27, 2017Airbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR RANDOMLY FLASHED. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED FOR AN APPOINTMENT ON MARCH 1, 2017 TO INSPECT AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10957214

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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 →