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)

202 of 905 complaints match · Lights · clear filters · page 4 of 9

Aug 11, 2019Lights

MY 2012 CHEVY MALIBU PASSENGER HEADLIGHT HAS GONE OUT 4 TIMES IN A YEAR AND A HALF. IT IS REDICULOUS THAT IT COSTS A MINIMUM OF 80.00 TO HAVE THIS WORK DONE AND IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE OWNER CANNOT PERFORM THE BULB REPLACEMENT WITHOUT REMOVING THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11243048

Aug 10, 2019Electrical systemLightsElectronic Stability Control (esc)

AT 1ST MY CAR WOULDN'T CRANK EVERY SO OFTEN THEN STARTED GOING DRAG WHILE DRIVING I GOOGLED IT AND HAD TO BEAT ON FUSEBOX IN TRUNK OR WIGGLE WIRES SO HAD TO RUN WIRE STRAIGHT TO BATTERY TO FUEL PUMP. MY HEADLIGHTS ON DIM KEEP SHOOTING AND MY SPEAKERS WILL GO OUT SOMETIMES

NHTSA ODI 11242932

Jul 29, 2019Electrical systemLightsBrakes

TAKATA RECALL WHEN I'M DRIVING MY VEHICLE, THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKER AS IF I'M THE POLICE. I TOOK IT TO FIRESTONE AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER THE CAR ONLY HAS 160,000+ AND IT JUST STARTED EVERY TIME I ACCELERATE OR DRIVE IT DOES THIS AND I'M AFRAID THAT I WILL EITHER GET PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE, HIT SOMEONE OR SOMEONE HITS ME OR/AND THE LIGHTS GO COMPLETELY OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. IS THIS DUE BECAUSE WHENEVER YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THE BUILD, THE WHOLE BUMPER HAS TO COME OFF TO REPLACE IT? I LIKE MY CAR BUT THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I SEE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS

NHTSA ODI 11240284

Jul 15, 2019LightsVisibility & wipers

I HAVE A 2012 CHEVY MALIBU. THUS IS MY EVERYDAY VEHICLE AND WHEN I HAVE HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING. WE HAVE HAD THE BUMPER OFF THIS CAR MULTIPLE TIMES WHICH IS A REAL PAIN. WE HAVE CHANGED HEADLIGHTS, WIRING HARNESS AND EVEN UNDOING THE BATTERY. THE PASSENGER LIGHT COMES ON FOR A BIT THEM WILL GO OFF AND NOT COME BACK ON. I HAVE A LOAN ON THIS CAR AND CAN'T EVEN GET RID OF IT CAUSE I CAN'T KEEP THE LIGHTS ON. WORSE CHEVY CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED. I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER FOR IT BEING OUT AND HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO EXPLAIN IT. READING THE REVIEWS OF THIS CAR ONLINE I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON THAT HAS HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI 11232135

Jul 8, 2019Electrical systemLights

PASSENGER HEAD LIGHT HAS BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES IT KEEPS TURNING OFF. LIGHT BULB IS NOT BURNED. WHEN TAPING ON OR MOVING WIRES LIGHT GOES ON REPLACED WIRES AND STILL HAVING SAME ISSUE. VEHICLE CAN NOT BE DRIVEN AT NIGHT TIME. ALL THIS HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED ON.

NHTSA ODI 11230140

Jul 6, 2019Lights

RIGHT LOW BEAM KEEPS BURNING OUT TWICE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AND REPAIRED BY A CHEV DEALER TWICE WENT OUT SETTING IN GARAGE AND REPLACED BY A CERTIFIED AUTO SHOP

NHTSA ODI 11229769

Jul 6, 2019Lights

LEFT LOW BEAM KEEPS GOING OUT AND BULB NOT BURNT OUT. REPLACED 3X IN THE PASSED YEAR

NHTSA ODI 11229782

Jul 5, 2019Lights

IVE HAD TO DROP THE CAR OF 8 TIMES NOW TO TRY AND REPAIR THE RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT WHICH KEEPS GOING OUT. PIGTAILS CONNECTORS AND BULB ALL REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES NOW.

NHTSA ODI 11229538

Jun 26, 2019Electrical systemLightsElectronic Stability Control (esc)

HEAD LIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT

NHTSA ODI 11222643

Jun 24, 2019Electrical systemLights

HEADLAMP HARNESS KEEPS BURNING CAUSING HEADLAMP TO FAIL TO ILLUMINATE. HAVE REPLACED MULTIPLE BULBS AS WELL AS BOTH HARNESSES WITHIN THE LAST 6 MONTHS AND AGAIN, HARNESS HAS BURNT AND MY LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS DO NOT WORK. READING SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, I BELIEVE IT HAS TO DO WITH THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT FEATURE. I'VE NOTICED THE ISSUE BOTH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING AND WHEN IT'S STATIONARY. WHILE THERE HASN'T BEEN A FIRE AS A RESULT OF THIS ISSUE YET, I'M SURE IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11222130

Jun 24, 2019Electrical systemLights

I HAVE REPLACED MY LOW BEAMS 3 TIMES THIS YEAR. THE FIRST TIME I REAPLACED ALL THE BULBS. THE SECOND TIME I REAPLACED BOTH WIRING HARNESS AND BULBS. A MONTH AGO I REPLACED THE PASSENGER BULB AND NOW THE DRIVERS SIDE LOW BEAM IS OUT AGAIN. IT HAS COST ME ANYWHERE FROM $100-$200 EACH TIME TO DO THIS! I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY DASH TELLING ME SERVICE ESC, ESC OFF, AND SERVICE TRACTION. A RECALL IN 2014 ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE AND MY VIN SAYS THE RECALL HAS BEEN SERVICED BUT I AM STILL HAVING THIS ISSUE. IT HAPPENS WITH THE CAR IN PARK AND WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES IT STAYS ON FOR HOURS SOMETIMES MINUTES.

NHTSA ODI 11222249

Jun 17, 2019Lights

I HAVE CHANGED MY PASSENGER HEADLIGHT BULB SEVERAL TIMES AND IT STILL DOES NOT WORK EVERY TIME I HAVE TO FIX IT I AM CHARGED $100.00 OR MORE. ALSO I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THE MOTOR TO MY DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW TWICE. THIS ALSO ALSO HAPPENED TO MY 2000 CHEVY MALIBU. IT SEAMS LIKE THIS MODEL HAS MANY ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI 11220789

Jun 8, 2019LightsVisibility & wipers

DRIVER SIDE LOW BEAM KEEPS SHORTING OUT EVEN AFTER REPLACING BULBS AND HARNESS. WINDSHIELD WIPERS BUSHING BROKE IN MIDDLE OF RAINSTORM ON 6/7/19 IN SUFFOLK VA ON INTERSTATE 664 SOUTH BOUND

NHTSA ODI 11218642

Jun 4, 2019Lights

THE PLUG TO THE LEFT HEADLIGHT CONTINUES TO MELT AND SHORT THE HEADLIGHT OUT. IT IS NOT THE BULB, BUT THE PLUG IN SYSTEM FOR THE HEADLIGHTS.

NHTSA ODI 11217828

May 29, 2019Lights

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE REPLACED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHT CONNECTORS WERE FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONNECTORS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURES CONTINUED. BOB BELL CHEVROLET (1230 BEL AIR RD, BEL AIR, MD) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ODI 11210670

May 16, 2019Electrical systemLights

REPLACED LOW BEAM LIGHTS MULTIPLE TIMES, HAD THE WIRING HARNESS REPLACED DUE TO A SHORTAGE THAT WAS SUPPOSEDLY LEADING TO THE LOW BEAMS LIGHT BLOWING OUT CONSTANTLY. LOW BEAM LIGHTS STILL KEEP GOING OUT. ONGOING ISSUE

NHTSA ODI 11208156

Apr 28, 2019Lights

PASSENGER LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT CONTINUALLY BURNS OUT. HAVE CHANGED BULB MULTIPLE TIMES. THE LAST TIME THE BULB LITERALLY BLEW UP. THE NEW BULB WOULD LAST AN HOUR OR A DAY OR TWO.

NHTSA ODI 11204224

Apr 15, 2019Lights

I OWN TWO 2012 CHEVY MALIBUS--THE HEADLIGHTS ON EACH HAVE WENT OUT NO LESS THAN 4 TIMES EACH. THIS HAS TO BE A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURE ISSUE. EVEN WITH THE PIGTALS BEING REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS CONTINUE TO GO OUT.

NHTSA ODI 11196557

Apr 14, 2019Lights

WE HAVE HAD THE DRIVERS SIDE WIRING HARNESS REPLACED THREE TIMES. AND THE OTHER ONE ONCE. MY SON HAS THE EXACT MAKE AND MODEL AND HAS SAME ISSUES. REPLACED TWICE. LOCAL REPAIR SHOP SAYS THIS IS A KNOW. ISSUE

NHTSA ODI 11196122

Apr 12, 2019Lights

HIGH AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE HEADLIGHTS ON MY CAR 3 TIMES WITHIN 3 MONTHS. I SEARCHED FOR A PROBLEM WITH THAT CAR AND ANY COMPLAINTS. I FOUND NO RECALL BUT GM BUT 274 COMPLAINTS ABOUT HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS. THE HEADLIGHTS WILL JUST GO OFF DURING DRIVING. VERY DANGEROUS. WHAT CAN BE DONE. IT VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE BULBS BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO DROP THE BUMPER BUT THE BULB IS NOT THE PROBLEM. HOW CAN WE GET GENERAL MOTORS TO RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM FOR 274 PEOPLE? I CAN TELL YOU THE VERY LAST TIME THIS HAPPEN.

NHTSA ODI 11195922

Apr 3, 2019Lights

PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED EVERY YEAR. SOMETIMES SOONER. THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM CONNECTOR MELTED.

NHTSA ODI 11193557

Mar 29, 2019Lights

IS HAVING TO CONSTANTLY REPLACE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT. MY HEADLIGHTS HAVE BOTH WENT OUT 3 TIMES WITHIN 6 MONTHS. THIS IS VERY COSTLY REPAIR BECAUSE THE FRONT BUMPER HAS TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO GET TO THE HEADLIGHT.

NHTSA ODI 11192343

Mar 21, 2019Lights

MY LOW BEAMS AND NOW HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT. REPLACED THREE TIMES AND TWO ON THE OTHER SIDE. COSTS OVER 150 EACH TIME. DRIVING OR WHEN I GO TO START CAR IS WHEN THEY GO OUT AND ONLY ONCE AFTER HITTING BUMP IT CAME ON. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE REPORTING SAME PROBLEM ON CAR GURU. TYPE IN YOUR CAR MAKE AND MODEL AND YEAR WITH HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS AND YOU WILL SEE HOW MANY DRIVERS ARE EFFECTED BY THIS AND HAVE TO KEEP PAYING. I ALSO GOT PULLED OVER 5 TIMES IN 2 MONTHS FOR HEADLIGHTS. THIS IS A PROBLEM AND NEEDS THE MAKER TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. I ALSO CAN GET RECORDS FROM DEALERSHIP OF ALL WORK PAID FOR.

NHTSA ODI 11190624

Mar 20, 2019Electrical systemLights

DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMPS GOING OUT. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE MY DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT 3 TIMES OVER THE LAST 2 MONTHS. NO AUTOMOBILE SHOULD GO THROUGH HEADLAMPS AT THAT RATE. TO COMPLICATE THIS ISSUE, THE ENTIRE FRONT BUMPER MUST BE REMOVED TO CHANGE THE HEADLIGHTS. I'VE READ ON THE FORUMS WHERE MANY MALIBU OWNERS ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE(S) WITH THE HEADLAMPS. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW AND GM/CHEVROLET SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL WITH CORRECTIVE ACTION.

NHTSA ODI 11190209

Mar 20, 2019Electrical systemLightsElectronic Stability Control (esc)

ON TWO OCCASSIONS THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY WENT COMPLETELY OUT WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. SINCE I GOT THE CAR 2 YEARS AGO I HAVE HAD MANY ISSUES WITH THE LIGHTING AMD ELECTRICAL. THE BRAKE LIGHT WORKS WHEN IT CHOOSES TO EVEN IF K DONE PUSH THE BRAKE AND WITH NEW BULBS IT MAY NOT WORK. THE HEADLIGHTS DO THE SAME. THEY COME ON AND GO OFF WHEN THEY CHOOSE TO. I HAVE REPLACED BULBS OVER 20 TIMES IN THE PAST 2 YEARS WHEN I DIDN'T ACTUALLY HAVE TO. MY SENSORS ALSO DON'T WORK WHICH I WAS TOLD WAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. I HAVE A FRONT LIGHT THAT WON'T GO OFF SO EACH TIME I CUT THE CAR OFF I HAVE TO UNPLUG MY BATTERY SO IT DOESN'T DIE. THE DATE POSTED ISNT THE ONLY DATE ITS HAPPENED IT WAS THE DAY IT ALL STARTED.

NHTSA ODI 11190378

← 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 →