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 7 of 9

Sep 5, 2018Lights

I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE MY HEADLIGHT OVER 10 TIMES THIS YEAR. EVERY MODEL OF THIS CAR I SEE DRIVING HAS THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11124482

Aug 31, 2018Lights

I KEEP HAVING TO CHANGE MY HEADLIGHTS ON BOTH SIDES WAY TOO FREQUENTLY AND IT'S WAY TOO EXPENSIVE TO KEEP REPLACING THEM IT HAS GOT TO BE SOMETHING WRONG HERE!!!!

NHTSA ODI 11123909

Aug 15, 2018Lights

THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM LIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT. I CHANGED THE LIGHT ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO AND IT'S OUT AGAIN. NO BUMPS, ACCIDENTS, NOTHING. ITS JUST GOES OUT.

NHTSA ODI 11120005

Jul 23, 2018Lights

BOTH LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS (FRONT LEFT AND FRONT RIGHT) STOPPED WORKING AT THE SAME TIME. THIS OCCURRED WHEN I WAS DRIVING WITH A PASSENGER AWAY FROM HOME AT NIGHT IN THE DARK.

NHTSA ODI 11113186

Jul 9, 2018Lights

PASSENGER LOW BEAM CONSTANTLY GOING OUT, FOR A WHILE BOTH LOW BEAMS WOULD GO OUT THEN COME BACK ON.

NHTSA ODI 11110382

Jul 3, 2018Electrical systemLights

LOW BEAM ON PASSENGER SIDE GOES OUT FREQUENTLY AND RANDOMLY. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST MY LUCK. HOWEVER ACCORDING TO HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T32066_DS667897 THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. IVE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO KEEP GETTING STOP BY NICE COPS, BUT THIS IS GETTING BAD. I HAVE A 1YEAR OLD THAT I CANT TAKE OUT IN THE CAR BECAUSE IT ISNT SAFE. FOR WHO KNOWS WHAT REASON. PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA ODI 11105423

Jun 29, 2018Lights

THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW-BEAM HEADLAMP HAS FAILED 4 TIMES IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS. THIS HAS NOT BEEN A RESULT OF ANY IMPROPER USE OR OVERUSE OF THE HEADLAMP AND PROPER REPLACEMENT HAS BEEN DONE.

NHTSA ODI 11104713

Jun 13, 2018Lights

LOW BEAM LIGHTS STOP WORKING QUITE OFTEN. PASSENGER SIDE, FOLLOWED BY DRIVER'S SIDE. REPLACED BULBS SEVERAL TIMES OVER THIS PAST YEAR OR SO, ONLY TO FIND THIS LAST TIME THAT THE BULBS WEREN'T BLOWN, JUST NOT WORKING. CHANGED PIGTAIL ON PASSENGER SIDE, PUT SAME BULB BACK IN, LIGHT WORKED FOR A FEW WEEKS, BUT THEN STOPPED WORKING LAST WEEK. LAST NIGHT THE DRIVER'S SIDE STOPPED WORKING AGAIN AS WELL. THAT SEEMS TO BE THE PATTERN. PASSENGER SIDE STOPS, THEN NOT LONG AFTER, DRIVER SIDE STOPS. SEARCHED ONLINE FOR HELP. INSTEAD, I FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUE WITH SUGGESTIONS TO REPORT IT HERE IN CASE IT IS A WIDER INVOLVED ISSUE. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI 11101704

May 30, 2018Lights

DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES DUE TO LIGHTS BURNING OUT. (LOW/ REGULAR LIGHTS & HIGH BEAMS) UPON INSPECTION, MELTED BULB SOCKETS NOTED. WHEN LIGHTS, BULB SOCKETS REPLACED/ REPAIRED, LIGHTS WORK ONLY FOR A SHORT TIME & THE ISSUE REPEATS ITSELF. THIS IS A HUGE ANNOYANCE AS IT REQUIRES IMMEDIATE ATTENTION, FINANCIAL BURDEN, & MOST IMPORTANTLY, COMPROMISES DRIVER & PASSENGER SAFETY. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST AND ONCE AGAIN WE ARE FACED WITH THIS ISSUE, TODAY. 5/30/18.

NHTSA ODI 11098893

May 24, 2018Electrical systemLights

THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM LIGHT BULB SOCKET KEEPS BURNING OUT. REPLACED THE BULB 3 TIMES IN ONE YEAR. THE SOCKET IS THE PROBLEM, KEEPS SHORTING OUT. WHEN I REPLACE THE BULB THE SOCKET WHERE THE BULB PLUGS IN TO IS BURNT AND MELTED.

NHTSA ODI 11097728

May 22, 2018Lights

I HAVE REPLACED MY HEADLIGHTS MULTIPLE TIMES THIS YEAR ALREADY AND NOTICED AND FEW TIMES A HEADLIGHT WOULD GO OUT THEN COME ON OCCASIONALLY THEN IT JUST GOES OUT PERMANENTLY UNTIL A REPAIR IS MADE

NHTSA ODI 11097324

May 11, 2018Lights

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT SHUT OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE HEADLIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

NHTSA ODI 11093334

Apr 25, 2018Lights

TAKATA RECALL. PASSENGER HEADLIGHT HAS BEEN CHANGE 6 TIMES AND CONTINUES TO GO OUT. I WAS TOLD MY WIRES WERE FINE. I CAN'T SEEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11090196

Apr 14, 2018LightsElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

MISFIRE CYL #1 AND ENG LT. WITH MISFIRE CODE, ATTEMPTED CHEV DEALER WARRANTY REPAIR WITH REMOVAL OF CYL HEAD AND REPLACEMNT VALVES [THE CHEAP FIX INSTEAD OF REPLACING CYL HEAD, IN RETROSPECT I BELIEVE CHEV SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THE CYL HEAD FOR A PERMANENT REPAIR, NOW THE CAR IS OUT OF 100K POWERTRAIN WARRANTY] BUT RECURRENCE 22K MILES LATER. I SUSPECT A DESIGN FLAW. ITERNET SHOWS MANY OWNERS WITH SAME COMPLAINT. TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME OFF AND ON.

NHTSA ODI 11085058

Apr 12, 2018Electrical systemLights

THE LOW BEAM AND RUNNING LIGHTS ON DRIVER'S SIDE KEEP GOING OUT THE WIRING HARNESS AND BULB HAS BEEN CHANGED 5 TIMES NOW AND STILL GOES OUT EVER OTHER WEEK . AND TO TOP IT OFF THIS CAR HAS THE MOST REDICULOUS WAY TO GET AT THE HEADLIGHTS. SO TIME CONSUMING

NHTSA ODI 11084714

Mar 3, 2018Lights

THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM LIGHT BURNS OUT OR STOPS WORKING FREQUENTLY. IT HAS BEEN CHANGED MORE THAN THREE TIMES. RECENTLY, IT WAS CHANGED ON FEBRUARY 17, 2018 AND STOPPED WORKING ON FEBRUARY 25, 2018.

NHTSA ODI 11076102

Feb 28, 2018Electrical systemLights

HEADLIGHT LAMP CONSTANTLY GOES OUT DESPITE CHANGING OUT THE BULB AND/OR THE FUSE MULTIPLE TIMES. IT IS BECOMING A HAZARD WHEN DRIVING ON THE ROADS.

NHTSA ODI 11075539

Feb 17, 2018Electrical systemLightsVisibility & wipers

BOTH HEADLAMPS HAVE GONE OUT WITHIN A NINE MONTH PERIOD. THE DRIVER SIDE HAS BEEN CHANGED TWICE, THE PASSENGER SIDE ONCE. IT SEEMS EVERY THREE MONTHS A HEADLIGHT BURNS OUT ON MY CAR. AS FOR THE WIPERS, WHEN THEY ARE TURNED ON, THEY SWIPE HALFWAY AND STOP UNTIL I TURN THEM OFF AND BACK ON OR TO A HIGHER SWIPING SPEED. THIS HAS HAPPENED AS THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND DRIVE. ALSO, THE KEY FOB BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND WORKS SELDOMLY. THE LOCKS HAVE RECENTLY STARTING LOCKING ON THEIR OWN AFTER THE VEHICLE IS SHUT OFF AND THE DRIVER DOOR IS SHUT.

NHTSA ODI 11073403

Dec 24, 2017Electrical systemLights

HEADLAMPS CONSTANTLY BURNING OUT FUZES BLOWN DANGEROUS WHEN LIGHTS GO OUT AT NIGHT. SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA ODI 11056303

Nov 11, 2017SteeringElectrical systemLights

MY HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT, MY CAR WILL NOT ALIGN AND THE ELECTRICAL PLUG WILL NOT WORK

NHTSA ODI 11045381

Nov 3, 2017Lights

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED OFF AND ON WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TUSCALOOSA CHEVROLET IN TUSCALOOSA, AL, (205-758-4451) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.

NHTSA ODI 11042897

Sep 11, 2017Electrical systemLightsElectronic Stability Control (esc)

THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE CONTINUOUSLY SHORTED OUT. I HAVE CHANGED THE HEADLIGHTS 3 TIMES IN A 3 WEEK SPAN AND THEY KEEP GOING OUT. I HAVE REPLACED FUSES AS WELL. THE TRACTION ON THE CAR IS CONSTANTLY SLOWING DOWN. THE ESC LIGHT COMES ON. THE CAR SLOWS DOWN ON ALL STREETS AND IT HAS DONE SO ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11022627

Jun 10, 2017Electrical systemLights

I AM AN AUTO MECHANIC AND THE OWNER OF A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE, 4 OF MY CUSTOMERS MALIBUS (2009 TO 2012) AND MANY MANY OTHER MALIBU OWNERS IS THAT WHILE DRIVING ONE OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL CUT OFF LEAVING THE OPERATOR WITH LITTLE OR NO VISIBILITY WHILE STILL IN MOTION, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME ONE NIGHT ON A RURAL HIGHWAY WITH NO STREET LIGHTS. AFTER MUCH TROUBLESHOOTING I HAVE DISCOVERED THE CULPRIT TO BE THAT THE HEADLIGHT SOCKETS OVERHEAT AND MELT CAUSING A LOOSE OR OPEN CONNECTION FROM THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE HEADLIGHT. SINCE THEN I HAVE REPLACED MANY SOCKETS (INCLUDING MY OWN) AND THEY HAVE BEEN 100% SUCCESSFUL. IN SUMMATION I BELIEVE DRIVER AND OCCUPANT SAFETY IS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED DUE TO THE POOR MANUFACTURING AND THE SUBPAR INTEGRITY OF THE HEADLIGHT SOCKETS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.

NHTSA ODI 10994302

May 30, 2017Lights

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLAMP FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SIX TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRE HARNESS AND BULBS WERE REPLACED BY INDEPENDENT MECHANICS APPROXIMATLEY SIX TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 156,000.

NHTSA ODI 10992136

May 20, 2017LightsBrakes

I RECIEVED A NOTICE FROM GMCONCERNING THE BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM) WARNING ME THAT MY BRAKE LIGHTS COULD MALFUNCTION, BUT WARNING ME NOT TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALER BECAUSE OF THIS WARNING. NOW I HAVE TALKED TO AN INSURANCE REPRESENTATIVE A MEMBER OF MY FAMILY WHO HAPPENS TO BE A LAWYER ALSO A MEMBER OF THE POLICE DEPT AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT SINCE I GOT THOIS WARNING THAT MAKES ME AWARE OF A SERIOUS, DANGEROUS AND POSSIBLY A DEADLY DEFECT IN THIS AUTOMOBILE, THEREFORE IF I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND SOME BODY GOT KILLED, NOT ONLY WOULD IT BE MY FAULT, BUT IN FACT I WOULD AND/OR COPULD BE CHARGED AND FOUND RESPONSIBLE AND CHARGED WITH THAT DEATH. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT IN FACT MY INSURANCE COMPANY COULD LEAGALLY AND THEREFORE WOULD POSSIBLY PAY FFOR ANY DAMAGES PERIOD. NOW, SINCE I HAVE HAD THIS CAR, I HAVE RECIEVED A SIMALIAR NOTICE ABOUT THE STEERING MACHANISM ON THIS CAR TO WHICH I WAS TOLD THE SAME THING, A RECALL ON THE SEAT BELTS, A NOTICE ABOUT THE HEADLIGHTS ON THIS CAR AND IF I AM NOT MISTAKEN AN EARLIER NOTICE ABOUT TO HEADLIGHTS. SO EVERYTIME I DRIVE THIS CAR, I AM NOT SURE THAT I WILL ACCIDENTLY HAVE A WRECK,KILL SOMEONE OR EVEN BE KILLED MYSELF; I HAVE CONTACTED THE NHTSA ABOUT THIS PROBLEMS PREVIOUSLY ABOUT SOME OF THOSE DEADLY DEFECTS, YET THIS CAR IS STILL ALLOWED TO BE ON THE ROAD, SO WHY,WHY, WHY, WHY HASN'T THIS COMPANY BEEN FORCED TO RECALL THIS DANGEROUS SAFTY HAZZARD VEHICLE ?? WHEN EVEN THOUGH ON THE TOP OF THIS LETTER, IT'S DATED "MARCH 2017" YET I DIDN'T RECIEVE THIS LETTER UNTIL MAY 2017/

NHTSA ODI 10990694

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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 →