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)

290 of 905 complaints match · Electrical system · clear filters · page 8 of 12

May 2, 2018Electrical systemEngineFuel system

CYLINDER 2 KEEP MISS FIRING AND SERVICE TRACTION LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. I HAVE TAKEN THE CARE TO 3 REPAIR SHOP AND SPENT OVER $2500 IN REPAIRS OVER THE LAST YEAR.

NHTSA ODI 11091335

Apr 27, 2018SteeringElectrical system

WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD START SHAKING AND TURNING ON ITS OWN. THEN A FEW DAYS LATER MY SERVICE ESC AND POWER STEERING LIGHTS STARTED COMING ON AND I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE CAR LEFT OR RIGHT.. I WOULD TURN THE CAR OFF FOR A FEW THEN TURN IT BACK ON AND IT WOULD UNLOCK. THAT LASTED FOR A FEW MORE DAYS AND THEN THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED LOCKING UP WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS MY POWER STEERING SENSOR. ITS SEEMS TO BE WORKING FINE NOW HOWEVER I WILL NEVER BY ANOTHER CHEVY MALIIBU I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE I PURCHASE THIS CAR THE FIRST ISSUE WAS MY LIGHT CONSTANTLY KEPT GOING OUT. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY COMING HOME FROM AN OUT OFF TOWN TRIP AND CARS WERE FLASHING THERE LIGHTS. I PULLED OVER I HAD NO BACK LIGHTS. I TOOK IT THE DEALER THEY SAID IT WAS MY BATTERY CAUSING MY CAR TO SHORT CIRCUIT. IT COST ME $400. THEN THE SAME THING HAPPENED 20 DAYS LATER THE DEALER WANTED ME TO PAY TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AGAIN NO WAY. COME TO FIND OUT IT WAS A #20 FUSE OVER THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE WHEEL THAT KEPT BLOWING. NEEDLES TO SAY I KNOW RIDE AROUND WITH A PACK OF FUSES IN MY CAR.. THE CAR HAS 87,858 MILES ON IT

NHTSA ODI 11090400

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 12, 2018Electrical systemVisibility & wipers

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING, THE HEADLIGHTS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO WORK. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED BEFORE OR DURING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO COULD NOT DIAGNOSIS THE FAILURE. THE DEALER (SUPERIOR CHEVROLET, 4770 COVINGTON HWY, DECATUR, GA 30035) WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11078700

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 23, 2018Electrical system

BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR REPLACED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR. HEAT HAS NO TEMP ADJUSTMENT STAYS HOT. CLIMATE CONTROL NOT WORKING. BLOWER MOTOR WAS NOT FACTORY WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR AT 17000 MI. I THINK SOMEONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE ME.

NHTSA ODI 11074519

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

Feb 14, 2018Electrical systemFuel system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT OPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS AND FUEL PUMP WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS STILL NOT OPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS RE-INSPECTED BY THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUSE BOX AND RELAYS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. GUSWEILER GM CENTER (1132 STATE RTE 41, WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, OH) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE FUSE BOX WAS FAULTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 46,000.

NHTSA ODI 11072915

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

Jan 3, 2018Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

THIS IS MY SECOND INCIDENT REPORT FOR THE SAME VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ALL MOBILITY. NO WARNING AT ALL JUST STOPPED RUNNING. FORTUNATLY I WAS NOT AT A VERY HIGH RATE OF SPEED BUT WAS GETTING READY TO MAKE A TURN OFF THE HIGHWAY. NO INDICATION THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG AT ALL. MY CONCERN IS WHY DOES SOMEONE NEED TO GET HURT OR KILLED BEFORE THIS PROLEM IS ADDRESSED? HAVING TAKEN THIS TO BE SERVICED I ENCOUNTERED OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE WITH THEIR VEHICLES, ALL CHEVROLETS OF ONE MODEL OR SIMILAR TO IT. BASICALLY THE SAME MOTOR. THIS HAPPENED TO ME BEFORE AND I HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN A REASON FOR THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11058388

Dec 28, 2017Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT ABOUT 60 MPH ON A HIGHWAY AND THE RPMS DROPPED DRASTICALLY, THE ANTI SKID INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER TEMPORARILLY. I PULLED OVER AND SLOWED DOWN AND THE CAR RETURNED TO NORMAL. SAME EVENING VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ABOUT 55 MPH ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER, STEERING GOT SLUGGISH,ALL INDICATORLIGHTS ON DASH BLINKED ON AND OFF ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON, ANTI SKID INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON, WAS KNOCKING IN MOTOR AND CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 20 MPH. COMPLETED A DIAGNOSIS OF THE VEHICLE AND A CODE P0068 WAS NOTED BY DIAGNOSTICS. P0068 THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION SYSTEM IS NOT PERFORMING AS EXPECTED. AN ISSUE HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM THAT CONNECTS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WITH THE THROTTLE AND INTEGRATES FEATURES SUCH AS CRUISE CONTROL, TRACTION CONTROL, STABILITY CONTROL, AND PRE-CRASH SYSTEMS. IF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS FLASHING, A MISFIRE CONDITION HAS BEEN DETECTED. A MISFIRE INCREASES VEHICLE EMISSIONS AND COULD DAMAGE THE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM ON THE VEHICLE. PLEASE REDUCE VEHICLE SPEED, AVOID HARD ACCELERATIONS, AVOID STEEP UPHILL GRADES, AND REDUCE ANY CARGO LOADS SUCH AS A TRAILER. IF THE VEHICLE IS CONTINUALLY DRIVEN WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, THE EMISSION CONTROLS MIGHT NOT WORK AS WELL, THE VEHICLE FUEL ECONOMY MIGHT NOT BE AS GOOD, AND THE ENGINE MIGHT NOT RUN AS SMOOTHLY. THIS COULD LEAD TO FUTURE REPAIRS

NHTSA ODI 11057219

Dec 24, 2017Electrical systemLights

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

NHTSA ODI 11056303

Nov 30, 2017Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

RANDOMLY DOESN'T WHAT TO START BEEN TO SHOP SEVERAL TIMES MECHANIC GOES TO FUSE BOX AND MESS WITH WIRING AND STARTS UP I GO THROUGH THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES FOR MONTHS NOW. TIRED NOT HAVING A CAR TO GET TO WORK MECHANIC CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY IT DONG THIS NEED RECALL ON IT SEVERAL COMPLAINTS I READ ABOUT ALREADY SAME AS ME. ALSO ONE TIME ACT LIKE WAS GOING TO STOP DOWNTOWN IN TRAFFIC PULL OFF SIDE ROAD CALL ED MECHANIC.

NHTSA ODI 11051539

Nov 24, 2017Electrical systemFuel system

CAR WILL START AND THEN START SHAKING AND MAKING NOISES THEN DIES OFF. BREAK AND ACCELARETOR LOCKS AFTER THAT

NHTSA ODI 11048190

Nov 13, 2017SteeringElectrical systemSpeed control

TAKATA RECALL FOR A CHEVROLET CHEVY MALIBU 2012, YOU CANT TELL HOW FAST YOUR GOING THE HEAD LIGHT ELECTRICAL FUSE NEEDS REPLACEMENT, DRIVER PEDALS NEED TO BE REPLACED ALSO.

NHTSA ODI 11045613

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 7, 2017Electrical systemFire

WHILE DRIVING MY 2012 CHEVY MALIBU ON A HIGHWAY, THE CAR SUDDENLY TURNED OFF IN MOTION. I THEN LOOKED TO THE REAR OF THE CAR WHILE TRYING TO MANEUVER THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THE ENTIRE REAR OF THE CAR ENGULFED IN FLAMES. WHEN THE CAR CAME TO A STOP I WAS ABLE TO JUMP OUT AND RUN FOR SOME AID. I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER BEFORE THE THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARRIVED. UPON INVESTIGATION, IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSE BY A FAULTY FUSE BOX LOCATED IN THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE TRUNK. THE CAR IS TOTALED.

NHTSA ODI 11044275

Oct 23, 2017SteeringSuspensionTransmission & drivetrainElectrical systemWheelsElectronic Stability Control (esc)BrakesEngine

2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO MULTIPLE SAFETY DEFECTS WITH VEHICLE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS SEVERAL SAFETY DEFECTS INCLUDING THE ELECTRIC STABILITY CONTROL, BRAKES, SENSOR LIGHTS, STEERING, SUSPENSION, WHEELS, ENGINE LIGHTS, POWER TRAIN. UPDATED 10/23/2017*JS

NHTSA ODI 11035054

Sep 21, 2017SteeringElectrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHEN THE ENGINE WAS STARTED, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. THE POWER STEERING, ESC, AND TRACTION WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, RESTARTED THE ENGINE, AND THE VEHICLE RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE DEALER (SOUTHERN CHEVROLET CADILLAC, 5845 COLISEUM BLVD, ALEXANDRIA, LA 71303) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ODI 11024839

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

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

Aug 25, 2017Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

AFTER OWNING THE CAR ONLY 3 WEEKS, THE CIRCUIT BOARD BLEW A WIRE CONNECTOR CAUSING MY FUEL PUMP TO GO OUT AFTER THE DEALERSHIP JUST HAD THESE EXACT PARTS REPLACED HIMSELF AT TIME OF PURCHASE. THE CAR HAS LOST POWER, HAS ISSUES WITH BLINKER STICKING OR RELAY. THE CAR DRAINS RAPIDLY WHEN A.C. IS TURNED ON. RADIO SOMETIMES SHUTS OFF SOUND. THE VEHICLE HAS COST ME OVER 3000 WITHIN MY 3 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP HAS ONLY 140000 MILES ON ENGINE. ELECTRICAL ISSUES EVERYWHERE AM FEARFUL IT MAY CATCH FIRE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH MY 3 CHILDREN! YOUTUBE HAS MANY COMPLAINTS ON SAME MAKE MODEL VEHICLE WITH SAME OCCURRING ISSUE'S! LUCKILY WHEN CIRCUIT BOARD BLEW A COMPACTOR THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN THE PARKING LOT AT DOLLAR GENERAL. WE WERE FORCED TO HAVE IT TOWED TO DESTINATION.

NHTSA ODI 11019476

Aug 19, 2017Electrical system

CAR WOULD NOT START JUST CRANKED. HAD CAR LOOKED AT SAID IT WAS MY FUEL PUMP. SO I HAD IT CHANGED. WELL THE NEXT DAY SAME THING. SO I SEEN THAT THE FUEL PUMP RELAY WAS IN TRUCK REPLACED THAT AS WELL. WELL THEN TWO DAYS LATER CAR DID THE SAME THING. WENT TO FUSE BOX IN TRUNK AND OPENED THE FUSE BOX TOUCHED THE FUEL PUMP RELAY AND MY CAR STARTED RIGHT UP. I CONTINUE TO DO THIS ON A DAILY AND ITS ALSO STALLED AT A RED LIGHT AND I ALSO MESSED WITH THE FUSE BOX AGAIN AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. I BEEN SEEING WHERE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE FUSE BOX IN THE TRUNK AND THE WIRING IN THE TRUNK. I FEEL I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS TO BE FIXED I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR A YEAR AND A HALF AND BOUGHT IT USED.

NHTSA ODI 11016315

Aug 15, 2017Electrical system

I HAVE ONLY HAD MY CAR FOR 2 YEARS.. NO ISSUES. WELL MAINTAINED..RECENTLY MY A/C STOPPED WORKING. I WAS USING IT, TURNED IT OFF , TURNED MY CAR OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES STARTED MY CAR AND THE A/C WOULD NOT WORK. DID NOT BLOW ANY AIR..IT'S NOT EVEN LIGHTING UP WHEN SELECTING DIFFERENT SETTINGS. IT'S AS IF THE A/C CONTROL PANEL DOES NOT WORK. I HAVE READ MANY OTHERS COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO MINE, AND I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE 2012 CHEVY MALIBU WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE 2013-2014 RECALL FOR A/C ISSUES SINCE THIS IS SUCH A REOCCURRING PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11015297

Jul 25, 2017Electrical system

CAR STARTS AND AFTER 2 SECONDS TURNS BACK OFF. CAR WILL START AGAIN AND DRIVE FINE FOR HOURS AND THEN IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT BUT NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM AND DIAGNOSTIC WON'T READ THE PROBLEM. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT.

NHTSA ODI 11010440

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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 →