What 905 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu Eco

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ONE MORNING GOING ABOUT 30MPH AND CAR JUST LOST ALL POWER , COULD NOT STEER THE CAR, PULLED OFF ROAD, WAITED ABOUT 20 MINUTES AND CAR STARTED BACK WITH NO PROBLEMS, THEN A FEW DAYS AGO WENT OUT TO START CAR AND WOULD NOT START, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD LIGHT UP BUT WOULD NOT START, HAD TO HAVE IN JUMPED OFF, TOOK IT TO AUTO PLACE TO HAVE BATTERY CHECKED, BATTERY WAS FINE, DROVE IT HOME, DROVE IT THE NEXT MORNING TO WORK WITH NO PROBLEMS, THEN THAT AFTERNOON, WOULD NOT START AGAIN, HAD TO HAVE IT JUMPED OFF AGAIN, TOOK IT TO AUTO PLACE AGAIN, AND BATTERY OK, ALLTERNATOR OK , I HAVE READ SEVERAL REVIEWS ON THIS CAR AND ALL SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS, HAVE NOT TOOK IT TO MECHANIC YET, BUT AFRAID TO DRIVE IT

NHTSA ODI 11006300

BLOWER MOTOR PULLED SO MUCH AMPERAGE FROM ENGINE/BATTERY THAT IT MELTED THE WIRING HARNESS AND BLEW THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR. WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, AND HAD THE AIR CONDITIONING ON. WHEN ACCELERATING, THE BLOWER CUT OFF AND I COULD ONLY FEEL THE AIR SLIGHTLY COMING FROM THE AC VENT. HAD IT DIAGNOSED AT MY MECHANIC AND HE INDICATED THAT HE'D SEEN THIS MANY TIMES IN CHEVYS AND THAT THERE HAD TO BE SOME DEFECT IN THE BLOWER MOTOR FOR IT TO PULL SO MUCH AMPERAGE -- ENOUGH TO MELT THE WIRING HARNESS, WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY BLEW THE RESISTOR.

NHTSA ODI 11006092

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. AFTER DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND FLASHED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACTED CALLED AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE BCM BRAKE SENSOR MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE PART WOULD BE REPLACED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11004034

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS ABOVE 40 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING FAILED TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED AS THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LASORSA CHEVROLET BUICK DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AN OIL PRESSURE VALVE MALFUNCTION. THE DEALER WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE OIL PRESSURE VALVE, BUT THE DEALER FAILED TO DIAGNOSE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND STEERING WHEEL FAILURES. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND STEERING WHEEL FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000.

NHTSA ODI 10994467

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WOULD IMMEDIATELY RESTART AND OTHER TIMES THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO WAIT SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. AFTER THE LAST FAILURE OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT OPERABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A FEW CASES WERE OPENED REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

NHTSA ODI 10986301

DRIVING AND BOTH LOW AND HIGH BEAMS GO OUT AT NIGHT. DAYS LATER IT CAME BACK ON, THEN A DAY LATER WENT OUT AGAIN.REPLACED LIGHTS BULBS AND A WEEK LATER IT GOES OUT AGAIN! THIS IS DANGEROUS AND CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE! I ALMOST CRASH THE FIRST TIME THEY WENT OUT ON THE FREEWAY.

NHTSA ODI 10985621

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AND THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 62,000.

NHTSA ODI 10983252

DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY @ 70 MPH DRY ROADS SERVICE ESC, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL MESSAGES FLASHING ALTERNATELY. PARKED THE VEHICLE NEXT MORNING 20 MINUTES OF DRIVING AGAIN ON THE FREEWAY @ 70 MPH DRY ROADS SAME 2 FLASHING MESSAGES. PARK THE VEHICLE. STARTED VEHICLE UNABLE TO MOVE SHIFTER FROM PARK WHILE DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL. FLASHING MESSAGE LIGHTS APPEAR RANDOMLY AS WELL AS UNABLE TO MOVE SHIFTER OUT OF PARK. VERY FRIGHTENING AFTER PARKING VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 10980069

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE VEHICLE BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,557.

NHTSA ODI 10970081

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ORDER TO RESTART THE VEHICLE ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT, THE CONTACT HAD TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE DOORS; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. ALSO, ONCE THE VEHICLE RESTARTED, THE SECURITY AND CHECK ENGINE SENSORS ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 28,000.

NHTSA ODI 10969785

I WAS DRIVING(IN MOTION) ON THE FREEWAY AND THE ESC SERVICE/TRACTION CONTROL SENSOR OR LIGHT POPS ON PUSHES MY CAR INTO ENGINE REDUCED POWER MODE THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED ON COMING TRAFFIC TO REAR END ME OR INJURE ME REAL BAD THIS MUST BE RECALLED TO BE FIXED BAD I MEAN ASAP THIS NEEDS TO BED REVISED AND FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE DIES. ALSO WHEN AT STOP LIGHT THIS HAPPENS TO. OMG PLEASE IM BEGGING YOU ALL TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN WHO RIDE WITH ME .

NHTSA ODI 10967909

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WITH THE WIRING ASSOCIATED WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. THE LOW BEAMS, HIGH BEAMS, RUNNING LIGHTS, AND TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, DIAGNOSED, AND REPAIRED BY A MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

NHTSA ODI 10959603

HEAD LIGHTS BEEN REPAIRED 3 TIMES COSTING 220 EACH TIME... SEEMS TO BE NO KNOWN FIX FOR THIS POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL ERROR....

NHTSA ODI 10957415

MY CAR IS NOT WORKING THE STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKE

NHTSA ODI 10950106

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND MY CAR WENT INTO REDUCED POWER AND SHAKING VIOLENTLY. I WAS ALMOST HIT FROM THE BACK BY A SEMI.

NHTSA ODI 10950130

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. ON SOME OCCASIONS, A JUMP START WAS REQUIRED. ADDITIONALLY, AN UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI 10934133

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS MELTED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI 10933960

TAKATA RECALL. WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 60 MPH I LOST ALL POWER TO MY VEHICLE ALMOST CAUSING A FEW ACCIDENTS. I PULLED THE CAR OVER AND HAD IT TOWED TO A SHOP. THEY HAD TO PUSH THE CAR INTO THE SHOP DUE TO IT NOT STARTING. AFTER THROUGHLY LOOKING AND CHECKING EVERYTHING THE DIANOSIC TEST DID NOT REVEL ANYTHING. THE MECHANIC THEN BANGED ON THE REAR FUSE PANEL (TRUNK) THE CAR THEN STARTED. THE PANAL IS SHUTING MY FUEL PUMP OFF. THE FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN TESTED THE FUSE RELAYS HAVE BEEN TESTED. THE PROBLEM IS FAULTY FUSE BOX AND WIRES CONNECTED IM ASSUMING. AFTER 2 WEEKS AND 3 MECHCANICS MY CAR IS STILL NOT RUNNING.

NHTSA ODI 10928449

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER WHILE BEING OPERATED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 56,332.

NHTSA ODI 10926520

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE SECURITY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

NHTSA ODI 10918794

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND CHECK ENGINE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, THE ESC AND TRACTION CONTROL WERE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE SPRING FAILED OR FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 10916495

SEVERAL SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN AFFECTED. THE SYSTEMS AFFECTED ARE THE RADIO CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL, THE POWER STEERING, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND THE REAR DEFROST. THERE SEEMS TO BE A SHORT THAT GOES FROM SYSTEM TO SYSTEM. MODERN CHEVROLET IN WINSTON SALEM, NC SAID IT WAS A SHORT IN WIRES ON THE STEERING COLUMN THAT WAS CAUSING THIS. THERE ARE THREE RECALLS THAT WOULD DEAL WITH THIS. THE RECALLS ARE FOR STEERING, TRACTION CONTROL AND FINALLY WIRING. BOTH MODERN CHEVROLET AND CHEVROLET CORPORATE HAVE SAID MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED DUE TO THE VIN #. I DO NOT SEE WHERE THAT MATTERS. IF A PART IS BAD THEN ALL VEHICLES THAT PART IS USED ON SHOULD BE COVERED NO MATTER WHAT. THE STEERING WAS THE MOST AFFECTED. THE POWER STEERING WOULD GO OUT AND IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER THE CAR. THIS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS.

NHTSA ODI 10915134

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TOO SEVERAL PLACES WHERE THEY SAY THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE BUT THEY CAN NOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 10911056

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED AND NO DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES WERE SHOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10906456